October 15. HMS Hawke, NI’s greatest naval loss. Roll of Honour

One of the greatest single losses to Royal Navy personnel from Northern Ireland occurred on the 15th October 1914 when the German Submarine SM-U9 which was patrolling the North Sea came across two British Cruisers, HMS Hawke commanded by Capt. Hugh P.E.T. Williams, and her sister ship HMS Theseus. At least 49 from Northern Ireland perished in HMS Hawke. They came from all walks of life and places. Thomas Cross from Dungannon received injuries to both legs at the Battle of the Somme in July 1916 and was removed to hospital in England. He recovered and returned to active service. He died this day in 1918. His twin brother also served and survived the war. Verus Montgomery, a medical officer from Ballynure, was wounded at the Battle of the Somme, lay in the field for some days and finally had the shrapnel removed from his head. He was wounded again in Palestine in 1917. He survived the war, practised medicine and lived to this day in 1959. Get today’s report here –