WW1 MM

[Admin]

WW1:

In World War 1, the first person killed was a merchant seaman, when his ship, a brigantine, was sunk by gunfire from a German submarine in the North Atlantic.

Any truth in this ?

Kieran?

[Leo]

It has been stated that In World War 1, the first person killed was a merchant seaman, when his ship, a brigantine, was sunk by gunfire from a German submarine in the North Atlantic.

ALSO:

In World War 2, again the first combat fatality was a merchant seaman, when a German U-boat sank the liner Athenia off the coast of Ireland ?

Leo.

[KG]

Know of the source, but have no evidence: The Athenia WW2 was a first.

Furthermore, we should not forget Atlantic Conveyor was the only British merchant ship sunk in the Falklands War but she was not the first ship sunk, for the cruiser ARA General Belgrano was sunk on 2 May and the destroyer HMS Sheffield sunk on 4 May, and others during the course of the next five weeks resulting in the death of many merchant seamen.

K.

[Admin]

The first reported Barry, Glamorgan fatality was that of Royal navy reservist W. Cowling, a married man from Graving Dock Street, Barry Dock. He was killed in action serving aboard the cruiser HMS 'Hawk' which was torpedoed in the North Sea on 15th October, 1914

LINK: www.powell76.talktalk.net/Awelshseasidetown.htm

Kieran, Kinsale.