Armed Steamship Conch – 1916

When you read this report from Larn, 1916 note that this is an armed steamship with a cargo of Benzine, from Rangoon on its way to the River Thames. The Captain is recorded as T. G. Scott.

“Carrying a cargo of 7000 tons she was torpedoed at 10.30 p.m., without warning by an unseen German Submarine, later identified as UB-23.  A column of burning oil was thrown over the bridge and probably killed all the deck officers at once, since the engine room telegraph remained unaltered.  The Chief Engineer took charge and kept the engines at full speed to prevent the ship from being surrounded by burning oil.  The engine room crew remained below until 0.30 a.m. when they managed to get on deck through the stoke hold, where they found the bridge completely burnt out and the poop and forward tanks on fire, all the lifeboats having been destroyed.  Only one small boat remained which was got out, the Chief Engineer and four Chinese getting into it, the 4th engineer attempted to join them, but his hands were so burnt he was unable to grasp the rope and drowned.  The 2nd and 3rd engineers still on board, later made a raft and jumped overboard, joined by others.”  It is recorded that the ship sank at 7 a.m., 12 miles S by W ,0.25 W from Anvil Point, Dorset.

References:

British Merchant Ships sunk by U-boats in the 1914-18 War – (BMS)
British Vessels Lost at Sea. WW1 & WW2 – (BVLS)
Lloyd’s Confidential War Loss Record. WW1 & WW2 – (LCWLR)
Public Records Office Kew. Adm. 137/2960.
Lloyd’s Register, 1910 – 1918, No. 1424(C)

Steamship – (Detailed Story in LARN) – Torpedoed by German Submarine UB-23, sunk off Anvil Point.

Worthy of more research.

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Day of Loss: 8

Month of Loss: 12

Year of Loss: 1916

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