Benjamin Solomons

Serjeant, Royal Artillery
Service number: 1577786
Died 19 Jan 1942
Commemorated on Brookwood 1939-1945 Memorial, United Kingdom
Age 21


Benjamin was born on 7 April 1920 in London City to London born parents Michael, a general dealer, and Rachel nee Barnett and he had an older sister Sophia. In 1921, the family lived at 17 Widegate Street in Bishopsgate, London.

When Benjamin was eighteen he attested into the Royal Artillery and a year later aged nineteen he married Gertrude Adler in 1939. They lived at 2 Cobb Street in Stepney, where Benjamin worked as a ladies’ hairdresser and was a part-time ARP Warden.

Details of Benjamin’s service are unknown until his death in 1942. His military papers state that he died at sea. He was on board the S.S. Lady Hawkins, a steam passenger ship which was travelling from Montreal to Halifax, Boston (16 Jan), Bermuda, Georgetown, to British Guiana. At 07.43 hours on 19 January 1942 the unescorted ship was hit by two stern torpedoes from U boat 66 and sank after 30 minutes about 150 miles east of Cape Hatteras. The master, 86 crew members, one gunner and 163 passengers (including four DBS) were lost. 

Photo credit CWGC