The Merchant Navy Crest

ss CITY OF CAIRO

A tribute to the British Merchant Navy - they also served!

The Red Duster

Lost at Sea - Lascars

In Memoriam poppy image

Ranno Panna died 20th November 1942, Age 34. Sultan Khan died 7th February 1943, Age 40. The bodies of two Lascar seamen who were landed by ss CLAN ALPINE were buried (nameless) on 19th November 1942.

Chittagong War Memorial

Chittagong War Memorial

Image courtesy of the CWGC

Graves of Lascar Seamen on St Helena

Lascar Graves, St Helena

Image courtesy of Colin Kendall

India and Bangladesh have identical Memorials to the Missing in the Bombay and Chittagong 1939-1945 Memorials, each commemorating the same 6,000 plus Merchant Navy casualties who were lost at sea during WW2 and whom are remembered in perpetuity.

Grave of Lascar Ranoo Panna

In Memoriam - Ranoo Panna

Courtesy of Colin Kendall

Another day, ah! me, a day Of dreary sorrow is begun! And still I loath the temper'd ray, And still I hate the sickly sun! Far from my native Indian shore, I hear our wretched race deplore; I mark the smile of taunting scorn, And curse the hour when I was born! I weep, but no one gently tries To stop my tear, or check my sighs; For while my heart beats mournfully, Dear Indian home, I sigh for thee!

The Lascar by Mary Darby Robinson (1758-1800)

All the Lascar seamen listed below are commemorated on the Bombay/Chittagong Merchant Navy War Memorial. They have no grave but the sea.

Thanks to George V. Monk RIP and Peter Bird for the list below.

Lascars lost at sea in the lifeboats (66)
Name Position Fate
Budroodin Baba Fireman Serang Died at sea, 18 November 1942
Abdooramon SK Alee Donkeyman Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Mohamed Ali SK Abdul General Assistant Died at sea, 6 November 1942
SK Baboo Abdul Head Waiter Died at sea, 6 November 1942
SK Tajoo SK Ali Ashraf Scullion Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Ebahim Alisab Trimmer Died at sea, 6 November 1942
A. Antonio General Servant Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Ghulam Rahman Badaruddin General Servant Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Bashir Hasan Trimmer Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Damia Baptista General Servant Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Alijan Bhulla Fireman Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Abdul Hamid Abdul Cader General Servant Died at sea, 6 November 1942
V. Castelino General Servant Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Mahiuddin Dawood Trimmer Died at sea, 6 November 1942
SK Esmail SK Dawood Trimmer Died at sea, 6 November 1942
R. De Silva General Servant Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Hoosain Ebahim Fireman Died at sea, 6 November 1942
SK Ayoob Ebahim Fireman Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Cader Esmail Donkeyman Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Nazareth Estrocio Second Cook Died at sea, 6 November 1942
SK Maghole Mahomed Eusoof Boy Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Baba Fackeersab Donkeyman Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Joao Xavier Fernandes General Servant Died at sea, 6 November 1942
A.F. Ferrao General Servant Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Mohamed Sidiq Abdul Gafoor Trimmer Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Baboo Gomes Augustine Gomes Cook Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Pocha Gomes Cook Died at sea, 6 November 1942
William Gomes Cook Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Sulleyman SK Kamal Seaman Died at sea, 6 November 1942
SK Abdul Rahim SK Hasson Cassab Died at sea, 6 November 1942
SK Kalloo Afzul Hosein General Servant Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Ansar Hossain Sakawat Hossain Fireman Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Rahim Bux Ata Hussein General Servant Died at sea, 6 November 1942
SK Hossain Mahomed Jaffer Fireman Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Mahabat Jeen Khan Fireman Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Rasool Jooman Bhandary Died at sea, 6 November 1942
SK Babu SK Kamal Seaman Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Babu Khan Rasul Khan General Servant Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Lakoo Ram Shew Lochan Dhobie Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Pancham Maham Butcher Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Ahmed Mahbode Fireman Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Enathoolla Athoulil Fireman Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Ahmed Mohamed Fireman Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Paharee Mangalee Saloon Topass Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Sammel Matthew Second Cook Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Chunder Modhoo Butcher's mate Died at sea, 6 November 1942
SK Hossein SK Mohdeen Seaman Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Said Peer Mea Syed Moosa Fireman Died at sea, 6 November 1942
SK Tomizuddin SK Naimuddin Second Cook Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Sajila Baboo Nasirali General Servant Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Ghulam Rasul Nawabjan General Servant Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Abdul Currim SK Oosman Seaman Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Sharfoodin SK Oosman Greaser Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Khalil Rahman Trimmer Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Currim Hasson Fireman Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Lookha Ramchunder Saloon Topass Died at sea, 6 November 1942
B Rozario Second Cook Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Francis Rozario Second Cook Died at sea, 6 November 1942
SK Mahd Ishaq General Servant Died at sea, 6 November 1942
SK Rajab SK Fackeer Hamad Seaman Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Sulleyman Mahd Hanif General Servant Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Ramayya Senayya Deck Topass Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Panja Choram Sinquram Deck Topass Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Taju Fireman Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Tamiz-ud-din Fireman/Trimmer Died at sea, 6 November 1942
Inayat Ullah Boy Died at sea, 6 November 1942

The dates of death for the Lascar seamen are as noted by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. They are factually incorrect, as far as is known, only one Lascar seaman from "CITY OF CAIRO" died on the 6th November 1942.