More about Jane Anne Kidd

Jane 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.

Jane was returning to Dundee from her home at 208-31st Ave, Calgary, Canada, to her husbands mother Betsy Kidd, who lived at 30 Dundonald St, Dundee. She was the wife of Pte Robert Kidd, 466875 who was serving in the 42nd Battalion, Canadian Infantry at the time of her death. Robert survived the war and was discharged 11.03.1919. He died 14.07.1930 aged 47.

For more information on Robert, visit his Canadian Service Record.