On July 2, 1918, towards the close of WW- 1, a European send named’ SS Shirala ‘ sank in the English Channel. The feared German underwater UB- 57, which Oberleutnant Johannes Lohs commanded, was the “killer” of the attack, which had a combined weight of more than 1.5 million tons and destroyed dozens of foe ships before he passed away in the age of 29.
The Shirala accounted for just about 4 % of Lohs ‘ shoots, but it was destined to make articles long after death, as it’s doing now. Two Rupees. 10 notes and a Re 1 word that were salvaged from its disaster will be displayed at American auction home Noonans Mayfair on some occasion this afternoon. The Rs 10 notes could fetch up to £2, 600 ( Rs 2.7 lakh ) each.
Floating Vault
The Shirala was a little ship, only 425 feet long and 50 large. It was launched on August 31, 1901, and it had carried all from railroad sleep to cakes to travel around the world for the American India Steam Navigation Company.
But when it set out on its last trip to Bombay, on July 1, 1918, it was also loaded with valuable cargo. Some claim that there were pearls aboard, while others make reference to elephant tusks. There were plenty of spare parts for their automobiles and weapons, in particular, Dundee jelly jars for the British in India. The Shirala introduced fresh currency notes, which was all about. There were handwritten documents of Rs 5 and Rs 10 churches, besides signed Re 1 information. The Re 1 word had been introduced quite lately, on Nov 30, 1917. The smallest note religion in India was Rs 5 up until that point. Re 1 notes used to be pre-signed from Britain, according to an essay in the International Bank Note Society Journal. So when the Shirala sank, it became the” second case of information lost at sea that were pre-signed before their arrival in India from England.”
Notes Slip Out
The larger papers were delivered from the United Kingdom without a signature, and they would only have been able to be used as legal tender once they had received the Indian Currency Office’s names. Parts of the Shirala’s cargo started dripping on the beach as it sank in deep waters close to the English coast. Among them were records of all three churches.
The Pioneer Mail of Allahabad reported in its Feb. 6, 1920 book that” some of the papers were saved and have just made their presence at the Currency Office in Rangoon from local businesses” In some cases, information from the Shirala were presented with forged names. ” But far, eight of these documents are in prison of the specialists… All are of Rupees 5 denomination”, the report said.
Treat For Divers
Some of the Shirala’s pound information stayed with their trackers, which is why, after 106 times, they are up for auction. However, the ship’s wreck has become an appeal for swimmers. Historic England, which looks after American history places, says Shirala’s keeps also contain” cases of liquor, crates of Dundee jam, spares for vehicles… binoculars and telescopes, some ebony..”. But what you might never get then, after a era under waters, are its pound notes.
