Maxwell Ray collection... Maxwell Ray collection, 1930s-1941
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Maxwell Ray collection, 1930s-1941
Reference
2018/003/1
Archive collection
British Empire & Commonwealth
Level of description
Series
Date
1930s-1941
Description
This collection provides a poignant snapshot of the short career of Maxwell Ray before his wartime death. His photographs of his voyages around the world and trips ashore are given context by his letters home to his mother and sister and by the inclusion of his death certificate and also his medals, which are in the BEC Objects Collection.
Maxwell Napier Ray, from Southampton, was a bar steward on the Empress of Britain, a passenger liner owned by the Canadian Pacific Steamship Company. He travelled around the world several times before dying aged 27 when the ship was torpedoed in October 1940. The ship had first been attacked by an aircraft, and most of the passengers and crew escaped before she was taken under tow. She was then attacked by a u-boat and sunk. It is unclear whether Maxwell died in the first hit or the subsequent u-boat attack, but if the latter it is possible he remained on board to assist the rescue operation.
Access status
Open
Access conditions
None
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