City of Oxford
British Steam merchant
Photo courtesy of the Allen Collection
| Name | City of Oxford | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 2,759 tons | ||
| Completed | 1926 - Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Wallsend, Sunderland | ||
| Owner | Ellerman & Papayanni Lines Ltd, Liverpool | ||
| Homeport | Liverpool | ||
| Date of attack | 15 Jun 1942 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-552 (Erich Topp) | ||
| Position | 43° 42'N, 18° 12'W - Grid BE 8589 | ||
| Complement | 44 (1 dead and 43 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | HG-84 | ||
| Route | Lisbon (11 Jun) - Garston | ||
| Cargo | 2000 tons of ore and 300 tons of cork | ||
| History | Completed in December 1926 | ||
| Notes on event | Between 04.32 and 04.34 hours on 15 June 1942, U-552 fired three torpedoes at convoy HG-84 west of Cape Finisterre, observed hits after 45 seconds and 1 minute 32 seconds and heard a detonation after 1 minute and 55 seconds. Two ships, the City of Oxford and the Thurso were hit and sunk. One crew member from the City of Oxford (Master Alfred Norbury) was lost. The master, 36 crew members and six gunners were picked up by the British rescue ship Copeland (Master J. McKellar, OBE), transferred to HMS Marigold (K 87) (Lt J.A.S. Halcrow, RNR), transferred to HMS Stork (L 81) (Cdr F.J. Walker, DSO, RN) and landed at Liverpool. | ||
| On board | We have details of 3 people who were on board. | ||
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