BORN LEEDS 1889. SON OF WALTER JAMES ERNEST GREEN (1865-1945) & ANNIE MARIA ELLEN SLOAN (1863-1933) AT THIS ADDRESS. HE WAS AN ELECTRICIAN. BROTHER TO GLADYS, LESLIE AND MARION. SERVED IN THE ROYAL NAVY. LOST AT SEA, ON HMS ‘ALCANTARA’, ON 29/02/1916, AGED 27.
The R.M.S.P. Co.´s liner, Alcantara, was taken over by the Admiralty at the beginning of the First World War and converted into an auxiliary cruiser. The ship formed one of the 10th Cruiser Squadron and was commanded by Capt. T. E. Wardle, her chief duty being the maintenance of the patrol between Scapa Flow and the coast of Norway. At about mid-day on February 28th, 1916, the position of the Alcantara was 60 miles E. of the north of the Shet-lands, where she was to contact her relief ship, the Andes, also an ex R.M.S.P. liner, when a wireless message instructed her to remain thereabouts and keep a sharp look-out for a suspicious steamship coming out of the Skagerrak.
Greif was disguised as the Norwegian Rena bound for Tønsberg, Norway when intercepted by the 15,620-ton armed merchant cruiser Alcantara on the morning of 29 February. Alcantara closed to 2000 yards and slowed to lower a boarding cutter when Greif hoisted the German battle ensign, increased speed, and opened fire. Alcantara returned fire with six 6-inch (15-cm) guns and two 3-pounders. Range was never more than 3000 yards.
Alcantara took a torpedo amidships on the port side, and one of Alcantaras shells exploded the ready ammunition for Greifs after gun. Both ships lost speed. Greifs crew abandoned ship 40 minutes after opening fire. Alcantara sank first, losing 46 crew.
The light cruiser Comus and destroyer Munster then arrived to sink the stationary Greif and rescue 210 German survivors.
