William Kavanagh

Edward Kavanagh was born at Rock Big, Arklow, on 4 June 1909, the son of Denis Kavanagh and Julia Reilly. 

His birth was registered on 30 June 1909 by midwife Sarah Massey of Fair Green, who was present at the birth.

1911 Census

Edward was listed as living in Household 11, Rock Big with his parents and seven siblings; Patrick, Lizzie, Denis, Mary, James, William and Michael.

1926 Census

Sixteen-year-old Edward was residing with his parents and seven brothers at Askintinny, Arklow, listed as being at school.

Second World War Service & Death

Edward subsequently joined the Merchant Navy, serving as an Able Seaman (A.B.) aboard the Newcastle-on-Tyne registered steamship S.S. Eastlea.

Edward lost his life when the S.S. Eastlea, was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean during the Second World War.

On 24 March 1941, while en route from Cape Verde to Newport News, Virginia carrying a cargo of grain, the steamship was attacked at 22:58 hours by the German U-boat U-106. Hit amidships approximately 130 miles west-northwest of San Antonio in the Cape Verde Islands, the ship broke her back and sank within ten minutes.

There were no survivors; the master, 33 crew members, and 3 DEMS gunners were all lost at sea. Because the vessel went missing without sending a distress signal, the British Admiralty officially declared the Eastlea missing and her crew presumed lost on 30 March 1941, which is recorded as Edward's official date of death on his Commonwealth War Graves entry. 

Commemorated on Panel 36 of the Tower Hill Memorial in London, his Commonwealth War Graves entry records him as the son of Denis and Julia Kavanagh of Arklow, County Wicklow.