Herbert Henry Greengrass

A Cook with S.S. Laconia (Liverpool), Herbert died on 12th of September 1942 at the age of 39. 

Herbert was born at Carlton Colville on 20 November 1902, a son of Herbert Wallace and Eliza Greengrass. He was baptised at Saint Peter’s Church, Carlton Colville, on 22 February 1903. In 1911 his family lived at Hall Cottages, Cley Road, Holt, Norfolk, and by 1918 at 36 Kimberley Road, Lowestoft.

On 10 January 1935 Herbert married Rosie Hettie Gertie Meadows. Herbert was a cook and they both lived at Kirkley. In 1939 their home was at 33 Saint John’s Road, Lowestoft. 

From 1927 Herbert worked at sea as a Cook. In 1940 he served on the S.S. Orcadies, and by September 1942 on the S.S. Laconia.   

On 12 September 1942 the Cunard Line ocean liner Laconia was carrying passengers and transporting over 1,000 Italian prisoners of war when, around 110 nautical miles north-north-east of Ascension Island, the liner was torpedoed by German submarine U-156. The submarine Captain, guided by the old established prize rules, move the submarine close to the sinking liner in order to give assistance. The submarine flew a Red Cross flag and sent an unrestricted radio message to all nearby vessels stating the intention to rescue survivors. Despite this, the submarine was strafed by Allied aircraft and many of the Laconia’s survivors were killed by the aircraft fire and due to the fact that the submarine was forced to crash dive to avoid destruction. Rescue efforts by another German submarine, U-506, were also hampered by Allied aircraft. Of the 2,732 people on board the ship over 1,650 perished. 

Herbert was reported ‘missing believed drowned’ in the loss of the Laconia.  

Herbert’s father, Herbert Wallace Greengrass, served in the Army Service Corps and died in 1918.