Harry Charles Birnie

Harry Charles Birnie, R.N.R., (1883 - 9 March 1943) was a Scottish seaman. He began his career with the Cunard line. He served in the Royal Navy in both World Wars. He died in action while in command of a merchant convoy in the North Atlantic in 1943.

Early life
Birnie was the son of Revd. C. Birnie, M.A., and Katherine Birnie, of New Aberdour, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Cunard Service
Birnie served as a junior officer on RMS Campania, under Sir Arthur Henry Rostron. On April 26, 1907, Rostron and Birnie are said to have observed a sea monster. Rostron wrote about the episode in his autobiography, while Birnie confirmed the account several years later.

During the inter-war years, Birnie returned to the Cunard line, eventually reaching the rank of captain at a young age. He made numerous Atlantic crossings in command of the RMS Mauretania, RMS Berengaria and RMS Aquitania.

World War I
While employed with the Cunard Line, Birnie had also been a member of the Royal Naval Reserve, having been commissioned as a sub-lieutenant in 1904. During World War I, Birnie served in the Royal Navy. On 18 November 1917, while in command of a patrol boat, HMS P-57, Lieut.-Cdr. Birnie sank a German submarine, UC-47, off Flamborough Head, Yorkshire, by initially ramming it at near full-speed, followed by dropping depth charges. He received the D.S.O. for this exploit, while the Admiralty awarded a "kill" bonus of £1,000 to be shared by the crew of HMS P-57.

World War II
During World War II, Birnie served from 1940 onwards, holding the rank of Commodore (2d class) and attached to HMS Eaglet. He commanded several convoys, carrying men and materiel across the Atlantic. In 1942, Birnie was mentioned in despatches "For outstanding devotion to duty during two years' arduous service as [a] Commodore of convoys."

Death
In February and March, 1943, Birnie was in command of Convoy SC 121 from New York to Liverpool, sailing in the Norwegian merchant ship Bonneville. On 9 March 1943, the Bonneville was struck by a torpedo, apparently fired by the German submarine U-405. Birnie was amongst those lost. He initially stayed on Bonneville after she was hit, but eventually he and one of his staff jumped overboard from the after end of the ship. Some other survivors on a raft saw them in the water but were unable to maneuver the raft to them. It was reported that this convoy was to be his last.

He is memorialised on the Liverpool Naval Memorial, for sailors of the Royal Navy Reserve who were lost at sea during World War II. There is also a headstone commemorating him at the New Aberdour Old Churchyard.

Trinity House
Birnie was an Elder Brother of Trinity House, a non-departmental public body of the United Kingdom responsible for maritime safety. As part of his functions, he served as a nautical assessor in the British courts, including in the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.