An item dated London 11 October reported that the armed auxiliary cruiser Otranto (1) collided with the steamship Kashmir and was completely destroyed. Both ship transported American soldiers. Of the men on board of the Otranto were 335 soldiers, 11 officers and 85 sailors missing probably drowned. The Kashmir arrived in a Scottish port where the troops were embarked without problems.
A second item of the same date supplied more details about this disaster which occurred with misty weather and a high sea. The Kashmir was ordered by the Otranto which was flagship of the convoy to continue her voyage which order was with resistance accepted. The troops on board of the Otranto acted calm as if they were on parade. A destroyer which came closer was order to stay away to avoid a second collision. The commanding officer of the destroyer refused this order and came alongside damaging his ship but using the lifeboats of the Otranto as buffers. This manoeuvre made it possible for the troops to enter the destroyer although some fell over board in sea or were crashed between the two ships. The destroyer saved in this manner 600 men.
A third item was dated London 12 October and reported that survivors after their arrival at London stated that a heavy wave smashed the Kashmir against the Otranto. The crew of the Otranto acted brave and listened to all given orders. The survivors praised the behaviour of the destroyer saving 400 men. An officer of Otranto who was in bed during the collision described the final fate of his ship. With some other officers he stayed until the end on the aft deck when the ship sunk and when they came in the water except for the commanding officer and some others. They were thrown on the beach unconscious and sometimes badly wounded. Many bodies were buried on the beach and others were temporarily in repose in the church of Islay to be buried along the coast. Around hundred sick men laying with influenza or pneumonia went down with the ship.
Note
1. The website http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Otranto supplied the next details. She was launched for the Orient Steam Navigation Company of London on 27 March 1909 at the shipyard of Workoman Clark&Co. at Belfast with yard number 278 and handed over to her owners on 30 June to begin her maiden voyage on 1 October that same year with destination Australia. In August 1914 purchased by the British Admiralty and converted into an auxiliary cruiser with as official number 124675 and as call sign HPKD. With a gross tonnage of 12,124 tons, a net tonnage of 7,433 tons and as dimensions 163,17 x 20 x 11,79 metres or 535’4” x 64’ x 36’8”. With a speed of 18 knots. Her armament consisted of 4-4.6” guns. The destroyer which acted so bravely was the HMS Mounsey. According to this website lost 431 men their lives. The troop transport HMS Kashmir of 1914 of 8,985 belonged to the P&O line. The disaster found place on 6 October.
A second item of the same date supplied more details about this disaster which occurred with misty weather and a high sea. The Kashmir was ordered by the Otranto which was flagship of the convoy to continue her voyage which order was with resistance accepted. The troops on board of the Otranto acted calm as if they were on parade. A destroyer which came closer was order to stay away to avoid a second collision. The commanding officer of the destroyer refused this order and came alongside damaging his ship but using the lifeboats of the Otranto as buffers. This manoeuvre made it possible for the troops to enter the destroyer although some fell over board in sea or were crashed between the two ships. The destroyer saved in this manner 600 men.
A third item was dated London 12 October and reported that survivors after their arrival at London stated that a heavy wave smashed the Kashmir against the Otranto. The crew of the Otranto acted brave and listened to all given orders. The survivors praised the behaviour of the destroyer saving 400 men. An officer of Otranto who was in bed during the collision described the final fate of his ship. With some other officers he stayed until the end on the aft deck when the ship sunk and when they came in the water except for the commanding officer and some others. They were thrown on the beach unconscious and sometimes badly wounded. Many bodies were buried on the beach and others were temporarily in repose in the church of Islay to be buried along the coast. Around hundred sick men laying with influenza or pneumonia went down with the ship.
Note
1. The website http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Otranto supplied the next details. She was launched for the Orient Steam Navigation Company of London on 27 March 1909 at the shipyard of Workoman Clark&Co. at Belfast with yard number 278 and handed over to her owners on 30 June to begin her maiden voyage on 1 October that same year with destination Australia. In August 1914 purchased by the British Admiralty and converted into an auxiliary cruiser with as official number 124675 and as call sign HPKD. With a gross tonnage of 12,124 tons, a net tonnage of 7,433 tons and as dimensions 163,17 x 20 x 11,79 metres or 535’4” x 64’ x 36’8”. With a speed of 18 knots. Her armament consisted of 4-4.6” guns. The destroyer which acted so bravely was the HMS Mounsey. According to this website lost 431 men their lives. The troop transport HMS Kashmir of 1914 of 8,985 belonged to the P&O line. The disaster found place on 6 October.
