Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

SHIP BARUNGA – Phillip Henry DAWES

Details -general
nationality: british
purpose: transport
type: cargo ship
propulsion: steam
date built: 1913
tonnage: 7484 grt
dimensions: 146.9 x 19.1 x -- m
engine: quadruple expansion engine
armament: armed merchantship
speed: 12.5 knots
yard no.: 332
cause lost: torpedo
date lost: 15/07/1918
builder:
Flensburger Schiffsbau Gesellschaft, Flensburg
last owner:
Commonwealth Of Australia Requisision, London
SS Barunga [+1918]
period 1915 ~ 1918
previous owners:
[2] Deutsche Australische Dampfschiffs Gesellschaft, Hamburg
Previously called -SS Sumatra period 1913 ~ 1915
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U-boat attacks on Steamer Barunga


Date U-boat Loss type Position Location Route Cargo Casualties
1 15 Jul 1918 U 108 (Martin Nitzsche) Sunk Torpedoed 150 miles WxS1/2S Bishop Rock
49° 00'N, 10° 00'W
London - Australia via the Cape
invalided troops
all were saved

Plymouth, England. 1918-07. A group of survivors from the transport ship SS Barunga which on 1918-07-15 was sunk by a German submarine 150 miles south west of the Scilly Isles. The ship was carrying 855 Australian soldiers, mainly invalids, home to Australia. The survivors were transferred to escorting destroyers and taken to Plymouth. The SS Barunga had been the German ship Sumatra captured in Sydney at the outbreak of war.
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Place made
Atlantic Ocean: Bay of Biscay
Date made
15 July 1918
Description
Sinking of the SS Barunga, after it was hit by a torpedo from a German submarine 150 miles south west of the Scilly Isles. Barunga was on its way to Australia with 800 sick and wounded on board and was torpedoed at 4.30 pm on 15 July 1918. Destroyers which had been some miles away were quickly on the scene to pick up survivors and returned them to Plymouth. All hands were saved before Barunga subsequently sank. SS Barunga was formerly the German-Australian liner Sumatra of Hamburg, captured at Sydney, NSW, at the outbreak of war. She was requisitioned by the Australian Government and during the period 1915-1918 was used to transport troops and or produce in various areas.

Place made
Atlantic Ocean: Bay of Biscay
Date made
15 July 1918
Description
Sinking of the SS Barunga. The destroyers Midge and Lance were on the spot and helped greatly in the rescue. Barunga was on its way to Australia with 800 sick and wounded on board and was torpedoed at 4.30 pm on 15 July 1918 from a German submarine 150 miles south west of the Scilly Isles. Destroyers which had been some miles away were quickly on the scene to pick up survivors and returned them to Plymouth. All hands were saved before Barunga subsequently sank. SS Barunga was formerly the German-Australian liner Sumatra of Hamburg, captured at Sydney, NSW, at the outbreak of war. She was requisitioned by the Australian Government and during the period 1915-1918 was used to transport troops and or produce in various areas.