ON 0UR DOORSTEP In the he early hours of the 13th June 1940, a Handley Page Hampden bomber of no 144 Squadron from R. A. F. Hemswell, near Gainsborough in Lincolnshire, struck the cable of one of the barrage balloons and crashed into East Anglia Mills at Felixstowe with disastro disastrous us consequences. The 3 members of the bomber crew & a mill employee were killed. The silo house and part of the mill were badly damaged and the mill had to suspend operation for a period of 2 years. Burning fuel from the bomber's fuel tanks was sprayed ove overr the sailing barges Phoenician and Raybel and over Marriages' own motor barges Golden Grain & the Miller, which were all lying at the North Quay. The Master of the Golden Grain, Ernest Parker was burnt by the blazing fuel. In September 1940, the Ministry of Shipping requisitioned The Miller and she was delivered to Sheerness. At this point, Captain Parker , who was aged 62 took a shore job at the mill, as did his son, Cyril, who had been ship's engineer on the Golden Grain went to work at Paxman's Britannia Britann Works testing Landing Craft engines. On the 22nd September 1940, Sidney Mallett took over as Master of M. V. Golden Grain and The Miller's former Engineer; John Farthing became her Engineering Officer, while the Golden Grain's former Mate, Albert Keeble from Tollesbury continued on board.
MV GOLDEN GRAIN Albert Keeble the mate is just behind the mast. Alfred Keeble is standing at the back. On the left is the Master, Ernest Parker and the Engineer Cyril Parker is on the right. Ronald Parker, the Mast Master's grandson is in front.
Commonwealth War Dead Memorial Reference: Panel 52.: TOWER HILL MEMORIAL
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