BORN HULL 1869. SON OF JOSEPH & ROSANNA BLAIR , OF HULL. HIS WIFE ISABELLA LIVED – 45 ROKER PARK ROAD, SUNDERLAND. DROWNED ON 23/10/1915, AGED 46.
Ilaro SS was a British Merchant steamer of 2,799grt. and built in 1895. On the 23rd October 1915 when on route from Forcados, West Africa for Hull with a cargo of maize and palm kernels when she hit a mine near which was laid by German submarine UC-5 when 4 miles E from Dungeness. 1 life lost. Owned by Elder, Dempster & Co, Liverpool.
Crew abandoned ship in two boats and picked up by patrol boat, cargo caught fire, master and crew reboarded next day, ship towed stern first by two Dover tugs to Deal Roads, beached near Sandown Castle in 51.14.53N, 01.24.39E. Ship abandoned on 25th, later burnt out, broke in two and dispersed with explosives; 29 saved, chief engineer fell overboard and drowned abandoning ship.
1. BLAIR, STEPHEN ROBERT (46), Chief Engineer, SS Ilaro, Mercantile Marine, †23/10/1915, Husband of Isabella Blair (nee Gibbon), of 45, Roker Park Rd., Sunderland. Born at Hull, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial
