Corporal 7645728 Alfred Walter Summerhayes

Personal Information:
Alfred Walter Summerhayes was born in March 1920 at Shoeburyness, the only child of Alfred Summerhayes (1898-1976) and Alice (Kitty) Willis (1897-1963). They were married in 1919.

Historical Information:
Alfred Walter Summerhayes was on the SS Yoma, which was torpedoed and sunk on this date. She had left Tripoli on 16th June as part of Convoy GTX2, consisting of 14 ships including 3 troop ships, bound for Alexandria. The Yoma was the leading ship of the third column, with two ships astern of her. The next morning was fine, clear and sunny with 'light airs'. Around 7:30am the ship was heading east at 6½ knots when she was struck by a torpedo from U-boat U-81, causing the after-engine room bulkhead to collapse and the boiler room, engine room and number 5 hold to flood immediately. The SS Yoma sunk in about six minutes. The convoy had to carry on as it was too dangerous to linger with submarines in the vicinity. Many men were in the water for some time before they were picked up.