S.S. Palmella (Liverpool)

[Katie]

Can anyone have a look to see if they can find an entry on CWGC for:-

Fireman John Burns, 9a, Birkett Street, Liverpool
Fireman Charles Roger Woods, 10, Hood Street, Bootle

According to deaths at see the above were on the S.S. Palmella when she was torpedoed 22nd August 1918 I have searched and I get no matches for the above seamen.

Kathyd

[MaryA]

Just entering the date and narrowing down to Navy and Merchant Navy produced a number of results for the ship, but even just entering the first name didn't bring these two up. Sorry I don't think they are there.

[dickiesam]

Most odd! Particularly as the death of Charles Woods is recorded in the GRO and in the Board of Trade Register. For the former entry I assume his body was recovered and identified? Could there be a burial somewhere?

Death: CHARLES R WOODS
Age: 23
Birth year: 1895
Death year: 1918
Vessel: PALMELLA
Page: 250
Record source: GRO Marine Death Indices (1903 to 1965)

Death: Chas Roger Woods
Birth year: 1895
Birth place: Liverpool
Death date: 22 Aug 1918
Age: 23
Vessel name: Palmella
County: AT SEA
Series: BT 334; Box: 0073; Page: 27
Record set: Deaths at sea, 1781-1968

However, John Burn's death is only in the Board of Trade Register, listed as "supposed drowned", therefore missing.
Death: John Burns
Birth year 1873
Death date: 22 Aug 1918
Age: 45
Reported date: 1918
Vessel name: Palmella
County: AT SEA
Service: Crew
Series: BT 334; Box 0074; Record set: Deaths at sea, 1781-1968

[dickiesam]

Even odder!

According to the Wreck Site report at http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?12437 there were 28 lives lost including the Master of the SS Palmella when she was torpedoed on the 22nd of August 1918.

If you enter the date of the deaths into http://www.cwgc.org/ you get a list of 37 names all listed at Tower Hill.

A check revealed that another vessel, the SS Prunelle, was sunk on the same day with the loss of 12 crew. http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?12436

The Tower Hill list of 37 names is comprised of 25 crew from the Palmella and 10 from the Prunelle. There are 2 other names, 1 each from SS Idaho and HMT Ellenga. It would appear that 3 names are missing from the Palmella deaths including Charles Woods and John Burns and 2 from the Prunelle.

Where are they? Were they rescued but died later? We know John Burns was listed as 'presumed drowned' [aka missing?].

Edit to add... My intended continued search for Charles and John is stalled because the servers at Findmypast are clogged with freebie searchers!

[dickiesam]

Re:

Death: CHARLES R WOODS
Age: 23
Birth year: 1895
Death year: 1918
Vessel: PALMELLA
Page: 250
Record source: GRO Marine Death Indices (1903 to 1965)

I am confused! I thought that for the GRO to make an entry as above, a body had to be identified. But according to the Series: BT 334; Box 0074; Record set: Deaths at sea, 1781-1968, Charles Woods is shown as "Supposed drowned" which indicates he was actually missing.

[Linwood247]

I came across a similar mystery. Thomas Woodfine died when the Highland Corrie was torpedoed in 1917 but did not appear among the war dead. I learned from the very friendly and helpful English Heritage researchers who sent me the Complete Monument Report, that some of the crew got into a lifeboat, but it capsized and he was drowned. Therefore his death is considered an accident, not a war death. (This is a travesty, and I mean to being it up with the In From the Cold organisation.) Could something similar have happened to your men?

[Katie]

I think I have solved the Woods Seaman.

There was a Ships Fireman William Henry Wood, who perished on the S.S Palmella and according to CWGC he served as Woods.

Rank:
Fireman
Date of Death:
22/08/1918
Age:22
Regiment/Service:
Mercantile Marine
S.S. "Palmella" (Liverpool)
Panel Reference: Memorial:TOWER HILL MEMORIAL
Additional Information:(Served as WOODS). Son of George and 1 Harriet Wood; husband of Eva Wood (nee Bill), of 14, Sussex St., Bootle, Liverpool. Born at Kirkdale, Liverpool.

Thanks for your input I will look more closely at John Burns.

[dickiesam]

Hi Katie,
You are far more accustomed to errors etc regarding the reporting of war deaths so I am surprised that the death of Charles Roger Woods is reported in 3 separate documents including the GRO Deaths at Sea Index, but apart from the CWGC site I haven't yet found William Henry Wood(s) anywhere else. And there appear to be at least 3 names missing from the SS Palmella list on CWGC.

[dickiesam]

I remembered there was another seaman Wood on the Palmella listed by CWGC...

WOOD, ALFRED
Rank: Trimmer
Date of Death: 22/08/1918
Age: 17
Regiment/Service: Mercantile Marine
Vessel: S.S. "Palmella" (Liverpool)
Panel Reference: Memorial: TOWER HILL MEMORIAL
Additional Information:
Son of George and Harriet Wood (nee Maden), of 87 Longfield Rd., Litherland, Liverpool. Born at West Derby, Liverpool.

Coincidence? Same parents as William Henry?
1910+1
Address: 18 Bowles St, Bootle, Bootle cum Linacre,
George Wood Head 50 1861 Boiler Riviter - Tipton, Staffs
Harriet Wood Wife 44 1867 Liverpool
James [sic] Henry Wood Son 14 1897 School - Liverpool
Alfred Wood Son 11 1900 School - Liverpool

The parents' marriage matches the CWGC listing...
Marriages Jun 1890: NADEN, Harriet and Wood, George - Liverpool 8b 75

Marriages Jun 1918: Wood, William H and Bill, Eva - W. Derby 8b 547

1901:
Address: 2 Spencers Yard, West Derby
James Murdock Head 33 1868 Farm Labourer - Liverpool
Dorothy Murdock [from marriage nee Naden] Wife 30 1871 - Liverpool
Harriet Wood Sister-In-Law 33 1868 - Liverpool
James Wood Nephew 4 1897 - Liverpool
Alfred Wood Nephew 1 1900 - Liverpool

[Katie]

Hi Dickiesam, sorry for the delay in replying but been laid up. Here is a list of known fatalities from the Palmella. I have cross referenced them using CWGC and Deaths at sea register BT334.

ANDREWS ALEX A 58 22/08/1918 Able Seaman Mercantile Marine
BROEKEN JOHN J 56 22/08/1918 Fireman Mercantile Marine
CHRISTIAN JACOB WILLIAM BEVAN J W B 15 22/08/1918 Mess Room Steward Mercantile Marine
COEN EDMUND PATRICK E P 28 22/08/1918 Wireless Operator Mercantile Marine
COLCLOUGH JAMES J 22/08/1918 Lance Corporal Royal Marine Light Infantry
DEVINE PATRICK P 19 22/08/1918 Able Seaman Mercantile Marine
DONOVAN HARRY H 22/08/1918 Private Royal Marine Light Infantry
DOYLE PATRICK P 48 22/08/1918 Fireman Mercantile Marine
FERREIRA ANTONIO A 30 22/08/1918 Boatswain Mercantile Marine
GALLOWAY NELSON DOUGLAS N D 35 22/08/1918 Chief Engineer Mercantile Marine
HEDLEY JOHN J 36 22/08/1918 Second Mate Mercantile Marine
HOWE R T W 22/08/1918 Second Wireless Operator Mercantile Marine
PATERAS GEO NICHOLAS G N 33 22/08/1918 Third Engineer Mercantile Marine
PIEDADE JOSE VENTURA J V 38 22/08/1918 Able Seaman Mercantile Marine
PRUDEN HENRY H 22 22/08/1918 Trimmer Mercantile Marine
QUINLIN JAMES FRANCIS J F 17 22/08/1918 Assistant Steward Mercantile Marine
SALMON CHARLES SYDNEY C S 54 22/08/1918 Able Seaman Mercantile Marine
STAVROU SPYROS S 30 22/08/1918 Greaser and Fireman Mercantile Marine
STUART CHARLES C 34 22/08/1918 Second Engineer Mercantile Marine
SUMMERS SYLVESTER S 34 22/08/1918 Donkeyman Mercantile Marine
TWEEDLEY ROBERT R 29 22/08/1918 Greaser and Fireman Mercantile Marine
WATT JAS J 63 22/08/1918 Carpenter Mercantile Marine
WILKINSON FELIX HENRY F H 39 22/08/1918 Chief Steward Mercantile Marine
WILLIAMS CHAS C 64 22/08/1918 Ship's Cook Mercantile Marine
WOOD ALFRED A 17 22/08/1918 Trimmer Mercantile Marine
WOOD WILLIAM HENRY W H 22 22/08/1918 Fireman Mercantile Marine
NELSON T.J 42 22/08/1918 Master Mercantile Marine

2 Possible Non-commemorations

BURNS JOHN J 22/08/1918 Fireman Mercantile Marine S.S. "Palmella" (Liverpool)
WOODS CHARLES ROGER C R 22/08/1918 Mercantile Marine S.S. "Palmella" (Liverpool)

One Passenger

HIRD HERBERT

Doyle I could not locate in BT334.

I need to do a follow up on the addresses recorded for Burns and Woods at the Record Office before getting in touch with the IFTC. As to why some are on the GRO indexes as well as the Deaths at sea register, I am mystified as you are. Keep you updated.