In Memory of John MacCorquodale
Author: Graham MacCorquodale | Category: MacCorquodale History
TORPEDOED IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC APRIL 1, 1942.
THE UNKNOWING STORY, UNTIL NOW, OF THE FATE OF JOHN MACCORQUODALE, FIRST OFFICER ON THE SS RIO BLANCO ON THE FIRST OF APRIL 1942.
JOHN MACCORQUODALE WAS BORN ON THE ISLE OF TIREE TO DONALD MACCORQUODALE AND MARY CAMERON IN 1899 IN THE INNER HEBRIDES, SCOTLAND. AT THAT TIME, TIREE WAS A 100 PERCENT GAELIC SPEAKING ISLAND.
ALL OF JOHN’S BROTHERS AND SISTERS (9) HAVE PASSED ON EXCEPT FOR A SISTER LIVING ON THE ISLE OF LEWIS. HIS CHILDREN, LIVE IN SKYE AND THE WEST COAST OF SCOTLAND.
THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME JOHN WAS TORPEDOED DURING THIS WAR AND UNFORTUNATELY, JUST PRIOR TO THE TORPEDO STRIKE HE WAS IN THE CARGO HOLD AND HAD HIS LEG INJURED. THIS WAS DETRIMENTAL TO HIS SURVIVAL AND HIM PASSING AWAY FROM EXPOSURE IN THE LIFEBOAT WHICH WAS RECOVERED BY A SHIP 14 DAYS AFTER THE RIO BLANCO SANK.
HE ACTUALLY SAW THE RESCUE SHIP BUT DIED THAT SAME DAY.
UNTIL 1999 HIS FAMILY AND RELATIVES WERE UNAWARE OF MOST EVENTS CONCERNING THE FATE OF THE RIO BLANCO. NOT EVEN THE DATE OF THE SINKING. THANKS TO THE BOOKS OBTAINED FROM AMAZON ON SUBMARINE WARFARE 1939-45 AUTHOR CLAY BAIR, AND AN APPEAL ON THE INTERNET FOR INFORMATION AND A RESPONSE FROM A PERSON UNKNOWING IN GERMANY. WE NOW HAVE THE DETAILS AS FOLLOWS.
SHIP SS RIO BLANKO, TORPEDOED IN 1942 APRIL THE 1ST OUTWARD BOUND FROM THE USA WITH CARGO OF FOOD.
SUNK BY U-BOAT 160. APPROXIMATELY 400 HUNDRED MILES SOUTH OF CAPE SABLE, NOVA SCOTIA AND EAST OF CAPE COD MASSACHUSETTS USA.
U-BOAT 160-SUNK IN 1943 WITH LOSS OF ALL CREW (57) BY AN AMERICAN AVENGER AIRCRAFT FLYING FROM THE U.S. CARRIER ‘SANITISE’ THIS HAPPENED NORTH WEST OF THE MADEIRA ISLAND AND SOUTH COAST OF THE AZORES, UNFORTUNATELY WE DO NOT HAVE THE NAME OF THE AMERICAN PILOT TO COMPLETE THE STORY OF THE THREE MEN INVOLVED IN THIS STORY.
FOR CHRISSY
FROM
JOHN C. MACCORQUODALE
FEB 2000
February 5th, 2009 at 7:28 am
my brother Niall John Macleod purchased the clan seat of the MacCorquodales in Argyll a couple of years ago .he is very aware of your clan’s heritage and that there is no centre hear in scotland for the clan like other clans have. He is keen to have people come to see the area. his laird’s house and cottages there is available to rent. just clic on” Ballimore” through Google. it is a beautiful spot with the mighty mountain of Cruachan rising up behind and Loch Tromlee where the castle ruins lie on the white island in the middle of the Barony of Fiont Eilean. see electricscotland.com for more on your clan. cheers alastair
February 6th, 2009 at 6:43 am
this guys ma great granpa!
February 23rd, 2009 at 4:09 pm
#2 If you are John MacCorquodale in Glasgow, he’s not your ‘great’ granpa but your granpa! And I’m your cousin on Skye, another grandson of John MacCorquodale. (If you’re not who I think you are it’d be great to know who you are!)
My mother, Chrissie Matheson (nee MacCorquodale, John’s duaghter) is 81 and about to get her first computer so she’ll no doubt be adding a comment of her own in the coming weeks.
And I can confirm that John’s last surviving and youngest sibling, Margaret, is still alive on the Isle of Lewis.
Thanks for posting this wonderful tribute – my mother will be very touched when she sees it, with such an impressive picture of her daddy.
February 24th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Dear Alistair,
Thank you for your post in the MacCorquodale Castle and this valuable information. It is always wonderful to get posts from members of our linage. Actually, the person I think you may have directed your comments to John MacCorquodale (2) did not post the tribute, he simply mentioned he is the Great Grandson of John MacCorquodale and this is a different person then the John C. MacCorquodale who the posting is from.
I posted this tribute in 2000 at the request of John C. MacCorquodale who is my uncle living in Port Appin, Argyll Scotland and the Nephew of John MacCorquodale of the Rio Blanko.
I would sure love to get any information I can regarding our line if for no other reason than to be sure that as much of the line posted to the website is as correct as possible.
My name is Graham MacCorquodale (born in Canada), the son of James Irvine MacCorquodale (born in Glasgow) to Archibald (Gillespie) MacCorquodale who I believe was the brother of Chrissie.
We may have another connection as well as my Sister married James Matheson who I know also has roots in Scotland but I havn’t looked much into that at all since connecting the dots for the MacCorquodale line has been challenge enough thus far.
Please do keep in touch and be sure to let your Mother know that the tribute to her dad John was from John Cairns MacCorquodale of Port Appin and dedicated to her.
Best Regards,
Graham MacCorquodale
February 24th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
Hi Graham,
Thanks for the reply – you’ve obviously put a lot of time into piecing things so impressively together. My knowledge is much more bitty and anecdotal. My mother Chrissie (Christina) is actually Archibald’s (Gillespie’s) niece (not sister) and a cousin of your uncle John (Jack?) whom I know, although I know your uncle Billy (also in Appin) a bit better.
Being in my 40s I never knew my grandfather John but do remember some of his siblings (unfortunately not including your grandfather) from my childhood years – especially Archibald (who never married but inherited the family farm in Crossapol, Tiree until his death), Donald (husband of Charlotte – she died fairly recently in Tiree – my wife and I last met her 4-5 years ago), Effie and Mary (both Tiree, Kenovay and West Hynish but that’s going back a few years) and, of course (Great) Auntie Margaret, still alive on the Isle of Lewis with the same high cheek bones, sharp wit and spark in her eyes as the rest of them!
Regarding the Mathesons, I was at the battlefield cemetries in Belgium/France a couple of years ago and most of the Mathesons on the memorials seemed to belong to Canadian, rather than Scottish, regiments! There are certainly a lot more Mathesons than MacCorquodale’s in the Highlands these days, and that wouldn’t be hard.
June 18th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
Hi
My ancestors are from Scotland originally so not sure if i am related. My grandfathers name was Angus MacCorquodale and his brothers names were Archibald, Ian and Malcolm. They have all passed on now except my great uncle Malcolm. My aunt has been trying to put together a family tree for several years now
August 8th, 2010 at 10:23 am
Hi Graham
just an update to the much appreciated tribute to my father John MacCorquodale contributed by our cousin Jack some time ago! Quite recently the last remaining member of his family – which included your grandfather – passed away. Aunt Margaret had shortly before celebrated her 90th birthday. She died at her home in the Isle of Lewis and is survived by her daughter Mary and two sons – Iain (who had cared for her her for many years) and Sandy. She will be sadly missed as time goes on. Hope this reaches you1