Shipwreck - Kingstonian

Ref: G3540
  • £125.00

The 6564 tons Kingstonian was built in 1901 for the West Indian trade for the Leyland Line. On 11 April 1918, the Kingstonian was torpedoed by a German submarine, the U68 in the Mediterranean having left Alexandria, Egypt on the 4th April. Although holed she was taken in tow and finally reached Carlosorte in Sardinia, where presumably the mail and cargo were off-loaded. Due to the extent of the damage, it was decided to return her to Alexandria for repairs. She put to sea but on the 29th April was torpedoed again, this time by U48 and was sunk with the loss of one crew member. This picture post card (Quartier Arabe) is endorsed O.A.S. and has an Army Post Office SZ 22 AP 2 18 cancel of Port Said, Egypt. It has been censored and also has a violet boxed ‘DAMAGED BY IMMERSION IN SEA WATER’ cachet. Post cards are uncommon from this incident.