Gerald Charles O'BRIEN, Merchantile Marine. SS Rappahannock

[Neil Clark]

I'm looking at this new case and wondered if someone could tell me more about the ship - SS "Rappahannock" (Liverpool) or his death etc. I don't know if this ship was sunk the day he left this life.

The detail I currently have is sketchy -

O'BRIEN, GERALD CHARLES. Third Engineer.

Mercantile Marine, S.S. "Rappahannock" (Liverpool).

Died 17 October 1917. Aged 27.

Born Bournemouth.

Foster son of Mrs. Emma Nickolls of East Lodge, Comer, Meopham, Gravesend, Kent.

His name appears on a small civic war memorial plaque in Meopham, Kent (spelt incorrectly as O'Brian G.C).

He's a merchantile navy officer so obviously I will need to prove death was due to enemy action etc...

Any help gladly accepted. I may also post a similar thread in Navy to bring him to the notice of naval specialists.

[chrisharley9]

See Here for Ships Details

Neil

does not look like it he will get recognition - I would say he is US Navy or US Merchantile Marine

Chris

[Neil Clark]

Thanks Chris. It looks as though you may be right. I won't abort until I can confirm one way or tuther...

[Guest geoff501]

Thanks Chris. It looks as though you may be right. I won't abort until I can confirm one way or tuther...

Sure its 1917 and not 1916? Found this in the times. Day is the same, October 17th.

This is from The Times Sat November 25 1916:

[Guest geoff501]

See Here for Ships Details

Neil

does not look like it he will get recognition - I would say he is US Navy or US Merchantile Marine

Chris

But not named Rappahannock until December. Same ship???

[Terence Munson]

Hi - See these ship details also:

LINK

Cheers, Terry

Edit

Is this him LINK

[Michael Lowrey]

This is the ship in question: http://www.uboat.net/wwi/ships_hit/5022.html

Looks like a case of lifeboats not being recovered -- I have a portion of U 69's KTB, which gives the sea state as 7 shortly after Rappahannock was sunk.

Best wishes,

Michael

[Neil Clark]

TCM59,

Now that makes me look silly

I was given the name and told that he wasn't on CWGC. Goes to prove I should have checked myself...

Thanks guys.

Damn it was starting to look good too.

Neil

CASE ABORTED!

[Guest geoff501]

Now that makes me look silly

You did type Rappahannock into The Search Engine? Did you? Me neither. D'OH!

[Neil Clark]

[Terence Munson]

Neil and Geoff,

Yes Geoff. your search engine (of course) revealed 37 casualties, just looked for O'Brien! Wish they were all that easy - but then again perhaps not!

Merry Christmas

Terry

[chrisharley9]

Me too doh