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Re: East Coast sinking 27 July 1918. Which ship?
Posted by:
Graham Fitt
()
Date: April 13, 2007 08:55PM
I've done a bit more research into this.
Extract from Isernia's log for Saturday 27 July 1917.
(Isernia was patrolling section 1)
1:40 AM
We heard explosion to the south of us and at once proceeded (illegible word) at full speed.
1:55 AM
Saw wreck. We at once launched boat. Signal from Ellida "Pick up people". We then cruised round, but saw nothing.
4:00 AM
Reported to Ellida and told him we had saved 20 people including women and children and that some were injured. Reply "Take them to Yarmouth ASAP"
6:00 AM
Signal to Staff Office. "Permission to land with injured survivors?"
6:10 AM
Reply. "You are to enter harbour".
-------
Report into torpedoing of Kirkham Abbey 500 tons bound for Hull.
1:30AM 27/7/1918 Sunk in shallow water mast visible 2 miles NE of Northness. Ships lifeboat landed at Northness and the occupants were handed to the Winterton authourities. Two injured sent to Yarmouth hospital by road.
Statement of survivor:-
"The submarine appeared at 1:30 AM and fired a shot at the vessel and immediately launched a torpedo which missed and apparently exploded on the beach; a second torpedo was fired and struck the vessel in the forepart tearing the bows away. The passengers and crew took to the boats and the submarine came alongside one of the boats and took one of the occupants, a Dutchman, on to the submarine. The commander questioned him as to the identity of the vessel and he said they were Dutch. The commander called him a liar and threatened him with a revolver, after which he was put back into the boat. As the boat rowed away it was fired on by the crew of the submarine with rifles. One of our own boats now appeared and fire was opened on the submarine which immediately submerged. The boat's crew then showed a red flare as shells were faling near to them, the firing then ceased. The boat rowed ashore and landed at Northness.
Graham.
Extract from Isernia's log for Saturday 27 July 1917.
(Isernia was patrolling section 1)
1:40 AM
We heard explosion to the south of us and at once proceeded (illegible word) at full speed.
1:55 AM
Saw wreck. We at once launched boat. Signal from Ellida "Pick up people". We then cruised round, but saw nothing.
4:00 AM
Reported to Ellida and told him we had saved 20 people including women and children and that some were injured. Reply "Take them to Yarmouth ASAP"
6:00 AM
Signal to Staff Office. "Permission to land with injured survivors?"
6:10 AM
Reply. "You are to enter harbour".
-------
Report into torpedoing of Kirkham Abbey 500 tons bound for Hull.
1:30AM 27/7/1918 Sunk in shallow water mast visible 2 miles NE of Northness. Ships lifeboat landed at Northness and the occupants were handed to the Winterton authourities. Two injured sent to Yarmouth hospital by road.
Statement of survivor:-
"The submarine appeared at 1:30 AM and fired a shot at the vessel and immediately launched a torpedo which missed and apparently exploded on the beach; a second torpedo was fired and struck the vessel in the forepart tearing the bows away. The passengers and crew took to the boats and the submarine came alongside one of the boats and took one of the occupants, a Dutchman, on to the submarine. The commander questioned him as to the identity of the vessel and he said they were Dutch. The commander called him a liar and threatened him with a revolver, after which he was put back into the boat. As the boat rowed away it was fired on by the crew of the submarine with rifles. One of our own boats now appeared and fire was opened on the submarine which immediately submerged. The boat's crew then showed a red flare as shells were faling near to them, the firing then ceased. The boat rowed ashore and landed at Northness.
Graham.
