On Dec. 30, 1915, Clan Macfarlane was in the eastern Mediterranean, en route from the Clyde & Liverpool to Bombay, India, with a general cargo.

It was torpedoed & sunk by U-38. At 34.06N/26.08E, per U-38's KTB ('kriegstagebuch' or war diary) or 34.50N/25.55E per Miramar, or 34.05N/25.44E, 66 miles SExS of Cape Martello, Crete.

Of the 75 aboard, 52 lost their lives, including the Captain (J W Swanston).

U-38 sank 138 vessels in its long career.

It was captained by the much decorated (including 'Pour le Mérite', i.e. the Blue Max) Max Valentiner who was responsible for the sinking of 143 merchant ships, 1 warship, with others captured & damaged.

In 1897 Clan Line inaugurated as style known as the turret ship design

This design of a truncated well deck was viewed rather suspiciously by seamen but time proved it exceedingly seaworthy

Suez Canal’s dues, at that time assessed on deck space, were said to have been responsible for the innovation.

The major part of the ship was shaped rather like a pear and the greater cargo capacity had no effect on the overall deck space.