CAPTAIN FREDERICK HELMRICH, MERCANTILE MARINE, MENTIONED IN DISPATCHES FOLLOWING THE SINKING OF HIS SHIP, “LUIS”, WHICH WAS TORPEDOED BY THE GERMAN SUBMARINE UC71 ON 12TH APRIL 1918. Mercantile Marine War Medal (officially impressed: FREDERICK HELMRICH).

CAPTAIN FREDERICK HELMRICH, MERCANTILE MARINE, MENTIONED IN DISPATCHES FOLLOWING THE SINKING OF HIS SHIP, “LUIS”, WHICH WAS TORPEDOED BY THE GERMAN SUBMARINE UC71 ON 12TH APRIL 1918. Mercantile Marine War Medal (officially impressed: FREDERICK HELMRICH). Good Very Fine to Almost Extremely Fine.

Medal accompanied by copied Mercantile Marine Medal Index card confirming medal and that Helmrich was also entitled to the British War Medal, along with copied research.

Helmrich was mentioned in dispatches, London Gazette, 7/8/1918, following the sinking of the 4,284 ton “Luis” in the English Channel on 12/4/1918. When she was sunk, the Luis had almost finished a transatlantic voyage from Halifax, Nova Scotia, with a mixed cargo of flour, oats, timber and 18 pound artillery shells (destined for France and Flanders), four members of the crew being lost when the Luis was sunk. Although the Luis was in convoy when she was sunk, the UC71 (Oberleutnant Marcheza) made her attack whilst on the surface. The wreck of the Luis was rediscovered and salvage teams recovered tons of artillery shells from her. Captain Helmrich remained at sea until 1929 and died on 16/5/1930.

UC71 took part in a total of 19 offensive patrols and was credited with sinking a total of 61 ships, either by torpedo or mines laid. She sank on 20/2/1919 in the North Sea whilst on her way to Scotland to surrender.