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Sinking of SS Tilawa

EDM (Early Day Motion) 2526: tabled on 17 December 2025

Tabled in the 2024-26 session.

This motion has been signed by 54 Members. It has not yet had any amendments submitted.

Motion text

That this House remembers the 83rd anniversary of the sinking of the British passenger ship SS Tilawa on 23 November 1942 during World War Two; regrets that 280 passengers and crew perished, mostly Indian nationals; is grateful that 678 were rescued by HMS Birmingham and SS Carthage; notes that survivors and families of survivors met in Leicester on 23 November 2025 to officially recognise the tragedy; thanks Mr Maciel aged 96 who lost his entire family in the tragedy, Mr Jani aged 86 and Mr Osman aged 92 who are the only known remaining UK survivors for their participation in the memorial service; commemorates first radio officer EB Duncan who received a posthumous Kings Bravery award for his sacrifice in going down with his ship in order to send the last known distress signals which allowed many lives to be saved during the rescue; and pays tribute to the Tilawa 1942 organisation and the Tilawa families who organised the Leicester gathering, for their efforts to remember this tragic event.

The first 6 Members who have signed to support the motion are the sponsors. The primary sponsor is generally the person who tabled the motion and has responsibility for it. The date shown is when the Member signed the motion.

In addition to the sponsors, the following Members have signed to support the motion.

Shannon, Jim
Democratic Unionist Party
Signed on 18 December 2025
Strangford
Chadwick, David
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 18 December 2025
Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe
MacDonald, Mr Angus
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 18 December 2025
Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire
Jarvis, Liz
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 18 December 2025
Eastleigh
Lewis, Sir Julian
Conservative
Signed on 18 December 2025
New Forest East
Darling, Steve
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 18 December 2025
Torbay
Reynolds, Mr Joshua
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 5 January 2026
Maidenhead
Blackman, Bob
Conservative
Signed on 5 January 2026
Harrow East
Chamberlain, Wendy
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 9 January 2026
North East Fife
Slade, Vikki
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 13 January 2026
Mid Dorset and North Poole
Lamb, Peter
Labour
Signed on 13 January 2026
Crawley
Lake, Ben
Plaid Cymru
Signed on 13 January 2026
Ceredigion Preseli
Law, Chris
Scottish National Party
Signed on 13 January 2026
Dundee Central
Beavers, Lorraine
Labour
Signed on 13 January 2026
Blackpool North and Fleetwood
McDonnell, John
Labour
Signed on 14 January 2026
Hayes and Harlington
Robinson, Gavin
Democratic Unionist Party
Signed on 14 January 2026
Belfast East
Saville Roberts, Liz
Plaid Cymru
Signed on 14 January 2026
Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Davies, Ann
Plaid Cymru
Signed on 14 January 2026
Caerfyrddin
Medi, Llinos
Plaid Cymru
Signed on 14 January 2026
Ynys Môn
Logan, Seamus
Scottish National Party
Signed on 14 January 2026
Aberdeenshire North and Moray East
Maguire, Ben
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 14 January 2026
North Cornwall
Olney, Sarah
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 14 January 2026
Richmond Park
Munt, Tessa
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 15 January 2026
Wells and Mendip Hills
Berry, Siân
Green Party
Signed on 19 January 2026
Brighton Pavilion
Leadbitter, Graham
Scottish National Party
Signed on 9 February 2026
Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey
Whittingdale, Sir John
Conservative
Signed on 9 February 2026
Maldon
Perteghella, Manuela
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 9 February 2026
Stratford-on-Avon
Swayne, Sir Desmond
Conservative
Signed on 9 February 2026
New Forest West
Easton, Alex
Independent
Signed on 9 February 2026
North Down
Johnson, Kim
Labour
Signed on 9 February 2026
Liverpool Riverside
Sullivan, Kirsteen
Labour
Signed on 9 February 2026
Bathgate and Linlithgow
Collins, Victoria
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 10 February 2026
Harpenden and Berkhamsted
Blackman, Kirsty
Scottish National Party
Signed on 10 February 2026
Aberdeen North
Doogan, Dave
Scottish National Party
Signed on 10 February 2026
Angus and Perthshire Glens
Flynn, Stephen
Scottish National Party
Signed on 10 February 2026
Aberdeen South
Gethins, Stephen
Scottish National Party
Signed on 10 February 2026
Arbroath and Broughty Ferry
O'Hara, Brendan
Scottish National Party
Signed on 10 February 2026
Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber
Wishart, Pete
Scottish National Party
Signed on 10 February 2026
Perth and Kinross-shire
Dance, Adam
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 11 February 2026
Yeovil
Mohamed, Iqbal
Independent
Signed on 23 February 2026
Dewsbury and Batley
Corbyn, Jeremy
Independent
Signed on 23 February 2026
Islington North
Wilson, Sammy
Democratic Unionist Party
Signed on 23 February 2026
East Antrim
Taylor, Luke
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 23 February 2026
Sutton and Cheam
Adam, Shockat
Independent
Signed on 23 February 2026
Leicester South
Raja, Shivani
Conservative
Signed on 23 February 2026
Leicester East
Jardine, Christine
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 24 February 2026
Edinburgh West
Byrne, Ian
Labour
Signed on 2 March 2026
Liverpool West Derby
Sollom, Ian
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 3 March 2026
St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire

There are no withdrawn signatures for this motion.