More about Donald Bain

Donald has no known grave but is remembered on the Tower Hill Memorial. He was serving aboard S.S. Redesmere, built by Sunderland Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Sunderland in 1911 and owned at the time of her loss by Bromport SS. Co. Ltd. (H. R. Greenhalgh), Manchester, was a British steamer of 2123 tons.

On October 28th, 1917, Redesmere, on a voyage from Barry to Southampton with a cargo of coal, was sunk by the German submarine UB-40 (Hans Howaldt), 6 miles WSW of St. Catherine’s Point. 19 persons were lost.

Donald Bain   Chief Engineer   S.S. Redesmere

BROUGHTY MARINE ENGINEER REPORTED MISSING.

Chief Engineer Bain, Broughty Ferry, is reported missing.  Mr Bain’s vessel was lost at sea, and a telegram received by his mother, who resided at Ramsay Place, Broughty Ferry, states that a boat with survivors had arrived at an English port, but Mr Bain’s fate was unknown.  He was married, and had been in the mercantile marine for about twenty years.  He is the eldest son of the late Mr Donald Bain, Broughty Ferry.

Dundee Courier 2nd November 1917

BROUGHTY ENGINEER DROWNED.

Mrs D. Bain, Ramsay Place, Broughty Ferry, has received information that her eldest son, Mr D. Bain, chief engineer, has been drowned through the sinking of the vessel he was serving on.  Mr Bain leaves a widow (a Perth lady) and one child, who reside in Liverpool.  Deceased was in Broughty Ferry in July for a few days’ holiday.  Much sympathy is felt for his mother and family in their bereavement.

Broughty Ferry Guide 9th November 1917

Donald Bain was the son of Mr Donald Bain (Merchant) and Mrs Bain, 5 Ramsay Place, Broughty Ferry. He was married to Mrs Johanna Isabella Bain and lived at 12 Malvern Road, Wallasey, Cheshire. His birth place is recorded as Broughty Ferry. During 1915 he served as the First Engineer and Chief Engineer of the Redesmere and gave his address as 50 Railway Road, Old Trafford, Manchester. The Redesmere was a Government hired collier torpedoed by the German submarine UB-40 in English Channel off the Isle of Wight. She was en route from Barry to Southampton with a cargo of coal. Eighteen crew were killed in the sinking. Donald Bain is named on the Tower Hill Memorial in London and also on the Dundee City Roll of Honour. Dundee Lodge 29/486 records him as a Mason who was initiated on 10 January 1900, aged 29. First Officer John Lee, from Dundee, was also lost in the sinking.