Ahoy - Mac's Web Log

Dear Mac

I wonder if you might give me some advice. I am trying to search for information regarding the
names of the crew who died (8 in total) on the SS Saint Barchan in 1918 off the coast of Northern Ireland.

Could you let me know what might be the best route to try to find this information?

My Grand Uncle was one of those who died, Mark O'Donnell.

Also, I would love to get hold of a picture of the ship. I am doing this for my Uncle who is a farmer
but was once a Merchant Seaman. He lives way up in the hills and so does not have access to
all this wonderful technology.

Any advice/help would be greatly appreciated.

Kind Regards

Mark

Mark,

I will send some details of SS Saint Barchan, but it does not have a photo.

I will keep looking.

Regards,
Mac.

TK,

Mark recently asked about the 8 who died when SS Barchan was sunk in 1918.

Billy McGee has come up with 7 names including Mark's relative Mark O'Donnell.

I have lost his E-Mail address, if you still have it could you please pass this note on to him, and also add the list to the previous mail, its the last one under our letters and mail list.

But still no picture of the ship.

Thanks,
Mac.

Sent: Monday, October 03, 2005 21:27
Subject: SS Saint Barchan sunk
Hello Mac,

I have the names of 7 men lost from the Saint Barchan regarding query on your website 30 September 2005.

BRADLEY, First Engineer, JAMES, S.S. "Saint Barchan" (Glasgow). Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine, 21st October 1918. Age 47. Son of the late Thomas and Prudence Bradley; husband of Annie Bradley (nee Gunning), of 10, Leigh Park, Paisley. Born at Paisley.

BRADLEY, Fireman, PETER, S.S. "Saint Barchan" (Glasgow). Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine, 21st October 1918. Age 18. Son of Annie Bradley and the late James Bradley, of 10, Leigh Park, Paisley.

GALBRAITH, Fireman, PATRICK, S.S. "Saint Barchan" (Glasgow). Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine, 21st October 1918. Age 19. Son of Elizabeth Galbraith, of Springhill, Glenarm, Co. Antrim, and the late David Galbraith.

McDOUGALL, Master, DONALD, "Saint Barchan.". Mercantile Marine. 21st October 1918.

O'DONNELL, Mate, MARK, S.S. "Saint Barchan" (Glasgow). Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine, 21st October 1918. Age 29. Son of Edward and Annie O'Donnell (nee Griffith), of Gortgowan, Moville, Co. Donegal. Born at Moville, Co. Donegal.

RICE, Able Seaman, WILLIAM, S.S. "Saint Barchan" (Glasgow). Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine, 21st October 1918. Age 50. Son of the late Christopher and Alice Rice; husband of Kate Rice (nee Power), of 10, Cambridge Place, Ringsend, Dublin. Born at Dublin. 

VERNAL, Second Engineer, DANIEL, S.S. Saint Barchan" (Glasgow). Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine, 21st October 1918. Age 25. Son of Daniel Vernal, of 3, Albert St., Paisley, and the late Isabella Morrison Vernal (nee Goudie). Born at Paisley.

Rgds Billy

Dear Mac

Thank you so much for your efforts in finding out information regarding my Ship. I really appreciate your efforts.

I shall pass all this on to my Uncle.

Kind Regards,
Mark

Mark,

Here is the answer, thanks to Richard McCormick of Dublin, about the 8th. man to die in the sinking of SS Saint Barchan in WW1.

Mac.

Dear Sir,
 
I note the mail in relation to the SS Saint Barchan on your web log prompted by Mark Gallagher and the identification of 7 crewmembers. The eighth member of the crew lost on the SS Saint Barchan in WW1 was a relative of mine, being my Great-great-grandfathers nephew.

His name was Thomas Leo Mc Laughlin from Shrove, Co. Donegal, Ireland. He is incorrectly named in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as Thomas Leo Mc Loughlin (Lo instead of La), his rank was Able Seaman and Lamps and he was aged 24. The vessel is also incorrectly named as the Saint Bareham.

He is mentioned on page 184 of the County Donegal Book of Honour, the Great War 1914 - 1918 published by the County Donegal Book of Honour Committee in 2002.  He was the son of Daniel and Rose Mc Laughlin, Shrove, Moville, Co. Donegal. Mark O'Donnell, Mate, son of Edward and Annie O'Donnell (nee Griffith), Gortgowan, Moville is mentioned on the following page.

I am studying genealogy and as an ex-fisherman (Ireland and UK) have a particularly interest in maritime genealogy. I too would be interested in any information on the sinking of the St. Barchan which was owned by J&A Gardener Ltd. Glasgow, built in 1917 by Scott and Sons, dimensions 141.8ft x 23.8ft x 10.1ft and gross 362 tons. She was sunk 4 miles off St. John's Point, Northern Ireland by UB-94 commanded by Lt. Commander Haumann on 21st October 1918. It appears that SS Saint Barchan was the last ship sunk in home waters 3 weeks before the war ended and she had previously survived a torpedo attack on 5th April 1918 when the torpedo missed.

Please pass this information on to Mark Gallagher.

Regards
 
Richard Mc Cormick
Dublin, Ireland

Hello Mac,

Ardgarth, courtesy of Ted Finch at the Rootsweb Forum.
 
That was the only ship with this name during WWI but I have no record of her being attacked, although there was an ARDGASK sunk in the Med in Apr.1917.
 
ARDGARTH O.N.135331
770 g.t, 200ft x 27.1ft, engines aft, speed 10½ knots. Built 1913 by Geo. Brown & Co, Greenock for Lang & Fulton Ltd, Greenock. 1918 sold to P. MacCallum & Sons, Greenock. 1923 sold to Richards, Longstaff & Co, London renamed YORKMINSTER. 1925 to Sowards Coal Co, Kingston, Ontario renamed PATDORIS. 1931 company became John F. Sowards, Kingston, Ont. 1945 Toronto General Trusts Corp., Kingston, Ont. 1946 Maple Leaf SS Co, Kingston, Ont. 1956 transferred to Panamanian flag. 1962 deleted from Lloyds Register - presumed scrapped.
 
Rgds Billy

Billy,

Thank you for the Ardgarth detail, I can always rely on your help, and am indeed grateful for all the time and trouble you devote  both to AHOY, and to our correspondents.

Best regards,
Mac.

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