In mid January 1915, HMS Viknor left Londonderry, Ireland, heading for her patrol zone in the north Irish sea. Conditions were rough and she sank off the north Irish coast with the loss of all hands, 22 officers and 273 ratings. The sinking was a mystery and it was thought that she may have struck a Naval mine or perhaps been a target of a German U-Boat. She sank without sending out any distress signal.

In the ensuing days, bodies and some wreckage started to appear on the north Irish coast. Commander Balantyne’s body, however, was found floating in Castle Bay, Barra. His body was taken on board a destroyer to Mallaig, where his brother, Dr Harold Ballantyne, formally identified the body and was then taken home to Dalkeith.

"A full Naval funeral took place on the 19th February 1915 in Dalkeith Cemetery, attended by many local dignitaries and representatives from well-known ships, along with officers and men from prominent infantry regiments. A large party of bluejackets, under Lieutenant Finnies and a contingent of the Royal Marines Light Infantry were included in the impressive expression of the tribute of the Navy. The funeral procession passed over a mile of roadway lined by silent crowds." Edinburgh Evening News.

Ernest Orford Ballantyne, was born in Dalkeith, Midlothian, in 1876, the third son of Dr Alexander Ballantyne. He set out on a Naval career, serving 23 years in the Navy and was in command of HMS Royal Arthur at the outbreak of the First World War. He was then given command of HMS Viknor, an armed auxiliary cruiser.