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My grandmother and me when I was a baby

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My grandmother (Davids daughter) and my son. She is 100% Pomo

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Tuscania Survivor details and information about the ship! 

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Tuscania Survivor details and information about the ship! 

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"So this is death"

February 5, 1918: The sun was setting as the liner S.S. Tuscania and the British convoy made its way through the North Channel, with the rocky Irish coast to the south and the cliffs of Scotland rising to the north. The icy gale-force wind and rough seas which had risen the previous night were starting to subside as night approached.

It was shortly before 6 pm when suddenly a huge shock sent a tremor through the entire ship; all the lights went out at once, followed by the explosive sound of shattering glass. There was no question what had occurred; the Tuscania had been hit by a torpedo.

The S.S. Tuscania was part of a joint service transport from New York to Glasgow and Liverpool. Though initially outfitted to carry over 2,000 passengers, the outbreak of war had curtailed transatlantic passage, and like many other ships at the time, it had been refitted to transport troops and supplies from Canada and the United States to the shores of Great Britain. It had made several successful voyages across the Atlantic, and even had the distinction of aiding in the rescue of passengers aboard a Greek ship in 1915 which had gone adrift.

The Tuscania set out on its final voyage January 27th, 1918 from Hoboken, New Jersey. On board were over 2,000 American troops from the 6th Battalion- D, E, and F Company, the 20th Engineers, miscellaneous members of 32nd division, and the 100th & 103rd Aero Squadrons, as well as a contingent of British crew. They were a part of a transatlantic convoy totaling 14 vessels and were set to rendezvous with an additional HX-20 convoy of 8 British destroyers off the coast of Ireland.

On February 4th, the convoy arrived in the so-called "Danger Zone" where it met with the British Destroyers, which formed a protective ring around the 14 ships as they set course for the North Channel towards Liverpool. As the convoy continued its journey, a German submarine, UB-77, with a contingent of 7 officers and 25 men, spotted the liner through the periscope. Kapitan Wilhelm Meyer gave the order to fire two torpedoes. One struck the Tuscania, while the other missed its target.

Immediately after being hit, men began rushing, calmly but quickly, to their posts. Firsthand accounts from the 20th Engineers recorded the scene:

"From the lowest deck - the troops occupied five-to the first cabins, a steady stream of men-and profanity-issued. In ten minutes practically every able bodied man was at his post. Then we began to take stock and find out what had really occurred. The torpedo had struck us squarely amidships on the starboard side. A great hole was torn in the hull and all the superstructure directly above was reduced to a mass of wreckage. Several sets of davits with their lifeboats were utterly demolished, thus diminishing the chances of getting away safely. From the minute of the explosion the ship began listing to starboard. It became exceedingly difficult to walk on deck, and more than one of the boys on losing his grip on the port rail would find himself sprawled against some of the deck machinery, a keg of rope or even the rail on the lower side." ¹

Visibility was low, and as the ship listed starboard, launching lifeboats on the port side became near impossible; several lifeboats on the starboard side were capsized as they were lowered, throwing the occupants into the freezing water. Many were so damaged from the torpedo explosion they were unfit for use, had broken oars, or were leaking water; yet despite the dire situation, those on board didn't fall into panic, and remained focused on the task at hand of evacuating the slowly-sinking ship. Distress rockets were fired, three red, indicating the presence of a submarine to the rest of the convoy.

The HX-20 escorts quickly responded; the HMS Grasshopper, Mosquito, and Pigeon were dispatched to assist the Tuscania. As the Mosquito came to rescue the men in overturned lifeboats, another torpedo passed beneath its stern and Captain J.B. Fellows ordered depth charges dropped from where he believed the U-Boat was before continuing his rescue of American troops, despite the clear danger to his own ship.

The Grasshopper, meanwhile, was also picking up survivors who had attempted to swim off the starboard side, loading as many as she could hold before forced to head for a safer distance from further attack by the Germans.

The Pigeon took a bulk of soldiers, while its launch, led by Petty Officer John Jones, gathered up the 11-12 lifeboats full of soldiers, whose occupants were later picked up by a trawler. Eyewitnesses described the brave rescue:

"Suddenly on the starboard, out of the darkness, a tiny destroyer came sidling up to the troopship. With a display of seamanship nothing short of marvelous she approached near enough for the men to be transferred to her deck. Sometimes almost hidden by the roll of the big ship, the destroyer clung to us. Ropes were let over the side and several hundred of the boys went over. When the destroyer was loaded to the limit she steamed away...Shortly after the departure of the destroyer-load of troops another one sidled up to us and completed the work of rescue. She, too, was crowded to the limit; but she stayed till every known person on board had been transferred." ²

This quick action by the British destroyers resulted the rescue of the majority of those aboard the Tuscania: the Grasshopper reported 500, the Pigeon over 800, and the Mosquito 200.

By 10:00 pm, the Tuscania had sunk, bow first, into the sea. Position was recorded last as Lat 55° 22' North, Long 6° 13' West, approximately seven miles south-west of Islay, Scotland.

Though the majority of the survivors had made it aboard the rescue vessels, and a number of Island trawlers has joined in the rescue, the pitch-blackness of night had fallen. The dark made it near impossible to locate several left helpless, swimming in the water; three lifeboats drifted the seas for hours before crashing into the 600 ft cliffs of Islay, killing more than 50 men.

As survivors came ashore to Port Ellen, the islanders were quick to offer aid in the form of donated food, clothing, shelter, and sadly, timber for coffins, as the loss of life became apparent. 230 estimated men were killed; 201 of them were American troops and the remainder consisted of the British crewmen.

Though the death of over 200 men is a tragic casualty of war, the quick and decisive action of the American troops on board, the bravery of the British destroyers, and the hospitality of the nearby Island inhabitants played a notable role in lessening what might have been a greater tragedy. The memory of these events lives on, not just in the accounts of those who bore witness, but by the Monument erected in 1919 by the American Red Cross on the Oa Peninsula of Islay.

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SS Tuscania sinking by U-boat in 1918 kills 200 Americans

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"So this is death" February 5, 1918: The sun was setting as the liner S.S. Tuscania and the British convoy made its way through the North Channel, with the rocky Irish coast to the south and the cliffs of Scotland rising to the north.

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this is a glimpse of my Grandmothers side when David met my great great grandma Jennie

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Darlene Poe in the 1940 Census | Ancestry®

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View Darlene Poe's 1940 US census record to find family members, occupation details & more. Access is free so discover Darlene Poe's story today.

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he was married before he met my grandmothers mother Jennie Lawson (wish I could pay for these search sites) but I got the confimation needed

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Discover life events, stories and photos about David Poe (1892-) of Round Valley Judicial Township, Mendocino, California, United States.

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My grandma mentioned Poe not being the original family name that she believed her dad was taken in by a family in his childhood after some killings of Native families took place. She believes he was given the name Poe. He lived in Covelo, Laytonville and lastly Manchester.

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Back in the 50s, there was a saying in Laytonville; if a Branscomb and a Bowman would marry, their kids would be related to everyone in the valley. It is pretty much true that if you have an ancestor that was born in Laytonville in the 1800s you are probably my relative. So, since I've started this blog, I have received many questions about peoples ancestors. I wish that I had all of the answers, but I'm not really a "Historian". I just have had the great priviledge to have been born in middle of the most beautiful place in the world, and I like many others, am steeped in the history of this canyon we call home.

Back in 1858 they were trying a new experiment in Mendocino County called "Law and Order". It was only loosely applied, and usually only used when they couldn't keep things quiet. The early ranchers thought that mendocino county should be "free range" for their cattle. The homesteaders thought that they should fence their homesteads in to keep their livestock in and other livestock out. Many people died, or were run out of Mendocino over the fenced property idea.

One of the first real murder trials that Mendocino had involved one of my probable ancestors by the name of William Poe.

The following was researched and provided for me By "Oldmanriver" (Jerry Lambert was my and and a Cousin by the name of Tom Poe's 3G grandfather):

People vs. George Dutton.-On the 15th day of November, 1858, in Long
valley, Mendocino county, George Dutton shot William Poe through the abdomen
under the following circumstances, as testified to by J. Lambert, an eyewitness:
"William Poe went to work on a place in Long valley on the 15th of November,
1858; George and Edward Dutton came to where he was at work. George asked Poe
what he was doing there; he said he was going to fence in a piece of ground.
Dutton claimed the ground-said it was on his land. Poe had been at work on the
place about three weeks. Poe said to George Dutton, that if that was not his
(Poe's) place, he (Dutton) had moved the lines. Dutton said he did not care a
d-n if he (Dutton) had moved the lines, and jammed his fist into Mr. Poe's face,
and told him he was a mind to mash him; then Poe stepped back about two steps.
George Dutton drew a revolver and fired at him; then Poe struck him with a hoe ;
the blow knocked him down; Dutton raised and fired again. Edward Dutton now came
running up where they were fighting with a knife in his left hand, and struck
Poe with his fist under the ear. Five shots were fired, one of which took
effect. Poe lived till the 20th of November, when he died. Both George and
Edward were arrested, and the above facts were established and the jury found
that "Edward Dutton was an accessory to the murder, and that he did aid, abet,
incite, counsel and command the said George Dutton to do the murder." A true
bill was found against both of the men by the grand jury, with bail fixed at
$5,000.00. On the 23d of November, 1859, Edward Dutton was admitted to bail in
the sum of $2,500.00, by virtue of a habeas corpus. The records are silent in
regard to any further action in the matter.

Recently I recieved an email from Tom Poe asking if I could connect William Poe to Robert poe. Robert Poe was My 2G grandfather, He was also Tom Poe's 2G grandfather.

Ernie,
> >
> > I am a distant cousin through Robert Hardin Poe and Louisa Lambert.
> > Robert was my gg grandfather, his son, John Wesley Poe was my g
> > grandfather, his son, John Wesley Poe (Jr. I guess) was my grandfather and
> > my father who passed away last month at the age of 90 was Myron Logan Poe.
> > I have been trying for years to determine if Robert's father was William
> > Poe who was killed in Laytonville by the Dutton's in 1857. Been so very
> > hard to make that connection. I met Ben Branscomb in Laytonville in about
> > 1978 when I was up that way on business. I grew up in Long Beach and live
> > next door in Los Alamitos. Would love to see if you have any more info.
> > Thanks
> >
> > Tom Poe

> > Los Alamitos, CA 90720

I replied:
> Tom
> I can't answer that question right now but I do indeed have some interesting
> stories about the Poes. If you will give me permission to post your letter
> on my blog site, I would be glad to see if we can dig up that information
> for you. Uncle Ben died years ago, but his family is alive, well and
> healthy. I would, of course, leave out your street address.
>
> You may have inadvertantly answered a question for me. My family has never
> known if it was "Louise" or "Louisia" Lambert. Do you know for sure?
>
> Robert Hardin Poe was my G G Grandfather also. His daughter Zarillda (Poe)
> Branscomb was my G Grandmother. Pleased to meet you!
>
> Ernie

Tom replied:
Would love to have you post on your blog. Yes, it was Louisa not Louise as it says on the tombstone and other documents. It's just like Robert Hardin Poe's tombstone in Laytonville saying Richard H. Poe by mistake. If I remember, Ben passed away in the early 80s so I was sure glad to meet him. He invited me to some reunions in Laytonville in the late 70s but sadly I couldn't make it and now regret that. Wasn't Zarilda also known as Sally. Glad to connect with the family. Look forward to hearing from family, kissing cousins and friends. Thanks Ernie!

Tom Poe

More Notes from Ernie:
Here is what it says about the Poe family in "Pioneering in the Shadow of Cahto Mountain" By Kate Mayo: [Notes in square brackets are mine. Ernie]

Louise [Actually spelled "Louisia"] Lambert Poe was the daughter of Jerry Lambert, who arrived in Long Valley with his wife and children in 1858. Jeremiah (Jerry) was born August 28, 1818 in Kentucky, and died June 2, 1882. His wife Zarilda (Clark) was born December 5, 1817, and died March 5, 1878. Their daughter Louisia married Robert Hardin Poe, January 23, 1855. He was born January 22, 1832 and she was born July 28. 1840, in Fremont County Iowa. They had eleven children: William Henry, born in 1856; John Wesley, 1862; Nancy, 1865; Mary, 1867; James, 1869; Zarillda [was called Sally]1871, Julia, 1873; Minnie, 1876; Ada, 1878: and Robert Percy, 1884.
William H. married Emma Delaney. He died in 1932. John Married Julia Alford and died in 1913. Mary (D-1898) married Charles Drake; Zarillda (Sally) married Joseph Edmond Branscomb August 2, 1887. [ Joseph went by the name "Ed", so all of the old stories about Ed are actually Joseph. "Ed and Sally" were actually Joseph and Zarilda.] Minnie married Lycurgus Prothero in 1895. He died in 1935. Ada married Ed Dyer; Julia married Sol Harmon in 1870 and later married Jim Downing; Nancy married George Holmes and later, after her sisters death married Jim Downing. Robert married Eunice Hazel Walker in 1906 and later married Esta Williams in 1918. James married Susan Crimes [ Grimes?] in 1897.
Now for the Salient question: How was Robert Poe related to William Poe? Father? Brother? Or not related? Tom Poe and my 3G Grandfather Robert Hardin Poe: Tom Poe sent me the following as per my request. It clears up a few missing links for me. I agree that William B. Poe was probably Robert Hardin Poe's father.
Addendum 2:

Adendum 1:
Recent update from Tom Poe, who gives credit to Pat poe from Fort Brag who gave the photo to him back in 1970.
POE AND ALFORD FAMILY HISTORY
Originally prepared by Thomas Allen Poe, great great grandson of Robert Hardin Poe in October 1995. (There is a fair amount of supposition here trying to connect Robert Hardin Poe to William B. Poe but I seem to be gathering more and more information which I hope will prove right - Tom Poe May 2009)
William B. Poe was born in North Carolina in 1809 and he later moved to Missouri in the early 1830's. He married Nancy Mulkey in Missouri on Janurary 26, 1833. Nancy was also born in North Carolina in 1818. (This was likely a second marriage for her as I suspect her maiden name to be Nancy Johnson and the Mulkey she was married to died).
They had three children as of the 1850 Missouri Census taken in September. The family lived in Washington Township, Buchanan County:
NAME AGE DATE OF BIRTH PROFESSION STATE BORN
William B. Poe 41 1809 Carpenter North Carolina
Nancy 32 1818 North Carolina
Robert 15 22 Jan 1835 Missouri
Julia 14 1836 Missouri
James 12 15 Jan 1838 Missouri
Just when they went west is a little murky here. According to a letter written by my aunt, Birdie Poe Umstead, granddaughter of Robert Hardin Poe and my grandfather's sister, the Poes and the Alfords joined a wagon train west, according to her in 1849. But according to census records in 1850, the Poes lived in Buchanan County, Missouri while the Alfords and the Lamberts lived in Fremont County, Iowa about 100 miles to the north. But as St. Joseph, Buchanan County Missouri was one of the major starting points for the wagon trains west, it is not unlikely that all met up there before heading west. (Again just speculation).
Aunt Birdie also said that some of them must have split up close to their destinations with the Poes and some of the Alfords going up into Oregon and the other Alfords settling in the Squaw Valley (near Lake Tahoe) region of California.
So just what year did they really come west? According to my further research, I believe they came to Oregon in 1853. Captain Perman Henderson led a wagon train caravan of 63 wagons from Buchanan County, Missouri to Benton County, Oregon. They left on April 15, 1853 and arrived by September 15, 1853. The William B. Poe wagon was joined by the wagons of Philip Mulkey, Soloman Mulkey and Elijah Mulkey. Philip Mulkey arrived between August 5th and 8th, Solomon Mulkey arrived between August 20th and 25th and Elijah Mulkey and William B. Poe arrived between September 9th and 11th. Why there is such a wide disparity of arrival dates, I don't know. Captain Perman Anderson actually arrived between September 12th and 16th probably bringing up the rear. What is really frustrating is that there are no details as to who was in each wagon, only the names of the lead person.
According to an Oregon Land Grant, William B. Poe arrived in Oregon on September 9, 1853, and recorded his Deed of Land on March 1, 1854 in Washington County (near present day Portland). When the land was sold to a James Johnson in 1866 by Wesley and Mary Mulkey, it said that the original deed was a Donation Land Claim of William B. Poe, who was deceased and Nancy Poe, his widow. What is not said is when William died.
If we are to believe that this William is the same one who was shot and killed by the Duttons in 1858, then William must have moved from Oregon down to Laytonville as it says in the book "A History of Mendocino County" in 1857. Why do I say that? Because I have just run across the following records in the Oregon State Archives that probably bring me a little closer to confirming that William B. Poe is Robert Hardin Poe's father.
In the Territorial Census taken in Washington County in both 1856 and again in 1857, W. B. Poe and Robert H. Poe show up on the same record (hooray!). They also show up on the same Tax Roll for those years. But now it gets interesting and may help prove that W.B. Poe moved in 1857. Robert H. Poe shows up in the 1858 Tax Roll but W.B. does not. Thus, we can assume, William moved to Laytonville in 1857 as the book says. (I have just emailed the Oregon State Archives asking if there is more information on the census such as other family members, ages, occupations, dates of birth, where born, etc. and hope to hear from them in the next two weeks).
So that now brings up another question on where Robert Hardin Poe and Louisa Lambert married. The earlier records I have seen all state that they were married in Mendocino County but I believe they were probably married in Oregon. Robert Hardin Poe and Louisa Lambert (daughter of Jeremiah Lambert) were married on January 23, 1855.
They had 11 children in all. Their first son, William Henry Poe (known as Henry) was born in Oregon in 1856 but all the other children starting with their second child and son, Christopher Columbus Poe who was born in 1860 were born in Laytonville , California. So it appears that Robert Hardin Poe and his family moved down to Laytonville after 1858 as he appears in the Oregon Tax Roll in 1858 and his son, Christopher was born in California in 1860.
Their children were as follow:
NAME BORN DIED BURIED
William Henry (Henry) 1856 1932 Laytonville, California
Christopher Columbus (Chris) 1860 1938
John Wesley 1862 1913 Exeter, California
Nancy 1865 1960
Mary Jane (Mollie) 1867 1898
James Washington 1869 1956
Zarilda (Sally) 1871 1941
Julia 1873 1925
Minnie 1876 1964
Ada 1878 1962
Robert Percy 1884 1957
In September 1979, I received a letter from Ben Branscomb in Laytonville. His mother was Zarilda (Sally) Poe who married Joseph Edward (Ed) Branscomb. He related the following story:
"Great Grandfather Robert Poe died in 1907 before I was born but I do remember Great Grandmother Louisa. I remember playing in his old barn when a boy, and seeing the wires in the hay loft where he dried his home grown tobacco. There was a set of elk horns on his woodshed from the elk he killed in the area in the early days. I know that he was a very heavy set man in his later years and I was told that when he went to town in his wagon, he rode in a special seat fastened to the bed of the wagon...I was also told that he killed a deer and ate it all in one night!
I understand that in his early years he was quite a hunter, trapper and Indian fighter. He participated in the Indian fight at Bloody Run a few miles east of here.
Great grandmother Poe's sister, Abigail, was the first girl married in Long Valley Township. The first church services held in the Valley were held in the home of her parents, Jeremiah and Zarilda (Clark) Lambert." End Tom Poe quote:

Tom

I agree that Robert Hardin Poe and Louisa were probably married before coming to California. They were married January 23, 1855. The Poes most likely came to California with Jeremiah and his wife Zarilda (Clark) Lambert in 1858. (Month and day unknown)
Robert Hardin Poe and his wife Louisa's first born was named William Henry Poe. He was born in 1856, so it wasn't him that was killed. He would have been only 1 or 2yrs old at the time of the killing. The Old-Timers went to work young, but I doubt he would have been building fence at than age. The name strengthens the connection to William B Poe.
However, there are some mistakes in your Branscomb family history. Joseph Edmond Branscomb's son was Roy Edmond Branscomb, who was Benjamin Branscomb's father. So Roy came between Joseph, and Ben. Ben is Penny's father, and my uncle.
Tom Poe said: "In the Territorial Census taken in Washington County in both 1856 and again in 1857, W. B. Poe and Robert H. Poe show up on the same record (hooray!)."
Was there any record of Jeremiah Lambert in those tax records in Oregon? That would strengthen the thought that they came to California together.

Also there is some evidence that Jeremiah Lambert was involved in the mysterious "Battle of Bloody Run".

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Laytonville Pioneer question about the "Poe" family.

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Back in the 50s, there was a saying in Laytonville; if a Branscomb and a Bowman would marry, their kids would be related to everyone in the valley. It is pretty much true that if you have an ancestor that was born in Laytonville in the 1800s you are probably my relative.

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David Poe is my great great grandfather. He is a Kipomo(Pomo) Native American and the father to my grandmother Darlene Poe from Manchester, CA. His story is primarily who I could trace back the furthest as far as my Grandmothers roots. Here is some details of my search about his history.

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David made it into published works with sharing a fragment of his story

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A short clip about the ship sinking
that David was aboard

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Sinking of the SS Tuscania sunk by German Submarine (1918).

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My great great grandfather with some of his children(my grandmother on right when she was a young lady)

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My grandmothers father listed 28th down on Privates list

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My grandmothers father listed 28th down on Privates list

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This is a search site for American Indian warriors during WW1. If you type David Poe in the search bar he is noted for his service.

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Return to American Indians home
The Sequoyah National Research Center has created the Modern Warriors of World War I database to identify all 12,000 American Indian and Alaska Native servicemen. The goal is to create as complete a record as possible for each man that served, so that their legacy of bravery and sacrifice will be remembered. In addition to utilizing archival records and publications in our efforts to identify these men, we have also reached out to American Indian Nations, organizations, and individuals to compile the current list. We would like to acknowledge the contributions of the following: Jennifer Shaw, Courtney Peyketewa, Lena Nells (Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes), Gary McAdams (Wichita & Affiliated Tribes), Lanny Asepermy (Comanche Nation), Betty Oppenheimer (Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe), Elizabeth Perry, Archives of Arvid E. Miller Historical Library Museum, Véronique Lozano for Muscogee (Creek) elder Sam Proctor in memory of his uncle Pvt. Sam Beaver, and the numerous individuals, who have sent in names of their loved ones who served. Their assistance has been invaluable.

We also invite anyone who has an American Indian or Alaska Native relative who served in the war to contact us, so that his efforts are remembered. Contact can be made directly to Erin Fehr at ehfehr@ualr.edu or 501-569-8336 or via this online submission portal: https://ualr.edu/sequoyah/wwi/. Additionally, if any information is incorrect, please contact us in the same manner. We have tried our best to make sure that tribal affiliations are accurate, but mistakes may be made due to incorrect original documentation. We have indicated with an asterisk every person who has been verified by a family member, tribe, or found on official tribal rolls. There are several men who have no tribal affiliation next to their name and instead say "unknown." We know through a variety of records that they are Native, but have no further information. Please let us know any additional facts so that the database can be updated.

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Return to American Indians home The Sequoyah National Research Center has created the Modern Warriors of World War I database to identify all 12,000 American Indian and Alaska Native servicemen. The goal is to create as complete a record as possible for each man that served, so that their legacy of bravery and sacrifice will be remembered.

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One of the many articles posted in newspapers after the crash about survivors of the Tuscania

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The Platoon my great great Grandfather was in during WW1

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The Platoon my great great Grandfather was in during WW1

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20th Engineers Co. E

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20th Engineers Co. E

My father, 1st Lieut. Charles Albert Schweissinger, 20th Engineers was aboard Tuscania, when he landed in the water he was too weak to crawl onto the raft because of sickness. This raft & an adjoining one stayed at sea all night because they knew how rocky the coast was & affected a safe landing at daylight. He spent 6 wks in Edinburgh because of the flue; I suspect it was H5N1 influenza. I too, have a long photo of the 20th standing in the snow in D.C. before they left for France & some newspaper clipping from the L.A. Times, but little else. My father told me he was saved on Friday the 13th, and that the loss of life was over 600 which obviously was incorrect. I have always been more interested in WW2; however after reading about the Great Influenza of 1918, WWI has sparked my interest. I'm sure many men were sick with h5n1 influenza when they left America or got sick on board. This was a senseless war & cost many lives, I compliment you on all the work you have put in on this sad story.

Alan Schweissinger
schweisr{at}yahoo.com
July 21, 2007

I am very happy to have access to historical information regarding the SS Tuscania incident. This website is an invaluable source in learning more about what Charles A. Schweissinger Jr, my grandfather, experienced on that night.

Rachel Schweissinger
u2rent{at}sbcglobal.net
July 12, 2007

My Grandfather, Charles Albert Schweissinger was aboard the Tuscania when it sank. He was adrift in a lifeboat and landed in Scotland where he was treated. My Father recently gave me the book "Crusade and Pilgrimage" and it provides some information on the Tuscania and the Gold Star Mothers group. Thanks for the wonderful website. I know "Papa" would be very proud to know that he and his crew are still remembered and honored this way.

Scott A. Schweissinger
alohascooter{at}yahoo.com
April 22, 2007

Lt. Benton Yost was my great-Grandfather. I have a steamer trunk that bears the inscription "Lt. Benton L Yost- 20th Engrs- stow in hold", so I was curious to find out more of the story. Now I'm really curious as to how the trunk was (if it was) salvaged from the wreck of the Tuscania.

Allan Gibbons
allangibbons{at}cox.net
Jan. 30, 2009

For many years I wished that I had asked my Dad more questions about his war experiences, especially on the Tuscania. Before the War my Dad, Harry A. Kelley, was a member of the South End Rowing Club in San Francisco. His leadership ability required of Army Sergeants, and his maritime background, were now proving essential for the survival of all those aboard his lifeboat. He was quickly recognized by his companions, and because of that, he was assigned to be in charge of their lifeboat. He told me that the surf at the Scottish Coast was fierce and he kept his boat off shore until he could see that there was a chance of bringing it in safely. He said that some boats got close to shore only to be tumbled in the waves. He told me that the memory of the sinking of the ship and the people he saw drowning would live with him forever, there was nothing he could do to help them.

I just found his soldier's diary. He had short statements in the little book about the sinking. He had high praise for the Scottish people that he met on the Isle of Islay.

Paulette Gooch
pauletteg{at}frontiernet.net
7 March 2005

My father, Boyd E. Hancock 20th engineers was a survivor. Was picked up by a lifeboat after having been dumped into the ocean. He drifted to shore on Islay and later went to England and then to France landing at LeHavre.

Charles I. Hancock
cmhancoc{at}rose.net
Dec. 12, 2009

I had heard the story of my Great, Grand Uncle floating in the ocean for hours, before he was rescued, I was pleased to find so much information in one great site. My Uncle was Otis Nichols from Viola ID. Thank you for all your work, preserving our important history for future generations.

Kathy Bliler
Jnkbliler{at}aol.com
July 19, 2002

My Grandfather, Leon J. Kilgore, was onboard the Tuscania when it was sunk. How I wish that I had taken the time when younger, to listen and learn from my Grandfather about this very historic voyage and his experiences on board. I am so very proud of my heroic Grandfather.

Jerry L. Cook
jaylcook{at}nc.rr.com
February 19, 2010

Leon J. Kilgore is my maternal grandfather. His nickname was "long saw" because from what I hear he was the fastest at using it!

Cheryl Kingsley
kingsley.fam{at}juno.com
December 16, 2009

My Grandfather was aboard the SS Tuscania when it was torpedoed. His name was Leon J Kilgore. I believe he was part of the 20th Engineers. It was fascinating to read about the sinking of the ship.

Denise Johnson
denisejohnson2037{at}roadrunner.com
Dec. 5, 2009

I just found out that I am related to someone who died in the Tuscania tragedy. My uncle was John Carstain Johnson from Koochiching Co. Minnesota who was serving in the 6th Battalion 20th Engineer Co. E. A woman named Dianne Cameron entered his information on this site and I was wondering if there is any information on her such as an e-mail address where I might contact her. Thank you for this wonderful tribute!!

Allen Johnson Ruedy
gordonkids54{at}gmail.com
April 7, 2009

My Great Uncle was killed when the Tuscania sank. I have a photo from the Red Cross of a grave on the Isle of Islay, Scotland. I was told they did move some of the men and I wanted to know how I would find out if he was moved and to where? His name was John Carstain Johnson, he was the first soldier to be killed from Minnesota in WWI. I was told this by his sister, my grandmother. Would be interested in any info. Many Thanks.

Dianne Cameron
dcameron39{at}hotmail.com
November 17th, 2001

My grandfather, Charles Gordon Bennett was on the SS Tuscania and I was just checking out his site and also his memorial site at findagrave.com I was never told a lot about him since I was 23 months old when he passed away. It is nice to know a little about him now.

Julie Kettlewell
jabjak34{at}hotmail.com
Aug. 25, 2007

My cousin (first cousin once removed) Charles Gordon Bennett told me about his own experiences on the Tuscania. As I remember he mentioned having to splice a line on the last lifeboat to leave the Tuscania. He visited my family in Green Bay when returning to Niagara, Wisconsin, from a survivors' reunion in Milwaukee. Quite surprised and pleased to find your web site. Sincerely,

Robert L. Hall
robertleonardhall{at}sbcglobal.net
August 26th, 1999

My Grandfather, Thomas B. Young, was aboard when The Tuscania was torpedoed , he fortunately survived. You have an excellent web site.

Vernon W. Robinson
vernrobinson{at}wowway.com
April 26, 2007

This is an awesome site! I am the great-grand-daughter of Private Jesse Leo Keisler "survivor of the SS Tuscania". During genealogy research I found this site and without it would have never known my great grand father was aboard. He I suppose like many soldiers of war did not speak of this. Not sure who in my family (if any) new the history. Thanks so much for all the work on this site - it is a treasure! Would love any additional info that may be added in the future!

Brenda Keisler Gumbert
brenda{at}allgumbert.com
July 8, 2010

My uncle, Cecil George Slack, was on this ship and has left an account of the incident. He told of it many times. He was with the 20th Engineers.

Clara Slack Stringfellow
ClaraFay{at}aol.com
May 6th, 2000

My father's brother, Cecil Slack, was a survivor of the sinking of the Tuscania. I have visited your website. It is impressive.

Bettie Slack Killgore
BETTIELLEN{at}aol.com
January 11th 2001

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20th Engineers Co. E My father, 1st Lieut. Charles Albert Schweissinger, 20th Engineers was aboard Tuscania, when he landed in the water he was too weak to crawl onto the raft because of sickness. This raft & an adjoining one stayed at sea all night because they knew how rocky the coast was & affected a safe landing at daylight.