Daily Event for August 19, 2010

About 25 miles from Bishop Rock on August 19, 1915 the cargo ship Baron Erskine was torpedoed and sunk by SMS U-38. Baron Erskine was en route from England to New Orleans, Louisiana in ballast when the U-boat stopped her. All 108 people on board survived. At this time I have no other details about the loss.

A second Baron Erskine, also owned by Hogarth Shipping Company, Ardrossan, Scotland, was lost in the Second World War, she was sunk Jan. 6, 1942 by U-701, sadly in that sinking 40 men were lost.
© 2010 Michael W. Pocock
MaritimeQuest.com


Oct. 22, 2012

I am a retired Detective with the Toronto Police Services. I am also the great, great grandson of Captain James Tasker, whom served aboard the SS Baron Erskin. I have been retired some years myself  and have taken up the hobby of building marine models. I was just researching the Baron Erskin as I would like to build a model of the ship. I recently found and old painting of the ship in my Grandfathers attic.   

Written on the picture is the date 1911. (Painting is not in good shape having lived in an Attic for at least 70 Years.) As of the writing of this email the painting is 101 years old.

Regards,
Don Keeley
Great Lakes Model Boat Association