SS Ardmore

[Pat Twomey]

The casualties below look like a father and son to me. Anyone any further information? Pat

Name:TWOMEY, TIMOTHY

Nationality:United Kingdom

Rank:Donkeyman

Regiment/Service:Mercantile MarineUnit Text:S.S. "Ardmore" (Cork)

Age:70

Date of Death:13/11/1917

Additional information:Son of the late Timothy and Ellen Twomey; husband of the late Ellen Twomey. Born at Glanmire, Co. Cork.

Casualty Type:Commonwealth War DeadMemorial:TOWER HILL MEMORIAL

Name:TWOMEY, TIMOTHY

Nationality:United Kingdom

Rank:Fireman

Regiment/Service:Mercantile MarineUnit Text:S.S. "Ardmore" (Cork)

Age:34

Date of Death:13/11/1917

Additional information:Son of the late Timothy and Ellen Twomey; husband of Catherine Twomey (nee O'Connell), of 4, Mill Cottages, Glanmire, Co. Cork. Born at Glanmire, Co. Cork.

Casualty Type:Commonwealth War DeadMemorial:TOWER HILL MEMORIAL

[Paul Johnson]

Hi Pat,

Here is some info on the Ardmore.

ARDMORE

Passenger / Cargo ship, 1,304 gross tons, length 260.1ft x beam 36ft, speed

17 knots. Built 1909 by Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Co, Dundee for

the City of Cork Steam Packet Co, Cork. On 13th Nov.1917 she was torpedoed

and sunk by U.95 while 13 miles WSW from Coningbeg Light Vessel on voyage

London - Cork with general cargo

It was used in WW1 to transport troops to France.

Hope this helps.

Paul J

[Pat Twomey]

Thanks Paul,

To make things more complicated a replacement ship (Lady Killiney) purchased in 1923 by the City of Cork Steam Packet Company and renamed the SS Ardmore went missing with her crew of 24 on the 11th of November 1940 while on a voyage from Cork to Fishguard in Wales.

While there seems to be plenty of info about the second Ardmore

(see http://www.irishseamensrelativesassociatio...dmore_crew.htm) there is a scarcity surrounding the details of the first - therefore for the info you supplied I am grateful.

Pat

[Pat Twomey]

A short report from the Irish Independant of November 16th 1917

Publication: Irish Independent; Date: Nov 16, 1917; Section: None; Page: 3

WAR AT SEA

IRISH VESSAL SUNK

22 OF THE CREW MISSING

The Cork SS Ardmore with general cargo but carrying no passengers, was sunk without warning on Tues.night and 22 of the crew are believed lost. Eight survivors were landed on Wed., and distressing scenes were witnessed when the relatives of the missing men, nearly all of whom belong to Cork, learned the news.

An effort was made to launch a boat but the vessal sunk in three minutes. The chief engineer and engine-room staff were killed by the torpedo explosion. The 2nd mate before jumping into the sea, put a signal light in his pocket, and while clinging to the broken boat, managed to ignite it, enabling the drowning men to cling to pieces of wreckage. Capt. Murray and the 2nd engineer spent a terrible night clinging to the upturned boat. The cook, M. Walsh, who clung to wreckage, was rescued by a U.S. steamer.

Among those saved are - Capt. R. Murray, R. Johnston, 2nd officer,: J. Mason, 2nd engineer; M. Dorney, fireman; T. Murphy, seaman; J. Good, do.; M. Walsh, cook; H. Taylor, gunner.

Pat

[Vincent Borg]

Hi Pat,

Here is some info on the Ardmore.

ARDMORE

Passenger / Cargo ship, 1,304 gross tons, length 260.1ft x beam 36ft, speed

17 knots. Built 1909 by Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Co, Dundee for

the City of Cork Steam Packet Co, Cork. On 13th Nov.1917 she was torpedoed

and sunk by U.95 while 13 miles WSW from Coningbeg Light Vessel on voyage

London - Cork with general cargo

It was used in WW1 to transport troops to France.

Hope this helps.

Paul J

Hi Pat.

Three photos of the Ardmore are found on

photoship.co.uk

Regards,

Vincent Borg

Naxxar,

Malta.

[Pat Twomey]

Hi Vincent,

Thanks for that link. My guess is that they might be photos of the second SS Ardmore but I'm not sure hopefully someone will be able to verify this.

the link is: http://www.photoship.co.uk/JAlbum%20Ships/...0A/index12.html

Pat

[Yves D]

Hi Pat

On one of the pics you can see a gonio antenna over the bridge so undoubtedly this is the second Ardmore built 1918.

Best regards

Yves

[Pat Twomey]

Thanks for that Yves.

For elimination purposes is that Ardmore 01, Ardmore 02, or Ardmore 03?

Pat

[Yves D]

Thanks for that Yves.

For elimination purposes is that Ardmore 01, Ardmore 02, or Ardmore 03?

Pat

It is on picture Ardmore 01

Yves

[spithead]

Hi Pat

I see that there four TWOMEY's lost on the Ardmore, what a tragic loss to the family if they were all related.

Regards John

[Vincent Borg]

It is on picture Ardmore 01

Yves

Hello Pat and my friend Yves,

I agree with Yves, note that in Photo Ardmore (01) there is only

one lifeboat on her port side, while the Ardmore (02) there are two

lifeboats on her starboard side and in Ardmore (03) there are two

lifeboarts on her port side.

Best Regards to both,

Vincent Borg.

Naxxar.

Malta.

[Pat Twomey]

Just confirmed according to a local newspaper that the Twomey's were a father and son the relevant section reads...

In some cases fathers and sons died together. In the case of one of the most elderly men aboard - the donkeyman - he was to have retired from the sea in a month or so, having spent all his life in sail and in steam. To the end the "call" was too strong to resist and the sea claimed him as it did his son.

The story also provides the names of the survivors as well as the names of most of those who died. I will add these names to this thread later.

Pat

[Pat Twomey]

As well as the Twomey father and son mentioned above the other 17 casualties were:

Jago Richard, 54 First Mate Brother of Sarah Jago, of "Beresford," 12, Roumania Crescent, Llandudno. Born at Cork.

O’Sullivan Michael J. 42 First Engineer Husband of Mrs. O'sullivan, of 8, Wellesley Terrace, Southern Rd., Cork.

Barry Pat, 39 Trimmer Third son of Thomas Barry of 25 Dublin Street Cork

Healy James, 49 Fireman Husband of Margaret Healy, of Convent View Blackrock Cork

Ahern Dan, 26 Fireman Son of Patrick Ahern, of Ballintemple, Cork.

Leahy, M. 42 Fireman born at Cork

Walsh J. 33 Fireman Husband of Mary Walsh, of 27, Lower George's St., Cork.

Herlihy D. 34 Trimmer Husband of Ellen Herlihy, of Ballintemple, Cork.

Good M. 53 Quartermaster Husband of Mary Good, of Faw Hill Villas, Cork.

Best John, 54 Quartermaster Husband of Katherine Best, of 41, Sarsfield Terrace, Cork.

Horgan John, 50 Able Seaman Husband of Jane Horgan, of 4, St. John's Villas, John St., Cork.

Tobin Michael, 55 Able Seaman Husband of Catherine Tobin, of 33, Tyrone Place, Cork.

Collins D. 49 Able Seaman Husband of Mary Collins, of 12, Thomas Davis Avenue, Cork.

Griffiths H. 35 Carpenter Husband of Kate Griffiths, of 47, Kellehers Buildings, Ashburton, Cork. Born at Bridgwater, Somerset.

Twomey John, 53 Fireman eldest son of the late Thomas Twomey and Husband of Catherine Twomey, of 25, Trimbaths Lane, Cork.

Twomey Patrick, 33 Steward Son of Mary Twomey (nee Murphy), of 12, Maryville Cottages, Old Youghal Rd., Cork, and the late Michael Twomey.

Smith Thomas, 1395D, 23 Leading Seaman Royal Naval Reserve, commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.

Survivors:

The eight who survived were: Captain Richard Murray; Robert Johnson second officer; J. Mason, second engineer; Michael Dorney, Thomas Murphy and John Good, seamen; Michael Walsh, cook; H. Taylor, gunner;

The cook Michael Walsh was rescued by the American steamer I H Lookingback after spending many hours in the freezing waters. He was also rescued when the “Kenmare” was torpedoed in March 1918 and again when the “Innisfallen” went down in May 1918!

Robert Johnson the Second Officer was not so lucky – after surviving the sinking of the SS Ardmore he was afterwards lost when the Kenmare was torpedoed in March 1918.

Pat

[Pat Twomey]

A photograph of Michael J O'Sullivan the Chief Engineer SS Ardmore who was amongst those who lost their lives when the vessal was torpedoed and sunk.