Michael commenced training as a Radio Officer in the Merchant Navy on the outbreak of war. Commissioned to his first ship, the Duchess of Richmond in June 1940, he made numerous voyages across the Atlantic. He later transferred to the SS Samala, a 5,320 ton British cargo steamer. This ship left Jamaica, en route to Liverpool from Kingston, Jamaica carrying a cargo of bananas when she was torpedoed by U-37 and sunk. All the crew were lost.

Michael's death, at the age of 24 is recorded as being Monday 30^th September 1940.

Elder son of Dudley Granville Ackroyd & Marjorie Ackroyd of Frizinghall, Yorkshire.

A downloadable copy of this story is available here.

See also the Commonwealth War Graves Commission permanent digital memorial, ‘Evermore: Stories of the fallen’ relating to:- Second Radio Officer Michael Seymour ACKROYD