Born in 1896 at Forest Gate, son of Evan George (Electrical Engineer) and Frances Mary Mackenzie. 1901: With his family at 4 St Margaret’s Road, Plumstead. 1911: A Scholar with his family at 2 Annes Villas, West Grove, Woodford Green. The address was later 38 West Grove, Woodford Green. He was an Old Bancroftian.
He became an Apprentice in the Merchant Marine, and on 15th April 1917 was on board the SS “Mashobra” when it was torpedoed by an Austrian submarine. He survived that attack and went to join the SS “Malda.”
The “Malda” was operated by the British India Steam Navigation Co., and was transporting general cargo from Boston to London. At 13.40 on 25th August 1917 she was torpedoed on the port side by Kapitänleutnant Otto Wunsche in the U70 when 130 miles west & south of Bishops Rock. The engine room soon flooded and men took to boats in a north westerly gale. The U boat surfaced but communication was impossible. Some survivors were picked up by other ships, others made landfall in their boats. The “Malda” did not sink immediately and the First officer had hopes of reboarding, but the U Boat returned, sending them away. The ship sank on the morning of 26th August.
The official report listed 64 men as being lost, which included Apprentice Evan MacKenzie.
Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian
Sources:
Ancestry.com
For more information on this individual please see The Old Bancroftian website.