Illustrated Chronicle 26/01/1915

Viknor Naval Crew

CWGC Headstone for Viknor

Allan Swift was born in Thurstonland, Yorkshire on the 3rd July 1886, he was the youngest of two boys. The family had a total of six children, (2 boys and 4 girls). Father was George Henry Swift, (Electrician Wireman) who married Sarah Clara, residing at 49 Ellison Street, Hebburn, Durham in 1901.

Allan was educated at the Hebburn Quay School.

By 1911 the family had moved to 59 Ellison Street, Hebburn, and Allan was a house painter.

He signed on for 5 years plus 7 years in reserve, on the 19th September 1904. His height was 5 feet 2 inches tall, light hair, grey eyes, fair complexion. His number was SS 837.

He married Edith Allen on the 23rd June 1914, at St Cuthbert's Church Hebburn.

He served on the following ships, Pembroke I. 20th February 1904 to 14th October 1904. Vulcan, 15th October 1904 to 23rd February 1906, he then missed 89 days service. He then went back to the Vulcan, 24th May 1906 to 28th March to 1907. Pembroke I, 1st August 1907 to 21st June 1907, Leander, 22nd June 1907 to 26th June 1907. Blake 27th June to 30th June 1907. Leander, 1st July 1907 to 2nd August 1908. Pembroke I, 3rd August 1908 to 19th August 1908. Vindictive, 20th August 1908 to 22nd October 1908, and again from 6th November 1908 to the 10th November 1908. Indomitable, 11th November 1908 to 19th September 1909.

In his time aboard the Vindictive, he was in the cells for 14 days for a discipline offence.

Allan was an Ordinary Seaman then became an Able Bodied seaman on the 28th March 1907.

He was a crew member of H.M.S. Viknor when the ship was blown up by a mine on the 13th January 1915.

Allan was one of the crew members of the HMS Viknor, part of the (10th Cruiser) Squadron, which sunk with all of its crew on the 13th January 1915 by a mine which had been laid by the vessel Berlin.

His body was never recovered or identified like many of his fellow crew members.

Also on board the Viknor were eight Germans who had been taken prisoner when SS Bergensfjord was captured on January 11th 1915. These included Graf Hans Adam Wedell and Dr. Rasmus Bjornstad. Wedell was a high level German spy traveling from New York to Germany. It is unclear who Bjornstad was or if this was even his real name. The other (unnamed) six Germans were stowaways and suspected to be traveling to Germany to join the war effort.

Source: Maritime Quest with thanks.

Naval History WW1. Official Account.“VIKNOR, armed merchant cruiser, 13 January 1915, Atlantic off N Ireland - ex-Viking or The Viking, ex-cruise ship, 5,386grt, built 1888, Viking Cruise Co, 15kts, hired 19/11/14, Pendant No.M.82, 10th CS Grand Fleet, Cdr Ernest Ballantyne, most northerly ship on Northern Patrol line B north of the Shetlands. On the 11th, at around 62N, 02.24W, intercepted Norwegian SS Bergensfiord carrying an important German secret service agent and other nationals from New York, Viknor ordered to put prize crew on board, escort the Norwegian ship towards Lerwick, then continue on to Liverpool with a total of eight German prisoners. Last message from Viknor on 13th (He – off Malin Head; ss - at 1600 in 56.18N, 09W, course S21ºW), nothing more was heard of her. Probably 13th - Believed sunk off Northern Ireland by one of Berlin's mines broken free by heavy gales off Tory Island (Rn - foundered in heavy weather; C - Wrecked on north coast of Ireland), wreckage and bodies washed ashore at Portrush; 294 lives lost - 22 officers, 196 ratings, 74 MN and 1 canteen staff plus prisoners, no survivors (He – 259, ke - 295) (H/J/Rn/C/D/bi/dk/gf/ke/ss; ADM.137/185, ADM.116/1442)”.

In 2006 the survey ship Celtic Explorer located the wreck of HMS Viknor, according to Dr Ian Lawler, the wreck is located on the outer edge of a minefield laid by SMS Berlin which lends some credibility to the theory that she could have hit a mine, but at this time there is still no definitive answer as to the cause of the loss.

Research by:- Cynthia Kent/James Pasby

Allan Swift is remembered at Hebburn on H93.042 and our List of Ships Crews

Complement list of HMS Viknor crew
Official History of Naval Operations Vol II (New)
The Viknor Roll of Honour
The CWGC entry for 2nd Electrician Swift