The following blog was submitted to us by Roger Burns, who lost his paternal grandparents when the P&O Liner Persia was torpedoed in the Mediterranean during the First World War. He sheds some light on the event, including the rescue of some of the 167 survivors from over 500 on board. Roger’s grandparents, Thomas and Cecilia Burns, were Dundonians, as were Mrs Ross and her daughter Elisabeth who also were passengers, each losing their lives.
Others on board who hailed from or near Dundee included John McHardy, a casualty from Brechin. Survivors included passengers Alexander Clark, a Dundonian, who had married Violet, sister of Cecilia Burns (Violet had remained in Dundee), Alfred Lyell who came from Monifieth, William Smith from Benvie, and James Ireland, one of the crew, born in Forfar.
The narrative concludes with the 100-year Centenary held at Beaulieu, Hampshire.
