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S.S. "Glenart Castle"

 

'At about four in the morning, February 26th, 1918, when in the neighbourhood of Lundy Island, outward bound, she was struck by a torpedo.   She had all her Red Cross lights burning brightly.   There could be no mistaking her.   She sank in five minutes.  So quickly had the disaster come that several of the boats which were being lowered could not be cast off in time and were dragged down with the sinking ship.  Practically all the crew, medical officers, and nurses, were precipitated into the water, many of them to cling to rafts that had been put over the side.   The submarine was seen to come up, she passed within 50 feet of some of the rafts, two officers being visible in the conning tower.   About twelve hours later some survivors were picked up from the rafts by an American destroyer and a French vessel.   Out of the 200 men and women in the ship 38 only were saved.   It is believed that the submarine attacked the survivors in some of the boats or rafts, for bodies were found with wounds on them that could only have been inflicted by firearms.'

(From 'The Union-Castle and the War, 1914-1919)

 

Launched as:     Galician

Built:                     Harland & Wolff, Belfast

Launched:           Sept. 20th, 1900

 

 

 

     
The position of 'our ship' as surveyed by the Admiralty in 1999, is given as, Lat. 51 06' 417N -- Lon 005 02' 917W