French, Robert James

 
Robert James
French
Date of Birth
Place of Birth
Rewe, Exeter, Devon
Address
Rosslare
Service No.
125480
Regiment
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Torpedo explosion in boiler room off coast of Malta.
Other Biographical Details

Husband of Catherine French of Ballyell, Tagoat. On 31 May 1918, Snaefell sailed from Alexandria for Malta escorted by a sloop and two armed trawlers. On the evening of 3 June 1918 the Snaefell was struck amidships in the boiler space by a torpedo from the German submarine UB-105 (Wilhelm Marschall), 240 miles East-Southeast of Malta. The ship remained afloat for an hour before sinking, allowing time to rescue all. Three lives were lost in the torpedo explosion.

Read more at wrecksite: https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?164959