Ina May DUNCAN

Ina May DUNCAN. Nurse VAD on S.S. Athenia.

Born 20 August 1909 Salisbury Westmorland County New Brunswick Canada.

The Athenia was the first ship sunk by a U-boat in the Second World War. This attack was carried out in contravention of standing orders, Lemp assumed the ship was an armed merchant cruiser, because she was darkened and zigzagging. The attack was denied by the Germans during the war and the KTB of U-30 was changed by higher order. It is a common erroneous understanding that the Athenia was shelled. What some survivors saw was a torpedo exploding near the U-boat. A second torpedo had been stuck with running engines in its tube during the initial attack and the U-boat was in danger of being destroyed as the torpedo had timer detonator, but the crew managed to dislodge the stuck torpedo in time.

Killed on the sinking of SS Athenia By U-Boat U-30, 3 September 1939 aged 30

At rest on or near S.S. Athenia.

Commemorated on a family headstone Five Points Cemetery Albert County New Brunswick Canada.

Photo credited to Lydia Find A Grave.