kin47 Posted 9 October , 2006 Share Posted 9 October , 2006 Hello Reference to S.S. ALAVI, lost on 13 October 1917, source material indicates 13 men were lost in the steamer. Two Merchant Seamen are commemorated on Tower Hill. Scanning through the the other Memorials and the Mediterranean cemetaries, no further ALAVI naval or merchant navy personnel are shown. Does anyone know if these remaining 11 deaths were Army, foreign nationals, etc? Thank you in advance. All best don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lörscher Posted 10 October , 2006 Share Posted 10 October , 2006 Hi all, I have ALAVI (Cpt. Williams) sunk by U 35 at 04.30h on 13.10.1917 with gunfire and bombs, steamer also tried to ram U 35 ! According to statement of master in PRO file 16 dead (!), but 3 men rescued by U 35 from the abandoned steamer and put on board an spanish sailing vessel, so Captain Williams had 16 missing at the time he made his statement, but 3 save unknown to him ! The remainder 50 crew rescued by spanish trawler JUAN CRUZ. The PRO file might give further details (nationality or else) of the dead. ADM 137-4037 Oliver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonmate Posted 11 October , 2006 Share Posted 11 October , 2006 Don Owned by Bombay and Persia Steam Navigation Company. Built 1893 by Tyne Iron Shipbuilding Co. 3627 tons. With the low number of deaths I would imagine that these were crew,but I will take a look in a few places to see if I can help further. Best wishes Sotonmate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonmate Posted 11 October , 2006 Share Posted 11 October , 2006 Oliver and Lorscher I can now,thanks to Lorscher,take a look in ADM137/4037 for you as I am going to the NA on 17th October,time permitting with my other things. Sotonmate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kin47 Posted 11 October , 2006 Author Share Posted 11 October , 2006 Many thanks Sotonmate and Lorscher. All best don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonmate Posted 17 October , 2006 Share Posted 17 October , 2006 Don The ship was Bombay-registered. The crew of 69 consisted of 11 European Officers and the remainder of Lascar (Asiatic) origin. 8 officers (7 British and 1 Dane) and 45 Lascars were saved. No passengers were carried. The U-Boat fired 4 quick shots before ship was abandoned. The first shot hit the bridge and wounded the Captain. One lifeboat took a direct shell hit before it hit the water,another with the wounded Captain in capsized on reaching the water. He was recovered and landed ashore later to Cartagena hospital. Another shell entered the Engine Room killing the engineers. The sub fired 5 more shots later at leisure after it's Kapitan had boarded and looked for logs etc (the ship had been requisitioned by HMG). 5th Engineer and 2 Firemen taken on board the sub for interrogation whilst it was underway on the surface and eventually transferred to fishing vessel "San Juan" from Spain. This from ADM137/4037 today. Best wishes Sotonmate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kin47 Posted 17 October , 2006 Author Share Posted 17 October , 2006 Many thanks Sotonmate!! A great piece of work!! Next problem: no casualties from ALAVI appear in the Bombay or Hong Kong Memorial. Can someone with more savvy than I tell me what I am looking at then? Obviously, none British Empire crewmen. All best don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonmate Posted 17 October , 2006 Share Posted 17 October , 2006 Don Pleased to be of service. Is there such a Memorial in Spain ? Or even graves there for those possibly washed ashore. Sotonmate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maximushisp Posted 1 March , 2010 Share Posted 1 March , 2010 Hello I would like to know more about this steamship. At the moment I have this information: Alavi Bombay & Persia Steam Navigation Co. ; 1893; Tyne iron Shipbuilding Co. ; 3627 tons; 335X43X27; 280 n.h.p.; 8.5 knots; triple-expansion engines. The steamship Alavi was intercepted by a german submarine six miles N.E. of Cape Palos, near Cartagena, on October 19th, 1917. The submarine opened fire from the surface and sank the vessel with shells. Thirteen men were killed. The captain was among the survivors. Thanks for your help Maximus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spithead Posted 1 March , 2010 Share Posted 1 March , 2010 Hi Maximus ON. 101823, formally WILLIAM STORRS, renamed ALAVI 06. Sunk by U35 whilst on a voyage from Genoa to Cartagena. Regards John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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