S.S. Dunaff Head (Belfast), Merchant Navy (British Civilian)
Date Of Birth:
13/02/1906
Died:
08/03/1941 (Died at Sea)
Age:
35
Summary
James Cochrane was the son of James and Elizabeth Cochrane. He was born on 13th February 1906 in the district of Magherafelt. It seems James’s mother died on 6th November 1910when James was three years old. H and his sister boarded at Townparks School in Magherafelt. Fireman and Trimmer James Cochrane served with the Merchant Navy in World War Two on board S.S. Dunaff Head. It was sunk on 8th March 1941.
Further Information
James Cochrane was the son of James and Elizabeth Cochrane. James Cochrane and Elizabeth McElroy were married on 20th March 1903 in the district of Cookstown.
William James Cochrane was born on 13th February 1906 in the district of Magherafelt.
It seems James’s mother, Elizabeth Cochrane, died on 6th November 1910 in Magherafelt, aged 30. James was three years old.
Known family: James Cochrane,, Elizabeth Cochrane, Agnes Cochrane (21st February 1904), William James Cochrane (13th February 1906).
The 1911 census lists James as age 3, boarding at Townparks School in Magherafelt. His older sister Agnes was also a boarder at the school.
The 1911 census also has a possible listing of James’ father. He was age 27, boarding at house 14 in Castledawson Town. He was a railway porter.
Fireman and Trimmer James Cochrane served with the Merchant Navy in World War Two on board S.S. Dunaff Head. It was a 5,258 GRT steam cargo ship.
In March 1941 S.S. Dunaff Head was part of Convoy OB-293, en route from Glasgow to St. John, New Brunswick, Canada.
At 01.19 hours on 8th March 1941 the Dunaff Head was hit by one of two torpedoes from a U-Boat and sank south of Iceland. Five crew members were lost. The master, 34 crew members and four gunners survived.
The submarine was a captured Turkish vessel that had been commissioned into the German Navy.
Fireman and Trimmer James Cochrane has no known grave and is commemorated on Panel 36 of the Tower Hill Memorial in London.
The CWGC record Fireman and Trimmer James Cochrane as the son of James and Elizabeth Cochrane of Castledawson, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland.
