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Remembered Today:

Troop Ship Sinking


Matthew King

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Does any one know the names of any troop ships that were sunk on or around the 14th August 1915. This event is mentioned alot in letters to my Grandfather, due to the fact everyone panicked that he was on it. Luckly he wasn't but I was interested to know which ship they are talking about.

Any information would be great

Matthew King

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Thanks, I do believe that is the correct ship, my Grandfather sailed from Devonport on the 25th August July on board the Southland. They too where heading for Gallipoli.

Just had a look at the website and there is an excellent amount of information on the page, especially the Times coverage of the sinking.

Thank you again

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S.S. Royal Edward.

Troops boarded the ROYAL EDWARD on 28th July 1915 at Avonmouth. At the time this port was used by liners which were too large to get any further up the River Avon to Bristol. Soldiers of a number of Regiments were due to sail in her to join troops at Gallipoli, Turkey.

The ROYAL EDWARD (Cdr. P. M. Watton R.N.R.) was reported off the Lizard on 29th July. On the same day her sister ship the ROYAL GEORGE sailed with troops from Devonport for Gallipoli. Records show that the ROYAL GEORGE called at Malta on 5th August and arrived at Alexandria, Egypt on the 9th. The ROYAL EDWARD would have followed a day behind. The ROYAL GEORGE sailed from Mudros harbour, Lemnos on 11th arriving safely on 13th. The ROYAL EDWARD sailed from Alexandria on 12th August for Mudros. Apart from her crew of 220 she had on board 31 officers and 1335 men.

After leaving Bodrum the UB14's first sighting was a fully lit hospital ship seen that evening which was not attacked.

On 13th August 1915 she first sighted the P & O Liner Soudan in service as a hospital ship. She then sighted the ROYAL EDWARD sailing unescorted for Mudros. The UB14 [Lt. Commander Heino von Heimburg] fired one torpedo from under a mile away which hit her stern.

The ROYAL EDWARD sank quickly. The after deck was awash in three minutes and the ship had sunk with her bows in the air in six minutes.

Official reports at that time stated 132 men were lost, including her captain and that has been repeated in many publications up to the 1980's In fact the loss of life was far greater. The Dictionary of Disasters at Sea 1824-62 published by Lloyds Register of Shipping states that"of the 1,586 on board less than 500 were rescued". Just before the attack the troops had carried out boat drill so when the torpedo struck many were below decks stowing their gear.

Those saved were picked up by the Soudan, two French destroyers and some trawlers which were near enough to the scene to help with the rescue operations.

The UB14 did not harass the rescue ships. Her compass had become defective again so she returned immediately to Bodrum for repairs, where she arrived on the morning of the 15th August.

The above information came from off of the Internet ‘LOSS OF THE S.S. ROYAL EDWARD’ and it was supplied for the site by Ian Hook, Curator of the Essex

Regimental Museum.

Arthur

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