On Tower Hill Memorial is the name of Cook Leonard Key, serving on S.S. Deptford (London) with the Merchant Navy who died 13/12/1939.

Mr. W. Stephenson, a relative, has sent in this letter received from the Britain Steamship Co. Ltd.:

To the Next of Kin of
L. Key, Cook
of S/S Deptford.
At the Sixty first Ordinary General Meeting of the Britain Steamship Company Limited held on the first day after the National Holiday to celebrate victory over Germany

It was Unanimously Resolved:-
to express to all Masters, Officers and Men, the Company’s gratitude and admiration of the prodigies of valour and seamanship displayed by its employees in transporting the troops, munitions of war and food without which this Country would have been starved into submission and the world reduced to serfdom under the Nazis.

It was further resolved:-
that this tribute be sent to the next-of-kin of those Masters, Officers and Men in the Company’s service, who have lost their lives through enemy action, or who are still held Prisoners of war by the Japanese.

(Signed) For and on behalf of Britain Steamship Company Limited.

Leonard Key is remembered at North Shields on N34.23 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.