Ray MacFarlane

January 8, 1920 - September 3, 1939

Ray Scott MacFarlane was one of the 100 passengers and crew lost when the unarmed British passenger liner, Athenia, was sunk by a German submarine off the coast of Ireland on the night of September 3, 1939.

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Hope Fades for Pomona Student in Athenia Disaster

Santa Barbara, September 22, 1939 - Mrs AS MacFarlane held slight hope today for her son, Ray, 19, Pomona College student, who disappeared in the sinking of the Athenia.

With her husband she and her son Alan, 10, returned here by train from New London, Connecticut where the Coast Guard took them from the rescue ship, City of Flint. Her husband met them in Halifax.

"It was my notion, his going over there," Mrs MacFarlane said. "I wanted him with Alan and me while we visited in Scotland and made trips to London and Paris.

Mrs MacFarlane described a sudden "ping" in the midst of dinner, and said the ship began to list. She said the lights went out and everyone made for lifeboats. "Ray found us," she said. He picked Alan up in his arms and handed him to persons in the boat. I climbed down a ladder as the boat was lowered and Ray told me to jump. In jumping I injured my hip muscles. Darkness was gathering. I looked up and saw Ray on the promenade deck. That was the last I saw of him."

She described the rescue by the Southern Cross. A day later the City of Flint pulled all aboard by ropes.

"It was not until we were near Halifax that I was told Ray's name was not among the list of survivors. I can't even realize it now. It seems incredible he should have perished unless he experienced some accident."

Oakland Tribune, September 22, 1939