SS Bengrove

SS Bengrove was a collier registered in Liverpool, England. Thousands of people on shore saw her explode and sink in the Bristol Channel on Sunday 7 March 1915.

The ship left Barry at about 4:00 am under sealed orders, carrying a cargo of 5,000 tons of coal. Later that day, in the Bristol Channel, about five miles off the coast of Ilfracombe, an explosion occurred under the ship amidships. The ship sounded her siren and the crew entered the lifeboats. The siren was heard on shore and the Ilfracombe coast guard sent lifeboats to the area. There were 21 other steamers in the area at the time of the explosion and six of them offered assistance to the foundering ship. All 33 crew were saved and taken to Ilfracombe pier. Early reports were unsure what had caused the explosion. There was speculation that the ship had struck a mine or torpedo. The cause was later determined to have been a torpedo fired by German U-boat SMU U-20 (Germany).