Ernest King

Chief Engineer Ernest King from Southampton served on multiple merchant vessels throughout the war, surviving two torpedo attacks before his ship SS Empire Dorado was sunk. On his first convoy to Murmansk in 1942, his ship was attacked by Luftwaffe bombers but King kept the engines running despite flooding in the engine room. On the return voyage, a U-boat torpedo struck amidships but the crew managed to save the vessel. In 1943, on a convoy to North Africa, SS Empire Dorado was torpedoed and sank within minutes. King ensured all his engine room crew evacuated before going down with the ship. His sacrifice embodies the spirit of Southampton's merchant seafarers.