Following refurbishment, the flagpole outside Southwold Sailors’ Reading Room is to be rededicated by the Rector of Southwold, Reverend Russ Gant, at 6.00pm on Saturday 8th June 2024.
The flagpole is a memorial dedicated to Captain David W. Simpson MBE who was the master of the merchant ship S. S. Empire Merlin which was torpedoed by a U-boat and sank to the west of the Outer Hebrides on 25th August 1940.
There was only one survivor and Captain Simpson died, aged 70, along with 34 crew.
A photograph of Captain Simpson can be seen inside the Reading Room.
Captain Simpson lived in Barnaby Green in Southwold and is also remembered on the Southwold War Memorial.
Captain Simpson had served in the Merchant Navy in the First World War and as master of the S. S. Wandy, had attacked and sunk a U-boat.
More information on the sinking of the S. S. Empire Merlin is available at https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship/485.html
