About This Unit
The Commonwealth Shipping Board has received a cable message from the British Admiralty, stating that the cargo steamer Era, 2,379 tons, has been torpedoed. The Era was built in 1888 at West Hartlepool. Since leaving the slip she had been the property of Howard Smith Ltd., and was employed for many years on the coal and general cargo service between Melbourne and Sydney and Newcastle. The Era had a carrying capacity of about 3,000 tons. She was withdrawn from the interstate trade on about January 18, after landing coal cargoes at Adelaide and Wallaroo.
It is believed that the Era was lost in British waters, and that the crew consisted of men who had signed on at Sydney. At least one stoker was drowned, and seven or eight other members of the crew are missing.