Not the only local killed on WW1 ship

I READ with interest the WW1 story about Jim Tyler in the Echo, May 23.

Jim was not the only local lad killed during the sinking of the Leasowe Castle at 0030 on the 27th May.

Gordon Clark of Ratcliffe on Soar was also killed. Gordon was the son of Elizabeth Clark (Aldridge) and Gordon Clark senior, a dentist in Nottingham.

He has a war memorial in Ratcliffe church graveyard which we are hoping to get a grant for its restoration. We are also seeking any relatives of Gordon Clark or Aldridge.

I have done extensive research into the sinking. Leasowe Castle was built in 1915 by Cammell Laird, Birkenhead for a Greek company and requisition in 1917. Of 9737 tons it was captained by E J Holt (also killed).

The attack of the 27th May was not the first. U35 under the command of Lother van Arnald attempted to sink it off Gibraltar in April 1917. Although damaged there were no casualties. The attack of May 1918 was carried out by U51 under the command of Ernst Kraft. I have pictures of the Leasowe Castle, the Japanese destroyer Katsura and a copy of a painting of U51.

The Katsura and the sloop Lily held back to assist but the destroyer had to retire when U51 was spotted again. Later Torpedo boat Chelmer, monitor Ladybird and Auxiliary Lychis arrived and took the survivors off Katsura and those remaining in the ship’s boats. Katsura then sped off to rejoin the convoy.

The survivors were landed back at Alexandria between 1400 and 1830 and returned to Sidi Bishr camp.

The use of Japanese destroyers in the Mediterranean was as a result of Japan being on the side of the Allies in WW1. Ray State Ratcliffe on Soar