The s.s. 'Mabel Baird' of 2,500 gross register tons was a defensively-armed general cargo vessel requisitioned by the Admiralty for service during WW1. On the 22nd December 1917, 4 miles off the Lizard she was torpedoed by UB57 without warning and sunk. Five lives were lost in the incident. She was owned by J. W. Baird & Company of West Hartlepool but was built and launched in 1901 as the s.s. 'Cockerill' at the yard of Societe Anon. John Cockerill at Hoboken, New Jersey. During 1915 she was purchased by John W. Baird & Company and renamed s.s. 'Mabel Baird'.

s.s. 'Mabel Baird' - J. W. Baird & Co. ; 1901 ; Soc. Anon. J. Cockerill ; 2,500 tons ; 289.1 x 45.3 x 21.9 ; 233 n.h.p. ; 9 knots ; triple-expansion engines.

The steamship 'Mabel Baird' was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine four miles W.S.W. of the Lizard on December 22nd, 1917. Five men were killed. The captain was among the survivors. [799]

The s.s. 'Mabel Baird' (2,500 gross register tons) was built as the s.s. 'Cockerill' at Hoboken, Belgium during 1901. She was renamed upon change of ownership to W. Baird & Company of West Hartlepool in July 1915.

For her war service as a requisitioned auxiliary vessel, she was defensively-armed with one 12 pounder. Whilst en route, departing Penarth (agent Mr. J. Stevenson) for Fécamp with a cargo of coal, she was torpedoed and sunk by U-57 on the 21st December 1917, 4 miles off Lizard Point, Cornwall. Five of the 27 crew were lost. [864]  [794]

It is often forgotten that many people of other nations were lost during the Great War of 1914-18. [882]

Lest we forget.

For example, at the Bombay War Memorial,  two of the lost crew members of the s.s. 'Mabel Baird' are honoured :

Bombay 1914-1918 Memorial, Mumbai, India :

Gure Ateye - Fireman and Trimmer - Indian Merchant Service.
Hatim Ibrhim - Fireman and Trimmer - Indian Merchant Service.

The Tower Hill Memorial :

James Clayton - Age 66 - Able Seaman.
John Thomas Grainger - Age 61 - Chief Engineer.
William Walker Coward - Aged 34 - First Engineer.

Salonika (Lembet Road) Military Cemetery :

Arthur Thompson - Aged 23 - Seaman.