On Tower Hill Memorial, Trinity Square, London is the name of Second Engineer Officer John McQueen serving on M.V. Vancouver City (Bideford) with the Merchant Navy who died 14/09/1939.

He was the son of John and Mary J. McQueen, of East Boldon, County Durham.

Christine Davison has submitted the following:

John McQueen was the son of John and Mary McQueen, nee Dixon, born in January 1910.

His father was born at Wrekenton but seems to have grown up living with his grandfather at Cemetery Cottage, West Boldon; his grandfather’s occupation is given as a gardener. John’s mother was born at Newburn, Northumberland, and they married in 1904 at South Shields.

The 1939 register showed them living at 10 Hamilton Terrace, West Boldon. He was a special constable,  but his occupation was given as coal miner, retired.

The McQueen family seems to have been connected with the cemetery from its opening, as there is a headstone with the name John McQueen, born 1814, died 1890, the first keeper of this cemetery. There are numerous mentions in the local papers about both the grandfather and John’s father winning prizes at local flower shows, etc.

John served on M.V. Vancouver City as Second Engineer Officer and died on the 14th September 1939 when, at about 10 a.m., the unescorted and unarmed boat was hit by a torpedo from U-28 while steaming on a zig-zag course at 13 knots about 75 miles west southwest of Milford Haven. The U-boat attacked because she was zig-zagging, accompanied by an aircraft. The torpedo struck on the Starboard side and killed John, who was hit by a davit from the destroyed starboard lifeboat.

John McQueen is remembered at East Boldon on E46.01, at West Boldon on W99.07 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.