Losses in WW1

Oilfield Okement Okhla
Olive Branch Olwen Omrah
Onesta Opal Orange Prince
Orator


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].

Oilfield

Oilfield was a 4,005 GRT steam tanker completed in 1896 by Tyne Iron Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. for Hunting Steamship Co. Ltd. and managed by Hunting & Son. She was torpedoed on 16 March 1918 by German submarine U-90 at position 58° 45' N, 05° 26' W - approximately 15 nautical miles North West of Cape Wrath. Beached near Stornaway, she was declared a total constructive loss. She was en route from Grangemouth to New York in ballast.

I do not have useable images of the panel for this vessel at present but will add them at a future date.


Casualties

Surname Forename Age Honours/
Awards		 D.O.D Rank Cemetery/
Memorial		 Grave Ref. Additional Information
Hung Liang 16/03/1918 Fireman and Trimmer Hong Kong Memorial
Kong Wong W 16/03/1918 Quartermaster Hong Kong Memorial
Tam Li 16/03/1918 2nd Steward Hong Kong Memorial

Okement

Okement was a 4,349 GRT steam cargo ship completed in 1915 by W. Pickersgill & Sons, Ltd for James Westoll. She was sunk on 17 February 1917 by torpedo fired by German submarine U-64 at position 34° 05' N, 16° 18' E - approximately 140 nautical miles South-East by South of Malta. She was en route from Malta to an unknown destination with coal and a general cargo.

Okement
Okement

Casualties

Surname Forename Age Honours/
Awards		 D.O.D Rank Cemetery/
Memorial		 Grave Ref. Additional Information
Ahearn James 40 17/02/1917 Able Seaman Tower Hill Memorial Born At Kinsale.
Anderson Ernest Lumly 28 17/02/1917 Second Officer Tower Hill Memorial Son Of Sarah A. Anderson, And The Late William Anderson; Husband Of Daisy Anderson (Nee Allen), Of 19, Brougham St., Albert Avenue, Hull. Born At Hull.
Andrews Stewart Percival 24 17/02/1917 Fourth Engineer Officer Tower Hill Memorial Son Of George Percival And Barbara Andrews, Of 65, Duke St., Darlington.
Brigge J 25 17/02/1917 Carpenter Tower Hill Memorial Born In Russia.
Fullam Claude Stanley 17 17/02/1917 Apprentice Tower Hill Memorial Son Of Mary Ann Fullam, Of The Elms, Hornsea, Yorks, And The Late Alfred Fullam.
Geddes William Mcqueen 37 17/02/1917 Steward Tower Hill Memorial Husband Of Catherine Geddes (Nee Rees), Of 41, Lickhill Rd., Stourport, Worcs. Born At Edinburgh.
Gomez Pedro 25 17/02/1917 Fireman Tower Hill Memorial Born In Portugal.
Phillips Ernest Spurrell 24 17/02/1917 Second Engineer Tower Hill Memorial Son Of Francis Henry And Mary Ann Phillips, Of 125, Porthkerry Rd., Barry, Glam. Born At Cardiff.
Robinson Lewis 33 17/02/1917 Fireman Tower Hill Memorial Son Of Bettie Norton (Formerly Robinson), Of 3730, Irving St., Philadelphia, U.S.A. Born At Cape Charles, Virginia, U.S.A.
Sauches Manuel 26 17/02/1917 Fireman Tower Hill Memorial Born In Spain.
Westcott H.M. 17/02/1917 Master Tower Hill Memorial

Okhla

Okhla was a 5,288 GRT steam cargo ship completed in 1895 by W. Denny & Bros. Ltd. for British India Steam Navigation Co. Ltd. She sank on 29 July 1917 after striking a mine laid by German raider Wolf at position 18° 43' N, 72° 26' E - West of Bombay.

Okhla

Casualties

Surname Forename Age Honours/
Awards		 D.O.D Rank Cemetery/
Memorial		 Grave Ref. Additional Information
Bamber Henry William 29/07/1917 Master Tower Hill Memorial
Mavin John Lawrence 25 29/07/1917 Third Engineer Tower Hill Memorial Son Of Emily Florence Mavin, Of 36, Glenthorne Rd., Hammersmith, London. Born At Sunderland.
Patterson G. Douglas 29/07/1917 Second Engineer Tower Hill Memorial
White Frederick Robert Leighton 26 29/07/1917 Second Officer Tower Hill Memorial Son Of Isabella White, Of Milton, Monifieth, Centre Door, Forfarshire, And The Late William Walter White.

Olive Branch

Olive Branch was a 4,649 GRT steam cargo ship completed in 1912 by Russell & Co. for Bellarden Steamship Co. Ltd. as Bellorado. From 1917 she was owned by Nautilus Steam Shipping Co. Ltd. and renamed Olive Branch. She was torpedoed by German submarine U-28 at position 72° 34' N, 27° 56' E - approximately 85 nautical miles North by East from the North Cape. The submarine subsequently closed in and sank the vessel by shellfire. Olive Branch exploded with such force that the submarine was sunk. One account states that a lorry being carried as deck cargo was thrown high into the air and landed on the submarine but whether this was the cause of sinking is far from proven. She was en route from Liverpool to Port Romanoff with a cargo of munitions.


Note: As Bellorado, the ship had been damaged by gunfire from German submarine UC-22 on 27 February 1917 and three seamen lost their lives. As their bodies were recovered, they are not recorded on the Tower Hill Memorial.

Olive Branch

Casualties

Surname Forename Age Honours/
Awards		 D.O.D Rank Cemetery/
Memorial		 Grave Ref. Additional Information
Mcgill D 55 03/09/1917 Ship s Cook Tower Hill Memorial Born At Liverpool.

Olwen

It is difficult to confirm the details of Olwen, but I believe that she was a 128 GRT steam cargo ship that left Swansea on 6 June 1918 bound for Cherbourg with a cargo of coal but not heard of thereafter. However, see the note below.

There were no survivors


There is a lot of confusion in this case as the CWGC records James McKenna as having died on 11 June 1918 and having served on 'S.V. Olwen'. This is also recorded on Naval-History.net which lists Mr. McKenna and Mr. Smitton being lost to submarine action. The other deaths give the ship as a steamship and the dates of death as 8 June 1918. The Crew List Information Project lists a 124 GRT schooner called Olwen which was built at Pembroke Dock in 1896 and registered at Milford. This vessel was removed from the register in 1918. It is therefore possible that there were actually two vessels lost but the names put together on one memorial entry. I have been unable to resolve this so have left this as a single entry but will update it if more information comes to light.

Olwen

Casualties

Surname Forename Age Honours/
Awards		 D.O.D Rank Cemetery/
Memorial		 Grave Ref. Additional Information
Camm Felix Tom 29 08/06/1918 Mate Tower Hill Memorial Son Of Celia Ann Camm, Of Epney, Near Stonehouse, Gloucestershire. Born At Gloucester.
McKenna James 27 11/06/1918 Leading Seaman Tower Hill Memorial Son of Alexander and Jane McKenna, of Balbriggan; husband of Catherine McKenna, of Clonard St., Balbriggan, Co. Dublin. Mr. McKenna was a member of the Royal Naval Reserve and is also commemorated on panel 31 of the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
Neibla Joseph 35 08/06/1918 Engineer Tower Hill Memorial Husband Of Freda Neibla (Nee Ayre), Of 1, Waterloo St., Swansea. Born In Spain.
Neilsen John 29 08/06/1918 Able Seaman Tower Hill Memorial (May Have Been Named Neilson). Born At Copenhagen.
Smitton Walter 23 08/06/1918 Able Seaman Tower Hill Memorial Son of William and Elizabeth Smitton, of 18, Stuart Rd., Walton, Liverpool. Mr. Smitton was a member of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and is also commemorated on panel 30 of the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Stamp Richard 16 08/06/1918 Cook Tower Hill Memorial Son Of Catherine Stamp (Nee Williams), Of Epney, Framilode, Stonehouse, Glos., And The Late Thomas Stamp.
Stamp Thomas 50 08/06/1918 Master Tower Hill Memorial Son Of Richard And Rosamond Stamp, Of Epney; Husband Of Catherine Stamp, Of Epney, Frampton-On-Severn, Gloucester.

Omrah

Omrah was a 8,291 GRT steam passenger ship completed in 1899 by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd. for Orient Steam Navigation Co. Ltd. She was sunk on 12 May 1918 by torpedo fired by German submarine UB-52 approximately 40 nautical miles South-West by South of Cap Spartivento, Sicily. She was en route from Marseille to Alexandria via Malta carrying mail.

According to Charles Hocking [35]:

The liner Omrah was taken over by the Admiralty for service in the First World War. On May 1st 1918 she left Alexandria for Marseilles in company7 with six other transports carrying units of the 52nd and 74th Divisions. The Omrah was torpedoed and sunk on May 12th, 40 miles S.W. of Cape Spartivento on her return voyage from Marseilles with small loss of life.
Omrah

Casualties

Surname Forename Age Honours/
Awards		 D.O.D Rank Cemetery/
Memorial		 Grave Ref. Additional Information
Pearce Henry John 22 12/05/1918 Trimmer Tower Hill Memorial Son Of James And Ellen Pearce (Nee Bampton), Of 14, Dock St., Southampton.

Onesta

Onesta was a 2,732 GRT steam cargo ship completed in 1896 by Russell & Co. for W.Thomson & Co. as Manitea. From 1917 she was owned by Fratelli Beraldo of Genoa. She was sunk on 7 August 1917 by torpedo fired by German submarine UC-63 near Inner Dowsing light vessel. She was en route from Newcastle to Genoa with a cargo of coal.

Onesta

Casualties

Surname Forename Age Honours/
Awards		 D.O.D Rank Cemetery/
Memorial		 Grave Ref. Additional Information
Kennedy Albert Ernest 46 07/08/1917 Pilot Tower Hill Memorial Husband Of Harriet A. Kennedy, Of 10, Thornton St., West Hartlepool.

Opal

Opal was a 599 GRT steam cargo ship completed in 1894 by Scott & Sons for Wm. Robertson. She was sunk on 18 December 1916 by torpedo fired by German submarine U-80 off the Isle of Man. She was en route from Llandulas to Belfast and Glasgow with a cargo of limestone.

Opal
Opal

Casualties

Surname Forename Age Honours/
Awards		 D.O.D Rank Cemetery/
Memorial		 Grave Ref. Additional Information
Campbell Abraham Stewart 35 18/12/1916 Second Mate Tower Hill Memorial Son Of Donald And Louisa Campbell; Husband Of Mary Clark Campbell (Nee Macfadyen), Of 79, Lambhill St., Glasgow. Born In Argyllshire.
Campbell Roderick 52 18/12/1916 Able Seaman Tower Hill Memorial Son Of Flora And The Late Anthony Campbell; Husband Of Jessie Campbell (Nee Johnson), Of Coolis Vatersay, Barra, Inverness. Born At Barra.
Darragh Thomas 18/12/1916 Able Seaman Tower Hill Memorial Son Of The Late William And Kate Darragh.
Galbraith David 18/12/1916 Fireman Tower Hill Memorial Husband Of Elizabeth Galbraith (Nee Mcloughlin), Of Springhill, Glenarm, Co. Antrim. His Son Patrick Galbraith Also Died In Service.
Hannah Hugh 47 18/12/1916 Engineer Tower Hill Memorial Son Of The Late John And Anne Thomas Hannah; Husband Of Sarah Anne Hannah (Nee Caffrey), Of 47, Reid St., Govan, Glasgow. Born At Govan.
Maguire Frank 30 18/12/1916 Second Engineer Tower Hill Memorial Son Of Ellen Maguire (Nee Mckillop), Of Martin St., Glenarm, Co. Antrim, And The Late James Maguire. Born At Glenarm.
Martin D 18/12/1916 Master Tower Hill Memorial
McDonnell Archibald 49 18/12/1916 Cook Tower Hill Memorial Son Of The Late Patrick And Ellen McDonnell; Husband Of Ellen McDonnell (Nee McKeegan), Of Ballybrack, Cushendall, Co. Antrim. Born At Talmacrilly, Co. Antrim.
McKay Charles 38 18/12/1916 Fireman Tower Hill Memorial Son Of Margaret McKay, Of Back St., Carnlough, Co. Antrim, And The Late Charles Mckay.
McPherson John Shaw 25 18/12/1916 Mate Tower Hill Memorial Son Of Dugald And Annie McPherson (Nee Scoular), Of Inver Lodge, Jura, Argyll. Born At Jura, Argyll.
Murray John James 17 18/12/1916 Ordinary Seaman Tower Hill Memorial Son Of Neil And Rosetta Murray, Of Back St., Carnlough, Co. Antrim. Born At Kirkintilloch.
Rossborough John 24 18/12/1916 Fireman Tower Hill Memorial (Served As Gibbons). Son Of Letitia Rossborough, Of Waterfall Rd., Carnlough, Co. Antrim. Born At Carnlough.

Orange Prince

Orange Prince was a 3,578 GRT steam cargo ship completed in 1894 by Tyne Iron Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. for Burrell & Co. as Strathmore. At the time of her loss she was owned by Prince Line, Ltd. and managed by James Knott. She was sunk on 15 November 1915 by torpedo fired by German submarine U-34 at position 33° 56' N, 22° 46' E - approximately 85 nautical miles South-West by South of Gavdo Island. She was en route from Alexandria to Mudos with a general cargo.

Orange Prince

Casualties

Surname Forename Age Honours/
Awards		 D.O.D Rank Cemetery/
Memorial		 Grave Ref. Additional Information
Childs Andrew Arthur 31 15/11/1915 Donkeyman Tower Hill Memorial Son Of Harriet Childs, Of 4, High St., Southwick, Fareham, Hants.
Edstrom Gustaf Hjalmar 32 15/11/1915 Fireman and Trimmer Tower Hill Memorial Husband Of Mary Edstrom (Nee Mccall, Of 30, Hills Terrace, Cardiff. Born In Sweden.
Egorow E 15/11/1915 Fireman and Trimmer Tower Hill Memorial Born In Russia.

Orator

Orator was a 3,563 GRT steam passenger/cargo ship completed in 1905 by Workman, Clark & Co. Ltd for Charente Steamship Co. Ltd. and managed by T. & J. Harrison. She was sunk on 8 June 1917 by torpedo fired by German submarine U-96 at position 51° 02' N, 11° 45' W - approximately 84 nautical miles West-North-West of Fastnet. She was en route from Pernambuco to Liverpool with a general cargo.

Orator

Casualties

Surname Forename Age Honours/
Awards		 D.O.D Rank Cemetery/
Memorial		 Grave Ref. Additional Information
Callister Walter 34 08/06/1917 Second Engineer Tower Hill Memorial Son Of Martha Callister, Of Ballamoor House, Hutchinson Square, Douglas, Isle Of Man, And The Late John Callister. Born At Douglas, Isle Of Man.
Dean Robert 33 08/06/1917 Fireman Tower Hill Memorial Son Of The Late John And Mary Dean. Born At Liverpool.
Hughes Joseph 51 08/06/1917 Fireman Tower Hill Memorial Son Of The Late Catherine Hughes. Born At Liverpool.
Lacey John Joseph 39 08/06/1917 Fireman Tower Hill Memorial Son Of The Late John Joseph And Ellen Elizabeth Lacey; Husband Of Rose Ann Lacey (Nee Lennon), Of 233, Beaufort St., Park Place, Liverpool. Born At Liverpool.
Overen Henry 47 08/06/1917 Storekeeper Tower Hill Memorial Son Of Amelia And The Late John Overen; Husband Of Louisa Overen (Nee Penton), Of 8, Northumberland Dwellings, Northumberland St., Dingle, Liverpool. Born At Liverpool.

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