The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Mike Morley · Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2020 11:16 am Post subject:

Name: PORTERFIELD, HELEN
Initials: H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sister
Service Number: 246676
Regiment/Service: Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service
Date of Death: 21/12/1942
Panel Reference: Panel 22, Column 2
Memorial: Brookwood (1939-1945 Memorial).

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2020 7:34 pm Post subject:

The troopship "Strathallan" was hit by a torpedo from the German submarine U-562 off Oran, North Africa in the early hours of 21 December 1942. She eventually sank just over 24 hours later.
The Strathallan had 440 crew members, 26 gunners, 248 Queen Alexandra nurses and 4408 British and American troops (among them 296 officers, some possibly of the Headquarter staff of the 1st US Army) on board. Of this number, only six crew members, five nurses and five troops were lost.
See https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship/2528.html for details.
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Ken