Current Information:

Age-29

9, Eastwood Road, Silvertown

Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery, Portsmouth

During the First World War the Steam Ship Comrie Castle, a passenger/cargo ship, spent most of her time operating as a troopship. On March 14th, 1918,  she was torpedoed and damaged by the German submarine UC-71  in the English Channel off St. Catherine's Point, Isle of Wight, whilst on a voyage from London to New York.  Nine of her crew, including John Malin, lost their lives in this incident but the vessel was not sunk. She was beached on Horse Tail Bank, despite adverse winds and tides, rough seas and other difficulties, then re-floated and beached in a more sheltered position off Netley. From there she was again re-floated and towed to Portsmouth where she lay for a year before being repaired and returned to service.