At war

Over half of Clan Line fleet was lost during the First and Second World Wars.  The toll on human life was enormous, from officers and ships’ crews to employees who joined the armed forces during the wars.  This page lists the vessels lost by Clan Line and associated companies.

Clan Macquarrie

Completed in 1913, the Clan Macquarrrie was one of the last vessels built for the clan Line during the life-time of Sir Charles Cayzer.   Surviving the First World War she went on to become part of the vital Atlantic convoys of the Second World War.   In 1941 she was credited with ramming and sinking a U-boat.   A year later she was sunk by an Italian submarine off Sierra Leone.

Clan Mactavish

Built in 1913 The Clan Mactavish was equipped with a six-pounder gun shortly after the outbreak of the First World War and, two years later, was involved in a running battle with the German cruiser, Moewe.   She was forced to surrender and was destroyed.   Her crew, however, were saved and her captain was awarded the DSO.

M T Scottish Lion

M T Scottish Lion, a product tanker owned by Scottish Tanker Co Ltd, a subsidiary of Cayzer Irvine & Co. This product tanker weighed 55,517 tonnes deadweight. She was built by the Scottish Tanker Company, part of the Cayzer family of companies, to carry oil in the 1950s.

Clan Mactaggart

This ship played an important role in the Second World War as she carried troops, ammunition and stores for the landings in North Africa.  Tragically she was lost after being torpedoed off Gibraltar. Unknown to her captain,  the convoy they were to join had been re-routed leaving her prey to the enemy.

HMS Iron Duke

Sir Charles Cayzer’s son-in-law, Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, commanded the Grand Fleet in the last great clash of the Dreadnoughts.   Here, Jellicoe’s flagship, HMS Iron Duke, opens fire on the German fleet.   Although the outcome of the Battle of Jutland was indecisive – both sides claiming victory – the Germans never again risked a serious confrontation with the British Navy.

Clan Cameron

Clan Cameron, after playing several wartime roles and surviving a number of attacks, including sabotage by enemy agents, arrives sporting her peacetime colours in the Royal Victoria Dock, London at Christmas 1945

HMS Cornwall

The print is inscribed:  ” ‘HMS Cornwall’ sinking a German Raider which had previously sunk the ‘Clan Buchanan’. The Master of the ‘Clan Buchanan’ (Capt. Davenport Jones, one-time A.D.C. to King George V) lost his life on the raider, aboard which he was a prisoner.”

All the ships that were lost