John Connelly

Died at Sea on the 04/05/1917 when H.T. "Transylvania" was torpedoed off Cape Vado, south of Savona

John is listed as 4th BATTALION on the Coatbridge Memorial and on his Pension Records. John was part of the Highland Light Infantry reinforcements heading from Marseille to Alexandria aboard the H.T. (Hired Transport) "Transylvania". On the 04/05/1917 while sailing from Marseille to Alexandria, 2,860 British soldiers, 200 officers and 60 Red Cross nurses were on board the "Transylvania" when she was torpedoed 2.5 miles (4 km) south of Cape Vado in the Gulf of Genoa, Italy by the German U-Boat U-63. This was despite an escort from two Japanese destroyers. While one of the escorts was taking on board troops from the "Transylvania", another torpedo was fired and although the destroyer was able to avoid it, the "Transylvania" was dead in the water and it sank immediately. Ten crew members, 29 army officers, and 375 soldiers lost their lives. John went to the front in March 1916. John was previously wounded at the Somme in July 1916. He is also remembered on the St. Patrick's Church and in the St. Augustine's Parish (book) Rolls of Honour. See photos for John's Medal Index Card, his name and his parents on the North Lanarkshire (Coatbridge) Electoral Register, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, the Family 1901 England Census Record, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Savona Memorial Panel List, his name on the Savona Memorial, the Highland Light Infantry Cap Badge, John's Pension Record, troops boarding the H.T. "Transylvania" possibly at Marseilles and the H.T. "Transylvania". Finally, see photos for Newspaper clippings x 2 (Coatbridge Express x 1 and Coatbridge Leader x 1).