Personal information

James Gerard Kavanagh survived the sinking of Empire Endurance and was picked up by Highland Brigade on 9 May 1941. Once back in Liverpool he was admitted to hospital due to exposure to the elements but survived and went on to have a large family, which consisted of six sons and two daughters. After the war James went on to make a career as a lagger working in insulation and industrial pipe work which he did till he retired.

His family remembers the horrendous stories he told of the ordeal, things like the men turning on each other in the lifeboat and becoming delirious, and things like turning to drink sea water due to the lack of food and water available. The most horrendous part was the need to throw deceased members on the lifeboat overboard to keep people focused on surviving.