McCune, Charles Knox

3rd Radio Officer Charles Knox McCune 

Charles McCune was born at Shore Street, Belfast on 8th July 1920 to Robert Eaton McCune, Merchant and Mary McCune nee Knox.

The 1901 Irish Census records a Robert E McCune (29) as residing in house 39, Shore Road, Duncairn Ward, Belfast. Robert married Mary Knox on 11th September 1912 at the Congregational Buildings, College Street South, Belfast.

Following his education, Charles joined the Belfast Banking Company and is recorded as working in Portaferry branch. His father signed the Bankers Guarantee for him giving his address as Cloughfern, Whiteabbey. 

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

Belfast Bank, Portaferry branch 
(acknowledged to J Miller Collection)

Charles volunteered and enlisted into the Merchant Navy as a 3rd Radio Officer and was serving on the cargo vessel, SS Lalande (Liverpool).

S S Lalande

Charles was killed in action on 14th November 1942. The details of the attack by a U-Boat is in this website.

His death is noted in this newspaper image:

Image courtesy of Nigel Henderson

The Merchant Navy record card records his death by drowning and his rank as 3rd Radio Officer.

Merchant Seaman's Death - via Ancestry

He is remembered on the Shipping & Seaman's Roll of Honour:

Shipping & Seaman's Roll of Honour

The PRONI Wills databases records: "McCune, Charles Knox, Cloughfern, Whiteabbey, County Antrim. Radio Officer died 14th November 1942 at sea. Administration, Belfast 21st October to Robert Eaton McCune merchant. Effects £136 18s. 10d."

Charles is remembered on the Radio Officers website. This website records McCune's death as:

"The steamer was so badly damaged by enemy air attacks off the North African coast that she had to be withdrawn from service. It is assumed the above officer died during such air attacks. Six other members of the crew lost their lives."

Belfast Bank War Memorial