- SS Clan Macwhirter (1918)
The SS "Clan Macwhirter" was a British cargo steamer. She was
torpedo ed and sunk in theSecond World War whilst carrying supplies fromIndia to Britain.Pre-war career
She was built by Lloyd Royal Belge (Great Britain) Ltd,
Whiteinch ,Glasgow and launched on26 April 1918 as SS "Ypresville". She had a varied career, first being operated by James Gardiner & Co., and then by British & South American SN Co. ( R P Houston Ltd),Liverpool later in 1918. They renamed her "Halizones", a name she retained until 1920, when she was operated by the Convoy Steamship Co. Ltd., who renamed her "Willcasino". She was returned to the British & South American SN Co. Ltd. in 1921 and was sold for the final time in 1924 to Clan Line Steamers Ltd, who renamed her "Clan Macwhirter", in keeping with their house style and homeported her inGlasgow .Wartime
In common with many of Clan Line's ships, she was used to carry supplies around the far flung
British Empire to aid in the allied war effort, during theSecond World War . Her final voyage in 1942 was part of convoy SL-119, fromBombay to Hull, viaDurban , Bathurst andFreetown . "Clan Macwhirter" arrived at Bathurst on14 August , under the command of her Master, Roderick Sutherland Masters. She was carrying a cargo of 2,000 tons ofmanganese ore , 3,500 tons oflinseed , 2,200 tons ofpig iron and assorted general cargo.By
27 August the "Clan Macwhirter" had fallen behind the main convoy and was travelling alone and unescorted. She was sighted at 01.00 hours by "U-156" who torpedoed and sank her 200 miles northwest ofMadeira . Eleven of her crew, including her master, eight crew members and two gunners were lost in the sinking, whilst 68 crew members and seven gunners survived to be picked up by the Portuguese sloop "Pedro Nunes", and were landed atFunchal .References
* [http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/2094.html SS Clan Macwhirter at Uboat.net]
* [http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/viewship.asp?id=13501 Clan Macwhirter (as SS Ypresville) at Clydebuilt]
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