Corporal Alfred Walter Summerhayes

Royal Army Ordnance Corps, attached Royal Engineers Died on Thursday, 17th June 1943, aged 23
Personal Information: Son of Alfred and Alice (Kitty) Summerhayes, of Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex. Memorial: Panel 19. Column 1, Brookwood Memorial, Surrey.

Memorial Information: Brookwood Memorial

The Brookwood Memorial takes the form of a rotunda that stands within the Brookwood Military Cemetery, 30 miles from London.

It commemorates 3,450 men and women of the land forces of the Second World War who have no known grave. Their deaths took place all over the globe; many died at sea, some were in the campaign in Norway, others were members of raiding parties that set out from the United Kingdom, some were special agents or workers with Allied underground movements.


Historical Information: SS Yoma 1160225

It is currently presumed that Alfred Walter Summerhayes died on the SS Yoma, which was sunk on this date. It is known that there were several Royal Engineers on board, including some from the 1010 docks Operating Company amongst others.

The SS Yoma had left Tripoli on 16th June in Convoy G.T.X.2, 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 convoy had to steam ahead 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.