Ernest Cecil Case
Ernest Cecil Case was my wife Helen’s grand-father. Until recently little was known about his service during the Great War, with the exception that he was a Purser with the Cunard Line. A recent visit to the Liverpool Central Library and the Cunard Line Archive, shed light on his war time experiences.
Ernest Cecil Case was born on 31 May 1891, the eldest son of John and Ellen Case. The 1901 census showed the family living at 18 Russell Road, Garston, which was over the butcher’s shop, which John ran. The 1911 census, showed the family now living at “Eversley”, Island Road, Garston, and Ernest employed as a clerk with the Liverpool Corporation.
On 22 July 1913, Ernest joined the Cunard Line as a clerk, and went to sea. The following year on 11 May, Ernest married Mary Helen Robertson at St Michaels Church, Garston.
On 16 of May 1914, he was the assistant purser on the SS Mauretania and during 1915 served as the assistant Purser on the SS Aquitania, and during 1916 and 1917 as purser on SS Alannia and SS Pannonia.
In June 1917, Ernest was serving as a purser on the SS Ultonia Ultonia is the Latin name for Ulster. SS Ultonia was built by CS Swan & Hunter, Wallsend on Tyne and launched on 4 June 1898. Originally built to carry cargo and cattle, it was fitted with third class accommodation for 675 passengers in 1899, with its first passenger voyage on 28 February from Liverpool to Queenstown, Ireland and then to Boston, U.S.A.
In 1915, the ship was refitted to carry up to 2,000 horses. On 27 June 1917, SS Ultonia was in the Atlantic Ocean, 190 miles from the Fastnet Rock, Ireland, when she was struck by a torpedo, fired by the Imperial German Navy submarine SM U53 under the command of Captain Hans Rose.
The SM U-53 was one of six type U51 U-boats of the Imperial German Navy ordered during the Great War at Germaniawerft, Kiel, in 1914. She was launched in 1916 and commissioned under her first commander Hans Rose in the same year. Rose became the 5th ranked German submarine ace of the war, sinking the USS Jacob Jones, and 87 merchant men.
The Ultonia crew were saved, with the exception of one member of the crew, who was lost in the action.
Ernest returned to Britain, and was on sick leave, until March 1918, when he was posted as purser to the SS Dwinsk.
In June 1918, Ernest was a member of the crew of the “Dwinsk”. The ship was built in 1897 at Harland & Wolff, Belfast. Originally called “Rotterdam” for the Holland-America Line. In 1913 she was sold to the Russian-American Line and renamed “Dwinsk”. In 1917 she came under the British (Cunard) management.
On 18 June 1918, SS Dwinsk was en route to New York from Brest, when 400 miles North East of Bermuda, she was struck by a torpedo, fired Captain Heinrich von Nostitz Janckendorff on the U-151. The ship sank with 23 casualties.
The U-151 was a class of large long range submarines, initially constructed to be merchant vessels, and later used by the Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial German Navy). A number of these vessels were commissioned and originally designed to ship material to and from locations, otherwise denied to German surface ships, such as the United States. They had a range of 25,000 nautical miles and carried 18 torpedoes.
The report on the sinking states that at 0920 hrs, the wake of the torpedo was sighted at a distance of 200 yards on the port quarter. The ship was steaming at 13 knots and was not zig-zagging.
The second officer’s boat containing 22 of the crew was missing and was never found, and one man was drowned out of the Chief Officer’s boat. The remaining boats were picked up by various ships and were landed in New York, Bermuda, Newport News and Nova Scotia. There was a great fear that the U- Boat was lying in wait for the rescuers, and they would also become victims.
The First Officer boat was adrift for 10 days and a boat containing the Bosun’s mate, Larbalastier for 8 days, before being picked up. Both men were considered to have saved lives by good seamanship, management and fortitude displayed. They were both recommended in the London Gazette in recognition of these services.
On 12th July, Ernest was posted at the Liverpool office and he was given three months leave. On 9 October 1918, he was again posted on the SS Pannonia.
Late 1918 and 1919, found him at home in the Pay Office, and 1 July 1919, saw him on the permanent shore staff and his last mention on the Cunard Archive is on 12 November 1923 when he is transferred to the Mail Department.
To be torpedoed once I would suggest is bad enough, but twice, doesn’t bear thinking about. Family members were unaware of this service although there was a story in the family that he had been torpedoed once, they were completely unaware of the second incident.
He remained in Cunard’s employ until the 1940’s.
He died in 1961 In Huntingdon, having been in later life a publican.
Graham Gathercole
Ernest Cecil Case was my wife Helen’s grand-father. Until recently little was known about his service during the Great War, with the exception that he was a Purser with the Cunard Line. A recent visit to the Liverpool Central Library and the Cunard Line Archive, shed light on his war time experiences.
Ernest Cecil Case was born on 31 May 1891, the eldest son of John and Ellen Case. The 1901 census showed the family living at 18 Russell Road, Garston, which was over the butcher’s shop, which John ran. The 1911 census, showed the family now living at “Eversley”, Island Road, Garston, and Ernest employed as a clerk with the Liverpool Corporation.
On 22 July 1913, Ernest joined the Cunard Line as a clerk, and went to sea. The following year on 11 May, Ernest married Mary Helen Robertson at St Michaels Church, Garston.
On 16 of May 1914, he was the assistant purser on the SS Mauretania and during 1915 served as the assistant Purser on the SS Aquitania, and during 1916 and 1917 as purser on SS Alannia and SS Pannonia.
In June 1917, Ernest was serving as a purser on the SS Ultonia Ultonia is the Latin name for Ulster. SS Ultonia was built by CS Swan & Hunter, Wallsend on Tyne and launched on 4 June 1898. Originally built to carry cargo and cattle, it was fitted with third class accommodation for 675 passengers in 1899, with its first passenger voyage on 28 February from Liverpool to Queenstown, Ireland and then to Boston, U.S.A.
In 1915, the ship was refitted to carry up to 2,000 horses. On 27 June 1917, SS Ultonia was in the Atlantic Ocean, 190 miles from the Fastnet Rock, Ireland, when she was struck by a torpedo, fired by the Imperial German Navy submarine SM U53 under the command of Captain Hans Rose.
The SM U-53 was one of six type U51 U-boats of the Imperial German Navy ordered during the Great War at Germaniawerft, Kiel, in 1914. She was launched in 1916 and commissioned under her first commander Hans Rose in the same year. Rose became the 5th ranked German submarine ace of the war, sinking the USS Jacob Jones, and 87 merchant men.
The Ultonia crew were saved, with the exception of one member of the crew, who was lost in the action.
Ernest returned to Britain, and was on sick leave, until March 1918, when he was posted as purser to the SS Dwinsk.
In June 1918, Ernest was a member of the crew of the “Dwinsk”. The ship was built in 1897 at Harland & Wolff, Belfast. Originally called “Rotterdam” for the Holland-America Line. In 1913 she was sold to the Russian-American Line and renamed “Dwinsk”. In 1917 she came under the British (Cunard) management.
On 18 June 1918, SS Dwinsk was en route to New York from Brest, when 400 miles North East of Bermuda, she was struck by a torpedo, fired Captain Heinrich von Nostitz Janckendorff on the U-151. The ship sank with 23 casualties.
The U-151 was a class of large long range submarines, initially constructed to be merchant vessels, and later used by the Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial German Navy). A number of these vessels were commissioned and originally designed to ship material to and from locations, otherwise denied to German surface ships, such as the United States. They had a range of 25,000 nautical miles and carried 18 torpedoes.
The report on the sinking states that at 0920 hrs, the wake of the torpedo was sighted at a distance of 200 yards on the port quarter. The ship was steaming at 13 knots and was not zig-zagging.
The second officer’s boat containing 22 of the crew was missing and was never found, and one man was drowned out of the Chief Officer’s boat. The remaining boats were picked up by various ships and were landed in New York, Bermuda, Newport News and Nova Scotia. There was a great fear that the U- Boat was lying in wait for the rescuers, and they would also become victims.
The First Officer boat was adrift for 10 days and a boat containing the Bosun’s mate, Larbalastier for 8 days, before being picked up. Both men were considered to have saved lives by good seamanship, management and fortitude displayed. They were both recommended in the London Gazette in recognition of these services.
On 12th July, Ernest was posted at the Liverpool office and he was given three months leave. On 9 October 1918, he was again posted on the SS Pannonia.
Late 1918 and 1919, found him at home in the Pay Office, and 1 July 1919, saw him on the permanent shore staff and his last mention on the Cunard Archive is on 12 November 1923 when he is transferred to the Mail Department.
To be torpedoed once I would suggest is bad enough, but twice, doesn’t bear thinking about. Family members were unaware of this service although there was a story in the family that he had been torpedoed once, they were completely unaware of the second incident.
He remained in Cunard’s employ until the 1940’s.
He died in 1961 In Huntingdon, having been in later life a publican.
Graham Gathercole
Charles Benjamin Gathercole
Charles Benjamin Gathercole was born in Oakmere Cheshire in 1897.
By 1911 the family had moved to Toll Bar cottages Hartford Northwich.
On completing his education he was initially employed as a messenger in the Fitting shop of Messrs Brunner, Mond and Co Chemical works and later as a fitters mate. This may be the reason for his late enlistment, being a reserved occupation.
However in March 1917 he either enlisted or was conscripted and joined the Cheshire Regiment.
He was drafted to France in July 17 and for administration purposes he was sent to the 16th Bn. Cheshire Regiment (2nd Birkenhead Bantams).
At an Infantry Base Depot he was posted to 2nd/7th Bn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment and spent time in France and Belgium.
On 29th September, they moved up to the front line to relieve the men of 7th Border Reg. (51st Brigade) in the right support at the Chemical Works Roeux.
For the first time in the line nothing of significance occurred, other than ‘A’ company shooting down a German aircraft with a Lewis gun, and providing working parties and improving their positions.
They were relieved on 29th September, but a few days later they were back in the sector. They spent the next month, in and out of the sector and spent time in the Greenland Hill sector.
In early December, they moved to Arras, but Charles became ill with trench fever and was sent to England for treatment and convalescence.
In June 1918 he was back in France and was posted to 1st Bn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment.
On 29th August 1918, the 1st RWR was ordered to push forward and clear the village of Remy. The orders were not received until 10 am the next morning.
The battalion moved forward to a position south east of Remy Wood and the village of Vis en Artois. They came under enemy observation and was heavily shelled and machine gunned. The advance became impossible, but elements of A, B and C companies, advanced through waist deep mud. It is at this time Charles was hit and killed. He was given a battlefield burial and later his body was exhumed and reburied in Vis en Artois British Military Cemetery.
Graham Gathercole
By 1911 the family had moved to Toll Bar cottages Hartford Northwich.
On completing his education he was initially employed as a messenger in the Fitting shop of Messrs Brunner, Mond and Co Chemical works and later as a fitters mate. This may be the reason for his late enlistment, being a reserved occupation.
However in March 1917 he either enlisted or was conscripted and joined the Cheshire Regiment.
He was drafted to France in July 17 and for administration purposes he was sent to the 16th Bn. Cheshire Regiment (2nd Birkenhead Bantams).
At an Infantry Base Depot he was posted to 2nd/7th Bn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment and spent time in France and Belgium.
On 29th September, they moved up to the front line to relieve the men of 7th Border Reg. (51st Brigade) in the right support at the Chemical Works Roeux.
For the first time in the line nothing of significance occurred, other than ‘A’ company shooting down a German aircraft with a Lewis gun, and providing working parties and improving their positions.
They were relieved on 29th September, but a few days later they were back in the sector. They spent the next month, in and out of the sector and spent time in the Greenland Hill sector.
In early December, they moved to Arras, but Charles became ill with trench fever and was sent to England for treatment and convalescence.
In June 1918 he was back in France and was posted to 1st Bn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment.
On 29th August 1918, the 1st RWR was ordered to push forward and clear the village of Remy. The orders were not received until 10 am the next morning.
The battalion moved forward to a position south east of Remy Wood and the village of Vis en Artois. They came under enemy observation and was heavily shelled and machine gunned. The advance became impossible, but elements of A, B and C companies, advanced through waist deep mud. It is at this time Charles was hit and killed. He was given a battlefield burial and later his body was exhumed and reburied in Vis en Artois British Military Cemetery.
Graham Gathercole