BORN HULL 1883. SON OF WILLIAM HUNDLEBY & EMMA WHITING (1860-1890). A SEAMAN. HE MARRIED IN 1907. WIFE ELIZABETH HUNDLEBY (NEE HARRISON) & 3 CHILDREN, OF 25 ST STEPHEN’S TERRACE, SPRING STREET, HULL. (1911 CENSUS) AND THIS CWGC NAVY ADDRESS. HE WAS MASTER OF THE “CLYDE BRAE”, SUNK BY SUBMARINE ON 03/10/1917. HE DROWNED, AGED 35.
The CLYDEBRAE, whilst on passage north to Tees Bay from Calais in ballast and making 9 knots, was torpedoed by German U-Boat. The torpedo struck the stern in the after part of the engine room, on the starboard side, well below the water line. At the time a steamer was on the port beam going north, but which did not render any assistance, and three minesweepers astern. The Starboard lifeboat and jolly boat were destroyed and the port boat damaged. Both the captain and 2nd officer who were on watch, were killed, and the chief officer ordered the crew to abandon ship as she was then in a sinking condition, her stern being awash and having no confidence that the bulkheads would hold. No trace of five missing crewmen could be seen by those in the lifeboat, which was taking in water fast due to the explosion, and the survivors transferred to one of the minesweepers and were landed at Scarborough. The chief engineer and a fireman, who were below at the time, and a gunner were killed, and one Japanese steward was badly scaled and needed hospital treatment. The minesweeper CUIRASS took the CLYDEBRAE in tow to Scarborough Bay. She was subsequently beached in an effort to save her but she became a total loss. She has now broken up completely.
People on board SS CLYDEBRAE123 1. BRUCE, FREDERICK (36), Fireman, Clydebrae SS, Mercantile Marine, °1880 ~ †03/10/1917, Son of Mary Jane Bruce, and the late Henry Bruce; husband of Eliza Maud Bruce, of 7, Storey’s Buildings, Middlesbrough. Born in Middlesbrough. Originally recorded and commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial but now has a CWGC gravestone in Linthorpe Cemetery Middlesbrough, Memorial: Middlesbrough (Linthorpe) Cemetery 2. HUNDLEBY, WILLIAM HERBERT (35), Master, SS Clydebrae, Mercantile Marine, †03/10/1917, Husband of Mrs. E. Harrison. of 4, Mary’s Terrace, Alexandra St., Hull, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial 3. WARDLE, JAMES (23), Leading Deck Hand (no. 3645SD), SS Clydebrae, Royal Naval Reserve, †03/10/1917, Son of Mrs. Waterworth, of 27, Lightburn St., Runcorn; husband of Mary Dora Wardle, of 50, Surrey St., Runcorn, Memorial: Plymouth Naval Memorial Read more at wrecksite: https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?65681
