RMS Leinster was defensively-armed Irish passenger ship of 2,646 tonnes, built in 1897 by Cammell Laird & Co., Birkinhead. She was subsequently used as a Royal Mail Ship, operated by the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company.

On 10 October 1918, HMS Leinster was torpedoed by a German U-boat while bound for Holyhead and subsequently sank just outside Dublin Pay, four miles east of the Kish light vessel.

Sadly, more than 500 people lost their lives in the tragedy – the largest single loss of life in the Irish Sea.

The Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society has offered assistance for fishermen and mariners in need since 1839. The maritime charity provides help for mariners, retired seafarers and their dependants, through financial help including welfare grants, as well as assistance and support.

Photo credit: wrecksite.eu

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SS Bamse was a British merchant vessel built in 1881 by Strand Slipway Co. Ltd., Monkwearmouth. At the time of her loss during WW1, she was owned by The Shipping Controller, London.

On 2 October 1918, SS Bamse was travelling on a voyage five miles E by N from the Lizard, Cornwall, when she was torpedoed without warning by a German U-boat.

Sadly, the steamer of 1,001 tonnes was sunk with the loss of 11 lives.

Sadly, two lives were lost as a result.

The Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society has offered assistance for fishermen and mariners in need since 1839. The maritime charity provides help for mariners, retired seafarers and their dependants, through financial help including welfare grants, as well as assistance and support.

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SS Setter was a defensive-armed British passenger and cargo ship built in 1906 by Scott Shipbuilding & Engineering Co., Greenock. At the time of her loss during WW1, the vessel was owned by Burns G. & J. Ltd., Glasgow.

On 13 September 1918, Setter was travelling on a voyage from Manchester to Clyde, with general cargo, when she was torpedoed without warning and sunk by a German U-boat under the command of Ernst Krieger. At the time of the attack, the British steamer of 956 tonnes was six miles NWxN of Corsewall Point.

Sadly, six lives were lost as a result.

The Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society has offered assistance for fishermen and mariners in need since 1839. The maritime charity provides help for mariners, retired seafarers and their dependants, through financial help including welfare grants, as well as assistance and support.

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SS Audax was a British cargo vessel built in 1903 by Koninklijke Maatschappij De Schelde – Royal Schelde, Vlissingen. At the time of her loss during WW1, she was owned by Carr L. S., Newcastle.

On 6 September 1918, the Audax was travelling on passage to the Tyne to collect a cargo of coal bound for the French coast. Whilst six miles north east of Robin Hood’s Bay, the British steamer of 975 tonnes was damaged by an explosion, sadly killing two of the onboard crew.

The vessel remained afloat and the rest of the crew abandoned ship before being picked up by an escort vessel.

The Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society has offered assistance for fishermen and mariners in need since 1839. The maritime charity provides help for mariners, retired seafarers and their dependants, through financial help including welfare grants, as well as assistance and support.

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On 28 August 1918, the Giralda was travelling on a voyage from London to the Tyne in ballast when she was struck by a torpedo from a German U-boat. The explosion sadly killed six of the crew, with the remaining passengers escaping by lifeboat.

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British cargo vessel, SS Diomed, was built by Scott SB. & Eng. Co., Ltd., Greenock in 1917 and owned at the time of her loss by Ocean Steam Ship Co. Ltd., Liverpool.

On 21 August 1918, Diomed was travelling on a voyage from Liverpool to New York in ballast when she was sunk by gunfire from a German U-boat under the command of Waldemar Kophamel. At the time of the attack, the British steamer of 7,523 tonnes was positioned 195 miles ESE of Nantucket.

Sadly, two lives were lost.

The Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society has offered assistance for fishermen and mariners in need since 1839. The maritime charity provides help for mariners, retired seafarers and their dependants, through financial help including welfare grants, as well as assistance and support.

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SS Wallsend was a British cargo ship built in 1917 by Wood, Skinner & Co. Ltd., Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. At the time of her loss a year later, the steamer of 2,697 tonnes was under the ownership of Burnett Steamship Co. Ltd., also of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.

On 14 August 1918, the Wallsend was travelling on a voyage from Hartlepool to London with a cargo of coal when she was torpedoed by a German U-boat under the command of Thomas Bieber. At the time of the attack, the British vessel was one mile southeast of South Check, Robin Hoods Bay.

Thankfully, there were no casualties.

The Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society has offered assistance for fishermen and mariners in need since 1839. The maritime charity provides help for mariners, retired seafarers and their dependants, through financial help including welfare grants, as well as assistance and support.

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SS Biruta was a defensively-armed British merchant ship built in 1889 by Palmer’s Shipbuilding & Iron Co. Ltd., Newcastle-upon-Tyne. At the time of her loss in 1918, the steamer of 1,733 tonnes was owned by the British Government, London.

On 7 August 1918, whilst travelling on voyage, the Biruta was sunk by torpedo or mine, eight miles NW from Calais, France.

Sadly, 12 lives were lost as a result.

The Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society has offered assistance for fishermen and mariners in need since 1839. The maritime charity provides help for mariners, retired seafarers and their dependants, through financial help including welfare grants, as well as assistance and support.

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SS Justicia was a British troopship built in 1914 by Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast. Before completion, Justicia was acquired by the British government and operated by the White Star Line.

On 19 July 1918, whilst travelling unladen from Belfast to New York, 23 miles south of Skerryvore, Scotland, the Justicia was torpedoed by a German U-boat under the command of Otto von Schrader. Despite being struck by four torpedoes, the steamer of 32,234 tonnes remained afloat, allowing the majority of those on board to evacuate.

The following day, two more torpedoed were fired at the Justicia, causing her to finally sink with the loss of 16 lives.

The Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society has offered assistance for fishermen and mariners in need since 1839. The maritime charity provides help for mariners, retired seafarers and their dependants, through financial help including welfare grants, as well as assistance and support.

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