The Collier Thordis About to Ram a German Submarine by Allan Stewart [Antique]

At about 9.30 am on Sunday February 28th 1915 while the collier Thordis, commanded by Captain John William Bell, was steaming down the Channel, the periscope of a submarine was sighted to starboard. Captain Bell at once came on deck, stopped his ship. The submarine slowly moved across the bows of the Thordis to a position 30 or 40 yards away on her portside. A moment later the track of a torpedo was seen. When it had almost reached the vessel, a wave lifted her stern clear, and the torpedo passed harmlessly beneath. The Thordis immediately closed in on the submarine. There followed a crash, then a scrapping noise, and the submarine sank to the bottom. For being the first merchant vessel to sink a submarine, a Money Prize was distributed among the Captain and crew of the Thordis. Captain Bell also received the DSC, and was given a commission as Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve.

Antique print published c.1918.

Paper size 11 inches x 8.5 inches (28cm x 22cm)