Torpedoed on 14th July 1915

[Guest]

Hello. I am researching 2nd Lt George Mclachlan/Maclachlan Allan RE who Served with the 52nd Lowland Div and was injured at Gallipoli but died at sea on 14th July 1915. Family lore has it that he died on a ship that was torpedoed. This might well be incorrect and I am trying to establish if any ship was sunk by a U Boat on or near thtat day along any of the evacuation routes. From the Dardanelles - to Alexandria or to the UK via Malta and Gibraltar. I have looked at this website http://www.naval-history.net/WW1NavyBritishBVLSMN1507.htm which seems fairly comprehensive but makes no mention of any likely candidate for the alleged sinking of this (un-named) ship. it could be a red herring but I am trying to narrow down the possibilities.

The only transport ship I am aware of that was sunk near that date was the Royal Edward but the dates clearly don't fit. If no ship was sunk on or near that date it might be more likely that he died of wounds on a Hospital Ship or converted transport and was buried at Sea. This is not my area of expertise. Any pointers from Naval experts would be very gratefully received.

Regards MG

[Sandie Hayes]

SDGW has him recorded as 'Died of Wounds'. TWGPP has him recorded as 'buried at sea' (Helles Memorial, Turkey).

[ph0ebus]

Per uboat.net only two vessels were attacked and sunk by torpedo that day, the Vivid, a Belgian fishing boat and the Rym, a Norwegian ship. Checking the day before I see a Russian vessel Lennok, and the day before that five British vessels:

Emerald (damaged)

Merlin

Purple Heather

Speedwell

Woodbine

All 5 were small fishing vessels that were damaged/sunk by UB6 near the UK.

-Daniel

[ph0ebus]

Per uboat.net only two vessels were attacked and sunk by torpedo that day, the Vivid, a Belgian fishing boat and the Rym, a Norwegian ship. Checking the day before I see a Russian vessel Lennok, and the day before that five British vessels:

Emerald (damaged)

Merlin

Purple Heather

Speedwell

Woodbine

All 5 were small fishing vessels that were damaged/sunk by UB6 near the UK.

To look at other dates, see:

ubaot.net: Ships Hit - by Date

-Daniel

[Old Owl]

Hi Martin,

I think that you almost certainly have a 'red herring' here and that without doubt G.M.A. will have been wounded on land at Gallipoli, transferred to a Hopital ship where he died as a result of his wounds and was buried at sea--- which was fairly standard practice at that time.

Robert

[Guest]

Thanks for your comments. It certainly seems that there are at least two sources suggesting no troopship other than the HMT Royal Edward was sunk in the area around these dates. MG

[SommeTrenches]

Those are some good suggestions mentioned by others, could it also be that the date is just when it was reported and not the actual date (if it was a sinking)?