H.M.S. Aguila Memorial

The following draft of 21 Wrens were all hand picked for telegraphist specialising as a cryptographer and wireless duties at HMS Cormorant, H.M.S. President II, Royal Naval Air Stations in Gibraltar. The complete draft was all drowned.
They all embarked from Liverpool on passenger ship SS Aguila. The ship departed Liverpool 12 August 1941 and on the 19 August 1941 ship was torpedoed by U-201 which sunk within 90 seconds
SINKING OF S.S. Aguila.

The below link is to the passenger list found on Ancestry



PHYLLIS BACON. Chief Wren WA/WRNS 4715 formerly of H.M.S. President II.
Born 24 March 1920 in Bucklow Cheshire to William Harold and Theresa Mary Bacon, nee Ingleby
1939 her parents Platt, Arlington Road, Wilmslow, Cheshire.
Died at sea on 19 August 1941 age 21 years old. Commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon.
Wills and Admin, Ancestry.
Phyllis Bacon of Aylmers Field, Hale Barns Cheshire, spinster died on or since 19 August 1941 on war service. Her effects went to her widowed mother.

MARGARET WATMORE BARNES. Chief Wren R/7860 formerly on H.M.S. President II.
Born 05 September 1922 at 41 Ratcliffe Terrace, Edinburgh to William Harry, Stoker Royal Navy. and Lilias Darling Barnes, nee Watmore of Edinburgh.
Died 19 August 1941 age 18 years old. Commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent.

CECILLY MONICA BRUCE BENJAMIN. Chief Wren WA/WRNS 6965 formerly on H.M.S. President II.
Born 13 April 1921 to Edward Maurice and Elizabeth Margaret Dorothea Benjamin, nee Kirkwood of Pinner, Middlesex.
Died 19 August 1941 age 20 years old. At rest in Plymouth Naval Cemetery, Devon.



CECILIA MARY BLAKE-FORSTER. Wren Third Officer formerly on H.M.S. President II.
Born 1911 Daughter of Major Alfred Blake, Blake-Forster and Jane Alice Lucy Blake-Forster of Chichester.
London Gazette dated 13th August 1940. Promoted to the rank of Third Officer
26th June 1940. Wren Cecelia Mary Blake-Forster and her sister Wren Elizabeth Anne Blake-Forster
Died at sea 19 August 1941 age 30 years old. Commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire.
Wills and Admin, Ancestry
Cecilia Mary Blake-Forster of Crosslanes, Summersdale Chichester died of above stated death. Administration, Bristol 28 January 1942 to Elizabeth Anne Blake-Forster, spinster.
Below link is to Alfred Blake, Blake-Forster and his family

DOROTHY BONSOR. Chief Wren N/7862 formerly on H.M.S. President II.
Born 11 September 1913 to Frederick Charles and Amy Florence Bonsor, of Kislingbury, Northamptonshire.
Died 19 August 1941 age 27 years old. Commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent.

MARGARET EULALIA CHAPPE-HALL. Wren Third Officer formerly on H.M.S. President II.
Born 1915 to Reverend John and Dulcivella Mary Gooch Chappe-Hall, of Grundisburgh, Suffolk.
Died on 19 August 1941age 26 years old. Commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire.
Wills and Admin, Ancestry.
Margaret Eualie Chappe-Hall of Forge Cottage, Bucks Green, Horsham Sussex spinster died on or since 19 August 1941 on war service. Her effects went to her mother.

MADELEINE ALICE COOPER. Chief Wren P/6093 WRNS formerly on H.M.S. President II.
Born 17 July 1909 to Sydney William and Alice Harriet Cooper, on Mumbles, Glamorgan. 1911 with her parents at 33 Oakland Road, Mumbles, Glamorgan
1939 residing at Morden Grange, Dorking, Surrey, occupation Governess
Died 19 August 1941 age 31 years old. Commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire.

MARY GRANT. Chief Wren P/2209 WRNS formerly on H.M.S. President II.
Born 15 January 1915 to John and Mary Margaret Grant, of Inverness.
Died 19 August 1941 age 26 years old. Commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire.
Her father John Grant fought enlisted 25 October 1915 as Private 90323 with 1st Field Ambulance R.A.M.C. and was demobilised 02 June 1919 to Springfield Cottage, Ballyfeary Lane, Inverness-Shire.

CECILIA ALIX BRUCE JOY. Wren Third Officer formerly on H.M.S. Cormorant
Born 14 October 1916 at Maryville, Malone Road, Belfast to Lieutenant William Bruce Rainey Joy, M.C. Army Service Corps, and Josephine Ricarda Joy, nee Wilson, of Belfast. At the time of her birth, her father was in France.
Died 19 August 1941 age 24 years old. Commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire.
Wills and Admin Ancestry
Cecilia Alix Bruce Joy of 66 Bawnmore Road, Belfast, spinster died 19 August 1941 at sea. Her effects went to her father, a secretary.

Lieutenant, William Bruce Rainey Joy.
Born 11 July 1878 at Millmount, Bambridge, County Down to Robert and Elizabeth Joy.
Irish 1901 census with his parents and siblings at 02 Millmount, Bambridge, County Down.
Immigrated to Canada 1910 and later returned to Ireland
Canadian 1911 census. Residing at 538 Cedar Cottage, Vancouver, British Columbia, occupation age 33 Stoke broker.

London gazette dated 31 May 1916. Army Service Corps.
The undermentioned Cadets and ex Cadets, O.T.C., to be temp. 2nd Lieutenants (on prob. 08 May 1916.

London Gazette dated 03 June 1918 awarded the Military Cross
London Gazette fated 24 September 1919, promoted to Lieitenant.

1926 resided at 80 Bawnmore Road, Belfast
Wills and Admin, Ancestry.
William Bruce Rainey Joy of 66 Bawnmore Road, Belfast died 06 September 1946. His effects went to his widow. Effects £259.19s.07d in England.

FLORENCE MACPHERSON, nee Williamson. Wren, 3rd Officer formerly on H.M.S. Cormorant
Daughter of Albert and Alice Williamson. Wife of Lieut. Martin Hugh Macpherson, Royal Navy.
Died at sea on 19th August, 1941. She is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire.
Her husband
MARTIN HUGH MACPHERSON. Lieutenant, Royal Naval Patrol Service.
Son of Doctor William Hugh Macpherson and Maud Hollick Macpherson.
He was lost at sea on active service when serving in H.M. Trawler Northern Rover on 5th November, 1939. He is commemorated on the Lowestoft Naval Memorial, Suffolk.

VICTORIA CONSTANCE McLAREN, nee Hayward. Wren 3rd Officer formerly on H.M.S. Cormorant.
Born 1902 in Dublin to Harry and Jane Hayward, nee Fenwick of Upper Rathmines, Dublin. 1911 with her parents and sister Gladys Marion (1893) at Brandon Vicarage, Durham
Husband of James Thoburn McLaren who she married 19 September 1928 at Durham. Source for marriage S Katharine’s School Magazine. See below links
Died 19 August 1941. Commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire.
Wills and Admin, Ancestry.
Constance Victoria McLaren of 24 Northways, London died 19 August 1941 at sea. Her effects went to her sister, Gladys Marion Digby-Seymour, married woman.



KATHLEEN MILLER. Wren Third Officer WRNS formerly on H.M.S. President II.
Born 05 May 1907 baptised 26 May 1907 at Llanbadarn Fawr to Henry and Jane Anne Miller, nee Jones of Englefield Green, Surrey.
Wales 1911 - 1939 with her parents and siblings at Sunny Side Llanbadarn Fawr Nr Aberystwyth Cardiganshire
1939 her mother now widowed, trained nurse, Kathleen, school mistress.
Died at sea 19 August 1941 age 34 years old. Commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire.

ISABEL MARY MILNE HOME. Wren Third Officer on H.M.S. Cormorant
Born 1917 to Sir John Hepburn Milne Home, Kt., D.L., J.P., and of Lady Mary Adelaide Milne-Home, nee Elliot- Murray-Kynynmound, of Walkerburn, Peeblesshire.
London Gazette dated 13 August 1940
Leading Wren, Isabel Mary Milne Home promoted to rank of Third Officer with seniority of the date shown 22 April 1940. She was on HMS Ambrose.
She has undergone W.R.N.S. Officers Training Course at Greenwich.
Died 19 August 1941 age 24 years old. Commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire.

MILDRED GEORGINA NORMAN. Chief Wren R/3615 formerly on H.M.S. President II.
Born 30 June 1920 to Sidney George and Rosina Norman of Kensal Rise, Middlesex.
Died at sea 19 August 1941 age 21 years old. Commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent.

CHRISTINE EMMA MARY OGLE. Wren Second Officer formerly on H.M.S. President II.
Born 1907 at Derby to Revd. Canon Hugh Lambert Ogle, and Marion Emma Ogle, of Winchester. B.A.(Oxon).
1911 with her parents and siblings at 01 Forest Villa Starbeck Harrogate, Yorkshire.
1939 her parents were residing at 02 Christchurch Road, Winchester, Hampshire.Died 19 August 1941age 34 years old. Commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire.
Wills and Admin, Ancestry.
Christine Emma Mary Ogle of 13 Millman Mews, London, spinster. Died 19 August 1941 at sea. Her effects went to her father.

JOSEPHINE CALDWELL REITH. Wren 3rd Officer formerly on H.M.S. President II.
Born 1913 to John R. and Isabella Josephine Geddes, of Glasgow.
Incoming passenger list 1936.
She disembarked at Southampton 27 April 1936 from Argentina. Her forwarding address was 80 St George Street, Glasgow
Outward passenger list 1939.
On the 17 February 1939 Josephine C Reith and her mother Isabella Josephine Geddes embarked from Portsmouth bound for Lisbon, Portugal. Their address in Scotland was 80 St George Street, Glasgow. No occupation given.
Died 19 August 1941 age 28 years old. Commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire.

ELSIE ELIZABETH SHEPHERD. Chief Wren C/ 8870 formerly on H.M.S. President II posted to Accounting Base at a Royal Naval Air Station, Gibraltar.
Born 28 November 1917
Died at sea 19 August 1941.Commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent.

CATHERINE JOHNSTON SLAVEN. Chief Wren C/9322 formerly on H.M.S. President II.
Born 16 September 1921 to Henry and Bridget Slaven, of Shettleston, Glasgow.
Died 19 August 1941 age 19 years old. Commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent.


BEATRICE MABEL SMITH. Chief Wren R/61 formerly on H.M.S. President II.
Born 16 August 1911 to Alan William Frederick and Mabel Smith, of Mayfield, Sussex.
1939 with her parents at the Trees, Chislehurst Road, Orpington, Kent.
Died 19 August 1941 age 30 years old. Commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent.
Wills and Admin, Ancestry.
Beatrice Mabel Smith of the Trees Chislehurst Road, Orpington, spinster, died 20 (19th) August 1941 at sea. Her effects went to Frederick Smith, laundry director.

ELLEN JESSIE WATERS. Chief Wren (S) R/7491 WRNS formerly on H.M.S. President II.
Born 04 September 1908 to John and Ellen Waters. 1911 with her parents at 147 Burleigh Road, Enfield, Middlesex.
1939 with her mother at 33 Kempton Road, East Ham, Essex.
Died 19 August 1941. Commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent.

ROSALIE WELLS. Chief Wren (S), R/6120 WRNS formerly on H.M.S. President II.
Born 20 October 1907 to John and Rose Wells. 1911 with her parents at 40 Frogmore Street, Tring, Hertfordshire.
1939 at the home of the Arthur Cooper Bloomfield and his wife at Drayton, Letchworth, Hertfordshire, occupation, assistant nurse (Industrial welfare)
Died at sea 19 August 1941 age 33 years old. Commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent.
Wills and Admin, Ancestry.
Rosalie Wells of 58 Cowslip Hill Letchworth, Hertfordshire, spinster, died 19 August 1941 at sea. Her effects went to Arthur Cooper Bloomfield, engineer. (Her former employer.)

Below, Aguila passenger list.