12/10/2011

Torpedoed Ship Located Decades Later

A Guinness merchant ship that sank of the coast of Dublin nearly a century ago has been found.

The WM Barkley was located during an expedition. The Marine Institute and the Geological Survey of Ireland spotted a seabed feature that appeared to be a wreck lying in the vessel's last known position.

This discovery has put to rest a 94-year-old mystery as to the precise whereabouts of the boat.

The vessel, which was used to transport Guinness, a well known stout, was torpedoed by a German submarine during the First World War.

Guinness archivist Eibhlin Roche said: "The events of the night of 12 October 1917 are very much part of the history of Guinness," she said. "It is exciting to finally know the exact resting place of the WM Barkley."

The ship was carrying barrels of Guinness from Liverpool to Dublin when it was hit by a torpedo from a German submarine in 1917, seven miles east of the Kish Bank.

The torpedo broke the vessel in two and it sank, taking four men including its captain down with it.

(LB/BMcC)

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