Soldiers survive attack by U-Boat in Mediterranean

Families across Stirling learned with relief that their loved ones had survived a terrifying Mediterranean torpedo attack.

Soldiers with connections to the Stirling were on board the ship said to have been attacked at the end of December, 1917.

It is thought they had been on HMT Aragon, a 9588-ton former Royal Mail vessel. It was taking 2,200 troops from Marseille to reinforce the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in the Palestine Campaign against Turkish forces. There were in addition 150 military officers, 160 Red Cross volunteers and about 2,500 bags of Christmas mail.

The Aragon was close to the Egyptian port of Alexandria when it was hit and sunk by a torpedo fired by a German U-Boat. No fewer than 610 of those on board were killed.

Mr William Samson, engineer, Well Green, received a letter from his son, Peter, a corporal in the A&SH, describing the “terrible experiences” they had gone through. He informed his father he was safe but had suffered severe bruising to the legs.

Cpl Samson said Company Sergeant Major Ewing, son of Sgt John Ewing, St Ninians, was also among the survivors.

Pte Farquhar Strang was another one of the lucky ones. He informed his father, Mr James Strang, tailor, George Street, Stirling, he was in hospital suffering from bruised limbs. The 24-year-old was a horseshoer with Messrs Wordie & Co before enlisting in June, 1917.

Mr John McLean, Scots Wha Hae Inn, St Ninians, had a communication from his youngest son, Pte Ian McLean, that he was one of the survivors, as was a son of Capt John Blyth, Alexandra Place, Stirling.

Territorial Battalion member Edward S Bayne, whose father was station master at Bridge of Allan, escaped the sinking. He was formerly an Inland Revenue officer in Aberdeen.

There was also good news for the family of Miss A McLuckie, who was among the Red Cross volunteers on board. She contacted friends to say she was safe.