Henry Osei

Able Seaman Henry Osei was born in Accra, Gold Coast, and served in the British Merchant Navy sailing from Southampton. He crossed the Atlantic dozens of times on supply convoys, carrying vital food, fuel, and munitions to Britain. The Merchant Navy suffered the highest casualty rate of any British service — over 30,000 killed. Henry's ship was torpedoed twice; the first time he spent eighteen hours in a lifeboat before rescue, the second time he was picked up after just two hours. Despite the danger, he continued to volunteer for Atlantic crossings throughout the war. He settled in Southampton's Northam district after the war.