Honouring the Men who gave their lives whilst serving in the Merchant Navy
and whose names are on the Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
and whose names are on the Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
S.S. WARILDA (Adelaide)
WW1
WW1
Toowoomba Chronicle (Qld) 8-8-1918
WARILDA ATROCITY.
DISTRESSING DETAILS.
(Reuter.) -LONDON. Monday.
The Admiralty announces that the homeward-bound ambulance transport Warilda was torpedoed and sunk on Saturdav; 123 of those on board are missing- including seven of the crew. The torpedoing of the Warilda is one of the most harrowing disasters in the history of submarinism. This ambulance vessel carried 600 sick and wounded. Over 650 survivors were brought to a British port on Sunday evening. The majority were clad in their night clothes, and all suffered severely from exposure. All accounts agree that it was a torpedo that sank the ship. The escorting destroyers dropped depth bombs.
The Warilda was returning from France, and was a few miles from the English coast when at about 1.30a.m. she was torpedoed. The night was dark, and there was a stiff breeze in a choppy sea. The torpedo struck the after part of the engine-room, killing some engineers and plunging the ship in darkness. Immediately over was a ward room with over 100 patients, most of whom the explosion killed outright. Others dropped overboard and were drowned as this part of the ship quickly settled down into the water. Survivors relate that they fear there were the fullest struggles in the darkness in the rescue of the helpless casualties.- The Warilda floated for over two hours. She maintained steaming, as the engines could not be stopped, and this impeded the rescuing
Three or four boats were smashed while being lowered and the occupants were flung into the sea. Soldiers and nurses testify to the heroic efforts of the ship's officers and crew, in carrying out most difficult rescues and transferring the casualties so the escorting destroyers in a rough sea. The morale of the wounded who were lying on the deck waiting transference to the destroyers is described as "Quite too fine for words."' One boat containing six women folk and wounded men upset. Subsequently three of the women and most of the wounded were picked up.
It is significant that this is the first occasion in two years in which the Warilda crossed from France without having German wounded or prisoners onboard. The Warilda finally settled down, the stern -up-ended, and the sea reaching the boilers, she blew up in a terrific column of fire and water.
WARILDA ATROCITY.
DISTRESSING DETAILS.
(Reuter.) -LONDON. Monday.
The Admiralty announces that the homeward-bound ambulance transport Warilda was torpedoed and sunk on Saturdav; 123 of those on board are missing- including seven of the crew. The torpedoing of the Warilda is one of the most harrowing disasters in the history of submarinism. This ambulance vessel carried 600 sick and wounded. Over 650 survivors were brought to a British port on Sunday evening. The majority were clad in their night clothes, and all suffered severely from exposure. All accounts agree that it was a torpedo that sank the ship. The escorting destroyers dropped depth bombs.
The Warilda was returning from France, and was a few miles from the English coast when at about 1.30a.m. she was torpedoed. The night was dark, and there was a stiff breeze in a choppy sea. The torpedo struck the after part of the engine-room, killing some engineers and plunging the ship in darkness. Immediately over was a ward room with over 100 patients, most of whom the explosion killed outright. Others dropped overboard and were drowned as this part of the ship quickly settled down into the water. Survivors relate that they fear there were the fullest struggles in the darkness in the rescue of the helpless casualties.- The Warilda floated for over two hours. She maintained steaming, as the engines could not be stopped, and this impeded the rescuing
Three or four boats were smashed while being lowered and the occupants were flung into the sea. Soldiers and nurses testify to the heroic efforts of the ship's officers and crew, in carrying out most difficult rescues and transferring the casualties so the escorting destroyers in a rough sea. The morale of the wounded who were lying on the deck waiting transference to the destroyers is described as "Quite too fine for words."' One boat containing six women folk and wounded men upset. Subsequently three of the women and most of the wounded were picked up.
It is significant that this is the first occasion in two years in which the Warilda crossed from France without having German wounded or prisoners onboard. The Warilda finally settled down, the stern -up-ended, and the sea reaching the boilers, she blew up in a terrific column of fire and water.
Steward Alfred Henry COURTNEY
Mercantile Marine
Killed in Action at sea 3-8-1918 aged 28years
Son of William and Martha Courtney, of 103, St. Andrew's Rd., Southampton
Husband of Mabel Courtney, of 26, Weymouth Terrace, Western Shore, Southampton.
Honoured: Tower Hill Memorial, London, England
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Mercantile Marine
Killed in Action at sea 3-8-1918 aged 28years
Son of William and Martha Courtney, of 103, St. Andrew's Rd., Southampton
Husband of Mabel Courtney, of 26, Weymouth Terrace, Western Shore, Southampton.
Honoured: Tower Hill Memorial, London, England
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Troop Deck Steward Victor HARRIS
Born: Southampton, England
Mercantile Marine
Killed in Action at sea 3-8-1918 aged 30years
Son of Eliza Ann Harris and the late Charles E. C. Harris
Husband of Ethel Minnie Harris (nee Wyatt), of 78, Clifford St., Southampton.
Honoured: Tower Hill Memorial, London, England
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Born: Southampton, England
Mercantile Marine
Killed in Action at sea 3-8-1918 aged 30years
Son of Eliza Ann Harris and the late Charles E. C. Harris
Husband of Ethel Minnie Harris (nee Wyatt), of 78, Clifford St., Southampton.
Honoured: Tower Hill Memorial, London, England
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Fireman Edward JORDAN
Born: Southampton, England
Mercantile Marine
Killed in Action at sea 3-8-1918 aged 37years
Son of Alice Jordan and the late Edward Homer Jordan
Husband of Gertrude Jordan (nee Bubb), of 26, Rochester St., Northam, Southampton.
Honoured: Tower Hill Memorial, London, England
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Born: Southampton, England
Mercantile Marine
Killed in Action at sea 3-8-1918 aged 37years
Son of Alice Jordan and the late Edward Homer Jordan
Husband of Gertrude Jordan (nee Bubb), of 26, Rochester St., Northam, Southampton.
Honoured: Tower Hill Memorial, London, England
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Greaser Frederick George MAIDMENT
Born: Southampton, England
Mercantile Marine
Killed in Action at sea 3-8-1918 aged 31years
Son of George and Emily Edith Maidment (nee West), of Pook's Green, Marchwood, Southampton.
Honoured: Tower Hill Memorial, London, England
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Born: Southampton, England
Mercantile Marine
Killed in Action at sea 3-8-1918 aged 31years
Son of George and Emily Edith Maidment (nee West), of Pook's Green, Marchwood, Southampton.
Honoured: Tower Hill Memorial, London, England
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Third Engineer John MILNE
Mercantile Marine
Killed in Action at sea 3-8-1918 aged 24years
Son of George and Barbara Milne (nee Munro), of 7, Anderson's Rd., Southampton.
Honoured: Tower Hill Memorial, London, England
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Mercantile Marine
Killed in Action at sea 3-8-1918 aged 24years
Son of George and Barbara Milne (nee Munro), of 7, Anderson's Rd., Southampton.
Honoured: Tower Hill Memorial, London, England
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Saloon Steward Bernard George NEWNHAM
Born: Southampton, England
Mercantile Marine
Killed in Action at sea 3-8-1918 aged 41years
Son of Mary Elizabeth Newnham, and the late George William Newnham
Husband of Annie Elizabeth Newnham (nee Plascott), of 33, Northbrook Rd., Southampton.
Honoured: Tower Hill Memorial, London, England
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Born: Southampton, England
Mercantile Marine
Killed in Action at sea 3-8-1918 aged 41years
Son of Mary Elizabeth Newnham, and the late George William Newnham
Husband of Annie Elizabeth Newnham (nee Plascott), of 33, Northbrook Rd., Southampton.
Honoured: Tower Hill Memorial, London, England
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Third Cook Douglas William PHILLIPS
Born: Newchurch, Isle of Wight
Mercantile Marine
Killed in Action at sea 3-8-1918 aged 21years
Son of Ernest William & Agnes Phillips (nee Hayden), of 1, Myrtle Cottage, Heath Rd., Sandown, Isle of Wight.
Honoured: Tower Hill Memorial, London, England
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Born: Newchurch, Isle of Wight
Mercantile Marine
Killed in Action at sea 3-8-1918 aged 21years
Son of Ernest William & Agnes Phillips (nee Hayden), of 1, Myrtle Cottage, Heath Rd., Sandown, Isle of Wight.
Honoured: Tower Hill Memorial, London, England
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll