William Kirby and Brenda McMahon have submitted the following:-
Stanley was the son of Ralph Philip Sloane and Barbara Margaret (nee Hobson) who married at South Shields in 1906. The couple had 3 children together who all survived childhood. They were Phyllis, Ralph and Stanley.
The 1911 shows Ralph senior having his own account working as a sea pilot on the River Tyne. He lived at 167 Baring Street South Shields with his family and domestic servant Jenny Addison.
Stanley appears to have gone to sea at an early age as on May 31st 1927 he was aboard the Cunard steam ship Mauretania sailing from New York to Southampton. He was 17 at that time and was travelling as within the distressed seaman category.
Distressed British Seaman (DBS) - One who is left without a berth, ill or without funds in a foreign port.
In 1942 Stanley was serving as Chief Officer with the Merchant Navy on the S.S. White Crest (Newcastle).
The White Crest was en route from Cardiff (12 Feb), Belfast Lough (15 Feb) then on to Buenos Aires carrying a cargo of coal and coke.At 08.35 hours on 24 Feb 1942 the unescorted White Crest (Master Gordon Joures), a straggler from convoy ONS-67 due to a heavy gale on 19 February, was hit by two torpedoes from U-162 and sank capsizing after eight minutes southeast of St. John’s. The ship had been spotted at 02.30 hours and missed with two torpedoes at 04.45 hours. The master, 40 crew members and six gunners were lost.
Stanley was lost at sea presumed drowned.
Stanley Sloane is remembered at Newcastle on NUT231 and at Westoe on W101.08
