On April 13th 1917 the SS Bandon on a trip from Liverpool to Cork was lost off Mine Head following an attack by U Boat. The following information is taken from Waterford Council booklet on Shipwrecks off the Waterford Coast 1914-1918.

The Bandon was owned by the Cork Steam Packet Company Ltd. and sailed from Liverpool for Cork on 12th April 1917 under Captain P.F. Kelly with a crew of 32. According to the “History of Port of Cork Steam Navigation 1815-1915” by William J. Barry in the Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society in 1919 (Vol. 25) Captain Kelly was on the bridge all night until the following day at 4pm when he retired to rest leaving his second officer MJ O’Brien in charge.

The ship was just off Mine Head when it was struck by a torpedo on the port side beside the engine room. The ship immediately began to sink and the captain immediately returned to the bridge and ordered to head immediately to land. Unfortunately, the ship exploded due to the damage to the engine room and sank rapidly taking most of the crew with it.

The captain managed to come back to the surface and was able to reach one of the collapsible deck-seats which were floating among the wreckage. The third engineer, Mr. Mercer; J. O’Keeffe, fireman; Kewley, carpenter; J. McCarthy, AB and a fireman, Walsh were also clinging to the deck seat. Sadly Jeremiah McCarthy lost hold of the raft and were drowned.

After some time, around 6pm, a motor launch came on the scene, having been sent to their rescue by telegram from Mine Head Lighthouse and picked up the four survivors after over two hours in the water. Unfortunately, while Walsh was attempting to grasp the rope to get on the motor launch a wave came and knocked him into the sea where he drowned leaving only four survivors from the crew.

The survivors arrived at Dungarvan about 9pm and were taken to the Devonshire Arms Hotel (now Lawlor’s Hotel).

The four suvivors were: Captain P.F. Kelly; H. Mercer, 3rd Engineer; Kewley, carpenter; John O’Keefe, fireman.

Lost: Edward Ferne, Chief Officer; MJ O’Brien, 2nd Officer; R. Mercer, 1st Engineer; M. Dowling, 2nd engineer; Charles Bird, AB; Patrick O’Keeffe, Richard O’Keeffe, Bartholomew Collins, Jeremiah Long and Charles E. Martin, firemen. John Courtney, quartermaster; Caleb Crone, cook; John O’Callaghan, fireman; John Wafer AB; Simon Luoro, quartermaster; Jeremiah Leahy and George O’Mahony, greasers; Joseph George Thompson; Jeremiah MCarthy and John Sullivan, ABs; Charles McCashin, steward; Wrixan and Sullivan, cattlemen; two gunners; Walsh, fireman and the donkeyman.

Further details from Wrecksite here

The Bandon was sunk by UC 44 – later lost at Dunmore East in August that same year.

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