▁to ▁have ▁entered ▁service ▁for ▁the ▁British ▁in ▁March ▁ 1 9 4 0 . ▁Empire ▁Cr us ader ▁sa iled ▁in ▁British ▁coast al ▁waters , ▁mostly ▁between ▁P ly mouth , ▁Dev on ▁and ▁Se ah am ▁or ▁S under land , ▁County ▁Dur ham . ▁ ▁On ▁ 7 ▁August ▁ 1 9 4 0 , ▁Empire ▁Cr us ader ▁depart ed ▁from ▁South end , ▁Es sex ▁as ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁Con voy ▁C W ▁ 9 , ▁bound ▁for ▁the ▁Y arm outh ▁Ro ads . ▁The ▁next ▁day , ▁in ▁the ▁third ▁aer ial ▁attack ▁on ▁the ▁con voy , ▁she ▁was ▁bom bed ▁by ▁J unk ers ▁Ju ▁ 8 7 s ▁of ▁Fl ie ger kor ps ▁VIII , ▁St G ▁ 2 , ▁off ▁St ▁Catherine ' s ▁Point , ▁Is le ▁of ▁W ight ▁in ▁the ▁Kan alk ampf ▁phase ▁of ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁Britain . ▁Her ▁cargo ▁of ▁coal ▁caught ▁fire ▁and ▁the ▁crew ▁abandoned ▁ship . ▁Of ▁her ▁crew ▁of ▁nine , ▁plus ▁six ▁DE MS ▁g unn ers , ▁four ▁were ▁killed . ▁The ▁ship ▁caps ized ▁and ▁s ank ▁at ▁. ▁Her ▁Chief ▁Engine er , ▁James ▁Cow per , ▁was ▁awarded ▁an ▁MB E , ▁and ▁Act ing ▁A ble ▁Se aman ▁William ▁Rob son ▁was ▁comm ended , ▁for ▁their ▁part ▁in ▁res cu ing ▁the ▁ship ' s ▁Second ▁Mate . ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁Category : 1 9 2 5 ▁ships ▁Category : Sh ips ▁built