More about David S. Martin

David was serving aboard S.S.Burutu which was a British Merchant steamer of 3,863grt built in 1902 and owned by the Elder-Dempster Line. On 3 October 1918 she was sunk when she collided with S.S. City of Calcutta when off the coast of South Wales about 25 miles SW of Bardsey Island, With the  loss of 148 lives. She was on route from Freetown for Liverpool with passengers and a general cargo. A fellow Dundonian seaman David Morrison Kennedy 1st Mate, also went down with this vessel.

On 10 April 1918 the Burutu (which was defensively armed) was damaged by the German U-boat U-154. The U-boat was fought off by gunfire 14 miles south-south-west off Cape Mesurado in Liberia, West Africa. Two members of the Burutu‘s crew were killed. The Captain, H.A. Yardley, was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and Seaman Edward Jones was given a gold medal by the passengers. With the Burutu damaged, arrangements were made for a temporary refit in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and for the return of the vessel to Liverpool.

However, while in the Irish Sea, the 3,863 ton Burutu was struck on the port side by the stern of the 7,653 ton City of Calcutta, and is said to have sunk within ten minutes. About 160 persons, including the Master and officers and others on watch, lost their lives. The two vessels were travelling in separate convoys, and, in accordance with Admiralty orders, were steaming without lights. The collision took place at night in stormy weather.

For reasons unknown this man is not listed on the original Dundee Roll of Honour. He was a former pupil of Grove Academy, Broughty Ferry and is remembered on the schools war memorial.