Sailing from England to Beira, Mozambique the Union-Castle Line's 10,002 ton passenger ship Dunbar Castle
hit a mine 7 miles from Ramsgate on Jan. 9, 1940. She was in convoy OA-69 which was to join up with another
convoy after getting into the Atlantic. All told there were 150 crewmen and 48 passengers including 9 children
and the pilot on board when she left.

Soon after the explosion she began to list making launching the boats difficult, but the crew managed to get all
the passengers except one in to them and away. Most of the crew also made it into the boats, but several had
been killed by the explosion including the master. Others in the galley were scalded and died of their injuries.

One passenger and several crewmen were missing after a head count was made, none were found alive. The
pilot had been injured and a race horse that had been on deck was knocked into the sea. Thirty minuets after
striking the mine the Dunbar Castle settled on the bottom on an even keel. In all ten lives were lost.

As the master was mortally wounded the man in charge of evacuating the ship was Chief Officer Herbert H.
Robinson, for his actions in getting the boats away and maintaining order during the ordeal he was awarded
the OBE in March 1940.

Although reports of the sinking state that the ship broke in two the photograph does not support this. The wreck
was demolished following the war. Dunbar Castle was the first war loss for the Union-Castle Line in World War
2.