On this day (1st January) WW1 Shipwreckollections

RMS Ivernia (1900 – 1917)

The merchant SS Ivernia was built in 1900 and commissioned as an auxiliary transport vessel. She was torpedoed and sunk 58 miles of Cape Matapan on 1 January 1917 when on her way to Alexandria.

The submarine responsible for its sinking was sent from Germany to the Mediterranean in sections and assembled at Pola. She was commanded by Lt. Cdr. Steinbauer who had torpedoed the French battleship Gaulois a few days before.

At the time of the attack the Ivernia was carrying about 2,400 troops of the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders, Royal Scots Fusiliers, Rifle Brigade and Yeomanry. Of these, three officers and 82 other ranks as well as the ship´s surgeon, the chief engineer and 34 of the crew were sadly lost as sea.

Photo credit: wrecksite.eu