Losses in WW1

Coila Colemere Colenso
Colorado Combe Comedian
Commander Boyle Commodore Commonwealth


This page includes basic information about the ships and how they were lost, a photo of the relevant panel(s) of the Tower Hill Memorial and information about those that lost their lives extracted from the CWGC database. In the table I have included information about those who served on the ships but who had a normal burial as this seems appropriate to me. In some cases further family information about the individuals may be available on the CWGC website [7].

Coila

Coila was a 4,135 GRT steam cargo ship completed in 1911 by A. McMillan & Son, Ltd. for Kyle Transport Co. Ltd. and managed by Alexander Bicket. She was sunk on 14 December 1917 by torpedo fired by German submarine U-64 at position 39° 37' N, 00° 08' E - approximately 3 nautical miles South-East of Caney Point, Valencia. She was en route from Glasgow to Livorno with a cargo of coal.

Coila

Casualties

Surname Forename Age Honours/
Awards		 D.O.D Rank Cemetery/
Memorial		 Grave Ref. Additional Information
Brennen Jas 14/12/1917 Fireman Tower Hill Memorial Born At Kilwinning, Ayr.
McLanders Bruce 40 14/12/1917 Fireman Tower Hill Memorial Son Of Ann Paton Mclanders, Of 25, Langlands St., Dundee, And The Late Thomas Mclanders. Born At Mains, Forfar.
McMenamie Donald 18 14/12/1917 Ordinary Seaman Tower Hill Memorial Son Of Donald And Maria Mcmenamie, Of 4, Hill St., Greenock.

Colemere

Colemere was a 2,115 GRT steam cargo ship completed in 1915 by Dunlop, Bremner & Co. Ltd. for Watson Steamship Co. Ltd. From 1917 she was owned by Bromport Steamship Co. Ltd. and managed by H. R. Greenhalgh . She was sunk on 22 December 1917 by torpedo fired by German submarine U-105 approximately 35 nautical miles West of The Smalls, St. George Channel. She was en route from Penarth to Sierra Leone with a general cargo.

Colemere

Casualties

Surname Forename Age Honours/
Awards		 D.O.D Rank Cemetery/
Memorial		 Grave Ref. Additional Information
Boy Jim 24 22/12/1917 Fireman and Trimmer Tower Hill Memorial Born In Sierra Leone.
Davies John 27 22/12/1917 Fireman Tower Hill Memorial Born In Sierra Leone.
Howard Frank 20 22/12/1917 Fourth Engineer Officer Tower Hill Memorial Son Of Peter And Mary Hannah Howard (Nee Bradshaw), Of 64, Spring St., Bury. Born At Bury.
Savage John 45 22/12/1917 Fireman Tower Hill Memorial Husband Of Massey Savage, Of 5, Victoria St., Freetown, Sierra Leone. Born In Sierre Leone.

Colenso

Colenso was a 3,861 GRT steam cargo ship completed in 1900 by R. Stephenson & Co. Ltd. for T.Wilson Sons & Co. Ltd. She was captured on 30 November 1915 by German submarine U-33 and sunk by gunfire at position 35° 34' N, 16° 33' E - approximately 95 nautical miles East-South-East of Malta. She was en route from the Tees and Hull to Bombay with a general cargo.

Colenso

Casualties

Surname Forename Age Honours/
Awards		 D.O.D Rank Cemetery/
Memorial		 Grave Ref. Additional Information
Kariothis Emmanulle 18 30/11/1915 Fireman Tower Hill Memorial Son Of Mrs. Kariothis, Of Erachio, Crete. Born In Greece.

Colorado

Colorado was a 5,652 GRT steam cargo ship (ref) completed in 1914 by Russell & Co. for T.Wilson, Sons & Co. Ltd. From 1917 she was owned by Ellerman's Wilson Line Ltd. She was sunk on 20 October 1917 by torpedo fired by German submarine UB-31 approximately 1.5 nautical miles East of Start Point. She was en route from Hull to Alexandria with a cargo of coal and coke.

Colorado

Casualties

Surname Forename Age Honours/
Awards		 D.O.D Rank Cemetery/
Memorial		 Grave Ref. Additional Information
Ingberg Adolf 42 20/10/1917 Donkeyman Tower Hill Memorial Son Of The Late Oscar Adolph And Anna Ingberg. Born At Stockholm.
Milne W.J. 20/10/1917 First Engineer Dartmouth (Longcross) Cemetery 194
Rojahn Carl 43 20/10/1917 Fireman and Trimmer Tower Hill Memorial Son Of The Late Mr. And Mrs. Otto Rojahn; Husband Of Kate Rojahn (Nee Stebbing), Of 155, Walker St., Anlaby Rd., Hull. Born In Oslo, Norway.
Stretton John Henry 21 20/10/1917 Fourth Engineer Officer Tower Hill Memorial Son Of Joseph Edwin And Florence Stretton (Nee Markham), Of 50, Scarborough St., Hull. Born At Hull.

Combe

Combe was a 2,030 GRT steam cargo ship completed in 1912 by Wood, Skinner & Co. for Stephenson Clarke & Co. She was last seen on 14 October 1915 at Liverpool. She was en route to Archangel with a cargo of munitions.

There were no survivors

Combe

Casualties

Surname Forename Age Honours/
Awards		 D.O.D Rank Cemetery/
Memorial		 Grave Ref. Additional Information
Bruce W 19 14/10/1915 Fireman and Trimmer Tower Hill Memorial Son Of Mr. And Mrs. Bruce, Of 23, Othello St., Kirkdale, Liverpool. Born At Liverpool.
David A 23 14/10/1915 Seaman Tower Hill Memorial Born At Rangoon.
Dicker J 32 14/10/1915 Able Seaman Tower Hill Memorial Born At Liverpool.
Edmonstone J 48 14/10/1915 Second Engineer Tower Hill Memorial Husband Of Mrs. Edmonstone, Of 26, Bruce Grove, Watford, Herts. Born At Edinburgh.
Gowing Wilfred 24 14/10/1915 Donkeyman Tower Hill Memorial Son Of Horace Gowing, Of The Lince, Blenheim Park, Woodstock, And The Late Mary Ann Gowing. Born At Oxford.
Jones C.L. 19 14/10/1915 Seaman Tower Hill Memorial Born At Exeter.
Keeley Francis 19 14/10/1915 Mess Room Steward Tower Hill Memorial Son Of Miles And Ellen Keeley, Of 3, Crompton St., Liverpool.
Lawrence William Henderson 59 14/10/1915 Master Tower Hill Memorial Husband Of Bessie S. Lawrence, Of 35, Blagdon Avenue, South Shields.
Lewis William Henry Arthur 21 14/10/1915 Boatswain Tower Hill Memorial Son Of Alice Ruth Mary Lewis, Of 17, Bath St., Gravesend, Kent, And John Abraham Richard Lewis.
Lincoln Chas 19 14/10/1915 Steward Tower Hill Memorial Born At South Shields.
Matthews T.R. 50 14/10/1915 First Mate Tower Hill Memorial Husband Of Mrs. Matthews, Of Bainbrough Terrace, North Shields. Born At North Shields.
McDonald F 25 14/10/1915 Seaman Tower Hill Memorial Born At Liverpool.
McTaggart Sidney 14/10/1915 Fireman Tower Hill Memorial Husband Of Mrs. Mctaggart, Of 30, Forge St., Derby Rd., Liverpool.
Monaghan E 23 14/10/1915 Fireman and Trimmer Tower Hill Memorial Son Of Mrs. Monaghan, Of 41, Othello St., Liverpool.
Monaghan Sidney 26 14/10/1915 Fireman Tower Hill Memorial Son Of Thomas And Agnes Monaghan; Husband Of Catherine Monaghan (Nee Hughes), Of 53, Miranda Rd., Kirkdale, Liverpool. Born At Liverpool.
Pennington A 31 14/10/1915 Fireman Tower Hill Memorial Husband Of Mrs. Pennington, Of 7, Bangor St., Seaforth, Liverpool. Born At Bootle.
Shorter Sydney Smithers 23 14/10/1915 Seaman Tower Hill Memorial Son Of Frederick And Emma Shorter, Of 38, Heath St., Dartford, Kent. Born At Faversham, Kent.
Steel Ernest 34 14/10/1915 Ship s Cook Tower Hill Memorial Husband Of Mrs. Steel, Of 33, Fulwell Rd., Sunderland. Born At Sunderland.
Swanson William 57 14/10/1915 Seaman Tower Hill Memorial Husband Of Mrs. Swanson, Of 94, Marlborough St., South Shields. Born In London.
Walker F.W. 50 14/10/1915 First Engineer Tower Hill Memorial Husband Of Mrs. Walker, Of 42, Milton St., South Shields. Born At Newcastle.
Walker Robert 24 14/10/1915 Third Engineer Tower Hill Memorial Son Of Mrs. Walker, Of 42, Milton St., South Shields. Born At South Shields.
Wharton J 24 14/10/1915 Seaman Tower Hill Memorial Born In London.

Comedian

Comedian was a 4,889 GRT steam cargo ship completed in 1903 by Charles Connell & Co. for Charente Steamship Co. Ltd. and managed by T. & J. Harrison. She was sunk on 29 April 1917 by torpedo fired by German submarine U-93 at position 48° 06' N, 10° 45' W - approximately 200 nautical miles West by South of Bishop Rock. She was en route from St.John, New Brunswick to Falmouth with ammunition and stores.

Comedian

Casualties

Surname Forename Age Honours/
Awards		 D.O.D Rank Cemetery/
Memorial		 Grave Ref. Additional Information
Ledson John 39 29/04/1917 Storekeeper and Greaser Tower Hill Memorial Husband Of Ann Ledson, Of 7, Vere St., Liverpool. Born At Liverpool.
Smith J 25/07/1915 Fireman Port Said War Memorial Cemetery P. 17. (Served As Mcgowan).
Whitney Robert 17 29/04/1917 Ordinary Seaman Tower Hill Memorial Son Of Samuel Whitney, Of 68, George St., Blackpool, And The Late Margaret Whitney (Nee Higgins). Born At Liverpool.

Commander Boyle

Commander Boyle was a 243 GRT steam trawler completed in 1915 by Cook, Welton & Gemmell for an unknown company. In 1915 she was relocated from Fleetood to Hull where she was in the ownership of Hellyer Steam Fishing Co. Ltd. She sank on 23 August 1915 on her second trip on striking a mine approximately 40 nautical miles North by West of Rattray Head whilst fishing out of Fleetwood. Three members of the crew were killed but there were nine survivors.

Commander Boyle

Casualties

Surname Forename Age Honours/
Awards		 D.O.D Rank Cemetery/
Memorial		 Grave Ref. Additional Information
Bratton W 31 23/08/1915 Third Hand Tower Hill Memorial Son Of Mr. Bratton, Of 12, Richmond Terrace, Harrow St., Hull. Born At Hull.
Holder Walter 31 23/08/1915 Spare Hand Tower Hill Memorial Husband Of Mrs. W. Holder, Of 70, Manchester St. Hessle Rd., Hull. Born At Hull.
Smith Robert 30 23/08/1915 Spare Hand Tower Hill Memorial Son Of Ann Smith, Of 24, Liverpool St., Hull, And The Late Robert Smith.

Commodore

Commodore was a 4,521 GRT steam cargo ship completed in 1906 by Charles Connell & Co. for Charente Steamship Co. Ltd. and managed by T. & J. Harrison. She was captured on 2 December 1915 by German submarine U-33 who sank her with bombs at position 35° 10' N, 17° 39' E - approximately 160 nautical miles East-South-East of Malta. She was en route from Salonica to Marseille in ballast.

Commodore

Casualties

Surname Forename Age Honours/
Awards		 D.O.D Rank Cemetery/
Memorial		 Grave Ref. Additional Information
Woodward Richard Charles 26 02/12/1915 Second Cook Tower Hill Memorial Son Of Richard And Sarah Marie Woodward, Of 12, Glendanon St., Lower Richmond Rd., Putney, London. Born At Fulham, London.

Commonwealth

Commonwealth was a 3,353 GRT steam cargo ship completed in 1896 by Furness, Withy & Co. Ltd. for R.Stewart & Co. At the time of her loss she was owned by Kent Steamship Co. Ltd. and managed by S.Walton. She was sunk on 19 February 1918 by torpedo fired by German submarine UC-71 approximately 5 nautical miles North-East of Flamborough Head. She was en route from Bizerta to Middlesbrough with a cargo of iron ore.

Commonwealth

Casualties

Surname Forename Age Honours/
Awards		 D.O.D Rank Cemetery/
Memorial		 Grave Ref. Additional Information
Ali Sabit 19/02/1918 Fireman and Trimmer Bombay 1914-1918 Memorial, Mumbai
Attwell Harold 36 19/02/1918 Chief Steward Tower Hill Memorial Son Of Benjamin Ernest And Blanche Louise Attwell, Of Beckwith St., Bridgetown, Barbados.
Bick Henry George 15 19/02/1918 Steward Tower Hill Memorial Son Of Albert John And Annie Hestor Bick, Of Canonbury St., Berkeley, Glos.
Campbell Archibald 49 19/02/1918 Able Seaman Flamborough (St. Oswald) Churchyard Born At Glasgow.
Coglin William Frater 56 19/02/1918 Second Mate Tower Hill Memorial Son Of The Late Daniel And Margaret Ann Coglin. Born At West Hartlepool.
Craigg W 40 19/02/1918 Ship s Cook Tower Hill Memorial Born In Barbados.
Davies John Thomas 20 19/02/1918 Able Seaman Llangranog (Capel-Y-Wig) Congregational Chapelyard Son Of David And Anne Davies, Of Cefn Ceilio, Llandranog.
Fagnant O 34 19/02/1918 Able Seaman Tower Hill Memorial Born At Quebec.
Hasan Saleh 19/02/1918 Fireman and Trimmer Bombay 1914-1918 Memorial, Mumbai
Lane C.F. 63 19/02/1918 Carpenter Tower Hill Memorial Born In Finland.
Morris John Stanley 19 19/02/1918 Signalman Tower Hill Memorial Son of Tom and Elizabeth Ann Morris, of 47, Church St., Tredegar, Mon. Mr. Morris was a member of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and is also commemorated on panel 30 of the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Muhammad Ahmad 19/02/1918 Fireman and Trimmer Bombay 1914-1918 Memorial, Mumbai
Muhammad Nagi 19/02/1918 Donkeyman Bombay 1914-1918 Memorial, Mumbai
Robley Claude Crossley 18 19/02/1918 Wireless Operator Tower Hill Memorial Son Of James Crossley Robley And Caroline Robley, Of 2, Rosebery Crescent, Newcastle-On-Tyne. Born At Whitby Bay.

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