Silverwillow
Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart
| Name | Silverwillow | ||
| Type: | Motor merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 6.373 tons | ||
| Completed | 1930 - J.L. Thompson & Sons Ltd, North Sands, Sunderland | ||
| Owner | Silver Line Ltd (Stanley & John Thompson Ltd), London | ||
| Homeport | London | ||
| Date of attack | 30 Oct, 1942 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-409 (Hanns-Ferdinand Massmann) | ||
| Position | 35.08N, 16.44W - Grid CF 9864 - See location on a map - | ||
| Complement | 67 (6 dead and 61 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | SL-125 | ||
| Route | Lagos - Freetown (16 Oct) - Liverpool | ||
| Cargo | 9000 tons of general cargo | ||
| History | | ||
| Notes on loss | At 23.28 hours on 30 Oct, 1942, the Silverwillow (Master Reginald Charles Butler) in convoy SL-125 was torpedoed and damaged by U-409 north-northeast of Madeira. On 5 November, the ship had to be abandoned in 34°07N/14°39W and foundered after six days in 37°24N/10°45W. Three crew members, one gunner and two passengers were lost. The master, 49 crew members, seven gunners and four passengers (one DBS) were picked up by the British auxiliary patrol vessel HMS Kelantan (F 166) (Lt A.E. Jones) and landed at Gourock on 8 November. | ||
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