S.S. Athenia, Civilian - British (Unknown Civilian)
Date Of Birth:
31/10/1900
Died:
03/09/1939 (Died at Sea)
Age:
38
Summary
Bridget McErlean was the eldest daughter of Henry and Jane McErlean. She was born on 31st October 1900 in the Portglenone area. She was the second of six children. She was travelling to America on board SS Athenia. On 3rd September 1939 it was attacked and sunk by a German U-boat in the Atlantic, 340 miles off the Donegal coast. Bridget McErlean was described as being a 38 year old domestic, a US citizen.
Further Information
Bridget McErlean was the eldest daughter of Henry and Jane McErlean. Henry McErlean and Jane Graham were married on 22nd September 1898 in the district of Ballymena.
Bridget McErlean was born on 31st October 1900 in the Portglenone area. She was the second of six children.
The 1901 census lists Bridget as age 1, living with the family at house 28 in Moneystaghan Ellis, Claudy, County Londonderry. Henry McErlean was a farmer.
Family: Henry McErlean, Jane McErlean, Henry McErlean (born 28th June 1899), Bridget McErlean (born 31st October 1900), John McErlean (born 14th May 1902), Joseph McErlean (born 18th June 1904), Patrick McErlean (born 4th July 1906), Susannah McErlean (born 16th April 1909).
The 1911 census lists Bridget as age 10, living with the family at house 20 in Moneystaghan Ellis, Clady.
On 1st September 1939, SS Athenia left Glasgow for Montreal via Liverpool and Belfast. She carried 1,103 passengers, including about 500 Jewish refugees, 469 Canadians, 311 US citizens and 72 UK subjects, and 315 crew. Miss Bridget McErlean was a passenger on board SS Athenia.
On 3rd September 1939 when it was attacked and sunk by a German U-boat in the Atlantic, 340 miles off the Donegal coast.
Bridget McErlean was described as being a 38 year old domestic, a US citizen.
The Athenia was the first British ship sunk by Germany during World War Two. 117 passengers and crew died. Germany denied sinking the Athenia at the time.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 14th October 1939:
A list of 93 passengers of the Athenia, now officially reported missing, was issued on Monday – five weeks after the liner was sunk by a German submarine. Nine of the victims had Ulster connections. They are:- Miss Bridget McErlean (38) domestic, of Moneystaghan, Portglenone.
Bridget McErlean has no known grave. Her name is listed in the Civilian War Dead Roll of Honour at St. George’s Chapel at Westminster Abbey in London.
The CWGC record Bridget McErlean as the daughter of Henry and Jane McErlean of Moneystaghan, Portglenone, County Antrim.
