Roderick Devlin was born in 1919 in Greenock. His parents were Kennedy Little Devlin and Margaret McKenzie who were married on 15th June 1916, at the Central Halls, Bath Street, Glasgow. At the time of his marriage, Kennedy’s occupation was a postman and his address was given as 48 Ann Street, Greenock.

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According to the 1911 census, Kennedy’s address was 7 Shaw Place, Greenock and was the son of the head of the family, Ann Chambers.

Roderick had a younger brother, Kennedy and two younger siblings who both died in infancy (one was also called Kennedy).

The family moved to Binnie Place, Main Street, Inverkip in 1936.

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Roderick served in the Merchant Navy as a fourth engineer officer. He was originally posted on another ship which made it back home safely. In September 1942, Roderick’s family were informed he had moved to the SS Yoma and were advised of a new address to send letters to. The SS Yoma was built in 1928 by Wm Denny and Bros. at Dumbarton.

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On 17th June 1943, the ship was carrying troops back from Algeria to Alexandria when it was hit by two torpedoes in the Indian Ocean, killing 451 men. It took just six minutes for the ship to sink. Roderick was 23 years old. His mother received a visit to tell her what had happened to her son.

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It was not until 1950 that Roderick’s family received his Seaman’s discharge book and then it was not the original.

Roderick’s mother was a regular churchgoer and rarely missed a Sunday service, however, she did not attend the annual Remembrance Day service, finding it too painful. It is poignant to note that she died one Remembrance Sunday.

Roderick is commemorated at the Tower Hill Memorial in London and is remembered on the Devlin family headstone in Inverkip cemetery.