On December 3rd, 1917, the British steamer SS Copeland, on a voyage from Glasgow to Cork with general cargo, was sunk by the German submarine U-57, 5 miles SSW of Tuskar Rock, St. George Channel. 12 persons were killed.

U57 was launched on 29 Apr 1916 and sank over 60 vessels. The ship survived the war and was later scrapped. On the night of 12/13 December, she was under the command of Carl-Siegfried Ritter von Georg, who was later brought up on war crimes charges but acquitted due to lack of evidence. He was also responsible for the loss of the Lough Fisher in March 1918, which I have recorded previously.

Copeland (1894) was the second of four ships to carry the name for the Clyde. She was built at the yard of WB Thompson & Co. Ltd., Dundee. Her dimensions were 75.3 x 10.4 x 4.9 (m). She was said to have a top speed of 10knots. The ship was a regular caller to Waterford over the years, aligned with the Clyde company’s coastal trade routes that linked with Glasgow, Liverpool, Plymouth, London and Irish ports including Belfast, Dublin, Waterford and Cork.

A group aboard the Copeland at Waterford with Captain MacLaughlin at centre with life ring. Date: 18 June 1910
NLI Ref.: P_WP_2038. Accessed from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SS_Copeland_(5845359162).jpg

SS Copeland leaving Waterford

According to the wrecksite report 12 people were reported as dying. The report used the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. These included:

1. BOYD, WILLIAM (48), Able Seaman, SS Copeland, Mercantile Marine, †02/12/1917, Son of the late Matthew and Agnes Boyd; husband of Jeanie Boyd (nee Green), of 13, Main St., Glasgow. Born at Glenarm, Co. Antrim, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial
2. FISHER, CHARLES (31), Fireman, SS Copeland, Mercantile Marine, †02/12/1917, Son of Patrick and Rebecca Fisher (nee Lafferty), of 24, Sloan’s Terrace, Londonderry, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial
3. GREEN, JOHN (62), Able Seaman, SS Copeland, Mercantile Marine, †02/12/1917, Son of the late John and Isabella Green; husband of the late Emily Jane Green (nee Crickard), Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial
4. KNOX, THOMAS (45), Fireman, SS Copeland, Mercantile Marine, †02/12/1917, Son of Catherine Knox and the late Thomas Knox; husband of Ellen Knox (nee Gallacher), of 147, Stobcross St., Glasgow. Born at Culdaff, Co. Donegal, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial
5. MCLACHLAN, JOHN DUNCAN (25), Able Seaman, SS Copeland, Mercantile Marine, †02/12/1917, Son of Jane McLachlan, of Mingary, Kilchoan, Ardnamurchan, Argyll, and the late Archibald McLachlan, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial
6. MCLEAN, NORMAN JOHN, Craneman, SS Copeland, Mercantile Marine, †02/12/1917, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial
7. RITCHIE, ROBERT (40), Fireman, SS Copeland, Mercantile Marine, †02/12/1917, Son of George and Mary Ritchie, of 157, Glasgow St., Ardrossan, Ayrshire; husband of Mary Ritchie (nee Rinney), Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial
8. VALLEDY, JAMES (27), Fireman, SS Copeland, Mercantile Marine, †02/12/1917, Son of James Valledy, of Castle St., Glenarm, Co. Antrim, and the late Mrs. Valledy. Born at Dundalk, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial
9. WRIGHT, ALEXANDER JAMES (28), Donkeyman, SS Copeland, Mercantile Marine, †02/12/1917, Son of Jessie Ann and the late George Wright; husband of Jessie Wright (nee Donaldson), of 73, Crossburn St., Glasgow. Born at Fordyce, Banffshire, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial

No mention of any officers is made, however. I searched the contemporary newspapers of the time and I could find only one mention of the Copeland, a daughter of John Green listed above, wishing her father be remembered and mentioning his upbringing and relations in Co Down. It’s as if the ship never actually existed. So at present this is where I will have to leave it. Any further information would be gratefully added. Drop a comment below.