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The tanker Trocas was launched on Jan. 31, 1892 at the yard of James Laing & Sons Ltd. in Sunderland, England. She was 347' long with a beam of 45' and registered at 4,129 gross tons. Her triple expansion engine was built by G. Clark Ltd. and made about 400 horsepower. She was built for M. Samuel & Company of London (forerunner of Shell Oil). The ship was designed to carry oil to the far east and return with general cargo. With a capacity of 5,000 tons of oil the ship had to be "converted" to carry general cargo without contamination. This was apparently achieved with some degree of success with the design of this ship. In 1898 Trocas was transferred to the newly formed Shell Transport and Trading Company of London and she continued to sail to and from the Orient. She nearly came to grief in November of 1907 when she went aground below Jiujiang, China, but by the 23rd. she had been refloated with little damage done. Shortly after this incident Trocas was sold to the Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Company. Trocas would have been 26 years old on Jan. 31, 1918, but she would not see her birthday. On January 19, 1918 while she was en route from Abadan, Iran to Thessaloniki, Greece with a cargo of oil, she was located by SMS UC-23. For Oberleutnant zur See Hans Georg Lübbe, Trocas would be the third ship he sank, but this was the first ship sunk by him since assuming command of UC-23. According to the information I have been able to locate, Trocas was found in the Aegean Sea about 12 miles off the northern coast of Skiros Island, Greece. The ship was torpedoed without warning (according to official British papers) and sunk. Twenty-four of her crew were lost with her, but the master and a number of others survived. I have not been able to learn how many survived the sinking or what became of them. |
© 2016 Michael W. Pocock MaritimeQuest.com |
Roll of Honor |
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In memory of those who lost their lives in SS Trocas "As long as we embrace them in our memory, their spirit will always be with us" |
Name |
Rate |
Notes |
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Britton, John E. |
Wireless Operator |
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Cheong |
Chief Cook |
Chinese national |
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Gadd, George H. |
3rd Engineer |
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Hoi, Lee |
Carpenter |
Chinese national |
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Hong |
Sailor |
Chinese national |
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Kum, Ho |
Fireman and Trimmer |
Chinese national | |
Kum, Lee |
Pumpman |
Chinese national |
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Loo |
Quartermaster |
Chinese national |
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Mackie, William H. |
2nd Mate |
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Nelson, John W. |
Chief Engineer |
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Robinson, Matthew |
Seaman (RNR) |
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San, Moy |
Sailor |
Chinese national |
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Scurr, William G. |
2nd Engineer |
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Seng |
Cook |
Chinese national |
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Seng, Lee |
Cook |
Chinese national |
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Sing, Lee |
Fireman |
Chinese national |
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Tang |
Fireman |
Chinese national |
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Ting, Ng |
Quartermaster |
Chinese national |
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Tui, Tau |
Sailor |
Chinese national |
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Wan, Wan |
Fireman |
Chinese national |
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Wong, Chin |
Fireman |
Chinese national |
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Wong, Yong |
Fireman |
Chinese national |
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Yi, Yu |
Fireman |
Chinese national |
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You, Shun |
Sailor |
Chinese national |
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SS Trocas, date and location unknown. |