Current Information:

Age-17

7, The Circus, Minories, Aldgate

Not all losses at sea during the First World War were a result of enemy action, as was the case of the Steam Ship Umgeni. At the outbreak of the war she was requisitioned by the Admiralty for service as a supply ship. On November 7th 1917, she left the Clyde in convoy bound  for Lagos in West Africa. Two days later on 9th November, the convoy ran into bad weather and became scattered. The Umgeni was never seen again, but bodies and wreckage from her were washed up along the west coast of Ireland. Among the 48 members of her crew who lost their lives was Henry Stiling.