Junior Engineer Officer

Vere Alexander McLean

Conflict: 
WW2
Additional Information: 

Son of Robert McLean, and of Helen McLean (nee Mason), of Waipukurau, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.

References:
  • CWGC
NZ WAR GRAVES

Biographical Notes:

“At 03.30 hours on 1 Feb 1942, U-109 fired a spread of three torpedoes at the unescorted Tacoma Star (Master Robert George Whitehead) about 387 miles north of Bermuda. One torpedo hit at the forward hold and a second struck amidships in the engine room, causing the ship to sink by the bow after four minutes. The U-boat was just about to meet U-130 (Kals) for re- fueling when the vessel was spotted at 16.20 hours on 31 January and Bleichrodt began chasing the zigzagging ship. The Germans reported that the crew abandoned ship in five lifeboats but the survivors were not questioned as the vessel had already been identified from her distress signals. These signals were also received ashore and USS Roe (DD 418)was sent to search for survivors but found no trace of the ship because the position 37°33N/69°21W mentioned in the radio message proved to be wrong. The master, 87 crew members and nine gunners were lost.” (Wrecksite.com Retrieved 3/11/2022)

Public Contributions:

There are no public contributions written for this casualty

Personal Tributes:

Casualty

Name:
Vere Alexander McLean
Rank: 
Junior Engineer Officer
Date of Birth:
Not known
Date of Enlistment:
Not known
Unit:
Merchant Navy, SS Tacoma Star (London)

Casualty Details

Cause of Death:
Missing presumed killed
Date of Death:
01 February 1942
Day of Death:
Sunday
Age at Death: 
30
Conflict: 
WW2

Embarkation Details

Text in italics supplied by Cenotaph Online, Auckland War Memorial Museum

Cemetery

Cemetery Reference: 
Panel 105.
Cemetery Location: 
United Kingdom
Vere Alexander McLean
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