Empire Chaucer was a 5,970 GRT cargo ship which was built in 1942 by William Pickersgill & Sons Ltd, Sunderland.

The Code Letters BDVX and United Kingdom Official Number 169018 were allocated.

[2] In October 1942, Empire Chaucer departed Calcutta, India bound for the United Kingdom via Durban and Cape Town, South Africa and then via Trinidad.

At 06:15 on 17 October, Empire Chaucer was torpedoed and sunk 450 nautical miles (830 km) south of Cape Town (38°12′S 20°04′E / 38.200°S 20.067°E / -38.200; 20.067) by U-504 with the loss of three crew.

Twelve survivors, including the Captain, were rescued by Empire Squire and landed at Trinidad.