Bell
R S
Robert Stanley
Merchant Navy
Third Engineer
S S Bellucia (Glasgow)
Died 07 July 1917
Aged 26
Born ?? ??? 1891 Silksworth
Remembered on the Tower Hill Memorial and Seaham Seamans Mission memorial
Son of James and Jane Bell (late}
6 Edith Street, Dawdon, Seaham Harbour
Bellucia, 4,368grt, a defensively armed British steamer. Owned by Bell Brothers Glasgow.
Sunk 7 July 1917, 2 miles SSE from the Lizard, torpedoed without warning by UB-
The shipwreck is near to Cadgwith, 2km out in the Channel east of Bass Point. It sunk on 7 July, 1917, while homeward bound in a convoy to London with a cargo of flour from Montreal.
The convoy, of which Bellucia, captained by James Kiddie, was part, was aware that
U-
The weather was squally with a rough sea. At 3pm one of the Bellucia's crew shouted that he had seen a periscope about 300 yards off the port beam. His warning came too late. A torpedo struck in the port side in the engine room, killing the third engineer(R S Bell), two firemen and the chief steward. Bellucia did not sink at once and the rest of the crew got clear in boats and rafts and were picked up. The ship was blown in and finally grounded, tipped over on her port side and sank, leaving her starboard side just above water. Later, holes were cut in the exposed side of the hull and tons of flour salvaged.
The wreck today is owned by Dick Larn. You will find her at 49 58 39; 05 10 39W. She is well broken and spread over a wide area, but most of the bottom of the hull can be seen from the area of the torpedo strike forward. Her bows are clear and more or less intact, as are her three boilers. The engine and propeller of the Bellucia have been salvaged.
Silksworth 1901
Silksworth Colliery
Bell James 49 Netherton County Durham Mining Engineer
Jane 49 Wrekenton County Durham
Mary Ann 27 West Cornforth County Durham
Florence 16 Framwellgate Moor County Durham Teacher Pupil
Fredrick Hall 11 Silksworth County Durham
Robert Stanley 9 Silksworth County Durham