Tragedy as WWI submarine sinks in English Channel with loss of 69 lives

The Sunday Post reported a submarine disaster that claimed the lives of all 69 crew.

“There are two Scottish victims of the M1 submarine disaster,” read the paper. “The leading stoker was a Bo’ness man, and the other Scotsman was married six weeks ago. His bride, who resides in Nottingham had a presentiment that her husband would not return from his trip.”

HMS M1 was a Royal

Navy submarine fitted with a 12-inch gun which was intended for use against surface ships in preference to torpedoes.

She sank with all 69 hands in 230ft of water while on an exercise in the Channel when a Swedish ship, SS Vidar, struck her while she was submerged.

The collision tore the gun from the hull and water flooded the interior through the open loading hole. The Post continued:

“One outcome of the disaster is the striking statement issued by the Chairman of Lloyds, the great shipping institution famous throughout the world, in which he makes a plea for the abolition of the submarine.

“Mr Percy G MacKinnon asked at this epoch, when the Pact of Locarno seems to offer the chance of European security, would it not be opportune for the abolition of this deadly instrument of destruction.”