Remembering today: Fireman and Trimmer Thomas Milliken,
Mercantile Marine serving on board S.S “Rathlin Head” (Belfast ). Thomas was the son of James and Sarah
Milliken of Eden Carrickfergus. He was one of three killed on board S.S Rathlin
Head following a torpedo attack on 26th May 1918.
Thomas was 22 years old and his body was never recovered. He
is forever remembered on Tower Hill Memorial, London . #LestWeForget
RATHLIN HEAD official number 110510 built in 1899, Ulster
SS. Co., Ltd. (G. Heyn & Sons), Belfast .
25/5/1918: Torpedoed and damaged by U-46 (Hillebrand), SW of
Ireland in position 49.40N, 12.00W, on a voyage from Swansea & Milford
Haven - New Orleans
in ballast.
Torpedoed again on 26th May, her Master, Captain W. J.
Campbell succeeded in limping her to port with the assistance of a tug some two
days after the attack, but three lives were lost. She was repaired and
re-entered service, and following the war was returned to her owners in
February 1919. She was demolished 10 years later in Rosyth by the Alloa
Shipbreaking Co. Ltd.
Salvage of s.s. "RATHLIN HEAD" by H.M. Tugs
"CARTMEL" and "FLYING SPRAY" and H.M. Trawler "GEORGE
ANDREW" between the 26th and 28th May 1918.
The three seamen lost on RATHLIN Head were
Issac Cinnamond - Fireman and Trimmer - 26/5/1918
Thomas Milliken - Fireman and Trimmer - 26/05/1918
William James Rawe - Fireman and Trimmer - 26/5/1918.
