Lost at sea
Most ships lost in World War I were sunk by U-boats, which claimed around 5,000 vessels, but some were the victims of sea mines (about 260 ships), or rapid-attack lone cruisers known as ‘raiders’ (140 vessels). There were also a number of ships lost to the normal reasons that can cause wrecks at any time, such as storms or collisions.
If your ancestor was killed in a World War I shipwreck, then the Commonwealth War. For either service, the name of the ship on which your ancestor died should be listed.
