SS Clan Macwhirter (1918) - Wartime

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 the Second World War. Her final voyage in 1942 was part of convoy SL-119, from Bombay to Hull, via Durban, Bathurst and Freetown. Clan Macwhirter arrived at Bathurst on 14 August, under the command of her Master, Roderick Sutherland Masters. She was carrying a cargo of 2,000 tons of manganese ore, 3,500 tons of linseed, 2,200 tons of pig 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 under the command of Werner Hartenstein who torpedoed and sank her 200 miles northwest of Madeira. 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 at Funchal.