Desciption of Events:

At 10.30 a.m. on 19 February 1918, the Leyland liner Philadelphian, laden with horses and munitions, and forming one of the convoy of ten ships, was hit by a torpedo on the port side abreast No. 3 hold, throwing up a large column of water which, descending on the bridge, destroyed the compass, wheel and telegraph. Another ship in the convoy had just previously been torpedoed, and the howitzers’ crews had been closed up. A periscope was sighted on the port beam just before the torpedo struck the ship, and fire was opened on it. Almost immediately, a second torpedo struck the Philadelphian causing her to list heavily to port. The guns’ crews remained at their quarters firing at the submarine while the ship was sinking, a fine example being set by the two naval ratings on board, Able Seaman Aaron Lumsden, R.F.R. and Able Seaman Edward J. Moore, R.F.R., until it was no longer possible to stand on the deck. They were then thrown into the water where three of the guns’ crews were drowned, Lumsden, Moore and another being rescued. The attacking submarine was the German submarine U-82 (Hans Adam) and the attckek took place 47 miles SxE1/2E from the Lizard.

 

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