SMS Teodo was a 6,561 ton collier built in 1915 for the Austro-Hungarian Navy. She was ceded to Italy in 1921 as a war reparation. She was renamed Barbana in 1924 and Barbana G in 1926. In 1940, she was seized by the United Kingdom and renamed Empire Airman ship nu 165788. On the 21st September 1940, Empire Airman was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-Boat U-100 commanded by Kapitänleutnant Joachim Schepke.
Convoy HX 72 sailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia on the 9th September 1940. Empire Airman was carrying a cargo of iron ore, she was bound for Cardiff. At 00:22 on the 22nd September, Empire Airman was hit by a torpedo fired by U-100. The ship was taken in tow, but sank on the 23rd September at 55°11′N 15°07′W. Thirty three of the thirty seven crew were killed in the attack. Four survivors were rescued by HMS La Malouine. Those lost on Empire Airman are commemorated at the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
He was in the same family as Charles Hutton Kane and George Hutton Kane.
Walter Kane is remembered in W101.08 page 45 and on our List of Ships’ crews
Empire Airman
Crew List for Empire Airman
The CWGC entry for Galley Boy Kane