During World War I, a Pensacolian by the name of Paul F. Smith filled out his paperwork for a “seaman’s declaration” on January 11, 1918. This declaration began in 1896 to protect American merchant seamen from impressment. The certificates were used to verify the identity and nationality of American seamen traveling abroad by documenting such pertinent information about the seaman. On September 24th of that same year, he was aboard the HMS Otranto sailing with a 13-ship convoy for Liverpool, England. Contained in that convoy was 20,000 World War I soldier’s heading for the battlefield of Flanders. As the convoy approached the North Channel they sailed into a huge storm that reduced their visibility to zero. On the morning of October 6, 1918, the Kashmir rammed the Otranto amidships causing catastrophic damage. Without her engines she was driven towards the Islay Coast and her doom. The British destroyer HMS Mounsey tried in vain to rescue as many of the soldiers and sailors, but hundreds were crushed or drowned in the attempt. Pensacolian Paul F. Smith and over 400 others were left aboard the hapless vessel and would perish on the jagged rocks amidst the enormous waves. The next morning their bodies were washed ashore where they were collected and buried in a special site overlooking Machir Bay.
Pensacolian Paul F. Smith of 1111
East La Rua Street, Pensacola, FL.
Pensacola News Journal 10-28-1918
HMS Otranto, armed merchant ship
Remnants of the HMS Otranto on shore 10-7-1918
