On 2^nd October 1917, while escorting the inward bound convoy HH 24 Drake was hit by a torpedo from the German submarine U.79.  The Drake’s position at this time was approximately 5 miles north of Rathlin.  At about 9am Drake’s commander Captain Radcliffe, realising that his ship was in a critical condition and taking water fast, decided to head for Church Bay, the thought of a second torpedo from U.79 being uppermost in his mind.  Unknown to him, however, U.79 was low on torpedoes as she had been active for some weeks in the NW approaches and her Commander wanted to pick off some of the now unprotected convoy.  By this time the convoy had dispersed, some of the ships headed for Rathlin Sound and the rest for the north channel.  The Drake was now steaming down the east side of Rathlin steering a very erratic course due to steering gear damage.  On rounding Rue Point, Drake collided with the cargo ship Mendip Range which was part of the eastbound convoy that had entered Rathlin Sound.

An extract from the log of the Mendip Range makes interesting reading:

Whilst proceeding through Rathlin Sound course SE + E observed HMS Drake heading in towards Ballycastle Bay showing not under command signals.  When almost abeam of Rue Point distance 1.5 mile observed that it was impossible to cross Drake’s bow taking into consideration the Drake’s speed which appeared to be about ten knots and the close proximity of Fair Head.  The Drake at this time was keeping a steady course.  Starboarded our helm with the intention of passing under the Drake’s stern giving two blasts on whistle.  While the vessel was swinging to port we observed the Drake commence swinging to starboard.  Our helm was immediately put hard astarboard as the distance between the two vessels at this time would not have allowed us to have got our vessel steadied and ported.  The Drake seemed to make a wide circle and collision seemed almost unavoidable.  10.23am. Engines were put full astern at the same time three blasts were given on the whistle.  10.25am. Drake’s ram struck in No.2 hold.  Engines stopped.  10.29am.  Ascertained by soundings that it was impossible to keep afloat so shaped course for Ballycastle Bay and beached the vessel at 11.25am.

At this time there were about 20/30 ships in Rathlin Sound heading in different directions, so it was quite easy for such a collision to occur bearing in mind that Drake’s steering was damaged.

Meanwhile U.79 had also entered the sound hoping to trap some of the now unprotected convoy.  Islanders watched helplessly from the cliff tops as a torpedo from U.79 sank the 3810 ton Lugano, a ship only six months old.  There was no loss of life.  Within half an hour of the sinking of the Lugano, the islanders saw the destroyer Brisk blown in two by another torpedo.  The stern section remained afloat, but the bow section sank, taking with it 31 of her crew.  The Drake by this time had anchored in Church Bay and was sinking fast but the transfer of her crew to the destroyer Martin and the sloop Delphinium was well in hand.  By 5am that evening, the Drake heeled over and sank and part of her hull remained protruding above the surface for many years until dispersed by salvage operations.

Salvage operations began on the Drake in 1920 and continued on and off over the years. Older residents can recall seeing the Drake lying on her side like a great stranded whale after she sank. The last salvage operation on the wreck was in 1979 when a naval diving team blew up parts of the wreck in an attempt to destroy the explosives which were lying around. They also took ashore large quantities of cordite which they burned on the beach much to the delight of the local children. Over the years the Drake has tried to claim a number of victims seeking shelter in Church Bay. In the late fifties, a submarine ran aground on the Drake but was successfully refloated. In 1960 a steam trawler was towed off the wreck, but the trawler Ella Hewett was not so lucky when she ran onto the wreck on the 3^rd of November 1962. The next day she sank alongside the Drake.

The Drake was torpedoed but poetic licence allows her to be “shelled” in these verses. In the 1920s, Drake’s bilge keel was still above water and this caused waves to break over her as described in the poem.