Information provided by www.cwgc.org and National archives

Name: KENNAUGH, ROBERT GEORGE HENRY
Initials: R G H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Junior Engineer Officer
Regiment/Service: Merchant Navy
Unit Text: S.S. Mona's Queen (Douglas, Isle of Man).
Age: 22
Date of Death: 29/05/1940
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 71.
Memorial: TOWER HILL MEMORIAL

Listed as living at 60 (possibly No 6), Woodburn Square, Douglas, Single at the time of his death.

Medal Entitlement
Eight medals were awarded to British merchant sea men who served in World War Two and who met the qualifications for each medal. The Mercantile Marine Office usually issued the ribbons at the port, with the medal normally following on some time later, after it had been produced by the Mint. It is believed that the Atlantic Star and the 1939-1945 ribbon were issued in advance of the others.

Records show that R.G.H Kennaugh was entitled too the following, although I cant say for sure that the family ever claimed them, but will try and find out.

War Medal (1939-1945)
Generally awarded if the service period qualified for one of the Stars and if terminated by death, disability due to service or capture as a prisoner-of-war. A merchant sea man had to have served a minimum of 28 days at sea

Atlantic Star (1939-1945)
Awarded after the Battle of the Atlantic for service between 3 September 1939 and 8 May 1945 and if the service period was terminated by their death or disability due to service. The qualifying service period for the Atlantic Star could only begin after the 1939-1945 Star had been earned by 6 months' service. A merchant sea man had to serve in the Atlantic, home waters, North Russia Convoys or South Atlantic waters. The Atlantic Star was also awarded to those awarded a gallantry medal, with no minimum qualifying period.

1939-1945 Star
Awarded for service between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945 and if the service period was terminated by death or disability due to service. A merchant sea man could qualify after 6 months' service with at least one voyage in an operational area. The 1939-1945 Star was also awarded to recipients of a gallantry medal, with no minimum qualifying period.

To get more detailed information, you are best applying for his service records, which you can do by contacting the following (Info supplied by Billy McGee at Mercantile Marine)

1913 to 1940 Fourth Register of Merchant Sea man's service.

These records are available at The National Archives and are held on Microfiche in the following classifications BT 348: Register of Seamen, Central Index, Numerical Series (CR 2), BT 349: Register of Sea men, Central Index, Alphabetical Series (CR 1) and BT 350: Register of Sea men, Special Index, Alphabetical Series (CR 10). These three classes were combined in one classification namely BT 364 Register of Seaman, Combined Numerical Index (CR1, CR 2 & CR 10) and were made up by extracting combinations of cards from the other three classes.

The original records for the above named classifications are now held at the following address:

Southampton Archives,
Southampton City Council,
South Block, Civic Centre,
Southampton,
S014 7LY.

This office is open Tuesdays to Fridays 9.30am to 4.30pm, with one late evening opening each month. There is no charge for a personal visit. Alternatively enquiries for information from the records may be made by post, e-mail or fax but there will be a charge for this.

Ask them to do a search for ROBERT GEORGE HENRY KENNAUGH, and give his place and date of birth, making sure that you highlight the fact that he died at sea. It might also be worth quoting his medal Index card Number which I think is 116999

Steamer Monas Queen, 2,756grt, (Isle of Man Steam Packet Co.) had been sailing from Dover to Dunkirk when she detonated a mine in the approaches to Dunkirk whilst being attacked by two German Bombers, half a mile East of Dunkirk Pier Head, breaking in two and sank taking 24 of her 61 crew with her. The bodies of two crew members were later recovered and buried ashore.

Some further details here

www.old-merseytimes.co.uk/manxboats1940.html

Some images of the Mona’s Queen are available here

www.simplonpc.co.uk/IOM_Monas_Queen_3_1934.html

The Mona’s Queen did in fact make one of the first successful round trips from Dover to Dunkirk on the 26th / 27th May, which may even have been prior to the Admiralty signal to start the evacuation. Carrying 1,200 troops the Mona’s Queen arrived back at Dover shortly before midnight on the 26th/27th May (Source: The Evacuation from Dunkirk: Operation Dynamo, 26th May – 4th June 1940 by W.J.R. Gardner)

The Survivors (listed at bottom), were rescued in the main by destroyer VANQUISHER and H.M.S. Intrepid, who continued to sail into Dunkirk with the survivors, who then helped a further 661 troops escape.

The sister Ship of the Mona’s Queen, the Mona’s Isle, was the first ship to arrive at Dunkirk and make a successful round trip.

Here is also a list of the ROH for the Mona’s Queen, again supplied by Billy McGee

BARWELL, Chief Engineer Officer, HARRY, S.S. Mona's Queen (Douglas, Isle of Man). Merchant Navy. 29th May 1940. Age 44. Son of William and Theodosia Barwell; husband of Evelyn Barwell, of Douglas, Isle of Man.
CALLISTER, Junior Engineer Officer, ROBERT CLARKE, S.S. Mona's Queen (Douglas, I.O.M.). Merchant Navy. 29th May 1940. Age 38. Son of William and Margaret Callister; husband of Hilda Callister, of Douglas, Isle of Man.
CRELLIN, Fireman, WILFRED ERNEST, S.S. Mona's Queen (Douglas, Isle of Man). Merchant Navy. 29th May 1940. Age 20. Son of Arthur Wilfred and Emily Ann Crellin, of Port Erin, Isle of Man.
CROMWELL, Able Seaman, WILLIAM R., S.S. Mona's Queen (Douglas, Isle of Man). Merchant Navy. 29th May 1940. Age 32. Son of William Robert and Margaret Cromwell, of Douglas, Isle of Man.
DELANEY, Junior Engineer Officer, MICHAEL HENRY, S.S. Mona's Queen (Douglas, Isle of Man). Merchant Navy. 29th May 1940. Age 48. Husband of Irene Florence Delaney (nee Ingram), of Douglas, Isle of Man.
DUGGAN, Lamp Trimmer, THOMAS OSWALD, S.S. Mona's Queen (Douglas, Isle of Man). Merchant Navy. 29th May 1940. Age 57. Son of Thomas and Ellen Duggan, of Ballabeg, Isle of Man; husband of Apendita Eleanor Duggan, of Douglas, Isle of Man.
GALLAGHER, Purser, JAMES ROY, S.S. Mona's Queen (Douglas, Isle of Man). Merchant Navy. 29th May 1940. Age 37. Son of James and Maud Gallagher; husband of Edith Eileen Gallagher, of Douglas, Isle of Man.
GURRY, Fireman, JOHN, S.S. Mona's Queen (Douglas, Isle of Man). Merchant Navy. 29th May 1940. Age 46.
HINDLE, Fireman, CHRISTOPHER, S.S. Mona's Queen (Douglas, Isle of Man). Merchant Navy. 29th May 1940. Age 42. Son of John and Esther Hindle; husband of Jane Hindle, of Douglas, Isle of Man.
KELLY, Able Seaman, PAUL, S.S. Mona's Queen (Douglas, Isle of Man). Merchant Navy. 29th May 1940. Age 36. Son of Paul and Ann Jane Kelly; husband of Ruth Kelly, of Port St. Mary, Isle of Man.
KENNAUGH, Junior Engineer Officer, ROBERT GEORGE HENRY, S.S. Mona's Queen (Douglas, Isle of Man). Merchant Navy. 29th May 1940. Age 22.
KNEALE, Second Engineer Officer, ROBERT CHARLES, S.S. Mona's Queen (Douglas, Isle of Man). Merchant Navy. 29th May 1940. Age 39.
LAWTON, Fireman, ARTHUR LIONEL, S.S. Mona's Queen (Douglas, Isle of Man). Merchant Navy. 29th May 1940. Age 20. Son of Thomas Henry Lawton, and of Isabella Jane Lawton, of Douglas, Isle of Man.
LOONEY, Fireman, LAWRENCE JEPHTHAH, S.S. Mona's Queen (Douglas, Isle of Man). Merchant Navy. 29th May 1940. Age 32. Son of Jephthah and Elizebeth Looney; husband of Jessie Looney, of Lonan, Isle of Man.
LYON, Pantryman, JOHN E., S.S. Mona's Queen (Douglas, Isle of Man). Merchant Navy. 29th May 1940. Age 56. Husband of Janet Lyon, of Tue Brook, Liverpool.
MILLS, Assistant Steward, ALEXANDER, S.S. Mona's Queen (Douglas, Isle of Man). Merchant Navy. 29th May 1940. Age 37. Son of Charles and Amanda Mills; husband of Sarah Mills, of Liverpool.
MITCHELL, Donkeyman, THOMAS A., S.S. Mona's Queen (Douglas, Isle of Man). Merchant Navy. 29th May 1940. Age 45.
MURRAY, Assistant Steward, ALBERT, S.S. Mona's Oueen (Douglas, Isle of Man). Merchant Navy. 29th May 1940. Age 39.
NEILSON, Third Engineer Officer, THOMAS EDWARD, S.S. Mona's Oueen (Douglas, Isle of Man). Merchant Navy. 29th May 1940. Age 37. Son of Edward and Kathrine Neilson; husband of Doris Lilian Neilson, of Douglas, Isle of Man.
PARSONS, Fireman, A T, S.S. Mona's Queen (Douglas, Isle of Man). Merchant Navy. 29th May 1940. Age 42. Son of Sidney and Alberta Parsons; husband of Catherine Victoria Parsons, of Southampton.
RADCLIFFE, Greaser, RONALD, S.S. Mona's Queen (Douglas, Isle of Man). Merchant Navy. 29th May 1940. Age 24. Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Jane Radcliffe.
UNDERHILL, Able Seaman, RANDOLPH C., S.S. Mona's Queen (Douglas). Merchant Navy. 29th May 1940. Age 26. Son of Randolph Keating Underhill and Catherine Annie Underhill; husband of Annie Underhill, of Ramsey, Isle of Man.

Buried Ashore

CANNELL, Carpenter, ROBERT CHARLES, S.S. Mona's Queen (Douglas). Merchant Navy. 29th May 1940. Age 56. Son of Charles and Margaret Cannell; husband of Lily Maud Cannell, of Douglas, Isle of Man. Buried Marquise Communal Cemetery
RADCLIFFE, Able Seaman, HORACE EDWARD (ORRY), S.S. Mona's Queen (Douglas). Merchant Navy. 29th May 1940. Age 39. Son of William and Elizabeth Radcliffe; husband of Annie Elizabeth Radcliffe, of Port st. Mary, Isle of Man. Buried Dunkirk Town Cemetery

Survivors of the crew as follows.

The survivors are:-
Captain A Holkham, Devonshire Road, Douglas
R Clucas (1st officer), 5 Primrose Avenue, Douglas
E M Cregeen (2nd officer), Howe, Port St Mary
P Studholme (3rd officer), The Point, Port St Mary
A E A Ambler (wireless operator), Notts (injured)
L Knowles (3rd engineer), 15 Earl Terrace, Douglas
E Watterson (seaman), Athol Park, Port Erin
F Watterson (seaman), 6 Droghadfayle Road, Port Erin
T Nuttall (seaman), 29 Chester Street, Douglas
E Kelly (seaman), 14 Charles Street, Peel
T H Crebbin (seaman), Howe, Port St Mary
F Crebbin (seaman), Howe, Port St Mary
J Hall (seaman), Gordon, near Peel
T Costain (seaman), Howe, Port St Mary
W Quayle (fireman), Main Road, Colby
T Gordon (fireman), Cliff View, Laxey
J Joughin (fireman), 20 South Quay, Douglas
J Peel (fireman), 45 Sutherland Street, Barrow-in-Furness
R A Bridson (fireman), 21 Hillside Avenue, Douglas
J H Gale (fireman), 41 Hildesley Road, Douglas
A Moran (chief steward), 10 Brookfield Road, West Kirby, Cheshire
A Hawley (2nd Steward), Cadran Cottage, Ballan*d Road, Onchan
H Craine (cook), Napier, Glen Road, Laxey
G Brown (steward), 13 Duke's Road, Douglas
* W Quane (steward), Niarbyl Road, Dalby
S Quirk (steward), 7 Cypres Grove, Pulrose
F J Tollurton (galleyboy), 477 East Prescot Road, Liverpool
G Gregson (steward), 41 Talton Road, Liverpool
H J Crebbin (seaman) Cregneish

Some additional last minute info, on Mona Queen during may 1940.

Wednesday, 22 May - British steamer MONA'S QUEEN (2756grt) departed Dover at 0948 for Boulogne escorted by destroyer VENOMOUS

Sunday, 26 May - Destroyer WILD SWAN departed Dunkirk early on the 27th escorting MAID OF ORLEANS, CANTERBURY, MONA'S QUEEN (2756grt) to Dover and French steamer ROUEN (1182grt) leaving for Cherbourg.