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Jeremiah Turnbull

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S.S. POLGLASS CASTLE (image courtesy of bandstaffregister.com)

Military Information

  • Date of enlistment:
  • Place of enlistment:
  • Service no:
  • Rank: Master/1st Mate
  • Service Occupation:
  • Awards:
  • Regiment/Service: S.S. Polglass Castle
  • Unit/Ship: Mercantile Marine
  • Place of Death: Died at Sea
  • Age at Death: 32
  • Date of Death: 26.02.1918
  • Burial Country:
  • Cemetery:
  • Grave/Mem Ref no:

Personal Information

  • Date of Birth: 27.08.1885
  • Place of Birth: Dundee
  • Address: 3 Murray St, Dundee
  • Occupation:
  • Mother:

    Agnes Gorrie

  • Father:

    Jeremiah Turnbull

  • Siblings:
  • Spouse:

    Kathleen Cunningham, 3 Murray St, Dundee

  • Children:

    Gerard Francis

More about Jeremiah Turnbull

Jeremiah Turnbull lived at 3 Murray Street, Dundee and the time of his death but during 1915 he lived at 24 Seafield Road, Dundee when he served as the First Mate onboard the SS Polglass Castle. The Polglass Castle was a German prize, the Reichenfels, owned by the Hansa Line and captured in 1914. The report in Deaths at Sea states that he drowned in New York Harbour.

Jeremiah is remembered on St. Patricks R.C. Church, Dundee, Roll of Honour. He died at sea while serving aboard S.S. Polglass Castle. This man is not listed on C.W.G.C. As He was not listed on this site would indicate that his death was not due to the war.

Jeremiah drowned in the New York Harbour when the Tug”St Patrick” of New York crashed into  wreckage while taking Jeremiah ashore  on Government related business. The tug immediately sank taking Jeremiah with it. His body was never recovered.

The Polglass Castle was launched in 1903 and was captured by Britain in 1914. In 1916 she was renamed the S.S. Polglass Castle. In 1921 she was sold to the Hansa Line and renamed Reichenfels.

Jeremiah Turnbull   Master SS Polglass Castle

TURNBULL—Drowned while in the discharge of his duty, in February, Captain J. Turnbull of H.M.T. Polglass Castle, aged 32, beloved husband of Kathleen Cunningham, 3 Murray Street, Dalgleish Road, Dundee.

Dundee Peoples Journal 4th May 1918

Additional information kindly supplied by Genevieve Hutton, Gary Thomson and Michael Caldwell.

Further information supplied by Iain Stewart and Iain Birnie

Can you tell us more about Jeremiah Turnbull'? Some additional facts, a small story handed down through the family or perhaps a picture or an heirloom you can share online. Contact our curator...

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