MERCER, Robert

First Engineer, S.S. "Bandon" (Cork), Mercantile Marine
Died: 13/04/1917
Age: 67

Remembered on Tower Hill Memorial
Remembered on family memorial in Bangor cemetery

Robert Mercer was born in Clonmel about 1850 and was the son of Richard Mercer, an engineer.

Robert joined the mercantile marine working as an engineer on various vessels mainly on coasting trade in home waters.

He was living in Cork when he married Ellen Corban in St Lukes Parish Church, Cork, on 30th July 1878.

The family stayed in Cork and it was there that Robert and Ellen raised their nine children.

In 1917 Robert was serving as the First Engineer on the ss Bandon and on 12th April, sailed from Liverpool for Cork with a cargo of coal under the command of Captain P.F. Kelly with a crew of 32.

ss Bandon

The ship was just off Mine Head when it was struck was holed on the port side beside the engine room. Generally recorded as having been torpedoed by U33 it is now believed it was caught in a minefield laid by U44. (www.naval-history.net)

The ship began to sink immediately and the captain returned to the bridge and ordered to head to land. Unfortunately, the ship exploded due to the damage to the engine room and sank rapidly taking most of the crew with it.

The captain managed to come back to the surface and was able to reach one of the collapsible deck-seats which were floating among the wreckage. The third engineer, Mr Mercer; Jeremiah O'Keeffe, fireman; Kewley, carpenter; J. McCarthy, AB and a fireman, John Walsh were also clinging to the deck seat. Sadly McCarthy lost hold of the raft and was drowned.

After 6 p.m. a motor launch which had been sent to their rescue picked up four survivors, after being 2 1/2 hours in the water. The fifth man, John Walsh, in letting go of the raft grasped the large rope fender of the motor launch, but just as he did so she took a heavy roll, with the result he lost his grasp and was drowned.