On Tower Hill Memorial is the name of Cabin Boy Richard John Binks, serving on M.V. Athelcrest (Liverpool) with the Merchant Navy who died 25/08/1940.

Colin Boyd has provided the following:

Richard was born in 1923 to Richard John and Isabel (nee Hush) Binks and at the time of his death at the age of 17 he was living, while ashore, at 17, Limewood Road, North Shields.

Richard was lost when the m.v.”Athelcrest” was torpedoed on August 25th 1940.

For his short war service Richard was awarded the 1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star and War Medal which were forwarded to his mother at the North Shields address.

His father, with whom he shared names, was lost on February 18th 1941 when the S.S. Black Osprey was sunk.

Richard John Binks is remembered at Percy Main on P22.02 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.