The Collier Thordis About to Ram a German Submarine by Allan Stewart (P)

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)