Manchester Citizen
British Steam merchant
Photo courtesy of the Allen Collection
| Name | Manchester Citizen | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 5,343 tons | ||
| Completed | 1925 - Furness Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Haverton Hill, Middlesbrough | ||
| Owner | Manchester Liners Ltd (Furness, Withy & Co Ltd), Manchester | ||
| Homeport | Manchester | ||
| Date of attack | 9 Jul 1943 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-508 (Georg Staats) | ||
| Position | 5° 50'N, 2° 22'E - Grid EV 6729 | ||
| Complement | 104 (29 dead and 75 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | ST-71 | ||
| Route | Freetown (3 Jul) - Lagos | ||
| Cargo | Ballast | ||
| History | Completed in August 1925 | ||
| Notes on event | At 02.43 hours on 9 July 1943, U-508 attacked convoy ST-71 60 miles southwest of Lagos in the Gulf of Benin and torpedoed the De la Salle and Manchester Citizen. The ships were sunk by coups de grâce at 04.25 and 04.52 hours. Twelve members, two gunners and 14 Krooboys from the Manchester Citizen (Master George Stanley Swales) were lost. The master, 44 crew members, eight gunners and 23 Krooboys were picked up by FFL Commandant Detroyat (K 183) and landed at Lagos, but one gunner had died of injuries shortly after being rescued. | ||
| On board | We have details of 16 people who were on board. | ||
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