SS Clement was a British turbine steamship operated by the Alfred Booth and Company from 1934 to 1939 until she was intercepted and sunk by the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee off the east coast of Brazil becoming the first victim of Graf Spee's commerce raiding sortie[1][2][3][4] A significant consequence of the Great Depression was a global slump in merchant shipping.

[9] At approximately 12:00 hrs[8] on Saturday 30 September 1939, Admiral Graf Spee intercepted Clement 50 nautical miles southeast of Pernambuco.

However the wireless operator ignored the instruction and proceeded to transmit an "RRR" signal ("I am under attack by a raider") as well as giving the position of the Clement in addition to which her Master, Captain Frederick Harris, ensured that important documentation was jettisoned over the side in accordance with British Admiralty orders.

The remaining 47 members of Clement's crew abandoned ship in her four lifeboats, and the officer commanding the German boarding party gave them a course to steer to the Brazilian port of Maceió.

[note 1] A second lifeboat successfully reached Maceió whilst other crew members were picked up by a cargo ship of the Lloyd Brasileiro company.

[15] Having despatched the majority of the crew of the Clement to Maceió, on the evening of 30 September Graf Spee subsequently stopped the Greek tramp steamer Papalemos.

Harris and Chief Officer Jones[12] were transferred to the merchantman which continued on its passage allowing Graf Spee to resume its sortie.

[1][2][3][4] The Master of the Papalemos kept his promise until they reached Cape Verde on 9 October, and following their arrival in São Vicente Captain Harris and his Chief Officer were released.