San Demetrio London

20=02=08. SAN DEMETRIO NOV 1940
One is looking for knowledg of the person below, his full name, PRESTON ROSS OSWOLD,he is the mystery man of this Tanker. ... more >

20=02=08. SAN DEMETRIO NOV 1940
One is looking for knowledg of the person below, his full name, PRESTON ROSS OSWOLD,he is the mystery man of this Tanker.
Was he a CANADIAN===OR ++++A YANK,stories i have read he was killed at the OVERSEAS CLUB another that he was going to jion the RAF EAGLE SQ.
To have sign on the SAN DEMETRIO as an AB he must have had some sea experience as such.
He played a big part in the film which ia purchased on DVD now. One touching part of his story was he was givben the RED DUSTER.
Any help would be appreciated.
Austin < less

Bosun Fletcher Walter Edward was my Great Uncle. I have never seen the film ,but my mother told me of it he was her Uncle.
I am so excited to have found this and w... more >

Bosun Fletcher Walter Edward was my Great Uncle. I have never seen the film ,but my mother told me of it he was her Uncle.
I am so excited to have found this and will be buying it for my family. < less

Commemorated Tower Hill Memorial Panel 92.

BOYLE, Greaser, JOHN, M.V. San Demetrio (London). Merchant Navy. 11th November 1940. Age 28. King's Commendation f... more >

Commemorated Tower Hill Memorial Panel 92.

BOYLE, Greaser, JOHN, M.V. San Demetrio (London). Merchant Navy. 11th November 1940. Age 28. King's Commendation for Brave Conduct. Son of Patrick and Susan Healy Boyle. < less

View all 2 of Billy McGee’s reviews

The men who brought San Demetrio home:

BOYLE, JOHN (Greaser) Died 11th November 1940
COTTES, CLIFFORD (Ordinary Seaman)
DAVIES, JOHN (Storekeeper) more >

The men who brought San Demetrio home:

BOYLE, JOHN (Greaser) Died 11th November 1940
COTTES, CLIFFORD (Ordinary Seaman)
DAVIES, JOHN (Storekeeper)
FLETCHER, W.E. (Bosun)
HALLORAN, JOHN (2nd Steward)
HAWKINS, ARTHUR (2nd Mate)
HOUSDEN, ROY (Cadet)
JAMESON, JOHN (Messroom Boy)
JONES, JOHN LEWIS (Apprentice)
McLENNAN ? (Sailor)
McNEILL, COLUM (Sailor)
MORTIMOR, ? (Sailor)
POLLARD, CHARLES (Chief Engineer)
PORTER, JOHN (Ass. Steward)
PRESTON, OSWALD (Canadian nicknamed Yank)
WILLEY, GEORGE (3rd Engineer) < less

View all 2 of Billy McGee’s reviews

I have read the review of Ms. Jean T. Boyle Granitto, I would just like to put your mind at rest, and the next time you are watching the "San Demetrio", you should enj... more >

I have read the review of Ms. Jean T. Boyle Granitto, I would just like to put your mind at rest, and the next time you are watching the "San Demetrio", you should enjoy the film, and be proud of your grandfather, and not be upset about being done out of any royalties from the film, reason being, the John Boyle who is portrayed in the film his name is John Boyle, who died 11-11-1940, of injuries he received on board the San Demetrio, and was interred to the sea. He was also awarded the "Kings Commondation" for bravery, for his actions on the ship before he died. John Boyle was my uncle, so I like to clarify anything written about him, we still have documents to verify this, also from the film studio, and my feeling about the film is whilst so many men died and are forgotten, with this film John Boyle's memory lives on. For his family it was a great loss, and we have no grave to lay flowers. The crew brought The "MV San Demetrio" back to Scotland, off Rothesay, she was refitted and went back to war, sadly she was sunk on the 17-03-1942. < less

View all 2 of S Boyle’s reviews

It amazes me that after 65 years we are still reviewing this film, a wonder I would say, and a great accolade to the many Merchant Seamen who bravely sailed in these d... more >

It amazes me that after 65 years we are still reviewing this film, a wonder I would say, and a great accolade to the many Merchant Seamen who bravely sailed in these dangerous seas, for those of us who know it is based on a real event, and that the MV San Demetrio was an oil tanker, her cargo gasoline, and a part of Convoy HX 84, we can feel the courage of these men and the part they played in WW2.

I personally view it with pride and sadness as my uncle was John Boyle, he was one of the crew who reboarded the vessel but sadly died before reaching his home on the River Clyde, he was interred to the sea, there is a part dedicated to him in the film played by Mervyn Johns. We have a letter from Ealing studios, confirming this.

He was also awarded (P.H.) A Kings Commendation for brave conduct, but sadly we don't have a grave to lay flowers. < less

View all 2 of S Boyle’s reviews

I am writing this review, because everytime I see it or read the credits I get very upset. Its a great movie based on true facts. The truth is my Grandfather was on th... more >

I am writing this review, because everytime I see it or read the credits I get very upset. Its a great movie based on true facts. The truth is my Grandfather was on the ship. His name was Frank Boyle NOT John Boyle as the movie used. John Boyle was his son and my dad. The movie gave him the name John not Frank his real name cause they didn\'t want to pay my grandmother for any rights.

I just wish they used his real name. < less

This is hardly a review as the last time I saw the film was probably 1949. I left school in 1946 and worked for Eagle Oil and Shipping Co.Ltd. as a shorthand typist. T... more >

This is hardly a review as the last time I saw the film was probably 1949. I left school in 1946 and worked for Eagle Oil and Shipping Co.Ltd. as a shorthand typist. The company was rightfully proud of San Demetrio and during lunch hours the film was shown several times during my time there.
One item I have read this morning mentions the crew brought her back to Scotland unaided gaining them several thousand pounds in salvage money. It also says they did this unknowing about what they would get. My story from memory (plays havoc as you get older!) is that they returned to Liverpool! Also that a number of senior people in the company went to wherever they were returning to and loudhailed them not to accept assistance from a Dutch tug that would have liked the job! This was because the company wanted their own men to get the salvage money. < less

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Film Details

Cast

Mervyn Johns, Walter Fitzgerald, Ralph Michael, Robert Beatty, Frank Boyle

Technical Details