HMS Tara (Mediterranean)

SS Hibernia was built by William Denny and Brothers, Dumbarton, Scotland for the London and North Western Railway, entering service on the Holyhead to Ireland route in 1900. In 1914 she was requisitioned by the Admiralty as an Armed Boarding Steamer and renamed HMS Tara. After service in the north Irish Sea she was transferred to the Mediterranean. The ships crew were largely retained with the addition of some RN and RNR officers. The ship was under the joint command of the ship's Master, Captain Edward Butler Tanner and Captain R Gwatkin-Williams, RN.

She was torpedoed by U-35 in Sollum Bay, Mediterranean Sea on 5 November 1915. Twelve crew members, mostly from the Engine Room, were lost during the ships sinking. The remaining 92 survivors took to the lifeboats which were then towed to Port Bardia by the U-Boat and handed over to Senussi tribesmen as prisoners. They were marched deep into the Libyan dessert and held under very desparate circumstances for over 4 months until rescued by the Duke of Westminster's Armoured Car Column. Unfortunately four crew members died during the period of internment and one after rescue.

Further information on this remarkable story can be found using these links:-

Anglesey Information Prisoners of the Red Desert

Much of the information has come from personal research but I have also drawn upon the biographical information contained in the excellent and definitive book describing the full story of HMS Tara - 'From Holyhead to Bir Hakkim (and back)' by Geraint S Griffith of Holyhead.