Garth’s career prior to the outbreak of war had taken him across the world’s oceans to South America, Australia and New Zealand.

An oil tanker of 8,470 tons, MV British Security was built in 1941 by Harland & Wolff Ltd. At 14.48hrs, 14.50hrs and 15.16hrs on 20^th May 1941, U-556¹ fired torpedoes at convoy HX-126 south of Cape Farewell and sank three ships, the Darlington Court, British Security and Cockaponset.

MV British Security caught fire after she was hit and burned for three days until she sank.  The master, 48 crew members and four gunners were lost, including Garth Billington aged 25.

Youngest son of Professor Billington [OW] & Dr Winifred M Billington of Birmingham, Warwickshire.

1. Sunk on 27^th June 1941 in the North Atlantic south-west of Iceland, by depth charges from the British corvettes HMS Nasturtium, HMS Celandine and HMS Gladiolus. 5 dead and 41 survivors.

A copy of this story is available to download here.

Revised: November 2025