Jack Goran

Steward, M.V. Amerika
Died 22 Apr 1943
Commemorated at Tower Hill Memorial
Age 29


Joseph (Jack) was born 15 May 1914 in Edinburgh, Scotland to Polish parents Lazarus, a tailor, and Rebecca nee Raftenberg and he had five brothers. The family lived at 121 Rose Street in Edinburgh.

Jack was a saloon steward on the cargo ship M.V. Amerika. On 22 April 1943, the ship was en route from Halifax to Liverpool in Convoy HX-234 carrying a cargo of metal, flour, meat and 200 bags of mail. Also on board were 53 Royal Canadian Air Force personnel. She was torpedoed by U-306 and sunk south of Cape Farewell. 42 crew members, including Jack, 7 gunners, and 37 passengers were lost. The Master, 29 crew members, 8 gunners and 16 passengers were picked up by HMS Asphodel and landed at Greenock. 

Joe Levy, also a steward, was killed and has a page on the website. Levy, Joe | Remembering the Jews of WW2

Tower Hill Memorial