Finding HMAS Afric

[Catheena]

Hi all,

My mum and i are new to this site and we joined it hope to find out the details of a ship known as the afric.

It is to be believed that it was one of the first ships to be sunk in WW1 it was torpedoed in the english chanell, we think the date was 4th February 1917. Was heard to have had some suriviors. It was one of the first troop ships to leave australia from perth.

Our relative was part of the 7th Engineers, but we are also unable to find out about him as far as the records show he wasn't in the war. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thankyou in advance

Teemee and her mum

[HERITAGE PLUS]

Teemee (& mum)

Welcome to the Forum.

You will need to post the name of and what details you have about your relative here to enable us to try and help you.

Here is the AFRIC.

http://www.geocities.com/White_Star_Liners/Afric.html

She was assigned the number A19 by the Australian Government when used by them.

Dave

[historydavid]

Hello Teemee and her mum, welcome aboard.

Unfortunately, the Afric was preceded by several thousand ship losses.

On 12th February 1917 the defensively armed liner Afric, built 1899, 11,999 grt, was torpedoed and sunk in position 49.59N, 04.18W by German submarine UC 66, 12 miles SSW from Eddystone Lighthouse, England, English Channel. Carrying passengers (17 lost) and general cargo from Liverpool via Devonport to Sydney (NS), under orders of The Shipping Controller (owners Oceanic Steam Navigation Co Ltd - London) and managed by White Star Line. 5 members of the crew died.

I am not sure if the passengers referred to above were troops or civilians.

Best wishes

David

[Catheena]

Thankyou for your help so far, we appreciate it greatly.

My great Uncle's name is Gordon Edison Miller, we are un sure if he was a passenger or crew on the HMAT Afric, he was apart of the 7th Engineers (we think). He was on route to England to become a pilot.

Not much else is known about him, he went down with the ship and we are un able to find out any info on him.

With Thanks

Teemee and her mum

[Procat]

Hi Temee,

Have you seen this:

Edison Gordon Miller

Rank 7th Engineer

Unit SS Afric (Liverpool)

Service Merchant Navy

Conflict 1914-1918

Date of Death 12 February 1917

Cause of Death Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine

Age at Death 23

Cemetery or Memorial Details 39. Mercantile Marine Memorial, Tower Hill, London

Notes Born at East Wardell

It was found at: http://www.awm.gov.au/index.asp on the nominal roll database

The site also contains this information:

Merchant Navy

Merchant Navy Record of Service cards for people who served on Australian Merchant vessels are held in National Archives of Australia, Canberra Office on microfilm. The cards are arranged by family name and give some personal information, the name of ships and dates of service.

Please contact:

National Archives of Australia

PO Box 7425

Canberra Business Centre ACT 2610

Phone: 1300 886 881

Fax: 1300 886 882

Email ref@naa.gov.au

Doug

[Catheena]

Dear Doug,

We can't begin to express our gratitude for the information you provided us, if wasn't for people like yourselves on this site we would still be chasing our tails. We thank you all, you have helped us immensly.

Thankyou again

Teemee and her mum

[Procat]

Hi Teemee and Mum,

Glad to help.

Doug.