Charles James's Story.
Birkenhead News 3 February 1917
Lost on the “Laurentic”
After Surviving Wreck of the “Republic”
Among the lost on the H.M.S. “Laurentic” was Mr. Charles James Wallace printer and steward on board. Mr. Wallace resided with his parents at 52 Livingstone Street, and was a very well-known and popular figure throughout this district. He was 42 years of age, and took part in the South African War in taking troops backwards and forwards. In 1909 Mr. Wallace was wrecked on the “Republic,” and a curious fact is that the date on which that accident befell him was January 24th, 1909, and that the “Laurentic” went down on January 25th, 1917. On the occasion of the wreck of the “Republic” Mr. Wallace with the rest of the crew was presented with a silver watch for gallantry – commending the rescue of over 1,700 souls – from the saloon passengers of the R.M.S. “Baltic” and R.M.S “Republic.” Mr. Wallace had been on the “Laurentic” ever since she was built, and at the beginning of the war he was with her on a year and nine months’ cruise. Mr. and Mrs. Wallace received a telegram stating that their son had been buried in Ireland. Much sympathy will be extended towards Mr. and Mrs. Wallace and relatives in their very sad loss.
H.M.S. Laurentic
Built by Harland and Wolff, Belfast and owned by the White Star Line the S.S. Laurentic made her maiden voyage in 1909.
In 1914 she was commissioned by the Admiralty for the war effort and converted to a merchant cruiser and put in to service. With this commission came the title of H.M.S. Laurentic.
Towards the end of December 1916 H.M.S. Laurentic was recalled to Liverpool to prepare for what was to be her last voyage and to undertake a mission of the utmost secrecy. The captain was under orders to sail to Nova Scotia, Canada to deliver an important cargo - which was payment to America and Canada who were supplying Britain with munitions for the war. This secret cargo was actually 43 tonnes of bullion, worth £5 million, and consisting of 3,211 gold bars – worth more than £300 million today.
The ship left Liverpool for Canada on 23rd January but Captain Norton made an unplanned stop on the north coast of Ireland to drop off some men who had become ill and were showing signs of yellow fever. She set sail again but at the entrance to Lough Swilly in County Donegal the ship struck 2 mines which had been left by a German U boat.
The Laurentic with its bullion cargo was sunk. Of the 475 men on board 354 lives were lost. 121 men managed to get to shore in lifeboats or were rescued by local fishing trawlers. Some bodies were washed up on local beaches. A mass grave in the churchyard at St Muras, Upper Fahan, holds many of the bodies while others are buried in graveyards in Lough Swilly and beyond.