Father-to-be one of three Carrick men lost at sea

Martie Donald, William Johnston, and Andrew McAllister were crew members aboard HMS Hawke, which was torpedoed by a German U-Boat 100 years ago.

Some 49 Ulstermen died in the tragedy, one of the greatest single losses of Royal Navy sailors from the province.

The incident occurred on October 15, 1914, when the German submarine U-9 came across two British cruisers, HMS Hawke and her sister ship HMS Theseus, while on patrol in the North Sea.

Under the command of German Commander Weddigen, U-9 fired on the British ships. The same submarine, under Weddigen’s command, had caused the deaths of almost 1500 British seamen only three weeks earlier with the torpedoing of the ‘Livebait Squadron’.

The submarine’s first torpedo hit HMS Hawke, igniting a magazine and causing a tremendous explosion which ripped much of the ship apart. Hawke sank in a few minutes with the loss of her Commander and 523 men. Only 74 men were saved.

The incident saw the tragic loss of three fathers-to-be from Ulster, leaving their pregnant wives to fend for themselves throughout the difficult war years.

One of these was Mariott ‘Martie’ Donald, originally from the Red Brae area of Carrickfergus. His daughter, Mariette Isabella Donald, was born at the end of 1914.

Sullatober Flute Band from Carrick, who lost one of their players Henry McMurran in the ‘Livebait Squadron’ incident, suffered yet another tragedy with the loss of member, Stoker (1st class) Andrew McAllister.

Also lost was Carrick-born Able Seaman William Johnston, who died at the age of 30.

None of the men’s bodies were recovered for burial, most remaining where they drowned.

The centenary of the sinking of HMS Hawke and the tragic loss of so many men is due to be remembered at the Royal Navy’s annual Trafalgar Day Service in Belfast on October 19.