mmm45 Posted 3 April , 2006 Share Posted 3 April , 2006 Hi Can anyone help am researching a casualty who went down with HMT Arcadian.Can anyone give me any more details on this troopship sinking? (April 1917) thanks Ady Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
historydavid Posted 4 April , 2006 Share Posted 4 April , 2006 Ady, Arcadian, SS (da), built 1899, 8,939 grt, torpedoed & sunk 15th April 1917 by UC 74, 26 miles NE from Milos Island, Aegean Sea, whilst transporting troops from Salonika to France, owned by Royal Mail Steam Packet Co-London. 35 members of the crew were lost. I don't have any info on the troops carried or their casualties. Best wishes David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Lowrey Posted 4 April , 2006 Share Posted 4 April , 2006 Ady, Arcadian was torpedoed and sunk on April 15, 1917 26 miles NE of Milos Island by the German submarine UC74. 277 lost. Best wishes, michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nfh249 Posted 4 April , 2006 Share Posted 4 April , 2006 There is an account of the sinking by a survivor in 'True World War 1 Stories', introduction by Lewis J. E. and published by Robinson, London 1999 . The story/article is called 'Torpedoed in the Aegean' by an East Riding Yeomanry trooper enroute for Egypt (she was sailing from Salonika to Alexandria at the time). I have a list of the 19 East Ridings who perished if you are interested. Neil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmm45 Posted 4 April , 2006 Author Share Posted 4 April , 2006 There is an account of the sinking by a survivor in 'True World War 1 Stories', introduction by Lewis J. E. and published by Robinson, London 1999 . The story/article is called 'Torpedoed in the Aegean' by an East Riding Yeomanry trooper enroute for Egypt (she was sailing from Salonika to Alexandria at the time). I have a list of the 19 East Ridings who perished if you are interested. Neil. Thanks everone for your help. My casualty is T4/216022 LUCAS ASC he was lost at sea in the sinking commemerated on the Mikra memorial. Ady Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delta Posted 12 September , 2006 Share Posted 12 September , 2006 Ady 2Lt Herbert Lane Thacker MM ASC; one of the first tank drivers, was also drowned as a result of the sinking of the Arcadian. Stephen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delta Posted 9 December , 2006 Share Posted 9 December , 2006 Slightly confused; I undertsood that Arcadian was on her way to Eqypt; do we know when she left Salonika? Stephen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spithead Posted 9 December , 2006 Share Posted 9 December , 2006 Hello Ady ARCADIAN Royal Mail Steam Packet Co.; 1899; Vickers, Sons & Maxim; 8,939 tons; 500x55-3x33-7; 506n.h.p.; 15 knots; tripleexpansion engines. The liner Arcadian, Capt. C. L. Willats, was taken over from the R.M.S.P. Co. during the First World War and converted into a transport. On April 15th, 1917, the ship with a company of 1,335 troops and crew was proceeding from Salonika to Alexandria, and was in the southern Aegean, 26 miles N.E. of Milo. The troops had just completed boat-drill when a submarine approached unseen and discharged a torpedo which inflicted such extensive damage that the vessel sank in six minutes. Fortunately the men's recent exercise at the boats imparted steadiness and confidence and 1,058 were rescued, either through their own efforts or by the escorting destroyer. The number drowned was 277 and, had it not been for the sudden capsizing of the vessel, many more would have been saved. Those lost included 19 army officers and 214 other ranks, as well as ten naval ratings and 34 members of the crew. A considerable amount of wreckage and spars was sucked down and this, coming to the surface with great force, killed many who were swimming in the water. Regards John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delta Posted 9 December , 2006 Share Posted 9 December , 2006 John , Adt Looking at the names on the memorial quite a few were ASC. Did the tranposrt's voyage start at Salonika or was it en route from Great Britain. If so was Salonika often used as a stopping port? Stephen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
historydavid Posted 10 December , 2006 Share Posted 10 December , 2006 Stephen, The ship was going tother way, from Salonika, via Egypt, to France. Best wishes David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delta Posted 10 December , 2006 Share Posted 10 December , 2006 Thanks David - that helps me considerably Do you know if she started at Salonika or originally from the UK; my reason for asking is to try to identify whether Herbert Thacker left for Eqypt from the UK or if he was serving in Salonika and was re=deployed Stephen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nfh249 Posted 10 December , 2006 Share Posted 10 December , 2006 She departed the UK at the beginning of April en route to Salonika and then on to Egypt. http://www.firstworldwar.com/diaries/torpedoed.htm Regards, Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delta Posted 10 December , 2006 Share Posted 10 December , 2006 superb - thanx Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dido Posted 29 March , 2017 Share Posted 29 March , 2017 Does anyone knows when did Captain Charles Lane Willats assumed command of the ARCADIAN? Was he her last peace time captain? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerchantOldSalt Posted 29 March , 2017 Share Posted 29 March , 2017 (edited) I do not believe he was the ARCADIAN's Master in peace time as at the beginning of the War Captain Willats was Master of the Royal Mail SP Co's PEMBROKESHIRE on which he served throughout 1914 & 1915. Prior to that he served as Chief Officer of the ARLANZA during the years 1912 and 1913. He served with the Royal Mail SP Co for most of his career at sea, completing 21 years service when he applied for a copy of his Certificate of Competency which was lost when the RADNORSHIRE, on which he was serving as Master, was sunk by the raider MOEWE off Brazil on 7 Jan 1917. He appears to have survived the war and was Master of the CHAUDIERE in 1918 & 1919. He was still making trips to sea at the age of 78 describing himself on the passenger list as a Captain RNR retired! Attached picture of ARCADIAN as a Government Transport TH Edited 29 March , 2017 by MerchantOldSalt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonmate Posted 29 March , 2017 Share Posted 29 March , 2017 (edited) There is an ARCADIAN movement into Southampton from New York on 16 May 1914 in file BT26/599/30 at the NA. Not digital, though there is a suggestion on the index page of Discovery that it can be obtained from AUK ( which seems to indicate with a worldwide subscription). That may be the last civil voyage prior to Govt use and the papers will show the Captain's name. A Captain Charles Lane Willets had an exciting last few years at sea, as he also shipwrecked the PEMBROKESHIRE on 16.11.1915 off the Canaries and took the blame for being too close inshore and failing to deploy his lead soundings to confirm his course. Edit: now see MoSs post, so not him on the May 1914 arrival. Edited 29 March , 2017 by sotonmate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dido Posted 30 March , 2017 Share Posted 30 March , 2017 Thank you both for you prompt and interesting replies! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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