CWGC gives Robert McCowat's date of death as 09/10/1917. He was serving on SS Waikawa.

Another site says ship was torpedoed and sunk 19/10/1917.

Anyone know the correct date? Or could theyboth be correct?

British Vessels Lost At Sea gives Waikawa torpedoed four miles east of Start Point on October 19th 1917.

Bob.

Interestingly it also says no lives lost.
Perhaps he did die on the earlier date.

Bob.

Since he has a grave on shore at Le Havre, it is very likely that he died while (or shortly before) the ship was berthed there. If he had died at sea (illness or accident most likely in this case), it was likely that he would be buried at sea unless the ship was due in harbour shortly. It was not the custom to carry dead bodies on ships for longer than was strictly necessary.

Hello

McCowat drowned on that date.

All best

don

How do you know that in Ohio???

Yours in amazement!

His name is on the local War Memorial and I am trying to write up something on all the men. Cheers.

John,

On 19th October 1917 the SS Waikawa,defensively armed, built 1907, 5,666 grt, was torpedoed by U-boat UB 31 4 miles E from Start Point, English Channel. Voyage was from Rouen to Barry Roads in ballast. Owned by Union Steam ship Co of New Zealand Ltd of London. BVLAS states no crew losses.

McCowat obviously drowned in a completely separate incident, which caused his accidental death, because I can't find any record of the Waikawa being attacked prior to its sinking.

Best wishes
David

Thanks everybody. Sorry to be brief - just going on holiday and orders are coming through!

http://rnmnwargraves.org.uk/Deptdocs/Commo...rtment%2076.pdf

This adds a little more info.

In my records Robert McCowat was a gunner on the steamer Waikawa and he is listed as drowning the day the ship was torpedoed:

McCOWAT, Robert, Seaman, RNR, A 5068, Waikawa, steamship, 9 October 1917, President III, DEMS gunner, drowned

Cheers Ron

As he was in the Royal Naval Reserve, his service records aren't online. Microfiche copies are in BT377/7 at Kew; the originals are at the Fleet Air Arm Museum.