Jack Blonder
Cook, S.S. Cape Corso
Died 2 May 1942
Commemorated at Tower Hill Memorial
Age 31
Jack was born on 17 July 1910 in Shoreditch, London to Polish born parents David Cohen and Sarah nee Blonder. Jack changed his surname to his mother’s maiden name when he enlisted. Jack married Kathleen Flanagan in 1936 and the 1939 Register shows them living 98 First Avenue, East Ham with Jack was working in a raw sugar factory as a labourer. Their daughter Tessa was born in 1936 followed by a son David in 1939. Jack loved music and enjoyed playing classical music on the piano.
Jack worked as a cook on various Merchant Navy ships. On 2 May 1942 he was serving on S.S. Cape Corso which was part of the convoy PQ15 carrying fuel and munitions to Murmansk. The convoy was attacked by torpedoes from Heinkel He-111 bombers, which sank three ships in minutes. The Cape Corso blew up with the loss of 56 of her crew.



