The IOLAIRE disaster

Discussion in 'World War 1' started by Hugh, Jan 10, 2009.

  1. liverpool annie

    liverpool annie New Member

    It's been awhile Hugh ... but I think I've found some more ..... :)

    S.S. CAMBRIC - W.H.Cockerline & Co.; 1906; Sunderland S.B. Co.; 3,403 tons; 342-4x49-5x22-8; 308 n.h.p.; 9 knots; triple-expansion engines.

    The steamship Cambric was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U 35 14 miles W. of Cape Shershel, Algeria, on October 31st, 1917 whilst on a voyage from Tunis to the United Kingdom with a cargo of iron ore. The captain and 23 of the crew were killed. Four men were taken prisoner by the submarine.

    U-boat attacks on Steamer Cambric

    Date - 31 Oct 1917
    U-boat - U 35 (Lothar von Arnauld de la Periere)
    Loss type - Sunk
    Position - 14 miles W of Cape Cherchell
    Location
    RouteTunis - U.K.
    Cargo - iron ore
    Casualties - 24

    Four crew taken prisoner.


    And this - I believe - was from Billy ..... .... though theres no mention of Kenneth Macphail !! :confused:

    Held Prisoner at Brandenberg

    KOGIS, Fireman, JOSE. Age 23 of 12 Osbourne St. Hull.

    MIETONEN, Able Seaman. ALBIN. Age 45 of 48 Lister St. Hull.

    PELIMBRIS, Fireman, GEO. Age 34 of 12 Wilson Buildings, South St. Hull.

    SELFAVOS, Sailor, ? Age 21 of 8 Osbourne St. Hull.

    Commemorated Tower Hill Memorial WWI Section

    ANDERSON, Mess Room Steward, ALFRED ERNEST, S.S. "Cambric" (Hull). Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine in the Mediterranean, 31st October 1917. Age 19. Son of Alfred and Elizabeth Anderson, (nee Beall), of 113, West Parade, Hull.

    ANGELO, Fireman, NICOLAS, S.S. "Cambric" (Hull). Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine, 31st October 1917. Age 38. Born in Greece.

    BITROS, Sailor, COSTAS, S.S. "Cambric" (Hull). Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine, 31st October 1917. Age 27. Born in Greece.

    BRADY, Ordinary Seaman, BERNARD, S.S. "Cambric" (Hull). Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine, 31st October 1917. Age 18. Son of Mary Ada Brady, of 4, Richmond Terrace, Kent St., Hull, and the late John Brady.

    BUTTERILL, Second Engineer, ELI, S.S. "Cambric" (Hull). Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine, 31st October 1917. Age 61. Son of the late John and Sarah Butterill. Born at Thorne, Doncaster.

    CLIFFORD, Mate, TOM MOSSOP, S.S. "Cambric" (Hull). Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine, 31st October 1917. Age 57. Son of the late Thomas Atkinson Clifford and Emily Elizabeth Arm Clifford; husband of Sarah Eleanor Clifford (nee Langstaff), of 22, Stirling St., Hull. Born at Hull.

    DIXON, Assistant Steward, WILLIAM HENRY, S.S. "Cambric" (Hull). Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine, 31st October 1917. Age 19. Son of Lucy Dixon, of 4, Nottingham Avenue, Stepney, Hull, and the late William Henry Dixon.

    GILIMBIS, Fireman, GEORGE, S.S. "Cambric" (Hull). Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine, 31st October 1917. Age 34. Husband of Gladys Gilimbis (nee Proctor), of 5, Hull's Place, Osbourne St., Hull. Born at Syra, Greece.

    GRANTHAM, Steward, ERNEST NORMAN, S.S. "Cambric" (Hull). Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine, 31st October 1917. Age 28. Son of Ralph and Amelia Ellen Grantham, husband of Edith Grantham (nee Wardell), of 9, Walcott St., Hull. Born at Catwick.

    HANSEN, Sailor, JOHAN, S.S. "Cambric" (Hull). Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine, 31st October 1917. Age 46. Husband of Florence Adelaide Hansen (nee Ramsey), of 59, Day St., Hull. Born in Norway.

    HARDIE, Able Seaman, WALTER, S.S. "Cambric" (Hull). Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine, 31st October 1917. Age 52. Son of the late Walter and Elizabeth Hardie. Born at Greenock.

    HASTINGS, Donkeyman, ROBERT, S.S. "Cambric" (Hull). Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine, 31st October 1917. Age 29. Son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Hastings; husband of Florence Mary Hastings (nee Manger), of 5, Shaw St., Brightside, Sheffield. Born at Sheffield.

    JACKSON, Master, A R, "Cambric.". Mercantile Marine. 31st October 1917.

    KAISER, Boatswain & Lamps (Bosun), GEORGE ALBERT, S.S. "Cambric" (Hull). Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine, 31st October 1917. Age 28. Son of Charles and Alice Augusta Kaiser, of 11, Madeley St., Hull.

    KELSALL, Third Engineer, CHARLES HENRY, S.S. "Cambric" (Hull). Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine, 31st October 1917. Age 42. Son of James Edwin and the late Clara Kelsall; husband of Zillah Adeline Kelsall (nee Jones), of 53, Wright St., Hull. Born at Bolton.

    KERR, Greaser, THOMAS, S.S. "Cambric" (Hull). Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine, 31st October 1917. Age 36. Son of the late Alexander and Nancy Kerr. Born at Belfast.

    KITSON, Second Mate, ALFRED, S.S. "Cambric" (Hull). Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine, 31st October 1917. Age 39. Son of the late Francis and Emma Kitson. Born at Middlesbrough.

    LANE, Wireless Operator, RONALD EDWARD, S.S. "Cambric" (Hull). Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine, 31st October 1917. Age 18. Son of William Henry and Adeline Sarah Lane, of Northampton House, Bath Rd., Cheltenham. Born at Long Eaton.

    NOLAN, Ordinary Seaman, VINCENT MICHAEL, S.S. "Cambric" (Hull). Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine, 31st October 1917. Age 14. Son of the late John William and Ann Nolan. Born at Hull.

    OXTOBY, Ship's Cook, JOHN ROWLAND, S.S. "Cambric" (Hull). Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine, 31st October 1917. Age 21. Son of John and the late Annie Oxtoby; husband of Mary Elizabeth Oxtoby (nee Jenkinson), of 11, Milford St., Filey, Yorks. Born at Hull.

    PEARSON, Chief Engineer, EDGAR ALLAN, S.S. "Cambric" (Hull). Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine, 31st October 1917. Age 42. Husband of Elizabeth Pearson, of 5, Wordsworth St., Hull. Born at Hull.

    ROMERO, Fireman, PAULINE, S.S. "Cambric" (Hull). Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine, 31st October 1917. Age 21. Born in Argentine.

    SHALLCROSS, Greaser, WILLIAM HY, S.S. "Cambric" (Hull). Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine, 31st October 1917. Age 57. Son of the late Thomas and Emma Shallcross; husband of Ann Elizabeth Shallcross (nee Horton), of 4, Granville Terrace, Bean St., Hull. Born at New Holland. Lincs.

    DEMS casualties Chatham Naval Memorial.

    BARTON, Seaman, RNR, A 2135, EDWARD. Son of Fredrick and Alice Barton, of Folkestone; husband of Emily H. Barton, of 114, Guildhall St., Folkestone.

    FORD, Seaman, RNR, A 5874, WILLIAM A. Son of George and Ellen Ford, of North Ferriby, Yorks.
     
  2. liverpool annie

    liverpool annie New Member

    I meant to say - he was killed when his plane crashed on take off near Le Bourget Airport near Paris, France in 1941 - and he is buried in the Berliner Invalidenfriedhof
     

    Attached Files:

  3. Hugh

    Hugh New Member

    There would be no mention Annie as he was the only survivor. Always in these cases, it is usually easier to identify those who were lost or taken as PoW as their names were usually recorded but the survivors are not listed anywhere. The only way to find out who survived would be to cross refer to the crew agreement.
    Regards
    Hugh
     
  4. liverpool annie

    liverpool annie New Member

    I think I was hoping there might be a mention of the one survivor ....... somewhere !! :(
     
  5. liverpool annie

    liverpool annie New Member

    Two investigations were ordered. With the crew dead no conclusion was reached, other than to rule out drink as being the cause. A public enquiry held later found that the deciding factor in the tragedy was the lack of lifebelts and life craft in the vessel.

    The Iolaire disaster was the third worst peace-time catastrophe (for loss of life) in 20th Century British maritime history. Though understandable, the resultant trauma and its effects can never be adequately quantified but Roddy Murray director of An Lanntair museum in Stornoway is on record saying "We can speculate on its contribution to the mass emigrations of the twenties, its effect on the Lewis character, the rebirth of an inherent fatalism. Its effect was like the Passover of the Old Testament."

    As you say Hugh .....

    Lest we forget.... not all war dead were killed on the front lines :(
     
  6. cally

    cally New Member

    As it happens last week I got hold of an even better picture of the Iolaire which I take great delight in showing you here!!
     
  7. liverpool annie

    liverpool annie New Member

    She's lovely isn't she Cally ? ....... thanks for letting us see her ! :)
     
  8. Hugh

    Hugh New Member

    Thats a nice picture Cally. Shown there with her original three masts and prior to her being named IOLAIRE.
    However, your photo of IOLAIRE in #14 is not the same vessel. That is the 1902 built steel yacht IOLAIRE which was broken up in 1948. Note the more modern ships in the background. Also the port holes on the two vessels were different. The IOLAIRE that sank was in naval grey colours when lost and was never a private yacht with that name.

    Regards
    Hugh
     
  9. johnny_doyle

    johnny_doyle New Member

    a friend of mine is from the Isle of Lewis and has loaned me his copy of Sea Sorrow, a 24 page booklet published in 1960 by the Stornoway Gazette re the disaster that befell HMY Iolaire. It mentions that the Iolaire wasn't in fact the Iolaire that had been operating in the area during the war but that it was a slower vessel call the Amalthea, renamed Iolaire 2 months or so prior to the sinking.

    There's a pic of Kenneth MacPhail available via Donald MacDonald's website (but he's labelled as Malcolm, his fathers name)

    http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i240/ADB41/History/Iolaire/MalcolmMacphail.jpg

    Kenneth MacPhail is listed at 24 Arnol on the 1901 census for Scotland along with :

    Malcolm MacPhail age 52
    Kate MacPhail age 52
    Angus age 23
    Kate age 19
    Mary age 13
    Kenneth age 10


    There appear to be 2 other MacPhails who died on 1/1/1919 on the CWGC site who hail from Lewis.

    http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=667855

    http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=667856
     
  10. Hugh

    Hugh New Member

    Hello Johnnie and welcome,
    Thanks for the info regarding Kenneth MacPhail.
    The IOLAIRE was built in 1881 as IOLANTHE then MIONE then AMALTHAEA and finally in 1918 as IOLAIRE.
    Regards
    Hugh
     

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