Barry-bound ship torpedoed WW1

[Administrator]

Tragedy of Barry-bound ship torpedoed a century ago

German U-Boats posed a huge threat to British shipping in World War One.

THE tragic deaths of 21 crewmen who died aboard the coal vessel the SS Eskmere took place 100 years ago today, October 13.

The vessel, which had been carrying coal from Belfast to Barry, was sunk by a German U-boat off the coast of Anglesey in 1917, during the height of the First World War.

Two crew members from Barry – William Smith, aged 19 and 15-year-old Francis Grey – both died in the attack.

The ship went down less than five minutes after being torpedoed by the submarine and both lifeboats were capsized. While an appeal was issued to the Germans to help, they instead suddenly submerged so as to throw the surviving crew members, who were hanging on to the side of one of the lifeboats, into the water.
Seven men survived the ordeal, being rescued the following morning.

The SM UC-75, the U-boat which destroyed the ship, sank no less than 58 allied vessels between 2017 and 2018, before finally itself being sunk by HMS Fairy in May 1918.

Seven men survived the ordeal, being rescued the following morning.

The SM UC-75, the U-boat which destroyed the ship, sank no less than 58 allied vessels between 2017 and 2018, before finally itself being sunk by HMS Fairy in May 1918.

LINK

[john]

Hi Keith, Here is a calendar and list of U-boat attacks on Barry Dock Shipping in 1917, there are 128 Ships on the list but guess there may be more. At least one attack every three days, they must have been anxious times for all those involved. In memory of William Richard Parkman, and Claude Melvin who never came home.



2 January 1917 - S.S. GALLIER - Le Havre to Barry (sunk by U-95) 
3 January 1917 - S.S. ANGELA - Genoa to Barry Roads (sunk by U-79)
3 January 1917 - S.S. HELGOY - Blaye to Barry Roads (sunk by UB-39)
4 January 1917 - S.S. WRAGBY - Barry to Gibraltar (sunk by UC-37) 
5 January 1917 - S.S. ASTA - Duclair (Rouen) to Barry Roads (sunk by UB-37) 
5 January 1917 - S.S. MARKLAND - Bayonne to Barry (sunk by UB-39) 
14 January 1917 - S.S. MARTIN - Bayonne to Barry (sunk by UC-18)
15 January 1917 - S.S. GARFIELD - Barry to Port Said (sunk by U-39) 
16 January 1917 - S.S. ESPERANCA - La Spezia to Barry (sunk by U-48)
18 January 1917 - S.S. ASP - Barry to Fayal (sunk by UB-38)
22 January 1917 - S.V. BEARNAIS - Bordeaux to Barry (sunk by UC-21)
22 January 1917 - S.S. EUPHRATES - Barry to New York (sunk by U-57) 
23 January 1917 - S.S. EGYPTE - Bordeaux to Barry Roads (sunk by UC-17)

2 February 1917 - S.S. ODIN - Barry to Lisbon (sunk by U-53)
3 February 1917 - S.S. EAVESTONE - Barry to Gibraltar (sunk by U-45)
5 February 1917 - S.S. AGYLLSHIRE - London to Barry (damaged by UC-46) 
5 February 1917 - S.S. WARTENFELS - Barry to Alexandria (sunk by U-81)
13 February 1917 - S.S. PROGRESO - Barry to Boucau (sunk by UC-21) 
14 February 1917 - S.S. TROWBRIDGE - Barry to Alexandria (damaged by U-38) 
21 February 1917 - S.S. DUKAT - Barry Dock to Fayal (sunk by U-84) 
23 February 1917 - S.S. NYLAND - Barry to Gibraltar (sunk by UC-17) 
24 February 1917 - S.S. SALAMIS - Barry to Bordeaux (sunk by UC-17)
26 February 1917 - S.S. ALGIERS - Calais to Barry Roads (sunk UC-65)
26 February 1917 - S.S. BURNBY - Barry to Algiers (sunk by U-39) 
27 February 1917 - S.S. BELLORADO - Barry to Alexandria (damaged by UC-22)

3 March 1917 - S.S. CRAIGENDORAN - Barry to Malta (sunk by UC-37)
3 March 1917 - S.S. NEWSTEAD - Barry to Naples (sunk by U-49 )
7 March 1917 - S.S. ANTONIO - Barry to Cherbourg (sunk by U-48) 
9 March 1917 - S.V. INVERLOGIE - Barry to Archangel (sunk by U-70) 
10 March 1917 - S.S. ASBJORN - Barry Dock to Lisboa (sunk by UC-21)
12 March 1917 - S.S. TANDIL - Barry to Portland (sunk by UC-68) 
15 March 1917 - S.S. CIRCE - Barry to Bizerte (sunk by U-70)
22 March 1917 - S.S. ATTIKA - Barry to Sand Key, Florida (sunk by U-81)
28 March 1917 - S.S. WYCHWOOD - Barry to Scapa Flow (sunk by UC-65)

3 April 1917 - S.S. HESPERUS - Barry Dock to Marseille (sunk by U-46)
4 April 1917 - S.S. PENSIERO - Genoa to Barry (sunk by UC-71)
5 April 1917 - S.S. KANGEROO - Barry to Port Said (damaged by U-63)
5 April 1917 - S.S. CALLIOPE - Barry to Malta (sunk by U-65)
8 April 1917 - S.S. TORRINGTON - Savona to Barry Roads (sunk by U-55)
12 April 1917 - S.S. KILDALE - Barry to Malta (sunk by U-32)
18 April 1917 - S.S. TREKIEVE - Barry to Gibraltar (sunk by U-35)
24 April 1917 - S.S. PLUTUS - Rouen to Barry Roads (sunk by UC-47)
24 April 1917 - S.S. VILHELM KRAG - Genoa to Barry (sunk by U-35) 

3 May 1917 - S.S. POLSTAD - Barry to Gibraltar (sunk by U-69) 
4 May 1917 - S.S ILVA - Genoa to Barry Roads (sunk by UC-69) 
11 May 1917 - S.S. HERMES - Barry to Archangel (sunk by U-45) 
16 May 1917 - S.S. PAGENTURM - London/Sheerness to Barry (sunk by UB-40)
21 May 1917 - S.S. AMPLEFORTH - Barry to Alexandria (sunk by U-65) 
25 May 1917 - S.S. SJAELLAND - Le Havre to Barry Roads (sunk by UC-66)
27 May 1917 - S.S. INDIAN TRANSPORT - Le Havre to Barry Roads (damaged by unknown U-boat) 

3 June 1917 - S.S. ISLANDMORE - Barry to Malta (sunk by U-33)
4 June 1917 - S.S. ALGOL - Barry Dock to Port Romanoff (sunk by U-28)
4 June 1917 - S.S. SONGVAND - Barry to Santos (sunk by UC-29)
11 June 1917 - S.S. EUSTACE - London to Barry Roads (damaged by UB-40)
11 June 1917 - S.S. KNIGHT COMPANION - Dunkirk to Barry Roads (sunk by UB-20)
18 June 1917 - S.S. VAERING - Bordeaux to Barry (sunk by UC-65) 
21 June 1917 - S.S. E.T. NYGAARD - Barry to Dakar (sunk by UC-69) 
23 June 1917 - S.S. ISERE Barry to Oran & Marseille (sunk by U-39) 
24 June 1917 - S.S. HILVERSUM - Le Havre to Barry (sunk by UC-51)
30 June 1917 - S.S. CHATEAU YQUEM - Dunkirk to Barry (sunk by UB-40)

1 July 1917 - S.S. DON EMILIO - Barry to Yukanski/Archangel (sunk by U-80)
4 July 1917 - S.S. HURSTSIDE - Barry to Archangel (sunk by UC-54) 
7 July 1917 - S.S. CORAL LEAF - Parrsboro to Barry, (sunk by U-88)
15 July 1917 - S.S. DUDHOPE - Barry to Rio Janeiro (sunk by U-49)
20 July 1917 - S.S. L.H. CARL - Barry to Rouen (sunk by UB-40) 
20 July 1917 - S.S. BRAMHAM - Barry to Rouen (sunk by UC-47)
23 July 1917 - S.T. RADIOLEINE - Barry to New York (damaged by U-96) 
24 July 1917 - S.S. ZERMATT - Barry to Campana (sunk by U-46) 
25 July 1917 - S.S. PURLEY - Barry to Malta (sunk by U-46)
27 July 1917 - S.S. BELLAGIO - London to Barry (damaged by UC-65)
30 July 1917 - S.S. GANGES (1) - Barry to Spezia (sunk by U-39)
31 July 1917 - S.S. SNOWDONIAN - Barry to Freetown (sunk by U-155) 

10 August 1917 - S.S. WAR PATROL - Barry to unknown (sunk by UC-69)
19 August 1917 - S.S. GLOCLIFFE - Barry to Southampton (sunk by UB-40)
19 August 1917 - S.S. MONKSGARTH - Barry to Bordeaux (sunk by UC-48)
23 August 1917 - S.S. WINLATON - Barry to Gibraltar, (sunk by UB-48) 
24 August 1917 - S.S. KILWINNING - Barry to Port Said (sunk by U-14) 
29 August 1917 - S.S. TRELOSKE - Barry to Spezia (sunk by U-93)
31 August 1917 - S.S. WESTBURY - Barry to Halifax, N.S. (sunk by U-48)

1 September 1917 - S.S. ERATO - Dunkirk to Barry Roads (sunk by UC-69)
1 September 1917 - S.S. PERONNE - Le Havre to Barry Roads (sunk by UC-65) 
7 September 1917 - S.S. BRODMEAD - Barry to Port Said (damaged by UB-49)
14 September 1917 - S.S. ZETA - Barry to Zarate (sunk by UC-51)
15 September 1917 - S.S. SAINT JACQUES - Barry to Bizerta (sunk by UC-51)
16 September 1917 - S.S. SANDSEND - Barry to Queenstown (sunk by UC-48)
19 September 1917 - S.S. ETAL MANOR - Barry to Queenstown (sunk by UC-48)

1 October 1917 - S.S. MERSARIO - Barry to Italy/Alexandria (sunk by U-39) 
1 October 1917 - S.S. NORMANTON - Barry to Savona (sunk by U-39) 
2 October 1917 - S.S. ALMORA - Barry to Gibraltar (sunk by U-39)
2 October 1917 - S.S. NUCERIA - Barry to Italy (sunk by U-39)
13 October 1917 - S.S. ESKMERE - Belfast to Barry (sunk by UC-75) 
18 October 1917 - S.S. STEN - Barry to St Malo (sunk by UC-64)
19 October 1917 - S.S. WAIKAWA - Rouen/Le Havre to Barry Roads (sunk by UB-31) 
19 October 1917 - S.S. AUSTRALDALE - Barry to Gibraltar (sunk by U-22) 
19 October 1917 - S.S. WAR CLOVER - Barry to Malta/Taranto (sunk by U-64)
28 October 1917 - S.S. REDESMERE - Barry to Southampton (sunk by UB-40)

4 November 1917 - S.S. BORDER KNIGHT - London to Barry (sunk by UC-17) 
13 November 1917 - S.S. AUSTRALBUSH - Le Havre to Barry (sunk by UC-31) 
14 November 1917 - S.S. PROPHET - Barry to Mudros (sunk by UC-74)
16 November 1917 - S.S. GASCONIA - Barry to Malta (sunk by U-63) 
17 November 1917 - S.S. WESTERN COAST - Portsmouth to Barry Roads (sunk by UB-40)
18 November 1917 - S.S. ANTWERPEN - Barry to Rouen (sunk by UC-77)
19 November 1917 - S.S. APARIMA - London to Barry Roads (sunk by UB-40) 
22 November 1917 - S.S. HARTLAND - Glasgow to Barry (damaged by U-97) 
28 November 1917 - S.S. JANE RADCLIFFE - Barry to Port Said (sunk by UC-74)

2 December 1917 - S.S. KINTUCK - London to Barry Roads (sunk by UC-17) 
3 December 1917 - S.S. WREATHIER - Barry to Rouen (sunk by UB-35)
4 December 1917 - S.S. BRIGITTA - Barry to Dieppe (sunk by UC-63)
4 December 1917 - S.S. HELGE - Granville to Barry (sunk by UB-35) 
4 December 1917 - S.S. MILTON - Manchester to Barry (damaged by UC-75) 
5 December 1917 - S.S. EARLSWOOD - Dieppe to Barry Roads (damaged by U-53)
9 December 1917 - S.S. WAR TUNE - Barry to Cherbourg (sunk by U-53) 
13 December 1917 - S.S. ARNEWOOD - Barry to unknown (sunk by U-78) 
14 December 1917 - S.S. VOLNAY - Montreal to Barry (sunk by UC-64) 
15 December 1917 - S.S. BERNARD - Barry to Malta (sunk by U-94)
19 December 1917 - S.S. INGRID II - Barry to Boucau (sunk by U-60)
19 December 1917 - S.S. TREVELYAN - Rouen to Barry Roads (damaged by UC-64) 
19 December 1917 - S.S. TEESBRIDGE - Barry to Dakar (gun attack by unknown U-boat)
20 December 1917 - S.S. EVELINE - Barry Dock to Rouen (sunk by UB-31) 
20 December 1917 - S.S. FISCUS - Barry to Corfu (sunk by U-35) 
21 December 1917 - S.S. RELILLIO - Dunkirk for Barry Roads (damaged by unknown U-boat) 
21 December 1917 - S.S. SPRO - Barry Dock to La Pallice (sunk by U-104)
22 December 1917 - S.S. HUNSBROOK - Le Havre to Barry Roads (damaged by U-60) 
23 December 1917 - S.S. RAGNA - Barry Dock to Rouen (sunk by UB-54)
28 December 1917 - S.S. CLARA - Rouen to Barry Roads, (sunk by UB-57) 
29 December 1917 - S.S. TIRO - Barry to Rouen (sunk by UB-57) 
30 December 1917 - S.S. ZONE - Las Palmas/Boulogne to Barry (sunk by U-110) 
31 December 1917 - S.S. VIGRID - Barry Dock to Rouen (sunk by U-95)


Complied mainly from Wrecksite.eu, and Uboat.net information by John Anzevino 

[Administrator]

Hi John,

Thanks for looking in and your input.

I had just come on site to begin updating.

I will reply more fully ASAP.

Keith.

[KG]

In memory of William Richard Parkman, and Claude Melvin who never came home.


War memorial Penarth: Parkman, William Richard

Mess Steward, on S.S. Ventnor (London), Mercantile Marine.

Died: 14th February 1918, drowned when ship torpedoed and sunk by a submarine, aged 27.

Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial, London, Penarth War Memorial.

Son of Thomas Charles and Esther Parkman (nee Treasure), of 36 High Street, Penarth. Born at Penarth.

Occupation: a ship’s steward before the war.


Claude Melvin

Monument: Mercantile Marine Memorial - WW2

Rank

Able Seaman

Unit

S.S. British Monarch (Glasgow)

Regiment

Merchant Navy

Died

19-06-1940, age 23

Notes

Son of Louisa Melvin, of Barry Dock, Glamorgan.

Reference

Panel 20.

[KG]

William Richard Parkman - [1891-1918]


LINK