On the 30th March 1941 the Eastlea (Master Malcolm Goudie Macpherson) was reported missing in the North Atlantic. The master, 33 crew members and three gunners were lost.

At 22.58 hours on the 24th March, U-106, commanded by Korvettenkapitän Jurgen Oesten had observed one hit amidships on a steamer running north from a distance of 600 yards. The ship broke her back and sank within ten minutes about 130 miles west-northwest of San Antonia, Cape Verde Islands.For some time the vessel concerned was thought to have been the Brazilian steam merchant Santa Clara (2512 tons), but this ship radioed an SOS message on the 14th March from 30°48N/68°42W following an explosion. The ship actually hit and sunk was more likely the Eastlea.

Thanks to U Boat net

George Steele is remembered in Monkseaton on M15.02 and on our List of Ships’ crews

Crew list from S.S. Eastlea
The CWGC entry for Chief Officer Steele