British Cemetery in Buenos Aires

[Richie B]

Fangio

Thanks for more excellent photographs.

Interesting to see Corporal Barwood Royal Marines on the SS Highland Princess. First names Thomas James.

This ship was built in 1929 and operated initially by the Nelson Line which traded between South America and England.

The ship was later taken over by the Royal Mail Lines in 1932 and survived the Second World War war being used as a troopship. Sold in 1959 sold to John Latsis, Piraeus, Greece and renamed Mariannaa.

I wonder why he was on the ship. Some British merchant ships were armed – known as Defensively Equipped Merchant
Ships – carried Royal Marine gunners – I guess he could have been one of these chaps.

Found this concerning the Marine from HMS Swift.

http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1129038824078

Keep up the good work.

Richie

[Vitesse]

Found this concerning the Marine from HMS Swift.

http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1129038824078

What a remarkable story!

[FANGIO]

I wonder why he was on the ship. Some British merchant ships were armed – known as Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships – carried Royal Marine gunners – I guess he could have been one of these chaps.

I think you're right Richie, maybe he was a Royal Marine gunner.

Found this concerning the Marine from HMS Swift.

http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/servle ... 9038824078

Amazing story! After so many years, the complete skeleton of one of the two crew members who had died is found in the year 2005 Incredible!

Best,

FANGIO

[TimLough]

Fangio,

I have only just now found your posting. I am the Vice Chairman of the Royal British Legion (Buenos Aires Branch, just closed down) and Vice Chairman of the British Cemetery.

The sailor from the Exeter was brought over to the British Hospital in Buenos Aires due to his severe burns and he died here a few months later. All the sailors who died in The Battle of the River Plate (Battle of Punta del Este to the Uruguayans) were buried in their respective cemeteries (British and German) in the city of Montevideo.

I wasn't at the ceremony to Langsdorff which you attended, but I did hold two ceremonies for him together with Peter Mulvany (Chairman of the Irish Seamen's Families Assoc.) and later I attended another ceremony the year before last representing the RBL.

Your photographs are excellent and I would like your permission to use them on our cemetery website which we are currently building up.

All the best, Tim Lough

[FANGIO]

Tim,

I've sent you a PM.

Best,

FANGIO

[Skylar]

Hello there. My Aunty told me she had come across this but didn't know how to reply so I came looking and registered.

James Fredrick was a distant relative of mine, he was my Grandmothers Cousin.

Jimmy was buried in here because that is where he was taken with injuries when the Exeter was hit and he died on the operating table in Buenos Aires.

Wish I had more for you but there is no-one old enough left alive in my family to get any further details.

[TimLough]

Thank you for your posting. We upkeep the Commonwealth War Graves and make sure everything is looking good, we are hoping for a visit from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in the near future. Others who died in the Battle of the River Plate are buried in the British Cemetery in Montevideo

[Skylar]

Such a shame I've only come across this now. Jimmy's Sister who was more like an Aunt to me than a distant Cousin only died less than a year ago and I could have got more information from her.

But her Children may have pictures and more information. Would be nice maybe to get an old photograph and put a face to the name on that grave here.

[TimLough]

'fraid we don't have photos of the deceased in the War Graves. It would be great to get one for our records. If you want a close up photo of the headstone I can do it for you.