HMS OTRANTO

HMS Otranto was an Orient Steam Navigation Company liner and was built by Workman Clark, Belfast in 1909 for the London to Australia route but also did cruses to Norway and the Mediterranean on occasion. She had a displacement of 12,124 gross tons and 535.3 x 64.0 x 38.6ft . She had 12,000 ihp quadruple expansion engines giving her a top speed of 18 knots. The Orient Line also had three other sister ships to the Otranto, they were the Osterley, Orsova and Otway.

When war was declared in 1914 the British Admiralty requisitioned the Otranto for use as an Auxiliary Cruiser and armed her with four 4.7" guns. She spent the last months of 1914 in the South Atlantic off the West Coast of South America looking for the German Cruiser Squadron commanded by Admiral von Spee. It was the lookouts from the Otranto that first spotted the German fleet. She reported to Admiral Cradock in his flagship, HMS Good Hope and then made her escape as she was no match for the German guns. The Battle of Coronel took place on 1 November 1914 with the loss of the British ships HMS Good Hope and HMS Monmouth with very heavy loss of life.

September 25th saw the Otranto leaving America with a full load of troops on which, would be her last trip across the Atlantic. On 6 Oct. 1918, during a heavy storm while carrying troops from America to Glasgow and Liverpool, HMS Otranto collided with the P&O liner H.M.S. Kashmir also carring American troops, in Machir Bay off the North coast of Islay, Scotland, drifted ashore and became a total wreck. The loss of life was heavy - 431 drowned, including 351 American soldiers - though there were 367 survivors in all. Although the destroyer H.M.S. Mounsey managed to take off several hundred soldiers and crewman 431 died. The dead were buried with military honors in a cemetery in Kilchoman on Islay.

Just after breakfast on Sunday morning 6 October 1918 there was a great jarring and the ship trembled severley. The men on the Otranto were instructed to remain calm and 15-20 minutes later were again instructed to get on deck as quickly as possible. Once on deck the men were faced with very strong winds. Strong enough that one had to hold on to something to keep from being blown over. Soon the word was passed the another ship the Kashmir, had broke her rudder and her Captain was unable to control her hitting the Otranto amidships and bow on port side. This ripped a large hole in her side at the point where the ships hospital was. There were several men in the hospital who were killed outright. She took on a list very quickly and flooding into the engine room shorted out the generators and the lights went out. The conditions of the sea at that time were swells of 15 to 20 feet or more and men were being thrown across the deck of the ship. About this time the HMS Mounsey was coming along side and the swells crashed the two ships together. Men were beginning to jump off the Otranto and onto the Mounsey some timing the jumps right and making it to the Mounsey and others were crushed as the two ships slammed together. At this time the mortally wounded Otranto was grounded on some rocks and was tearing herself apart and soon tore into two parts. Captain Ernest W. Davidson true to the ancient traditions of the sea, stayed with his ship and went down with her in the terrible sea as he saluted his men for one last time. Men were in the raging sea and clinging to anything that would float. One man survived by grabbing a large tub of lard that was floating by him. After being in the water for about 2 hours he finally made it to shore looking like a giant grease ball. By 11:00 am it was all over the Otranto was gone with many men and those who survived were taken to Belfast, Ireland.

The Doughboys who sailed on the Otranto

The actor Buster Keaton sailed to Europe on the Otranto in August of 1918 with units of the 40th Division.

Pvt. William Brumit was killed on 6 October, 1918 during the sinking of the Otranto. He enlisted 5 April, 1917 from Ottawa, Kansas. Was assigned to Machine Gun Company K, 1st Kansas Infantry (Co. K 137th Infantry). He sailed on the Otranto with Casual Company No. 406.

Pvt. Paul F. Smith, service number 793373 was killed during the sinking of the Otranto on 6 October, 1918. Pvt Smith enlisted into the Regular Army 8 March 1918 at Ft. Oglethorpe, Georgia. He was 20 years old at the time he enlisted and was born in Montgomery, Alabama and lived at the home of his father George W. Smith, at 1111 E. Lurna St. in Pensacola, Florida at the time he enlisted. Pvt. Smith sailed on the HMS Otranto on 25 September 1918 with the C.A.C. September Automatic Replacement Draft Unit No. 1, from Ft. Screvens, Georgia.

Cpl. Herbert A. Dodd, drowned 6 October, 1918 during the sinking of the Otranto. He enlisted 12 March, 1918 from Beloit, Kansas and was assigned to the 4th Co. CAC, Ft. Screven. He was selected as part of the September Automatic Replacement Draft, Company No. 1 from Fort Screven Georgia, and sailed aboard the HMS Otranto on the 25th September 1918.

Cpl. Roy C. Dilts was in the US Army Coast Artillery and on October 6th was on the Troopship Otranto when she collided with the P&O liner H.M.S. Kashmir off the coast of Scotland. Cpl. Roy C. Dilts was most likely in the same unit from Ft. Screven, Georgia as Cpl. Herbert A. Dodd listed above. The destroyer Mounsey pulled alongside to rescue the men and Cpl. Dilts tried to jump from the Otranto onto the Mounsey and fell in between. His body was recovered and later returned to Farmington, Illinois for burial.

His daughter Barbara Dilts Joike reflects; "I also do not have many memories of him. I can remember standing in front of my mother at the funeral parlor and seeing his coffin with the flag over it. I know he was stationed at Savannah Georgia and a friend who had seen a picture of him in his uniform said that it was Coast Artillery. When I was a child we had a book about the first world war and the last page was about the Troopship Otranto which had been sunk. My dad had written to my mother from Georgia asking her to bring me to the train station so he could see me before he went overseas, it seems the government was sending the troops through their hometowns so they could see their families before shipping out. After the War my hometown erected a monument to honor the men who had died in service from my town. I was the only War Orphan in my town and that is why I was selected to unveil the monument. A man from my hometown saw me when I was eleven while I was unveiling the monument to the service men and he told me that he was on the same ship and saw my dad try to jump from the Otranto to the Mounsey which had pulled alongside and he fell in between. I remember November 11, 1918 very well. I was in bed and heard gunshots, I ran downstairs and sat on the piano bench scared and I thought the Germans had invaded us. I remember my Grandmother complaining there was no white flour only brown, I remember seeing maple syrup in cans shaped like a log cabin with the chimney a pouring spout, that was used in place of sugar. Sugar was sent to Europe for the service men who did not get it because it was on the wharf in France and got rained on. I think about him a lot and keep wondering about our meeting when I get to heaven. He was a very handsome man, played the mandoline and used to whistle 'Listen to the Mocking Bird' when he went past our house. I did have his Mandolin but at one point in my life I was really down and out and my Mom told me to sell it which I did now I wish I had kept it. My mom put her engagement ring in the place where the pick was kept, a man came visiting next door to us, borrowed the mandolin when we got it back the ring was gone, she sent me over to ask him about it but he denied seeing it. It was a ruby with pearls around it. I lived with my maternal grandparents most of my growing up years." This information on Cpl. Dilts was given to me by his daughter Barbara Dilts Joike who on December 17, 2004, turned 90 years old.

Pvt. Merle H. Dull, Service Number 3239969: Pvt. Dull was born in Wood County, Ohio about 1899 and at the time of enlistment he lived in Arcanum, Ohio. He enlisted into the Army at Fort Thomas, Kentucky on 17 July 1918 at the age of 18 years 1 month old. Pvt. Dull was assigned to the Coast Artillery Corps at Fort Screven, Georgia. He was selected as part of the September Automatic Replacement Draft from Fort Screven Georgia. He sailed aboard the HMS Otranto on the 25th September 1918 and he was killed during the 6 October sinking of the Otranto. His father, Samuel Dull of Arcanum, Ohio, was notified as next of kin of his death.

Pvt. Paul A. Hirt, Service Number 3372792: Pvt. Hirt was born in Strongsville, Ohio about 1898 and at the time of enlistment he lived in Strongsville, Ohio. He enlisted into the Regular Army at Columbus Barracks, Ohio on 7 August 1918 at the age of 20 years 8 months old. Pvt. Hirt was assigned to the Coast Artillery Corps at Fort Screven, Georgia. He was selected as part of the September Automatic Replacement Draft from Fort Screven Georgia. He sailed aboard the HMS Otranto on the 25th September 1918 and he was killed during the 6 October sinking of the Otranto. His father, Samuel Hirt of Strongsville, Ohio, was notified as next of kin of his death.

This story of Pvt. Hirt was shared with me by Roy Pfundstein ( who was a friend of the family. The Hirt family have run a nursery and greenhouse business in Strongsville, Ohio since 1915 and they do business throughout the world. This was started by Paul's father, Samuel Hirt. Hirt's Greenhouse and Flowers.

Pvt. Joseph Kish, Service Number 718688: Pvt. Kish was born in Cleveland, Ohio about 1899 and at the time of enlistment he lived in Cleveland, Ohio. He enlisted into the Regular Army at Columbus Barracks, Ohio on 17 October 1918 at the age of 18 years 6 months old. Pvt. Kish was assigned to the 72nd Company, Coast Artillery Corps at Fort Screven, Georgia. He was selected as part of the September Automatic Replacement Draft, Company 1, from Fort Screven Georgia. He sailed aboard the HMS Otranto on the 25th September 1918 and he was killed during the 6 October sinking of the Otranto. His father, Frank Kish of 2885 E. 82nd St., Cleveland, Ohio, was notified as next of kin of his death.

Pvt. Charles J. Lauch, Service Number 3241280: Pvt. Lauch was born in Cleveland, Ohio about 1899 and at the time of enlistment he lived at 249 W. Forrer St., Cincinnati, Ohio. He enlisted into the Regular Army at Fort Thomas, Kentucky on 23 July 1918 at the age of 18 years old. Pvt. Lauch was assigned to the Coast Artillery Corps at Fort Screven, Georgia. He was selected as part of the September Automatic Replacement Draft, Company 1, from Fort Screven Georgia. He sailed aboard the HMS Otranto on the 25th September 1918 and he was killed during the 6 October sinking of the Otranto. His father, John Lauch, 248 West Forrer St., Lockland, Ohio, was notified as next of kin of his death.

Pvt. Eldon M. McAfee, Service Number 3372174: Pvt. McAfee was born in Coldwater, Ohio about 1897 and at the time of enlistment he lived at R. F. D. 1, Coldwater, Ohio. He enlisted into the Regular Army at Columbus Barracks, Ohio on 31 July 1918 at the age of 19 1/2 years old. Pvt. McAfee was assigned to the Coast Artillery Corps at Fort Screven, Georgia. He was selected as part of the September Automatic Replacement Draft, from Fort Screven Georgia. He sailed aboard the HMS Otranto on the 25th September 1918 and he was killed during the 6 October sinking of the Otranto. His mother, Mrs. Martha McAfee, R. F. D. 1, Coldwater, Ohio, was notified as next of kin of his death.

Pvt. Roy C. Newsome, Service Number 3371515: Pvt. Newsome was born in Belvidere, North Carolina about 1897 and at the time of enlistment he lived at R. F. D. 5, London, Ohio. He enlisted into the Regular Army at Columbus Barracks, Ohio on 24 July 1918 at the age of 20 1/2 years old. Pvt. Newsome was assigned to the Coast Artillery Corps at Fort Screven, Georgia. He was selected as part of the September Automatic Replacement Draft, Company 2, from Fort Screven Georgia. He sailed aboard the HMS Otranto on the 25th September 1918 and he was killed during the 6 October sinking of the Otranto. His father, Alfred K. Newsome, R. F. D. 5, London, Ohio, was notified as next of kin of his death.

Pvt. Hampton Radabaugh, Service Number 3372126: Pvt. Radabaugh was born in Connersville, West Virginia about 1899 and at the time of enlistment he lived at R. F. D. 4, Marietta, Ohio. He enlisted into the Regular Army at Columbus Barracks, Ohio on 30 July 1918 at the age of 19 years 8 months old. Pvt. Radabaugh was assigned to the Coast Artillery Corps at Fort Screven, Georgia. He was selected as part of the September Automatic Replacement Draft, Company 2, from Fort Screven Georgia. He sailed aboard the HMS Otranto on the 25th September 1918 and he was killed during the 6 October sinking of the Otranto. His mother, Mrs. Lue Radabaugh, R. F. D. 4, Marietta, Ohio, was notified as next of kin of his death.

Sgt. Sam Smith: Sgt. Smith was born in Knoxville, Tennessee about 1894 and at the time of enlistment he lived at 615 E. 5th St., Cincinnati, Ohio. He enlisted into the Ohio National Guard at Cincinnati, Ohio on 17 March 1917. Sgt. Smith was assigned to Co. G, 1st Infantry, Ohio National Guard (Co. G 148 Infantry). He sailed aboard the HMS Otranto on the 25th September 1918 with Casual Company No. 406 and he was killed during the 6 October sinking of the Otranto. His mother, Mrs. Sam Smith, 348 Kilgore St., Cincinnati, Ohio, was notified as next of kin of his death.

Pvt. Russell H. Swadner, Service Number 3239979: Pvt. Swadner was born in Greenville, Ohio about 1898 and at the time of enlistment he lived in Arcanum, Ohio. He enlisted into the Regular Army at Fort Thomas, Kentucky on 17 July 1918 at the age of 20 years 3 months old. Pvt. Swadner was assigned to the Coast Artillery Corps at Fort Screven, Georgia. He was selected as part of the September Automatic Replacement Draft, Company 1, from Fort Screven Georgia. He sailed aboard the HMS Otranto on the 25th September 1918 and he was killed during the 6 October sinking of the Otranto. His father, Henry J. Swadner, Arcanum, Ohio, was notified as next of kin of his death.

The Otranto's British Crew

Able Seaman Sidney George Ludlow. Able Seaman Ludlow was in the British Royal Navy and was a crewman on the Otranto. His service number was 213177 and died while serving on the ship on 26 March 1918. It is not known what the reason for his death was. He is buried in the Chatham Naval Memorial, grave reference 28. This information was shared with me by a relative of Seaman Ludlow. Her name is Brooke and she lives in Napier, New Zealand.

Able Body Seaman, Francis Edwin Turner, Royal Navy, Service No. 61541: Wayne. L. Baldry contacted me about his grandfather, Francis Edwin Turner who was a crewman on the HMS Otranto. Wayne remembers that when he was a young boy his grandfather told him how he lost friends who got cut in half by jumping to the decks of the HMS Mounsey as the sea was rolling, washing back seaman that had just jumped off the deck of the Otranto. The sea was mountainous and the hurricane bit in, and he can remember his grandfather saying: "I will never forget it." Able Body Seaman Turner was one of the last to jump from the Otranto and saw the ship and Captain Ernest W. Davidson go down as he waved to his men as he stayed by his charge to the very end. The jump to the HMS Mounsey was 40 feet and as the sea rolled up and down was reduced to 20 feet, but if you got it wrong you were crushed or cut in half by the ships wire rope rails. The life boats were lowered to act as fenders between the two ships but boat after boat was smashed into matchwood. The manoeuvring of the Mounsey was magnificent and the destroyer was in danger of being dashed to pieces her self and she was taking on water. The American landsmen thought they would be safer on board the larger vessel than the small naval craft but this was to their undoing and explained why so many were lost. Men were lashed to guns on the deck of the Mounsey and was getting crowded and she was leaking, the pumps were going all the time but they were still waist deep in ice cold seawater and did not expect to see land again. Seaman Turner made it safely and years later was able to tell his story to his grandson, Wayne. L. Baldry.

Passing time with a boxing match on board the HMS Otranto with Seaman Francis Edwin Turner on the left and an unidentified sailor from another ship on the right. On the far side of the ring you can see 5 British Naval Officers watching the match.

Five HMS Otranto crewmen. Seaman Francis Edwin Turner is marked with the "X", middle of the back row.

If you have research comments or additional information on this page E-mail them to: Joe Hartwell

[Return back to the Ships histories page] [ Return back to the Site Map ] [ Return to the Coast Artillery Corps page ]