António Pereira Balbino, cook on board of the American “Liberty Ship” Jeremiah Van Rensselaer, was one of the fatalities of the U-boat U-456 attack on February 2, 1943.

The ship was part of convoy HX224, en route from New York to the United Kingdom, when in the early hours of February 2nd it was hit by three torpedoes that opened not only large holes in the hull but also caused several fires inside.

Most of the crew survived the initial attack, but the rough sea caused difficulties launching the lifeboats, eventually leading to the death and disappearance of several crew members. Only 24 of the 71 crew survived.

It is possible that António Balbino had already acquired American nationality at the time of the sinking, but in Portuguese finance an inheritance process was opened in 1943.

Carlos Guerreiro