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 10 knots. 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 etc 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 courtesy of WMH facebook.

According to the wrecksite website 12 people were lost when the ship was sunk. It was originally feared that she had struck a mine, but further information confirmed a U Boat attack. The report used the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to provide the names of those lost. 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

The names etched on the Tower Hill Memorial, London. Image used with much thanks to and courtesy of the Benjidog Historical Research Resources: The Merchant Navy Memorial

So 9 names recorded. Does that suggest survivors? 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. Other than that, its crickets! It’s very odd, and you would be forgiven for thinking the ship never actually existed.

Subsequently, I read Alan Cuthbert’s Clyde Shipping Co – A History 1956 (courtesy of John Chestnutt and yes, keen eyes will recognise a surname synonymous with the loss of the Coningbeg) and on p. 66 he mentions that 1917 would see ten of the coastal steamers sunk, including the Coningbeg & Formby later in December. However, he states that Captain Donald MacLean of the Tuskar was five hours in the water, clinging to an upturned lifeboat with 15 others after being sunk in September.  Interestingly, he states that Captain MacLean was also in charge of the Copeland when she was sunk and again survived. He survived not just WWI, but served through WWII and was awarded an MBE. So, more research is definitely needed. I’m guessing more men survived the sinking.

I will have to leave it there for the present. Any further information would be gratefully added. Drop a comment below.

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