Great War Dundee
This is Dundee's story of those that served in the First World War, and of the people left at home
Edna Smith
Personal Information
- Date of Birth:
- Place of Birth:
- Address: 12 Balgay Ave, Dundee
- Occupation:
- Mother:
Alice
- Father:
- Siblings:
- Spouse:
- Children:
- Age at Death: 4
- Date of Death: 07.02.1917
- Place of Death: Lost at Sea
- Burial Country:
- Cemetery: Lost at Sea
More about Edna Smith
Edna was a passenger on board the S.S. CALIFORNIA; Owned by the Anchor Line and built in 1907 by D. & W. Henderson & Co.; 8,662 tons; 470×58.3×34 ft.; 827 n.h.p.; 15 knots; triple-expansion engine.
On February 7th, 1917, S/S California with 205 crew and passengers on board, was ending her voyage from New York to Glasgow, when she was torpedoed by the German submarine U-85, 38 miles W by S of Fastnet.
The torpedo hit her stern and she sank in 7 minutes. Most of the 43 who died were killed in the explosion and some drowned as their lifeboat capsized. The captain went down with his ship but miraculously managed to gain the surface and was rescued.
The sinking of the California came just one week after Germany lifted her ban on unrestricted submarine warfare on 1 February 1917.
Information courtesy of Dundee Seaman’s Roll of Honour. Images courtesy of Gary Thomson
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