Thomas McLeod, SS Royal Edward

SS Royal Edward was a British Cargo Steamer of 11,117 tons built in 1908 by Fairfield, Govan, Yard No 450 for the Egyptian Mail Steamship Company as the SS CAIRO. In 1910 she was acquired by the Canadian Northern Steamships Ltd and renamed SS ROYAL EDWARD.

On 28 July 1915, Royal Edward embarked 1,367 officers and men at Avonmouth. The majority were reinforcements for the British 29th Infantry, but also included were members of the Royal Army Medical Corps. All of the men were destined for Gallipoli. On the 13th August 1915 when 6 miles W from Kandeliusa, Aegean Sea she was torpedoed without warning and sunk by the German submarine UB14, launching two torpedoes from about a mile away that hit the ship in the stern. The ship sank by the stern within six minutes. The crew was able to get off an SOS before losing power. The Hospital Ship Soudan together with two French destroyers and some trawlers managed to rescue 661. In all 935 lives were lost including the Master. Thomas McLeod had previously served on the SS Royal George.

Son of the late Alexander and Margaret McLeod (late Swords, formerly McGuire); husband of Margaret Jane McLeod (nee Hambley), of 21 Cross Street, Holyhead. Born at Everton, Liverpool. In 1901 Thomas McLeod was the Publican at the Blossoms Inn, Rhos-y-gaer Terrace, Holyhead. Living with him was his wife Margaret Jane McLeod, his brother, Kenneth (16) and his niece, Lily Pearce (13). In 1911 the family lived at 6 Queens Street, Avonmouth, Bristol and comprised Thomas McLeod (40) - employed as a Ship's Steward, Margaret McLeod (34), Alexander (2), Thomas (1) also William Francis Hambley (9) - Nephew (who was later to lose his life in the sinking of SS Connemara in November 1916). All his family were born at Holyhead.

Awarded the Mercantile Medal and British War Medal.

William Jones, Greaser, was another Holyhead seaman lost on this ship.

Commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London

Image from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HMT_Royal_Edward.jpg