George (Gershon) was born on 27 September 1921 in Limehouse, London to London born parents Montague (Mordechai) and Frances nee Caplin and he had a younger sister Ruby. Montague in 1921 was listed as an out of work fish salesman living on East India Dock Road, London and in the 1939 Register as a fish cleaner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Records show that George joined the Merchant Navy on his first voyage on 23 September 1937 serving on the ship Alaunia working as a bell boy. Further records list him as serving on the ship Cavina until 4 February 1943 followed by the S.S. Mataroa travelling from Durban, South Africa to Avonmouth in August 1943 where he is listed as an officer’s steward and having served for six years at sea. Later that year in November he was serving on the S.S. Queen Elizabeth travelling from Liverpool to Gourock. The next record found lists him as serving on the Liberty ship Samspring which travelled from Augusta, Sicily arriving in New York on 15 April 1944. He is classed as a discharged seaman for refusal of duty from the 11 May 1943. At some point he was classed as D.B.S. (Distressed British Seaman) and was sent back home on the S.S. Empire Heritage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In early September of 1944, the Empire Heritage, was en-voyage from New York to Liverpool carrying a heavy cargo of war supplies including 16,000 tons of oil and a deck cargo of Sherman tanks, half-tracks and trucks. On 8 September 1944, 15 miles northwest of Malin Head (the most northerly point of Ireland) its journey would end, torpedoed by the German submarine U-482. After two direct hits the vessel went down fast to the seabed some 70 metres beneath the waves, with all the cargo and a loss of 113 lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An escort ship, SS Pinto, attempted to rescue the survivors but was also hit and sank in the same attack. Survivors from both ships were eventually picked up and rescued by HMS Northern Wave and taken ashore at Derry, Northern Island. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The wreck of the S.S. Empire Heritage\u00a0<\/strong>is designated as a war grave and is the final resting place of George Gershon Ottolangui. The wreck of\u00a0the ship and its cargo lay silently beneath the waves until 1995 when rediscovered by divers. The tanks and trucks are still visible scattered on the seabed next to the wreck. Photographs of the wreck and its cargo can be viewed on the website\u00a0https:\/\/coastmonkey.ie\/ss-empire-heritage-malin-head<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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