On Tower Hill Memorial is the name of Fireman and Trimmer Alexander Aikenhead, serving on SS Harpagus (London), with the Merchant Navy who died 20/05/1941.
The son of Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Aikenhead, of South Shields, Co. Durham.
Alexander Aikenhead was born on the 3rd December 1919, at 163 Maxwell Street, South Shields, youngest boy of six children to a Charles William Aikenhead, born Scotland, 1865, died 1966, and his wife Margaret nee McLeod, Aikenhead, born 1883, died 1922, of South Shields, Co. Durham. They were married in 1910. [Margaret was the daughter of a John McLeod, and his wife Mary McLeod, she was one of five children to them]..
The other children were;-
- Frances Aikenhead, born 15th October 1910. In 1921, she was residing at 163 Maxwell Street, South shields, she got married to a John George Calvert, born 31st March 1912, in 1933 and had a child Jean Calvert, born 30th September 1935, who married a Salkeld on the 13th August 1963.
- Charles William Aikenhead, born 6th September 1911, died 1988. He married a Mary B. Hanson in 1938.
- William McLeod Aikenhead, born 1913, died 22nd February 1928. Buried in Harton Cemetery.
- Violet Aikenhead, born 1914. In 1921, she was residing at 167 Maxwell Street, South Shields.
- John ‘Johnny’ Aikenhead, born 30th June 1917, died 1961. He married a Gladys Fenwick in 1942. In 1930, John was residing at 20 Stevenson Street, South Shields. He was in the 8th Battalion Home Guard, from the 18th September 1940 until the 7th December 1941, when he was discharged. He was employed at John Readhead shipbuilders at South Shields.
In 1911 the family were residing at 163 Maxwell Street, South Shields. In 1921 the family were still residing at 163 Maxwell Street, South Shields. The father was employed by the Harton Coal Company at St Hilda’s Colliery in South Shields, as a Hewer.. Alexander was residing at 86 Adelaide Street, South Shields in 1939. Yet his address was given as 20 Stephenson Street, South Shields. He was 5 feet ten inches, blue eyes, brown hair with a fresh complexion.
Alexander was onboard the Atlantic Scout, ship number 132822, formerly Fishpool, from the 18th November 1939, as a Fireman and Trimmer, until the 14th January 1940. 1st March 1940, the Empire Conveyor, ship number 140672, formerly the Gloria, until the 10th May 1940, SS Hartbridge, ship number 139242, 13th July 1940 to the 24th September 1940. Dorington Court, ship number 167241, also named Dodington Court, 15th September 1940, to the 27th February 1941. Then from the 11th March 1941. Alexander was a crew member on the S.S. Harpagus, ship number 167421, which was a Steam merchant, Tonnage 5,173 tons Completed 1940, by Bartram & Sons Ltd, South Dock, Sunderland. Owner J. & C. Harrison Ltd, London Homeport, London. At 04.58 hours on the 20th May 1941 the Norman Monarch, ship number 165905, in station 91 of convoy HX-126 was torpedoed and sunk by U-94, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Herbert Kuppisch. The Harpagus, (Master James Valentine Stewart) in station 93 was the designed rescue ship for the column and dropped back to rescue survivors. After picking up the whole complement of 48 men, she set course to regain convoy.
The SS Harpagus, ship number 167421, was torpedoed by a German U-Boat U-109, commanded by Fregattenkapitan Hans-Georg Fischer, on the 20th May 1941, at 23.20 hours the Harpagus, carrying 8250 tons of grain, having almost regained position, was struck by two torpedoes from U-109 in the starboard side and sank very quickly about 250 miles south-southeast of Cape Farewell. 25 crew members, four gunners, three passengers and 26 survivors were lost. The master, 17 crew members and 22 survivors were picked up by HMS Burnham, (Cdr J. Bostock) and landed at Reykjavik.
Alexander Aikenhead never claimed his medals, due to the persistence of his family relatives, the medals were awarded as recently as 2024.
Acknowledgments: James Hoy Archive; Barney Rice; James Pasby; John Aikenhead; National Archives; British Newspaper Archive; U Boat Net with Thanks to ‘Gummi’;
Alexander Aikenhead is remembered at South Shields on S86.036 and S86.037, at Westoe in W101.08, page 2, in the Seamen’s Book of Remembrance, dated May 20th 1941 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.
