The Loss of 21 Wrens on SS Aquila in August 1941

In August 1941, twelve wrens from Scarborough “Y” Station on the east coast of England (part of Operation Headache) volunteered for duty in Gibraltar. The twelve wrens all belonged to the Telegraphist Branch, handpicked and made Chief Petty Officer Telegraphists.

They were sent to Liverpool, where they were joined by nine wren officers and boarded the S S AQUILA.

The officers were to be employed as cypher officers and the Chiefs as Wireless Operators.

The AQUILA sailed on the 19th of August as part of Convoy OG71 which consisted of 23 ships. AQUILA was designated as the Convoy Commodore Ship under the command of Vice-Admiral Patrick Parker, DSO, RN. The convoy was escorted by one Norwegian Destroyer, one RN Sloop and six Flower Class Corvettes.

On the 19th of August about 340 miles South West of Fastnet Rock, the convoy was attacked by a ‘wolf pack’ of eight U-Boats, and at 0130 the AQUILA was hit by two torpedoes from U201 which was commanded by Oberleutenant zur See Adalbert Schnee of the Kriegsmarine. These torpedoes hit on the side which had the Wrens cabins and AQUILA sunk in two minutes. There were few survivors rescued, it is believed that a few Wrens were picked up by another Merchant ship which itself was then torpedoed and sunk with all hands. There were no Wren survivors of this convoy. The U-Boats sank 8 Merchant ships and 2 of the escorts, the Destroyer and the Corvette.

The names and ages of the Chief Wrens were:

Phyllis Bacon – 21 years
Margaret Brown – 18 years
Cecily Benjamin – 20 years
Dorothy Bonsor – ?
Madeline Cooper – 31 years
Mary Grant – 26 years
Mildred Norman – 21 years
Elsie Shepherd – ?
Catherine Slaven – 19 years
Beatrice Smith – 30 years
Ellen Waters – ?
Rosalie Wells – 33 years

The heavy loss of life included 65 of the crew, 5 gunners, the commodore and 4 of his staff and 89 passengers.

Further details can be read by clicking this LINK