Story of Samuel Tongue, also killed on Leasowe Castle

I WAS interested to read Ray State’s letter ( Echo June 6) re Gordon Clark of Ratcliffe, who died during the sinking of the Leasowe Castle on May 27th 1918.

Samuel Tongue of Sutton Bonington was also killed in this disaster and here is an the article I researched for our records at St Michael’s and St Anne’s churches.

Beth Clarke, churchwarden, St Michael’s, Sutton Bonington.

PRIVATE Samuel Tongue, 281098, was the son of Richard and Ruth Tongue of Main St Sutton Bonington, near St Michael’s Church.

Richard worked as a farm labourer and Samuel was working as a Farm Waggoner when he enlisted.

He died at sea on May 27, 1918, aged 26.

Samuel served with the South Notts Hussars or 1/1st Nottinghamshire Yeomanry.

The battalion was mounted and part of the Household Cavalry and Cavalry of the Line Regiment, along with other Yeomanry battalions and the Imperial Camel Corps.

On 9th April, 1915, the battalion sailed for service in Egypt and was involved in the campaign at Gallipoli and Salonika, fighting the Turkish Army.

In May 1918 the battalion sailed on board HT Leasowe Castle from Alexandria in Egypt for France where they were to be reformed as a machine gun company, entitled The South Notts Machine Gun Battalion.

The ship was torpedoed by a German submarine U51 which fired 2 torpedoes from a distance of 4500 metres. One hit and sank the ship just outside Alexandria. There were remarkably few casualties but Samuel was one.

Having no grave he is commemorated on the Chatby Memorial, Alexandria, Egypt.

The following report is from the records of the South Notts Hussars Yeomanry.

“The Leasowe Castle was one of a convoy of six transporters and they were accompanied by a number of destroyers.

“The weather was good, the sea was calm and a brilliant moon shone in the night sky. At 1.30am on May 27th 1918 when the ship was about 104 miles from Alexandria, the Leasowe Castle was struck by a torpedo on the starboard side. The engines were immediately stopped.

“The troops mustered to their stations, rolls were called, boats lowered and rafts flung overboard.

The Japanese destroyer ‘R’ stood by, (the Japanese were on the side of the allies in WW1) while the remainder of the convoy continued on their journey at full speed.

“We are informed that perfect order was maintained on board, the men standing quietly at their stations as if on parade, while those detailed for the work assisted in lowering the boats.

“Lifeboats were launched in the course of forty minutes and the rescue attempt continued smoothly. The Leasowe Castle remained fairly steady, though sinking a little at the stern, with a slight list to port.

“All of ‘B’ (Warwickshire Yeomanry) Company of the Battalion went over the port side and were picked up in the water.

About 1.45am HM Sloop ‘Lily’ appeared having turned back from the convoy to assist in the work of rescue.

“She ran her bows up to the starboard side of the Leasowe Castle and made fast, so that troops were able to pass quickly on board.

Meanwhile the Japanese destroyer put up a smoke screen for protection.

“Suddenly about 3.00am a bulkhead in the aft part of the ship gave way, and with a loud noise the Leasowe Castle sank rapidly. The Lily had a narrow escape, as the hawsers connecting her with the sinking ship were cut with an axe just in time”.