The Sunderland Site Page 045

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BARTRAM

LISTER & BARTRAM
GEORGE BARTRAM & JOHN LISTER (1838/1854)
GEORGE BARTRAM & SONS (1854/1871)
BARTRAM, HASWELL & COMPANY (1872/1894)
BARTRAM & SONS (1894/1912)
BARTRAM & SONS LIMITED (1912/1971)

First a few images. And an interesting video. Hover your mouse over each thumbnail to read the subject matter.

You are invited to drop by this site page which features books/booklets, photographs etc. that were published by or related to 'Bartrams' in the past. More would be welcomed for inclusion there!

The paragraphs that follow below have been revised & re-revised over the years as new data has been located. They surely will now need further revision to incorporate data published in 'A & P News', the employee magazine of Austin & Pickersgill Limited, specifically in issue No. 13, of Mar. 1977. Alan Vickers has kindly provided scans of two pages from that issue, a two-page spread about the history of the collective 'Bartram', derived from the manuscripts of James W. (Watson) Corder (1867/1953), whose lifetime work is now held in the Sunderland Central Library. These two pages summarise what Corder wrote about the history of the 'Bartram' businesses over the years, as you can see here. The 'Corder' data is not yet included below.

The second of the two 'A & P News' pages contains an interesting but faded image of blacksmiths at Bartram's shipyard in 1899. The webmaster is no expert in working with images. However, next is the webmaster's modest effort at 'improving' that faded image.

An image of blacksmiths at Bartram's shipyard, in 1899. See text & related pages from 'A and P News'

The 'Bartram' shipbuilding business was started, I read, in 1837 at Hylton by George Bartram (image, Sep. 12, 1800/?, who married Margaret Appleby) & John Lister. George Bartram was the son of Thomas Bartram & Mary Lister. At the age of 11, when an orphan, he was apprenticed at W. & J. Gales, a small wooden shipbuilder located at Hylton. He went to sea as a ship's carpenter but returned to Sunderland & became foreman or manager (1822/1831) for a Mr. Dryden, who built ships at Biddick Ford, near Hylton. And later (1828) George went into partnership with J. M. Gales & still later was associated (what does 'associated' mean?) with Robert Reay, known at Hylton as 'Squire' Reay. Both small ship builders, I believe.

The 'Bartram & Sons' yard at Hylton, at about 1854 perhaps. From 'Where Ships Are Born'.

The 'Bartram & Sons' yard at Hylton, at about 1854 perhaps.

George started as Master Builder with John Lister. But they soon went into partnership. The George Bartram/John Lister partnership ('Lister & Bartram'? Or 'George Bartram & John Lister'?) lasted for 18 years & was dissolved in 1854. Over those years, the yard produced about 40 sailing vessels of all types, the largest being the John and Mary, of about 400 tons & 100 ft. in length, which vessel carried a 'three-quarter male figurehead'.

I believe that the Bartram/Lister firm in fact was named 'Lister & Bartram'. Why? At times, the shipbuilding yards would built vessels on speculation i.e. without a specific buyer in mind. Probably to keep the yard busy at otherwise slack times. The vessel to be later sold when a purchaser was located. Such vessels would be registered in the name of the yard initially, & later reregistered in the name of the purchaser when it later was sold. A list of Bartram built vessels which includes these early years is available here and included are three vessels initially listed as being owned by 'Lister & Bartram'. In years 1845, 1847 & 1849. Hence my conclusion.

Sheila Lister, of New Zealand, asks for data about what later happened to John Lister.

Above are two images of the yard at Hylton. The one at left, perhaps from the 1850s, is ex 'Where Ships Are Born'.

Following the partnership dissolution, George Bartram was on his own at Hylton, trading as 'George Bartram & Sons'.

That presumably was after 1854, when he entered into a partnership with his son Robert Appleby Bartram, then already well experienced in shipbuilding, later (1921) Sir Robert Appleby Bartram (May 1835/Aug. 1925, who married Ann Naizby, the daughter of William Naizby, yet another Sunderland shipbuilder, & when she died young he married Margaret Agnes Rhind).

In 1871, George Bartram retired & the business was moved to a new shipbuilding yard located at South Dock. On land between Hudson Dock & the North Sea. And here is a undated image of that 'Bartram' yard at South Dock taken from the east. Hudson Dock is at the top of the image & the North Sea is at the bottom, or to be more exact at the bottom are waters separated & protected from the North Sea by piers or breakwaters. I believe that the 'Sea Lock' which connected Hudson Dock to the North Sea via 'South Dock Channel' & 'South Outlet', is visible at the lower left edge of the image.

A view of the Bartram yard at South Dock. With the North Sea in the foreground & Hudson Dock at the rear. I cannot tell you the date of the image, which comes from a 1976 booklet entitled 'Austin & Pickersgill Limited 150 Years'.

Now the webmaster checks frequently on e-Bay for items related to the many Sunderland shipbuilders. Thanks to e-Bay, in Aug. 2019 I can show you exactly where the shipbuilding yard was located - via what the vendor entitles a 'pin tray' i.e. a 'Bartram' advertising item that the webmaster for one has not seen before. It is available as the page is amended here, offered for sale by 'wear-ships' a Sunderland based e-Bay vendor.

A Bartram promotional item - a 'pin-tray' which shows the location of the Bartram shipyard on a map of central Sunderland.

There, Robert Appleby Bartram joined George Haswell (who had been connected with William Pile, but I wonder what 'connected' means!) to form Bartram, Haswell & Company.

The company began iron ship construction. The only Sunderland shipbuilder to launch ships directly into the North Sea, I read.

I have read that the yard reopened after the 1886 New Year's celebrations. The yard had secured an order having been closed for over a year.

George Haswell retired in 1890, & the business became 'Bartram & Sons' when George Bartram (1860/1910) (herein 'George2') & William Naizby Bartram (1862/1923) (sons of Robert Appleby Bartram) joined the business. I think (interpreting the available data) that that must have been at the end of 1894.

The 'company' became a limited liability company in 1912 & was reconstituted in 1922.

I read that Sir Robert outlived both of his sons, the business then being run by Robert Appleby Bartram (1894/1981) (herein 'Robert2') (image at right & here, in 1955) & George Hylton Bartram, i.e. Sir Robert Appleby Bartram's grandsons & George2's sons.

Colonel Robert Appleby Bartram (1894/1981). See text.

The headstone in Satley Churchyard for Colonel Robert Appleby Bartram & his wife Winifred Hannah. See text.

Colonel Robert Appleby Bartram, i.e. Robert2, remained in charge of the yard, as Chairman & Managing Director of the company, until 1968 when the business passed out of family hands.

The Colonel retired in 1971 & died in 1981.

Alan Vickers has kindly advised that following his retirement in 1971, Colonel Bartram, i.e. Robert2, lived near Satley, Lanchester, in County Durham. Indeed, Alan has provided a fine image (at left) of the headstone at the gravesite of the Colonel & his wife Winifred Hannah in Satley Churchyard. Thank you, Alan!

I now learn that Robert Appleby Bartram, i.e. Robert2, was not known, in fact, as 'Robert'. Rather he was known as 'Robin', or just 'R.A.B.' After his passing, an obituary was published in the Volume 30, Jul. 1981, edition of 'A and P News', the employee magazine of Austin & Pickersgill Limited. As you can see next, thanks to Alan Vickers. You can click each of the images below to see the complete texts in a legible size. Someday, hopefully, an obituary as was published in the newspapers at the time, in the London Times or the Sunderland Echo perhaps, will be available thru this page.

Data as to the yard's facilities is particularly difficult, though the subject is covered, I am advised, by Norman L. Middlemiss in his 3 volume set entitled 'British Shipbuilding Yards' - Volume 1 of which, published in 1993 (ISBN number 1871128102) covers the North-East in its 320 pages. And yard expansions & improvements over the years were surely geared to the prevailing business conditions. A hectic pace during WW1 & WW2, & also after those wars as vessels sunk in the wars were replaced. A major slump during the Depression of course, with Bartram's, indeed the whole of the industry, essentially shut down for six years.

Included amongst the images at the top of the listing is a yellow advertisement for 'Bartrams' during the Depression. In 1929 through 1933 for sure & maybe through 1939. When the ship yard was shut down & 'rabbits were frolicking unmolested in the yard'. The firm tried its hand, it would seem at a new business - making caravans. How very interesting! Can it be true? If so, can anybody tell us more about what happened?

In or about 1943, a new berth was added along with new platers & welding sheds & a 15 ton electric travelling jib crane was added also. That probably brought them to the three berths shown in the image above. The facilities were again expanded in 1952, with one berth extended by 30 ft. to accommodate ships of larger size. I read that the yard was, at that time, in the forefront technologically, introducing 'x-ray examination of welding, optical lofting procedures, shot blasting of all steel, and the use of paint primer'. Thanks to the kindness of Robert Hunter, of Westoe Village, South Shields, an explanation of the term 'optical lofting' is now available - see here. It would seem that the Bartram fitting out berth was located on South Dock & vessels, once launched, were moved through the lock into Hudson Dock to have the engines added & electrical, plumbing & other interior work completed. Until that lock was filled in, at a date that I have not yet read but would likely be in the 1940s or early 1950s. So for decades that was no problem, but as vessels grew in size that became impossible due to the narrowness of the lock (and presumably also of the locks at the northern end of Hudson Dock) & obviously after the lock was filled in, & 'most ships in the 1950s had to be sent to the Tyne to be fitted-out'. A situation that was rectified in 1964 when the Short Brothers yard at Pallion was closed. Bartram acquired the 'Short' fitting-out quay & new 'Bartram' ships could then be launched into the North Sea & towed up the River Wear for fitting out. All most interesting & I thank Norman Middlemiss for his words on the whole subject.

A major contributor to the success of the shipyard in this period, most certainly from 1945 thru 1972, was Walter R. Mellanby, (1908/1972), image at left. A naval architect by profession, Walter served with distinction as Bartram's shipyard manager from 1945 thru 1968 & served as a director of the company from 1956. Walter introduced innovations that modernised the yard's traditional shipbuilding methods while creating better working conditions for its staff. Such innovations kept Bartram's truly in the forefront of then advances in British shipbuilding technology & efficiency.

More detailed data about Walter is now available on site page 106.

Next below - part of the Bartram's shipyard in 1952.

A view of part of the Bartram yard at South Dock. In 1952.

Bartram had a number of associated companies - i) 'A. & H. Parkin' that did rigging work on Bartram ships, ii) 'Coachwork Repair and Painting Company' that did sheet metal work on those ships & spray painting for others, iii) 'Sunderland Structural Steel Limited', which did, what else, structural steelwork, & iv) 'Ward & Davidson Limited', which specialised in brass foundry work & coppersmiths work.

There are many references to the company being acquired in 1968 by London & Overseas Freighters Ltd. What actually happened, it would appear, is that in 1957, London & Overseas Freighters Ltd. & 2 other companies took over Austin & Pickersgill Limited. Then, in Oct. or Nov. 1968, Austin & Pickersgill Limited took over Bartrams. And in 1970, London & Overseas Freighters Ltd. bought out the minority shareholders & became 100% owners of Austin & Pickersgill Limited. So the 1968 ownership interest of London & Overseas Freighters Ltd. in Bartram's was indirect. The yard itself continued at the same location through 1978, when it was closed. The facilities were demolished & the area used for the storage of containers by the Port of Sunderland.

It is interesting to note that after Sir Robert Appleby Bartram was born, eight other following children sadly died. And both George Bartram & Sir Robert Appleby Bartram, when they each died, at ages ? & 91 respectively, were the oldest shipbuilders in the whole country! Strong genes!

For the later benefit of the webmaster, there is data here about John Haswell, father of the above referenced George Haswell, yet another Sunderland shipbuilder.

The above data is assembled from a number of sources. Including these fine sites (1 & 2). And also pages 11/13 of a 1976 booklet entitled 'Austin & Pickersgill Limited 150 Years' available here (11, 12 & 13). Corrections would be welcomed & are invited.

A large portion of a 141 page book, published by Bartram & Sons Limited in 1955, & a booklet published by them in 1962, are on this page. Along with many photographs. Do you have more literature, published by Bartram's, or related photographs, that could be included there? If so, it (or they) would be most welcome.

Names of just a few of the vessels constructed by 'Bartram' of Sunderland - as I happen to spot references to them. In a table in build date sequence. And alphabetic within a year. But just a start on what will probably be, in the future, a very long list! The first of 2 pages with 100 vessels - the second page being here.

Miramar list of 12 pages, (highest hull number on page). It used to be that you could click on the links that follow & get to the relevant Miramar page. But no longer! The new procedure must be to go to Miramar (here) & log in (you must be registered to view any page). And once you are logged in, return to this page & all the following links should work for you:- 100, 127, 157, 187, 213, 247, 277, 308, 339, 383, 413, 427. (427) Now I should add here, that thanks to i) the late Mr. Kit Bartram, great-grandson of Sir Robert Appleby Bartram & son of Colonel Robert Appleby Bartram & a company director, & ii) Robert Hunter, the webmaster has what is believed to be a complete list of 'Bartram' built ships - commencing in 1838. The list includes vessels built before any numbering system at all was started. That list can be found here.

Note that while Austin & Pickersgill Limited acquired Bartram's in 1968, in a practical sense they only took over in 1971 after a 3 year period of co-operation. The vessels built in such period are included in the list of 37 vessels in total which were built by Austin & Pickersgill Limited at South Dock, which list can be seen here.

VESSELS BUILT BY LISTER & BARTRAM - AT HYLTON

1	John White 250/269	1837	A snow. *John White* is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1838/39 thru 1842/43 only. Now the webmaster has two lists of Sunderland built vessels available to him. The vessel is referred to in only one of such lists & is therein stated to have been built by Lister & Bartram. However, what is believed to be a complete 'Bartram' build list on site, provided indirectly by the 'Bartram' family, does not refer to this vessel. So the builder name is, perhaps, in doubt. The LR data re 1838/39 is most limited. LRs of 1839/40 thru 1842/43 list *John White* as owned by R. White, of Sunderland, for service from Sunderland to London. With H. Lamb her captain ('Lamb' in 1838/39). Noted to have been launched in Mar. 1837. The listing of this vessel is as a result of the receipt of a guestbook message from Asger Nřrlund Christensen, a maritime historian with the National Museum of Denmark, who tells us that the vessel stranded on the coast of Jutland, Denmark, on Sep. 16, 1846. Asger, who seeks data re both the vessel & her captain, has since provided extensive data re such stranding, indeed Asger is the principal source for the data which follows. Such data is made available in the hope that site visitors will read the listing & provide their additional knowledge for inclusion here. So what exactly happened to the vessel in mid Sep. 1846? *John White* was en route from Sunderland to St. Petersburg, Russia, (or maybe to nearby Cronstadt) with a cargo of coal, under the command of Wilson Orwin & with a crew of 9. On the night of Sep. 15/16, 1846, the vessel struck the hard sand bar at the entrance to the Agger Canal, on the W. coast of Northern Jutland. The Agger Canal? Such canal, 8 miles long, provided access into the Limfjord from the North Sea, indeed permitted navigable access from the North Sea across the Jutland peninsular via Aalborg into the Baltic. A Norwegian sloop, named the *Prřven, came to John White's aid & rescued her entire crew. Much of the vessel was salvaged. On Oct. 6, 1846, the wreck of the vessel itself & also its cargo, along with materials from the vessel, were sold at a public auction at nearby Thisted. Such materials included 23 partly new sails, 5 anchors with chains, 3 heavy hawsers & 2 iron pumps. The vessel's history is being investigated, Asger advises, by 'Ulrichsen' of Norway, whose great grandfather was the captain of Prřven* at the time of the rescue. Ulrichsen believes that his ancestor was paid a reward for saving *John White's crew, further that those funds made it possible to have The Family, a sloop, built in Norway in 1854. Such sloop, now named Ruth* (1 & 2), is today still in existence & features prominently in the floating collection of the National Museum of Denmark. Based at the Viking Ship Museum’s harbour at Roskilde, Denmark (located W. of Copenhagen at the bottom of the Roskilde Fjord), *Ruth* is sailed and maintained by a group of volunteers, who sail it around Danish waters every summer. At that period, Asger advises, such life-saving efforts were recognised by honours & sometimes by medals of courage granted by the Danish King. Perhaps a different course was adopted in this case or perhaps the captain was paid by the owner of the vessel or by the captain & crew whose lives had been saved. Wikipedia (thanks!) references the Sep. 16, 1846 loss of *John White*, ex newspaper reports in 'The Times' & 'The Morning Chronicle', both of London, on Sep. 26 & Sep. 29, 1846 respectively. 'The Shipping & Mercantile Gazette' had reported the wreck on Sep. 25, 1846 (in red) ex Thisted. And this is how 'Lloyd's List' reported the loss. With very little detail, alas. Can you add to or correct the above text? #2691
2	John and Isabella 184/207 19628	1839	A snow, later a brig or 'square'. This vessel proved difficult to track, Lloyd's Register ('LR') wise, where it is recorded from 1839/40 thru 1846/47 only. Its initial owner was J. (John) Penman of Sunderland for service from Sunderland to Shoreham, with 'Dallowell' the vessel's captain, thru 1842/43 at least. From 1843/44 thru 1846/47, the vessel is LR listed but with no owner or captain's name. After that, LR is silent. The North of England Maritime Directory of 1848/49 lists the 184 ton brig as owned by J. Penman of Bishopwearmouth, while Marwood's North of England Maritime Directory of 1854 lists the snow as owned by John Penman of Sunderland with Wm. Wilson her captain. The next data clearly relates. On Sep. 10, 1860, per line 293 here, the 169 ton 'square' foundered at 59N/21E (in the eastern Baltic), while en route from Sunderland to Cronstadt (St. Petersburg, Russia) with a cargo of coal. It would seem that none of the 7 man crew was lost. Vessel then stated to be owned by Mrs Isabella Penman. Need help with the data. #1915
3	Thorndale 241/246 later 241/235 22244	1843	A snow. The vessel had many owners, initially W. Burnett of Sunderland, mainly for service from Dartmouth to Bordeaux, France. J. Denton of Sunderland was Lloyd's Register recorded as her owner in 1848/49, G. Dawson of South Shields in 1850/51 & Blumer & Co. of Hartlepool in 1852/53. From 1854/55, J. Gray of Hartlepool was the vessel's owner for service from Hartlepool to the Baltic, later Swansea to Le Havre, France, and Hartlepool to the Mediterranean. Per Turnbull's Register of 1856, J. Gray & Co. owned the vessel with J. Balfour serving as her captain. On Aug. 27, 1860, per line 275 here, the 235 ton snow was wrecked at Bornholm (a Danish island in the Baltic) while en route from Hartlepool to Cronstadt (St. Petersburg, Russia) with a cargo of coal. It would seem that none of the 8 man crew were lost. The vessel was then stated to be owned by James Gray. Can you add anything additional? #1914
4	Actuaria 226 tons	1845	A snow. The vessel, which was launched on Mar. 4, 1845 (have also read in Aug. 1845), is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1845/46 thru 1850/51. During such period, the vessel, per LR, was owned by Lister & Co. of Sunderland, i.e. essentially by its builder, for consistent service from Sunderland to Cronstadt (St. Petersburg, Russia). The 'Bartram' build list on site refers to 'Lister & Co. or Lister & Bartram' as the vessel's initial owner. 'Gascoigne' is always LR listed as her captain. The vessel is not, that I can see, listed in the Norh of England Maritime Directory of 1848-9. What surely is the same vessel, but listed as 'Actuarić', is recorded in Marwood's North of England Maritime Directory of 1854/55, in Mar. 1854, registered at Sunderland & owned by Richard Davison of Sunderland & Thomas Vint of South Shields, with Richd. Davison serving as the vessel's captain. The vessel is listed in Turnbull's Shipping Register ('TR') of 1855, again as 'Actuarić', again owned by Richard Davison of Sunderland & Thomas Vint of South Shields, with Rchd. Davison her master. The vessel is not listed in TR of 1856 nor was the vessel issued an Official Number which means that the vessel was not in existence on Jan. 1, 1855 or in the few months following. The webmaster cannot yet tell you what finally happened to the vessel & when - likely in 1854. If you have any additional knowledge about the vessel, do consider providing it to the webmaster, for inclusion here. #2232
5	Blessing 308/345 tons 25720	1847	A snow or brig. *Blessing* which was launched on Jun. 28, 1847 as per (in red) this newspaper cutting, was Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1848/49 thru 1857/58 & not thereafter. The vessel was initially owned by Lister & Co. of Sunderland for service from Sunderland to Quebec, Canada, with 'Gascoigne' (how I interpret the LR contractions) serving as the vessel's captain. Though the North of England Maritime Directory of 1848-9 lists the 345 ton brig as, in Apl. 1848, owned by Lister & Bartram of Hylton. From 1850/51 thru 1857/58, per LR, Lonie & Co., also of Sunderland, became the vessel's owners for service from Sunderland to Hamburg, Germany, thru 1854/55, & therafter from Sunderland to the Mediterranean. With 'Smith' aways serving as her captain. Turnbull's Shipping Register of 1856 lists her then owners as being T. Smith, G. Drysdale, J. Elliott & M. Lonie, all of Sunderland. Which owner names are clarified by the North of England Maritime Directory of 1854/55, in Mar. 1854 & in Christie's Shipping Register of 1858 to mean Thos. Smith, George Drysdale, John Elliott & Martin Lonie. This article ex Trove, Australia, tells us that *Blessing* saved the crew of *Acorn, destroyed by ice on May 13, 1850 when 30 or so miles from St. John's, Newfoundland. I read that 'Smith' was in command of Blessing* at the time of the rescue. On Feb. 16, 1860, per line 77 here, the 345 ton brig foundered in the Bay of Biscay while en route from Sunderland to Bordeaux, France, with a cargo of coal. None of the crew of 12 was lost. Her then owner was recorded as being Martin Lonce. I am now able to tell you how the crew of *Blessing* were rescued. On Feb. 14, 1860, *Nina* (built at Sunderland in 1850), James Potts in command, came upon *Blessing* completely disabled in the Bay of Biscay, about 120 miles W. of La Rochelle. The weather at the time was so very bad that boats could not be launched to rescue *Blessing's crew. On the next day however, Potts sailed Nina* close to *Blessing, so close that her crew were able to jump from one ship to the other. Blessing* sank on the next day. *Nina* landed *Blessing's crew at Bordeaux, France. James Potts' brave actions were recognised by the award of a telescope. As per these (1 & 2) pages. Nina's crew may have boarded Blessing. Nina* was, I read, greatly damaged during the course of the rescue. Can you add anything? #2485
6	Abyssinian 366/361 later 331 later 332 24347	1853	A barque. The vessel is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1854/55 thru 1869/70, then a gap of 4 years, & again, from 1874/75 thru 1880/81. It was launched on Jan. 7, 1853 & per LR, owned thru 1858/59 by J. (John) Charlton & registered at Sunderland, for service from Sunderland to Hamburg, Germany, with W. Jackson serving as the vessel's captain. Marwood's North of England Maritime Directory of 1854/55 reports, in Mar. 1854, John Charleton (with an 'e') as the vessel's then owner with Wm. Jackson her then captain. Note, however, that Turnbull's Shipping Registers ('TR') of 1855 & 1856 & Christie's Shipping Register of 1858 all list Edmund Mills & William Hann, both of Hetton-le-Hole, as the vessel's then owners. With Henry Fisher her captain per TR of 1855. LRs of 1859/60 & 1860/61 record Mills & Co. as the then owners of the Sunderland registered vessel now of 331 tons. With 'Dempster' serving as the vessel's captain from 1859/60 thru 1862/63, for service ex Sunderland. LR of 1861/62, i.e. that year only, lists W. Hann as the vessel's owner for service from Sunderland to the Mediterranean. In 1862/63, per LR, Manson & Co. of Whitby became the vessel's owner for continued service from Sunderland to the Mediterranean. With G. Manson serving as the vessel's captain. Such ownership & captaincy, per LR, continued thru 1869/70. In that last year, i.e. 1869/70, however, the name of Manson & Co. was struck out. For service in that year ex London. The Mercantile Navy Lists ('MNL') of 1857 thru 1862 record the vessel as registered at Sunderland & thereafter, thru 1880, registered at Whitby, Yorkshire. The MNLs of 1865 thru 1880 all record J. Beal of Whitby as the vessel's owner (1870 & 1880). LRs of 1874/75 & later also list J. Beal as the vessel's owner - J. Beal & Co. from 1878/79. This Whitby History page tells us that the vessel was first registered at Whitby in 1862, owned by J. Beal, Geo. Manson & Robt. Harding. And states that in 1880 it was owned by John Beal & R. H. Harding, both of Pickering, Yorkshire, and by John Stainsby, master mariner, of Whitby. 'Stainsby' might well have served as the vessel's captain. Further that the vessel was sold to be broken up in 1880. 109.0 ft. long, later (from 1874/75) 108.8 ft., signal letters NWKC, many crew lists are available here. Some possible operational history. On Sep. 22, 1864, in a report from Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey), a vessel of the name, noted to be of Whitting, ran aground in Besika Bay & was refloated. Found to be leaky, it was towed to the Dardanelles by a steam tug. Beşik Bay is a small bay in the Dardanelles, located near the ancient Greek city of Troy. The vessel may well have been 'our' Abyssinian - the port of Whitting seems to be in error & may well have meant Whitby. Wikipedia tells us that on Dec. 14, 1871, a vessel of the name ran aground on the Goodwin Sands (near Deal. Kent) & was refloated. More data is required to be able to identify the vessel concerned. What happened to the vessel in the end? So very often ships are lost in a whole variety of circumstances. In this case the vessel was not lost, rather broken up. As is recorded in LR of 1880/81. Is there anything you can add or correct? #2230

VESSELS BUILT BY GEORGE BARTRAM & SONS - AT HYLTON

7	Corredora 383 tons 29269 Hannah Rahtkens	1860	A barque. Built by George Bartram at Hylton. The vessel, which was launched on Nov. 10, 1860, is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1861/62 thru 1881/82 only, (the lists for a couple of years are not however available to the webmaster). Corredora? - a Spanish word which seems to mean a 'runner'. The vessel was owned thru 1878/79, per LR, by 'Nicholson & Co.' of Sunderland (from 1876/77 W. Nicholson & Sons). The Mercantile Navy Lists ('MNL') of 1867 & 1870 both record W. & J. Nicholson of Sunderland as her then owners, as indeed so do the later such registers of 1875, 1876 & 1879. Turnbull's Register of 1874 lists her then owners as being Wm. Nicholson & John Nicholson, each with 32 shares. During the period of 'Nicholson' ownership, LR lists many who served as her captain i.e. J. Forbes (thru 1865/66), Gray (thru 1868/69), Haynes (thru 1871/72), T. Griffiths (thru 1873/74), Hambly (thru 1876/77 at least) & T. W. Laing (in 1878/79 at least). The vessel's initial service, in 1861/62, was from Sunderland to Caldera, which is in northern Chile & is the port from which silver & copper, extracted from mines at nearby Copiapó, Chile, were exported. Her later service is LR recorded as i) Swansea, Wales, to South America (1862/63 thru 1865/66, 1868/69 thru 1870/71, & in 1873/74), ii) ex Sunderland in 1866/67 & 1867/68, iii) from Sunderland to Valparaiso, Chile, in 1871/72 & 1872/73. In early Apl. 1874, on Apl. 2, 1874 perhaps, the vessel, lying anchored at the Mumbles (Swansea Bay), en route from the W. coast of South America to Liverpool under the command of Captain Clarke (not LR referenced), was nearly swept onto the nearby Greengrounds (or Green Grounds) Shoal. The vessel raised sail but had to be rescued & towed into Swansea by steam tugs Balmoral & Haswell. 124.5 ft. long, signal letters QDWG, later (see below) MDHF. The vessel ceased to be U.K. registered in 1879 (vessel not listed in MNL of 1880) though LRs of 1879/80 thru 1881/82 list no owner names but state that the then owner was German. It seems clear that the later LR data and also the later MNL data may well be suspect. Why do I say that? Because on Nov. 22, 1877, the vessel, overhauled & repaired & with a new foremast, lay at South Dock, Sunderland, for sale at public auction that day. As per this (in red) contemporary newspaper advertisement. I do not fully understand the data that I have now found & which next follows. In part due to my total lack of ability in German. This 1879 German Register entry seems to indicate that the vessel became owned by Franz Rahtkens & was registered at Rostock, Germany, on Jan. 18, 1879 with signal letters MDHF. I do not understand the reference there to Apl. 10, 1878 & to Middlesborough. This page (ex here), I think says that the vessel was renamed Hannah Rathfens. But I may have misread the script. To further clarify (or confuse) the situation, a German vessel named Hannah Rahtkens, a 368 ton barque, owned by F. Rahtkens of Middlesboro', R. Rahtkens in command, stranded on the Goodwin Sands on Dec. 12, 1877. While en route from Sandarne, Sweden, to Highbridge, Somerset, Bristol Channel, with a cargo of timber & deals. As per this U.K. Government page (3rd item). This page, in Welsh, relates to such loss. (Can anybody translate the text into English?) My present conclusion is that the vessel was not lost on the Goodwin Sands in Dec. 1877. And later, presumably repaired, became Rostock, Germany, registered as above. And finally, Harden in command, the vessel was abandoned, in Jul. 1881, in a sinking condition. With her crew apparently rescued by Balno, a French barque, & landed at Plymouth, Devon. I have not spotted exactly what happened to her nor where & exactly when. Crew lists, thru 1876, are available here. Can you add anything additional? #2104
8	Isabella 259 tons Hull 11 28574	1860	A snow, which was launched on Jun. 29, 1860 & registered, at Shields, on Jul. 18, 1860 (scroll to #28574). The vessel, which was built for Dawson & Co. of Blyth, had a very short life indeed & seems never to have been recorded in Lloyd's Register. On Oct. 11, 1860, per line 372 here, while, in fact, on her maiden voyage, the 259 ton snow burnt at Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey) after a voyage from Blyth to Constantinople with a cargo of coal. As per this contemporary, if brief, newspaper article. And here (in red). None of the 10 man crew lost their lives. The vessel was then owned by G. Robinson Dawson, who bought another vessel of the name, also from Bartram, to replace her - covered next below. The vessel was not the only vessel that was lost that October day. Thanks to 'Trove' Australia, you are invited to read this article about the fire which caused vast destruction at Constantinople, a small part of which was the loss of 20 major vessels, including Isabella. Can you add anything additional? #2118
9	Isabella 273 (later 279) tons Hull 12 28598	1861	A brig. 103.0 ft. long, later 103.7 ft., signal letters QBFM. The webmaster has a few, but by no means a full sequence, of editions of Lloyd's Register available to him ex 'Google' books, thru 1887/78 - see left. The vessel was owned by Dawson & Co., of Blyth, Northumberland, (where registered), thru 1865 & then G. Dawson thru maybe 1874/75, in which year the vessel was re-rigged as a snow. Engaged in trade to the Mediterranean thru 1869. And thereafter to Baltic ports. In the 1878/79 edition of Lloyd's Register, G. R. Dawson of North Shields became the registered owner. Likely the same Dawson, but it surely could have been a different Dawson. In the 1883/84 to 1887/88 editions of Lloyd's Register, J. W. Woods, also of North Shields, is the registered owner. 'crewlist.org.uk' advises that the vessel was lost on Oct. 05, 1888. Now a site visitor has kindly provided (thanks so much!) a photograph of a painting of a brig named Isabella, with a script at top right which reads - 'Isabella Supt John Garrison taken thr Elbe' - with 'thr' likely meaning 'thru'. The image is at left. Is it of the correct Isabella? Probably not in fact. In the 1861/62 edition of Lloyd's Register, there were, amazingly, 42 vessels of the name listed & 12 of them were brigs. My correspondent has now mentioned a vessel of the name built in 1846 of 37 tons only. Many crew lists are available here. Can you add anything additional?
10	Fanny Slater 145 tons Hull 16 45676	1862	A schooner, maybe later a brigantine, which was launched in Nov. 1862, & first registered, at Lancaster, Lancashire, on Dec. 18, 1862 (scroll to #45676). The vessel is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed, always as a schooner, from 1862/63 thru 1867/68, owned thru 1866/67, per LR, by 'Jarvis' of Barrow, Cumbria (then Lancashire), for service as a Sunderland coaster. The Bartram build list, on site page 141, rather indicates that S. Jarvis, Robt. McGowan & Geo. Wilson & Co. were her initial owners. In 1866/67, Fisher & Co., also of Barrow, became, per LR, the vessel's owner for service as a Whitehaven coaster. However, the Mercantile Navy Lists of 1865 thru 1868, all list Samuel Jervis of Barrow-in-Furness as the then owner of the Lancaster registered vessel. It would seem that Wharton was always the vessel's captain - E. Wharton from 1866/67. There used to be an interesting page available about the vessel & about Samuel Jervis, a ship owner operating in the Spanish ore trade. That page seems no longer to be available but 'The Ashburn Schooners' by Tim Latham, published in 1991, seems to cover a similar territory, at least per a 'Google' book snippet. I read that on Jan. 9, 1865, the vessel, then at Newport, Wales, caught fire & suffered significant damage. Putting the fire out apparently took most of the night to accomplish. As per this contemporary newspaper article. On Sep. 4, 1865 the vessel arrived at Cardiff, Wales, ex Barrow, with 200 tons of iron ore. On Sep. 25, 1865, the vessel left Cardiff, Wales, for Lisbon, Portugal, with a cargo of (presumably iron) rails. LR of 1867/68 notes that the vessel had been 'Wrecked'. As per these pages (1 & 2), & also per line 28 on this page, all pages from reports to the U.K. Parliament, on Dec. 2, 1867, the vessel, described as a brigantine of 150 tons, was en route from Ardrossan (SW Scotland) to Runcorn (Cheshire) with a cargo of pig iron. The vessel foundered at a point 1 mile W. of Point of Ayre, Isle of Man. The vessel was a total loss & it seems likely that all 5 crew members including E. Wharton, her captain, & maybe also 3 passengers (line 28 above), lost their lives. 88.0 ft. long, signal letters VFJB. Some crew lists are available here. In a Google data 'snippet' ex Sea Breezes, I read that the ship's bell is still in existence, or at least it was back in 1991, having been acquired from a scrap dealer many years prior to that date. Anything you can add? #2185
11	Regard 298 tons Hull 17 44504	1862	The vessel, which was launched on Oct. 23, 1862 & first registered, at Sunderland, on Nov. 7, 1862, is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed in 1862/63 only, in the supplement. It was owned by R. Cropton of Sunderland, for service from Sunderland to the Mediterranean, with T. Marshall serving as the vessel's captain. LR of 1862/63 both reported the vessel & noted that the vessel had been 'LOST'. On Nov. 15, 1862, just 8 days after it was registered, per line 2513 here, the 298 ton snow stranded on the Long Sand (Thames Estuary, Essex), while en route from Sunderland to Barcelona, Spain, with a cargo of coal. Crew of 10 - none lost. Vessel then owned by Robert Cropton. Can you tell us about the circumstances of the vessel's loss or otherwise add anything? A puzzle indeed is the 1864 crew list stated to be here available. #2200
12	Water Lily 379, later 379/397 tons Hull 30 62472	1868	*Water Lily, a barque which was launched on Jun. 24, 1868 & first registered, at Sunderland, on Jul. 06, 1868, is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1868/69 thru 1880/81, owned, thru 1875/76 per LR, by J. Adamson of Sunderland. With 'Heddle' (J. Heddle from 1870/71) her captain - indeed thru to 1877/78. For service in 1868/69 & 1869/70 from Sunderland to the Mediterranean, from Shields to the Mediterranean from 1870/71 thru 1872/73 & from Sunderland to India in 1873/74. The Mercantile Navy Lists ('MNL') always list Water Lily* as Sunderland registered (thru 1880). MNLs of 1869 thru 1875 (1870) all list John Adamson, of Sunderland as her then owner or managing owner. LRs from 1875/76 thru 1880/81 all list J. M. Smith as the vessel's new owner. With J. Heddle her captain thru 1877/78 & N. Walsh thereafter. Which ownership data is confirmed by MNLs of 1875 thru 1879, all of which record Joseph Michael Smith, of Monkwearmouth Shore, Sunderland, as her owner. It seems clear that 'Adamson' & 'Smith' were business associates - both were shareholders in the vessel. Turnbull's Shipping Register of 1874 lists John Adamson, Thos. Adamson & Joseph M. Smith as the vessel's then shareholders with, respectively 16, 16 & 32 shares. I note that MNL of 1880 rather records William Adamson of Sunderland as her then owner. 131.6 ft. long, signal letters HPGC, many crew lists are available via this page. On Sep. 03, 1879, it was reported that Waterlily (surely *Water Lily), of Sunderland, had arrived at New York ex Macassar (see next paragraph) with damage incurred on Aug. 18, 1879. What finally happened to Water Lily? LR of 1880/81 notes that the vessel had 'Stranded'. I learn that on Dec. 25, 1879, Waterlily, again surely correctly Water Lily, left Sunderland for Macassar with 'Moulder' in command, likely with a cargo of coal. Macassar, today Makassar or Ujung Padang, is a port city on Indonesia's Sulawesi island, then Dutch East Indies. The straits of the name run between the islands of Borneo & Sulawesi. Macassar was noted for its production of spices. It was later reported that Water Lily* had grounded at Pooloo, Dawaken Island, Macassar Straits, on May 16, 1880. The ship's crew, it would seem, went to Macassar in a ship's boat, arriving there on May 20, 1880 & requested assistance. A steamer was sent. It arrived on the scene, found the vessel full of water, but was unable to get her off. The vessel & its cargo were sold at public auction, right where she lay, on May 24, 1880. For 2,100 & 2,480 guilders Indian currency respectively. Now I was hoping to be able to locate a report from Captain Moulder as to the circumstances surrounding the vessel's loss but so far have found no such report. I read, however, that an Official Inquiry into *Water Lily's loss was held at Sourabaya, Java, on Jun. 21, 1880. A brief summary of inquiries states - 'Accident due to the current. Master exonerated*'. Some contemporary news reports - 1 & 2. Can you add anything additional? #2817
13	Olaveaga 415/652 (N/G) tons, later 413/649 tons Hull 68 65533	1872	An iron steamship which was launched on Aug. 7, 1872. Olaveaga (or Olabeaga)? The 8th district of the city of Bilbao, northern coast of Spain, on the banks of what is known as the Estuary of Bilbao. Per 1 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). Note that the vessel was correctly named Olaveaga, & not Olavaega as in the top vessel image at left. 194.5 ft. (59.28 metres) long perpendicular to perpendicular, signal letters LTVF, 80 HP engines by W. E. Thompson of Dundee, Scotland. Note the Mercantile Navy List ('MNL') consistently lists the vessel at 413/649 tons. The vessel is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1872/73 thru 1883/84 at least. The vessel's initial owner, thru 1875/76 per LR, was Burgess & Co., of Swansea, Wales, which name is clarified by the MNL of 1874 to mean Jas. Hy. Burgess, & in the equivalent lists of 1875 & 1876 'Shaddick & Burgess' (or Shaddick, Burgess & Co.). With G. Williams, clearly George Williams, her captain during such ownership period. In 1875/76, T. Baker & Co. also of Swansea, became the vessel's owner, from 1880/81 thru 1883/84 Baker & Son. MNLs of 1878 thru 1884 consistently list Thomas Baker as the vessel's owner. Under 'Baker' ownership, the vessel had at least 5 captains - per LR, J. (James) Harman thru 1878/79, 'Baker' thru 1880/81 & 'Smith' thereafter thru 1883/84. Also 'Boyd' from Dec. 1876 thru Nov. 1877, & 'Luen' for a brief period in May/Jun. 1879. Now LR of 1884/85 is not available to the webmaster. Readers should note that MNL of 1885 rather lists Manasseh Angel, of Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff as her then owner. The vessel was mainly engaged in the transport of Welsh coal to Bilbao, Spain, & also to French ports incl. Rouen & St. Nazaire, returning from Bilbao, with iron ore. It would seem also to have traded to Gibraltar & into the Mediterranean, to Italian ports incl. Naples & Genoa. The vessel's life, while short, was not uneventful. In particular:- a) in Dec. 1876, when moored in the Seine at Rouen, the river bore broke her moorings & she collided with an unknown barque, b) in Mar. 1877, an unknown brigantine hit the vessel amidships when off Cape Cornwall (N. of Land's End) damaging her ship's boats etc. c) In Oct. 1880, she towed Elwy, a disabled barque into Lundy & Ellen, a steamer, into Plymouth. d) in Apl. 1881, in the Bristol Channel, Olaveaga struck the stern of Her Majesty, a Cardiff steam tug, causing considerable damage to both vessels. Her Majesty had Aimo, a large ship, in tow at the time. e) In Aug. 1882, when in the outer harbour at Honfleur, Olaveaga was in collision with Charles Northcote, a Norwegian barque. All articles thanks to 'Welsh Newspapers Online'. On Nov. 13, 1884, the vessel, then owned by M. Angel, left Cardiff, Wales, under the command of Captain Stevenson (possibly but probably not Stephenson), with a crew of 13 all told, & a cargo of 780 tons of Penarth coal, bound for Les Sables d'Olonne ('Sables'), France, located on the western Atlantic coast of France, S. of Nantes. On the evening of Nov. 15, 1884, between 6 & 7 p.m., proceeding slowly, the vessel struck fast on an invisible sunken & unmarked rock, about a mile from the harbour entrance. As per this contemporary newspaper article. Water quickly filled the engine room, all power was lost & the vessel settled with a heavy list to port. By the next day, the vessel had broken in two. The crew safely made it to Sables in ship's boats & were returned to Cardiff aboard G. W. Jones (built in Sunderland in 1883). Can you add anything additional? #2052
14	Clan MacLeod 671 tons Hull 75 68086 James Craig	1874	A 3 masted iron barque. What a long history - 144 years! 1 of only 4 19th century square riggers still sailing. Per 1 (Clan MacLeod data), 2 (Wikipedia data & links), 3, (extensive Bartram/Haswell, Dunlop & *Clan MacLeod* history), 4 ('Robert Carter' print), 5 (Clan Macleod builder's model at Charles Miller Ltd. auction), 6 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). There are a great many more links available! 179 ft. 5 in. (or 179.49 or 179.8) ft. long. Crew of 17. Built for 'Thomas Dunlop & Sons' ('Dunlop'), of Glasgow [Thomas Dunlop (1831/1893) the founder, initially a grain merchant], at the cost of Ł11,375. The very first 'Clan Line' vessel (really?). Made 11 voyages for Dunlop between 1874 & 1887. Her initial voyage, carrying coal, was from Sunderland to Callao, Peru, with return from Portland, Oregon, with grain & flour. A number of speedy voyages including one of 113 days from Portland, to Queenstown, Ireland, & another of 28 days from Kobe, Japan to Portland (Astoria). The vessel was sold in 1887 to 'Russell & Co.', shipbuilders, of Glasgow, (in part payment for Clan Buchanan, a new vessel), who soon sold her to 'Sir Roderick W. Cameron' (or maybe 'R. W. Cameron & Co.') of New York, ('Pioneer Line'), who mainly traded wool & oil from the U.S. E. coast to Australia & New Zealand ('NZ'). A passage of 71 days from Wellington, NZ, to Boston in 1891. Crew became 12 only. The vessel was damaged in 1893 (ice floes & icebergs) while on voyage to Brisbane. But many other difficult voyages. The vessel was sold, on Aug. 15, 1899, to 'J. J. Craig', of Auckland, NZ, who used her on 'trans-Tasman' trade routes (which means Australia/NZ routes). Renamed James Craig in 1905 after the son of her owner. In 1907, the vessel raced Louisa Craig & won (Newcastle, Australia, to Auckland, NZ, in 4 days). In 1911, the vessel was laid up, stripped & used as a copra hulk at Port Moresby, New Guinea. In 1918 re-rigged. After WW1, the vessel was towed from New Guinea to Sydney, Australia, for re-fitting. From 1922 to 1926, the vessel was laid up at Hobart, Tasmania, & in 1925, reduced to a coal hulk at Recherche Bay, (which seems to be the early name for Hobart), Tasmania, owned by 'Catamaran Coal Mining Co.' The vessel was abandoned in 1932 & later became beached after breaking her moorings in a storm. Also in 1932, the vessel was sunk by fishermen who blasted a 3-metre hole in her stern. She remained beached until 1972 when volunteers from the 'Lady Hopetoun and Port Jackson Marine Steam Museum', now 'Sydney Heritage Fleet', re-floated her. In 1973, she was towed to Hobart for temporary repairs before being towed to Sydney in 1981 for restoration. The James Craig’s restored hull was re-launched in Feb. 1997. Now fully operational again, James Craig sails ex Sydney Harbour most weekends, carrying 80 passengers at sea & 200 in harbour. In her lifetime, she rounded Cape Horn an amazing 23 times! Read the whole story at the links! I do not have the space to cover it all here. I wonder how much the restoration cost! It must have been a total rebuild. Much of the above data comes thanks to the files of Mori Flapan, of Sydney, Australia. A site visitor is searching for data about 'the counter threaded steering gear used on the James Craig and also on the John Oxley' - re restoration activities. I see that a book about the restoration was published in 2003, entitled 'THE JAMES CRAIG - Her history, recovery and restoration', by Geoff Toghill of the Sydney Maritime Museum. Of 90 pages. An earlier small book of similar name, 32/33 pages only, was originally published in 1978. Can you add anything significant that I have omitted?
15	Cumbria 675 tons Hull 74 62876	1874	An iron barque. Per 1 (1881 voyage from Mauritius to Launceston, Tasmania, ex 2), 3 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 53.9 metres long perpendicular to perpendicular (177.0 ft.), signal letters MPGS. I have read that the vessel was a sister to Clan MacLeod. The vessel was built for 'P. Hick & Co.', which means 'Pantland Hick & Co.', of Scarborough, U.K. The vessel's captain for its first 6 or so years was the presumably related W. B. Hick. The vessel was feared lost in 1881. on a voyage from Port Louis, Mauritius, to Launceston, Tasmania, with a cargo of sugar. Indeed HMCS Victoria was sent out to search for her but found nothing. The vessel left Port Louis on Mar. 15, 1881 under the command of Captain Baine (or Baines). After a voyage notable for its continuous storms, the vessel eventually arrived safely at Launceston on Jun. 1, 1881 after a voyage of 77 days, with its cargo, surprisingly, in good order. After, I presume, repairs were effected, the vessel left for Timaru, New Zealand, which it departed on Aug. 22, 1881. The vessel arrived back in London on Dec. 24, 1881. The vessel was at the time of that voyage said to have been owned by 'Fantling Hicks Esq.' which is, I believe, an incorrect rendition of 'Pantland Hick' who would seem to have been the senior Hick family member for the lifetime of this vessel - he died in 1900. The vessel was at Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1883, & at Fremantle, Western Australia, in May 1887. In the 1889/90 edition of Lloyd's Register, the owner is stated to be 'P. Hick, jun.' Miramar advises us that on May 21, 1889, the vessel foundered - at 32.25S/40.09W, which is in the South Atlantic off the coasts of southern Brazil & Uruguay. The WWW is silent on the loss - I have not been able to read who was in command, how many lives were lost, its route, its cargo, the circumstances etc. Can you possibly provide that detail? Or otherwise add to this limited record. #1870

James Drake
875/1351 (N/G) tons
Hull 78

70384

1874

James Drake, built by Bartram, Haswell & Co., was launched on Oct. 12, 1874 & delivered on Nov. 04, 1874. It would seem to have been Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1874/75 thru 1896/97, though the webmaster does not have every one of the LR editions available to him. It was owned, for most of its lifetime by Wilkie & Turnbull of North Shields, thru 1893/94 at least. LR of 1896/97 rather lists her owners as being C. Turnbull & Co., also of North Shields.
During such entire period, per LR at least, the vessel had just three captains - J. Wilkie from 1874/75 thru 1885/86, 'Bullock' (T. Bullock in 1893/94), from 1885/86 thru 1893/94 at least. M. Flett in 1896/97.
The webmaster has not researched the history of this vessel. But spotted a report re the following major incident, which merits an extensive reference.
On Aug. 01, 1878, James Drake, with Andrew I. (Ireland) Graham in command (& not J. Wilkie), arrived at Cronstadt (St. Petersburg, Russia), ex Newcastle. It later left Cronstadt for London on Aug. 18, 1878 with a cargo of 1,800 tons of wheat & oats. On Aug. 20, 1878 it ran aground at Gothland (Gotland, the largest Swedish island, Baltic Sea, off the E. coast of Sweden) but got off after 3 or 4 hours - see article 3 below for details. It passed Elsinore, Denmark, on Aug. 22, 1878. On Aug. 25, 1878, at about 2 p.m., in Sea Reach near Gravesend, River Thames, London, James Drake was in collision with Widgeon, a steamship built in Newcastle in 1876, then bound for Hamburg, Germany. Per Captain Graham, in a deposition re the collision, Widgeon suddenly turned her helm when James Drake was 300 yards away from her & caused the collision. Both vessels grounded on Blyth Sands, but Widgeon almost immediately hit James Drake & freed her. Widgeon remained on Blyth Sands - covered entirely at high water. James Drake, with significant damage, was towed to Gravesend by tug Telegraph & proceeded on the next day under her own power to Millwall Docks to be both examined & repaired. The webmaster has not located a description of the events penned by the captain of Widgeon - 'Key' was his name, I believe. Some contemporary news reports - 1, 2 & 3.
Widgeon was not lost as a result of the collision. It was raised on Aug. 27, 1878 with its fracture repaired. It lasted for many future years - the vessel's registry (Reg. No. 73657) was closed only in 1912. Always owned, it would seem, by The General Steam Navigation Co. Ltd., of London.
James Drake is Mercantile Navy List ('MNL') listed from 1876 thru 1897, always registered at North Shields &, in fact, registered there from 1874. MNLs from 1876 thru 1887 record Chas. Turnbull of North Shields as the vessel's owner or managing owner. As do MNLs from 1895 thru 1897 (1896). MNLs of 1888 thru 1894 (1892), however, rather record Chas. Turnbull & John W. Wilkie, both of North Shields, as the vessel's owners or managing owners.
241.3 ft. long, signal letters WSND, schooner-rigged, 130 HP engines by John Dickinson of Sunderland, bought originally for Ł25,625, many James Drake crew lists are available via this page.
Hopefully time will in due course permit the webmaster to further research James Drake's history. I note, however, that LR of 1896/97 has a partial note recorded upon it which the webmaster thinks stated that the vessel had gone missing.
I learn that the vessel indeed went missing. James Drake left Carloforte, Sardinia, on Nov. 20, 1896 for Dunkirk, France, with a cargo of 1986 1/2 tons of zinc ore. Under the command of Joseph M. Scott & with a crew of 20 all told. The vessel did go missing & a Board of Trade Inquiry into her loss was held in Newcastle on Mar. 18/19, 1897. It is believed that the vessel must have encountered exceptionally heavy gales in the Bay of Biscay in early Dec. 1896 & succumbed to them. Without full evidence, the Inquiry could not come to a conclusion as to the cause of the vessel's loss, but noted that the vessel had been overloaded for a winter voyage, likely a significant factor in the vessel's loss.
Can you tell us anything additional? #2835

17	Kirch 1221 tons Hull 76 70377	1874	An iron cargo ship, 2 masts, schooner rigged. Per 1 (ref. to Board of Trade inquiry, about 80% down page), 2 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 73.5 metres long perpendicular to perpendicular (241.0 ft.), signal letters NRFH. The vessel was built for 'W. Wilkie & Co.' but the vessel soon became owned by 'Wilkie & Turnbull', presumably related, both of North Shields, U.K. The vessel was likely acquired for the Black Sea grain trade since Kirch or Kerch, Ukraine, is an ancient Crimean seaport located on Kerch Strait where the Black Sea & the Sea of Azov come together. The vessel's initial captain was J. W. Wilkie. Miramar advises us that on Nov. 24, 1876, the vessel was wrecked in the entrance to the Sulina River - which is in E. Romania where the Danube River flows into the Black Sea. The vessel had been en route from Messina, presumably Sicily, to Galatz (Galați), Romania, under the command of Richard S. (Shortridge) Thompson ('Thompson'). There was a Board of Trade Inquiry into the loss, in Jan. 1877, but such report seems not to be WWW available. However, link 1 advises (text) that the Inquiry concluded that Thompson was in default having tried to enter Sulina after dark. His certificate was suspended for 3 months. Can you possibly provide additional detail, maybe a copy of the report? An image? Or otherwise add to this limited record. This vessel was first listed as a result of e-mail correspondence from Cpt Tamer Demirci, (thanks!) who has kindly provided images of the recovered Kirch's ship's bell, shown at left. #1905
18	Castle Holme 1042 (or 1055) tons Hull 83 72923 Ester Ternen Ternan Tarnan	1875	An iron fully rigged ship. With 3 most similar later names. Per 1 & 2 (images, Castle Holme), 3 (data), 4 [Herbert B. J. Everett painting, Castle Holme, (left vessel)], 5 (Sturt Bay, 65% down), 6 (extensive data, in Danish I believe, ex a giant 'pdf' file that I seem unable to find again. Hopefully you have the skills to be able to understand its content), 7 (the figurehead of Tärnan, see text below), 8 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 213.9 ft. long (65.2 metres perpendicular to perpendicular), signal letters, it would seem, WTCR, WHPL, KFCN, NVBW, KDLJ. Vessel built for Holme Line (Hine Brothers) of Maryport, U.K. (Cumbria coast & Solway Firth). Traded between the U.K. & Australia, returning with wool, & later served Tasmania. In 1880, the vessel was reduced to a barque. On May 1, 1895, the vessel was stranded at Sturt Bay, nr. Port Adelaide, South Australia, fortunately with no resulting damage to the vessel. The Official Enquiry into the incident found that the grounding was due to poor navigation but chose not to reprimand Captain Brice. The vessel was sold in 1910 (or 1908) to Anton H. Mysen of Frederickstadt, Norway, & renamed Ester. And sold again, in 1912, to Herman Jacobsen, of Norway? And sold again, in 1916, to Danish owners (V. Muller, the manager?) & renamed *Ternen. The vessel's name became Ternan* when sold in 1922 (or 1921) to A/B Romny, of Stockholm, Sweden (H. Bokland the manager?). The vessel was sold, in 1923, to E. Forsberg, of Karlskrona (SE Sweden), renamed Tärnan & registered at Karlskrona. Tärnan is, apparently, the Swedish word for a tern (1 & 2), the seabird. On Dec. 18, 1924, while en route from London to Karlskrona in ballast, the vessel was stranded on the rocks at Hofs Hallar (Hovs hallar), Bjäre Peninsula, 7 km. off Torekov, Sweden. Broken up en situ. There were 14 men & 2 women aboard - presumably no lives were lost. I am quite sure that the above contains unintended errors. Some inconsistencies in the source data. Can the three last names truly be so? Do correct me if you are able to do so. Or add additional data. Ingrid Ulfstedt, Curator, Collections Unit, Swedish National Maritime Museums, has advised in Jun. 2015 (thanks so much, Ingrid!) that the figurehead of Tärnan will soon be on public display at the Sjöhistoriska Museum in Stockholm, Sweden. Apparently the condemned wreck of Tärnan was purchased in situ by one Captain Edson for 4,000 krona - its figurehead was later, in 1931, donated to the museum.
19	Eden Holme 818 (or 794) tons Hull 79 62035	1875	An iron 3-masted barque. Per 1 (10 images), 2 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). Lots of photographs are available. The image at the 3rd thumbnail at left is of the vessel dismasted, possibly at Grenada, West Indies, incorrectly dated as 1874, but the correct date & nature of the circumstances is unknown. The same image is at link 3. 201.8 ft. long. The vessel was owned by Holme Line (Hine Brothers) of Maryport, U.K. (Cumbria coast & Solway Firth). The vessel traded between the U.K. & Australia, & particularly Tasmania. En route from Hobart to Launceston, (both Tasmania) & whilst anchored & waiting for tug Wybia, the vessel grounded on Hebe reef off Tamar Heads on Jan. 6, 1907. Some iron plates were damaged & the vessel began to take in water. A tourist attraction at the time, it would appear, to see up close a wreck high & dry, right on Launceston’s doorstep. On Jan. 18, 1907, in a gale, she slipped off the rocks, broke in two, & sank. Virtually everything that could be salvaged from the ship was salvaged in those 12 days. The ship is still there today in 5 m. of water. The vessel was in the charge of Peter Mullay, the local pilot, when she struck; his pilot's certificate was suspended. The vessel's captain (28 year old G. H. Dulling) was held to be blameless. A 16 page booklet entitled 'Disaster to the Eden Holme' was published in 2006 by The Pilot Station Museum, per a John W. Doull Bookseller, of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, catalogue. Such booklet refers to the Inquiry, which was held at Launceston on Jan. 23, 1907. Anything to add?
20	Myrtle Holme 945 (or 902 or 955) tons Hull 82 72921 Glimt	1875	An iron, 3 masted, fully rigged ship when built. Later reduced (in or about 1898) to a barque. Per 1 (large 'Word' file, in Norwegian, #102, data is here), 2 (images), 3 (Myrtle Holme is the vessel with painted ports), 4 (images Myrtle Holme/Glimt), 5 (U-33), 6 ('u-boat.net', 1915 sinking), 7 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 211 ft. long. Vessel was built for Holme Line (Hine Brothers) of Maryport, U.K. (Cumbria coast & Solway Firth). Traded between the U.K. & Australia. In 1895, the vessel went from Beachy Head to Adelaide, S. Australia, in 77 days, & in 1901, went from Dover to Adelaide in 81 days. In 1900, she was reported to be the largest sailing vessel to ever go up to Gloucester (River Severn). In 1907, the vessel was sold to 'Skips-A/S Glimt' (Johan Klöcker), of Arendal, Norway & renamed Glimt. And in 1913, the vessel was sold again, to 'Th. Bentzen', also of Arendal or Fredrikstad. On Sep. 4, 1915, while en route, in ballast, from Ellesmere Port, River Mersey, to Gaspé, Quebec, Canada, the vessel was torpedoed & sunk by U-33, Kapitänleutnant Konrad Gansser in command, (have also read U-35), 90 km. SW of Fastnet (at 50.40N/12.10W but 6 states at 51.37N/12.05W). I thank the folks at 1, but ... my ability in Norwegian is non-existent & WWW translation of the text is most difficult. I think that that link advises ('Senkningen funnet urettmessig av tysk priserett, erstatning betalt.') that the sinking of Glimt was in some way 'illegal' & that the German Government paid compensation. Need help!
21	Marlborough 2309 (or 2308) tons Hull 101 79461	1878	An iron cargo ship which had a very short life. Per 1 ('pdf' file, 6 page Inquiry report re loss of vessel - of interest, a hard copy of such report was sold for GBP 1.20 via eBay in Oct. 2011), 2 (a part of the text ex 'Irish Law Times ...' 1880, a Google book, re the Garbutt lawsuit), 3 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 301.0 ft. long (91.74 metres) perpendicular to perpendicular, signal letters SLBK, 250 HP engines by John Dickinson of Sunderland. The vessel was built, for Ł34,000, for D. (David) P. (Parkinson) Garbutt ('Garbutt'), of Hull. G. T. Fullam is Lloyd's Register listed as her first captain. The Mercantile Navy List Marlborough entry for 1880. Garbutt, whose experience was as a land & house agent rather than as a shipowner, had mortgaged all of the vessel's shares to one Richard Berridge. Her 1st voyage was to New York, returning with a general cargo. Her 2nd & 3rd voyages would both seem to have been into the Mediterranean with coal, to Ancona (E. coast of Italy) on one voyage, returning from the Black Sea with grain. On Nov. 29, 1879, the vessel left Cardiff, Wales, for Genoa, Italy, on her 4th & last voyage, with a cargo of 2511 tons of small steam coal (& 859 tons of bunker coal), under the command of Captain G. T. Fullam & with a crew all told of 25. The pilot left the ship after passing Nash Point, Glamorgan (at entrance to the Bristol Channel), & the vessel was never heard from again. Such loss is referred to at Line 73 of this report which has a succint summary of the Court's findings. (It is also noted, in blue, on this page). The webmaster has read, by now, many Inquiry reports in the course of building this website, but this vessel's report is quite devastating. The Court determined that the vessel was, with the knowledge, sanction indeed direction of Garbutt, significantly overloaded & undermanned. Much of the text relates to the location of the ship's load line. The Court concluded that the load line was in the wrong position & that the vessel, loaded to that line, had insufficient freeboard for a winter or indeed any voyage. An astonishing number of crew members left the ship during its brief history believing it to be unsafe when excessively loaded - the ship would take heavy seas aboard continually & would develop a list. Captain Fullam himself wanted & intended to leave the ship also. The Court 'condemned' Garbutt to pay Ł250 in costs. On Aug. 9, 1880, at Swansea, Wales, Garbutt was prosecuted for having sent the vessel to sea in an unseaworthy state. 8 pages re the case, a summary of the 'summing up' of the judge, appear in the 'House of Commons Papers', Vol. 66 re 1880, a Google downloadable book - almost at the end of the book, at page 573 in the downloaded book, at page 13 in the link just provided. The jury found Garbutt to be not guilty, it would appear. I direct you to such volume for further detail. However 2, a part only of the available 'Irish Law Times' text, will assist in understanding the decision. It would appear that much of the evidence presented at the wreck Inquiry was inadmissible in a proper Court of Law. The Inquiry Report re the loss of Marlborough is available via a link above. Can you add anything? #1792
22	Salient 1432 (or 1477) tons Hull 105 81456	1879	A cargo ship. Per 1 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 250.4 ft. long, signal letters SPLW. The vessel was built for James Westoll, of Sunderland. On Mar. 9, 1891, while en route in ballast from Rotterdam to Sunderland, her engines broke down in a heavy snow storm. The vessel was wrecked 3 miles N. from Filey (Yorkshire now N. Yorkshire). WWW data about the vessel seems to be non-existent. Arie de Lange has kindly provided the image of Salient at left & a newspaper report in Dutch (Note) - which states, I believe, that Salient was stranded at Tiley (means Filey) & full of water. Crew saved. Arie advises that the vessel had lost its screw in Robin Hood's Bay & that parts of the wreck are still visible at low water. Can you add anything? Another image perhaps.
23	Myrtle Branch 1735 (or 1653, later 1498) tons Hull 127 87348 Behera Torkel Asplund Regin	1883	A cargo ship. Per 1 [Nautilus, Myrtle Branch (1)], 2 (Norwegian & English page, Torkel), 3 (Lloyds Register ('LR') data, ex 'Southampton City Council/Plimsoll', 1930/31 thru 1938/39, Regin, I hope that link gets you to the right spot), 4 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 258.0 ft. long perpendicular to perpendicular, speed of 8 1/2 knots, designed to carry bulk cargoes of grain, signal letters HVDS, later MJPV & LERB, 160 or 167 HP engines by Thomas Richardson & Sons of Hartlepool. The vessel was built for Nautilus Steam Shipping Co. Ltd., owned by F. & W. Ritson, of Sunderland (known as 'Branch Line'). With, per LR, A. Ritson her initial captain. In 1896, the vessel was sold to 'S.S. Behera Co. Ltd.' (Maclay & McIntyre Ltd., of Glasgow, the managers & maybe the owners also) & renamed Behara. In 1913, the vessel was sold again, to 'D/S A/S Tormod', (Chr. Christensen, of Kristiania, Norway), & renamed Torkel. In Dec. 1917, the vessel was sold to 'A/S Venus' (S. Ugelstad, which later became S. Ugelstad & Co.), of Brevik, (& later Kristiania), Norway, with no change of name. In Mar. 1921, the vessel was renamed Asplund. In Sep. 1925, the vessel was sold to 'A/S Furulund' (S. Ugelstad & Co.), of Oslo, with no change of name. It was sold for the last time, in Jun. 1929, to 'Hannestads Rederi A/S', of Halden, Norway, Marcus Hannestad the manager, & renamed Regin. On Aug. 13, 1938, the vessel ran aground at a point 6 miles S. of Bredskar Pilot Station, which I believe is in the Baltic off Holmsund on the E. coast of Sweden. While en route from Örnskjöldvik, Sweden, to London, with a cargo of wood. Have not read the detail circumstances, however 2 tells us (thanks!) that the mate was later fined for careless navigation. The vessel was refloated on Aug. 17, 1938 & arrived on Sep. 7, 1838 at Härnösand, Sweden. The vessel was soon condemned & sold for Ł2,450, in a damaged condition, to International Shipbuilding & Engineering Company, of Danzig, Germany, to be broken up. Am glad for data at 2, since there is little else WWW available. Need help!
24	Olive Branch 2732 (or 2728) tons Hull 133 90546 Gallia	1887	A cargo ship. Per 1 (Gallia), 2 (UB-40), 3 (Gallia), 4 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 300 ft. long. Vessel built for Nautilus Steam Shipping Co. Ltd., owned by F. & W. Ritson, of Sunderland (known as 'Branch Line'). Sold in 1914 to 'Federazione Italiana del Consorzi Agrari' (Italo Spagnuolo manager?) of Genoa, Italy, & renamed Gallia. Have seen a ref. to 'Soc. Servizio Italo Spagnuolo SA di Nav.', of Genoa. Does the name relate? On Oct. 24, 1917, while en route from the Tyne to Savona, Italy, with a cargo of coal, the vessel was attacked & sunk by UB-40, Kapitänleutnant Hans Howaldt in command, in Lyme Bay, 14 miles E. of Teignmouth (or 24 miles WNW of Portland Bill). No loss of life. But ... the wreck location seems to be in error. Dave Wendes advises that a builder's nameplate on a wreck 50 miles away leads him to conclude that the wreck truly lies S. of Bournemouth, at 50.26.50N/01.48.00W. A translation issue, i.e. Portland Bill was 24 miles WNW of the sinking site, rather than the sinking site was 24 miles WNW of Portland Bill. WWW data most limited. Need help! And an image also.
25	Hazel Branch 2623 tons Hull 138 95292	1889	A cargo ship. Per 1 (Spanish page re wreck), 2 (painting ref.), 3 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 300 ft. long. Vessel built for Nautilus Steam Shipping Co. Ltd., owned by F. & W. Ritson, of Sunderland (known as 'Branch Line'). On Sep. 24, 1892, while loading grain at the West Wago grain elevator at New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A., a bulkhead gave way & 4 longshoremen were buried by grain. 2 of the 4 died. On Nov. 12, 1907, Captain Gambrill in command, while en route from the W. coast of S. America to Liverpool with a cargo of silver, copper & zinc ores or metals, the vessel was wrecked at Smyth Channel, Adelaide Patch, Magellan Strait, Chile. As a result of navigational error. The cargo was partially recovered. A few ribs still remain today. The vessel was painted, in 1891, by 'H. Versaille' - a painting which sold, I read, on May 31, 1989 at Sotherby's for GBP 700. WWW data re the vessel is most limited. Need help! An image of the 'Versaille' artwork?
26	Ludgate 2413 tons Hull 146 98910 Nettleton	1891	A cargo ship. Per 1 (auction ref.), 2 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 88.4 metres long, perpendicular to perpendicular, speed of ? knots. The vessel was built for 'Ludgate Steam Shipping Co.', of London, H. W. Dillon, also of London, the managers. In 1898, the vessel was sold to 'London Gates Steamship Company' - no change of vessel name. In 1899, the vessel was sold to Nettleton Steamship Company, of London, J. Sunley & Co. the managers, & renamed Nettleton. The vessel was sold in 1903 to 'Crosby, Magee & Co.', of West Hartlepool & sold again in 1915 to 'W. A. Massey & Sons', of Hull. No change in the vessel's name re either sale. On Feb. 11, 1916, while en route from the Clyde (Glasgow) to Barry Roads (Cardiff), in ballast, the vessel was wrecked 6 or 7 miles N. of Bude, North Cornwall. Have not read the circumstances, but it would seem to have been off course? No loss of life mentioned so I presume all were rescued. In 1998, 'Tennants' Auction House auctioned a shipbuilder's half model, 214 cm. long, of Nettleton. Would be good to locate an image of it. WWW data most limited. Need help!
27	Laurel Branch 3308 tons Hull 154 99621	1893	A cargo ship. Per 1 (wreck of Laurel Branch), 2 (Spanish page, data & fine image), 3 (1899 painting), 4 (Arequipa wreck), 5 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 104.8 metres long perpendicular to perpendicular, speed of 10 knots. The vessel was built for Nautilus Steam Shipping Co. Ltd., owned by F. & W. Ritson, of Sunderland (known as 'Branch Line'). Eileen Hart advises (thanks!) that her grandfather, Charles Judge, a fireman aboard the ship, died at Marseilles, France, on Nov. 16, 1893 at age 25. Apparently he fell between the quay & the ship while returning on board & fractured his skull! On Jun. 3, 1903, the vessel rescued 32 (but see below) of the crew of Arequipa (Pacific Steam Navigation Company), which sank in a major storm while moored & loading at Valparaiso, Chile. The captain of Arequipa & 10 crew lost their lives, while 13 were rescued by another vessel. But ... I also read that Laurel Branch saved 7 crew members only. On Aug. 23, 1903, Laurel Branch, under the command of Captain Lee, left Coronel, Chile, for Sunderland, with a stop in Punta Arenas. With a general cargo (& maybe with metals). At 2 a.m. on Aug. 28, 1903, the ship ran aground, in heavy seas, 40 miles N. of Tres Mortes (off Stewart Bay, Tierra del Fuego, Patagonia, Chile). Everyone aboard made it safely to shore except for two young girls who were drowned when their boat overturned. Some weeks later, a boat, manned by some of the survivors, reached Port Otway, & Casma, a Chilean cargo ship, returned to the scene, successfully but with difficulty saved all the others, & landed them at Talcahuano, in S. central Chile. The 28 (or maybe many more?) survivors had spent 29 days on a deserted shore. Much of the above data does not conform with the detail at the Spanish page link above. Harry Shannon (thanks!) indicates that the crew was 58 in number (per the 'Newfoundland Memorial University MN archives'), & that his great grandfather was the ship's carpenter. WWW data is limited. Need help!
28	Kirkfield 3602 tons Hull 164 106034	1896	A cargo ship. Per 1 ('pdf', wreck report, col. #2 & #3), 2 (wreck report), 3 (ref. 20% down, '08 Jul 02'), 4 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 328 ft. long. Vessel built for 'Kirkfield Steamship Co. Ltd.', with 'J. R. Cuthbertson & Co.' the managers, both of Glasgow. In a ref. I do not understand, the vessel would seem to have left St. Helena (S. Atlantic Ocean) on Jul. 7, 1902 for Cape Town with 9 prisoners including 2 sons of General de Wet. Boer War related. On Apl. 7, 1910, while en route from Christmas Island (an Australian island S. of Jakarta, Indonesia) to either Yokohama or Kobe, Japan, with a cargo of phosphates, the vessel ran aground on Royal Captain Shoal, North Borneo. At Palawan Passage, W. of Palawan Island. Efforts were made to free her without success & she sank into deep water a week later. Captain Laurie & his crew made the 31 hour voyage in ship's boats to Kudal (or Balabec) & from there proceeded to Singapore. Have not read the circumstances. Presumably no lives were lost. WWW data is most limited. Need help!
29	Queen Eleanor 3574 (or 3549) tons Hull 163 106019 Luigi	1896	A cargo ship. Per 1 [Thomas Dunlop, Queen Eleanor (1)], 2 ('uboat.net', 1918 sinking), 3 (ref. 70% down, Queen Eleanor), 4 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 104.8 metres long, perpendicular to perpendicular, 344 ft., speed of 10 knots. A Google 'snippet' advises that the vessel's launch was referenced in the 1897 edition of 'Marine Engineer and Naval Architect'. The vessel was built for 'Thomas Dunlop & Sons', of Glasgow, known as 'Queen Line'. 3 probably refers to this ship, re a May 3, 1899 arrival at Melbourne, Australia, from New York in 62 days, for onward travel to Sydney & New Zealand. In 1913, the vessel was sold to Figli di Luigi Dufour, of Genoa, Italy, 'L. Dufour Sons' the managers, & renamed Luigi. On Mar. 7, 1918, the vessel, en route from Marseille, France, to Dakar, Senegal, was stopped by U-152, Kapitänleutnant Constantin Kolbe in command. At 25.35N/14.38W, off Rio de Oro, Western Sahara, E. of the Canary Islands. The circumstances are not clear. It would seem that U-152 shelled Luigi, which ended up beached near Cape Juby, which since 1958 has been a part of Morocco near the border with Western Sahara. Was Luigi torpedoed, I wonder? No lives were apparently lost. I presume that the vessel was a total loss, once beached. WWW data is most limited. Need help!
30	Hemisphere 3486 tons Hull 166 106857	1897	a cargo ship. per 1 ('Wikipedia, Kronprinz Wilhelm), 2 & 3 (the cruise of Kronprinz Wilhelm), 4 (data & image of Captain Richard Jones), 5 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 106.7 metres long perpendicular to perpendicular, 350 ft., signal letters PRVG. The vessel was built for 'W. Thomas & Co.', of Liverpool (& also of London perhaps?). The vessel may have been later sold, since in 1914 the vessel would seem to have been owned by 'Hemisphere Steamship Co. Ltd.', with 'W. Thomas, Sons & Co. Ltd.' the managers. But it may well be that the vessel was rather transferred, the companies being related. Still registered at Liverpool. In Dec. 1914, the vessel, commanded by Richard Jones of Criccieth, Wales, was en route from Hull to Buenos Aires & Rosario, both in Argentina, with a cargo of 5000 or 5500 tons of coal. On Dec. 28, 1914, she came into contact with Kronprinz Wilhelm, (a 14,908 gross ton German passenger liner built in 1901 for Norddeutscher Lloyd i.e. German Lloyd), when 400 miles off Pernambuco, (now Recife), Brazil - at 04.20S/29.25W. Kronprinz Wilhelm, under the command of Captain Grahn, was in the western Atlantic when WW1 was declared. She was commissioned into the Imperial German Navy & met with SMS Karlsruhe, which provided her with modest armament - two 88 mm rapid-firing guns, a machine gun & 36 rifles - & some personnel which included Paul Thierfelder, previously Karlsruhe's navigation officer, to serve as her commander. Grahn became her 1st Officer. Modestly so equipped, she started her new career as an auxiliary cruiser or raider. She headed to the Azores where she obtained coal but with further coal supplies not likely to be available in the area, headed towards the coast of Brazil, hoping to find sources of coal more friendly to Germany or at least a greater choice of neutral ports in which to intern his ship if she should find herself unable to replenish her supplies .... I have not read whether Hemisphere realized the new status of Kronprinz Wilhelm, whose tactics were to approach any intended prey openly & then capture them by surprise. Hemisphere had likely little choice other than to surrender. She was not the first or last ship that was so captured - there were ultimately 14 other vessels similarly captured & sunk. The two ships headed east, away from the shipping lanes, & early on Dec. 30, 1914 the transfer of Hemisphere's cargo of coal, & stores (a great quantity of white flour, butter, sweet cakes, potatoes & canned vegetables) to Kronprinz Wilhelm commenced. About a week later, on Jan. 7, or 8, 1915, Hemisphere became expendable & was scuttled. At 01.26S/24.17W. The 27 person crew were required to sign declarations not to take any further part in the war & were on Jan. 16, 1915, transferred to Holger, a German steamer, which in mid Feb. 1915 landed them at Buenos Aires along with 217 others taken from Potaro, Semantha, Wilfred M., & Highland Brae. The crews ultimately returned to Liverpool, in mid Mar. 1915, aboard Deseado. And Kronprinz Wilhelm? It sailed away towards her rendezvous with destiny, interned at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia. She was later renamed Von Steuben, & perhaps Baron Von Steuben also, & was broken up at Baltimore in 1924. Hemisphere would seem to have had an association with Wales, maybe with Anglesey. Can anybody explain that? It should be specifically mentioned that not a single crew member of the captured ships lost his life. If you can add such data or additional data, do please be in touch. The career of Kronprinz Wilhelm as a raider is the subject of The Cruise of the Kronprinz Wilhelm, published in 1928 & written by Count Alfred von Niezychowski. #1846
31	Kirklee 3580 tons Hull 167 108689 Cleveland Range Cymric Vale	1897	A cargo ship. Per 1 [Neptune, Cleveland Range (2)], 2 (Normandy), 3 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 344 ft. long. Vessel built for 'Kirkfield Steamship Co. Ltd.', with 'J. R. Cuthbertson & Co.' the managers, both of Glasgow. And was christened by Mrs. Cuthbertson, wife of the managing owner. In 1915, the vessel was sold to Neptune Steam Navigation Company, which company was owned by Furness Withy & Company, & renamed Cleveland Range. In 1916, the vessel was sold to 'Anglo-Belgique Shipping Company Limited', of Cardiff, or perhaps of Liverpool, (Owen & Williams the managers?). And in 1918 was renamed Cymric Vale. I did read somewhere that during WW1, the vessel was attacked 4 times by a submarine but the submarine submerged when Cymric Vale tried to ram her. When exactly was that? In early Aug. 1918, Cymric Vale towed Normandy, a barque then in a leaking condition, 300 miles back to Monte Video. On Mar. 7, 1923, the vessel was wrecked at Naeroen (Nćrřy), near Florř, an area on the coast of Norway, N. of Bergen, noted for treacherous & strong currents. Approx. at 61.37N/4.58E. A wreck site but very little is now left. Have not read the wreck circumstances. Any lives lost? WWW data is most limited. Need help!
32	Queen Mary 3564 (later 3541) tons Hull 165 106064 Angiolina Bagnoli Dori Larch	1897	a cargo ship. per 1 [Thomas Dunlop, Queen Mary (1)], 2 ('uboat.net', U-34, Angiolina, 1917), 3 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 104.8 metres long, perpendicular to perpendicular, speed ? knots. The vessel was built for 'Thomas Dunlop & Sons', ('Queen Line'), of Glasgow. In 1913, the vessel was sold to 'L. Dufour Sons', of Italy it would seem, (who may only be the managers) & renamed Angiolina. The name means 'little angel' in Italian. On Mar. 19, 1917 Angiolina, 3541 tons, was damaged by a torpedo, fired by U-34, Kapitänleutnant Johannes Klasing in command, E. of Elba, while en route, in ballast, from Taranto, Italy, to Sagunto, Spain. At 42.41N/10.36E. The vessel was beached but was later refloated. 'Figli di Luigi Dufour', of Genoa, was then the 'operator'. U-34 had quite a career in WW1 - it sank an amazing 119 ships & damaged 5 more, including Angiolina. In 1920 or 1921, the vessel was sold to 'Lloyd Mediterraneo Societa Italiana di Navigazione', of Genoa, Italy, & renamed Bagnoli. In 1923, or maybe in 1925, the vessel was sold again, to F. Bernatti, likely of Italy, (who also could just be the manager) & renamed Dori. Apparently Dori landed illegally 100 Italian immigrants near Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1927. The vessel was seized, by the Canadian Authorities I presume, & sold under seizure, in 1927, to W. K. McKean ('McKean') of Halifax, & renamed Larch. The Google 'snippet' where I read that data suggests that the vessel twice carried the name of Larch. Can anybody explain? Miramar refers to 'Farquhar & Co.' in 1927 - perhaps the managers for McKean? In 1929, the vessel was transferred to Panamanian registry. And on Feb. 2, 1934, the vessel arrived at Charlestown, to be broken up. There are a number of places called Charlestown but it surely means the Charlestown at Fife, Scotland, noted for its ship breaking facilities. WWW data is very modest re this vessel. Need help! To correct and/or add to the above.
33	Ohio 4006 (or 4189) tons Hull 174 109699 Zaandijk	1899	A cargo ship. Per 1 (Neptune, Ohio), 2 (Holland America, Zaandijk), 3 & 4 (the 1917 sinking), 5 (3 images), 6 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 119.8 (or 128.78) metres long, speed 12 (or 10 1/2) knots, crew of 43. Built for Neptune Steam Navigation Company, (W. & T. W. Pinkney, managers) of Sunderland, which company principally operated a Rotterdam & U.S.A. (Baltimore) service. A manager change in 1904? Became F. W. Bolam & Swinhoe? Sold in 1905 to Furness Withy & Co. Ltd. But that last data may very well be in error. Vessel does not appear in the 'not all inclusive' 'Furness Withy' list here or in other Furness related lists available via that link. Sold in Jul. 1909 to Holland America Line (Nederlandsch-Amerikaansche Stoomvaart Maatschappij), with the entire 'Neptune' line, & renamed Zaandijk. Can anyone explain the matter of the vessel's new name? Most references are to Zaandijk, but 2 links above refer to Zaandyk. Were not vessels formally registered? And the exact name as registered, whatever it was, should govern? At some point her 'stem was cut straight'. On Mar. 11, 1916, while en route from Philadelphia, U.S.A., to Rotterdam, the vessel hit a mine in the North Sea - was repaired at Gravesend. On Feb. 22, 1917, Zaandijk was one of seven neutral Dutch vessels at Falmouth. The small convoy left Falmouth, at full speed, heading to a safety zone with the convoy safety guaranteed by the German Government. Zaandijk was en route to Philadelphia in ballast. Later that day, 6 of the 7 vessels were lost, near Bishop Rock Lighthouse, Scilly Islands, as a result of torpedoes and/or bombs placed aboard (as in Zaandijk's case) by German submarine U-21. At 49.52N/7.00W. It would seem that the crew made it safely to the Scilly Islands after a hard row. Do read the full story at 4. Can you add anything? Your contribution would be most welcome, however small - even a typo!
34	Zillah 3779 (or 3788) tons Hull 177 112677	1900	A cargo ship. Per A (e-Bay image), 1 (Zillah, 1917 sinking), 2 (U-46), 3 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 103.7 metres long perpendicular to perpendicular, speed of ? knots, crew of 18 in 1917. Built for Turner, Brightman & Co. ('Turner'), a partnership apparently, of London, which owned & managed "Z" Steam Ship Co. Ltd. ('Z'), also of London. Z seems later to have been Newcastle based. Turner also operated 'Zinal Steamship Co. Ltd.' Both companies perhaps known as 'Z Line'? The vessel was christened by Mrs. Turner. On Oct. 22, 1917, while en route from Archangel, Russia, to Lerwick, Shetland Islands, with a cargo of timber, the vessel was hit by a torpedo fired by U-46, Oberleutnant zur See Leo Hillebrand in command, 25 miles NE of Kildin Island, off Murmansk. 18 lives were lost, the entire crew. Have not spotted the exact location. Kildin is at 69.21.9N/34.10.4E. There is very little WWW data about the vessel. Would welcome anything you can add.
35	Benarty 3910 (or 3747) tons Hull 187 115657 Antinoe	1902	A cargo ship, schooner rigged. Per 1 (Board of Trade wreck report), 2 (President Roosevelt), 3 [Ben Line Benarty (2)], 4 (a long account of the rescue, at pages 81 thru 108, in 'Yankee skippers to the rescue: a record of gallant rescues on the North Atlantic by American Seamen', by Felix Riesenberg Jr. (1879/Nov191939), first published in 1940 & republished many times), 5 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 382.5 ft. (116.59 metres) long perpendicular to perpendicular, speed of 12 (or 10 1/2) knots, signal letters TMNK, 352 NHP engines by John Dickinson & Sons Ltd., of Sunderland. Built for William Thomson & Company of Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland, which company later (1919) became Ben Line Steamers Ltd., known as Ben Line. The vessel was sold, for Ł19,000, in 1924 to 'New Egypt and Levant Shipping Company' (T. Bowen Rees & Co., owned by Thomas Bowen Rees, the managers?) & renamed Antinoe. A number of voyages carrying grain. The vessel arrived at Cardiff on Mar. 31, 1925 for repairs which were completed on Apl. 24, 1925, but the vessel was laid up at Cardiff until Jul. 1925. On Jul. 21, 1925 it was chartered to Frank C. Strick and Company, Limited for a single voyage. The vessel left New York on Jan. 14, 1926 for Queenstown, Ireland, under command of Capt. Harry Tose, with a cargo of grain, largely in bulk. The ship was damaged in a gale on Jan. 23, 1926 which resulted in the cargo shifting & a list of 6 degrees. The gale got worse (have read it described as a 100 mph hurricane & as being 'one of the greatest storms the Atlantic has ever known'), water entered the ship, the steam failed & the list became 30 degrees. An SOS was sent. *President Roosevelt, (14,187 tons, Captain George Fried, ?/1949), which had arrived at the scene on Jan. 24, 1926, launched a lifeboat (Jan. 25) which capsized with the loss of 2 lives (Wirteman & Ernest Heitman). It would seem however that it was Fritz Steger who died rather than Heitman - Steger, a taxi driver from Germany, apparently was using Heitman's identification papers. The vessels were separated for 18 1/2 hours in the lack of visibility (violent snow squalls). The entire crew (25) of Antinoe* were eventually (after many attempts), rescued days later, on Jan. 27 & 28, 1926, in improving weather, by two more President Roosevelt lifeboats. Robert B. Miller, Chief Officer, commanded multiple lifeboat rescue attempts. Antinoe was abandoned with a list of 50 degrees &, it is presumed, soon sank. At 47.50N/36.00W. About 1250 miles E. of St. John's, Newfoundland. The crew was landed at Plymouth. No blame was attached to any party. Read the detail at the links above. The congratulations of King George V & the Admiralty were sent to the crew of President Roosevelt & to President Coolidge. A ticker-tape parade, no less, was held in New York for Captain Fried & his crew. Medals were issued including those to Frank Roberts, fireman & also Frank M. (Monroe) Upton (1896/1962), 4th Officer of President Roosevelt, both of whom were in the lifeboats' crews. Dale Fisher, Frank Upton's granddaughter, has advised (thanks Dale!) that many New York Times articles related to the Antinoe rescue were saved by Frank Upton's wife, & presented to the 'Congressional Medal of Honor Society Museum', who put them on disk. Why that particular museum? Frank Upton had earlier been awarded a Congressional Medal of Honour for his bravery in 1918 re Florence H. - as you can read here:- A & B. A brilliant long poem about the rescue was written in 1930 by Edwin J. D. (John Dove) Pratt (1882/1964, a Canadian poet). The poem is indeed long, of 990 lines, & takes about 30 pages of 'E. J. Pratt, Complete Poems, Part I, Edited by Sandra Djwa & R. G. Moyles. Published by University of Toronto Press in 1989. This listing was re both Parts 1 & 2. I have read that of his long poems, this particular poem was Pratt's favourite. It would be good to link to a site with the complete text, so you might read the poem for yourself - but I have not yet found such a link. There are a great many WWW links re the sinking. Can you add anything to this listing? Images just must exist of such a famous ship & rescue.
36	Fallodon 3012 (or 3011) tons Hull 190 118348	1903	A cargo ship, probably used mainly as a collier. Per 1 (wreck data), 2 (UC-71), 3 (1917 U-boat attacks), 4 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 339 ft. (about 108 metres) long. Built for London & Northern Steamship Co. Ltd., (Pyman Brothers Limited, the managers), of London. The vessel was sold to 'Pyman, Watson & Co., Ltd.', coal shippers, of Newport, Monmouthshire (Cardiff), in early 1917. On Jun. 16, 1917, defensibly armed, while en route from Cork, Ireland, to Cherbourg, France, with a cargo of hay, the vessel was hit by a torpedo fired by U-61 when S. of Ireland - 9 miles ESE of Mine Head, County Waterford. Fallodon was damaged & beached, but re-floated. No loss of life. Later in 1917, the vessel was sold to 'St. Just Steamship Co. Ltd.', which company was, it would seem, managed by William Reardon Smith & Sons, of Cardiff. On Dec. 28, 1917, defensibly armed, & en route, in ballast, from Le Havre, France, to the Clyde, Fallodon was hit by a torpedo fired by UC-71 (Ernst Steindorff, the commander) & sunk 12 miles SSE of St. Catherine's Point, Isle of Wight. At 50.25.967/01.05.912. One life was lost. The wreck lies in 30/40 metres of water. Thanks go to Michael Lowery of 3 for much of the above data. Can anybody add anything. An image?
37	Regent 3281 (later 3280) tons Hull 188 114650	1903	A cargo ship that was launched on Dec. 17, 1902 & first registered in Jan. 1903. Per 1 ('uboat.net', data & image), 2 ('Southampton City Council/Plimsoll', Lloyd's Register ('LR') data, Regent, 1930 thru 1944 with exceptions), 3 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy duty, Regent), 4 (U-504), 5 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 325.1 ft. long, (99.1 metres), later 324.5 ft., signal letters TSVC, later TBMS & YLBV, speed of 10 knots, 294 HP engines by J. Dickinson & Sons Limited, of Sunderland. Built for James Westoll, of Sunderland, who owned the vessel for a great many years. So far I have seen no references to the vessel's service during WW1. In 1928, 'Fairplay' reported that Westoll had sold the vessel to Captain J. Freymann of Riga, Latvia, for about Ł12,250. My reading of the data is that Freymann continued to own the vessel until its loss in 1942, though the name would seem to have been LR recorded as J. Freimanis in 1928 & later as J. Freymann (1930/31) & later still as J. Freyman (from 1931/32). Latvijas Kugniecibas Sabiedriba, i.e. Latvian Shipping Co., were apparently the vessel's managers. I read that when Latvia was annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940, Regent was one of 8 ships that chose not to return to Riga & served instead under the Latvian flag. I can only spot 2 references to the ship's WW2 convoy duties - i) from New Brunswick, to Halifax, both Canada, in Apl. 1942 (Convoy VX-11), & onward to Cornerbrook, Newfoundland, & ii) from Halifax to Boston, U.S.A., in May 1942 (Convoy XB19). Soon after 7 p.m. on the evening of Jun. 14, 1942, unaccompanied & en route, with war materials, from Baltimore, U.S.A. to Cristobal (Panama?), Regent was hit by the last two torpedoes available to German submarine U-504 (Hans-Georg Friedrich Poske in command). Regent first capsized & then sank about 200 miles SW of the Cayman Islands. At 17.50N/84.10W. Crew of 25 - 11 lives were lost including Voldemars Reinsons, Regent's captain. Victory Sword, an American tanker (maybe then a cargo ship), had witnessed the sinking & scared U-504 off from attacking another unaccompanied vessel with its deck guns. The survivors were picked up by Atlantida, a Honduran steam ship, & were landed at Burrwood, Louisiana, U.S.A., on Jun. 27, 1942. James Smith advises re Atlantida. & has kindly provided this 'pdf' study of Regent's history, including its WW1 service. John Rutherford advises that his GG grandfather, John or Jack Harrison, known as Jack (J. W.) Britton, served as master of Regent. In the early 1900s, John believes. John kindly has provided the image of a fine painting of Regent available at left. Can anybody add anything. Another image? #1931

38	Benledi 2509/3931 (N/G) (or 3391), later 2549/3996 tons Hull 197 118699 Chetvertyi Krabolov	1904	A cargo ship. Per 1 [Ben Line, Benledi (3)], 2 (on page 3 of Ben Line 'pdf' file, image & text, with account of WW1 attack), 3 (a c.1910 oval oil painting of vessel. The image used to be available at The Taylor Gallery, of London, but no longer), 4 (85% down Chetvertyi Krabolov), 5 ('Lloyds Register', data, 1930/31, Benledi), 6 ('Lloyds Register', data, 1932/33, Cheyvertiy Krabolov), 7 ('Lloyds Register', data, 1932/33 thru 1935/36, Tchetvertiy Krabolov), 8 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 379.0 ft. long (115.52 metres) perpendicular to perpendicular, later 378.0 ft., single screw, speed of 12 knots, signal letters HBNV later UOFH, 352 HP engines by John Dickinson & Sons Ltd. of Sunderland. Built for William Thomson & Company of Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland, which company later (1919) became Ben Line Steamers Ltd., known as Ben Line. The vessel took part, it would seem, in Naval manśuvres in 1906. On Nov. 8, 1917, when west of Gibraltar, the vessel was shelled by U-63. S.O.S. signals were broadcast. The ship's wireless room took a direct hit & the radio officer (Gardiner) was killed. In 1930, the vessel was sold to Russian owners (Dalgosrybtrest?), per 8 the USSR Government, renamed Chetvertyi Krabolov ('4th crabber') (the last name seems to be regularly spelled two different ways but Krabalov would seem to be incorrect) & converted to a crab cannery. Some confusion as to the first word also in that new name - maybe 'Tchetvertiy'. 4 seems to indicate that vessel became owned by 'Krabomorzverotrest' in 1937 & that in 1942 it was requisitioned for WW2 war transport operations. Became U.S. owned? '1944 CHETVERTYI KRABALOV (WSA) under reverse Lend Lease 12.6.44'. And abandoned by Navy Dept. on Oct. 30, 1944 as 'unfit'. Other links state de-listed from Lloyds Register, i.e. most probably scrapped, in 1959. Erlend Bonderud has been in touch (thanks!) to advise that he believes that Krabalov was, on Apl. 10, 1945, sunk by the U.S. Navy at position Charlie, to form part of the north breakwater at Iwo Jima, Japan. As per these images (1 & 2). But . . Was it the correct vessel? Erlend strongly believes the vessel IS the correct one & that the word/name 'Krabalov' was used 'loosely' by the Americans. He has now provided a new & significant link (Historian Eric Wiberg page, search for Benledi, applicable page text is here) about the disposition of the vessel in this e-mail message. Thanks again, Erlend! The vessel's disposition seems now to be known beyond doubt. Does anybody wish to add anything additional?
39	Benvenue 3929 (or 3835) tons Hull 193 118697 Taiyetsu Maru Jinkai Maru	1904	A cargo ship. Per 1 [Ben Line, Benvenue (2)], 2 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 115.5 metres long, perpendicular to perpendicular, (379 ft.), speed of 12 knots. Built for William Thomson & Company of Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland, which company later (1919) became Ben Line of Steamers Ltd., known as Ben Line. The vessel was requisitioned, in May 1916, for WW1 service as a collier (#1160) thru 1919. The vessel was sold in 1926 to Taikoku (or Taihoku) Kisen K.K., of Tokyo, Japan, & renamed Taiyetsu Maru. It was sold again, in 1932, to 'Yamamoto Hidesaburo', of Kobe, Japan, & renamed Jinkai Maru. In 1935, the vessel was sold to 'Sugaya K.K.', of Japan, with no change of name. On Mar. 23, 1937, the vessel, en route from Miike (a coal mine located in western Japan) to Hong Kong, with a cargo of coal, went ashore at Waglan Island, Hong Kong. The vessel broke up & sank in deep water. Presumably no loss of life? Can anybody add anything? Another image?
40	Benavon 3996 tons Hull 199 123011 Piatyi Krabolov Anastas Mikoyan	1905	A cargo ship. Per 1 [Ben Line, Benavon (1)], 2 (75% down Piatty Krabalov & 95% down Piatyi Krabolov), 3 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 115.2 metres long, speed of 11 knots. Per a WWW site now long gone, 'often quoted as being the most beautiful of the Leith Yachts.' Built for William Thomson & Company of Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland, which company later (in 1919) became Ben Line of Steamers Ltd., known as Ben Line. On Sep. 30, 1917, the vessel was attacked by a U-boat on the surface in the Atlantic. The vessels exchanged fire. Benavon survived the encounter - any damage, I wonder? In Feb. 1930, the vessel was sold to Russian owners (Krabotrest?), renamed Piatyi Krabolov, ('Fifth crabber') & converted to a crab cannery. In 1936 the vessel was renamed Anastas Mikoyan. But ... 2 seems to indicate that vessel was renamed in 1934 rather than 1936, & had 4 later owners thru 1970. (1937 Krabomorzverotrest, 1958 DGMP, 1959 Krabomorzverotrest again & 1970 Dalmoreprodukt). Other links say 'delisted from Lloyds Register', i.e. most probably scrapped, in 1959. Some confusion as to the spelling of 'Piatyi'. Can anybody clarify matters?
41	Benlawers 3949 tons Hull 198 118706 Shestoy Krabolov	1905	A cargo ship. Per 1 [Ben Line, Benlawers (2)], 2 (75% down Shestoi Krabolov), 3 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 115.2 metres long, perpendicular to perpendicular, speed of 11 knots. Built for William Thomson & Company of Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland, which company later (1919) became Ben Line of Steamers Ltd., known as Ben Line. The vessel was requisitioned for WW1 service between the final months of 1915 & the end of 1917. In Dec. 1917, the vessel was attacked by a U-boat in the North Sea, but survived the encounter. On May 12, 1918, the vessel struck a mine in the Irish Sea - 5 lives lost but the vessel was able to reach Holyhead. I read that during 1918, Benlawers transported a large number of motor launches, & their crews to the Mediterranean. In 1930, the vessel was sold to Russian owners (Krabotrest?), renamed Shestoy Krabolov, ('Sixth crabber') & converted to a crab cannery. 2 seems to indicate that vessel had 2 later owners thru 1970. (1937 Krabomorzverotrest, & 1970 Dalmoreprodukt). Which last ref. seems not to make sense if the vessel was deleted in 1959, as seems to be so, from Lloyds Register, i.e. most probably then scrapped. Can anybody add anything?
42	Quarrydene 2883 tons Hull 195 120528 King City Anastassia	1905	A cargo ship. Per 1 (SC 15 Anastassia), 2 (Veniero re 1940 attack), 3 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy duty, click on 'SHIP SEARCH' then insert Anastassia), 4 [Reardon Smith, King City (1)], 5 (Farmann), 6 (image, King City), 7 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 100.9 metres (331 ft.) long, speed of 9 knots. Built for London & Northern Steamship Co. Ltd., (Pyman Brothers Limited, managers), of London. On Sep. 11, 1918, the vessel collided with & sank *Farmann, a 205 gross ton yacht, at Alstenfjorden, Norway. Quarrydene* was sold to Sir William Reardon Smith & Sons Ltd. ('Reardon'), (later, in 1928, Reardon Smith Line Ltd.) of Cardiff, & renamed King City. The exact date of that sale is most difficult. Miramar state 1918, while 4 states that the vessel was in 1917 purchased from Pyman Bros, (the managers rather than the owners it would seem), & in 1918 renamed King City. But ... Jon Sowell has advised, (thanks Jon!) that his grandfather, Horace A. (Ashton) Jewell, of Charles, near Barnstable, North Devon, was Master of Quarrydene on Feb. 14, 1919, as per his 'Continuous Certificate of Discharge'. So it would seem that the vessel may only have been, in fact, renamed King City after Feb. 1919. The vessel was sold again, in 1927, to C. Choremis, of Greece, (John Livanos & Sons Ltd., managers), & renamed Anastassia. Just 4 WW2 convoy references, 2 voyages across the N. Atlantic. Differing versions of what happened in Dec. 1940, when the vessel was returning eastbound, en route from Newcastle, New Brunswick, Canada, to Belfast & Sharpness with a cargo of lumber. The vessel joined eastbound convoy SC 15, at Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada, with Cilicia as escort. On Dec. 18, 1940, the vessel was torpedoed by Italian submarine Veniero. At 54.24N/19.04W in the N. Atlantic. 18 of the crew of 28 died. 10 crew members were taken prisoner, presumably by Veniero, & 1 of the 10 died. But *Flowergate* reported sighting the drifting & derelict ship on Dec. 20, 1940. Data a little different at 2, which states that the vessel was torpedoed & sunk with Veniero's deck gun on Dec. 18, 1940 & that only 9 survivors were picked up. Anastassia apparently sank at sea on Dec. 20, 1940. Anything you can add?
43	Rochdale 3718, later 3816 tons Hull 201 123155 Amersham Delphin	1906	A cargo ship, a collier, which was launched on Mar. 14, 1906 & completed in Apl. 1906. Per 1 (ref. to sinking, Delphin, 'Wednesday, 9 October'), 2 ('uboat.net', sinking, image, Delphin), 3 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy duty, the single Delphin convoy, SC.6), 4 ('Southampton City Council/Plimsoll', Lloyds Register data, Delphin, 1930/31 thru 1940/41), 5 (James Smith, 2017 vessel study with detail re WW1 service), 6 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 346.5 ft. long (105.61 metres) perpendicular to perpendicular, speed of 9 (or 8 only) knots, signal letters HFWK, later JHGN & SVNH, 307 HP engines by J. Dickinson & Sons Ltd., of Sunderland. Built for 'Rochdale Steamship Co. Ltd.', of Cardiff. Which may have been a Charles Radcliffe & Co., of London & Cardiff, company, since the 'Bartram' build list on this site records them as being the initial purchasers. James Smith advises (thanks!) that from Dec. 17, 1915 thru a date in 1918 the vessel was requisitioned by the Admiralty for service as a collier - pennant No. Y 3.980 / E 2106. She served not only as a collier however - she also carried sugar, Canadian stores & specifically sugar from Cuba. And served as a collier to northern Russia for the account of the Russian Government. In 1924, the vessel was sold to 'Britain Steamship Co. Ltd.', of London, Watts, Watts & Co. Ltd. the managers, & renamed Amersham. In 1929, the vessel was sold again, to 'Simon and Const. M. Los and E. C. Andreadis', of Chios, Greece, & renamed Delphin. Sometime along the way, the vessel's bridge would seem to have been modified. By 1930/31 the vessel was of 3816 tons. Just 1 WW2 convoy reference, SC.6, from Sydney, Cape Breton, Canada, to Liverpool on Sep. 27, 1940. There may have been independent voyages. Soon after 10 p.m. on Oct. 9, 1940, Delphin, with a cargo of maize & wheat ex Montreal, Canada, bound for Cork, Ireland, was torpedoed by U-103, Kapitän zur See Viktor Schütze in command, 37 miles NNW of Rockall. Out in the N. Atlantic approaching northern Scotland. At 58.11N/ 13.57W. Delphin was a convoy straggler, it would appear. The vessel did not immediately sink, but it did sink on the next day, i.e. on Oct. 10, 1940, at 57.46N/13.50W. I read that no lives were lost, but cannot tell you which vessel rescued the crew. What was the name of Delphin's captain? Zannes Gounaris was also sunk in U-103's attack. During its WW2 career, U-103 sank 45 allied ships & damaged an additional 3 vessels. Anything you can add?
44	Cronstadt 1674 tons Hull 206 123025	1907	A cargo ship. Per 1 (Ben Line, Cronstadt), 2 (bronze medal, 'More'), 3 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 75.4 metres long, perpendicular to perpendicular, (247 ft.), speed of 10 knots. Built for William Thomson & Company of Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland, which company later (1919) became Ben Line of Steamers Ltd., known as Ben Line. A modest ref. to the vessel in 1910 when at St. Petersburg, Russia, on the Baltic - George More, then 2nd Mate, was awarded the Bronze Medal of the Royal Humane Society for his life-saving effort on Jun. 24, 1910. At the outbreak of WW1, in 1914, a large group of ships (100) were detained at St. Petersburg. Can anyone tell us if Cronstadt was in the vessel list? I suspect that it was. The vessel was requisitioned by the British Government in May 1915 for service as a collier during WW1 (Collier #691) - until Feb. 1919. The vessel was attacked by a U-boat on Sep. 30, 1917 in the Atlantic. Likely when Benavon was similarly attacked that same day. On Sep. 4, 1923, while loading petroleum at Lisbon ('Lisboa'), Portugal, fire broke out on the vessel. The vessel was totally destroyed & was later broken up there - in May 1927. The WWW record for this ship is quite limited. Another image? Can anybody add anything?
45	Coniston Water 3738 tons Hull 210 128483	1908	A cargo ship. Per 1 (1913 voyage ex New York), 2 ('uboat.net', sinking, Coniston Water), 3 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 105.6 metres long perpendicular to perpendicular, signal letters HNDB (I think). Built for 'Coniston Water Steamship Company Limited' ('Steamship'), of Cardiff, Wales, 'Macfarlane & Lander', also of Cardiff the managers. It would appear that Steamship was owned by 'Sir Wm. Reardon Smith & Sons Ltd.', of Cardiff. On Oct. 12, 1913, said to be owned by 'Messrs. Macfarlane and Lander', the vessel, under the command of J. S. Simpson & chartered to Vacuum Oil Co. Ltd., left New York for Australian & New Zealand ports with 150,000 cases of oil (benzine, naptha, kerosene etc.). Her final destination was Hobart, Tasmania, where she arrived on Feb. 1, 1914, landed 39,000 cases & then took on board a full cargo of railway sleepers for Colombo, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). On Jul. 21, 1917, while en route from Newport, Wales, to Arkhangelsk (Archangel), Northern Russia, with a cargo of coal, army stores & foodstuffs, the vessel was hit by a torpedo fired by U-87, Kapitänleutnant Rudolf Schneider in command, & sunk. At 59.29N/07.36W, 70 miles NxW of Butt of Lewis, the most northerly point of the Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides. While no lives were lost, 2 advises that one Coniston Water gunner was taken captive by U-87. On Feb. 12, 1918, the members of Steamship, in Extraordinary General Meeting, agreed that the company be voluntarily liquidated & it was liquidated late in that year. The WWW record for this ship is most limited. Another image? It would be good to know in whose name the vessel was Lloyd's registered in 1908 & after. Can anybody add anything? #1876
46	Cedar Branch 3554 (or 3553) tons Hull 217 123970 Aenos	1910	A cargo ship. Per 1 [Nautilus, *Cedar Branch* (2)], 2 (Wikipedia, Aenos), 3 ('uboat.net', Aenos, image), 4 (U-38), 5 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy duty, click on 'SHIP SEARCH' then insert Aenos), 6 (convoy SC-7), 7 ('Southampton City Council/Plimsoll', Lloyd's Register data, Aenos, 1932/33 thru 1940/41), 8 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 119.0 metres long perpendicular to perpendicular (390.5 ft.), speed of 10 1/2 or 11 knots, fiddle (or clipper) bow, signal letters JHWL later SVGI. Built for Nautilus Steam Shipping Co. Ltd., owned by F. & W. Ritson, of Sunderland (known as 'Branch Line'). Have also read references to Cedar Branch being in 'Gulf Line' serving the W. coast of S. America, i.e. Chile, Peru & Ecuador. Was the vessel requisitioned for WW1 service, I wonder? The later Lloyd's Registry data is a puzzle. I have read that in 1932 (have also read 1930 & 1931), the vessel was sold to 'Zephyros Steamship Co. Ltd.' ('Zephyros'), of Athens, Greece, or of Argostoli, Kefalonia, Greece, 'A. Lusi Ltd.', of London, the manager, & renamed Aenos. However Aenos, from 1932/33 thru 1936/37, was registered in the name of A. Lusi. The 1937/38 edition of Lloyd's indicates that Zephyros then became the owner. So other data I have read, that in 1937, the vessel was acquired by the Government of Greece, with no change of name seems to be incorrect. Subject to its service prior to Oct. 1940, whatever that service was, the vessel had a short WW2 career. Was in just one convoy, SC-7, leaving Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada, for Liverpool on Oct. 5, 1940. The vessel had sailed from Sorel, Quebec, to Sydney, with a cargo of 6,276 tons of wheat, for delivery at Manchester. She was, I read, the first vessel to be sunk ex that convoy, but certainly was not the last. 20 of 37 merchant ships were sunk & 6 were damaged. The convoy was intercepted by a pack of 7 u-boats. Aenos was a convoy straggler when spotted early (at 9.57 a.m.) on Oct. 17, 1940 by U-38, which fired a G7e torpedo (which missed), then surfaced & shelled the ship until she sank at 10.52 a.m. At 59.03N/12.24W, about 450 miles W. of the Isle of Lewis. 4 lives were lost. 25 survivors were picked up by Eaglescliffe Hall, also a straggler, & landed on Oct. 18, 1940 at Gourock, River Clyde, Scotland. Can anybody add anything? Another image?
47	Benlomond 4887 (or 4159) tons Hull 219 129407	1911	A cargo ship. Per 1 [Ben Line, Benlomond (2)], 2 (1929 service, 1st table), 3 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 123.4 metres long, perpendicular to perpendicular, (405 ft.), speed of 12 knots. Built for William Thomson & Company of Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland, which company later (1919) became Ben Line Steamers Ltd., known as Ben Line. At the outbreak of WW1, in 1914, Benlomond was in a large group of ships detained in the Baltic. Was requisitioned by the British Government for service during WW1, 'between the final months of 1915 to the end of 1917'. It would seem that in 1929 at least, Benlomond was part of 'Java-China-Japan Lijn', serving Sourabaya, Balikpapan, Manila & Amoy. On Mar. 3, 1932, the vessel arrived at Shanghai, China, to be broken up. The WWW record for this ship is quite limited. Can anybody add anything?
48	Maisie 4425 (or 4410) tons Hull 220 132627 Scatwell Antonis G. Lemos	1911	A cargo ship. Per 1 (Lot 120, data, 60 1/2 in. long builders model, sold by 'Charles Miller Ltd.' on Jul. 17, 2008 for Ł17,000. Image now at left), 2 (Cairn Line, Scatwell), 3 (collision with Keith, Aug. 24), 4 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 117.3 metres long, perpendicular to perpendicular, (385 ft.), speed of 11 knots. Built for 'Laming D'Ambrumenil Steamship Co. Ltd.', 'A. Laming & Co.', of London, the managers. In 1918, the vessel was sold to 'Harris & Dixon Limited', of London, & renamed Scatwell. On the Gibraltar to New York service, perhaps. Later in 1918, the vessel was sold again, to 'Portloe Shipping Co. Ltd.', & in 1919 it was sold again to 'Tempus Shipping Co. Ltd.' ('Tempus') & then to T. Lewis & Co. of London, in all cases with no change of vessel name. Have seen references to the name of 'W. E. Hinde' ('Hinde'), of Cardiff, maybe they owned or were the managers for Lewis? In 1919 or 1920, the vessel was sold (by Hinde) to 'Cairn Line of Steamships Ltd.' with no change of name. While I have read only limited detail ex eBay, it would seem that in May 1923, the vessel was in collision with a vessel named 'Pensecola' (now Miramar do not list a vessel of that name so it may have been Pensacola). A wire was caught around the vessel's propeller, & in Jun. 1923 the vessel suffered a fire at sea, 'which damaged huge amounts of flour wheat butter'. Can anybody add additional detail? In Jun. 1928, the vessel was sold, for Ł34,325, to 'S. A. & P. A. Lemos', (Spyros & Polydoros, sons of Antonis G. Lemos), of Chios, Greece, & renamed Antonis G. Lemos. In a data 'snippet', I read that at an unknown date in 1936, the vessel, badly damaged, called for immediate assistance, when 75 miles W. of Bermuda. On Aug. 24, 1936, while en route, with a cargo of coal, from Danzig (Gdansk), Germany, to Buenos Aires, Argentina, (though 4 has it the other way around), the vessel was in collision, in dense fog, with Keith, a 1400 ton British destroyer. At 49.56N/2.17W or perhaps at 49.56N/2.15W, roughly in the middle of the English Channel, S. of Portland, & sank within a few hours. No loss of life, it would seem, & the crew was later landed at Portsmouth. Have not read the circumstances. The WWW record for the ship is limited, & the data 'differs', so the above may well need correction. Can anybody add to or correct the above?
49	Radnorshire 4302 (or 4310) tons Hull 228 135237 laid down as Salopian	1913	A cargo ship. Per 1 (Möwe), 2 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 385 ft. long, speed of 10 knots. Laid down as Salopian. Built for 'John Mathias & Sons of Aberystwyth's Cambrian Steam Navigation Co.'. The vessel was sold, later in 1913, to Royal Mail Steam Packet Co., as Radnorshire. On Jan. 7, 1917, en route from Pernambuco (now Recife), Brazil, to London & Le Havre with a cargo of coffee, cocoa & sugar, she was captured by the most successful German Hilfskreuzer Möwe (generally referred to as Mowe), in the South Atlantic about 110 miles north of Pernambuco. No loss of life, it would seem. Crew taken aboard Möwe & then Hudson Maru & taken to Pernambuco, Brazil. The vessel was sunk on Jan. 8, 1917. A now long gone website referred to SMS Seagull capturing the vessel. The reason for that reference would seem to be that the German word 'möwe' translates into English as 'seagull'. Can anybody provide an image?
50	Benrinnes 4791 (or 4798) tons Hull 233 135099 Thorpeness	1914	A cargo ship. Per 1 [Ben Line, Benrinnes (1)], 2 (70% down), 3 (data, see English text), 4 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 123.4 metres long, speed of 12 1/2 knots. The vessel was built for William Thomson & Co., of Leith, Scotland, i.e. Ben Line, which mainly traded to the Far East. It was sold, in 1937, to Westcliff Shipping Co., of London, (G. O. Till managers?), & renamed Thorpeness. The vessel was used as a blockade runner during the Spanish Civil War. And, on Jan. 20, 1938, the vessel was damaged during an air raid on Tarragona, Spain. 7 were killed & 8 were wounded. On Jun. 22, 1938, while en route from Marseilles, France, to Valencia, Spain, with a cargo of wheat, the vessel was hit by an aerial torpedo in an air attack by a Rightist aircraft & sunk, a mile off Valencia. I presume there was no loss of life. Can you add anything?
51	Etonian 4306 (or 5712) tons Hull 231 136654 Clan Keith Hilarius Clan Keith Orminster	1914	A cargo ship. Per 1 [Clan Line, Clan Keith (1)], 2 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy duty, click on 'SHIP SEARCH' then insert Orminster. And beware! The page you come to includes Corminster), 3 ('uboat.net', sinking, image, Orminster), 4 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 117.3 metres long, perpendicular to perpendicular, speed of 10 1/2 (or just 10) knots. Built for Cambrian Steam Navigation Co. Ltd. ('Cambrian'), of Cardiff, John Mathias & Sons, of London, the managers. Cambrian apparently named its vessels after English 'public' schools, hence Etonian, Harrovian, etc. In 1916, the vessel was requisitioned by the British Government, presumably for WW1 service. The vessel was sold, in 1918, to Clan Line Steamers Ltd. ("Clan"), of Glasgow, Cayzer, Irvine and Co. Ltd., the owners & managers, & renamed Clan Keith. In 1920 or 1921, the vessel was transferred to British and South African Steam Navigation Co. Ltd., ('Houston Line') R. P. Houston and Company, the managers, both of which were owned by Clan, & renamed Hilarius. In 1923 or 1924, the vessel reverted to Clan & was renamed Clan Keith. In 1937, the vessel was sold, for Ł23,000, to Minster Steamship Co. Ltd., of London, Thomas Eeles & Co., also of London, the managers, & renamed Orminster. In 1940, the vessel was sold to South American Saint Line Ltd., of Cardiff, with B and S Shipping Co. Ltd. the managers, with no change of vessel name. 66 WW2 convoy references (I think), mainly U.K. coastal but including at least 6 N. Atlantic crossings, service into the western Mediterranean, to Freetown, W. Africa, & into the Caribbean (Trinidad, Key West, Guantanamo). The vessel made a couple of voyages to Seine Bay, France, in Jun. & Aug. 1944, re the Normandy landings, but did not return from the second such voyage. On Aug. 25, 1944, while under the command of Harold Gittins, the vessel, returning from the Normandy Beaches, was a straggler in convoy FTM-74. At 2:43 p.m. that day, the vessel was hit by a torpedo fired by U-480, Oberleutnant zur See Hans-Joachim Förster in command. At 50.09N/00.44W, 35 miles NW of Cap d'Antifer, France. 4 lives were lost, 3 gunners & a single crew member, (I have also read that 6 were lost). 59 persons, including the Captain, 14 gunners & an Army storekeeper, were picked up HMS Pennywort (K 111) & by HMS Damsay (T 208), neither of which were FTM-74 escort vessels, & landed at Portsmouth. Can you add anything?
52	Kamenetz-Podolsk 5071, later 3145/5079, later 3131/5117 (N/G) tons Hull 237 138754	1915	A steel steamship which was launched on Aug. 12, 1915 & completed in Oct. 1915. Was intended to be Narew but was completed as Kamenetz-Podolsk. Per 1 (fine builder's model of the vessel), 2 (extensive data, incl. voyage data, per Royal Fleet Auxiliary Historical Society), 3 (Southampton City Council/ Plimsoll, Lloyd's Register ('LR') data, 1930/31 thru 1935/36), 4 (Miramar, as Kamenets-Podolsk, link, you now must be registered to access). Visitors will enjoy viewing the images at link 1 re a builder's model of the vessel which was sold at a 'Boston Harbour Auctions' auction on Sep. 26, 2015. The model, 62 in. long & most detailed, sold for U.S. $8,400. 400.0 ft. (121.92 metres) long perpendicular to perpendicular, signal letters JVBS later KPSC, KREN, RACZ & UNZW, 476 HP engines by John Dickinson & Sons Ltd. of Sunderland. The vessel was built for the 'Russian Volunteer Fleet Association' (see here) of Petrograd (St. Petersburg), Russia. On Apl. 22, 1918, the vessel was registered at Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Which is a puzzle since I read that on Nov. 28, 1917, the vessel had become registered at London, as (Kamenetz Podolsh, per Mercantile Navy Lists ('MNL') of 1919 thru 1923), owned by The Shipping Controller (i.e. the British Government) with Robert L. Forbes of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. of London, serving as the vessel's managers. (MNL of 1920 is here). On Jan. 17, 1918, Dorie was in collision with Kamenetz Podolsk off Gibraltar & suffered damages to the extent of approx. Ł5,158. Later, in 1923, Dorie Steamship Company Ltd., the owners of Dorie, unsuccessfully tried to maintain their rights to sue Kamenetz Podolsk re such damage. In Mar. 1918 the vessel was requisitioned for Admiralty service for two voyages carrying wheat from the U.S.A. On Jul. 13, 1918 the vessel was re-deployed as a collier, then carried maize & wool between South Africa & Italy, & wheat from South America (River Plate). On Feb. 18, 1920, when in the Indian Ocean & en route from Fremantle (Perth), Western Australia, to Plymouth via Durban with a cargo of wheat, a fire broke out in one of her bunkers. The fire, believed to have been caused by spontaneous combustion, was brought under control with no damage to the vessel. In 1923, the vessel was laid up in Gairloch, Western Scotland, for a while. Also in 1923, the vessel became owned by the 'Anglo-Russian Volunteer Fleet Ltd.' of London. Per MNL of 1925, now Kamenetz Podolsk, with Nicolas Rjewusky serving as the vessel's manager. MNLs of 1926 & 1927 advise that Arcos Ltd., of London, was the vessel's then owner, with Alexander Yasvoin, c/o Arcos Steamship Co. Ltd. of London, her manager. In 1927, the vessel became owned by 'Sovtorgflot' (thru 1934/35), a joint stock company formed in 1924, & registered at Leningrad (St. Petersburg), Russia. Link 2, however, states that the vessel was rather sold to 'Black Sea State Shipping Co.' of Leningrad. LR of 1935/36 states 'U.S.S.R.' to be her then owner. On Feb. 17, 1936, in Gravesend Reach, River Thames, the (outbound) vessel was in collision with the (inbound) 9429 gross ton steamship Gleniffer, owned by Glen Line Ltd. of Newcastle. Kamenetz Podolsk was seriously damaged in the collision. Have not been able to read the decision of the resulting court case. On Aug. 30, 1941, the vessel, then off Elkiotshan or Elkjotshan (cannot exactly place, but near the entrance to Kerch Strait, Black Sea/Sea of Azov, Ukraine) was bombed & sunk by German aircraft. At 44.49N/36.06E. Have seen no references to casualties so I presume there were none. Clarification is needed re a number of matters referenced above. Crew lists, thru 1927, are available here. Kamenetz Podolsk (Kamianets-Podilskyi, S/W Ukraine) is noted in history for the massacre which took place there on Aug. 27/28, 1941. 23,600 Hungarian Jews, deported in freight cars from Hungary to German controlled Galicia in the summer of 1941, were there slaughtered - by the German Nazi Police, by Hungarian soldiers & by the Ukrainian Auxiliary Police. An infamous chapter in the history of the world. Can you add anything additional? #2057
53	Ennistown 824 tons Hull 240 140288 Sunnycroft Carterside Yewkyle	1917	A cargo ship. Per 1 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy duty, click on 'SHIP SEARCH' then insert Yewkyle), 2 (Sylvia Beale, 9th item down), 3 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 59.4 metres long, perpendicular to perpendicular, (195 ft.), have not read her speed. Built for Town Line (London) Ltd., of Cardiff perhaps, despite the company name, 'Harrison, Sons & Co. Ltd.', of Cardiff, the managers. The vessel was sold, in 1922, to Triumph Steamship Co., & renamed Sunnycroft. In 1923, the vessel was sold to The Side Shipping Co. Ltd. ('Side'), of Newcastle, 'Connell & Grace Ltd.' the managers, & renamed Carterside. Side would appear to have been wound up in 1939. Vessel was however sold in 1938 to J. Stewart & Co. Shipping Limited, of Glasgow, & renamed Yewkyle. 46 WW2 convoy references, mainly U.K. coastal, but including 8 voyages to Seine Bay, France, re the Normandy landings from Jun. thru Sep. 1944. To Norway in Mar. 1940. On Aug. 17, 1940, the vessel was hit by bombs & gunfire from German aircraft. At 52.27N/05.45W, in St. George's Channel between Ireland & Wales. Probably an independent voyage that 'convoyweb.org' does not permit me to access. On Jan. 19, 1945, the vessel, when en route from Blyth to Portsmouth, was in collision with Sylvia Beale (also a Sunderland built ship) & sank. At 52.09N/1.50E, off the Suffolk coast (Aldeburgh). It would seem that both vessels were in the port column of a S. bound convoy & Yewkyle was crossing the bow of Sylvia Beale at the time of the collision. The *Yewkyle* would seem to have been at fault. I have not been able to read the circumstances. However, there does not appear, per 2, to have been any Jan. 1945 convoy references for the vessel. Probably no loss of life. Can you confirm that or otherwise add anything?
54	Hindustan 4990 tons Hull 239 137266 Korean Prince Diamantis	1917	A cargo ship. Per 1 (70% down Common Bros. history), 2 (Prince Line), 3 (Diamantis & image), 4 (Diamantis data galore), 5 (painting of rescue of crew from high seas), 6 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 400 ft. (about 127 metres) long, speed of 11 knots. Built for Hindustan Steam Shipping Co. Ltd. ('Owner'), of Newcastle (Common Bros. the managers). The 4th vessel of the name for Owner. In 1918, the vessel was sold to Prince Line Ltd., (Furness, Withy the managers), & renamed Korean Prince. Was sold again, in 1934, to Diamantis J. Pateras & Sons, of Chios, Greece, & renamed Diamantis. On Oct. 3, 1939, under the command of Master Panagos Pateras, the vessel was en route from Pepel (Sierra Leone, i.e. Freetown) to Barrow-in-Furness with a cargo of manganese. The vessel was stopped in bad weather by U-35, 40 miles W. of the Scilly Islands. At approx. 49.19N/05.35W but that location seems not to jive. The crew was ordered to abandon ship & 2 torpedoes were fired but exploded prematurely. A 3rd torpedo sank the vessel. Werner Lott, the U-boat captain, knew the Diamantis lifeboats were not suited for the bad weather & in 7 trips in a small boat took all 26 crew aboard & landed them next day at Dingle Bay in neutral Ireland. Walter Kalabuch, a crew member of U-35, was awarded the Iron Cross, second class, for his part in the rescue. Captain Lott, however, was later rebuked by the U-Boat command for putting his vessel & crew in danger. So, thanks to Captain Lott, no loss of life. Can you add anything?
55	Clan Macbean 5052 (or 5000) tons Hull 243 141876 Anglos Korthion Audax	1918	A cargo ship. Per 1 [Clan Line, Clan Macbean (1)], 2 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy duty, click on 'SHIP SEARCH' then insert Clan Macbean), 3 ('uboat.net', Goodwood sinking), 4 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 121.9 metres long perpendicular to perpendicular, 411 ft. 10 in., speed of 11 1/2 knots. Built for Clan Line of Steamers Ltd. ("Clan"), of Glasgow, Cayzer, Irvine and Co. Ltd., the owners & managers. The 1st of 2 fleet vessels of the name. 76 WW2 convoy references, including at least 1 North Atlantic crossing, (returning with sugar, fruit etc.), service in the Indian Ocean, (Bombay, Madras, Bandar Abbas, Suez), in the Mediterranean (Bone, Algiers, Port Said), to Africa (Freetown, Takoradi, Lagos, Cape Town), Caribbean & U.K. coastal. A large list of 'independent' voyages is available - access via the link at page bottom at 2. On Oct. 13, 1939, the vessel left Gibraltar for Liverpool in convoy HG.3. 5 days later, on Oct. 18, 1939, a submarine fired a torpedo at Clan Macbean but missed, then surfaced & shelled the ship. Captain Ernest Coultas retaliated by attempting to ram the submarine & came within 100 ft. of her before the submarine crash dived leaving its gun crew awash on her deck. Robert Almeida advises (thanks!) that in Jul. 1940, Clan Macbean was used in convoy HG 39 to transport 313 civilian population evacuees from Gibraltar to Cardiff, Wales. On Aug. 27, 1940, the ship rescued, after 5 days at sea, 34 crew members & a gunner from Brookwood, which vessel, was torpedoed, S. of Iceland, by U-37, then set on fire by gunfire & sunk. They landed the 35 at Freetown, Sierra Leone. In 1947, the vessel was sold to, I think, Okeanis Shipping Co. Ltd., likely of Malta, Goulandris Bros Ltd., of Andros, Greece, the managers, & renamed Anglos. The vessel was sold again, in 1949, to 'G. N. Louloudis et al', of Paris, France & Piraeus, Greece, & renamed Korthion. In 1950, the vessel was sold for the last time, to 'U. Gennari', of Italy, (possibly 'U. Gennari fu Torquato & Co.', of Ancona), & renamed Audax. On Jun. 8, 1959, the vessel arrived at Yawata, Kyoto, Japan, to be broken up. Can you add anything? Or correct the above?
56	War Cygnet 5271 tons Hull 245 142628 Sierra Blanca Queen Eleanor Pelorum Rio Chico Pelorum	1918	A 'B' type dry cargo ship. Per 1 (New Zealand, Queen Eleanor), 2 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 125.6 metres (400 ft.) long, speed of 11 knots. Built for The Shipping Controller & managed by E. Bigland & Co., of London. The vessel was sold, in 1919, to 'Soc. Transoceanique de Transports', of Antwerp, Belgium, (R. van Hemelryck, the managers?), & renamed Sierra Blanca. In 1924, the vessel was sold again, to Queen Line Ltd., of Glasgow, (T. Dunlop & Sons the managers?) & renamed Queen Eleanor. Visited Auckland, New Zealand, 4 times between Nov. 1927 & Jan. 1935. In 1938, the vessel was sold to 'Transmediterranea S.A. di Nav.', of Palermo, Sicily, & renamed Pelorum. In 1941, the vessel was seized by the Argentine Government, became part of 'Flota Mercante del Estado', of Buenos Aires, & renamed Rio Chico. In 1946, the vessel was returned to Italy, became owned by 'Salvatore Tagliavia', of Palermo, & again named Pelorum. On Dec. 27, 1952, the vessel arrived at Palermo, Sicily, to be broken up. Was broken up in 1953. Can you add anything?
57	War Perch 5226 tons Hull 244 142440 Trojan Prince Hoosac Nemanja	1918	A 'B' type dry cargo ship. Per 1 (modest data Trojan Prince, 55% down), , 2 [Prince Line, Trojan Prince (2)], 3 (Warren Line, Hoosac), 4 (Nemanja), 5 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy duty, click on 'SHIP SEARCH' then insert Nemanja), 6 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 125.6 metres (400 ft.) long, speed of 10 1/2 or 11 knots. Built for The Shipping Controller & managed by J. Westoll, of Sunderland. The vessel was sold, in 1919, to Prince Line Ltd., of Newcastle, [owned by Furness Withy & Company ('Furness')] & renamed Trojan Prince. In 1924, the vessel was transferred to Warren Line (Liverpool) Ltd. (also owned by Furness) & renamed Hoosac. In 1926, the vessel was sold to 'Atlanska Plovidba Ivo Racic', of Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia, & renamed Nemanja. The vessel was sold again, in 1930, to Petrinovic & Co's 'Jugoslavenska (or Jugoslavenski) Lloyd Akcionarsko Drustvo', of Zagreb, Yugoslavia. Just 6 WW2 convoy references, including likely 3 N. Atlantic crossings, (can only spot 2 W. bound voyages) & service to W. Africa (Freetown). I presume that there were many independent voyages also. On Apl. 8, 1942, while en route from San Pedro de Macaris, Dominican Republic, to the U.K. via Halifax, Canada, with a cargo of sugar, the vessel was hit by a single torpedo fired by U-84 (earlier salvo of 2 torpedoes missed) & sunk, 195 miles off Cape Sable, Nova Scotia. At 40.30N/64.50W. 13 lives lost including the master (his name?), 34 survived (rescued by ?). Can you add anything?
58	Easterly 5186 (or 5114 or 5286) tons Hull 248 143367 Vermont launched as War Collie	1919	A 'B' type dry cargo ship. Per 1 ('uboat.net', Vermont), 2 (Convoy HX-1), 3 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy duty, Vermont, one ref. only to this vessel, if it is, in fact, this vessel, since stated to have been built in 1932), 4 (French Line, CGT), 5 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 125.6 metres (400 or 412.6 ft.) long, speed of 10 or 10 1/2 knots. Launched as War Collie for The Shipping Controller but completed as Easterly. Confusion as to who then owned the vessel. Maybe i) 'Fratres Ltd.', of London, with Brown, Jenkinson & Co. the managers, or ii) the U.S. Government, or iii) Sir R. Mathias & Co., of Cardiff, who seem to have sold it in 1921 to Compagnie Générale Transatlantique ('CGT'), of Havre, France. The build list here states, however, that Sir R. Mathias & Co. was the initial purchaser. CGT renamed it Vermont. Used on service to Gulf of Mexico. The vessel was 'désarmé' (disarmed?) on Apl. 8, 1932 at Roscanvel, Brittany, repaired at Le Havre & returned to service only in 1936. What does that all mean? 4 years to repair it? Was it totally rebuilt? It would seem that the vessel left Halifax, Canada, in convoy HX-1, on Sep. 16, 1939, for Bordeaux, France, via Liverpool where it arrived on Sep. 30, 1939, with a cargo of lead & aircraft. But see the words at the foot of 5. Link 4 says that the vessel left Portsmouth in a convoy & dispersed from it. But no Portsmouth convoy reference that I can see. Early on Oct. 15, 1939, while en route from Havre to New Orleans in ballast, & unescorted, the vessel was shelled by *U-37*. The crew abandoned ship & a boarding party from the submarine went aboard to place explosives. When those explosives did not detonate, the vessel was shelled & a torpedo fired to sink it. At 48.01N/17.22W. In the N. Atlantic, about 600 miles SW of Ireland. 2 lives lost. Have not read the circumstances or how & where the survivors (how many?) were landed. However, a lifeboat capsized & several crew members fell into the water. Many unclear matters in the above account, which surely need correction, if that is possible. Can you add anything?
59	Stonewall 4968 (or 5073 or 5074) tons Hull 253 138929 Silverbirch Ardenhall Cefnbryn Galeb Vest Siredal Regulus Ruth	1920	A 'B' type dry cargo ship. Which had a lot of names! Per 1 ('cigarboxlabels', a fine 1921 Stock Certificate, Garland), 2 [West Hartlepool, Ardenhall (2)], 3 (extensive data, Vest), 4 [Silver Line, Silverbirch (2)], 5 [Silver Line, Silverbirch (2), 1st item on page], 6 (2nd vessel, Regulus, with image), 7 (Norwegian page, image as Vest), 8 (WW2 convoy duty, insert Vest, but beware the result which includes many other vessels, link), 9 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 121.9 metres long perpendicular to perpendicular, (400.2 ft), speed of 10 1/2 knots. Built for Garland Steamship Corporation, of New York, New York, U.S.A. The vessel was sold, in 1923, to St. Helen's Shipping Co., maybe with '(1912) Ltd.' at name end, of London, 'S. & J. Thompson', the managers, & renamed Silverbirch. In 1924, the vessel was sold to West Hartlepool Steam Navigation Company, of West Hartlepool, & renamed Ardenhall. In 1936, it was sold again, to 'Kilvey Shipping Co. Ltd.' of Swansea, (maybe Cardiff also), Wales, ('Ambrose Davies & Matthews', the managers), & renamed Cefnbryn or perhaps Cefnybryn or Cefn-y-bryn. Can anyone advise which is correct? The vessel was sold again, later in 1936, to 'Jugoslavenska Plovidba DD', of Sušak (Rijeka), Yugoslavia, & renamed Galeb. In 1939, it was sold to D/S A/S Carolvore, of Farsund, Norway, ('Lundegaard & Sřnner', (i.e. 'Sons'), the managers) & renamed Vest. I believe 45 WW2 convoy references, including at least 5 crossings of the N. Atlantic, service in Mediterranean & to W. Africa (Freetown), & many UK coastal voyages. She carried varied cargoes - steel, lumber, iron ore, coal, etc. We thank particularly 3 for their extensive words about events in 1943 at Brindisi & Bari, on the Adriatic coast of southern Italy. The vessel was hit by a bomb, the bridge destroyed & the funnel lost & was, as a result, partially gutted by fire. Due to good fortune, no Vest lives were lost (many injuries however), but 1000 lives in total were lost in the overall aerial attack on Allied shipping at Bari on Dec. 2, 1943. An attack in which 17 ships were sunk & many more were damaged. Vessel was under repair for the rest of WW2. We are not done with the ownership changes! In 1950, the vessel was sold to 'A/S Norsk Rutefart', of Kristiansand, Norway, A. I. Langfeldt & Co. the managers, & next year, in 1951, was renamed Siredal. In 1954, the vessel was sold to 'Skibs A/S Motor', (Einar Salvesen, Kragerř, the manager), & in 1956 renamed Regulus. And sold for the last time, in 1959, to 'Bowring & Curry GmbH', of Hamburg, Germany, & renamed Ruth. On Oct. 29, 1959, the vessel arrived at the Hong Kong facilities of 'Chiapas Hua Manufactory Co. (1947) Ltd.' to be broken up. I guess that was yet another sale wasn't it, i.e. the sale to the ship breaker! After all of the above, I can tell you very little about where she went & what she did other than her WW2 experiences as above. Can you add anything?
60	Ramsay 5053 (later 5085 & 5207) tons Hull 254 146146 Kerkplein RO-23 Ossendrecht Alstertor	1921	A 'B' type dry cargo ship. Per 1 [Bolton, history, *Ramsay* (2)], 2 [Bolton Steam, Ramsay (2)], 3 (Kerkplein, aground in 1935, details & images), 4 (data, in German, mainly re RO-23), 5 ('Lloyds Register', data, 1930/31 thru 1945/46, Kerkplein), 6 (extensive data, in Dutch, at page bottom, with image of Ossendrecht), 7 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 400.0 ft. long, 121.9 metres perpendicular to perpendicular, speed of 11 (or 10) knots, signal letters PGPK, possibly DKFO & DHKW, PHJC & PFIW (last two Kerkplein). The vessel was in the process of being built when acquired by 'Bolton Steam Shipping Company Ltd.' ('Bolton'), of London, 'F. Bolton & Co.' the managers. Bolton were known as operators of small cargo vessels named after artists beginning with the letter 'R' [in this case Allan Ramsay (1713/1784)] which carried Welsh coal to Mediterranean bunkering stations & returned with grain, hemp & cotton seed from the Black Sea. The second fleet vessel of the name (Ramsay #1 of 1902). The original Bolton went into voluntary liquidation on Sep. 12, 1917. 4 years later, in 1921, a new company, of the identical name, was set up. With the decline of the Black Sea trade, the vessel was involved in the grain trade to Australia & in trading in the Far East. In 1929, the vessel was sold to N.V. Scheepvaart Maatschappij "Millingen" ('Millingen'), of Rotterdam, 'G. A. Spliethoff' the manager, & renamed Kerkplein. Was engaged in the shipment of iron ore from Narvik (northern Norway) to Rotterdam. On Nov. 16, 1930, the vessel ran aground at Narvik but it would seem it suffered no damage & loaded its cargo of iron ore for Rotterdam. On Oct. 19, 1935, the vessel was en route, in ballast, from IJmuiden, North Holland, to Rotterdam (or maybe from Narvik to Rotterdam). In a heavy SW gale, the vessel was driven aground at Egmond aan Zee, near Amsterdam & the 'van Speijck' lighthouse. Drente, an IJmuiden tugboat, came to her assistance. 3 times the Drente got a tow cable aboard but each time it broke. On the 3rd try, the tow cable fouled Drente's propeller & Drente herself was driven ashore. Her crew were rescued by an oared lifeboat which made two trips in high seas to save the entire crew. Drente ended up a total loss. Kerkplein survived the encounter being eventually towed off by tugboats Witte Zee & Ebro, of L. Smit & Co's International Towing Service. On May 15, 1940, the vessel arrived at Rotterdam from New York. It was seized by the German Government, I believe on Aug. 19, 1940, & became *RO-23, a raw material carrier for Germany, for the duration of WW2. I had difficulty in WWW translating into English, the data at 8. 'RO', I learn, stands for 'Rohstoff' - raw materials, needed to supply the military machine of the Third Reich. Thanks to 'Southampton City Council/Plimsoll', Lloyd's Register data for Kerkplein* is WWW available re 1930/31 thru 1945/46 - see left - Lloyd's did not record the vessel as RO-23. On May 9, 1945, the vessel was at Christiansand, Norway, with 1,200 tons of ammunition & 6,000 tons of copper ore. On Aug. 8, 1945, the vessel was returned to Holland, became Dutch Government property, but was returned to Millingen, its owner. They repaired the vessel & put it back into service. On Oct. 4, 1946, the vessel, in ballast, ran aground on the N. side of Hogsty reef, southern Bahamas, while en route from Cardiff to Havana, Cuba. James H. Price came to the vessel's assistance but 'this was not a success'. It would seem that the vessel freed itself & made its way to Norfolk, Virginia, for repairs. In 1947, the vessel was sold, to 'Phs van Ommeren' (P. van Ommeren's Scheepvaart Bedrijf NV), & renamed Ossendrecht. In 1950, the vessel was sold to 'Porta Hamburg Reederei GmbH', of Hamburg, Germany, 'Fisser & van Doornum', of Emden, the managers, & renamed Alstertor. On Sep. 18, 1953, the vessel arrived at the Bremerhaven, Germany, ship breaking facilities of 'Eisen & Metall KG Lehr & Co.', to be broken up. The above text surely contains errors (& has omissions also) due to the webmaster's inability in Dutch & German - the WW2 history of RO-23 in particular. Can you correct the above and/or add anything additional? #1880
61	Malistan 5553 tons Hull 255 148050 Marajó	1924	A tanker. Per 1 (Common Brothers history 1/3rd down), 2 (modest Malistan image), 3 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). About 127 metres long, speed of 10 knots. The vessel, then with no name, was launched on Jan. 13, 1922. But was laid up until sold, on Feb. 6, 1924, to Common Bros., presumably to 'Hindustan Steam Shipping Co. Ltd.', of Newcastle, owned by 'Common Brothers Ltd.' (the ship's managers). In 1936, the vessel was sold to the Brazilian Navy & renamed Marajó. The vessel supplied the Brazilian Navy with fuel oil during WW2 when it was armed with a 120 mm cannon & a 20 mm Madsen machine gun & carried a crew of 92. Miramar indicates 'stricken' on May 30, 1950, presumably meaning being then struck off the Brazilian Navy list. Broken up at Rio de Janeiro. Can you add anything?
62	Peterston 4680 tons Hull 258 148561 Burhaven Andrew T. Raloo Paraporti	1925	A cargo ship. Per 1 (Wikipedia, Evan Thomas, Radcliffe, Peterston 1925), 2 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy duty, click on 'SHIP SEARCH' then insert Peterston), 3 (data, image available, Andrew T.), 4 ('Lloyds Register', data, Peterston, from 1930/31 thru 1945/46 ex 'Southampton City Council/Plimsoll'), 5 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 117.5 metres long (385.4 ft.) perpendicular to perpendicular, overall 400.0 ft., speed of 10 knots, signal letters KSGQ. The vessel was built, at a price of Ł84,647 I read, for 'Llangorse Steamship Company Ltd.', Evan Thomas, Radcliffe & Company, of Cardiff, the managing owners. 97 WW2 convoy references including 10 N. Atlantic crossings carrying such cargoes as grain, lumber, sugar & wood pulp. Service to W. Africa (Freetown, Takoradi) & many U.K. coastal. The vessel was independent in Australian waters from Oct. 1939 to Mar 1940, & while independent had 2 additional N. Atlantic crossings. In 1948, the vessel was sold to Gowan Shipping Co. Ltd., of London, Burness Shipping Co. likely the managers, & renamed Burhaven. In 1950, the vessel was sold to 'A. G. Tsavliris Limited', of London, & renamed Andrew T. And sold again, in 1953, to Shamrock Shipping Co. Ltd., of Larne Harbour, Ireland, & also of Cardiff, & renamed Raloo. And sold for the last time, in 1954, to 'Paraporti Cia. Nav. SA.', of Puerto Limon, Costa Rica, & renamed Paraporti. On Oct. 17, 1957 the vessel was laid up at Barrow. On Jul. 27, 1959, the vessel, towed by tug Tyne, arrived at ship breakers at Antwerp, Belgium, to be broken up. Can you add anything?
63	Badjestan 5573 tons Hull 260 149451 Ferriby Camerata Maria Somalegra	1928	A cargo ship. Per 1 (data about 53% down), 2 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy duty, click on 'SHIP SEARCH' then insert Badjestan), 3 (Monday, 29 January), 4 (Convoy HX.16), 5 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 408 ft. 8 in. (about 125 metres) long, speed of 10 knots. Built for 'Common Brothers Ltd.', of Newcastle. But it could have been owned instead by Hindustan Steam Ship Co. Ltd., the main ship owning arm of Common Brothers. 88 WW2 convoy references including 8 voyages across the N. Atlantic, many U.K. coastal trips, into Mediterranean (Oran & Bizerta) & Freetown, Sierra Leone. In late Jan. 1940, while part of convoy HX.16, bound from Halifax, Canada, to Glasgow with a cargo of grain, the vessel ran aground off Clachaig Point, Island of Arran, Firth of Clyde. The crew was taken off by Destroyer Maori & landed 'in the Clyde' on Jan. 29, 1940. The vessel must have been later re-floated & repaired. It was sold, in 1946, to 'Quaside Shipping Co.' (probably means Quayside Shipping Co. of Newcastle?), (Wm. Brown, Atkinson & Company Ltd., of Hull, managers), & renamed Ferriby. In 1947, the vessel was sold to 'La Tunisienne Steam Navigation Co. Ltd.', of London, (Frank C. Strick & Co. Ltd., managers), & renamed Camerata. And in 1951, sold to 'Compania Nacional Naviera S.A.', of Panama, & renamed Maria. The vessel was sold again, in 1955, probably to Spanish owners, & renamed Somalegra. As Somalegra, the vessel carried iron ore from Spain to Barrow, it would seem. On Jan. 27, 1960, the vessel arrived at Avilés, Spain, to be broken up. Can you add anything? Another image, perhaps?
64	Rajahstan 6391, later 6232 tons Hull 267 161541 Mar Terso Marlena	1929	A cargo ship which was launched on Sep. 22, 1929. Per 1 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy duty, click on 'SHIP SEARCH' then insert Rajahstan), 2 (Common Brothers history 40% down & data 'Rajastan'), 3 ('southampton.spydus.co.uk' Lloyd's Register listings, 1930/31 thru 1945/46), 4 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 425.9 ft. long (129.81 metres) perpendicular to perpendicular, 440.4 ft. long overall, speed of 10 knots, signal letters LFCB, later GKBX, later IBGD, 442 HP engines by John Dickinson & Sons Ltd. of Sunderland. A descriptive text re the vessel. Built for 'Hindustan Steam Shipping Co. Ltd.', of Newcastle, owned by 'Common Brothers Ltd.' (the ship's managers). 81 WW2 convoy references including 14 voyages across N. Atlantic & many U.K. coastal trips, also to Freetown, Sierra Leone, & S. Africa (Durban & Capetown). Derek Holcroft has been in touch (thanks!) to advise that in his research re one of his relatives - William B. (Barker) S. (Simpson) Lawson - he learned that William was chief engineer on *Rajahstan* & was awarded an OBE in the 1946 New Years Honours List. The vessel hit a mine on Dec. 2, 1947. Here are two articles re the matter, provided by Derek Holcroft. The vessel was sold, in 1949, to 'Franco Maresca & Co.' or 'Franco Maresca fu Mariano', of Genoa, Italy, & renamed Mar Terso. In 1958, the vessel was sold to 'Panamanian Oriental Steamship Corporation', of Panama, (Wheelock Marden & Co., of Hong Kong, the managers), & renamed Marlena. And sold again, in 1959, for demolition. In Jan. 1960, the vessel arrived at the Tokyo, Japan, facilities of Hanwa Kogyo K.K. to be broken up. The 4th image at left, originated, I understand here (now unavailable), copyrighted by the 'RDM' yard. Can you add anything, maybe provide another image?
65	Harpenden 4678 tons Hull 270 162474 Empire Stour Bharatjal Al Riyadh Spetsai Patriot	1930	A cargo ship. Per 1 (1940 torpedo damage, data & image, Harpenden), 2 (Wikipedia, Empire Stour), 3 & 4 (J. & C. Harrison & its history, 50% down at 2nd link), 5 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy duty, click on 'SHIP SEARCH' then insert Harpenden), 6 ('pdf' file, Harpenden 1940 tow, p#4 thru p#8, 'A Tiresome Tow'), 7 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy duty, click on 'SHIP SEARCH' then insert Empire Stour), 8 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 122.2 metres long, perpendicular to perpendicular, 416 ft. 11 in., speed of 10 or 10 1/2 knots. Built for National Steamship Co. Ltd., 'J. & C. Harrison' ('Harrison'), of London, the managers. Just 14 WW2 convoy references as Harpenden, including at least 2 N. Atlantic crossings, returning respectively with grain & a general cargo, also U.K. coastal. In the early morning hours of Sep. 11, 1940, Harpenden, Captain Parry in command, was in convoy OA-210, en route, in ballast, from Hull to the St. Lawrence River, Canada. The convoy was attacked by U-28, Korvettenkapitän Günter Kuhnke in command, NW of Ireland. Harpenden was hit by one of U-28's torpedoes & suffered serious stern damage. I read that the stern in fact fell off, 3 minutes after the hit, but amazingly the ship did not sink. At 55.34N/15.56W, about 215 miles WNW of Erris Head, Ireland. One crew member (D. Jones, boatswain) was lost in the attack. The vessel was taken in tow by convoy escort ship & minesweeper Jason (tow detail at 7) & after a difficult & eventful 5 day tow was safely beached at Kilchattan Bay, River Clyde - but, presumably upon inspection, declared to be a constructive total loss. A little later, however, on Nov. 19, 1940, she was taken to Greenock, & there rebuilt for the Ministry of War Transport as Empire Stour, managed by Harrison. I presume that the repairs took a while to complete - her first subsequent convoy reference is on Jan 5, 1942 ex the Clyde. 56 WW2 convoy references, including just a single voyage across the N. Atlantic but extensive service in the Mediterranean, (Augusta, Bari, Brindisi, Malta) many U.K. coastal & much independent service - in Indian Ocean (Cape Town, Karachi, Durban, Colombo, Calcutta). The list is long & my difficulty of 'convoyweb.org' access does not help me any. The vessel was sold, in 1946, to 'Bharat Line Ltd.', of Bombay, India, & renamed Bharatjal. In 1957, the vessel was sold again, to 'Linea Adriatica Gulfo Perso' ('Adriatica'), of Costa Rica, with C. A. Petroutsis, of Geneva, likely the manager, & renamed Al Riyadh, or maybe Al-Riyadh. Registered at Liberia. In 1958, many vessels in the Adriatica fleet, including 'our' vessel, were transferred to 'Cia Nav. dei Isola Spetsai', of San Jose, Costa Rica, (have also read Cia. Maritima di Isola Spetsia Limited, see following text). The vessel was renamed Spetsai Patriot. No change of registration or manager but Petroutsis is now referenced at Trieste, Italy. While I am unable to read the detail, in 1958, the vessel was mortgaged to 'Banque Genevoise de Commerce et de Credit' by 'Compania Maritima di Isola Spetsai', to secure an advance of Ł292,790. A court case resulted presumably related to non-repayment. And, likely related to the matter, the vessel was, in 1962, placed under arrest at Lagos, Nigeria, & was sold on Court order. On Jun. 29, 1963, the vessel arrived at Split, Yugoslavia, to be broken up. Can you add anything? Another image, maybe? Summary detail of the court case?
66	Eskdene 3829 tons Hull 271 163535	1934	A cargo ship. Per 1 (a Bonhams, Knightsbridge, London, Apl. 15, 2014 Marine auction catalogue. Eskdene builders model at page 29 of 128), 2 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy duty, click on 'SHIP SEARCH' then insert Eskdene), 3 (WW2 1939 attack & 1941 sinking, image), 4 (U-107), 5 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 113.1 metres long, perpendicular to perpendicular, speed ? Built 'on speculation' & the only Bartram ship built between 1931 & 1936. Sold to 'Eskdene Shipping Co. Ltd.', of London, owned by 'Dene Shipping Co. Ltd.' also of London, with 'Dene Shipmanagement Co. Ltd.', the managers. 10 WW2 convoy references, mainly U.K. local, but incl. convoy HN-3 as follows. The vessel independently served Northern Russia thru late 1939. Late on Dec. 2, 1939, under the command of E. J. Niblett, in fog & while en route from Bergen, Norway, to Hull, with a cargo of timber (loaded in Archangel, Russia), in convoy HN-3, the vessel was hit by a torpedo fired by U-56. At 56.30N/01.40W, 70 miles NE of the Tyne. The vessel was, at the time, a convoy straggler having been separated due to a gale. The vessel thought she had hit a mine, indeed many refs. including Winston Churchill refs. are to her in fact hitting a mine. The crew of 29, who abandoned the listing ship, were picked up by Hild, a Norwegian merchant ship - have not read where they were landed. Eskdene did not sink, perhaps kept afloat by her cargo of timber. She was found by an aircraft at 56.20N/00.15W & was later beached at Herd Sands (have also read 'Head Sands' which seems to be incorrect), after being towed by Bullger, a British tug. The tow was, I read, very difficult, at times at 1 1/2 knots, Eskdene rolling in gale conditions & suffering an explosion. Eskdene was refloated, repaired & returned to service in Oct. 1940. In Apl. 1941, the vessel, under the command of William J. Thomas (or William T. Joshua, have read both), was proceeding independently to Buenos Aires, Argentina, with a cargo mainly of coal ex Hull, having dispersed from convoy OG-57. Early on Apl. 8, 1941, she was hit by 2 torpedoes fired by U-107, SW of the Azores. At 34.43N/24.21W. And sunk by 104 rounds of gunfire. U-107 sunk 14 ships on that patrol, I read. All 39 crew took to 2 lifeboats & were picked up by Penhale, a British merchant ship, & landed at Pernambuco, Brazil, on Apl. 22, 1941. There are bushels of WWW references to the ship. Can you add anything? Something I have missed perhaps? Another image, maybe?
67	Llandaff 4825 (or 4826) tons Hull 275 165463 Max Bornhofen Anastassios	1937	A cargo ship. Per 1 [Evan Thomas, Radcliffe, Llandaff (1)], 2 (page bottom with image), 3 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy duty, click on 'SHIP SEARCH' then insert Llandaff), 4 ('Southampton City Council/Plimsoll', Lloyd's Register data, Llandaff, 1937/38 thru 1945/46), 5 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 127.3 metres long, speed of 10 knots, signal letters GZPJ. The vessel (& also Llanashe Bartram built in 1936), had engines supplied by White's Marine Engineering Co. Ltd. ('White's'), of Hebburn, Newcastle. Garyth Thomas, a site visitor, seeks data about White's - his father was a marine engineer there. If you have data about White's, do drop Garyth a line or contact the webmaster & he will gladly pass it on. Built for Wimborne Steamship Co. Ltd. ('Wimborne'), of London, with Evan Thomas, Radcliffe & Co. (Ltd.?) ('Radcliffe'), of Cardiff, the managers. Wimborne would seem to have been Radcliffe owned - but Radcliffe also managed non-fleet vessels. 63 WW2 convoy references, including at least 5 N. Atlantic crossings, service to Freetown, Sierra Leone, to Murmansk & Archangel, a single voyage to Seine Bay, France, to Port Said/Alexandria in the Mediterranean, & U.K. coastal. The vessel was sold, in 1951, to R. Bornhofen Reederei, of Hamburg, Germany, & renamed Max Bornhofen. The vessel was sold again, in 1959, to 'San Anastassias Cia Ltd.', of Pirćus, Greece, but vessel likely registered at Costa Rica. (E. A. Karavias manager?) & renamed Anastassios. On Feb. 20, 1959, while en route from Ĺlborg, Denmark, to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with a cargo of cement, the vessel was wrecked at Esbjerg Roads, W. coast of Denmark. I was unable to properly WWW translate the Danish words at a site no longer available, to understand the circumstances. It would seem, however, there was no loss of life. And the vessel must later have been salvaged, since on Jul. 10, 1959 she arrived at Ghent, Belgium, to be broken up by 'Van Heyghen Freres'. The data is a bit confusing. Can you add to or clarify the above text? In particular, can you translate the Danish words? Another image?
68	Nailsea Manor 4926 tons Hull 277 162126	1937	A cargo ship. Per 1 (extensive data incl. image), 2 (story of sinking), 3 (U-126), 4 (convoy OS.7), 5 (Same Ixion rescue, para 11), 6 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy duty, click on 'SHIP SEARCH' then insert Nailsea Manor), 7 ('Southampton City Council/Plimsoll', Lloyd's Register data, Nailsea Manor, 1937/38 thru 1944/45), 8 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 420.3 ft. long (128.11 metres) perpendicular to perpendicular, maybe about 134 metres long overall, speed of 10 knots, signal letters GDGQ. Built for Nailsea Steamship Co. Ltd., of Cardiff, (E. R. Management Co. Ltd., the managers). On Nov. 14, 1938, T. W. Brooks, the vessel's master, was drowned when his jollyboat overturned close to Wallaroo, N. of Adelaide, South Australia. In 1940, Alexander C. Grant was stated to be the vessel's manager. Considerable convoy duty in WW2 - 30 convoy references - many U.K. coastal voyages but also 6 trips across N. Atlantic. On May 7/8, 1941, while part of convoy OB-318 from Glasgow to New York, played a small part in the rescue of 105 survivors of the torpedoed Ixion (which was carrying whisky, no less!), 200 miles SW of Reykjavik, Iceland. In late Sep. 1941, defensively armed, the vessel was part of convoy OS.7, bound from Newport, Wales, to Alexandria/Suez via Belfast Lough, Northern Ireland, & Freetown, Sierra Leone, with 6,000 tons of military stores, including 1,000 (maybe 4,500) tons of ammunition, & a landing craft, LCT-102, stored in 4 sections on the deck. On Oct. 1, 1941, along with Ger-y-Bryn & Hazelside, the vessel encountered bad weather W. of Cape Blanco, W. Africa. All had troubles with their deck cargoes. Cargo secured, they proceeded in the company of Violet, a British 'Flower Class' corvette. On Oct. 10, 1941, when NE of the Cape Verde Islands, the vessel was hit by a torpedo fired by U-126. Nailsea Manor, on fire, listed to starboard, & the deck cargo hung over the port side. The ship was abandoned quickly (ammunition) & all 42 aboard, including the Master, John H. (Herbert) Hewitt, were rescued by Violet, transferred to City of Hong Kong, & landed at Freetown, Sierra Leone. The ship's cat was not rescued - it ran away, in the wrong direction it would appear! The vessel sank at 18.45N/21.18W. Can you add to or clarify the above text? Another image?
69	Ellin 4917 tons hull 278 254	1938	a cargo ship. per 1 ('uboat.net' re sinking, image), 2 (U-37), 3 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy duty, click on 'SHIP SEARCH' then insert Ellin), 4 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 127.2 metres long, perpendicular to perpendicular, (432 ft. 4 in.) speed of 10 knots. Built for 'S. B. Embiricos', of Athens (or Andros), Greece, & managed by S. B. Embiricos Ltd., of London & Athens. Just one ref. to convoy duty in WW2 - In Jun. 1940 (Convoy 64X) from Verdon, France, (Le Verdon at Bordeaux, perhaps?) to Casablanca, Morocco. On Feb. 18, 1940, the vessel was en route, unescorted, from Cardiff, Wales, to Piraeus, Greece, with a cargo of coal. When 25 miles W. of Cape Finisterre, NW corner of Spain, the vessel was hit by two torpedoes fired by U-37. The first hit had little effect but the second caused the vessel to break into 2 pieces amidships & immediately sink. Have read all the crew were saved - but I have not read how many crew there were & how they were saved. Vessel sank at approx. 44.02N/10.18W. Can you add to or clarify the above text? Another image?
70	Lodestone 4877 tons Hull 280 166585	1938	a cargo ship. Per 1 (data re Vlasov with refs. to Lodestone), 2 (image Lodestone), 3 (Wikipedia, re 'Vlasov', in German), 4 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy duty, click on 'SHIP SEARCH' then insert Lodestonek), 5 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 126.7 metres long, perpendicular to perpendicular, 430 ft. 10 in., speed of 10 1/2 knots. Ordered by another party but the contract was sold & the vessel was delivered to 'Alva Steamship Co. Ltd.', of London, which company i) was noted for the carriage of coal & ii) was owned by Alexandre Vlasov Group', of Italy, & managed by Navigation & Coal Trade Co. Ltd., a Vlasov London based company. 74 WW2 convoy references including at least 7 N. Atlantic crossings with cargoes such as grain, steel & lumber, service into the Mediterranean (Bari, Naples, Augusta, Port Said), to Africa (Freetown, Takoradi, Durban, Capetown), to Caribbean (Trinidad, Guantanamo, Bermuda), & many U.K. coastal. On Apl. 15, 1963, the vessel arrived at Osaka, Japan, to be broken up. Can you add to the above? Another image?
71	Pentridge Hill 7579 tons Hull 285 168058 London Dealer Centaurus Najla	1941	A cargo ship. Per 1 (data & modest image, Pentridge Hill, 10% down), 2 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy duty, click on 'SHIP SEARCH' then insert Pentridge Hill), 3 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 128.4 metres long, perpendicular to perpendicular, 434 ft. 2 in., speed of 11 knots. Built for Dorset Steamship Co. Ltd., of London, (Hall Line perhaps?), managed by Counties Ship Management Co. Ltd., a Rethymnis and Kulukundis Ltd. of London company. 39 WW2 convoy references, including at least 3 N. Atlantic crossings, service to Indian Ocean (Bombay, Calcutta, Colombo), Mediterranean (Alexandria, Oran), Africa, (Freetown, Takoradi, Capetown) & U.K. coastal. In Feb. 1949, the vessel was transferred to London & Overseas Freighters Ltd., of London, & in 1950 renamed London Dealer. In 1951, the vessel was sold again, to 'Sociedad Transoceania Canopus S.A.', of Liberia, & renamed Centaurus. Became Greek flag in 1960. In 1961, the vessel was sold to 'Compania Naviera Adriatica Ltda.', of San Jose, Costa Rica, 'Dabinovic' the manager?, & renamed Najla, but registered at Lebanon. The vessel was sold again, in 1964, to 'Jos Boel et Fils' of Tamise, Belgium. Was broken up at Tamise in Mar. 1965. Can you add to the above text? Another image?
72	Empire Ballad 6700 (or 6582) tons Hull 290 169013 5167815 Bibury Stad Maassluis Jaguar Goldfield Poseidone	1942	A cargo ship. Per A (e-Bay, image Bibury), B (e-Bay, image Stad Maassluis), 1 [Alexander S.S., Bibury (2)], 2 (2 images Stad Maassluis), 3 (data & image), 4 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy duty, click on 'SHIP SEARCH' then insert Empire Ballad), 5 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 126.95 metres (431.2 ft.) long, speed of 10 1/2 knots, signal letters BCXB. Built for Ministry of War Transport, 'Allan Black & Co. Ltd.', the managers & later 'Capper, Alexander & Co.' 48 WW2 convoy references, including at least 3 N. Atlantic crossings, service in Mediterranean (Port Said, Augusts, Naples, Bari), in Caribbean (Trinidad, Guantanamo etc.), & to South Africa (Capetown, Durban), & U.K. coastal. In 1946, the vessel was sold to Alexander Shipping Co. (or maybe Alexander Steamship Company), which company was then partly owned by Houlder Brothers & Co., & renamed Bibury. The vessel was sold, in 1950 or 1951, to 'Halcyon-Lijn', of Rotterdam, Holland & renamed Stad Maassluis). Signal letters became P.H.R.L. In Mar. 1958, maybe was laid up & out of commission at Rotterdam (tijdelijk opgelegd te Rotterdam)? It was sold, in 1962, to 'Jaguar Line S.A. Cia de Nav.' (or Jaguar Line Co. de Nav.), of Panama (Palomba & Salvatori managers?) & renamed Jaguar. In 1966, the vessel was sold to 'Olamar S.A.', of Panama. & renamed Goldfield (or per a dead Dutch web page Goldefield). The vessel was sold again, in 1968, to 'Solemar Cia de Nav.', of Panama (V. Coccoli manager?) & renamed Poseidone. Is Poseidone, in this listing, the true name or rather an Italian translation of Poseidon? In Sep. 1969, the vessel suffered damage of some sort - repaired at Naples? Arrived at Split, Yugoslavia (Gesellschaft Brodopas?) in Nov. 1969 to be broken up 'after grounding'. Need help with image identification & vessel names. And would welcome any additional data you could provide.
73	Empire Banner 6699 tons Hull 292 169028	1942	A cargo ship, which had a very short life. Per 1 ('uboat.net', sinking), 2 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy duty, click on 'SHIP SEARCH' then insert Empire Banner), 3 (Wikipedia), 4 (U-77), 5 (Lloyd's List, 1943/44), 6 (Hartmann), 7 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 131.7 metres long overall, 125.0 metres perpendicular to perpendicular, (416 ft. 8 in.), speed of 10 knots. Built for Ministry of War Transport & managed by W. T. Gould & Co. Ltd., of Cardiff, Wales. Just 7 WW2 convoy references, including U.K. coastal & a Nov. 1942 return voyage from the Clyde to Bône, N. Africa. On Jan. 21, 1943, the vessel, under the command of Jeffrey J. (James) Bedford, with 72 aboard including 10 military passengers & 15 gunners, left the Clyde for Bône, Algeria, in convoy KMS-8 (a convoy of 60 merchant ships & 17 escorts). Most references indicate that Penarth, Wales, was the start point of her voyage. Was it in fact? It would seem that it was not. Carrying 3,800 tons of military supplies, including tanks & trucks. At 2:00 a.m. on Feb. 7, 1943, the convoy was attacked by air & by submarine. Empire Banner was hit by one of 4 torpedoes fired at the convoy by U-77, Kapitänleutnant Otto Hartmann in command. At 36.48N/1.32E, near Ténčs, Algeria, W. of Algiers in the Mediterranean. U-77 broke off her attack when HMCS Camrose ('Camrose') (K154) detected her presence & vigorously counter attacked. As did an allied aircraft, it would appear. Empire Webster (built at Sunderland by Short Brothers Ltd.) was hit by another of the 4 torpedoes. Empire Banner did not sink immediately. It tried to head back to Oran but was sunk a few hours later when further attacked by German aircraft. Can anybody tell us the extent of the initial damage? No Empire Banner lives were lost as a result of either attack. But ... it would seem that the vessel may have been hit by 2 torpedoes - a second, also by U-77, a few hours after the first (per a Google 'snippet' reference to 'U-boat Operations of the Second World War' by Kenneth G. Wynn.) The 72 Empire Banner survivors were picked up by Camrose & landed at Algiers. U-77 was later sunk, on Mar. 28, 1943, when attacked E. of Cartagena, Spain. Would welcome any corrections to the above, or additional data. An image?
74	Empire Kinsman 6744 (or 6751) tons Hull 293 169035 Umzinto Vastric	1942	A cargo ship. Per 1 [Bullard King, (Umzinto (3)], 2 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy duty, click on 'SHIP SEARCH' then insert Empire Kinsman), 3 (image, Umzinto), 4 (Lloyd's List, 1942/43), 5 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 417 ft. long. Built for Ministry of War Transport & managed by J. D. McLaren & Co. 17 WW2 convoy references, mainly U.K. coastal, but with at least 4 voyages in Mediterranean (Port Said, Egypt), 1 voyage to Russia & 1 trans Atlantic voyage. The vessel left Loch Ewe on Feb. 15, 1943, bound for Kola Inlet, Russia, as a part of convoy JW.53. On Mar. 6, 1943, after it had arrived there, it was bombed by enemy aircraft. It must have suffered major damage because it spent 9 months in Murmansk, Russia, as a result, presumably being repaired. Can anyone provide more detail? In late 1944 & in 1945, was mostly 'independent' in the Indian Ocean with service also to South America & Africa. In early 1946, the vessel towed Sambanca, a Liberty ship, from Diego Suarez, Madagascar, to Durban, S. Africa. Sambanca had lost its propeller & suffered related damage while en route from Rangoon, Burma (now Yangon) to Laurenço Marques, (now Maputo) Mozambique, & had been towed to Diego Suarez by Cape Wrath. In 1948, the vessel was sold, for Ł103,300, to Bullard, King & Company Limited, of London, (Natal Direct Line) & renamed Umzinto. The vessel was sold again, in 1956, to 'Filia Compania Limitada', of Costa Rica, (V. Tricoglu the manager?) & renamed Vastric. On Aug. 30, 1966, the vessel arrived at Onomichi, Japan, to be broken up. Can you add anything? Or correct the above.
75	Jersey City 6686 tons Hull 291 165863 Jacqueline Kopalnia Szombierki	1942	A cargo ship. Per A (e-Bay image, Kopalnia Szombierki), 1 [Reardon Smith, (Jersey City (3)], 2 (Reardon Smith Line history), 3 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy duty, click on 'SHIP SEARCH' then insert Jersey City. Note - vessels marked (II) only), 4 ('pdf' file, Peter Kearon article, pages 8/11), 5 (Lloyd's List, 1941/42 thru 1945/46, ex 'Southampton City Council/ Plimsoll'), 6 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 131.1 metres long, overall, speed of 10 1/2 knots, signal letters BDYM. Built for 'Reardon Smith Line Ltd.', of Bideford, with Sir Wm. Reardon Smith & Co. Ltd., of Cardiff, the managers. 28 WW2 convoy references, including at least 3 N. Atlantic crossings, to the Continent (Antwerp), to Africa (Freetown, Durban, Beira in Mozambique), Caribbean, & U.K. coastal. I presume that there were also 'independent' voyages that I am unable to access. Do read the article at 4 - the company nicknamed 'Starvation Smiths', the vessel described as 'a rat-run, cockroach infested utility tramp ship, war built ...', certainly not a luxury ship! At least Peter survived his 1951 experiences. In 1955, the vessel was sold, for Ł290,000, to 'Lion Steamship Co. A/B', of Billingsfors, Sweden, E. Kekonius, of Stockholm, the managers (have also seen 'Arnold de Champs' referenced' can anybody explain?), & renamed Jacqueline. And, also in 1955, the vessel was sold or transferred to 'A/B Billingsfors-Langed', also of Billingsfors. In 1959, the vessel was sold, for about Ł90,000, to Polish Steamship Co. (owned by the Government of Poland) of Szczecin, Poland, & renamed Kopalnia Szombierki. The vessel was hulked in 1964 - became a grain storage hulk 'MP PZZ-1'. Have seen references to 'Rejonowe Zaklady Zborowe PZZ', &, at about 1970, to 'Zaklady Obrutu Zbozami Importawanymi Exsportowymi PZZ' - later names for the hulk, perhaps? On Sep. 11, 1978, the vessel arrived under tow at the Faslane, near Glasgow, facilities of Shipbreaking Industries Ltd. to be broken up. Can you add anything? Or correct the above.
76	Empire Deed 6766 (or 6640) tons Hull 295 169113 Deed Doro Leonidas Cambanis Ever Fortune Ever Happiness	1943	A cargo ship. Per 1 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy duty, click on 'SHIP SEARCH' then insert Empire Deed), 2 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 417 ft. long. Built for Ministry of War Transport & managed by Mungo Campbell & Co. In the early morning hours of May 24, 1943, the vessel was damaged at Sunderland in an aerial attack by German bombers. The 'Joseph L. Thompson' yard was seriously damaged in the attack, for the 2nd time (May 16) & much damage was caused in the city. The vessel was soon repaired - on WW2 convoy duty in Aug. 1943. 46 WW2 convoy references, incl. at least 3 N. Atlantic crossings, extensive service in Mediterranean (Port Said, Egypt, etc), to France in Jun/Jul 1944, & U.K. coastal. In 1946, the vessel was sold to Sussex Steamship Co. Ltd., of London, S. G. Embiricos, also of London, the manager) & renamed Deed. In 1951, the vessel was sold to 'Compagnia Navigazione Doro', of Panama, no change of manager, & renamed Doro. In 1956, the vessel was sold again, to Z. & G. L. Cambanis & others, of Piraeus, Greece, & renamed Leonidas Cambanis. In 1964, the vessel was sold twice. First to Reliance Marine Corp., of Liberia, & renamed Ever Fortune. And later that same year to First Steamship Co. Ltd., of Taipeh, Taiwan, & renamed Ever Happiness. In Nov. 1966, the vessel arrived at Kaohsiung, Taiwan, to be broken up. And was broken up in Jun. 1967. Can anybody tell us about Empire Deed & the air raid at Sunderland in May 1943? Or otherwise add to or correct the above?
77	Empire Prospero 6766 (or 6379) tons Hull 294 169108 Corinthic Marine Flame Shahreza Faustus	1943	A cargo ship. Per 1 [Cockerline, (Corinthic (4)], 2 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy duty, click on 'SHIP SEARCH' then insert Empire Prospero), 3 ('Scheepvaart', Faustus wreck, page in Dutch), 4 (3 Dutch newspaper articles, maybe 5 of them, used to be available there. 2 of them were saved by the webmaster - here & here), 5 (Lloyd's data, Empire Prospero), 6 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 417 (or 416.8) ft. long, cruiser stern. Built for the Ministry of War Transport, initially managed by B. J. Sutherland & Co. which changed to W. H. Cockerline & Co. Ltd., of Hull. As I read the WWW record, the vessel was sold in 1944 to W. H. Cockerline & Co. Ltd., of Hull, who later, in 1947, renamed the vessel Corinthic. Can anybody confirm that that is correct? 27 WW2 convoy references, including 3 N. Atlantic voyages - Hampton Roads, Virginia, U.S.A. to Egypt. To ports in India in 1943 & 1944. The vessel was sold, in 1951, to Marine Enterprises Ltd., of London, (a subsidiary of Lyras Bros. Ltd., it would appear), & renamed Marine Flame. It was sold again, later in 1951, to Reliance Steamship Co., of Panama, (M. Nemazee the manager?). And in 1952, sold to 'Cia. Nav. Acapulco S.A.', of Panama, (Embiricos Ltd. (or S. G. Embiricos), of London, the managers) & renamed Faustus. Registered at Panama. On Nov. 6, 1952, while en route from Hampton Roads to Rotterdam with a cargo of coal, she ran aground in a gale off the Hook of Holland & sank the next day. Outside the northern entrance of the 'Nieuwe Waterweg' (New Waterway). Have spotted no coordinates. Possibly salvaged in 1962/3 (see book cover low on 4). I regret my inability to understand the newspaper articles in Dutch, so what happened in 1952 surely might usefully be expanded. There surely was a tug involved - which tug, I wonder? I do not think that any of the images there are of this ship. Can you add anything? Another image, perhaps?
78	Mullion Cove 7500 tons (became 7300 when launched & 7416 later) Hull 301 181786 Margaret Clunies Waynegate Katingo President Magsaysay Magsaysay laid down as *Empire Penang*	1944	A 'C' type 'Empire' cargo ship which became a submarine maintenance ship. Per 1 (Wikipedia, Empire Penang), 2 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 136.5 metres long, (431.2 ft.). Laid down as Empire Penang for the Ministry of War Transport, but the plans were changed. It was launched on Jul. 10, 1944 as HMS Mullion Cove, a submarine maintenance (hull repair) ship, for the Royal Navy. Commissioned in Oct. 1944. Served in the Far East. As I read the WWW record, the vessel was sold, in 1947, to 'Margareta Steamship Company, Limited', of London, 'Clunies Shipping Co. Ltd.', of Greenock, the managers, converted at Greenock into a merchant ship & in 1948 renamed Margaret Clunies (registered at Gourock, Scotland). In 1950, the vessel was sold to 'James Steamship Company, Ltd.', of Greenock, with no change of manager or vessel name. In 1951, the vessel was sold to 'Turnbull Scott Shipping Company Ltd.', of London, & renamed Waynegate. It visited Auckland, New Zealand, as Waynegate, 4 times between May 1951 & Jan. 1952. In 1961, the vessel was sold to Pacifico Compagnia Navigazione SA, of Piraeus, Greece, & renamed Katingo. (Panama flag). In 1964, the vessel was sold to Philippine President Lines Inc., of Manila, Philippines, & renamed President Magsaysay. (Ramon del Fierro Magsaysay became President of the Philippines in Nov. 1953. In office until Mar. 17, 1957, when he died in a plane crash. A U.S. postage stamp was issued in his honour). In 1968, the vessel was renamed Magsaysay. The vessel's engine room caught fire on Jul. 19, 1968, while en route from Philippines to Inchon (Incheon), South Korea - with a cargo of logs? At 34.48N/125.51E, off SE coast of South Korea. The crew abandoned ship but re-boarded her. The vessel arrived, under tow, at Pusan (Busan), E. coast of South Korea, on Jul. 22, 1968 & was after inspection declared a constructive total loss. On Dec. 30, 1968 the vessel arrived at the 'Kyong Nam Products Co. Ltd.' ship breaking facilities at Pusan to be broken up. The WWW record re this ship is modest. No references to Royal Navy service. Can you add anything? Another image, perhaps?
79	Indian City 7079 tons Hull 299 165867 Gruz Diamondo	1944	A cargo ship. Per 1 [Reardon Smith, Indian City (3)], 2 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy duty, click on 'SHIP SEARCH' then insert Indian City), 3 (image, Indian City), 4 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 136.2 metres long overall, 129.5 metres perpendicular to perpendicular, speed of 11 knots. Built for Sir William Reardon Smith & Sons Ltd., of Bideford, or maybe 'Reardon Smith Line Ltd.', both most often identified with Cardiff. 23 WW2 convoy references, including 8 voyages to Seine Bay, France, in Jun/Aug 1944, re the Normandy landings, at least 1 N. Atlantic crossing, service in the Mediterranean incl. to Port Said, & to West Africa (Freetown, Takoradi). In 1957, the vessel was sold to Atlantska Plovidba DD, of Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia, & renamed *Gruz. The vessel was sold again, in 1969, to Aurora Borealis Shipping Co. Ltd., of Famagusta, Cyprus, & renamed Diamondo. On Apl. 25, 1972, the vessel arrived at the Gebze (Turkey, 30 miles E. of Istanbul), ship breaking facilities of Mehmet Colakoglu, to be broken up. The WWW record for this vessel is almost non-existent. An image of Gruz*, by M. Cassar, of Valetta, Malta, exists. Can you add anything? Another image, perhaps?
80	Empire Aden 7308 (or 7320) tons Hull 303 180156 Etivebank Alcyone Fortune Northern Venture	1945	A cargo ship. Per 1 & 2 ('Southampton City Council/Plimsoll', Lloyd's Register data, Empire Aden, 1945/46), 3 (Bank Line, Etivebank), 4 (Empire Aden), 5 (court case, Texas), 6 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 431.2 ft. long (129.5 metres) perpendicular to perpendicular, 447.8 ft. long (136.5 metres) overall, speed of 10 knots, signal letters GDMK. Built for the Ministry of War Transport & managed by H. Hogarth & Sons. In 1948, the vessel was sold to Andrew Weir Shipping & Trading Co. Ltd. (Bank Line) & renamed Etivebank. On Feb. 23, 1951, *Etivebank* 'was damaged in an incident involving the SS *Texas* in the Suez Canal. The owners of *Texas* were unsuccessfully sued for damages, a decision which was upheld on appeal.' The vessel was sold again, in 1955, to Alcyone Shipping Co. Ltd, of London, (A. Vergottis, the manager) & renamed Alcyone Fortune. Registered at Glasgow. Frank Beech advises (thanks!) that the vessel then first went from Rotterdam to China & then was on charter to Broken Hill Proprietary Company, a giant Australian mining company, for almost 2 years & used in the coal & iron ore Australian coastal trade. The vessel was sold in 1958 to Pan-Norse Steamship Co., (possibly no hyphen in name), of Hong Kong, (Wallem & Co., of Hong Kong, the manager), & renamed Northern Venture. Registered at Panama. From 1966, the vessel was managed by Wah Kwong & Co., also of Hong Kong. On Jun. 9, 1967, the vessel, en route from Tsukumi, Japan, to Manila, Philippines, with a cargo of bagged cement (can anybody confirm that routing. I thought I had read en route to Rotterdam with coal) ran aground at Okinawa, Japan. At 26.44.45N/128.21E. At south Adaga Shima in the Okinawa group of islands. All 42 aboard were rescued & landed at Naha. The vessel broke in two - a total loss. Was scrapped locally. Have not read the circumstances. Can you add anything? Another image, perhaps?
81	Empire Mauritius 7310 (or 7320) tons Hull 302 180149 Markab Matador San Jeronimo Yangtse Breeze Ho Ping 53 Zhan Dou 53	1945	A cargo ship. Per 1 (data & image, Markab), 3 (mules), 4 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy duty, click on 'SHIP SEARCH' then insert Empire Mauritius), 5 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 431 ft. long, speed of 11 1/2 knots. Built for the Ministry of War Transport & managed by Maclay & McIntyre Ltd., of Glasgow. Just 3 WW2 convoy references. Incl. to New York City in Feb. 1945 returning in Apl. 1945 from Hampton Roads, Virginia, to Gibraltar, presumably en route to Karachi, Pakistan, carrying mules from the U.S.A. for the ultimate use of American & Chinese forces operating in Burma. In 1946, Counties Ship Management Co. Ltd., of London, became the managers. In 1947, the vessel was sold to Bury Hill Shipping Co. Ltd., of London, 'Phocean Ship Agency' the manager, renamed Markab & registered at Sunderland. In 1956, the vessel was sold to 'Motor Shipping Corporation of the Seven Seas', of Panama, N. M. Eustathiou, the manager, & renamed Matador. In 1958, the vessel was sold twice, first to San Jeronimo Steamship Co., of Panama & renamed San Jeronimo, & then to Cambray Prince Steamship Company, J. Manners and Co. Ltd., the managers, both of Hong Kong, & renamed *Yangtse Breeze. In 1959, the vessel was sold to The People's Republic of China, of Peking, China, & was renamed. But the new name was? A website which reqests no links states it became Hoping Wu Shi San, & later became Zhan Dou 53* in c.1967 & Ho Ping 53 in c.1979. Miramar, however, with data, I believe, from the ship registers, makes no mention at all of Hoping Wu Shi San & indicates it became Ho Ping 53 in 1959 & Zhan Dou 53 in 1967. The vessel is reported to have been scrapped, in China, in 1985. Can you add anything or correct the above? An image?
82	Empire Tobago 7321 (or 7256) tons Hull 304 180170 Crowborough Hill Gryfevale Sterling Valour Madda Primo Madda Bozzo Kriss	1945	A cargo ship. Per 1 (image, *Kriss), 2 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 136.5 metres long overall, 129.5 metres perpendicular to perpendicular, 431 ft., speed of 10 knots. Built for the Ministry of War Transport, initially managed by Sir James German & Son Ltd. of Cardiff, & then by Counties Ship Management Ltd. ('Counties'), of London. In 1947, the vessel was sold to 'Ernels Shipping Co. Ltd.', (Counties the manager? But Rethymnis Kulukundis are in some way involved) & renamed Crowborough Hill. In 1951, the vessel was sold to Andrew Crawford & Co. Ltd., or maybe 'Gryfevale Steamship Co. Ltd.', a Crawford company, of Glasgow, & renamed Gryfevale. It would seem that Buchanan Shipping Co. Ltd. became the owners (or maybe the managers only), in 1954. In 1955, the vessel was sold to Sterling Shipping Co. Ltd., of Nassau, Bahamas, (A. Vergottis, the manager), for Ł287,500, & renamed Sterling Valour. In 1958, it was sold to L. G. E. Fratelli Bozzo di Giuseppe, of Genoa, Italy, & named Madda Primo* & then renamed Madda Bozzo. In 1963, the vessel was sold again, to Seastar Shipping Corporation, (Italmarina the manager?) of the Somali Republic, & renamed Kriss. On Feb. 21, 1968 the vessel, sold to ship breakers for $150,000, arrived at Kaohsiung, Taiwan, to be broken up. Can you add anything? Another image, perhaps?
83	Pemba 7449 tons Hull 305 180795 Maqboolbaksh	1945	A cargo ship. Per 1 [British India, Pemba (2)], 2 (British India, Pemba), 3 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 431.2 ft long, 449 ft. long overall, speed of 10 1/2 or 11 knots, with capacity for 12 passengers. Built for British India Steam Navigation Company Limited, of London & Glasgow too?, at the cost of Ł246,200. In 1960, the vessel was sold to United Oriental Steamship Company Ltd. ('United'), of Karachi, Pakistan, & renamed *Maqboolbaksh*. United was later nationalized by the Government of Pakistan, in 1974 perhaps. In 1972, the vessel was sold to 'Ilyas Marine Associates', of Karachi, (ship breakers, maybe?) & in Nov. 1972 the vessel arrived at Karachi, presumably Gadani Beach, to be broken up. Can you add anything? Another image, perhaps?
84	Hesperia 7375 (or 7370) tons Hull 306 180865 5244285 Clan Murdoch Mustafa Denizhanlar launched as Empire Southwold	1946	A 'D' type 'Empire' cargo ship. Per A (e-Bay image, Hesperia), 1 [Houston Line, Hesperia (2)], 2 [Cayzer Irvine, Clan Line, Clan Murdoch (2)], 3 (Brian Keith article & image, Hesperia), 4 (image Denizhanlar), 5 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 136.9 metres long overall, 129.8 metres perpendicular to perpendicular, 431 ft., speed of 11 knots. Launched for the Ministry of War Transport as Empire Southwold, managed by J. & A. Billmeir, of London. But delivered as Hesperia. Its ownership, thru 1962, seems to be like a game of musical chairs. Most sites state the vessel was delivered as Hesperia to Houston Line. I believe, however, the vessel was rather delivered to 'British & South American Steam Navigation Co. Ltd.', of London, which company was owned by 'Houston Line (London), Ltd.' ('Houston'), of London, in turn managed & owned by Cayzer, Irvine & Co., Ltd. ('Cayzer'). It would seem that the ship was registered directly in the name of Houston in 1957. In 1960, the vessel was transferred to 'The Clan Line of Steamers Ltd.', of London, also a related (Cayzer) company, & renamed Clan Murdoch. But soon, in 1962, the vessel was sold to King Line Ltd., also of London, 'Dodd, Thompson & Co. Ltd.' the managers, with no change of vessel name. In 1962, the vessel was sold, to 'Sadikzade Rusen Ogullari Kollektif Sirketi', (or maybe 'Sadikzade Rusen Ogulari Denizcilik Ltd.', of Istanbul, Turkey, & renamed Mustafa. And sold for the last time, in 1974, to 'Denizhanlar Vapuru Donatma Istiraki', also of Istanbul, Z. (Ziya) Sonmez the manager maybe, & renamed Denizhanlar. In Mar. 1979, the vessel arrived at the Aliaga, Turkey, ship breaking facilities of 'Zeki Verel', to be broken up. I have read little about her service life. Can you add anything? Another image, perhaps? #1704
85	Empire Tesville 975 or 989 (later 1098) tons Hull 311 181126 Fusinus	1946	A tanker. Per 1 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 61.3 meters long, 193 ft., speed of 11 knots. Built for the Ministry of War Transport & managed by Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co. Ltd. ('Anglo'), of London. In 1952, the vessel was sold to Anglo & renamed *Fusinus*. In 1955, the vessel was sold to Shell Petroleum Co. Ltd., of London, & was lengthened to 69.3 metres with a revised gross tonnage of 1098. Was the first tanker to berth at the new Shell wharf at Pavitt Point, North Borneo, I think in 1957. Later, in 1960, the vessel was sold or maybe transferred to Shell Tankers Limited, also of London. Active in Indonesia it would seem (Benoa, Bali, in 1961). On Aug. 4, 1964, the vessel arrived at the Singapore facilities of 'Hong Huat Hardware Co. Ltd.', to be broken up. Can you add anything? Another image, perhaps?
86	Rovuma 5500 tons Hull 314 5301148	1946	A refrigerated cargo ship. Per 1 (Companhia Nacional de Navegaçăo, but no vessel named Rovuma is listed. There is however a 'Bovuma' listed, of 5500 tons. An error perhaps, since Miramar do not list a vessel of such a name), 2 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 450 ft. 1 in. long (137.18 metres) overall, 425 ft. 10 in. long (129.79 metres) perpendicular to perpendicular, speed of 13 1/2 knots, crew of 42, signal letters CSAY. Built for 'Companhia Nacional de Navegaçăo', of Lisbon, Portugal, & registered at Lisbon on Dec. 30, 1946. On Dec. 13, 1973, the vessel arrived at the Kaohsiung, Taiwan, facilities of 'Chi Shun Hwa Steel Co. Ltd.' to be broken up. Actual break up commenced on Jun. 8, 1974. WWW available data re this vessel is modest. Can you add anything?
87	Rio Tercero 5036 tons Hull 316 5296563	1947	A cargo ship. Per 1 (Spanish page, briefest ref. to vessel, 45% down), 2 (Rio Tercero built 1948), 3 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). Built for 'La Flota Mercante Del Estado', i.e. the fleet of the Argentine Government. A now dead page advised of a vessel of identical name, built 1948 by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Ltd. - a vessel not listed by Miramar. But did not reference a Bartram built vessel. None-the-less, it looked like our vessel. 437 ft. 0 in. long (133.198 metres) overall, 410 ft. 0 in. long (124.97 metres) perpendicular to perpendicular, speed of 14 knots, signal letters LRTK. In 1961, the vessel was sold to Empresa Lineas Maritimas Argentinas of Buenos Aires, Argentina, with no change of vessel name. In Jan. 1979, the vessel was broken up at Campana, presumably the Campana in the Province of Buenos Aires - at the ship breaking facilities of Anglo-Argentino. Available WWW data about the vessel is almost non-existent. Can you add anything?
88	Alcobaça 5289 tons Hull 318 5009295	1948	A cargo ship. Per 1 (image, Alcobaça), 2 (Geral de Comércio, Alcobaça), 3 (Companhia Nacional de Navegaçăo, Alcobaça), 4 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 450 ft. 1 in. long (137.185 metres) overall, 425 ft. 9 in. long (129.77 metres) perpendicular to perpendicular, speed of 13 knots, crew of 37, signal letters CSEQ. Built for 'Sociedade Geral de Comércio, Industria e Transportes', ('Geral') of Lisbon, Portugal, & registered at Lisbon on Jun. 12, 1948. In 1972, Geral was amalgamated with 'Companhia Nacional de Navegaçăo', & the vessel was transferred into that ownership name. On Oct. 28, 1979, the vessel arrived at Lisbon to be broken up. It was scrapped in 1980 at the Lisbon ship breaking facilities of Joao Luis Russo & Filhos Ltda. There seems to be limited WWW data available about this vessel. Can you add anything?
89	Arraiolos 5289 tons Hull 323 5025225 374204 (later) Fos I Paula Esperos III	1948	A cargo ship. Per 1 (Portuguese page, image, Arraiolos), 2 (Geral de Comércio), 3 (Companhia Nacional de Navegaçăo), 4 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 450 ft. 1 in. long (137.185 metres) overall, 425 ft. 6 in. long (129.69 metres) perpendicular to perpendicular, speed of 13 knots, crew of 37, signal letters CSIS. Built for 'Sociedade Geral de Comércio, Industria e Transportes', ('Geral') of Lisbon, Portugal, & registered at Lisbon on Nov. 1, 1948. In 1972, Geral was amalgamated with 'Companhia Nacional de Navegaçăo', & the vessel was transferred into that ownership name. In 1976, the vessel was sold to Madina Marine Co. Ltd., of Limassol, Cyprus, S. C. Vazeos ('Vazeos') of Piraeus, Greece likely the managers, & renamed Fos I. In 1977, the vessel was renamed both Paula & Esperos III, but the sequence of names is unclear. On Apl. 30, 1978, the vessel arrived at Gadani Beach, Pakistan, to be broken up at the ship breaking facilities of Gujran Wala Steel Industries. There seems to be limited available WWW data about this vessel. Can you add anything?
90	Alenquer 5289 tons Hull 324 5009829 Esperos IV Kronos II	1949	A cargo ship. Per 1 (Geral de Comércio, Alenquer), 2 (Companhia Nacional de Navegaçăo, Alenquer), 3 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 450 ft. 1 in. long (137.185 metres) overall, 425 ft. 0 in. long (129.54 metres) perpendicular to perpendicular, speed of 13 knots, crew of 37, signal letters CSFW. Built for 'Sociedade Geral de Comércio, Industria e Transportes' ('Geral'), of Lisbon, Portugal, & registered at Lisbon on Feb. 25, 1949. In 1972, the vessel was transferred to 'Companhia Nacional de Navegaçăo' when 'Geral' was amalgamated with it. In 1977, the vessel was sold to 'Dafnoussa Cia Naviera SA', of Panama, with S. C. Vazeos ('Vazeos'), of Piraeus, Greece, likely the managers & renamed Esperos IV (4 says Isperos IV & refers to a 1978 sale). In 1978, the vessel was renamed Kronos II. The ship suffered fire damage on May 11, 1978, & on Jun. 7, 1978, arrived at Gadani Beach, Pakistan, to be broken up. Can you add to or clarify the above text?
91	Ambrizete 5503 tons Hull 320 5013935	1949	A refrigerated cargo ship. Per 1 (Geral de Comércio), 2 (Companhia Nacional de Navegaçăo), 3 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 450 ft. 1 in. long (137.185 metres) overall, 425 ft. 9 in. long (129.77 metres) perpendicular to perpendicular, service speed of 13 knots, crew of 37, signal letters CSJE. Named perhaps for the port city of Ambrizete, Angola, noted for the shipment of coffee. Built for 'Sociedade Geral de Comércio, Industria e Transportes', ('Geral') of Lisbon, Portugal, & registered at Lisbon on Apl. 7, 1949. In 1972, Geral was amalgamated with 'Companhia Nacional de Navegaçăo', & the vessel was transferred into that ownership name. On Sep. 5, 1973, the vessel arrived at Kaohsiung, Taiwan, to be broken up at the ship breaking facilities of Tai Kien Industry Co. Ltd. Do you have anything to add?
92	Andulo 5503 tons Hull 321 501697 5501697	1949	A refrigerated cargo ship. Per 1 (Geral de Comércio), 2 (a large 'pdf' file with ref. to Andulo & Statue of Liberty at page 40), 3 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 450 ft. 1 in. long (137.185 metres) overall, speed of 13 (or 13 1/4) knots, crew of 37, signal letters CSFL. Built for 'Sociedade Geral de Comércio, Industria e Transportes', of Lisbon, Portugal, & registered at Lisbon on May 31, 1949. On Jun. 8, 1965, in good conditions & at night, the vessel was in collision with Statue of Liberty, a 22,610 ton tanker, owned by 'Grand Bassa Tankers Inc.', of the U.S., off Cape St. Vincent. At 36.56N/9.00W. No lives were lost. Andulo was taken in tow (by which vessel?) but sank en route to Casablanca on Jun. 9, 1965. It would seem that both vessels must share in the fault. While both vessels should have used radar, the cause of the collision was primarily due to the poor look-out & lack of use of radar by Statue of Liberty. The courts, as I understand it, apportioned the blame 85% to Statue of Liberty & 15% to Andulo. Kamel Benrabah, of Algeria, who has studied the collision, concludes (thank you Kamel for your input!) that Statue of Liberty may have been, in his opinion, only 80% responsible. Are the words above accurate? If not, do please advise. And we will correct this listing!
93	Dagfred 5254 or 5253 (later 7526) tons Hull 326 5072149 Birkenau Chrysoforos Kostis H.	1949	A cargo ship. Per 1 (data in German, fine image Birkenau), 2 (extensive data, Dagfred. in Norwegian & English), 3 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 459 ft. 0 in. long (139.9 metres) overall, speed of 14 knots, achieved 16.04 knots at her trials, carried a few passengers, signal letters LNYJ later DEOU. Built for 'A/S Ocean', of Oslo, Norway, with 'John P. Pedersen & Sřn' ('Pedersen) the managers. In 1955, the vessel was sold to 'Bugsier Reederei und Bergungs A.G.', later 'Bugsier -, Reederei - und Bergungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG', of Bremerhaven, Germany, & renamed Birkenau. The vessel was rebuilt in 1956 & became of 7526 tons (I hope that I have correctly understood the data at 1). In 1962, the vessel was sold to 'Oceanica Cia. de Transportes S.A. of Piraeus, Greece, Z. E. Lemos & P. M. Ponticos the managers, & renamed Chrysoforos. At an unknown (to the webmaster) date in 1962, Chrysoforos, en route from Hamburg to U.S.A. in ballast, was in collision with Kladno near Brunsbüttel (mouth of the Elbe River in northern Germany) & had to put back to repair her stem. Kladno had a damaged port side. In 1973, the vessel was sold again, to Draga Shipping Co. Ltd., of Limassol, Cyprus, E. Ponticos the manager, & renamed Kostis H. In late Sep. 1973, the vessel arrived at Santos, Săo Paulo, Brazil, with a cargo of bulk phosphates ex the Black Sea. While at her berth there, a fire broke out in her engine room on Sep. 28, 1973. While I have not been able to read the detail, it would seem that the damage was extensive & the vessel was declared a constructive total loss. The vessel was broken up by 'Siderurgica Rio Grandense', of Porto Alegre, Brazil, (550 or so miles S. of Santos). Can you add to and/or correct the above?
94	Hulda Maersk 5720 tons Hull 328 5156672 Martine Silver Sea	1950	a refrigerated cargo ship, with capacity for 12 passengers. Per 1 (image Hulda Maersk), 2 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). Sister to Lexa Maersk, also a 'Bartram' built vessel. Built, for '10.987.721 Dkr', for 'A/S D/S Svendborg' & 'D/S af 1912 A/S', (I believe in English, Svendborg Steamship Company & the 1912 Steamship Company), both of which companies were related to A. P. Mřller, i.e. 'A. P. Mřller - Maersk Line', of Copenhagen, Denmark. 459 ft. 8 in. long (140.106 metres) overall 131.3 metres perpendicular to perpendicular, speed of 15 knots, with 12 tanks, for such cargoes as molasses, vegetable oil & latex, signal letters OWLX. A builders' scale model of the ship was, on Mar. 25, 2009, sold at auction at Bonhams, Knightsbridge, London. It realised Ł3,600 incl. buyer's premium. On Oct. 31, 1967, the vessel suffered collision damage near Nagoya, Japan, during a voyage from Osaka to Kobe, both Japan. The vessel was sold, on Mar. 2, 1968, to 'Brigantine Transport Corp.', of Monrovia, Liberia, & renamed Martine. But transferred would be a better word than sold - I am advised that Brigantine Transport Co. was a daughter company owned by A. P. Mřller. In 1970, the vessel was sold again, to 'Greeksea Shipping Co. SA', of Piraeus, Greece, & renamed Silver Sea. In mid May 1971, the vessel was en route, in ballast, from Rotterdam to Jacobstad (Pietarsaari), Finland. Early on May 16, 1971, the vessel collided in fog with Moonie, in the Elbe estuary, 6 miles from the Elbe 1 lightship, off the west German coast. At 53.59N/07.54E. I have not read the detailed circumstances, but understand that no crew member was hurt, that Silver Sea suffered major damage & was towed to Cuxhaven, Germany. There it was declared to be a constructive total loss & was sold to be scrapped. Moonie was extensively damaged also & was repaired at Le Havre, France. On Mar. 23, 1972, Silver Sea arrived at the Hamburg, Germany, ship breaking facilities of 'Eisen u.Metall AG' to be broken up. Can anybody tell us which of the two vessels was held to be at fault in May 1971, and/or otherwise add to or correct the above text? #1788
95	Kieldrecht 6354 tons Hull 331 5186639 Spalmatori Engineer	1950	A cargo ship. Per 1 (data in Dutch, Kieldrecht, & 4 images incl a painting.), 2 (image 40% down), 3 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 476 ft. 8 in. long (145.288 metres) overall, 445 ft. 10 in. long (135.89 metres) perpendicular to perpendicular, speed of 14 1/2 knots, signal letters PFJK later SWLQ. Built for 'Phs. van Ommeren N.V.' ('Ommeren'), of Rotterdam, Dutch flag of course. In 1960, N.V. Stoomvaart Mij "De Maas", also of Rotterdam, became the vessel's owner, with Ommeren the managers. A transfer, perhaps? The vessel was sold, on Nov. 28, 1969, to 'Apiganos Corp.', of Pirćus, Greece, & later, in 1970, was renamed Spalmatori Engineer. On Apl. 23, 1974, the vessel was stranded on the coast of the island of Zanzibar while en route from Shanghai, China, to Hodeidah, Yemen. The vessel broke in two pieces which were towed to Mombasa, Kenya, where the vessel was declared a total loss. (I think that is essentially what a Dutch text used to say). Later towed (in 2 pieces?), to Gadani Beach, Karachi, Pakistan, where it was broken up in the period from Apl. to Jul. 1977. The links were mainly to pages in Dutch, a language of which I have no knowledge. A Google Books 'snippet' states that in 1974 the vessel was sold to Far Eastern interests for about $1,160,000 - am not sure how that fits into the history, maybe it relates to the sale of the vessel in two pieces to ship breakers? Can anybody correct my words & tell us more?
96	Surf Pioneer 7742 tons Hull 333 169231 5345601 laid down as Beskidy	1951	A tanker. Per 1 (extensive data, Surf Pioneer, images), 2 (Wikipedia, 'Surf Class' tankers, data), 3 (image, Surf Pioneer, but you must be registered to see it), 4 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). The vessel was laid down as Beskidy for Gdynia American Shipping Lines Ltd. (Polish Ocean Lines), of Gdynia, Poland. But on Jul. 4, 1951, the vessel was commandeered by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), i.e. the Admiralty. And on Jul. 15, 1951, was renamed Surf Pioneer. Was delivered on Nov. 28, 1951. Pennant No. A365. 469 ft. 6 in. long (143.1 metres) overall, 445 ft. 10 in. long (135.9 metres) perpendicular to perpendicular, speed of 12 1/2 knots, signal letters MMWC. The vessel was acquired for service as a 'Surf Class' replenishment oiler during the Korean War, but may not have been used for such service. Since I read that the vessel was initially used mainly for charter work. For her entire lifetime, I read, the vessel carried the Polish Eagle embossed on its funnel. On Feb. 6, 1954, Surf Pioneer, in the Indian Ocean, lowered a ship's boat with an officer & five crew members to check the tanker's draft. The boat's engines failed & a 2nd boat was sent to its aid. Both boats were carried away by strong currents & were rescued the next day by Indian coastal ships after spending a night at sea. On Feb. 13, 1954, the vessel was refitted at Bombay, India. On Jul. 23, 1954, when at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.A., 7 crew members jumped ship. In late 1956, the vessel was used as a water carrier during the Suez crisis (Operation Musketeer). On Jul. 21, 1959, the vessel suffered an engine breakdown while in the eastern Mediterranean. HMS Brigand, a tug, sailed from Malta to stand by her. Did she tow Surf Pioneer to port, I wonder? On Aug. 13, 1960, the vessel was laid up at Devonport, Plymouth, U.K. Nine years later, on Nov. 18, 1969, the vessel was placed on the Disposal List & on Nov. 29, 1969 was advertised for sale, 'as lying' at Devonport. On Feb. 16, 1970, the vessel left Devonport, in tow, for the 'Aguilar y Peris S.A.' ship breaking facilities at Burriana, Spain (N. of Valencia in eastern Spain), to be broken up. Actual break up commenced in Mar. 1970. The above contains little data as to what the vessel actually did. Can anybody correct the above record and/or tell us more?
97	India 7631 (or 7607) tons Hull 329 5160221 333301 (later) Kim Hock	1951	A passenger & cargo liner (refrigerated). Per 1 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). Built for 'Companhia Nacional de Navegaçăo', of Portugal. Registered at Lisbon. 431 ft. 10 in. long (131.623 metres) overall, 404 ft. 0 in. long (123.14 metres) perpendicular to perpendicular, twin screw, speed of 14 1/2 knots, 387 passengers & a crew of 120, signal letters CSKK later 9VUH. The largest passenger vessel constructed on the River Wear since 1904, I have read. Launched on Jan. 17, 1950 & completed in Feb. 1951. The vessel's routing was from Lisbon via the Suez Canal & Aden to Mormugoa (Goa), Singapore, Hong Kong, Macao & Dili (Portuguese Timor). The vessel was out of commission (in Portugal?) in 1971. In 1973, the vessel was sold to Guan Guan Shipping (Pte.) Ltd., of Singapore, & renamed Kim Hock. But perhaps renamed in 1971. It then linked Penang (Malaysia) & Singapore with Whampoa (China). In 1978 the vessel suffered major engine damage & rather than effect repairs the owners decided to scrap the vessel, which arrived at Kaohsiung, Taiwan, on Aug. 3, 1977, to be broken up at the ship breaking facilities of Gi Yuen Steel Enterprise Co. - sold for a price of about $73.50 per ltd. Can anybody add to and/or correct the above text?
98	Surf Patrol 7742 later 7797 tons Hull 332 169230 321303 5345596 Marisurf launched as Tatry	1951	A 'Surf-Class' tanker, a 'replenishment oiler'. Per 1 (data, mainly personnel related, Surf Patrol), 2 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 469 ft. 6 in. long (143.1 metres) overall, 445 ft. 10 in. long (135.9 metres) perpendicular to perpendicular, single screw, speed of 12 1/2, or maybe 13.75 knots, signal letters GMTK later 5BQE. Launched as Tatry (some sites say Tatri) for 'Polish Ocean Lines' or 'Gdynia American Shipping Lines Ltd.', of Gdynia, Poland, which would seem to effectively mean the Government of Poland. The vessel was, however, purchased (maybe seized or commandeered?) by the Admiralty for service during the Korean War. And delivered as Surf Patrol. On Jul. 17, 1951, the vessel was commissioned a Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) vessel. A357. I presume that she saw service in the Korean War (Jun. 25, 1950/Jul. 25, 1953). Yes? Despite a great many Google search pages re the vessel, I have found zero data about her service. I presume there must have been a lot of it because Lambert M. Surhone has written a book just about Surf Patrol. Can some site visitor tell us more? It would appear that the vessel went aground in 1959 at Innellan, Firth of Clyde, Scotland. The vessel was decommissioned on May 11, 1961 & laid up at Devonport. On Nov. 1, 1969, the vessel was offered for sale 'as lying' at Devonport Dockyard. And in Dec. 1969, the vessel was sold to General Carriers S.A., of Monrovia, Liberia, D. J. Chandris likely the managers & renamed Marisurf. The vessel was sold again, in 1970, to Allied Industries Ltd., of Famagusta, Cyprus, with no change of vessel name. On or prior to Jul. 21, 1980, the vessel arrived, in tow from Piraeus, Greece, at the ship breaking facilities of 'Brodospas' at Split, Yugoslavia, to be broken up. The vessel had been laid up at Piraeus from Aug. 31, 1974 thru Jul. 5, 1980. Can you add anything?
99	Timor 7656 tons Hull 330 5361617 367889 (later) Kim Ann	1951	A refrigerated passenger & cargo liner. Per 1 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). Built for 'Companhia Nacional de Navegaçăo', ('Companhia') of Portugal. Registered Lisbon. 431 ft. 10 in. long (131.623 metres) overall, 404 ft. 0 in. long (123.14 metres) perpendicular to perpendicular, twin screw, speed of 14 1/2 knots, 387 passengers & a crew of 120, signal letters CSKN. Out of commission (Companhia) in 1974. But the vessel was sold, in 1974, to Guan Guan Shipping (Pte.) Ltd.), of Singapore, & renamed Kim Ann. And sold again, in 1983, to Thai Guan Guan Shipping Ltd., of Bangkok, Thailand. The vessel was broken up, at Huangpu (Shanghai), China, in 1984. Can anybody clarify or add to the data?

100

Llantrisant
6140 tons
Hull 335

185357

Lake Burnaby

1952

A cargo ship. Per 1 (ref. '3/11 1958', wreck data, Lake Burnaby), 2 (image, Llantrisant), 3 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 145.3 metres long overall, 445 ft. 0 in., speed of 13 knots. Built for 'Anthony Radcliffe Steamship Co. Ltd.' & 'Ethel Radcliffe Steamship Co. Ltd.', of Cardiff. Built at a difficult time, most likely, since freight rates were then very low. The vessel was sold, in mid 1957, to 'Western Canada Steamship Company Limited', of Vancouver, Canada, likely managed by Ropners, & renamed Lake Burnaby. Registered however at West Hartlepool. The vessel visited Auckland, New Zealand, once only, on Nov. 11, 1957. I have read little detail about what happened in early Nov. 1958. It would appear, however, that the vessel was en route from the Philippines to Singapore for onward passage to Hamburg, Germany, with a cargo of copra. On Nov. 3, 1958, the vessel ran aground & was wrecked. At 7.57N/118.40E, on Bancoran (or Bancorran) Reef, the Philippines, in the Sulu Sea, NE of Borneo. I presume that 'Javellana Shipping & Trading' ('Javellana') of the Philippines, acquired the wreck because the stern section was, I read, later re-floated & taken under tow for their account. Did it arrive safely? I do not know. References to Javellana are few, but I have seen a WWW reference to their selling reconditioned marine diesel engines. Maybe they were either a salvage company or ship breakers? Can anybody help with more data?

The above is the 1st 'Bartram' page of 100 vessels - the second page is here.

There were many later ships built at the Bartram South Dock facility. Those later vessels are recorded under the name of Austin & Pickersgill Limited, who acquired Bartram's in 1968 but in a practical sense only took over in 1971 after a 3 year period of co-operation. The 'Bartram' financial results of such 3 year period were a factor in determining the acquisition price that Austin & Pickersgill Limited paid.

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