Chief Engineer Officer Bell Wallace - Lost at sea 2nd March 1941.

Remembering today: Chief Engineer Officer Bell Wallace, Merchant Navy, lost at sea 2^nd March 1941 aged 45 on board S.S Castle Hill.  Bell was born in Carrickfergus in 1895, the son of Robert and Jane Wallace and brother of Bessie, William, Jane, Thomas, Robert, James, Sarah, David and Neta.  He grew up in the family home on Unity Street and was a member of Joymount Presbyterian Church.  He married Margaret Wallace they continued to live in Carrickfergus until his death.

S.S Castle Hill was a coal cargo ship built by Scott Shipbuilding of Greenock in 1920 and owned by John Kelly Limited of Belfast.  She foundered en route from Cork to Newport 10 miles East by South of Minehead after being bombed by German aircraft on 2^nd March 1941. 

The lost crew include: 

Wm. Boyd, Master, Belfast
Geo. McCormick, Mate, Killyleagh.
Martin Bruen, Lamp-Trimmer, Rosses Point, Sligo
Bell Wallace, Chief Engineer, Carrickfergus.
Chas. Black, 2nd Engineer, Belfast
Wm. Ferguson, A.B., Belfast
Frank Houlihan, Cook, Cork
A. Fee, Fireman, Killyleagh
R. McLaughlin, Fireman, Glenarm
J.B. Sinclair, Naval Gunner, Belfast

The men remain lost at sea and are remembered on Tower Hill Memorial, London, Panel 24.  

S.S Castle Hill