The HMT Wayfarer
On the evening of the 8th April 1915 the 1/1st Warwickshire Yeomanry (WkY) as part of the 1st South Midland Brigade, 2nd Mounted Division left their camp in Norwich bound for the port of Avonmouth, setting sail aboard ”HM Transport (HMT) Wayfarer” on 10th April with the Regiment’s horses and men detailed to look after them. Major R. A. RICHARDSON being the Officer Commanding with five other officers, 189 other ranks, and 763 horses and mules. Their destination was Alexandra, in Egypt. On the 11th April the remainder of the Regiment together with elements of the 1/1st Nottinghamshire Yeomanry (South Nottinghamshire Hussars), 1/1st Derbyshire Yeomanry, 1/1st Gloucestershire Yeomanry (Royal Gloucestershire Hussars), and the 1/1st Worcestershire Yeomanry (Queen’s Own Worcestershire Hussars), set sail bound for the same destination, aboard “HMT Saturnia”.
At 2.15pm on 11th April “HMT Wayfarer “ was 60 miles West North-West of the Scilly Islands when it was struck by a torpedo from U Boat U32 on the port side, causing damage to the hay hold, engine room, boilers, and the loss of wireless contact. The men immediately went to their boat stations and commenced boarding the lifeboats, of which one after hitting the sea was dashed up against the side of the HMT Wayfarer causing the boat to tip ove throwing its occupants into the sea. It was during this mishap that the following men were drowned: - Cpl POWELL, Pte LAWTON, and Pte KIRBY from the WkY together with Pte PHIPPS of the Army Service Corps.
It was fortunate that after an hour had passed that another ship the “SS Framfield” came to the rescue and all men in the lifeboats were rescued being safely transferred to the rescue ship. The “SS Framfield” eventually taking the stricken “HMT Wayfarer” under tow, not knowing that the U32 might have been searching for another target. Major R.A RICHARDSON and Captain COWNIE the master of the “HMT Wayfarer” realising that the damaged ship was not sinking decided to return to the “HMT Wayfarer” to make a search of the ship where they found alive Pte. BIRCHLEY who had been left behind. During which time it was also discovered that the hay in the hayhold had shifted due to ingress of sea water forming a natural bung After two hours had passed spent looking after the horses and rescuing kit etc a fatigue party of three officers, and 18 men from the “SS Framfield” returned to the “HMT Wayfarer” who together with the ship’s officers managed to care for 760 horses and mules before it finally reached the Irish port of Queenstown (now Cobh, Co. Cork) at 4pm on 13 April 1915. It was during this work that the body of Pte G.A. ASTON was found trapped under bales of hay submerged in sea water. 760 animals were landed safely, only three being lost, one from pneumonia and two as a result of the ship being torpedoed. The WkY history records that some of the horses left in Ireland to recuperate were later returned to the WkY 3rd Line Regiment.
Pte.G. A. ASTON was buried at Queenstown with full military honours.” The names of the men from the “HMT Wayfarer” who perished are recorded on the Southampton (Hollybrook) Cemetery Memorial for those who were lost or buried at sea.
