Sir, - On October 18, 1918 the Royal Fleet Auxiliary storeship Industry was torpedoed by a German submarine about an hour after leaving Kingstown (now Dun Laoghaire). She was reported as having sunk at approximately 22.10 hrs with the loss of 20 of her crew. Four survivors were picked up by her escort, the armed trawler Persian Empress. None of the bodies was recovered. Among the dead were six men from Mersea Island in Essex, England, two of whom were brothers. They are commemorated on the West Mersea War memorial, and their stories, together with those of other men from the island, killed during the first World War, have been told in my recently published book Not Just a Name.
The actual fate of the Industry remains a mystery as she is not on the Admiralty list of ships sunk. Was she salvaged? The crew, having no known grave, are commemorated on the Naval Memorials of Plymouth (ordinary crew) and Portsmouth (Officers). I would be very pleased to hear from any of your readers regarding the ship and its fate. If you can help, please write to me at the address below or Roger@mersea48.freeserve.co.uk'. - Yours, etc.,
Roger Bullen, Pear Tree Cottage, 15 Colchester Rd., West Mersea, Colchester, Essex, CO5 8RS, England.