Having struck a mine laid by the German submarine UC-6, and carrying a cargo of four hospital railway carriages, she had to be beached close inshore at Deal. It proved an embarrasment, having sunk in only 12 feet of water and thereby blocking the launch of the North Deal lifeboat. The wreck had to be dispersed by Trinity House using explosives. This part of the coast was nicknamed 'The Hospital', since so many vessels were put ashore awaiting refloating or repairs during WW1. Year Built: 1903 Builder: Earle's Co. Propulsion: Screw, 3 cylinder triple expansion Engine HP: 233 Boilers: 2 Owner: Bennett SS Co. Ltd. Master: H A Greenwood Crew Lost: 2 Date of Loss Qualifier: A Additional sources cited in United Kingdom Shipwreck Index: MOD(N).Hyd.Wk.No.012304104; LR.1915-16 No.288(A); BMS.1914-18 p21; LCWLR.1914-18 p26; BVLS.1914-18 p11

Vertical Datum: LAT Quality of Depth: The AFRICA was towed in and beached at the Downs, 1915. 26-MAY-1917 Being dispersed. 12-SEP-1984 Well broken up and scattered (East Kent Maritime Trust, 23-JUL-1984). (2)

<1> United Kingdom shipwreck index, Page Nos. N/a (Bibliographic reference). SKE6340.

<2> Hydrographic Office wreck index (Bibliographic reference). SKE6339.