During WW2 more than 3000 merchant vessels were attacked by German U-boats. After the attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, unrestricted submarine warfare broke out in the Caribbean Sea and surrounding waters. Many Allied merchant ships fell victim to torpedoes and grenades of German submarines. On our islands a number of foreign seaman were buried who were victims of those attacks.
In the overview below the following information is given:
LAST NAME, first name(s)
Position/rank/ship/organisation
Place and date of birth
Place and date of death
Information about the attack
Place of burial (if known).
BURTON, James Todd
3rd Engineer, tanker Pedernales, Lago Shipping Co. (UK)
Belfast, Northern Ireland (UK), 13 September 1914
Aruba, 16 February 1942
Injured when ship was torpedoed and damaged by German submarine U-156, at anchor near San Nicolas, Aruba. Brought ashore in a lifeboat and died later that day in hospital of his wounds.
Buried Protestant Cemetery, Oranjestad (Aruba).
FA KING
2nd Cook, tanker Rosalia, Curaçaosche Scheepvaart Maatschappij (CSM)
Unknown (China), appr. 1905
Caribbean Sea, 27 July 1943
Killed when ship was torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-615 near Curaçao. Body found by MTB-30 or MRB-50 and brought ashore on 28 July.
Buried Cemetery Kolebra Bèrdè, Cas Chiquito, Willemstad (Curaçao).
LITTLE, Horace Russell
Chief Cook, tanker McDowell, Marine Transport Lines Inc., New York (USA)
Unknown (California, USA), appr. 1917
Aruba, 22 December 1943
Wounded when ship was attacked and sunk by German submarine U-516 on 16 December. The crew was rescued by the tanker Fairfax and support vessel USS YMS-56. Little was brought ashore on Aruba and died of his wounds in hospital on 22 December.
Buried Roman Catholic Cemetery, San Nicolas (Aruba). In February 1947 transferred to Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, San Mateo county (California, USA).
MICHELSEN, Jens P.
Captain, tanker Leda, Standard Oil Co. (Panama)
Aarhus (Denmark), 9 July 1889
Caribbean Sea, 4 November 1942
Wounded when ship was torpedoed in convoy TAG-18 on 3 November by German submarine U-160 near Grenada. Rescued by escort vessel USS PC-495, but died at sea of his wounds on 4 November. His body was landed ashore in Willemstad and buried on 5 November.
Buried Protestant Cemetery, Roodeweg, Willemstad (Curaçao).
MOMBELARDI, Lawrence
Machinist, tanker Cities Service Missouri, Baltimore Dry Docks & Shipbuilding Co. (USA)
Unknown (Italy), emigrated to USA in 1917, 21 August 1899
Caribbean Sea, 13 March 1943
Severely wounded when ship was torpedoed by German submarine U-68 in convoy GAT-49 on 12 March. Crew was rescued by escort USS Biddle, but Mombelardi died of his wounds aboard the ship on 13 March before arrival in Willemstad.
Buried Roman Catholic Cemetery, Roodeweg, Willemstad (Curaçao). In October 1947 transferred to Long Island National Cemetery, Farmingdale, Suffolk county (New York, USA).
YONG AH CHONG
Sailor, tanker Rosalia, Curaçaosche Scheepvaart Maatschappij (CSM)
Unknown (China), appr. 1890
Caribbean Sea, 27 July 1943
Killed when ship was torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-615 near Curaçao. Body found by MTB-30 or MRB-50 and brought ashore on 28 July.
Buried Cemetery Kolebra Bèrdè, Cas Chiquito, Willemstad (Curaçao).