Crew List
The Officers and Engineers of the Empire Lake
were:-
Richard John Sproul - Master - 19, Elmsleigh Gardens, Cleadon, Sunderland
Hiram Leonard Brock - 1st Mate - 3, Llandinican Road, Barry, Glamorgan
Donald Alexander Logan - 2nd Mate - 133, Osborne Avenue, South Shields
Ronald Thomas Lee - 3rd Mate - Cotford, Taunton, Somerset
Ronald Edward Marr - Chief Engineer - 2, Royal Buildings, Penarth
The Crew were:-
David Lawson - 13, Ravensbourne Terrace, South Shields
Brian Ludlow Sloan - 75, Grove End Gardens, London NW8
Osborne Edward Hayward - 316, Gorsebrook Road, Dagenham
George Ragless - 59, Ockley Road, Bognor Regis
John Harry Morgan - 80, Mayfiels Gardens, London
William Reeves - 6, Eyethorne Road, London SW9
Stuart Leslie Coleman - 21, Augusten Road, Ashford, Kent
Francis Charles Saunders - 18, Second Avenue, Olafield Park, Bath
Fred Stafford - 2, Seesfield Drive, Meadowfield, Durham
William James Dunne - 169, Rawson Road, Liverpool 21
John Joseph Caddick - 51, Acanthus Road, Liverpool 13
Julian Triggs - 12, Grove Road, Hoylake
Derek Holland - 2, Constable Lane, Derby
Stanley McMillan - 50 Boswell Street, Liverpool 20
Norman John Finnis - Myrtle Cottage, St. Margaret’s, Dover, Kent
J. Flint - 14, Grove Road Gardens, Johannesburg, S. Africa
T. Elsigood - Everdon, Daventry, North Hants
K.S. Williams - 216, Prince Regent Road, Plaistow, London
G. Sutton - 13, Gore Road, Hackney, London E9
J. Denman - No address
Kevin T. Sheridan - 9, Peel Court, Ravenor Park Road, Greenford, London
Thomas Edward Clipson - 102, Clark Street, London E1
Joseph Brady - 522, Setownean Street, Montreal
Alfred Arthur Rust - 9, Ruskin Avenue, London E12
Juan Rivas - 12, Pomeray Street, Cardiff
Frderick Alen - 7, Theydon Grove, Woodford Green, London
Clarence Robert Tizzard - 20, Hazlemere Road, London SE15
John Purkiss - 12, Rosecourt Road, Thornton Heath, London
George Wormald - 11, Kingston Road, New Barnet, Herts
George Robertson - 478, George Street, Aberdeen
Cyril Rasmussen - 121, Woodville Road, Cardiff
Patrick Donavon - 20, St. Clavis Road, London E13
G. King - 34, Gosport Road, London E17
Thomas Smith - 905, Clay Street, Saeford
There were usually eight gunners assigned to a defensively armed merchant ship, five have been identified as Royal Navy seamen gunners and possibly three were Army gunners. Only G. Sutton has been identified as an Army gunner. Gunners identified so far are:-
Able-Seaman G. Wormald
Able-Seaman G. Robertson
Able-Seaman D. Holland
Able-Seaman G. Ragless
Navy gunner J. Denman (rank unknown)
Army gunner G. Sutton (rank unknown)
The survivors were:-
Officer Donald Alexander Logan (age 23)
Able-Seaman George Ragless (age 23)
Donkeyman - Frederick Stafford (age 25)
Army Gunner George Sutton (age not known)
Navy Gunner J. Denman (age not known)
Greaser - G. King (age 23)
Galley Boy - John Purkiss (age 17)
Donald Alexander Logan was awarded the M.B.E., in 1944 for his services in helping the survivors of the Empire Lake. When the age of the men is taken into consideration, it was a remarkable story of courage and determination.
