Second Officer Leonard "Len" Whiston lived in Bangor, Co. Down while serving with the Merchant Navy during the Second World War. He died in December 1943.
Second Officer
Second Officer Leonard Whiston served in the Merchant Navy during the Second World War. Born on 25th February 1919 and known as Len, he was the youngest son of Thomas Whiston and Mabel Whiston (née Harvey) of Cromer, Norfolk, England.
In civilian life, Len attended Newcastle Public Elementary School, Newcastle, Co. Down and then Regent House Grammar School, Newtownards, Co. Down from 1932 to 1935. The family lived in coastal towns around Great Britain and Northern Ireland including Donaghadee, Co. Down as Thomas was a Coastguard Officer.
At the age of 15 years old, Len first went to sea, joining the Bank Line Ltd. as an apprentice. On 17th March 1942, he married Patricia Margaret Cochrane in Shore Street Presbyterian Church, Dongahadee, Co. Down. The couple settled down at 6 Manse Road, Bangor, Co. Down where their son Robert Leonard Whiston was born on 7th April 1943.
Second Officer Whiston died on 2nd December 1943 aged 24 years old while serving on S.S. Testbank. The British Merchant vessel was docked in Bari, Italy when the port came under attack from the Luftwaffe. Seventeen vessels carrying 35,000 tons of cargo including ammunition and mustard gas bombs were destroyed with devastating effect. Following Whiston’s death, his wife and son left Bangor, Co. Down and emigrated to Australia.
Second Officer Whiston has no known grave and his name is on Panel 107 of the Tower Hill Memorial, London, England. His name is also on the Bangor and District War Memorial, Bangor, Co. Down, the Roll of Honour at St. Comgall’s Parish Church, Bangor, Co. Down, and that of Regent House Grammar School, Newtownards, Co. Down.