The Sunderland Site Page 050

May I suggest that you navigate the site via the index on page 001.PRIOR PAGE / NEXT PAGE

On this page ... J. Crown & Sons et al, T. & N. Davie, Davison J., Davison & Stokoe, John Denniston, Denton, E. Dixon, H. Dixon, R. Dixon, T. S. Dixon, Dobbinson H. (or Dobinson), D. A. Douglas, J. Dryden, T. Dryden, page bottom (donkeys).

Do you want to make a comment? A site guestbook is here.

To search for specific text on this page, just press 'CTRL + F' & then enter your search term. A general site search facility is here.

Copyright?

Corrections in any of the material which follows, however tiny, would be most welcome. And additions, of course! (72 + 4 + 4 + 5 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 3 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 100) Test.

Miramar, Plimsoll, images, mariners-l.co.uk, MNL, eBay, Delcampe,

LUKE CROWN (1807 - ?)
JACKY CROWN
JAMES CROWN
J. CROWN & SONS
J. CROWN & SONS LTD.
JOHN CROWN & SONS (1847 - ?)
STRAND SLIPWAY CO. (1872 - 1900?), (maybe THE STRAND SLIPWAY CO. Known also as STRAND SHIPBUILDING COMPANY)
JOHN CROWN & SONS LTD. (1903 - 1958?)
JOHN CROWN LTD.

First a few images. Just two, however, at this moment. Hover your mouse over each thumbnail to read the subject matter.

Can you help with the history of this company & shipbuilder family?

I have read however that 'John Crown & Sons' was founded in 1847. It is clear however that that date was not, by a long shot, the beginning. 'Where Ships Are Born', devotes a few paragraphs to 'Crown' history & indicates that tradition tells of a 'Crown' involved in the Sunderland shipping business as early as 1761. The first 'Crown' for which there are authentic records is, apparently, Luke Crown who commenced business on his own account in 1807 having served his apprenticeship at Henry Rudd of Monkwearmouth & Pallion between the years 1790 & 1800. There was also a James Crown in the early years of the 19th century. So the John Crown who commenced business in 1847 was of a much later generation. He took over the yard located at the Strand Slipway, Monkwearmouth, which yard had previously been occupied by John Candlish.

It would seem that the best known of the 'Crowns' was 'Jacky' Crown (1840-1902) - a famous Sunderland character. Described as being 'the raciest speaker in town, brusque yet good-natured, and never afraid to doff his jacket and help his workmen in the shipyard.'

The business had a number of names over the years, including, I am advised, 'The Strand Slipway Co.'. The use of that name would seem to have commenced in 1872. The company was often, it would seem, referred to as 'Strand Shipbuilding Company' as per these newspaper cuttings provided (thanks!) by Lyndon Pritchard. It reverted to a 'John Crown name' in 1900 but became 'John Crown & Sons Ltd.' in 1903. At the end of WW2, the yard had a 225 ft. slipway & a graving dock of 400 ft. It was taken over in 1946 by Joseph L. Thompson & Sons Ltd., but it continued to operate as a separate yard until it was closed in 1958. I thank 'Tyne & Wear Archives' also for a portion of that data which is available on page 14 of this 'pdf' file.

In or about 1893, Luke Crown, a shipwright, born in Monkwearmouth in about 1839, wrote 'Reflections of Southwick', a manuscript which covers the early shipbuilding history of Southwick. You can read about the manuscript & access its text via this page.

It was known to the shipyard workers as 'Crone' rather than 'Crown', I am told.

Names of just a few of the vessels constructed by 'Crown' of Sunderland - as I happen to spot references to them. In a table in build date sequence. And in alpha sequence within a year. I am advised that Silverisle was the final vessel built at the 'Crown' yard, Hull #243. That may well prove to be so, however the highest 'Crown' Hull # recorded at the fine New Zealand site 'Miramar', is #249 (Flying Wizard). And by launch date Miramar indicates Silverweir, Hull #245, to be the final launch - on Mar. 16, 1961. Now see the partial build list on page 151. I am just the scribe! I was not there!

Miramar lists (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:- 75, 112, 145, 177, 211, 242, 249. (249)

Has anybody seen a complete built list? A partial list in on site page 142.

I list just 64 'Crown' vessels below. A long long way to go! Note that I do not list on this page the vessels built at the 'Crown' yard, after Joseph L. Thompson & Sons Ltd. acquired the yard in 1946. Any such vessels will be covered as 'Thompson' ships here. 239 vessels built before that ownership change. And 10 after it.

1	Milo 277 tons	1817	A brig or snow. Built by either Jas. Crown or J. Crone (records differ). The vessel, which was launched in Jan. 1817, is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1817/18 thru 1829. It was initially owned by J. Crone, its builder, for service from Sunderland to London with R. Smith serving as the vessel's captain. I am advised that i) Milo made her maiden voyage from Sunderland to London in Feb. 1817, ii) when lying at Rotherhithe (London Docks, S. of the Thames) it was advertised for sale & iii) was bought in 1818 by R. Ord of Liverpool, who owned the vessel for the rest of its lifetime. The vessel, per LR, had some varied service - initially from London to Sunderland in 1818, from Star Cross (likely Starcross, Devon) to Merrimac (Massachusetts, U.S.A.) & then Liverpool to Riga, Latvia, in 1819. From Liverpool to Narva (Gulf of Finland, Estonia), & from Hull to America in 1820. In 1820/21 from Liverpool to Brunswick, Canada, & from London to Jamaica. Per LR it served ex Hull for the rest of its lifetime, to America thru 1824 & to Shields thereafter. With, again per LR, W. Ord serving as the vessel's captain for almost all of those years, with however 'Ruffington' briefly serving in 1820/21. In 1829 T. Bowser (maybe Bouser) became the vessel's final captain. A little operational detail. On May 14, 1829 the vessel left Sunderland for Quebec, Canada, 'Bowser' in command (recorded as Bowson) with a cargo of coal. It reached Quebec on Jul. 1, 1829 & on Aug. 1, 1829 was cleared (Bowser) for departure to Dublin, Ireland. We thank Nicolas Jouault for detail about what finally happened to Milo. Which left Dublin for Memel (then E. Prussia, now Klaipėda, Lithuania), with 'Bowser' in command. It never made it to Memel. On the night of Oct. 3, 1829, the vessel was wrecked on Les �cr�hous (1, 2), a group of islands & rocks located in the Gulf of St. Malo, 6 miles NE of the island of Jersey (between Jersey & the coast of Normandy, France). As per this brief report. The crew took to the ship's boats so no loss of life. Can you provide additional detail about the vessel's loss or otherwise add to or correct the above text? #2287
2	Erato 188 tons	1821	A brig or snow. Built by L. Crown. *Erato, which was launched in Nov. 1821, is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1822 thru 1829/30 only - it had quite a short life. In all of those years other than 1825 & 1826 the vessel was LR stated to be owned by 'Captain & Co.' And in the two specific years noted 'Metcalf & Co.' was LR listed as the vessel's owner. We, of course, need to know the name of the captain to be able to understand the LR listings. The captain for all of the vessel's years incl 1825 & 1826 was, per LR, T. Blair, or P. Blair, or T. Blain. The first name 'version' per LR thru to 1825, the second from 1826 thru 1828/29, & the third in 1829/30 only. It would seem that the correct name of the captain was, however, 'Blair' - there are a great many Lloyd's List references to the vessel over its lifetime with 'Blair' noted as being her captain. Erato's service per LR? From Liverpool to Pernau, Russia, (now P�rnu, Estonia), from 1822 thru 1824. To St. Petersburg, Russia - in 1825 from Liverpool & in 1826 from London. From Yarmouth, Norfolk, to Sunderland in 1826/27 & 1829/30. And ex London in 1827/28 & 1828/29 incl. to Quebec, Canada, in 1827/28. The vessel most certainly traded frequently, thru its lifetime, to the eastern Baltic (St. Petersburg, Riga (Latvia), Memel (then E. Prussia, now Klaipėda, Lithuania), to Archangel, Russia, to Hamburg, Germany, to Quebec & Montreal, in Canada, returning to many U.K. ports incl. Sunderland, Liverpool, Hull, Yarmouth, London &, at least once, Waterford, Ireland. Erato* left Sunderland for Lisbon, Portugal, in mid Mar. 1830, under the command of 'Blunt' or 'Frond'. Lloyd's List of Jun. 4, 1830 later advises, in a May 31, 1830 report from Le Havre, France, that *Erato* had sailed from Lisbon, Portugal, for Quebec & Montreal, on Apl. 28, 1830, under the command of 'Blair'. Further that the vessel had foundered off the Azores, her crew being rescued by *Hercule* (en route from Guadeloupe (southern Caribbean) to Le Havre under the command of Brachelet) & landed at Le Havre. No specific date was stated for the vessel's loss. Can you add anything additional, and/or correct the modest history recorded above? #2569
3	Brack 221 later 217 tons 3463	1824	A brig or snow. Built by either Jas. Crown or J. Crone (records differ). *Brack, which was launched in Feb. 1824, is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1824 thru 1831, then a 2 year gap, from 1834 thru 1843/44, a 4 year gap, & from 1848/49 thru 1856/57. Brack's initial owner was J. (John) Cropton of Sunderland, thru 1838/39 it would seem, for service as a Lynn (i.e. King's Lynn, Norfolk) coaster thru 1831, & from Sunderland to London in the years from 1836/37 thru 1838/39. With, per LR, W. Graham her captain thru 1831, 'Williamson' from 1834 thru 1836/37, T. Budd from 1836/37 thru 1838/39. In 1839/40, per LR, the vessel became owned by 'Stephenson' of Sunderland (Richard Stephenson, I have read) for continued service from Sunderland to London, with 'Scott' serving as the vessel's captain from 1839/40 thru 1843/44. When LR listings for the vessel resumed in 1848/49, Brack* was owned by 'Wawn' of South Shields - C. N. Wawn from 1853/54. I do not know when he acquired the vessel. The North of England Maritime Directory of 1848/9 records, in Jul. 1848 data, C. N. Wawn of South Shields as owner of the Newcastle registered 217 ton vessel. Such owner name is clarified by the equivalent register of 1854/5 which advises that (in 1854) the now Shields registered vessel was owned by Charles N. Wawn, with Joseph Adams her then captain. Turnbull's Shipping Registers of 1855 & 1856 both record 'Wawn' as the vessel's owner with, in 1855, T. Nicholson serving as her captain. I have read that Wawn's initial 'N' means Newby. During the period of 'Wawn' ownership, H. Gray, per LR, served as her captain from 1850/51 thru 1852/53, & then J. Adams. Also it would seem, as above, late in the vessel's life, T. Nicholson. I have read that Brack was 84.0 ft. long. What happened to Brack? Which is, I should note, a rare name for a ship. We seem to have conflicting reports as to what happened to her & when. Per this page, Wikipedia notes that Brack was wrecked on Sep. 26, 1856 on a reef off Borkum (in the East Frisian Islands of NW Germany), Denmark (but Germany it would seem), & that her crew were all saved. Their source for such data is 'Ship News' in 'The Morning Post' of London of Oct. 02, 1856. But the wreck data within a U.K. government report states differently. These pages (1 & 2) (ex here) advise that, at an unknown date in Oct. 1856, the vessel left Shields for Hamburg, Germany, with a cargo of coal. On Oct. 25, 1856, off course it would seem, the vessel struck a sunken wreck near Burcan or Burcane Reef (the words are difficult to read) & itself was wrecked. No lives were lost. I am unable to determine where such reef is located, however, per such pages, her wreck site is noted to be located S. of Flamborough Head, Yorkshire. That is where today, the matter must rest - until new data emerges. One final but important matter - but first some background. During the years of 1848/1851, the Danes were at war with Germany/Prussia in what is known as the First Schleswig War. As part of their war effort, the Danes instituted a blockade to stop German shipping in both the North Sea & in the Baltic. On Jun. 04, 1849 a sea battle took place - the first Battle of Heligoland. Which battle, in view of its timing, is likely related to the purpose of this reference. A worthy website re Sunderland shipping, a site which demands no links & wishes no recognition, advises that on Jun. 07, 1849, Brack was seized by a Danish warship relative to such a blockade & was detained for approximately a month. I have not yet located any additional WWW data about the matter. More detail about the incident would be most welcome for inclusion here. Is there anything you can add or correct? #2339
4	Partisan 231, later 232, later 232/224 tons	1828	A snow. Built by L. Crown. The vessel is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed in 1830, from 1832 thru 1843/44 & not thereafter. It was early LR listed as built in 1827 but from 1838/39 LR lists the vessel as 1828 built. Which I believe is correct, the vessel having been launched in Mar. 1828. Partisan was owned, thru 1838/39 per LR, by J. Dale, of Newcastle in 1834 & of North Shields thereafter. For service from Hull to Hamburg, Germany, thru 1833, & from Newcastle to Quebec, Canada, from 1834 thru 1837/38. In 1838/39 service from Shields to London is recorded. With H. Pringle her captain thru 1833, P. Dale for a portion of 1834 & 'Cram' from 1834 thru 1838/39. From 1839/40 thru 1843/44, LR lists M. Morris, of North Shields, as the vessel's owner, for service from Shields to London. With 'Robinson', per LR, serving as the vessel's captain. There clearly was another change of ownership. The North of England Maritime Directory of 1848/9 lists *Partisan* (1827) as registered at Hartlepool & owned in May 1848 by Thomas Wilkinson of Hartlepool. What finally happened to Partisan? On May 12, 1850, per line 177 on this page, the 224 ton 'square' sank at Hogland (Hogland or Gogland is an island in the Gulf of Finland, eastern Baltic, about 180 km west of Saint Petersburg, Russia). Crew of 8 - none lost. Stated to have then been owned by Thomas Wilkinson. Is there anything you can add? Or correct in the above text? #2331
5	Darlington 172/157 tons 6204	1838	A schooner. The webmaster has two Sunderland build lists available to him. One of them states that the vessel was built by L. Crown. The other states Luke & John Crown. *Darlington, which was launched on Jun. 28, 1838, is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1839/40 thru 1855/56 with the exception of 1851/52 & 1852/53. It was, per LR, owned for its entire lifetime by Stockton & London Shipping Company, of Stockton, County Durham. The North of England Maritime Directory of 1848/9, in May 1848 data, lists the vessel as Stockton registered & owned by Stockton & London Shipping Company. The equivalent directory of 1854/5, in 1854 data, confirms such ownership & records J. Jobson as the vessel's then captain. Her captains as noted by LR? R. Tate thru 1845/46 or 1846/47 (LRs of 1839/40 & 1840/41 list R. Gate, likely in error), A. Stainsby from 1845/46 or 1846/47 thru 1850/51 at least, J. Jobson from 1853/54 thru 1855/56. The vessel's service per LR? Always to London, ex Sunderland in 1839/40 & 1840/41 & ex Stockton thereafter. What finally happened to Darlington? I learn that in early Feb. 1856, Darlington, under the command of John Dobson, was en route from Stockholm, Sweden, to London, with a cargo of lead, iron & general merchandise valued at �6,000. On Feb. 05, 1856, at about 5 o'clock in the morning, the schooner was in collision with Margaret, a Sunderland registered brig, in the Yarmouth Roads. It would seem that such collision occurred 'in the Wold' which is a stretch of water related to Haisborough Sands off the coast of Norfolk. The Darlington* crew just had time to scramble aboard *Margaret* before *Darlington* sank. *Margaret, under the command of Charles Crute, likely landed the Darlington* crew at Scarborough, Yorkshire (Lloyd's List loss report & the *Darlington* deposition both were from Scarborough). And later, on Feb. 09, 1856, *Margaret* arrived at Sunderland in a much damaged condition. A couple of contemporary news reports - 1, 2 & 3. The first report advises that *Darlington* was en route from Middlesbro' to London. A report from Stockholm dated Feb. 10, 1856, however, noted (text) that *Darlington* had left that port for London, & had been run down in the Wold. There were a number of vessels named *Margaret* registered at Sunderland at the time. Turnbull's Shipping Register of 1856 lists 5 vessels of the name so registered. Only two of such vessels are noted to be snows or brigs however. It is the webmaster's belief that the *Margaret* that collided with Darlington was built at Sunderland in 1854 - ON #33763 - & was owned by G. W. & J. J. Thompson of Sunderland. Site listed here. I say that in large part because I have spotted that Charles Chute was in 1854 the captain of *Ayres Quay*, a schooner built at Sunderland in 1852 - owned in 1854 by J. & G. Thompson of Sunderland. Can you tell us anything additional? Or correct the above text in any way? #2769
6	Flower of Ugie 350/402 tons	1838	A 3 masted barque, which was completed in Jul. 1838. The vessel is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1839/40 thru 1852/53. Per 1 & 2 ('The Archaeology and History of the Flower of Ugie ...', the title is long!, published 2011), 3 (MWTMA site, extensive data). 102 ft. 6 in. long, of African & English oak, American elm & white pine. Built for J. Bruce & Company of Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. I am advised that the river Ugie enters the North Sea at Peterhead, hence I presume the vessel's name. I should mention early in this listing that on Dec. 27, 1852, the vessel ran aground & was wrecked on Horse Tail Sands in the eastern Solent, about 5 miles E. of Portsmouth. From 2004 thru 2011, the wreck site was excavated by marine archaeologists of 'The Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology' ('MWTMA'). The wreck was identified via historical records & artifacts, & in 2011, a 112 page amazingly detailed monograph, edited by Dr. Julian Whitewright and Julie Satchell, was published by MWTMA. It is this monograph that, thanks to Dr. Whitewright, is the source of the data which I include in this brief listing. The vessel's maiden voyage was from Sunderland to Madras (now Chennai) & Calcutta (now Kolkata), India, under the command of Captain Annand, who was her master for about 7 years (LR records him as the vessel's captain thru 1846/47 for service from Liverpool to Calcutta, India, thru 1843/44 & from Liverpool to Mauritius thereafter. The vessel returned, possibly via Penang, with a varied cargo which included saltpetre (saltpeter), rice, indigo, horn-tips & hemp. The vessel continued to trade into & in the Indian Ocean, to South Asia & even to China. It would seem that she may have carried indentured labour from Madras to Mauritius. In 1846, 'Watson', of Sunderland, became the vessel's owners & 'Stabb' (Edward Stabb) became her captain. The vessel then traded from Liverpool into the Mediterranean & Black Seas, via New York to Quebec, Canada, & into the Baltic. LRs indicate that the vessel served Odessa (Ukraine, Black Sea) in 1846/47 & 1847/48, served from Gloucester to Quebec, from 1848/49 thru 1850/51 & from Sunderland to Aden, thereafter. On Nov. 20, 1849 (in red), returning from Kronstadt/St. Petersburg (Russia), the vessel ran aground at the entrance to Drogden, in the waters between Denmark & Sweden. It clearly was successfully re-floated & any damages suffered were later repaired. The vessel sailed to & from Quebec to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) & then Quebec & returned to Sunderland in late Oct. 1852. From 1851, B. Mather served as her captain. On Dec. 07, 1852, the vessel left Sunderland for Cartagena, Spain, on what proved to be her final voyage - with a cargo of coal. They passed Deal, Kent, & headed westwards down the English Channel. On the night of Dec. 26, 1852, the ship had the misfortune to run into a major storm, described as 'a perfect hurricane', which caused the loss of many ships & many lives along the south coast of England. Soon after midnight, off Portland, the vessel was 'thrown on its beam ends' i.e. knocked flat sideways, by the ferocity of the storm. They fired guns as a distress signal. To return the ship to an upright position, the crew cut away the main & mizzen masts leaving only the foremast. With that they ran before the wind seeking protection in the lee of the Isle of Wight. There the vessel was driven hard onto the Horse Tail Sands. Despite all possible efforts, including cutting away the remaining mast, the ship could not be saved. The crew abandoned ship, were rescued by a pilot boat & safely landed at Portsmouth. Within 12 hours all trace of the vessel was gone - it had totally disintegrated. The wreck was rediscovered in 2003 by a fisherman whose nets snagged the remains. The wreck location? The exact location is not published to protect the integrity of the site & wreck. But it is roughly at 50.43.XXN/1.1.XXW. Can you add anything? #1908
7	Maria Whitfield 241 later 244 tons 13901	1839	A snow or brig, built by J. Crown. *Maria Whitfield, which was completed in Aug. 1839, is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1839/40 thru 1856/57 & not thereafter. The vessel was owned, thru 1848/49 per LR, by 'Whitfield' of Sunderland & 'Whitfield' served as her captain for most of those years, until 1846/47 when G. Munro became her captain. A Sunderland shipping website, which website has requested no links or recognition, records the vessel as first registered at Sunderland on Aug. 24, 1839, owned by Allison Whitfield of Sunderland. I thank such site. A few 'best-efforts' Maria Whitfield* operational data 'snippets'. i) On May 16, 1840, the vessel, 'Nixon' in command, left Sunderland for Quebec City, Canada, arriving there on Aug. 8, 1840. It arrived back at Dover, Kent, on Oct. 21, 1840. ii) Quite a number of voyages in 1841 to Hamburg, Germany, with 'Nixon' in command. iii) 'Wiskins' her captain for a while. iv) On Jul. 04, 1843 the vessel arrived at Gloucester ex Quebec City with a cargo of timber. It soon left for London with 339 tons of salt. v) On May 26, 1844, *Maria Whitfield* arrived at Quebec, Canada, under the command of 'Urskins', with a cargo of coal & glass. It seems likely that the vessel was rather under the command of 'Woodward'. It arrived back at Lynn, Norfolk, on or about Aug. 6, 1844. vi) On Aug. 23, 1844, the vessel left Lynn for Pugwash (Nova Scotia, Canada). On Nov. 22, 1844 the vessel, under the command of 'Wood', arrived at Carmarthen, Wales, from Pugwash with timber, deals & lathwood. vii) on Mar. 12, 1845, the vessel (Wood) left Sunderland for Carthagena, Spain, which it left on Apl. 29, 1845 for Pugwash. But ... on May 08, 1845 the vessel was damaged in a collision with an unknown vessel in the Atlantic Ocean SW of Lisbon, Portugal, & had to put back to Gibraltar, presumably to effect repairs. On Sep. 6, 1845 the vessel arrived back at Hull. viii) On May 26, 1846 the vessel (Urskins) arrived at Quebec - on Mar. 30, 1847 it arrived back (Munro) at Sunderland ex Philadelphia, U.S.A., ix) On Apl. 13, 1848 the vessel (Philskirk) arrived at Longhope (Orkney Islands) ex Sunderland. x) On Dec. 17, 1848, Robert Stoker in command, *Maria Whitfield* picked up 7 crew members of an unnamed Norwegian vessel wrecked on Shipwash Sand & landed them at Gravesend. xi) A number of voyages (Stoker) to Cronstadt and/or St. Petersburg, Russia. xii) On Aug. 6/7, 1851, the vessel (Stoker) arrived at London ex Riga, Latvia, with a cargo of timber. xiii) On Feb. 19, 1854, Dawling or a similar name in command, while en route to Portsmouth ex Shields, the vessel was driven onto the Goodwin Sands during a gale, losts sails & anchors & was helped off by a Ramsgate lugger. xiv) On Oct. 30, 1855, (Clay) en route from Soderham (S�derhamn, Gulf of Bothnia, Sweden) to Southampton with a cargo of wood, the vessel went aground on Falsterbo Reef (SW Sweden across the water from Copenhagen, Denmark), Norway. It must have got off - on Nov. 14, 1855 it arrived at Copenhagen, & would have to discharge her cargo to effect repairs. Lots of newspaper references to the vessel - the webmaster ran out of available time. The North of England Maritime Directory of 1848/9, in Apl. 1848 data, tells us that the 244 ton brig was then owned by A. Whitfield of Sunderland & B. (Barnabus) Rutter of East Harrington (East Herrington, Sunderland?). From Feb. 04, 1840, I have read. Under 'Whitfield' ownership, the vessel served ex Sunderland to London thru 1845/46 & to New York thereafter. In 1848/49, per LR, *Maria Whitfield* became owned by 'Foreman' of Shields, thru 1856/57, for service ex Shields to, where a destination is listed, Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1848/49 & 1849/50, to the Baltic in 1850/51 & to London from 1852/53 thru 1854/55. With J. Stoker her captain thru 1849/50 & R. Stoker thereafter. The Sunderland website referred to above tells us that on Oct. 11, 1848, the vessel was owned by 'George & Philis Morrison, Mark Foreman and Robert Stoker, South Shields'. While 'Foreman' is still listed as the vessel's owner in LRs of 1855/56 & 1856/57, the available data is modest. I think because the vessel, from 1854 it would seem, had become registered at Southampton, with, from Jan. 30, 1854 I read, Robert Ekless her owner. The Mercantile Navy Lists of 1857 thru 1864 all list *Maria Whitfield* as Southampton registered. Which is a puzzle, re years after 1858, since a certificate re the vessel's loss had been issued dated Nov. 16, 1858 (top line). In Jun. 1855, the vessel sailed from Newport, Wales, to Elsinore, Denmark, with a cargo of coal. It is clear that *Maria Whitfield* was, in fact, lost - off the Scilly Islands in late Nov. 1858. I have read that the vessel had been bound for Southampton from Cardiff, Wales, further that the crew was saved & landed at Falmouth, Cornwall. But, most of the few available contemporary news reports, advise, from Penzance, Cornwall, on Nov. 23, 1858, that her crew had been landed at Penzance. The captain's name is not referenced - 'Shelley' was her captain in 1857 & earlier in 1858. Wikipedia tells us (thanks!) that the vessel was lost on Nov. 23, 1858 but I think such date is in error & that Nov. 19, 1858, as has been recorded here for many years, may prove to be a better date. I note that the 'other' Sunderland website records the vessel's date of loss as being Nov. 19, 1859. 84.4 ft. long, signal letters LJVQ. Can you tell us about the circumstances of the vessel's loss, or otherwise add anything? #2694

8	Sarepta 259/266 tons	1839	A snow. Built by J. Crown. Sarepta? An ancient Phoenician city located on the coast of today's Lebanon about 8 miles S. of Sidon. Biblically known as Zarephath. A vessel which was completed in Feb. 1839 & had a very short life. It is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1839/40 thru 1842/43 only. Owned for that entire, if brief, period, per LR at least, by 'Nicholson' of Sunderland, for service from Sunderland to the Baltic. 'Buck' was always, per LR, her captain. A little operational history. On Aug. 22, 1840, *Sarepta, 'Buck' in command, landed 10 immigrants ex London at either Quebec or Montreal, Canada. All young men, going on to Toronto, now Ontario, Canada. As per this U.K. Government report published in 1841. It would seem that LR may have recorded the vessel's later data incorrectly. This page (in red) tells us that in 1841 Sarepta* became registered at Whitby, Yorkshire, owned by Will. and Francis Thompson, Sarah Nesfield and Dorothy Wilson. Such page tells us, incorrectly clearly, that the vessel was lost in 1844. LR of 1842/43 notes that *Sarepta* had been 'Wrecked'. For a long time I was unable to tell you what had happened to the vessel & when. Now, thanks to the kindness of Hans Peter Kj�r, I can tell you more. Hans has kindly brought to my attention this Wikipedia page in Danish, which tells us, as I understand it, that *Sarepta, with Edward Jameson of Whitby in command, was en route from St. Petersburg, Russia, to Leith, Scotland, when on Nov. 23, 1841 she ran aground near Skagen (northernmost Danish town, E. coast of the Skagen Odde peninsula, northern tip of Jutland, Denmark). Specifically at Skagen Nordstrand, a little to the N. of Skagen itself - in hazy & stormy weather. The vessel had passed Elsinore on Nov. 21, 1841. It would seem that the crew were all rescued, though I cannot tell you how such rescue was effected. The webmaster's knowledge of Danish is, alas, non-existent. The Danish text seems to list the vessel's cargo but the available translations into English do not permit the webmaster to provide a reliable list. Items rescued from the wreck were later sold at public auction. Do note that the above 'Wiki' page provides links to three contemporary Danish original reports. Lloyd's List, in a report from Randers (N. central Denmark), essentially confirms the above but names 'Jamieson' as Sarepta's then captain. 'Wiki' reports the wreck here, referring to two English newspapers as their data sources. The webmaster would welcome any site visitor providing the complete text of such reports for inclusion here. There is a puzzle re this vessel that I should mention. During the entire lifetime of this vessel & in fact both before & after that period, another vessel named Sarepta*, also built at Sunderland (in 1837) was owned by Nicholson of Sunderland. Were there perhaps two ship owners named Nicholson in Sunderland at that time? I presume that that likely was so. Can you add to or correct the above text? #2544
9	Syria 195/210 tons	1840	A snow. Built by J. Crown. A vessel which had an incredibly short life - just one day! *Syria* was launched on Nov. 12, 1840 & is recorded in Lloyd's Register once only, so far as I can see, in LR of 1840/41, in the supplement. It was owned, per LR, by Nicholson of Sunderland (William Nicholson & Sons) for service from Sunderland to London, with 'Minnikin' serving as her captain. That service was clearly her 'proposed' service. The LR entry notes that *Syria* had been 'Wrecked'. I learn that *Syria, launched on Nov. 12, 1840, was lost on the following day. The circumstances? On 3 days in Nov. 1840 (Nov. 12 thru 14), massive storms swept the British Isles, affecting much of the country including the Channel & the east & north east coasts. Violent winds, including hurricane force winds, & high seas caused massive damage to British shipping everywhere. This page amazingly lists over 50 vessels which were lost on Nov. 13, 1840 alone, the day on which Syria* was destroyed. It refers to the loss of *Syria* as follows:- On Nov. 13, 1840, the 'ship, which had been launched the previous day, was driven ashore and wrecked on the North Beacon Rock, off Sunderland, with the loss of four of her seven crew. Survivors were rescued by the Sunderland Lifeboat.'. The 'Lloyd's List' brief report re the loss of *Ellen* (not identified yet as to where she was built) & *Syria* is here. These contemporary newspaper articles (1 & 2) set out in detail what happened to *Syria* - both are sad reading indeed. One crew member tried to reach shore & drowned in the attempt. The remaining crew were swept off the ship by the violence of the sea, in full sight of many thousands of spectators on shore. Three of the crew were plucked from the raging seas by the brave crews who manned the Sunderland lifeboats, but four were lost including Jacob Minniken (or Miniken), the vessel's captain. Additional detail re the storm can be read here, the source of the 2nd of the two articles above referenced. One of the articles concludes with optimism that *Syria* might be saved from going to pieces, but it would seem that *Syria* was totally destroyed. Can you correct the above or tell us anything additional? #2715
10	Bzyb 323/396 tons	1843	Bzyb? A river & a settlement in Abkhazia, Georgia (Black Sea). The vessel, a barque, which was launched in Mar. 1843, is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1843/44 thru 1849/50, always as *Bzyb, &, so far as I can see, not thereafter. Built by J. Crown. It was owned throughout that entire, if brief, period, per LR, by Carr & Co. of Newcastle, for service from Sunderland to Odessa (Ukraine, Black Sea), with J. Brunton, per LR, her sole captain. For many years, I have noted here that I could not tell you what happened to the vessel, likely in or about 1850. But I can now, thanks to a Sunderland shipping website that requests no links or recognition, tell you a little more about the vessel. Such website lists the vessel, I think incorrectly, as Byyb rather than Bzyb, first registered on May 16, 1843 at Newcastle, in the name of John Thomas Carr. Such website further indicates that on that very same day, i.e. May 16, 1843, the vessel became owned by the Government of Russia & that on Sep. 16, 1843 the vessel was both delivered to Odessa & the British register re the vessel was closed. We thank such website for its interesting data. It would seem that the LR record for the vessel was quite inaccurate. I have now read that on May 27, 1843, Bzyb* left Shields for Odessa under the command of 'Brunton'. Apparently eight seamen, who had signed articles to serve during such voyage, refused to join the ship - they were all sentenced to 30 days hard labour. The vessel did not make giant progress - it left Portsmouth for Odessa only on Jun. 11, 1843, arriving at Odessa on Sep. 23, 1843. Eleven years later, in 1854, it would seem that Russia was at war with Turkey & a Russian fleet was active in the Black Sea. In early Mar. 1854, the vessel was apparently involved in such war & was then under the command of Lieutenant Tchebyscheff, presumably of the Russian Navy. That is all the data I could find about the vessel. 98.7 ft. long. It would be good to learn of the vessel's later history. Can you help in that regard? #2695

Ann
324 tons

1844

Ann, which was launched in May 1844, was not, so far as the webmaster can see, ever listed in Lloyd's Register ('LR'). We do know that L. Crown built it, since such name was recorded in two Sunderland build lists available to the webmaster.
Unfortunately, as the vessel is first listed on this site, in Dec. 2023, I cannot tell you with certainty the name of her owner. I think that it likely was A. White of Sunderland, but I have deduced such owner name because her owner, I have read, sent three vessels to Ichaboe at (about) the same time. Majestic, 'Smith' in command, owned, per LR, by A. White, left Sunderland for Ichaboe on May 21, 1844. You should know that Ichaboe is an island, located off the coast of Namibia, SW Africa - an island that was noted for its guano deposits.
The loss of Ann, however, at the end of her maiden voyage, is well documented due to the dramatic circumstances.
What do we know? We know firstly that there would seem to have been two vessels of similar description. There was an Ann, with 'Storey' in command, that arrived at Seaham ex London on both Aug. 05, 1844 & Oct. 22, 1844. It would seem that that could not have been our vessel. We know secondly that a vessel named Ann (or maybe Anne - both names are recorded) left Sunderland for Ichaboe on May 28 or May 29, 1844. On Nov. 05, 1844, Anne (Storey) arrived at St. Helena ex the W. coast of Africa. And on Dec. 31, 1844, Ann (Storey) left Cork, Ireland, for Sunderland.
Lloyd's List tells us that on Jan. 07, 1845, in a report from Hull, that Anne (Storey) en route from Ichaboe to Sunderland got on Hasbro' Sand (Hasborough Sands, located near Cromer, Norfolk), and sank. Further that its crew (of 15 I have read) were saved. Other reports named the vessel Ann.
The vessel is noted to have sunk, on Jan. 08, 1845, 3 miles W. of the Newark lightship, off the Norfolk coast. Ann grounded on the evening of Jan. 07, 1845 at about 6 p.m., bumped heavily but got off having taken aboard some sea water. Which caused gases to be created & the guano to catch fire. The crew tried to contain the fire but at 8 o'clock the next morning left the vessel is a ship's boat expecting the vessel soon to explode. It did. The crew were picked up by Water Witch (a steam packet built at London in 1835), and landed at Hull (its regular route would seem to have been between London & Hull). Persons aboard Water Witch saw the vessel explode & blow out out Ann's stern. Ann, of course, sank. Per these contemporary news reports - 1 & 2.
The dangers of shipping lime, with particular reference to the loss of Ann were reported elsewhere. A couple of such reports - 1 & 2.
Can you add anything additional? #2897

Indian Chief
349/410, later 364 & 365 tons

26364

1846

A barque. Indian Chief, which was launched on Mar. 28, 1846 & first registered, at Banff, Scotland, on Apl. 17, 1846, is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1845/46 thru 1880/81.
The vessel was owned, thru 1856/57 per LR, by 'Wemyss' of Fraserburgh, Scotland. I note that the Mercantile Navy List ('MNL') records the vessel as Banff registered from 1857 thru 1859. LR reports 'Noble' (thru 1853/54) & then 'Sinclair' serving as her captains. For service from Sunderland to India thru 1847/48 & then, where a destination is listed, from London to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) from 1851/52 thru 1853/54, & to Australia from 1854/55 thru 1856/57.
'Sinclair' continued to serve as captain (thru 1859/60 per LR) for new owners when in 1857/58 per LR, Park Bros. of Fraserburgh became the vessel's owner for service from London to Africa.
In 1860/61, per LR, 'Baldwin' of Sunderland became the owner of the now 364 ton vessel for service from Sunderland to Quebec, Canada, with 'Mew' (Charles Mew) serving as her captain (thru 1864/65 per LR). See here for some 'Mew' documents, kindly provided by Chris Caines. 'Baldwin' likely owned the vessel thru to about 1862/63.
I note that MNL records Indian Chief as Sunderland registered from 1860 thru 1871, & then, from 1872 thru 1878, rather registered at West Hartlepool. MNL does not record the vessel after 1878.
The vessel's ownership in 1862/63 & 1863/64 is not LR referenced, however from 1864/65 thru 1870/71, D. Park of Sunderland became the vessel's owner - for service from Cardiff, Wales, to the Mediterranean & from 1867/68 for service from Sunderland to the Black Sea. With 'R. Errington' & 'P. French' serving as her captains. MNLs clarify the 'Park' ownership. They note that from 1865 thru 1867 D. McBrayne Park, of Monkwearmouth, Sunderland, was the vessel's owner or managing owner. In 1868, Duncan Park, also of Monkwearmouth is so recorded. While MNL's of 1869 & 1870 record Mrs. Catherine Hannah Park, of Sunderland.
In 1870/71, per LR, the vessel became owned by J. Kell, of West Hartlepool, for service from Hartlepool to the Baltic with 'Wood' her captain. Such owner name is clarified by MNLs of 1871 thru 1878 (1875) which all list John Kell, of Seaton Carew, Durham, as owner of the West Hartlepool registered vessel. Turnbull's Shipping Register of 1874 records J. Kell to be the vessel's then sole owner.
It seems clear that in the late 1870s, Indian Chief became German owned, but the name & residence location of such owner is not LR recorded or otherwise known to the webmaster. LRs from 1878/79 thru 1880/81 all list the 365 ton vessel (from 1875/76) as German registered. While LR of 1880/81 notes that the vessel, still German owned, had been 'Lost'.
106.0 ft. long, signal letters PKTM. Many crew lists, thru 1878, are available via here.
This listing was extensively revised & updated in 2023. Having learned what happened to the vessel in searching for data re another Sunderland built vessel, named Nymphoea. Such vessel was lost at Sunk Sand, in the Thames Estuary, in conditions of dense fog & then raging seas, on Jan. 05, 1881, & even though rockets were fired & a light-ship was nearby, nobody came to the vessel's assistance. The same thing (no assistance) happened re Indian Chief which ran aground on nearby Long Sand at about 3.30 a.m. on Jan. 5, 1881. An Inquiry was held into the reasons why no assistance had been provided to both vessels. The Court's extensive report can be read here. In great detail it tells us the sad story of what happened to both vessels. A key paragraph from the report can be read here.
Indian Chief had left Middlesborough for Yokohama, Japan, with a general cargo, a crew of 29 all told & a pilot on board. Once the vessel struck on Long Sand, it too fired distress rockets. The weather then turned particularly nasty. The crew attempted to launch ship's boats, alas unsuccessfully, & lost 2 crew members in the attempt. So the remaining 27 took to the mizen & fore rigging. Both masts however were swept overboard by the high seas, taking 15 more of the crew to watery graves. Only a day later was assistance provided. Between 8 & 9 a.m. on Jan. 6, 1881, Bradford, the Ramsgate lifeboat arrived on the scene, under the command of coxswain Charled Edward Fish. It had been towed to the scene by Vulcan a Ramsgate tug. With great difficulty, heroicly indeed, Bradford took aboard the surviving 12 Indian Chief crew members & in due course, towed back to shore by Vulcan, landed them at Ramsgate, but one more crew member died en route. So 18 lives were lost, in large part due to the fact that assistance, at a time of greatest need, was not provided.
The webmaster hoped he might find, within the extensive, 12 page report, the names of the captain & owners of Indian Chief. I did not see any such names referenced, alas. There are, however, many contemporary newspaper accounts of these events, a great many of them indicate that the vessel was, at the time of her loss, registered at Liverpool rather than in Germany. Some data snippets:- On Jan. 2, 1881, the vessel left Middlesborough bound for Shanghai, China, with 'Fraser' in command. Many newspaper reports state, incorrectly I believe, that 'Frazer' was rather her master. He was hit on the head by a falling mast & died. William Meldrum Lloyd (who survived) was the vessel's chief officer. His most extensive account of the events was published in the 'Manchester Evening News' of Jan. 11, 1881. And in the 'North Wales Chronicle' as you can read here. The crew member who died in the Ramsgate lifeboat was Howard Primrose Frazer, the vessel's 2nd mate. The Middlesborough pilot (who survived) was named James Sanderson. The webmaster has not spotted the name of the owner nor anything that confirms that the vessel was indeed Liverpool registered at the time of her loss. A few newspaper reports - 1, 2, 3.
Many medals were granted re the loss of Indian Chief. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution's gold medal was awarded to Charles Edward Fish (1839/1915), coxswain of the Ramsgate lifeboat Bradford. Silver medals were issued to 11 other members of the Bradford's crew & to 6 members of the crew of tug Vulcan which had towed them to & from the wreck scene. A pair of Vulcan medals was sold at a 'Dix Noonan Webb' auction held in London in 2013, medals that had been granted to George Woodward, a stoker aboard Vulcan. The auction catalogue for such sale is available here, thanks to the folks at 'archive.org'. Lot 543, at pages 71 thru 73, describes the events in great detail & contains images of the Woodward medals & also the illustration available at left - of Vulcan leaving Ramsgate Harbour with Bradford in tow. I read, in Harper's Monthly Magazine for 1912 (a 'Google' book) that Charles Edward Fish was involved in 350 sea rescues & the saving of an astounding 887 persons from the Goodwin Sands. That Harper's article adds some gruesome detail to the wreck story.
Can you add to or correct the above? #1953

13	*Subraon* 430/510 tons	1846	A barque that had a short life. Per 1 ex 2, (newspaper article re 1848 wreck), 3 (extensive data), 4 (209 bounty immigrants), 5 (battle of Sobraon), 6 (New Zealand earthquakes). The vessel is not listed at Miramar. The Subraon is recorded in Lloyds Registers of 1846/47 thru 1848/49 (and also in 1849/50, even though the vessel was wrecked on Oct. 26, 1848). Owned by Arthur & Co. of London & intended for service to Calcutta, India. Presumably named after the decisive battle of Sobraon, a battle fought on Feb. 10, 1846 during the First Anglo-Sikh War of 1845/46. Its length? On Dec. 10, 1847, the vessel left London for Port Jackson (Sydney, New South Wales (NSW), Australia), via Plymouth, under the command of Captain John Powell Mills, with 209 bounty immigrants. The vessel arrived at Port Jackson on Apl. 12, 1848. It would seem the vessel stayed in southern waters - it later left Newcastle, NSW, for Wellington, New Zealand (arriving Oct. 5, 1848), with a few passengers & a cargo of cattle & horses. The vessel was at Wellington when a series of major earthquakes hit the area. Many Wellington citizens, feeling safer on the water than on land, spent time aboard Subraon moored in the harbour. Indeed, about 40 such citizens were passengers aboard the vessel when it left for Sydney on the afternoon of Oct. 26, 1848. Captain Mills was in command though the vessel, at the time of her loss, was under the control of James Calder, a local pilot. The pilot chose to exit the harbour via Chaffers' passage but ran aground, at about 8 p.m., on a reef just 100 yards from shore. Many boats were sent to the vessel's assistance & all aboard were safely landed. The vessel, minus her rudder, ended up fast on the rocks with no chance of being pulled off. She is still there today though very little remains. The wreck was sold at auction for 510 pounds sterling. A disaster inquiry was soon held. It concluded that the pilot should not have attempted to proceed to sea by Chaffers' passage since there was a better & safer alternative, that he showed poor judgment having decided on his course & further that he lost all presence of mind, so utterly essential to a pilot in extreme cases of danger. As a result of the inquiry, he was dismissed as a pilot. Bryan Kesselman advises that two cannons & the ship's bell were recovered from the wreck in the 1970s & are in the collection of 'The Museum of Wellington City and Sea', at Wellington. Anything you can add? #1911
14	*Julindur* 450/530 tons 23386	1847	Julindur? The 3rd largest city in Punjab State, NW India, ceded to the British in 1846 - many English spellings of the name including Jalandhar & Julinder. A ship, later a barque. *Julindur* is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed, always as a barque, from 1848/49 thru 1860/61 & not thereafter. The 3-masted vessel was initially owned, per LR, by E. Arthur of Newcastle, for service from London i) to Sydney (1848/49) & ii) to Adelaide (period of 1850/53), both in Australia. With, per LR, 'Hewlett' her captain for a short while & H. Burn from 1848/49 thru 1852/53. Maybe it initially traded from Sunderland to Calcutta (now Kolkata), India, which may relate to its name. The North of England Maritime Directory of 1848/9, in Jul. 1848 data, lists *Julindur* as a 530 ton ship then owned by E. R. Arthur & Co., of North Shields. A Sunderland shipping website, which website requests no links or recognition, tells us that the vessel was first registered at Newcastle on Apl. 23, 1848, owned by Edward Robson Arthur of South Shields, & by Richard Howlett & Charles Frederick Tibbs, respectively of Middlesex & London. Further that by Apl. 19, 1848, Henry Wall Tibbs, had replaced Charles Fredereick Tibbs. And by Nov. 11, 1849, 'Howlett' was no longer a part owner. In 1853/54, per LR, Hyde & Co., of London, became the vessel's owner for consistent service ex London thru 1860/61, mainly to Australia but in 1856/57 to China. This page (scroll to #23386) tells us that the vessel had become London registered on Jun. 7, 1852. While 'Hyde' owned, per LR, H. Hart served as captain in 1853/54 & G. Bilton thereafter. A quick search at 'Trove', Australia, provides detail re 4 voyages to Australia. i) *Julindur* left London on Dec. 10, 1848 & Plymouth on Dec. 28, 1848, for Sydney, New South Wales ('NSW') with 211 immigrants. It arrived at Sydney on Apl. 4, 1849 (1 & 2) & later left for London on Jun. 13, 1859. ii) On Jan. 6, 1850, the vessel left Plymouth for Adelaide with 139 passengers & cargo & 'Burns' or 'Burn' in command, arriving at Adelaide 'in a very filthy condition' on Apl. 16, 1850 (1 & 2). It went on to Melbourne, Sydney & Newcastle, NSW, & later departed Newcastle for San Francisco with a cargo of coal. iii) The vessel it would seem arrived at Port Phillip (Melbourne) for nearby Geelong on Feb. 8, 1854. iv) The vessel left London on Mar. 11, 1858 for Melbourne, arriving there on Jul. 18, 1858. It later left for Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). What finally happened to *Julindur? On Apl. 16, 1861, per line 1184 here, the 530 ton barque stranded near (35 miles N. of) Jedda (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, E. coast of Red Sea), while en route from Newcastle to Suez with a cargo of coal. Crew of 18 - none lost. Vessel then stated to be owned by Matthew J. Wilson, a name not LR referenced. The webmaster has tried to learn more about what happened to the vessel, alas without much sucess. It was however reported that 'Treweek' was in command of the lost vessel, noted to have been rather en route from Suez to Jeddah. Most of the crew of Julinder (surely means Julindur* - no British vessel named Julinder existed at the time) were said to be of Shields &, in an article which said that Julinder was en route to Japan, were shipped back to Falmouth ex Alexandria, Egypt. One further reference to 'Julinder' noted that the totally lost vessel was rather en route to the West Indies, with a cargo of coolies! 'Lloyd's Register' on Jul. 29, 1861 is reported to have stated that the date of loss of 'Julinder' was Apl. 6, 1861 & that the ship & cargo were sold. For 'only �1,345' I have read. Need help! 117.0 ft. long, no crew lists for the vessel seem to be available. Can you tell us more about the vessel's loss or otherwise add anything? #2696
15	*Maria Hay* 980/1007, later 924 tons 536	1854	*Maria Hay, which was launched in Jan. 1854 (Jan. 14, 1854), & first registered, at Sunderland, on Feb. 16, 1854, is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1854/55 thru 1872/73, owned for many years, per LR, by members of the Hay family of Sunderland - John Hay thru 1866/67 & R. B. Hay from 1866/67 thru 1868/69. Was Maria Hay perhaps the wife of John Hay, I wonder? For service from London to Australia (thru 1857/58), ex London, from London to India (1859/60 thru 1862/63), from London to Australia again (1863/64 thru 1867/68). With, per LR, T. Brown the vessel's captain thru 1856/57 & C. (Charles) Middleton thereafter, right thru to 1872/73 per LR, i.e. per LR at least, all thru the later ownership changes. The North of England Maritime Directory of 1854/5, in Mar. 1854 data, lists the Sunderland registered Maria Hay* as owned by John Hay with Geo. T. Brown her captain - George Turnbull Brown. Turnbull's Shipping Registers ('TR') of both 1855 & 1856 list J. or John Hay of Sunderland as her then owner. TR of 1855 confirms G. T. Brown to be her then captain. Christie's Shipping Register of 1858 records John Hay as the vessel's then owner. I read, however, that 'Brown' died while the vessel was en route from Plymouth to Geelong (near Melbourne), arriving at Geelong in Jul. 1854. In 1868/69, per LR, H. Brown, of Cork, Ireland, became the vessel's owner for service ex Cork. The Mercantile Navy Lists ('MNL') tell us that *Maria Hay* was registered at Sunderland from 1857 thru 1867 & at London from 1868 thru 1872. MNLs of 1865 thru 1867 record John Hay of Sunderland as the vessel's owner while MNLs of 1868 thru 1870 record Robt. B. Hay of London. No edition of MNL refers to H. Brown. In 1871 & 1872, MNL lists Thos. and William Hobley, of Carnarvon, Wales, as her then owners. Essentially confirmed by LRs of 1869/70 thru 1872/73 which list T. & W. Hobley, of Carnarvon, Wales, as the vessel's owner - for continued service ex Cork. It would be good, someday, to research what would seem to have been many voyages of *Maria Hay* to Australia. But such research must await another day! 173.0 ft. long, signal letters HDGR, crew lists thru 1871 are available via here. In researching this vessel, I have noted many references to the high quality of the ship - not a matter that one sees often noted. What finally happened to *Maria Hay? LR of 1872/73 notes that the vessel had 'Foundered'. On Apl. 5, 1872, per line 2369 here, the 924 ton ship foundered at sea during a voyage carrying guano ex Guanape (2 barren, small, islands located 8 miles off the coast of northern Peru). Crew of 20 - none lost or so such page incorrectly advises. Noted to have then been owned by Thomas Hobley. I learn that on Jan. 28, 1872, the vessel was reported, from Callao, Peru, to have been loaded, presumably with guano, at Guanape. I learn further that the vessel foundered at sea, not on Apl. 5, 1872 as is stated above, but rather on Mar. 23, 1872, when, under the command of John Jones, the vessel was en route from Guanape to Falmouth, Cornwall, for orders. The vessel had encountered heavy weather for about a week & was almost on her beam ends when the crew were forced to abandon ship - when at 42.14S/37.6W, about 1,600 miles off the coast of South America in the South Atlantic Ocean. The crew took to a ship's pinnace, in which they spent 18 dreadful days before being rescued by (it is stated) British America, commanded by R. C. Thompson, noted to have been a ship registered at Bristol. Alas, the pinnace had very few provisions aboard her & the many days the crew spent in her were harrowing - freezing, starving & drenched & for most of the time without water to drink. After 15 days in the boat, it rained & they were able to collect some desperately needed fresh drinking water. Unfortunately 4 crew members succumbed to the dreadful conditions, each of them losing their sanity & becoming both incoherent & mad, before a ship was spotted, a light raised, & help was offered. But 14, including the captain, did survive the ordeal. And were landed, by Captain Thompson, at Monte Video, Uruguay. So far as the webmaster can see, the rescuing ship was not named British America* - but must rather have been *British American, ON #45722, built at St. John, New Brunswick, Canada in 1863 & owned by Charles Hill of Bristol. John Jones, Maria Hay*'s captain, wrote a detailed & extensive account of these sad events. His account, which details the names of both the survivors & of the lost, was certainly published on May 29, 1872 in the 'North & South Shields Gazette ...' (its interesting preamble is here) & probably was published elsewhere also. It was published, on Jun. 02, 1872, in 'The North Wales Chronicle, and Advertiser for the Principality' available to be read, here (ex here thanks to the good folks at 'Welsh Newspapers Online'). Can you tell us more? Or correct the above in any way? #2697

16	Severn 398 tons 58105	1867	Built by Jas. Crown. An announcement (in blue) re the vessel's launch - on Nov. 24, 1867 I read. A 3 masted barque. Per 1 (1881 Inquiry report, 'Severn and Mayumba'). There are many references to the 'bark' in the registers at Mystic Seaport. 128.5 ft. long, signal letters HTJN. Built for 'R. Gayner' of Sunderland, which means Robert H. Gayner (the H. means Haydon) & others. Owned, as to 48/64 by Robert H. Gayner. And as to 16/64 by F. Fisher, maybe H. F. Fisher. On Jan. 30, 1881, 100 miles N. of Madiera, (a Portuguese archipelago, in the N. Atlantic, W. of Morocco) Severn, Isaac H. Rutherford in command, with a cargo of coal, was in collision with Mayumba, a 991 ton steamer owned by African Steamship Company, with passengers & cargo, en route from Madiera to Liverpool. Severn sank. There was loss of life. How many? At the Liverpool Inquiry, the 2nd mate of Mayumba, Charles P. Clarke, was found to be responsible for failing to keep a proper look-out. His certificate was suspended for 6 months. WWW data is limited. Is it possible that you can provide more? An image?
17	Umkomanzi 306 (net), later 334/307 & 336/318 (G/N) tons 65103	1873	Umkomanzi? - a village in KwaZulu, Natal, South Africa, located just W. of Durban. *Umkomanzi, which was completed in Dec. 1873, is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1873/74 thru 1897/98 with some exceptions - it seems not to be listed from 1887/88 thru 1889/90 & maybe other editions also. The vessel was initially owned by J. T. Rennie, of Aberdeen, Scotland, (J. T. Rennie & Son from 1879/80), for service, in 1873/74, from Sunderland to Natal, South Africa, with 'Smith' or J. H. Smith her initial captain. F. Airth later served as her captain (in 1876/77 at least per LR), & 'Langsford' (from 1878/79 at least thru 1883/84 at least). A 'The Ships List' page re 'Rennie' of Aberdeen. The Mercantile Navy List ('MNL') records Umkomanzi* from 1875 thru 1884, always registered at Aberdeen & always owned by the 'Rennie' family. MNLs of 1875 thru 1878 list John T. Rennie of Aberdeen as her then owner or managing owner (John Thompson Rennie in 1878). MNLs of 1879 thru 1882 & also 1884 list George H. Rennie, of London. While MNL of 1883 lists John H. Rennie of London. So far as I can see (Trove, Australia), the vessel made a single voyage to Australia. On Jan. 29, 1883, the vessel arrived at Port Pirie, South Australia, under the command of J. Langsford, after a 37 day voyage from Port Natal with 18 passengers, principally mechanics. It soon moved up the Spencer Gulf to Port Augusta where it arrived on Feb. 10, 1883. On Mar. 03, 1883, the vessel left Port Augusta for Guam with a cargo of flour, oats & wheatmeal. In 1884 *Umkomanzi* was struck off the Aberdeen registry, stated to have been sold to a foreign firm. In 1885/86, per LR, C. M. Bache of Svelvig (Svelvik), soon Drammen, both Norway, was the vessel's (final) owner with 'Bache' or 'O. Bache' her captain thru 1891/92, then 'Soderik' (in 1892/93) & 'A. T. Anderson' (thru 1896/97) & J. (Joh.) W. Pedersen (from 1897/98). 135.0 ft. long, later, from 1891/92, 135.7 ft., signal letters MLPV, later HJNL (from 1891/92), many crew lists thru 1884 are available via this page. *Umkomanzi* is not recorded in LR of 1898/99 while LR of 1897/98 has a notation which, difficult to read, I believe says 'Foundered'. This page, as I understand the Norwegian words in translation, says that the vessel was lost in the North Sea, at the end of the 1890s, with the loss of all hands. The webmaster can now tell you what is believed to have happened to *Umkomanzi. There are a number of vessels involved in the story. On Sep. 22, 1897, Umkomanzi, 'Pedersen' in command, left Belfast, Ireland, for Christiania (Oslo, Norway) via Llanelly, Wales - where it arrived on Sep. 30, 1897. It must have later arrived safely at Oslo. On Nov. 09, 1897, Eliza, a 262 ton barque built in 1852 at Drontheim (Trondheim), Norway, & registered at Fredrikshald (today Halden, located S. of Oslo) was condemned. Eliza* had been carrying a cargo of wood (sleepers) from Fredrikshald to Sunderland & *Umkomanzi* was chartered to take aboard *Eliza's cargo of wood & deliver it to Sunderland. Now Ask, an 1891 built 444/739 (N/G) ton steamship built & registered at Bergen, Norway, under the command of 'Rosenkelde', was en route from Hornefoss, stated to be Finland, to Gravelines (near Dunkirk in northern France). I cannot spot a Hornefoss in Finland - it may well mean H�nefoss located N. of Oslo. Ask* left Hornefoss on Nov. 14, 1897, while *Umkomanzi* left Fredrikshald on Nov. 24, 1897. There are no witnesses to what is believed to have then happened. *Ask* went missing at the time when there was bad weather in the area. And it was initially thought likely that *Ask* had succombed to the exceptionally severe gales. But on Dec. 13, 1897 a vessel was brought from Listerfjord into Flekkefjord (SW Norway), much damaged & indeed bottom up. It proved to be *Umkomanzi, presumably kept afloat by its cargo of wood. The hull bore clear evidence of the vessel having been involved in a collision. It seems clear that Ask* & *Umkomanzi* had collided, likely in bad weather. In the vicinity of the Scaw (northern tip of Denmark) & Lindesnaes (W. of Kristiansand, Norway). No crew members of either vessel survived - *Ask* had a crew of 14. I have not spotted how many were aboard *Umkomanzi* - whose cargo of sleepers, or what remained of it, was discharged. On Feb. 05, 1898, the copper sheathing of *Umkomanzi* was sold for 1,600 kroner, while the rest of the hull was sold for 1,865 kroner. As per these contemporary news reports - 1 & 2. Is there anything you can add or correct? #2826
18	South Milton 607 tons 76345	1877	A 3 masted barque. Per 1 (extensive account of the 1886 wreck, ex 2), 3 (vessel & wreck data), 4 (wreck enquiry results), 5 & 6 (other contemporary reports, incl. crew names, but there are many more reports available). 159.0 ft. long, signal letters RBNL, launched in Sep. 1877. The very last wooden ship built by 'Crown'. The vessel is not Miramar listed. South Milton? A small village in Devon, close to both Salcombe & Kingsbridge. The webmaster has a number of editions of Lloyd's Register available to him from 'Google' books, see left. The vessel was built for B. Balkwill & Co. of Salcombe, Devon, U.K., who remained the vessel's recorded owners thru the 1885/86 register, in which the vessel is reported as being 'lost'. In 1886, & likely from 1877, the vessel was owned via a 20 share partnership. I presume that B. Balkwill was the major shareholder & the ship's managing owner. A 'Balkwill fleet (was) largely engaged in trade with ports in Iberia, the Mediterranean, Azores, West Indies, etc.' However, this vessel clearly spent much of its life in Australian waters. W. Friend, who was the vessel's first master, died aboard the ship. On Mar. 7, 1886, South Milton left Port Louis, Mauritius, for Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, with Captain H. (Henry) Trinnick in command & 17 aboard all told including the Captain's 12 year old son. She carried 800 (or 840) tons of sugar, valued at �20,000 (or �22,000). In the early hours of Apl. 12, 1886, the vessel, under full sail, approached Barwon Heads, near Port Phillip Heads, on the approaches to Melbourne. At 4 a.m., under smooth but hazy conditions, the vessel struck Charlemont Reef (or better Limeburner's Reef) - indeed she struck it twice. The vessel's bottom boards were smashed in, the ship filled with water & settled by the bow. Fortunately she swung off the reef into calmer water, so the crew were able to take to two ship's boats. They were picked up by Rip, a pilot schooner, & landed at Queenscliff. It would seem that Rip had been approaching South Milton, to place a pilot aboard her. Tugs Avon & Albatross were sent to render assistance but there was nothing for them to do - the ship had broken up & had disappeared under the surface, in 9 fathoms of water, just 20 (or maybe 30) minutes after she had struck the reef. No lives were lost. However the Captain's Newfoundland dog (need image!) did lose its life when air compressed within the ship caused the quarter deck to explode. A State of Victoria Steam Navigation Board Inquiry was held into the wreck. Captain Trinnick was found guilty of careless navigation, & his Board of Trade master's certificate was suspended for 3 months. Apparently the lookout man, John H. Trinnick, a carpenter, & the Captain's nephew, had seen land 10 minutes before she struck & told nobody. Had he spoken, the wreck likely would never have happened. You can read the reasons for the Board's decision at 4. The wreck & its cargo was sold at auction on Apl. 15, 1886 - the wreck sold for �12 while the cargo sold for 11 shillings. I have read that what is left of the wreck is still there today, at 38.30.2167S/ 144.48.433E. Is it possible that you can provide more? An image?
19	Birch 1094/1674 (later 1019/1611) N/G tons Hull 70 87334	1882	An iron cargo ship. Per 1 (per 'The Record of 1885'), 2 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 260.0 ft. long, signal letters HFJR, 140 HP engines by J. W. & F. Wilson of Sunderland. Per 1, rig 'Scw � B', but so far I have not spotted, at 'Mystic Seaport', the meaning of that abbreviation. But 'Scw' at Lloyd's means 'screw'. The webmaster has a few editions of Lloyd's Registers available to him, thru 1889/90, see left. Built for Peacock Bros., maybe 'Peacock Bros. & Sons', merchants, of Sunderland. Surveyed at Baltimore, U.S.A., in 1885. By the 1887/88 edition of Lloyd's, the vessel was owned by 'Thompson & Brown' of Sunderland. Were there later ownership changes? I don't know the complete answer answer yet, but in 1897/98 the vessel was owned by F. A. Jacques & Co. of Sunderland. Apparently there were no later changes of vessel name. On Dec. 1, 1910, the vessel was involved in a collision with Spind at Scharh�rn, Elbe, Germany (an island 17 1/2 km. NW of Cuxhaven). And presumably was lost. WWW data is most limited. Is it possible that you can provide more data about the 1910 collision. Or anything else, in fact, including an image?

20		Wearmouth 1325 (or 1264) later 1369 tons Hull 80 91958 Ignatiy (or Ignatii) Prokhorov Ignatius Prohoroff	1886	A cargo ship launched in Aug. 1886. Per 1 (details re wreck), 2 (Russian page), 3 (link 2 translated), 4 (Russian page), 5 (link 4 translated), 6 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 228.1 ft. long, signal letters HQVF, 119 HP. The webmaster has a few editions of Lloyd's Registers available to him, thru 1889/90, see left. Constructed for 'Fenwick & Co.', of London. I read that in 1891, the vessel was sold to 'S Tourcoul', renamed Ignatiy Prokhorov & registered at Odessa. Lloyd's Register ('LR') of 1897/98 lists S. Tourcoul rather as the owner of Ignatius Prohoroff. It was sold again, in 1903, to 'S. l. Karapatnitskiy' (Beware! That is a WWW translation of 'С. Л. Карапатницкий', the Russian text, & probably is imperfect). The vessel became recorded at 1369 tons. LR of 1911/12 again lists Ignatius Prohoroff, of 1369 tons, owned by Sch. & E. Karapatnitsky & registered at Odessa. The vessel was requisitioned by the Russian? Navy (Transport #27) - cannot understand what is stated as its purpose - & in 1917 by the 'White Guards' who operated in the Black Sea area. In Nov. 1918, the vessel hit a mine & sank near Sevastopol, Ukraine. The wreck has been positively located, lying in 274 ft. of water, SW of Sevastopol, indeed an image is available of the brass engine plate as at left. The above is in part from the webmaster's attempt at a WWW translation of Russian texts. The name of the vessel may well have been 'Ignatii Prokhorov' (ИГНАТИЙ ПРОХОРОВ in Russian). Is it possible that you can correct any errors above and/or provide more data & an image?
21		Balear 1345 (or 1394) tons Hull 88 105776 (later) Abchurch Maria Regier Glynymel	1890	A cargo ship. Per 1 (wreck data, Glynymel), 2 ('uboat.net', Glynymel), 3 (12 March 1917), 4 (data, sinking), 5 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). About 80 metres long. Constructed for 'Sociedad General Mallorquina de Palma', of Palma, Spain, & registered in Spain. The vessel was sold, in 1895 (or 1897), to 'Abchurch Steamship Co. Ltd. (Fenwick Stobart & Co. Ltd., the manager), of London perhaps, & renamed Abchurch. It was sold again, in 1898, to 'P. Regier', of Mariupol, Ukraine, & renamed Maria Regier. And sold again, in 1913, to Harries Bros & Co., of Swansea, Wales, & renamed Glynymel. On Mar. 12, 1917, while en route from Rouen (or Le Havre), France, to Swansea, in ballast, the vessel was shelled, captured, torpedoed & sunk (or sunk with scuttling charges) by UC-66, Oberleutnant zur See Herbert Pustkuchen in command, near St. Catherine's Point, Isle of Wight. 1 life was lost. The wreck is possibly at 50.12.5N/1.11.0W, S. of St. Catherine's Point, or maybe 15 or 23 miles SW of St. Catherines's Point. The wreck has not been located & the exact wreck site is therefore unknown. WWW data is most limited. Is it possible that you can provide more data and/or an image?
22		Specialist 2802 (or 2774) tons Hull 85 96682 Stowford Prometheus Anteo	1890	A cargo ship. Per 1 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 302.3 ft. long. The sole Lloyd's Register listing, available to the webmaster, is at left. Built for Angier Shipping Co. Ltd., of London. The vessel was sold, in 1896, to 'Holzapfel Whitfield' & renamed Stowford. And sold again, in 1910, to 'A. Palios' & renamed Prometheus. And sold again, in 1912, to 'A. & G. Fratelli Sturlese' or maybe 'Sturlese Bros.', of Italy, & renamed Anteo. On Nov. 12, 1917, the vessel hit a mine & sank SSW of Leghorn in the Mediterranean. WWW data is most limited. Is it possible that you can provide more data and/or an image?
23		Wearmouth 982 (or 986) tons Hull 91 104817 Belgica Gloria Mar�chal Lyautey Sara Minnola Tosca Francesca R Fertilia	1894	A cargo ship. What a lot of owner & name changes! Per 1 ['pdf', Belgica (3), p.46, 20% down], 2 (1901 census document), 3 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 228.1 (or 220.1) ft. long, 64.5 metres, perpendicular to perpendicular. Constructed for Wearmouth Steamship Co. Ltd., of London. In Mar. 1901, the vessel was sold to William France, Fenwick & Co. Ltd., also of London. A site visitor has kindly provided an unusual 1901 census document (2), that indicates that, on Mar. 31, 1901, James Lumsden was the vessel's master & names many of the then crew. The vessel was sold, in Jul. 1903, to 'Soc. d'Armement Gantois', of Ghent, Belgium, & renamed Belgica. In Oct. 1907, the vessel was sold to 'Ghent Lloyd S.A.', also of Ghent. In Aug. 1914, the vessel was interned at Pillau, Russia. And sold, in May 1920, to 'Les Affr�teurs R�unis Belges', of Antwerp, Belgium, & renamed Gloria. In Jul. 1921, it was sold to Soc. "Les Affr�teurs R�unis", of Rouen, France, & renamed Mar�chal Lyautey. And sold, in 1926, to 'Giuseppe Mirabella', of Catania, Italy, & renamed Sara Minnola. Sold, yet again, in 1929, to 'Paolo de Gennaro', also of Catania & renamed Tosca. And sold again, in 1930, to 'L. Panunzio', of Molfetta, Italy. And in 1931 was sold back to 'Paolo de Gennaro', now also of Molfetta. In 1934, the vessel was sold to 'Giuseppe Parisi fu Giovanni', of Naples, Italy, & renamed Francesca R. And sold for the last time, in 1937, to 'Raffaele Romano', also of Naples, & renamed *Fertilia. On Jan. 30, 1942, the vessel was hit by a torpedo fired by HMS Thunderbolt*, 10 miles NE of Brindisi, Italy. Loss of life? But was that indeed so? Read the data at the bottom of the reference at 1, which implies that vessel may have survived until Nov. 23, 1942 - but the meaning of the words is unclear to me. I have not referred to manager names above, because the history is complicated enough already. WWW data is most limited & I am grateful for the above 2 links. Is it possible that you can correct any errors above and/or provide more data? An image?
24		Porthcawl 1557 (later 1507) tons Hull 112 115384 Springhill	1904	A collier that was launched on Jan. 16, 1904 & completed in Feb. 1904. Per 1 (sinking, Springhill), 2 ('uboat.net' sinking, Springhill), 3 ('wrecksite.eu', sinking data, Springhill), 4 (UB-21), 5 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 253.2 ft. long, 77.2 metres, perpendicular to perpendicular, speed of 9 knots, signal letters VPDS, 166 HP engines by North Eastern Marine Engineering Co. Ltd. of Sunderland. Built for 'The Porthcawl Steamship Co. Ltd.', of Cardiff, Wales, (Thomas, Stephens & Wilson, the managers). But not exactly! It would seem that the vessel was initially registered in the names of Thomas, Stephens & Wilson - for a wee period until Porthcawl their company had been set up. The vessel was transferred from the three individuals names into the company name on Feb. 4, 1904. We thank Stephen Rowson for that interesting history detail. The vessel was sold, in 1914, to Fisher Renwick & Co. ('Fisher'), of Newcastle, & renamed Springhill. It would seem, however, that the vessel was actually owned by 'Ella Sayer Steamship Co. Ltd.', a Fisher company, I presume. In late Aug. 1917, the vessel, en route from Hartlepool to London with a cargo of coal, was sunk. At 54.21N/00.22W, 4 miles off Scarborough. The data as to how the vessel sank differs. At 11.30 a.m. on Aug. 24, 1917, it either struck a mine laid by UB-21, Oberleutnant zur See Franz Walther in command, & sank. Or per a number of the above links, it was in fact torpedoed by UB-21. There were two explosions which resulted in a large hole in the hull & the vessel sank within 2 minutes. Of the crew of 20 all told, 5 lives were lost. 3 advises that most of the crew were picked up by Eden, (not sure which one), one man being picked up by the drifter White Rose & landed at Scarborough. But ... Tom Lewis advises (thanks Tom!) that his grandfather, Thomas Lewis, sailed on the ship when named both Porthcawl & Springhill. While it was his very first ship, he was not aboard for the final voyage in Aug. 1917. Tom states that the ship's crew agreement indicates that Springhill was in fact mined, with the loss of 4 men only, data 'which was subsequently confirmed by the owners'. The Captain, who survived, was Alex Gilbert who had taken over from Walter Williams. Can you provide more data? An image would be most welcome.
25		Presto 1143 tons Hull 115 118652	1905	A collier. Per 1 ('uboat.net', sinking, Presto), 2 ('wrecksite.eu', data, Presto & its wreck, with image - but I think that the image may rather be of Dunelm, later Presto, built 1916 by R. Thompson. Can anybody clarify the matter?), 3 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 69.6 metres long perpendicular to perpendicular, 228.4 ft., speed of 8 1/2 or 9 1/2 knots. Built for Pelton Steamship Co. Ltd. ('Pelton'), owned by R. S. Gardiner & Joseph Reay, 'Gardiner & Reay', the managers, all of Newcastle. I am advised that Pelton owned coal mines & also owned a fleet of colliers trading to the Thames, S. coast ports & to the Baltic, sailing mostly from the Tyne, & returning from the Baltic with a deck cargo of sawn timber & pit props. On Apl. 6, 1917, the vessel was en route, in ballast, from London to Newcastle, Captain Lowery in command, with a crew of ? (can anybody advise?). At 9:40 a.m. that day, the vessel hit a German mine, when 4 miles E. of Roker Point, Sunderland. At 54.57N/01.16W. There was an explosion in No. 1 hold in which 4 (or maybe 6) crewmen were killed - might a Sunderland 1917 newspaper article resolve that issue. The survivors took to the boats from which they were rescued by the 'examination vessel' which took Presto in tow for the nearby coast. Two tugs arrived & assisted in the tow. The ship, which was taking on water, never made it to the shallows. It sank by the bow at 11:00 a.m., 1 1/2 miles off Roker lighthouse, in 17 metres of water. At 54.55.44N/01.19.02W maybe? The mine? It had been laid a few days earlier, on Apl. 03, 1917, by UC-40, Oberleutnant zur See Gustav Deuerlich in command. Is it possible that you can help with more data & perhaps an image?
26		Tudhoe 1298 (or 1286 or 1314) tons Hull 121 124321 Grovemont Finland Capitol Vilma Inga L Aira Lisbet	1906	A cargo ship, mainly used as a collier, perhaps. Which had a long life & many names. Per 1 (Furness Withy, Tudhoe), 2 (data, Capitol), 3 (data, Vilma, 80% down), 4 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 70.1 metres perpendicular to perpendicular, 230.0 ft., speed of 9 knots. Constructed for British Maritime Trust Ltd., of London, with Furness Withy & Company Ltd. ('Furness'), of West Hartlepool, the managers. In 1907 Furness became the owners. The vessel was sold, in 1913, to 'J. P. J�nsson', of Landskrona, Sweden, & renamed Grovemont. On Feb. 23, 1915, the vessel was sold again, to (per Niels Hald-Andersen - thanks!) 'S.S. Finland (Albert Jensen), of Copenhagen, & renamed Finland, but was taken over by the British Government. She continued in operation with 'Gas Light & Coke Company' (which later became 'North Thames Gas Board'), as, renamed, Capitol. In 1925, the vessel was sold to 'K. S. Nordgreen', of Bergen, Norway, & renamed Vilma. Used as a collier, on the Svalbard (an archipelago, the most northerly part of Norway, located half way between mainland Norway & the North Pole) to North Norway route. The vessel was attacked by British aircraft, in Sognefjord, Norway, on Dec. 3, 1940, while carrying limestone from Fuaske, Norway, (correctly Fauske?) - the vessel was not hit by bombs but was damaged by machine gun fire - it was able to proceed to Knarrevik, Sweden (1 life was lost, the pilot). In 1947, the vessel was sold to 'H. Liljestrand', of Finland, & renamed Inga L. Was renamed Aira in 1954. In 1955, the vessel was sold for the last time, to 'W. Rostedt', also of Finland, & renamed Lisbet. The vessel was broken up at Hamburg, Germany, in Jul. 1957. Is it possible that you can help with more data & perhaps an image?
27		Braeside 407 (or 390) tons Hull 131 123956 Falmouth Castle Carten�e Ville-de-T�n�s	1909	A modest cargo ship/collier perhaps, which had a long life, indeed it lived through both WW1 & WW2. Per 1 ('Southampton City Council/Plimsoll', Lloyd's Register data, 1930/31 thru 1945/46, link is to *Ville de Tamatave. Via such link you can find data re Ville-de-T�n�s), 2 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 43.1 metres long (142.1 ft.) perpendicular to perpendicular, ? speed, signal letters OTSG later TUTD. Built for Wear Steam Shipping Company Limited ('Wear'), of Sunderland, 'Thomas Rose' or maybe 'Rose Bros.', the managers. Wear, it would seem, went into liquidation in 1917. Two years prior however, in 1915, the vessel had been sold to Harris Bros ('Harris'), of Falmouth, & renamed Falmouth Castle. Have not found any data about her WW1 service. In 1923, the vessel was transferred to 'Falmouth Castle Shipping Co. Ltd.' ('Castle'), of Bristol (or maybe of Falmouth), with no change of vessel name. I use the word 'transferred' because Harris & Castle seem to have been related entities. In 1927, the vessel was sold to 'Soc. Anon. Les Caboteurs Alg�riens', of Algiers, Algeria, & renamed Carten�e. And sold again, in 1928, to 'Soci�t� Alg�rienne de Navigation pour l'Afrique du Nord', also of Algiers, & renamed Ville-de-T�n�s*, 'Ch. Schiaffino & Cie.', the managers. Could it be that Schiaffino were also the owners? The vessel was requisitioned for WW2 service & served on the coasts of Sardinia as an auxilliary minesweeper, maybe AD245. Was it returned to its owners at the end of WW2? I do not know, but in 1946, the vessel was sold to 'Soci�t� G�n�rale de Transports Maritimes � Vapeur', of Marseilles, France, with no change of vessel name. And converted, I read to a part wine tanker. On Feb. 7, 1951, while en route from Marseilles to Susa, Tunisia, with a general cargo, the vessel was wrecked, in the Gulf of Orosei, on the E. coast of Sardinia. Any loss of life? I have not read anything about the circumstances. Is it possible that you can help with more data & perhaps an image?
28		Quickstep 834/1446, later (from 1928/29 at least) 815/1439 Hull 135 125464 Most Alboran Maria Pompei	1909	A steel steamship which was launched on Jun. 17, 1909 & completed in Jul. 1909. Per 1 (Lloyd's Register ('LR') data, Most, 1930/31 thru 1932/33, thanks to Southampton City Council/Plimsoll), 2 (Lloyd's Register data, 1932/33 thru 1944/45, Alboran & Maria Pompei, ex Southampton City Council/Plimsoll), 3 ('wrecksite.eu', data incl. 1941 wreck), 4 (data incl. voyage data, Quickstep, also image of Quickstep thanks to Paul Crinson), 5 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 239.5 ft. (73.00 metres) long, later (from 1935/36) 246.2 ft. (75.04 metres) long, speed of 9 1/2 knots, signal letters HPJF, later MNIO & IJHJ, 174 HP engines by North Eastern Marine Engineering Co. Ltd. of Sunderland. Quickstep was built for the Newcastle based coal exporting company of 'Witherington & Everett' (as per LR) a partnership of John W. (William) Witherington & Harry P. (Poore) Everett). Maybe Witherington & Everett Steamship Company? The second Witherington & Everett fleet vessel of the name, the first being wrecked in 1907. The vessel served the French ports of St. Malo, Calais, Honfleur & Rouen & also Antwerp, Belgium, until, I read, the vessel was requisitioned by the Admiralty for service during WW1, & served, from Nov. 8, 1914 thru to Apl. 23, 1918, as an ammunition carrier. L. R. Hanson was her captain in 1915. The vessel was returned to her owners on Apl. 23, 1918. In 1927, Messageries Maritimes Belges Soc. Anon., of Antwerp, acquired the vessel with F. Alexander Fils & Cie. serving as her managers, & renamed her Most. In 1930, Armement Alexander S. A., also of Antwerp, became the vessel's owner with no change of vessel name nor, I read, of managers. In 1932, the vessel was sold to Ernesto Lavarello of Genoa, Italy, was possibly temporarily renamed Italico, but permanently renamed Alboran. Three years later, in 1935, Giuseppe Palomba of Torre del Greco (near Naples), Italy, acquired the vessel & renamed her Maria Pompei. At the beginning of WW2, the vessel was commissioned by the Italian Navy for service in Dalmatia (the E. shore of the Adriatic from the Island of Rab in the north to the Bay of Kotor in the south). On Oct. 23, 1941, the vessel is stated to have hit a mine (which had been laid by HMS Urge) & sank when in the Adriatic, 2 miles off Punta Platamoni, Kotor, Yugoslavia. I have seen no mention of any lives being lost. The wreck has been discovered but is very deep indeed & accessible to technical divers only. I was puzzled (and still am) to find a reference on page 113 of 'The Fighting Tenth' by John Wingate, to a vessel named Maria Pompei, stated to be sunk by torpedo in 1941, I believe in the month of October. Can spot no other vessel of the name at the time. Can anybody explain the reference? Did she for certain hit a mine? Anything you can add? #2050
29		Bondicar 804/1441 (N/G) tons Hull 134 129741 Chryssoula Hellenic Chryssoula	1910	A steel single screw collier, schooner rigged it would seem. Per 1 (data, Broomhill Collieries, ref. Bondicar, approx. 12% down), 2 (Steel Recorder, collision, ref. 3.10.50), 3 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy data, Bondicar), 4 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 240.3 ft. long, signal letters HQGC, 182 NHP engines by Richardsons, Westgarth & Co. Ltd., of Sunderland. Built for Broomhill Collieries Ltd. ('Broomhill'), of Newcastle, or maybe of Acklington, Northumberland. The vessel was requisitioned by the British Government for WW1 service. Michael Robson has kindly been in touch to draw my attention to this 'Great War Forum' webpage & the likelihood expressed there (not absolutely certain) that Bondicar was hit accidentally by friendly fire while at the Dardanelles (Turkey) in 1915. On Aug. 10, 1915, HMS Swiftsure accidentally fired a 14-pounder gun & hit & caused casualties aboard a vessel named Bendicai, believed correctly to have been Bondicar. Able seaman G. Matson, buried in the East Mudros Cemetery on the island of Lemnos (a Greek island in the Aegean Sea), was, it seems likely, a casualty of that accidental firing. A now long gone webpage advised that in 1916 thru 1918 the vessel was owned by Broomhill of Newcastle & registered at Newcastle. 'H. Coates' was then the vessel's manager & was also her manager in 1923/24, when still owned by Broomhill. There probably were many later owners thru 1947. 71 WW2 convoy references, all U.K. coastal, but none recorded after Sep. 1942. I presume that there must have been later voyages, but 'convoyweb.org' denies me all access to 'independent' voyage data. In 1947, the vessel was sold to 'China Hellenic Lines', of Greece & was renamed Chryssoula. Later that year, the vessel was renamed Hellenic Chryssoula. On Oct. 3, 1950, the vessel, en route from Alexandria, (Egypt?), collided with Steel Recorder. Not sure exactly where. Hellenic Chryssoula's stem was crushed & its anchor was lost. The vessel arrived at Newport, presumably Wales, on Jun. 4, 1954, to be broken up. Is it possible that you can help with more data & perhaps an image?
30		Solent 1474 (or 1354) tons Hull 138 123967 Yainville Mary II Varvara	1910	A single screw cargo ship. Per 1 ('Southampton City Council/Plimsoll', Lloyds Register listings, multiple years, Varvara etc.), 2 (data, Christian Salvesen, ref. Solent, approx. 85% down), 3 (ref. Solent, approx. 50% down), 4 (Salvesen), 5 (French data, image, 25% down '3 Le Yainville'), 6 (link 5 translated), 7 (extensive data in German, Varvara), 8 ('wrecksite.eu', wreck data & Varvara image), 9 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy duty, click on 'SHIP SEARCH' then insert Varvara. Beware! The page you come to lists 86 convoys, only 4 of which relate to this particular vessel), 10 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 72.9 metres long perpendicular to perpendicular, 239.3 ft., speed of 9 knots, signal letters SZKY. Built for Dennis H. Willey, of Sunderland. Two later owners of Leith, Scotland, with no change of vessel name - to Christian Salvesen & Co., in 1916 & to T. C. Steven & Co., in 1919. Any service in WW1? In 1921, the vessel was sold to 'Josse Worms & Cie', of Le Havre, France, & renamed Yainville. A number of collisions as Yainville. At about 1:30 a.m. on Dec. 8, 1923, when at anchor in the Scheldt river at Antwerp, Belgium, the vessel was hit by Th�r�se, one of a number of vessels under tow by tug Charles. Something would seem to have happened at Bordeaux, on May 17, 1924. On Jan. 17, 1925, under the command of Captain Maheo, the vessel was in collision with Anaconda, again in the Scheldt River. On Aug. 31, 1930, in foggy conditions, the vessel was in collision with Marigot, 4 miles N. of Dunkirk, France. Yainville suffered bow damage. Am unclear, however, as to what happened to Marigot. In 1934, the vessel was sold to 'Nikolaos G. Livanos', of Piraeus, Greece, for �3,150, & renamed Mary II. In 1935, the vessel was sold again, to 'Athanasios N. Zoiopoulos' ('Zoiopoulos'), also of Piraeus (or perhaps of Volos), & renamed Varvara. By the 1940/41 edition of Lloyd's Register, the Ministry of War Transport had become the ship's owner, with Lambert Bros. Ltd. the managers. But in the 1942/43 edition of Lloyd's, ownership had reverted to Zoiopoulos. Can anybody explain what happened to cause such listings. Just 4 WW2 convoy references, including a voyage to Iceland in 1942. 2 of the 4 references relate to her final voyage from Alexandria, Egypt, which arrived at Tripoli on Mar. 16, 1943 with a cargo of munitions. On Mar. 19, 1943, the vessel was bombed by German Ju88 aircraft when 500 yards SW of the entrance to the harbour at Tripoli, Libya. Either 1 (Konstantinos Valeris) or (per Miramar & others) 2 lives were lost in the attack. The vessel sank on the next day, i.e. Mar. 20, 1943. This page (3rd item) indicates, I think in error, that the vessel was rather sunk by U-671. Is it possible that you can help with more data & perhaps another image?
31		Porthkerry 1920 tons Hull 141 128525	1911	A collier. Per 1 ('uboat.net', sinking, Porthkerry), 2 ('wrecksite.eu' sinking data, Porthkerry), 3 (sinking data, 70% down, ref. 'Howson'), 4 (ref. Porthkerry), 5 (sinking data), 6 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 280 ft. long, 85.3 metres perpendicular to perpendicular, speed of 10 knots. Built for Porthcawl Steamship Co., of Cardiff, Wales, (Thomas, Stephens & Wilson, the managers). At 5.20 p.m. on May 20, 1917, Tycho, a defensively armed steamer of 3216 tons, was torpedoed & sunk by UB-40, Kapit�nleutnant Hans Howaldt in command, in the English Channel, 16 miles W. by S. of Beachy Head, Sussex. The entire Tycho crew left the ship & rowed towards Porthkerry, then standing by to pick up the survivors, having seen the explosion. The captain of Tycho & 15 of his crew died a few minutes later, alongside of Porthkerry, when one boat was blown up & the other was damaged by another torpedo, fired at Porthkerry by UB-40. It would seem that UB-40 purposely waited until the Tycho boats were alongside Porthkerry before firing its torpedo. Porthkerry was en route from Cardiff to Sheerness with a cargo of coal. 8 Porthkerry lives were lost, including the Captain (his name?). The survivors from both ships were picked up at 7 p.m. by a small coastal steamer, maybe Esperanto, which landed them at Newhaven. The Porthkerry wreck lies at 50.37.35N/00.18.58W in 42/46 metres of water, with Tycho nearby. A neat map of the location used to be WWW available (Brighton BASC). Can you provide more data? An image?
32		Wear 1869 (or 1892) tons Hull 142 129777	1911	A cargo ship. Per 1 (1944 collision, nr. page bottom, Wear), 2 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy data, Wear. Beware - only the CO & OC convoys relate to this vessel), 3 & 4 (sinking), 5 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 81.7 metres long, perpendicular to perpendicular, 268 ft., 2 masts, speed of 9 knots. Constructed for Witherington & Everett, of Newcastle. Maybe soon sold? Because the vessel was registered at Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, in Mar. 1912. 65 WW2 convoy references, from Sep. 1942 thru Dec. 1943 - in CO & OC convoys, all in Australian waters, Newcastle to Melbourne & return. Presumably there were other & later voyages, maybe independent, but 'convoyweb.org' denies me access to such data. On Sep. 8, 1944, when owned by James Paterson & Co. Pty., (maybe 'Patterson') of Australia, & en route from Melbourne to Newcastle, New South Wales ('NSW'), Australia, in ballast, the vessel was in collision with the Norwegian Anatina, 9 or 10 miles S. of Montague Island, NSW, & sank. It would seem that Anatina, ran into Wear, striking her amidships at 1 a.m. And Wear sank 40 minutes later. I have not read the circumstances, but a Court of Marine Inquiry found that Wear was at fault. All 56 (maybe 32 only) crew were rescued 'but one seaman received fatal injuries', or perhaps was drowned. His name was Harold Pring. 'Both vessels were locked together for about ten minutes but the Wear* was almost cut in half and sank immediately they separated.' A boat was launched but crew were in the water. The crew (or some of them at least) were landed by Anatina* at Eden, NSW. A deep wreck, possibly (but not confirmed) to be Wear, has been located in 120 metres of water. WWW data is limited. Is it possible that you can help with more data & perhaps an image? It would seem that a half model of the ship was offered on eBay, but the item is long gone.
33		Wear 1164 tons Hull 148 133517	1912	A cargo ship. Per 1 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 67.8 metres long, perpendicular to perpendicular, speed of 9 1/2 knots. This ship is a mystery. Read on! The vessel was built for Witherington & Everett ('Witherington'), of Newcastle. I was surprised to find this second vessel named Wear (the first is here). Both seem to have been built by 'Crown' for Witherington at about the same time. As confirmed by a 'Crown' build list provided by a kindly site visitor. They survived, it would seem, until 1935 & 1944 respectively, & neither, per Miramar, had a change of name. Might that be because the '1911 edition', above, was soon registered in Australia? This Wear arrived, per Miramar, at Blyth, Northumberland, U.K., on Mar. 18, 1935, to be broken up. That is all I have! WWW data is most limited. And now the mystery, which seems likely to be related. Per this site, Witherington owned a vessel named River Wear, built in 1912, of 1164 net (not gross) tons. A vessel not apparently listed at Miramar. Could it be that Wear was renamed River Wear? There are 2 very fine images available of River Wear, via that site here (1 & 2). But we need your help. We need to know what Lloyds Registers of the 1920s said about both Wear & River Wear, & specifically the builder's name & gross tonnage. Likely any edition in the 1920s. Is it possible that you can help with that and/or with more data? An image?
34		Cedartree 1734 (or 1742) tons Hull 151 132891 Maindy Priory Sinop	1913	A collier which was launched on Sep. 29, 1913 & completed in Oct. 1913. Per 1 (Maindy Shipping, 1922, 80% down re Maindy Lodge), 2 ('Southampton City Council/Plimsoll', Lloyds Register ('LR') listings, Sinop, 1930 thru 1945), 3 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). Built for Tree Steamship Co. Ltd., of Cardiff, Howard Jones & King the managers. 258.0 ft. (78.64 metres) long, speed of 9 knots, signal letters HBQM, later TCDA, 197 HP engines by North Eastern Marine Engineering Co. Ltd., of Sunderland. In 1919, the vessel was sold, per Miramar, to 'Maindy Shipping Company Ltd.' ('MaindyCo'), also of Cardiff & in 1920 was renamed Maindy Priory. I had previously referenced 'Jenkins Richards E', 'Jenkins Richards E' would seem to correctly be 'Jenkins, Richards & Evans Ltd.' ('Evans'), of Cardiff, Wales. Muriel Goodman advises (thanks!) that 'Jenkins' refers to Thomas Jenkins, her grandfather, who owned MaindyCo. The name of Maindy would seem to originate with the area so named in the city of Cardiff. Evans were rather the managers. (There was also a company named 'E. Jenkins & Company', also of Cardiff.) Now MaindyCo went into liquidation in 1921. In 1922, per Miramar, the vessel became owned by Sir David R. Llewellyn ('Llewellyn'), of Cardiff (have also read Newcastle) - with James Rattary of Cardiff likely the manager. Llewellyn had in 1921 acquired ten MaindyCo steamers at auction, (A & B) including Maindy Priory, for a total of �290,000. The vessel was sold, in 1927, to the Government of Turkey (Admin de Nav. � Vap. Turque), registered at Constantinople (now Istanbul), & renamed Sinop. (I note in passing that the vessel is named Sinob in LR of 1928/29). It was later sold three more times to owners from Istanbul, Turkey, with no change of vessel name - to Denizyollari Idaresi in 1934, to Kirzade Mustafa & Huseyin Munir in 1935, & in 1937 to Turk Silepcilik Sti. (a ship management company or 'pool' established by the Turkish private shipowners). In 1938, Sinop & also Izmir (ex Kawi, built at Flushing, Netherlands, in 1907) went aground on the Black Sea coast at Ereğli but were floated off (images at left). It would seem, however, to have been owned by 'Mustafa Uman & Hamdi Selimoğlu' in 1948. On Nov. 30, 1948, while en route from Zonguldak (Anatolia, Black Sea coast of Turkey) to Istanbul with a cargo of coal, the vessel was driven ashore in a storm & wrecked on Kefken Island (just off the southern Black Sea coast, 92 km. E. of the Bosphorus). WWW data about the vessel is most limited. We thank Osman Ondes, maritime historian, for kindly correcting the texts above, particularly those re the vessel's Turkish ownership. Osman advises also that captain Ali Dolan II was in command of the vessel at the time of its loss & that the vessel's entire crew was drowned. Talat �lgezen was 2nd officer & Vasıf Kocak was the vessel's chief engineer. 'Cumhuriyet', a Turkish daily newspaper, extensively covered the sinking of the ship in its issue of Dec. 2, 1948. Need help! Another image?
35	$'Newtown', built by J. Crown & Sons in 1915, soon after it ran aground in Jan. 1916. In a 'Phillips & Lees', of Ilfracombe, postcard.$	Newtown 1153 tons Hull 156 136817	1915	A cargo ship. Per 1 (Devon 'pdf' newsletter, true pages 6/8, with 2 images. Thanks so much 'AONB' & Ray Easterbrook!), 2 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). Built for Town Line (London) Ltd., (Harrison, Sons & Co. managers), of London. 67.1 metres long, perpendicular to perpendicular, 220 ft. A now dead web link indicated that in Jan, 1916, 'Harrison, Sons & Co.' were the owners. The vessel had a very short life! On Jan. 7, 1916, just 10 months after completion in Mar. 1915, she ran aground in fog at Barricane Beach, N. Devon, while en route from Oporto, Portugal, to Newport, Wales with a cargo of pit props. Near Morte Point, close to Woolacombe. Do look at the image at the first thumbnail. It sure does not look like a beach to me! However I read that there is a sand (or sea shell) beach there in a rocky cove! Interestingly, of sea shells not native to the area. How distressing it must have been to Captain Rees that his vessel so ended up - perched high on the rocks with bow & stern free & clear when the tide was out. The crew of 19 were all rescued, via the 'Mortehoe Life-saving Apparatus', a breeches buoy pulley system, the captain being the last to be rescued. WWW data about the vessel is limited. Need help!
36		Shuna 1556, later 1494 tons Hull 157 137802	1915	A vessel that was launched on Jul. 27, 1915 & completed in Sep. 1915. Per 1 (Glen & Co., of Glasgow), 2 ('Southampton City Council/Plimsoll', Shuna, Lloyd's Register ('LR') data, 1930/31 thru 1935/36), 3 (Shuna wreck, Islay, image), 4 (James Smith Shuna 'pdf' vessel study), 5 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 250.0 ft. long (76.2 metres) perpendicular to perpendicular, speed of 9 knots, signal letters JLSK, later MFXZ, 165 HP engines by North Eastern Marine Engineering Co. Ltd., of Sunderland. The vessel was built for 'Scandinavian Shipping Co. Ltd.' ('Scandinavian'), of Glasgow, Scotland, with Glen & Co. ('Glen'), acting as her managers. Glen, which owned Scandinavian, was, I read, noted for the shipment of coals to Sweden, returning with timber. Shuna? A word of Norse origin - i) An island on the W. coast of Scotland, in the Inner Hebrides, one of the Slate Islands, also ii) an island in Loch Linnhe, Scotland. Glen clearly liked to name their vessels Shuna. So far as I can see, they owned 5 vessels of the name built respectively in 1872, 1890, 1909, 1915 (this vessel) & 1937. James Smith advises that on Jan. 30, 1917 the vessel was requisitioned by the Admiralty for WW1 service & provides detail of such service in his vessel study. In 1928, Shuna became owned by 'Clydesdale Shipowners' Company, Ltd.', also of Glasgow, with Glen still her manager. The vessel became LR listed at 1494 tons in 1932/33. A guess on my part - the change in tonnage may relate to the fact that a vessel named Shuna spent time in 1932 at the yard of David & William Henderson & Company Ltd., of Partick, Glasgow, having repairs effected including the repair of bow damage. Maybe the vessel had been involved in a collision of some sort? Yes? No? On Oct. 17, 1936, while en route from the Clyde to Gothenburg, Sweden, with a coal & general cargo, the vessel ran aground & was wrecked near Ardmore Point, a cape on the SE coast of the island of Islay, Inner Hebrides. No loss of life. Wrecked at 55.39.04N/06.02.24W it would seem. A dive site today so the wreck must still be there. She was a total loss (broke in two) & was insured for �12,000. Can you provide more data? The circumstances of her loss, perhaps. #1949
37		Lesto 1893 tons Hull 162 140710	1918	A collier/coaster. Per 1 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy data, Lesto, beware other vessels at link), 2 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 81.7 metres long, perpendicular to perpendicular, speed of 10 knots. Built for 'Pelton Steamship Company Ltd.' ('Pelton'), of Newcastle. I am advised that Pelton owned coal mines & also owned a fleet of colliers trading to the Thames, S. coast ports & to the Baltic, sailing mostly from the Tyne, & returning from the Baltic with a deck cargo of sawn timber & pit props. Have WWW read nothing about the vessel's regular service history, but likely used as above. 35 WW2 convoy references including 2 N. Atlantic crossings ex Mediterranean (Alexandria & Port Said), service in Mediterranean, to the Continent (Seine Bay, France, in Aug. 1944, also Antwerp & Dieppe) & U.K. local. In 1954, the vessel was sold to 'British Iron & Steel Corporation (Salvage) Limited' ('BISCO') & was allocated by BISCO to 'Shipbreaking Industries, Ltd.', of Rosyth, Fife, Scotland, to be broken up. On Jun. 15, 1954, the vessel arrived at Rosyth, for that purpose. Can you provide more data?
38		Lightfoot 1894 (or 1919) tons Hull 169 145492 Kylequeen	1922	A cargo ship, likely a collier. Per 1 (interesting 'Witherington & Everett' history), 2 (ref. Kylequeen, about 20% down), 3 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy data, Lightfoot), 4 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 81.7 metres long, perpendicular to perpendicular, 268 ft., speed of 10 knots, 199 HP engines by North Eastern Marine Engineering Co. Ltd. of Sunderland. Built for 'The Hill Steam Shipping Co. Ltd.', of Newcastle, likely to replace the fleet vessel of identical name that was sunk by UB-30 in 1918. The company mainly carried coal, & chose names associated with rapid transport for its fleet ships, hence the name Lightfoot. The company had a tough time during the Depression, with 17 of its ships laid up - which resulted in the company being forced to sell half of its fleet in order to survive. But it did not sell Lightfoot at that time, it would seem. 63 WW2 convoy references, including service into the Mediterranean (Augusta, Brindisi, Naples, Malta, Port Said etc.) & many U.K. coastal. You would think, at 3, that the vessel made 4 eastbound voyages across the N. Atlantic, but when you access the convoy detail that was not so. The vessel was sold, in 1953, to Kyle Shipping Company Ltd., of Liverpool, Monroe Brothers the managers, & renamed Kylequeen. It was frequently used, I read, to transport iron ore, from Spain to the Barrow-in-Furness area. And from Liexoes, Oporto, Portugal, to Margam, Port Talbot, Wales. The vessel carried Welsh coal for many years, thru to 1962, to the Clarence Dock Power Station at Liverpool. Now William Rance has kindly been in touch to advise that he served as a Marconi Radio Officer onboard Kylequeen for three months in 1960. You will surely enjoy reading his recollections. Thanks Bill! On Jun. 12, 1962, the vessel arrived at Antwerp, to be broken up. Is it possible that you can add anything? Another image?
39		Fellside 1034 (or 996) tons Hull 174 148064 Swandale Marlwood	1924	A steel single screw steamer which was launched on Apl. 16, 1924 & completed in May 1924. Per 1 (near top, 25/03/2006 22:03), 2 (data & images), 3 (data), 4 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 212.0 ft. long (64.63 metres) perpendicular to perpendicular, signal letters KQPS, 166 HP engines by North Eastern Marine Engineering Co. Ltd., of Sunderland. Constructed for Quayside Shipping Co. Ltd., of Newcastle with Connell & Grace Ltd., the managers. The vessel was sold, in 1930, to Yorkshire Dale S. S. Co., of Hull, (Atkinson & Prickett, the managers), & renamed Swandale. It was sold again, in 1938, to Wm. France, Fenwick & Co. & became Marlwood. It was sold (or maybe transferred) in 1952 to 'Wm. France, Fenwick (London/Goole) Ltd.' On Jul. 2, 1957, the vessel arrived at Dunston on Tyne, to be broken up. Can you add anything?
40		Matching 1321 tons Hull 175 147705	1924	A cargo ship which was launched on Jul. 17, 1924 & completed in Aug. 1924. Per 1 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy duty, click on 'SHIP SEARCH' then insert Matching), 2 ('Southampton City Council/Plimsoll', Lloyds Register data, Matching, 1930/31 thru 1945/46), 3 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 235.0 ft. long (71.63 metres) perpendicular to perpendicular, speed of 10 knots, signal letters KRDS later MLYW, 180 HP engines by John Dickinson & Sons Ltd., of Sunderland. Built for Stephenson Clarke Ltd. or maybe Stephenson Clarke & Co. Ltd. (collectively 'Stephenson'), of London, 'for their coasting & general trade'. Stephenson were noted as coal shippers & the vessel was likely used to transport coal from the north-east to power stations in the south of England. From 1928/29, the vessel was registered in the name of 'Stephenson Clarke & Associated Companies Ltd.', however in the 1945/46 edition of Lloyd's Register the owner had become 'Stephenson Clarke Ltd.' 108 WW2 convoy references thru Nov. 1944, mainly serving between the Tyne, Sunderland & Methil, Firth of Forth, Scotland, to Southend (re London) & to St. Helen's Roads, Isle of Wight. But included are 8 voyages to Seine Bay, France in Jun/Sep 1944 re the Normandy landings, ex Portsmouth, the Solent & Southampton. On Apl. 8, 1955, the vessel arrived at Dunston on Tyne, to be broken up. The WWW record for this vessel is modest indeed. Is it possible that you can add anything? No.1857
41		Cedartree 1557 tons Hull 180 160419 Bluebell Silverbell Pepinella	1928	A cargo ship which was launched on Apl. 4, 1928 & completed in May 1928. Per 1 ('Southampton City Council/ Plimsoll', Lloyds Register ('LR') data, Cedartree, 1930/31 thru 1945/46), 2 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy duty, click on 'SHIP SEARCH' then insert Cedartree), 3 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). Built for Tree Steamship Co. Ltd., of London, owned certainly managed by Howard Jones Ltd. of London. 245.0 ft. (74.7 metres) long, single screw, 254.0 ft. long overall, speed of 10 knots, signal letters LPBW, later MNET, 193 HP engines by George Clark Ltd., of Sunderland. The vessel must have been sold a couple of times, without a change of vessel name. James Scott, of Newcastle, advises (thanks James!) that Home Line Limited ('Home'), perhaps owned by The Northumbrian Shipping Company, Common Brothers Limited the managers, owned the vessel in 1937 (per a Cedartree insurance policy/certificate James owns). Such data is confirmed by LR data re 1937/38. Prior to that edition, from 1933/34 thru 1935/36 LR listed no owner name but reported F. W. C. Common as being her manager. Home later, in 1938, sold the vessel to Shamrock Shipping Co. Ltd., of Larne, (N. of Belfast), Northern Ireland with the vessel registered at London. W. C. Lawson became the vessel's managers from, per LR, 1940/41. 55 WW2 convoy references, almost all of which are U.K. coastal with 5 trips to France (Seine Bay). In 1956, the vessel was sold to P. Vrangros of Panama & renamed Bluebell. And in 1958 was renamed Silverbell. Also in 1958, the vessel was sold to Italian owners (V. Scarcia?), & renamed Pepinella. Per Miramar such owners were rather 'Cia. Esercizi Marittima Manfredonia'. On Apl. 20, 1958, the vessel collided with Sunoak & sank on the northern part of 'Fairybank', while en route from Venice, Italy, to Amsterdam, on its first voyage under Italian ownership. At 51.24.341N/ 02.15.087E. 'Fairybank' is, it would seem, in the North Sea, E. of Broadstairs, Kent. The wreck lies upright in about 30 metres of water. 4 has a slightly different wreck location. Wreck 'in quite good shape', described as being a pretty wreck. Can you add anything?
42		Newton Abbot 1614/2689, later 1651/2719 (N/G) tons Hull 179 149972 S.N.A.9 Sonia or Sonja	1928	A steel steamship which was launched on Jun. 12, 1927 & completed in Jan. 1928. Per 1 ('War Sailors', fine summary data), 2 ('Southampton City Council/Plimsoll', Lloyds Register ('LR') data, Newton Abbot, 1930/31 thru 1935/36), 3 ('Southampton City Council/Plimsoll', LR data, S.N.A.9, 1937/38 thru 1944/45), 4 (extensive data, Royal Navy S Class submarine *Surf), 5 (Lt. D. Lambert), 6 (Lloyd's Register, 1943/44), 7 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). The vessel which was first registered, at London, on Jan. 3, 1928 (scroll to #149972), is LR listed from 1928/29 thru 1944/45. It was built for T. & C. Wilton & Co. Ltd. of London (of Bristol, it would seem, from 1933 thru 1935 & then London again), & owned by them, thru 1935/36. With Thomas Wilton, jun., her manager. A site visitor was kindly in touch with a newspaper cutting (image at left) of Newton Abbot* aground (at date unknown) off Flamborough Head, Yorkshire, in dense fog. An image particularly valuable because it is the only image of the vessel of which I am aware. *Afon Towy* was also aground at the same location. This text ex a French 'pdf' (p#3, published Nov. 7, 1935) refers to Afon Towy having run aground, in fog, 1/2 mile S. of the point at Flamborough Head. The grounding must have occurred a little before Nov. 7, 1935. Can anybody be more exact? In 1936, the vessel was sold to French interests (sale reported by 'Shipbuilding & Shipping Record', sale price WWW noted but too small to read on screen) & became owned by 'Soci�t� Nationale d'Affr�tements', of Rouen, France (have also read of Le Havre, or of Paris, France), who renamed the vessel *S.N.A.9. In Jun. 1940, when in Bayonne (SW France), the vessel was seized by German forces, & put into the ownership of 'Mittelmeer Reederei GmbH', of Hamburg, Germany, a semi-public company set up by 11 founding shipping companies & by the German Reich to manage German shipping in the Mediterranean Sea. They renamed the vessel Sonia* or *Sonja* & put her into service for the German WW2 war effort. In early Dec. 1943, *Sonia* was in service in the eastern Mediterranean, proceeding from Mudros (Island of Lemnos, Greece) to the Dardanelles escorted by GL-51, GL-55 & GL-56 (all German Auxilliary patrol vessels). On Dec. 9, 1943, *HMS Surf, a British Navy S class submarine, then under the command of Lt. D. Lambert, fired 3 torpedoes at Sonia*. Which was hit in the stern & 8 minutes later sank vertically at 39.43N/25.23E, a mile S. of the island of Lemnos, in the Aegean Sea. I have read that one life was lost in the attack. 305.1 ft. long, later 305.3 ft. long, 316.0 ft. long overall, signal letters KWVP later GFJB, later FOSW (as S.N.A.9), speed of 10 knots, 260 NHP engines by North Eastern Marine Engineering Co. Ltd., of Sunderland. Is there anything you can add? Or correct? #2497
43		John Charrington 1576 (or 1588) tons Hull 181 161268	1929	A coaster, a collier, which was launched on Jul. 10, 1929 & completed later that month. Per 1 & 2 (same image, John Charrington, blue), 3 ('Southampton City Council/Plimsoll', Lloyds Register data, John Charrington, 1930/31 thru 1945/46), 4 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy data, John Charrington), 5 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). Built for Charrington Steamship Co. Ltd., of Dartford, London, which company was owned, certainly managed by 'Charrington, Gardner, Locket & Company, Limited', noted for its involvement in the coal trade. A 1931 volume about the company, by Bernard Darwin, was entitled 'Two Hundred Years in the London Coal Trade'. 'The largest retail coal distributing company in the country'. Vessel named after John Charrington (there were many of the name in the history of the company). 250.0 ft. long (76.2 metres) perpendicular to perpendicular, speed of 10 1/2 knots, with a woodbine funnel, signal letters MPNX, 226 HP engines by North Eastern Marine Engineering Co. Ltd., of Sunderland. Launched by Elizabeth, John Charrington's wife. Carried coal to the Thames & other places in the S. of England. 51 WW2 convoy references, all of which were U.K. coastal to & from Southend (Thames estuary). On Apl. 16, 1959, the vessel arrived at Bruges, Belgium, to be broken up. Can you add anything?
44		Royal Lady 195 tons Hull 189 145668	1934	A ferry or excursion ship. Per 1 (data and images), 2 (fine image, at Scarborough, posted 1938), 3 (ref., 2nd para.), 4 (Miramar, link, Royal Lady, you now must be registered to access, 3rd item). The only vessel built on the River Wear during the period 1932/1936 (the Depression). Built for Thomas Round & Sons, of Scarborough. 2 funnels, the forward funnel being a dummy. 132.6 ft. long, twin-screw Crossley engines, speed of 9 1/2 knots - the Crossley engines required far less space than previous steam installations, allowing a far greater area to be devoted to passenger accommodation. The vessel was sold, in Sep. 1937, to 'Captain Orazio Mizzi', of Malta, for service between Malta (Marfa) & the Island of Gozo (Mgarr). In 1938, while maintaining that route, she was transferred to the Gozo mail service. On May 7, 1942, while at the quayside at Gozo, the vessel was sunk by German bombing. Can you add anything?
45		New Royal Lady 250 (or 249 or 257) tons Hull 192 145671 Royal Lady Crested Eagle Imperial Eagle	1938	A ferry or excursion ship. A large listing for a modest vessel. Per 1 (wreck), 2 (lots of data and images), 3 (map of wreck - Imperial Eagle), 4 [General Steam Navigation, Crested Eagle (2)], 5 (Crested Eagle, data & images), 6 (Miramar, link, New Royal Lady, you now must be registered to access). 45 metres (150 or 138 ft.) long, 250 tons, speed of 14 (or 13) knots, 2 funnels, the forward funnel a dummy. 'Her funnels were yellow, with rather gaudy red, white and blue bands.' Accommodation for 70 passengers & later in its life (when?) 10 cars. The vessel, which replaced the earlier Royal Lady, was built for Thomas Round but when he died the vessel was delivered to his son John C. Round ('Round'), of Scarborough, for excursion trips from that port. Used for morning, afternoon & evening trips from Scarborough & occasionally for longer trips to Bridlington and Whitby. In 1940, the vessel was requisitioned by the Royal Navy for transport duties. In 1942 it was purchased by the Ministry of War Transport, managed by Fraser & Wright. In 1944, the vessel was attached to the U.S. Navy - engaged on port defence duties. Somewhere in that period, it lost its forward dummy funnel. The vessel was sold to Round again, in 1946. In 1947, the vessel was sold to John Hall of Kirkaldy, for Firth of Forth service, & renamed Royal Lady. And sold, later in 1947, to 'General Steam Navigation Co.' ('GSN') for cruises (London to Gravesend & Southend on the River Thames & Port of London) & renamed Crested Eagle. In 1952, the vessel was used for local trips from Ramsgate. In 1956, the vessel ran a regular service from Gravesend to Southend & Clacton. In 1957, it was chartered by 'P. & A. Campbell Ltd.' of Brighton, for service along the S. coast of England (Eastbourne, Hastings, Brighton, Shanklin on the Isle of Wight). In mid 1958, the vessel was sold by GSN to 'E. Zammit & Co.' (owned by Karistu Zammit, perhaps), of Malta, for service on the Marfa to Mgarr route [Malta to sister island of Gozo (Ghawdex)] & occasionally to Sicily (vessel considered a 'bad sailer' - but she maybe was not built for such a voyage?). At this time, the vessel would seem to have carried 10 cars. Sold to 'Sunny & Maria Pisani', of Gozo, & renamed Imperial Eagle. After 1968, she transported cargo & animals from Gozo to Valletta, Malta. 'For at least 10 years she then lay rotting in Mgarr harbour (Gozo) & was eventually towed to Valletta harbour where she was badly vandalised & half sunk at her moorings.' Served as a hulk? ('She also served for storage'). On Nov. 28, 1995, the vessel was sold to the local diving community & on Jul. 19, 1999 was scuttled, in 40 meters of water, at St. Paul's Bay, 1/2 km. off Qawra Point, Malta, as part of an 'Underwater Marine Park Project'. An easy dive site today. Can you add more?
46		Campion 940 tons Hull 198 6111693	1941	A 'Flower' class patrol frigate or corvette. Per 1 (Flower Class), 2 ('uboat.net' data), 3 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy duty, click on 'SHIP SEARCH' then insert Campion), 4 (many images of Campion, also crew images), 5 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 62.6 metres long overall, 57.9 metres perpendicular to perpendicular, speed of 16 knots, likely armed with a 4 in. gun, 4 machine guns, 2 depth charge throwers & depth charge rails, radar & ASDIC (underwater sonar) equipped also. Did it also have mine-sweeping gear? Built for the Royal Navy. The residents of Chard, Dorset, U.K., raised the then enormous sum of �90,209, in Feb. 1942, to help fund the construction of the vessel. Campion artifacts & memorabilia are on display at the Chard Museum. The vessel was commissioned on Jul. 7, 1941 - K108. A complement of 85. 59 WW2 convoy references, initially as an escort vessel on convoys between Liverpool & Gibraltar. Just before midnight on Aug. 22, 1941, Empire Oak, a tug, & Clonlara, both proceeding in convoy OG-71, were sunk by torpedo W. of Aveiro, Portugal. Campion, a convoy escort vessel, picked up 13 crew members of Clonlara & landed them at Gibraltar on Aug. 24, 1941, along with the 3 survivors from Stork &, it seems likely, survivors from Zinnia. On Oct. 24, 1941, Campion took on board 18 survivors of Carsbreck, sailing in HG-75 from Gibraltar to Liverpool & later transferred them to HMS Vidette. On Oct. 26, 1941, Ariguani, then a Pegasus class fighter catapult ship, was damaged when struck by a torpedo. HMS Thames & HMS Rollicker towed the damaged Ariguani to Gibraltar, Campion being one of the escorting ships. Was based at Naval Base HMS Eaglet at Liverpool from late Oct. 1941 thru Apl. 21, 1942. The vessel was refitted at Hull in 1942 for duty re Liverpool/Mediterranean convoys & in the Western Approaches. Acted as escort vessel for many convoys in the eastern Mediterranean (Port Said, Alexandria) & W. to Gibraltar. I would be surprised if other convoys were free of duties similar to those in Aug/Oct. 1941 noted above. Its last convoy duty would seem to have been escorting convoy HX-354 into Liverpool, ex New York City, in May 1945. Was soon removed from the active list. The vessel was sold for scrap on Apl. 20, 1947 & in May 1947 was scrapped at Newport, Wales. WWW available data is quite modest! The above may well need correction. Can you add anything? No.1894
47		Empire Ash 263 tons Hull 201 168694 5315943 Flying Fulmar Sea Alarm	1941	A 'Warrior' class coal fired tug. Per 1 & 2 (fine giant 'callen' images), 3 (references to vessel), 4 & 5 (James Wolfenden artwork), 6 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 32.9 metres (114.5 ft.) long, speed of 11 knots. Operated, it would seem, in many ports throughout Britain in its lifetime. Built for the Ministry of War Transport for use by the U.K. Navy. The vessel was sold, on May 15, 1946, for �18,750 to 'Clyde Shipping Co Ltd', of Glasgow & renamed Flying Fulmar. It was sold again, in May 1956, to 'Alarm Steam Tug Co. Ltd.', of Bristol & renamed Sea Alarm. In Jan. 1973, the vessel was sold to 'T. W. Ward Ltd.', of Briton Ferry, South Wales, for demolition. But it was not then demolished! Rather it was sold, in Feb. 1973, to 'Welsh Industrial & Maritime Museum' in Cardiff, Wales, & for many years, preserved there in a dry-dock (Roath Dock). The Museum closed in 1998. The museum site would seem to have become a shopping centre. The vessel itself was scrapped while 'the engine and some auxiliary plant is in a store at Nant Garw'. For a large portion of the above data I thank 'Tug' of Thames Tugs, who kindly noted my earlier request for data. And came to my rescue. 'Tug', I thank you. Can you add more?
48		Empire Frank 268 tons Hull 206 169032 Brigadier	1942	A 'Warrior' standard class coal fired tug. Per 1 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). Built for Ministry of War Transport. The vessel was sold, in 1946, to Steel and Bennie Ltd. of Glasgow & renamed Brigadier. On Feb. 21, 1960 the vessel ran aground & was wrecked at Horse Island, off Ardrossan, on the North Ayrshire coast of Scotland. The vessel was a total loss. Is it possible that you have an image?
49		Empire Wold 269 tons Hull 203 169021	1942	A 'Warrior' standard class coal fired tug. Per 1 (data & image ex Ray Fothergill, data commences 20% down), 2 ('uboat.net'), 3 (crew photo - Ray Fothergill - more images 4, at page bottom), 5 (names of 7 of the 10 crew lost. 52% down, ref. 'Friday, 10 November 1944'), 6 (data re sinking), 7 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 107.8 feet long, speed of 12 knots. Built for the Ministry of War Transport. The vessel was placed on naval duties including convoy duties, based in Reykjavik, Iceland. On Nov. 10, 1944, the vessel departed Reykjavik to assist British tanker Shirvan (6017 tons, bound for Hvalfjord, Iceland, with a cargo of gas-oil), a vessel in the U.K. to Reykjavik convoy UR.142. The tug & crew were never seen again. While German records (also 6) list Empire Wold as having been sunk by German submarine U-300 (along with Shirvan & Godafoss), other German records do not confirm that U-300 actually sank her & the tug may have rather been, in fact, overwhelmed by the heavy seas. Sank at 64.08N/22.38W (or thereabouts). Can you add anything?
50		Bugloss 976 tons Hull 208 6114842 Assam	1943	A modified 'Flower Class' patrol frigate or corvette. Per 1 ('Flower Class' & modified 'Flower Class'), 2 & 3 ('uboat.net' data, Bugloss & Assam), 4 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy duty, click on 'SHIP SEARCH' then insert Bugloss), 5 (addl. Bugloss WW2 escort data), 6 (image, Bugloss), 7 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 63.5 metres long overall (208 ft.), 58.8 metres perpendicular to perpendicular, speed of 16 knots, armed with a 4 in. gun, an anti-submarine mortar, 7 anti-aircraft gun/ depth charges throwers, radar & sonar equipped, complement of 109, but have also read 90 only. Built for the Royal Navy. The vessel was commissioned on Nov. 8, 1943 - K306 - Alfred J. (John) Anderson in command, & served thru Feb. 19, 1945. Just 6 (2 appear to be duplicated) WW2 convoy references as HMS Bugloss. Was a convoy escort in the eastern Mediterranean in Feb. 1944 & saw such service re 5 later convoys, Aden to/from Bombay or Bandar-Abbas, Iran, thru Jul. 1944. But it would seem that there were a few more such services, at link 5, thru Jan. 29, 1945. On Feb. 19, 1945, the vessel was loaned to the Royal Indian Navy, & commissioned as HMIS Assam. She served as an air-sea rescue vessel but much of her service was, I read, minesweeping at Bombay, Karachi, Ceylon & Burma. The ship was dry-docked, at Bombay, for essential repairs before decommissioning at the end of WW2. Have read, however, little detail as to her Indian Navy service, however some of her crew were involved, it would seem, in a Royal Indian Navy 'mutiny' of 1946. In 1948, the corvette was returned to the Royal Navy, but probably never left Indian waters, being, rather, scrapped in India that same year - where I wonder? WWW available data is modest! Can you add anything? No.1899
51		Empire Demon 269 tons Hull 207 169110	1943	A 'Warrior' standard class coal fired tug. Per 1 (extensive data & image), 2 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). Built for The Admiralty. 108 ft. long. A369. An 'RFA' vessel (Royal Fleet Auxilliary) but am not sure of the relevant dates. The vessel was transferred, in 1945, to the Ministry of War Transport. And transferred back to The Admiralty in 1949. In 1962, the vessel was chartered to the U.S. Navy for service in the River Clyde area. In 1964, it was 'Transferred to HMS SEA EAGLE, training school, Londonderry.' I understand that 'Sea Eagle' was a naval shore-based anti-submarine training establishment. The vessel's name was presumably not changed. On Mar. 26, 1965, the vessel was in collision with Norse Lion, while she was towing her in Lough Foyle, (the estuary of the River Foyle, in Ulster, Northern Ireland) & Empire Demon was holed. This Norse Lion? The vessel was soon declared to be beyond economical repair & on Nov. 19, 1965, was advertised for sale, 'as lying', at Belfast. On Jan. 24, 1966, the vessel was sold to 'Haulbowline Industries Ltd.', of Passage West, County Cork, Eire, to be broken up. But it never arrived there. The vessel, in heavy weather off Wexford, (County Wexford, near SE tip of Ireland) broke her tow to Passage West on Feb. 15, 1966, & put into Dublin for stores & water. There her crew deserted her & she ended up sold to local ship breakers. On Mar. 14, 1966, the vessel was broken up at Dublin. Is it possible that you can add anything? Another image?
52		Empire Dolly 257 tons Hull 210 169123 Thunderer Ocean Osprey	1943	A Modified 'Warrior' class oil fired tug. Per 1 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy data, Empire Dolly), 2 (data, Thunderer, 45% down), 3 (Canadian 1964 court case referencing Ocean Osprey), 4 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 106 ft. long. Built for the Ministry of War Transport. Just 2 WW2 convoy references, which together comprise a single voyage from Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, Wales, to Alexandria, Egypt, in Oct/Dec 1943. I read that in Jul. 1946, Empire Dolly was employed in the docks at Alexandria, Egypt - but it would seem that that assignment may well have commenced rather earlier - in Dec. 1943. It is possible, however, that the vessel returned to the U.K. independently, between the relevant dates, which 'independent' data I am denied access to at 'convoyweb.org'. You will be able to check that data. In Oct. 1948, the vessel was transferred to British Army service at Suez, Egypt. The vessel was sold, in 1953, to 'Steel and Bennie Ltd.' of Glasgow, & renamed Thunderer (more than one tug of that name). And sold again, in 1958, to Saint John Tugboat Co. Ltd., I believe of Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, & renamed Ocean Osprey - though still in Glasgow registry. Many sites refer to the vessel being owned by a Bermuda company. But I suspect, based upon what I WWW read, that the vessel was not sold to a Bermuda company. Alas, WWW sites, this one included, tend to be repeat one another's errors of fact - so incorrect data, repeated many times, seems by that repetition to become truth. Am I correct about the acquirer not being of Bermuda? Is it possible that you can add anything? An image?
53		Empire Belle 257 (or 258 or 269) tons Hull 211 180129 Elf Mare Jonio Ercole	1944	A Modified 'Warrior' standard class oil fired tug. Per 1 (detailed data), 2 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). Built for the Ministry of War Transport. 105 ft 9 in. long. Initially used, until Nov. 1944, on U.K. coastal towing operations. Then taken over by The Admiralty & sent to Bombay, India, & then, a short period later, on to Singapore. In May 1947, the vessel was permanently attached to The Admiralty. Later in 1947, the vessel was renamed Elf. In 1959, the vessel was offered for sale 'as is' (or perhaps 'as was') & in 1960 was sold for �17,300 to 'Augustea Imprese Maritime S.p.A.', (I think that is correct), of Palermo, Italy & renamed Mare Jonio. Have read that the vessel was transferred to the Italian Navy, in 1972, & then named Ercole. Still in service early in 1988? Per Miramar, the vessel was stricken from the register in 1989. Is it possible that you can add anything? An image?
54		Empire Nicholas 257 (or 258 or 296) tons Hull 215 180137 Asta Laut Arafura	1944	A Modified 'Warrior' standard class oil fired tug. Per 1 (data, 2nd image, Asta), 2 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy data, Empire Nicholas), 3 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). Built for the Ministry of War Transport. 106 ft. long. 4 WW2 convoy references including 3 voyages to Seine Bay, France, in Jul/Sep 1944 re Normandy landings. And also a Mar. 1945 voyage from St. Helen's Roads, Isle of Wight, to Le Havre. Initially used, until Oct. 1944, on U.K. coastal towing operations. Then on naval duties which became service in Japan (from Dec. 1945) & from Mar. 1946 Batavia (now Jakarta, Indonesia). In 1947, the vessel was sold to the Netherland East Indies Government, & renamed Asta, (but maybe instead to 'Nederlandsche Indische Steenkolen Handel Maats'. In 1949, the vessel was sold to 'Nederlandsche Indische Steenkolen Handel Maats' which later became 'NV Nederland Indonesia Steenkolen Handel Maats' (the data conflicted). In 1959, the Indonesian Government took over all local Dutch maritime interests including the above company. In about 1959, the vessel was 'transferred' to 'Perusahaan Negara Tundabara' which later became 'P. N. Pelejaran Bahtera Adhiguna', of Indonesia. In 1961, the vessel was renamed Laut Arafura. In 1964, the vessel was 'transferred' to Tanjung (or Tandjung) Priok Port Authority, of North Jakarta, Indonesia. Still in service early in 1988? No later data. WWW data re the vessel is almost non-existent. Is it possible that you can add anything?
55		Empire Highlander 2125 tons Hull 214 180173 Arnewood Elias K.	1945	A collier. Per 1 (Lloyd's Register, 1945/46 data, ex 'Southampton City Council/Plimsoll'), 2 (2 fine copyrighted images, Arnewood), 3 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). There used to be a link, alas now gone, run by Alf Cook of Denbighshire, N. Wales, where photos of the vessel were, I think, available. 86.6 metres long perpendicular to perpendicular, 273.0 ft., speed of 9 1/2 (or 10) knots, signal letter GLJC. Built for the Ministry of War Transport, with William France, Fenwick & Co. ('Fenwick'), of London, the managers (have also read London & Edinburgh Shipping & Co. Ltd.). The vessel was sold, in 1946, for �78,500, to Fenwick & was renamed Arnewood. On Oct. 26, 1947, the vessel went aground in the River Tyne. There was no damage & the vessel floated off at the next high tide. On Dec. 2, 1947, with a cargo of coal, when just opposite William's Wharf at Dagenham, River Thames, Arnewood collided with Belhaven, also bound for London, (ex Leith, Scotland), with a general cargo. Belhaven suffered severe damage, while the damage to Arnewood was quite modest. There were three incidents, in 1951 & 1952, two of them with a cargo of esparto grass, where boiler tubes burst. The vessel was delayed each time, the repairs were effected with difficulty, but the ship was not in any danger. On Jan. 24, 1954, when in ballast at Antwerp, Belgium, the vessel collided with Dormitor, (Miramar seem not to list the vessel - could the vessel have rather been Durmitor). From Jan. 12, 1960 to May 12, 1960, the vessel was laid up at the River Tyne. On that last date, i.e. May 12, 1960, the vessel was sold, to George & Panos Kouremenos, of Piraeus, Greece, George Kouremenos the manager, & became Elias K. In mid Jan. 1967, the vessel was en route from Gizan, Saudi Arabia, bound for Varna, Bulgaria, with a cargo of bagged cement. At 7:15 a.m. on Jan. 17, 1967, in heavy seas, the vessel ran aground & was left stranded on a reef off Farasan Island in the southern Red Sea. At 16.23N/41.48E. Attempts were made to refloat the vessel, which was listing & taking on water, but the crew were forced to abandon ship in two lifeboats. Greenville Victory delivered the crew safely to Port Said. With great difficulty, including the jettisoning of cargo & ballast, Svitzer, a salvage tug, was later able to refloat the vessel & tow it to Aden for temporary repairs. The damage was thought to be slight. It then sailed to Piraeus, where the damage was determined instead to be uneconomic of repair. The vessel was laid up & later towed to Split, Yugoslavia, (Sveti Kajo?), where it was broken up, in Dec. 1967. Most of the above text is derived from the most extensive data at 2, for which we thank, (I believe), Mike West. There is, indeed, far more data there than can & has been included here. Anything you could add? Another image?
56		Empire Phyllis 257 tons Hull 218 169190 Hayat Brucoli Favignana	1945	A Modified 'Warrior' class oil fired tug. Per 1 & 2 (Italian sites with references to Empire Phyllis & Favignana), 3 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). Built for the Ministry of War Transport. 106 ft. (or 105 ft. 9 in.) long. Engaged in the India & Ceylon area for East Indies Command. On Jan. 20, 1947, the vessel was sold to Anglo-Iranian Oil Co. Ltd., of London, (no change of name). In 1948, the vessel was sold to Kuwait Oil Co. Ltd. of London, & renamed Hayat. And in 1961, it was sold again, to 'Augustea Imprese Maritime S.p.A.', (I think), of Italy, & renamed Brucoli. In 1973, it would appear to have been sold, for the last time, to the Italian Navy at Messina. Two Italian sites indicate, I believe, that it was then renamed Favignana, A5305. But I am not sure, with my inability in Italian, that I truly understand the texts. It is possible that there are images there. Later broken up but I cannot advise exactly when or where. Can you add anything? An image?
57		Empire Sally 261 (or 302) tons Hull 219 181120 Daneshmand Danesh	1945	A Modified 'Warrior' class oil fired tug. Per 1 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). Built for the Ministry of War Transport. 106 ft. (or 105 ft. 9 in.) long. Launched on Dec. 22, 1945. Intended to be used by East Indies Command, however she was rather laid up as surplus to the then requirements. In Apl. 1946, the vessel was sold, for �37,500, to Petroleum Steamship Co. Ltd., of London (no change of name). In 1947, the vessel was renamed Daneshmand. In 1958, it 'was transferred' to BP Tanker Co. Ltd., of London. In 1972, the vessel was sold again, to Gulf Shipping Co. SA, of Iran, & renamed Danesh. On Jan. 20, 1975, while towing barge GULF 107, the vessel was in collision with Arya Tab in the 'Khor Musa Channel' at Khorramshahr in SW Iran (close to Abadan). I have read no detail but understand that Danesh was a total loss. Is it possible that you can add anything? WWW data is most scarce. Perhaps an image?
58		Farnham Castle 1010 tons Hull 212 6121051	1945	A 'Castle Class' patrol frigate or corvette. Per 1 ('uboat.net' data), 2 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy duty, click on 'SHIP SEARCH' then insert Farnham Castle), 3 (data, 2 images), 4 (image), 5 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 76.8 metres long overall (252 ft.), 68.6 metres perpendicular to perpendicular, speed of 16 1/2 knots, armed with a 4 in. gun, an anti-submarine mortar, 8 anti-aircraft cannon & depth charges, radar & ASDIC (underwater sonar) equipped also. Built for the Royal Navy. The vessel was commissioned on Jan. 31, 1945 - K413. How many in the crew? Just 5 WW2 convoy references, including service as an escort vessel on 2 convoys (JW-65 & JW.66) from the Clyde to & from Kola Inlet or Bay for Murmansk, Russia, in Mar. & Apl. 1945 (thru May 7, 1945). Have read no detail as to service after that May date. The vessel went into Sheerness Reserve in 1947. Became F413 in 1948 (what does the 'F' signify, I wonder). On Jul. 31, 1949 the vessel completed a refit for Harwich Reserve. Was in reserve at Sheerness from 1950 to 1953 & at West Hartlepool from 1953 to 1959. The vessel was, I read, offered to Norway in 1957, but 'the deal did not materialise'. On Oct. 31, 1960, the vessel arrived at the Gateshead ship breaking facilities of 'C. W. Dorkin & Co. Ltd.' to be broken up. WWW available data is modest! Can you add anything? No.1863
59		Hedingham Castle 1010 tons Hull 213 6121175 laid down as Gorey Castle	1945	A 'Castle Class' patrol frigate or corvette. Per 1 (Wikipedia, Hedingham Castle), 2 ('uboat.net' data), 3 (HMS Affray loss), 4 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). This modest listing has been most time consuming to prepare, is incomplete & surely surely contains errors. What a mess the WWW is about vessels named Hedingham Castle! Mass confusion abounds, with, in my view, both incorrect data & mixing of data at many sites. As examples, these sites, I believe, today mix the 2 vessels (A & B) - while Wikipedia tells us that there were 2 Royal Navy corvettes named Hedingham Castle, a statement which seems to be less than 100% accurate. The following is what I believe to be some at least of the actual facts. 1) A vessel was laid down in 1943, as Hedingham Castle, by Henry Robb Ltd., of Leith, Scotland. While intended for the Royal Navy, it was launched, as HMCS Orangeville, for the Canadian Navy. K491. It was never in service for the Royal Navy & never was in service as Hedingham Castle. Not the ship which is the subject of this listing. 2) The vessel that IS the subject of this listing was laid down as Gorey Castle, by 'Crown' of Sunderland, but was launched (Oct. 30, 1944) & delivered (May 12, 1945) as Hedingham Castle for the Royal Navy. K529, later, in peace time, F386. 76.8 metres long overall (252 ft.), 68.6 metres perpendicular to perpendicular, speed of 16 1/2 knots, armed with a 4 in. gun, a 'Squid' anti-submarine mortar, 8 anti-aircraft cannon & depth charges, radar & ASDIC (underwater sonar) equipped also. I read that 'Castle Class' vessels were not the perfect ship - underpowered, difficult to keep on course, & difficult to control at the low speeds at which 'Squid' was operated. When was the vessel commissioned? How many were in the crew? Need help! No WW2 convoy references at 'convoyweb.org', but I read that she did serve, in WW2, as a convoy escort. She did, in fact? Became F386 in peacetime. In Apl. 1951, the vessel was part of the 2nd Training Flotilla, based at Portland, Dorset. It was part of the fleet of vessels which attempted to locate HMS Affray, a Royal Navy submarine which was lost at sea on Apl. 16, 1951, during a simulated war mission, with the loss of 75 lives. Affray was found about 2 months later, 17 miles NW of Alderney, in 86 metres of water. She still lies there today, & what caused her to founder seems still not to be definitively known. The vessel participated in the 1953 Coronation Review. In Apl. 1958, the vessel arrived at Granton, Edinburgh, Scotland, to be broken up. WWW available data is modest! Can you add anything? Or help make the above data 100% accurate? No.1891
60		Dashwood 2156 (or 2250) tons Hull 217 180955 laid down as Empire Lambeth	1946	A collier which was launched on Jul. 15, 1946 & completed in Sep. 1946. Per 1 (France Fenwick, Dashwood), 2 (image), 3 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 273.0 ft. long (83.21 metres) perpendicular to perpendicular, 284.0 ft. long (86.56 metres) overall, speed of 9 1/2 knots, signal letters GNCM, 254 MN (can somebody tell me what MN means. Equivalent of Horsepower?) engines by North Eastern Marine Engineering (1938) Ltd. of Sunderland. Laid down for the Ministry of War Transport as Empire Lambeth. But completed as Dashwood for William France, Fenwick & Co. Ltd., of London. In late 1955, the vessel carried at least 4 shipments of coal to the Tyne ex Gdynia, Poland. A 'Google' snippet ex Fairplay Weekly Shipping Journal, Vol. 99, 1961 'in 1958 fitted for oil fuel'. I have read that the vessel was sold in Mar. 1961 with engine damage when at Rotterdam. To her ship breakers, presumably? In Jun. 1961, the vessel was scrapped at the ship breaking facilities of 'NV Arie Rijsdijk-Boss & Zonen' at Hendrik Ido Ambacht, a town in the Western Netherlands, famous for its ship breaking yard. Data is scarce! Can you add anything?
61		Empire Lowlander 2159 tons Hull 216 180886 Corflow Rosa Vlassi	1946	A collier. Per 1 (Empire Lowlander), 2 (sinking, Rosa Vlassi, images), 3 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 86.5 metres long, perpendicular to perpendicular, 268 or 273 ft., 283.7 ft. overall, speed of 9 1/2 knots. Built for the Ministry of War Transport. The vessel was sold, in 1946, to William Cory Ltd. (or maybe William Cory & Son Ltd.), of London, & renamed Corflow. It was sold again, in 1959, to G. Vlassis & Co., (George & Alexander Chr. Vlassis), of Piraeus, Greece, & became Rosa Vlassi. On Dec. 25, 1959, Pavlos Koskorozis in command, with a crew of 18 all told, while carrying a cargo of iron pyrites from Stratoni (NE Greece) to Piraeus, the vessel's cargo shifted (due to water in the hold) while off the E. coast of Attica, Greece, between Laurium & Makronesi. The vessel capsized & sank in a southerly gale. At 37.37N/24.02E. It would seem, per 2, that 5 lives (the Captain included) were saved by taking to the boats just before the vessel capsized, & one additional crew member was saved by Elpis, a fishing boat. So 12 lives were apparently lost. But Aris Bilalis advises (thanks Aris!) that only 10 lives were in fact lost, since 2 of the 18 were not in fact on board. A demanding dive site today, the vessel being substantially intact, at a depth of about 60 metres. Do you have anything to add?
62		Andwi 1926 tons Hull 220 5513631 Manx King Aco Bremsnes Monte Bendone Marisol Rosy Palomba	1947	A cargo ship. Per 1 (extensive data, in Norwegian, image, Andwi), 2 (Miramar). An unusual vessel in that Miramar seems not to record it. So I particularly thank the folks at 'sjohistorie.no', the sole data source. 269.6 ft. long, speed of 10 1/2 knots, signal letters LHML. Built for 'Rolf Wigand Rederi', of Bergen, Norway. In Oct. 1952, the vessel was sold to A/S Wilhelms Rederi (T. Wilhelms), of Fredrikstad, also Norway, & renamed Manx King. In Jul. 1955, the vessel was sold to D/S A/S Fro, August Kjerland & Co. A/S the managers, of Bergen, & renamed Aco. It was sold again, in Dec. 1960, to Halfdan Backer A/S, Backers Rederi A/S ('Backers'), the managers, of Kristiansand, Norway, & renamed Bremsnes. In 1962, Backers became the owners. In May 1967, the vessel was sold again, to Antonio Olivers, of Torre del Greco, Italy, & renamed Monte Bendone. In 1969, the vessel was sold to 'Navale Cala di Volpe S.p.a.', of Cagliari, Sardinia, & renamed Marisol. And sold again, in 1973, to Giovanni Palomba, of Naples, Italy, & renamed Rosy Palomba. On Jan. 15, 1975, the vessel arrived at the La Spezia, Italy, ship breaking facilities of Carteri Navale Santa Maria, to be broken up. Can you add to and/or correct the above?
63		M�kefjell 1451 tons Hull 225 5513631 Skotfoss Barbro Bratt Kyknos Giuseppe U. Thallo	1948	A cargo ship. Per 1 (extensive data in Norwegian & English, & 2 images), 2 (Norwegian data, image), 3 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 78.8 metres long perpendicular to perpendicular, 258.7 ft., speed of 12 (or maybe 11) knots. Built, at a cost of 3,484,000 Norwegian kroners, for A/S Lukesfjell, 'Fjell Line', (Olsen & Ugelstad the managers & possibly the owners also), both of Oslo, Norway. Intended for use in the London/Great Lakes trade. The vessel was sold on Apl. 12, 1957, for 5,000,000 kroners to 'Skips-A/S Thor Thoresens Linje' (Thor Thoresen & Co.), also of Oslo, & in 1958 was renamed Skotfoss. In 1961, the vessel was sold to '�ngfartygs-AB Adolf' (Adolf Bratt & Co. AB, the managers), of Gothenburg, Sweden, for GBP 56,408 (Erik Kekonius involved in some way?) & renamed Barbro Bratt. On Jul. 31, 1964, the vessel was 'taken over' by G. Bratt & Co., of Gothenburg. On Mar. 2, 1965, the vessel was sold again, to Kyknos Steamship Corp. (Equatorial Shipping Co. S.A., the managers), of Monrovia, Liberia, for Swedish kroners 151,600, (Frangos Bros. & Co. somehow involved?) & renamed Kyknos. In Jul. 1967, the vessel was sold to Pierfrancesco Ursino, of Naples, Italy, & renamed Giuseppe U. In Jul. 1971, the vessel was sold, for U.S. $100,000 to 'Thallo Shipping Co. Ltd.', of Famagusta, Cyprus, & renamed Thallo. On Oct. 1, 1971, the vessel left Hamburg, Germany, under tow by Fairplay XI, for Santander, Spain, to be broken up. But was later moved to Bilbao, Spain, where she arrived on May 6, 1972 for the same purpose. Can you add to and/or correct the above?
64		Ternefjell 1451 tons Hull 224 5617097	1948	A cargo ship. Per 1 (Norwegian & English data), 2 (wreck location), 3 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 78.8 metres long, perpendicular to perpendicular, 258.7 ft. long, speed of 11 knots. Built, at a cost of 3,484,000 Norwegian kroners, for A/S Rudolf, 'Fjell Line?', (Olsen & Ugelstad the managers & possibly the owners also), both of Oslo, Norway. On May 25, 1953, while en route from Antwerp, Belgium, via London, to Chicago, U.S.A., with a general cargo, (have also read Rotterdam, Holland, to Glasgow), the vessel was in collision with Dotterel, (1541 tons, built 1934 as Dundee), 11 miles SWxW of Start Point, Devon, U.K. At 50.09.14/03.50.02. And was lost. It would seem that with extensive bow damage, Ternefjell must have run into Dotterel. I read that the underwriters paid 3,200,000 Norwegian kroners in compensation. In 1955, (or maybe 1975 since both dates are mentioned), salvage activities were conducted on the wreck, which lies in 72 metres of water, at 50.06.4369/03.51.2861. Can you add to or correct the above?
65		Poole Channel 1366 tons Hull 228 183014 Aquacrete Donippo	1949	A collier, which became a bulk cement carrier. Per 1 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 71.7 metres long overall, 68.4 metres perpendicular to perpendicular, speed of 9 1/2 knots. Poole Harbour had single berth cabins for all of the crew & probably Poole Channel did also. Built for 'British Electricity Authority' ('Authority'). Which became 'Central Electricity Authority' in 1954 & 'Central Electricity Generating Board' in 1958. It would seem, but do correct me if I have misunderstood, that the vessel was ordered by 'Coastwise Colliers Ltd.' ('Coastwise'), a company formed by 'Wm. France Fenwick and Co. Ltd.' & 'Stephenson Clarke Ltd.' re the chartering of vessels to 'County of London Electric Supply Co. Ltd.' - for the purpose of transporting coal to London power stations. But with the nationalization of the U.K. electricity industry in 1948, Coastwise went into liquidation, Authority took over the contract & took delivery of the vessel. When the generating stations switched from coal to oil, colliers such as Poole Channel became redundant. So in 1959, the vessel was sold, for about �35,000, to 'Associated Portland Cement Manufacturers Ltd.', of London, & renamed Aquacrete, with 'Cory Colliers' or maybe with 'Blue Circle Shipping Co. Ltd.' ('BlueCircle'), also of London, the managers. To be converted (where I wonder) into a bulk cement carrier. In 1959, it was sold to BlueCircle, with no change of name. In 1962, the vessel was sold to "Castelsardo" Societa di Navigazione SpA, of Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy, & renamed Donippo. On Nov. 13, 1975, the vessel arrived at the ship breaking facilities of 'CN del Golfo', at La Spezia, Italy, to be broken up. A most difficult vessel to WWW search for. Can you add to and/or correct the above?
66		Poole Harbour 1366 tons Hull 227 183005 5530003 Colorcrete Roseneath	1949	A collier, which became a bulk cement carrier. Per 1 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 71.7 metres long overall, 68.4 metres perpendicular to perpendicular, speed of 9 1/2 knots. Had single berth cabins for all of the crew. Built for 'British Electricity Authority' ('Authority'). Which became 'Central Electricity Authority' in 1954 & 'Central Electricity Generating Board' in 1958. It would seem, but do correct me if I have misunderstood the 'snippets' of WWW data I have been able to access, that the vessel was ordered by 'Coastwise Colliers Ltd.' ('Coastwise'), a company formed by 'Wm. France Fenwick and Co. Ltd.' & 'Stephenson Clarke Ltd.' re the chartering of vessels to 'County of London Electric Supply Co. Ltd.', for the purpose of transporting coal to the London power stations of Barking & Littlebrook, respectively on N. & S. banks of the River Thames. But with the nationalization of the U.K. electricity industry in 1948, Coastwise went into liquidation, Authority took over the contract & took delivery of the vessel. When the generating stations switched from coal to oil, colliers such as Poole Harbour became redundant. So in 1959, the vessel was sold, for about �35,000, to 'Associated Portland Cement Manufacturers Ltd.', of London, & renamed Colorcrete, with 'Blue Circle Shipping Co. Ltd.' ('BlueCircle'), also of London, the managers. To be converted (where I wonder) into a bulk cement carrier. In 1960, it was sold to BlueCircle, with no change of name. In 1963, the vessel was sold to W. N. Lindsay Ltd., of Leith, Scotland, & renamed Roseneath. On Dec. 16, 1968, the vessel arrived at the ship breaking facilities of 'Arie Rijsdijk, Boss en Zonen BV', at Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht in the Netherlands. Not an easy vessel to WWW search. Can you add to and/or correct the above?
67		Poole Sound 1366 tons Hull 229 183075 5385634 Walcrete Tsimentavros Stavros	1949	A collier, which became a bulk cement carrier. Per 1 (image, Poole Sound, but you must now be registered to see it), 2 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 71.7 metres long overall, 68.4 metres perpendicular to perpendicular, speed of 9 1/2 knots. Built for 'British Electricity Authority'. Which became 'Central Electricity Authority' in 1954 & 'Central Electricity Generating Board' in 1958. Converted along the way to oil burning itself (at Sunderland it would seem). When the generating stations switched from coal to oil, colliers such as Poole Sound became redundant. So in 1959 the vessel was sold, for about �35,000, to 'Associated Portland Cement Manufacturers Ltd.', of London, & renamed Walcrete, with 'Blue Circle Shipping Co. Ltd.' ('BlueCircle'), also of London, the managers. To be converted (where I wonder) into a bulk cement carrier. In 1960, it was sold to BlueCircle, with no change of name. In 1966, the vessel was sold to 'General Cement Co. S.A.', of Piraeus, Greece, & renamed Tsimentavros. In 1972, the vessel was sold to 'Heraclis Shipping Co. S.A.', also of Piraeus, with no change of name. In 1974, the vessel was sold to 'Korali NE Ltd.', of Piraeus, & renamed Stavros. In 1975, the vessel was sold to Nemo Ltd., also of Piraeus, with no change of name. In 1978, the vessel was broken up in Greece. Not an easy vessel to WWW search - the references are very few indeed. Can you add to and/or correct the above?
68		Portsmouth 953/1805 (N/G) tons (or 1796) tons Hull 232 183239 5283061 Sanadreas Ouraniotoxo	1950	A cargo ship, a collier, which was launched on Feb. 17, 1950 & completed on May 18, 1950. Per 1 (image, Portsmouth), 2 & 3 (images, Ouraniotoxo), 4 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 268 ft. 8 in. (81.89 metres) long overall, 71.79 metres perpendicular to perpendicular, speed of 10 or 10 1/2 knots, signal letters GFNQ later SYUT, powered by a Clark Sulzer eight-cylinder, two-stroke 8TD36 diesel engine of 1,125 BHP at 300 rpm., the first vessel to be so powered. Such engines were by George Clark (1938) Ltd., of Sunderland. Launched, by Mrs W. K. Tate, wife of the General Manager of the Eastern Division of Southern Gas Board. Designed to carry about 2,500 tons of coal to the former 'Portsmouth & Gosport Gas Company', of Portsmouth, Hampshire. Each & every member of the crew had their own cabin, I read. Built for Stephenson Clarke Ltd., of London, however, in 1968, 'Stephenson Clarke Shipping Ltd.' became the registered owner. In 1971, the vessel was sold to 'Lygia Shipping Co. Ltd.', of Famagusta, Cyprus, & renamed Sanadreas. In 1975, the vessel was sold again, to 'Yellow Pilot Navigation Co. Ltd.', also of Famagusta, 'Zed Marine Enterprises Ltd.' the managers, with no change of vessel name. In 1975, the vessel was sold to 'Hereon Navigation Co.', of Limassol, Cyprus, & renamed Ouraniotoxo. Can anybody explain the origin of that name? About a year later, in 1976, the vessel was sold to 'Nebraska Shipping Enterprises Corp.', of Piraeus, Greece, with no change of vessel name. I read that, some 3 years later, the vessel was in Bute Dry Dock, Cardiff, for over a year, being repaired. She apparently capsized in drydock &, likely due to the resultant damage, on Oct. 27, 1980, the vessel arrived at the Cardiff ship breaking facilities of Bristol Channel Ship Repairers Ltd., to be broken up. Was there a lawsuit as a result of the vessel capsizing? Vincent Scerri, has kindly added extensive detail as to what actually happened to the vessel in both Barry & Cardiff, as follows. Ouraniotoxo arrived at Barry Dry Dock (part of Bristol Channel Ship Repairers Ltd. ('BristolShip') in South Wales for emergency repairs to a leaking stern tube seal. The propeller was removed & the tail shaft was drawn. Class & DOT attended & whilst inspecting the hull bottom found that shell plate thickness was well below minimum requirements. They insisted on extensive bottom plating renewals. Barry Dry Dock were unable to take on these repairs as the facility was already committed. It was decided to blank off the stern tube & weld doubling plates over holes cut in shell bottom plating & to tow Ouraniotoxo to Bute Dry Dock in Cardiff, also part of BristolShip, about 10 miles away. This was done successfully. It became evident very quickly that the owners of Ouraniotoxo did not have the funds to pay for the dry docking at Barry & Cardiff nor for any repairs that would be needed. A stalemate ensued & the ship lay in Bute Dry Dock for approx. 2 1/2 years racking up dock dues etc. Eventually the vessel became the property of BristolShip & funds from her scrapping were used to offset the incurred costs. The vessel was cut up in the dry dock over a long period of time (the yard specialised in repairing rather than scrapping ships) & eventually was completely broken up. Vincent, who worked at dry docks at Cardiff, Barry, Newport & Swansea for over 28 years, including many years at BristolShip, states that Ouraniotoxo did not capsize in dry dock, nor, to his knowledge did any other vessel ever so capsize. Perhaps the vessel capsized elsewhere? Can you tell us. Or otherwise add to and/or correct the above? No.1858
69		Tanea 3060 tons Hull 231 179927 5352082	1950	A tanker. Per 1 (extensive detailed data, images, Tanea), 2 (data & 2 images, Tanea), 3 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 101.1 metres long overall, 331 ft. 10 in., 96.4 metres long perpendicular to perpendicular, speed of 10.75 or 11 knots, signal letters GNGU or ZMDA. Built, at a cost of �297,024, for the coastal trading requirements of 'Shell Company of New Zealand Ltd.', of Wellington, New Zealand ('NZ'). Launched by Mrs W. J. Jordan, wife of the New Zealand High Commissioner. Tanea? A genus of sea snail, in the family Naticidae. Per Miramar the vessel became owned, in 1960, by 'Shell Oil New Zealand Ltd.', also of Wellington. Felipes, also built in 1950 by Crown, was almost her identical sister. The vessel left Sunderland on Jul. 27, 1950 for Wellington (arrived there Oct. 22, 1950) via Suez & Singapore. The vessel was engaged for many years in the carriage of refined petroleum products around the coasts of NZ. But apparently only visited Auckland once, on Feb. 28, 1953, when said to have been owned by 'Shell International Shipping & Trading Co. Ltd.' Late in the day on Aug. 11, 1957, the vessel was stranded in the Wanganui River whilst sailing in ballast from Castlecliff Wharf, Wanganui, North Island. She was aground for only an hour & was re-floated after discharging 1,000 tons of water ballast. On Apl. 18, 1962, the vessel shuddered & stopped at sea when she was at the epicentre of an earthquake when 100 miles off Wellington. In 1964, with the opening of New Zealand Refining Company Limited's Marsden Point refinery at Whangarei, the vessel became too small for further service in NZ. After being briefly dry-docked at Wellington, she sailed from Wellington & from NZ on Apl. 02, 1964 for future service in the Singapore area. The vessel was, in 1964, transferred to 'Shell Tankers (U.K.) Ltd.', of London. 1 sets out in detail her subsequent service which included service in South Vietnamese waters, to the NW Australian ports of Port Hedland & Broome, & service as a 'lightening' tanker off South Vietnam. For more than a year she traded exclusively between Pulau Bukom, Singapore, & Woodlands, on Singapore Island. In the summer of 1967, the vessel was partially rebuilt at Jurong, Singapore ('Between July and September 1967 she underwent extensive steel renewals at Jurong drydock, Singapore'). In 1971, the vessel knocked down number seven jetty, in Pulau Bukom, Singapore. It took two weeks to repair the ship & probably much longer to fix the jetty! The vessel was laid up, in the Western Anchorage, at Singapore, on Jan. 20, 1972, & a few days later, on Jan. 31 or Feb. 2, 1972, the vessel arrived at the Jurong, Singapore, ship breaking facilities of 'National Iron & Steel Works', to be broken up, having been sold for about $30 per ton light displacement. Can you add to and/or correct the above?
70		Rondefjell 15067 (later 19006) tons Hull 233 5299369 Nestor Capirona	1951	A tanker, later converted into a bulk carrier, with a most interesting history! Per 1 (Norwegian page, extensive data, Rondefjell), 2 (Aft section launch image, Rondefjell), 3 (image), 4 (lengthened in 1962), 5 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 183.9 metres long overall, 175.9 metres perpendicular to perpendicular, speed of 13 1/2 knots. Since Crown's slipways were not long enough (the ship was twice as long as their longest slipway), the vessel was constructed in 2 parts which were launched on Apl. 9, 1951 & on Oct. 15, 1951 respectively. Those 2 parts were towed to the Tyne & 'joined' & engines fitted at Middle Docks dry dock at South Shields, the 'joining' being completed in Dec. 1951. The vessel was nicknamed 'Half-Crown', a British coin that the webmaster well remembers but is now surely long extinct. The first major tanker to be built in this way, I read, but many other ships were later so constructed. I have read that the vessel was 5 times bigger than any vessel previously constructed at 'Crown'. Built for 'A/S Falkefjell', of Oslo, Norway, at a cost of NOK 20,356,000, Olsen & Ugelstad the managers. Her maiden voyage was to Cape Town, South Africa. While I have read limited detail, in Jul. 1960, the vessel was in collision with Pekin, a Russian tanker, off Bizeta, Tunisia. Rondefjell 'sustained severe damage to her No. 8 wing tank and sun deck and her engine-room was flooded'. She requested tug assistance & was towed into Bizerta. Pekin was held responsible, I read. While repairs were being effected, the vessel was converted to burn heavy fuel. In 1962, the vessel ran aground & caught fire - have not read exactly where put possibly in the Scheldt river. Also in 1962, the vessel was converted into a bulk carrier by T. W. Greenwell & Co. Ltd., of Sunderland, with the assistance of Thos. Young & Sons (Shipbreakers) Ltd., also of Sunderland, who cut out the old cargo section - the vessel was lengthened to 202.4 metres overall, (190.7 metres between perpendiculars), (664.2 ft. & 625.8 ft. respectively) & became of 19006 gross tons. In 1968, the vessel was sold, for U.S. $1,400,000, to 'Ultramar Armadora SA', of Piraeus, Greece, & renamed Nestor. In 1972, the vessel was sold to 'Nav. Mar. Fluvial SA', of Callao, Peru, & renamed Capirona. A year later, in 1973, the vessel was sold again, to 'Linea Oceanica Peruana SA', also of Callao, with no change of vessel name. On Dec. 6, 1980, the vessel 'sprang a leak', at 26.50N/168.30W, near Midway Islands, while en route from Callao to Japan. The above words sound modest but the 'leak' must have been a major 'leak' because the vessel was abandoned. On Jan. 6, 1981, the vessel arrived under tow at Honolulu, Hawaii, where it was laid up & probably not repaired. Since on Mar. 24, 1982, the vessel arrived at the Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ship breaking facilities of Shyeh Sheng Huat Steel & Iron Works Co. Ltd., to be broken up. Much of the above came from Google Books data 'snippets'. Can you add to and/or correct the above interesting history?
71		Grindefjell 1604 tons (later 2062 or 1887 or 1888) tons Hull 235 5513631 Lenko	1953	A cargo ship. Per 1 (data & 1960 image), 2 & 3 (images), 4 (data in Norwegain & image), 5 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 78.8 metres long perpendicular to perpendicular, 258 ft. 7 in., speed of 12 knots, signal letters LAOP. Built for A/S Luksefjell, 'Fjell Line', (Olsen & Uglestad, managers) of Oslo, Norway. The vessel was lengthened in 1960 (where I wonder?) for the joint Fjell-Oranje Lines European Great Lakes service, & became 90.6 metres (297 ft. 2 in.) long & 1887/8 gross tons. The vessel was sold in 1966 to Kala Shipping Co. S.A., of Piraeus, Greece, Grecomar Shipping Agency the managers, & renamed Lenko. On Sep. 11, 1968, while en route from Assab (Eritrea, W. coast of Red Sea) to Rotterdam with a cargo of 'bagged seed expellers' (whatever exactly that means. 'Expelling' involves mechanically pressing raw materials, seeds in this case, to extract the oil content), the vessel caught fire at Mocanbique (means Mozambique?) & was lost. Length & tonnage data conflicts to some degree. Can you add to or correct the above?
72		Thistledhu 5645 (or 5644) tons Hull 238 181160 Kildare Thistledhu Merton Rio Doro	1955	A cargo ship. Per 1 (Albyn Line, image Thistledhu), 2 (image Rio Doro), 3 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 137.1 metres (420 ft.) long perpendicular to perpendicular, 449 ft. 11 in. long overall, speed of 13 1/2 (or 14) knots, signal letters MVYX. Built for Albyn Line Ltd. ('Albyn'), of Sunderland, Allan Black & Co., the managers. The word 'dhu' means 'black', I learn. From 1957 to 1960, the vessel was chartered to 'Avenue Shipping Co. Ltd.' & for the duration of the charter the vessel was named Kildare. Visited Auckland, New Zealand twice as Kildare in late 1959. Was renamed Thistledhu in 1960, when the vessel reverted to Albyn. Was then chartered to Nigerian National Line. In 1966, the vessel was sold to 'Somerston Shipping Co. Ltd.', Chapman & Willan the managers, & in 1967 renamed Merton. In 1968 the vessel was sold for the last time, for �350,000, to 'Anesis Shipping Co. S.A.', of Greece, 'Glyptis & Scarvelis' the managers, & renamed Rio Doro. 3 indicates the vessel was clearly named 'Riodoro', i.e. all one word, on its bow in 1969 (see the image full screen). Litigation involving Nigeria refers to Rio Doro. The vessel was sold, it would appear, to Pakistan ship breakers, & was en route (when?) from Fredericia, Denmark, to Karachi, Pakistan, with a cargo of phosphates. On Nov. 5, 1977, the vessel was stranded - at 55.52.48N/10.49.30E which is off the E. coast of mainland Denmark. On Jan. 16, 1978, the vessel arrived at the Bilbao, Spain, facilities of 'Revalorization de Materiales S.A.', to be broken up. Much of my data is from incomplete 'snippets' of information. The later data may all be related. Is it so? If so, the vessel, likely damaged in the grounding, made its own way or was towed to Spain? WWW data is limited. Can you help with more data?

The 'Crown' yard was acquired by Joseph L. Thompson & Sons Ltd. in 1946. But the yard was for about 10 years thereafter run as an independent shipyard. Only in 1956 were vessels constructed at the yard considered to be 'Joseph L. Thompson' vessels. So .... vessels built thru 1956 are listed above as 'Crown' vessels. While vessels built in 1956 & later, vessels that are considered to be 'Joseph L. Thompson' vessels, are listed as 'Thompson' ships here. 239 vessels built before that change. And 10 after it.

T. & N. DAVIE

OF HYLTON

This modest shipbulder would seem to have built just 12 ships during the period from 1838 thru 1841. Can you tell us anything about him?

1		James and Elizabeth 251/249 later 211/222 tons 2054	1838	A snow or brig, which was launched in Feb. 1838, & is 'intermittently' listed in Lloyd's Registers ('LR') from 1839/40 thru 1875/76. Intermittently? LR did not record the vessel in 1847/48, in 1849/50, in 1852/53 thru 1855/56, nor from 1865/66 thru 1873/74. The vessel's initial owner, thru 1851/52 at least, was 'Harrison' of Sunderland, for, it would seem, consistent service from Sunderland to i) London thru 1842/43, ii) Riga, Latvia, from 1843/44 thru 1845/46, iii) Quebec, Canada, in 1848/49. With 'Robinson' her captain thru 1843/44, T. Collin from 1843/44 thru 1846/47 & 'Harrison' likely from 1848/49 thru 1851/52 at least. The North of England Maritime Directory tells us that in Apl. 1848, A. Harrison, of Sunderland, was the vessel's owner (but lists the vessel at 31 tons only). Certainly from 1854, & maybe prior to that date, Leonard Eden, of Shields, owned *James and Elizabeth. For service from Shields to the Baltic in 1856/57 & 1857/58 & to Hamburg, Germany, in 1858/59. With, per LR, 'W'therhead' serving as her captain from 1856/57 thru 1864/65. The 'Eden' ownership is confirmed by the North of England Maritime Directory of 1854 (Leonard Eden with W. Shaw her captain). Also by Turnbull's Shipping Register of 1855 (H. Rendall her then captain) & by the equivalent register of 1856, & also by Christie's Shipping Register of 1858. It is fortunate that other sources tell us as to her later ownership. The Mercantile Navy Lists ('MNL') of 1865 thru 1872 all record Lambton Coxon, of Gateshead, as the vessel's then owner. While MNLs of 1874 thru 1876 all record George Hindmarch, of Blyth, to be her then owner. Turnbull's Shipping Register of 1874 confirms G. Hindmarch's ownership - it states that he then owned all 64 shares in the vessel. 83.5 ft. long, later 87.4 ft., signal letters unknown to webmaster. Some crew lists are available here. I learn that on Nov. 21, 1875, the vessel stranded on Burrows Sands, located (I think), off the Essex coast near the Gunfleet Sands. As per this page (ex here). The vessel was at the time en route from West Hartlepool to London with a cargo of coal, G. Kell in command, & with a crew of 7. Wikipedia tells us (thanks!) that her crew were rescued by Young Pheasant*, a fishing smack, & note that she had a crew of 8 at the time. As per the 'Ipswich Journal' of Nov. 23, 1875 in an article re gales & floods. It would seem that the abandoned vessel must have floated off. Wikipedia also tells us that on Nov. 23, 1875 the vessel ran aground on East Broome Head Sands (where are they?). The webmaster has not, so far at least, found detail as to the stranding circumstances. Can you add anything additional? If you can, do consider being in touch with the webmaster. #2411
2		Martindale 232/233 later 212 tons 5217	1838	A snow or brig. *Martindale, which was launched in Oct. 1838, is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1839/40 thru 1851/52 & not thereafter. Was initially registered at Stockton. Its initial owner, thru 1846/47, was Hartlepool & Durham Com. Sh. Co., of Stockton, for service from Sunderland to London. With M. Galley, per LR, always serving as the vessel's captain. In 1846/47, per LR, the vessel became Hartlepool registered, owned by Durham & Com. Sh. Co., of Hartlepool, with S. Hobson serving as her captain. For service initially as a Hartlepool coaster & then, from 1848/49, for service from Hartlepool to Hamburg, Germany. Some 'best-efforts' Martindale* operational history, all with Samuel Hobson in command. The vessel left Hamburg on Jun. 8, 1846, for Archangel, Russia, arriving there on Jul. 18, 1846. It later arrived back at London, at the end of Sep. 1846. On May 8, 1847, the vessel arrived at Hamburg ex Hartlepool & went on to Archangel, arriving there on Jun. 22, 1847. It was later entered in, at London, on Aug. 31, 1847. On Nov. 23, 1847, the vessel, en route from Hartlepool to London, put back into Hartlepool, 'with considerable damage', having been 'in contact with' a light vessel off Redcar. These contemporary 'Lloyd's List' reports relate to the matter. Signal letters JGRS. Some crew lists are available via here. Turnbull's Shipping Register of 1856, in 1855 data, records the Hartlepool registered vessel as now owned by J. S. Bulmer & Co., with J. Smith her then captain. While Christie's Shipping Register of 1858 names as her then owners J. S. Bulmer, Peter Watt, J. Smith & Thomas Carter. The Mercantile Navy List comes to our rescue in the absence of later LR data. It lists *Martindale* as Hartlepool registered from 1857 thru 1871 (1870), of 212 tons, with, from 1865, Peter Watt of Hartlepool as her (presumably managing) owner. Signal letters JGRS, some crew lists are available via here. What finally happened to *Martindale? On Jan. 29, 1871, per line 1204 here, the 212 ton snow foundered near Cuxhaven (mouth of river Elbe, Germany), while en route from Hartlepool to Pagensand (river Elbe, W. of Hamburg, Germany), with a cargo of coal. Crew of 7 - none lost. Stated to have then been owned by Peter Watt. This newspaper report states that the vessel was struck, near Cuxhaven, by floating ice, 'and holed so severely that she soon sank*'. The crew were all saved & the vessel was insured. 'Smith' was the vessel's captain at the time of her loss. Anything you can add? Or correct? #2588

3		Achilles 263/271	1840	The snow, which was launched in Jan. 1840, is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1839/40 thru 1852/53 only. *Achilles* was, per LR, owned thru such entire period by 'Weatherly' & registered at Newcastle. With T. Scott her captain thru part way thru 1844/45, J. Farmer until part way thru 1848/49, & thereafter E. Ditcham. For initial service from Sunderland to London, ex London from 1844/45 thru 1847/48 & from London to the Black Sea from 1848/49 thru 1852/53. A case of poisoning aboard the vessel in 1847 it would seem. The North of England Maritime Directory of 1848/9, lists, in Jul. 1848, R. Weatherley of Howdon, Wallsend, County Durham, as the owner of the 275 ton, Newcastle registered snow. The 1851/52 edition of LR lists 'Weatherly' as her owner but has some handwritten additions. Which state that G. Flintoff of Whitby, Yorkshire, has become the owner of *Achilles* for service ex Whitby, with G. Turnbull the vessel's new captain. But, LR of 1852/53 still records both 'Weatherley' & 'Ditcham'. This Whitby shipping history page tells us that the vessel was first registered at Whitby in 1850, owned by 'Flintoft & Lister'. But that in 1852, S. Flintoft was the vessel's sole owner, owning all 64 of the vessel's shares. Such record notes also that the vessel was lost on the coast of Maine, U.S.A., on Jul. 14, 1852, a date a few days different from the data which next follows. As per line 1675 (here), in a U.K. Government wreck listing, it is recorded that on Jul. 17, 1852 the 263 ton snow was lost at Machias, while en route from Shields to Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, with a cargo of coal. Crew of 10 - none lost. Then stated to be owned by Samuel Flintoft. Machias would seem to be located on the SE coast of Maine, U.S.A. - another British vessel, *Argo*, (not built in Sunderland) is noted to have also been lost there that same day. As per this report. Wikipedia reports yet another loss date - Jul. 21, 1852. Can you tell us anything additional? #2425
4		Aid 264/285 24684	1840	*Aid, a snow or brig, was completed in Aug. 1840, & is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1840/41 thru 1856/57. LR of 1840/41 indicates that Aid's first owner was 'Dobbing' of Sunderland, followed by 'Thompson', G. Thompson it would appear, of South Shields, later (from 1850/51) of Newcastle. The North of England Maritime Directory of 1848/9, in Jul. 1848 data, has, however, the vessel then registered at Newcastle & owned by G. Thompson of Newcastle. Thompson remained the vessel's owner, per LR, thru 1853/54, with 'Tillman' serving as the vessel's captain thru 1845/46, 'Sanderson' from 1845/46 thru 1852/53 & C. Searle in 1853/54. The brief service under 'Dobbing' ownership was, per LR, from Shields to North America, which became from Shields to France thereafter thru 1844/45, from Leith, Scotland to 'Mirmci' (presumably Miramichi, New Brunswick, Canada) in 1845/46, & from Shields to the Mediterranean, thereafter. In 1854/55, per LR, Aid* became owned by W. Cliff, of Liverpool, for service from Liverpool to the West Indies with A. Collie serving as the vessel's captain. Marwood's North of England Maritime Directory of 1854/5, in Mar. 1854 data, lists the Liverpool registered vessel as owned by William Cliff of Liverpool, with John Cook her then captain. It seems likely that 'Cliff' in fact had acquired the vessel in Apl. 1853 since the vessel was first registered at Liverpool on Apl. 13, 1853 (scroll to #24684). Wikipedia tells us (thanks!) that *Aid* was abandoned in the North Atlantic on Sep. 4, 1856, while en route from Black River, Jamaica, to Liverpool. I learn that the vessel, 'Gallie' in command, carrying a cargo of sugar, rum & logwood, encountered a gale on Sep. 2/3, 1856, when at 58N.40W or 59N.33W, both in the northern North Atlantic. The vessel became leaky - with 9 feet of water in her holds - & the crew abandoned the vessel on Sep. 4, 1856, presumably in ship's boats. *Florence, a British brig, picked them up but being en route to Demerera (Guyana, N. coast of South America), transferred them to Galante* or *Gallanto, which vessel was en route from Oporto, Portugal to New York (arr. Sep. 22, 1856). Galante* or *Gallanto* was a Portuguese brig, with 'da Cruz' in command. All as per these (1 & 2) contemporary new reports. No crew lists are available for the vessel. Can anybody add to or correct the above text? #2671

DAVISON JOHN

The webmaster has no knowledge of this Monkwearmouth shipbuilder who would seem to have built about 34 ships at Sunderland during the period from 1854 thru 1869. It may be that this 'Davison' is the same 'Davison' as was later part of 'Davison & Stokoe', dealt with next.

Caduceus
395/411 later 405/418 tons

12598

1857

It would seem that the vessel, a barque, was intended to be named Wandering Jew, but was completed as Caduceus - a staff in Greek mythology, a symbol of commerce & negotiation. The vessel, which was launched on Feb. 17, 1857, is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1857/58 thru 1882/83.
Its initial owner, per LR thru 1864/65, was E. (Edmund) H. Hogg of North Shields. For service ex Sunderland in 1857/58, from Sunderland to Aden in 1858/59, ex Leith (Edinburgh), Scotland from 1859/60 thru 1861/62 & from Sunderland to the Mediterranean in 1862/63 & 1863/64. With J. (John) Lucas, per LR, her captain in 1858/59 & surely from the beginning, E. Hogg from 1859/60 thru 1862/63, & 'Pearce' (J. Pearce from 1864/65) her captain all the way thru to 1873/74.
From 1864/65 per LR, thru 1869/70, the vessel was owned by 'Fawcett' of North Shields, for service from Gloucester to the Mediterranean in 1864/65 & 1865/66 & ex Sunderland thereafter thru 1869/70.
The Mercantile Navy List ('MNL') records Caduceus as Shields registered from 1858 thru 1864, & registered at North Shields thereafter. From 1865 thru 1868, MNL records Mary Fawcett, of North Shields, as the vessel's (likely managing) owner.
From 1869/70 thru 1873/74, per LR, the vessel was owned by Hogg & Co. of North Shields. MNLs of 1869 thru 1870 list Mrs Ann Hogg (widow of Edmund H. Hogg), as her owner.
MNLs of 1871 & 1872 record Joseph Robinson, junr. of North Shields as the vessel's owner - a name not LR recorded.
From 1873/74, thru 1875/76 per LR, T. Knox & Co., of North Shields was the vessel's owner, data essentially confirmed by MNL which records Thos. Knox as the vessel's owner from 1873 thru 1875. With J. Skelly her captain.
It would seem that James Bolt, of North Shields, was the vessel's final owner. LR records J. Bolt as the vessel's owner from 1875/76 thru 1882/83. While MNL lists James Bolt as the vessel's owner from 1876 thru 1882. R. Dell, per LR, served as the vessel's captain from 1875/76 or 1876/77 thru 1878/79 & then 'Irvine'.
Greater details about the vessel's shareholders & their dates of share acquisition are here, thanks to 'Ships Nostalgia' & a Nov. 26, 2007 posting by 'maritiem'. We thank them both.
The webmaster has not researched the operational history of Caduceus - a project for another day. He notes, however, that the vessel made a voyage to Aden in Apl. 1857 with 'Lucas' in command. And that in Jan. 1858 the vessel was at Kooria Mooria, an island group off the coast of Oman. Such islands, today known as the Khuriya Muriya Islands were noted for their abundant guano, surely the vessel's cargo on its return voyage to the U.K. On Oct. 13, 1859, the vessel, 'Hogg' in command was at the Scilly islands returning from Taganrog (Rostov Oblast, Russia, Sea of Azov, Black Sea).
122.0 ft. long, later 124.1 ft. (per LR of 1875/76), signal letters LCMT, many crew lists are available via this page.
What finally happened to Caduceus? I note that LR of 1882/83 notes that the vessel had been 'Lost'.
I learn that on Nov. 06, 1881, the vessel left Shields for Salerno (SE of Naples), Italy, with a cargo of 658 tons of coal, under the command of Captain W. A. Searle & with a crew of 10 all told. The vessel clearly encountered very bad weather - it was over two weeks later when the vessel was near Portsmouth, Hampshire, after suffering major damage to the vessel en route. The crew manned the pumps continously, the masts had to be cut away, distress signals were hoisted, while the gale continued. Finally, at 5.30 a.m. on Nov. 28, 1881, Caduceus struck the Chichester Bank or Folds, south of Hayling Island, Eastern Solent, Hampshire. The Bembridge (E. tip of the Isle of Wight) lifeboat came out to the vessel, found her full of water with seas continually breaking over her & her crew clustered on the poop deck round the stump of the mizenmast. The lifeboat safely landed the entire crew on shore. Not sure where. On Dec. 03, 1881, the hull of the vessel was auctioned off, selling for �15. Parts of the cargo & the vessel's sails, running gear, lamps etc. were also sold at auction that day & on Dec. 12, 1881. Per:- This U.K. Government 1881 wreck listing. And these contemporary newspaper reports - 1, 2 & 3.
Now this link takes you to the website of the Hampshire & Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology, specifically to a page which covers the loss of Caduceus in considerable detail. It would seem that the wreck has long since been located, but I am not clear as to who identified the wreck as being that of Caduceus, what they found which lead to that conclusion, nor when. I note, in that regard, that an eroded ship's bell was found, but that no ship name was legible upon it, rather an incomplete date. Can anybody clarify these matters? The webmaster thinks it interesting to note that parts of the timbers from the wreck were used to build a house on Hayling Island.
Two final comments. a) A Sunderland shipping website, which website request no links nor recognition, makes available a painting of Caduceus (at left) provided by the family of John Murrell. The webmaster has not been able to contact the Murrell family, & hopes that the inclusion of the image here will meet with their approval. b) a number of websites state that the vessel broke in two - amidships - as was reported by some contemporary newspaper reports. It is curious that Captain Searle, in his report available above, seems not to refer to the matter. The webmaster has an open mind as to whether that truly happened. The vessel clearly did break up after it had grounded on Chichester Bank or Folds.
Can you tell us more? #2815

British Standard
307 later 321/329 tons

28043

1860

British Standard, a barque, was, I read, launched on Feb. 06, 1860, but maybe better on Feb. 15, 1860 - both puzzles perhaps because it would seem to have been first registered at Sunderland only on Jul. 24, 1860 (scroll to #28043).
The vessel is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1860/61 thru 1874/75 only. It was owned, per LR, thru 1873/74, by Anderson & Co. of Sunderland. With, per LR, R. Curry the vessel's captain thru 1864/65, E. Cossom from 1864/65 thru 1869/70, W. Boys from 1869/70 thru 1872/73 & J. Stains (correctly James Staines) in 1872/73 & 1873/74 indeed thru to 1874/75.
The 'Anderson' ownership is confirmed by the Mercantile Navy List ('MNL') which records British Standard as registered at Sunderland from 1861 thru 1875, & owned from 1865 thru 1872 (1870) by Thomas Anderson of Sunderland.
The vessel's service, per LR, when 'Anderson' owned? From Sunderland to France in 1860/61, ex Sunderland in 1861/62 & in 1872/73, from Belfast, Ireland, to the Mediterranean in 1862/63 & 1863/64, from Falmouth to the Mediterranean from 1864/65 thru 18698/69, & from Sunderland to the Mediterranean from 1869/70 thru 1871/72.
A few 'best-efforts' operational matters that came to the webmaster's attention. a) On Oct. 17, 1863 the vessel ('Curry') arrived at Waterford, Ireland, in the tow of Sir George Grey (a steam tug built at Shields in 1856), stated to be of Limerick, Ireland. British Standard had arrived from Kustendje (between Varna & the mouth of the Danube river, Black Sea) with a cargo of maize. But on arrival was one of many vessels windbound outside Waterford. b) On Dec. 26, 1864 the vessel left Sunderland 'Cossom' in command, (Edward Cossom I learn), for Alexandria, Egypt, presumably with a cargo of coal. In a report from Lowestoft, Suffolk, on Dec. 28, 1864, it was reported that British Standard had put into Lowestoft on Dec. 27, 1864, in a much damaged condition. The vessel had been in collision, off Lowestoft, with (it was thought) Emilie, a Prussian barque. On Jan. 20, 1865, by then repaired, the vessel resumed its voyage to Alexandria. Per these contemporary news reports - 1 & 2. c) On Jun. 04, 1871, British Standard, 'Boys' in command, arrived at Palermo, Italy, ex Sunderland likely with a cargo of coal. On Jun. 23, 1871 it left Palermo for Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey), arriving there on Jul. 11, 1871. In a report from Berdianski (Berdyansk, Sea of Azov, SE Ukraine) on Aug. 03, 1871, it was reported that the vessel had stranded at Bielaserai (cannot locate - date of stranding surely in Jul. 1871). It soon floated off, went to Berdianski & then on to Taganrog (Rostov Oblast, Russia, Sea of Azov, Black Sea), where it arrived on Jul. 31, 1871, likely to load a cargo of grain.
The webmaster suspects that the vessel was sold in 1873. 'Stephenson' was her captain for a while.
In 1873/74, per LR, Curry & Co., of Sunderland, became the vessel's owner, managing owner surely. Per MNLs of 1874 & 1875, (MNL of 1873 is not available) Ralph Curry, of Sunderland. The vessel's previous captain, maybe? For service, per LR, from Sunderland to the Mediterranean in 1873/74 at least.
108.5 ft. long, signal letters PTSK, many crew lists are available via this page.
What finally happened to British Standard? On Oct. 16, 1874, the vessel left Montreal, Canada, bound for London with a cargo of peas & flour. Under the command of James Staines, with a crew of ten all told & a single passenger, the captain's wife. I note that the vessel was then owned by Ralph Curry, James Duncan & James Staines, all of Sunderland. Turnbull's Shipping Register of 1874 lists their respective shareholdings as being 40, 16 & 8. All went well thru Oct. 24, 1874 when they were off St. Paul's island (a small uninhabited island located 15 miles NE of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada). The weather became hazy with limited visibilty. On Oct. 26, 1874, breakers were spotted ahead of the vessel & while efforts were made to turn the vessel around it struck (backwards) some rocks near Brood cove, St. Mary's Bay, Newfoundland, close to St. Shott's Bay. The crew were unable to stop a schooner from plundering the wreck! The crew stood by the wreck for 4 days & then were taken to St. Shott's by boat. Just a few barrels of flour were saved. On Dec. 23 & 24, 1874, an Official Inquiry was held, at Sunderland, into the loss of British Standard. The Court concluded that Captain Staines, who had been ill at the time of the stranding, was in default due to lack of due care & suspended his licence for a 6 month period. Additional details re the Inquiry were published by the Sunderland Daily Echo on Dec. 22 & 23, 1874. Some contemporary new reports - 3 & 4.
Can you add to or correct the above? #2867

3		Cabinet 316 tons 29111	1861	*Cabinet, a barque, was launched on Jan. 10, 1861, & first registered, at Newcastle, on Feb. 4, 1861 (scroll to #29111). It is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1861/62 thru 1871/72, owned thru that entire period, per LR, by Clark & Co. of Newcastle. With, again per LR, D. Foran serving as the vessel's captain thru 1865/66 & H. Riddle thereafter. Initially for service from Sunderland to the Mediterranean, but from 1862/63 for service from Shields to the Mediterranean. The Mercantile Navy Lists ('MNL') of 1865 & 1866 both list Clark & Dunn, of Newcastle as the vessel's then owner. While MNLs of 1867 thru 1871 at least (MNL of 1870) list John Clarke (with an 'e') of Newcastle as her owner. 113.0 ft. long, signal letters QDHR, crew lists thru 1872 are available via here. What finally happened to Cabinet? On Jan. 10, 1872, per line 2234 here, the 316 ton barque was stranded at Manacles Rock, Falmouth, Cornwall, while en route from Odessa (Ukraine, Black Sea) to Falmouth with a cargo of wheat. Crew of 11 - none lost. Then owned by John Clarke. This newspaper article re the Official Inquiry into the vessel's loss, clarifies matters & indicates that her then owners were, in fact, John Clarke of Newcastle & James Jobling of Shields. Cabinet* had loaded her cargo of wheat at Odessa, proceeded to Falmouth & was then instructed to proceed to Newry, Northern Ireland. She left Falmouth on Dec. 31, 1871, hit bad weather & had to put into Plymouth where she remained for about 8 days. On the morning of Jan. 10, 1872, she left Plymouth for Newry, but shortly struck on Meanland Rock, near the Manacles, soon after 10 p.m. that day. She got off with the rising tide at about 1 a.m. on Jan. 11, 1872, but very soon thereafter struck again & filled with water. The crew had to abandon ship, making it to shore with the help of Mary Ann Storey, the Porthoustock, Cornwall, lifeboat, which found many of the vessel's crew (stated to be 11) after a long search in darkness & heavy seas. Another 6 crew members are said to have made it safely to shore on their own - which data may prove to be inaccurate unless the crew was, indeed, of 17 in total. The court held that William Henry Byas, her captain, was responsible for the vessel's loss & suspended his certificate for a six month period. The above linked article does not state the Court's reasons for that conclusion. Additional contemporary newspaper articles (1 & 2). Can you add anything? #2144
4		Brinkburn 540 tons 54835	1866	*Brinkburn, a barque which was launched on Mar. 01, 1866, is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1865/66 thru 1871/72 only. It was initially owned, per LR, by Colling & Co. of Sunderland for service from Sunderland to India. In 1866/67, Loram & Co., also of Sunderland, later of London, per LR became Brinkburn's owner for service ex London & from London to the Mediterranean. The Mercantile Navy List, however, consistently lists the vessel, from 1867 thru 1871 (1870), as always owned by D. G. Pinkney, of Sunderland. Could it be that 'Colling', 'Loram' & 'Pinkney' were business partners & jointly owned the vessel? LRs throughout the entire period consistently record 'Runciman' as being the vessel's captain. 143.0 ft. long, signal letters HQVL, crew lists are available via this page. What finally happened to Brinkburn? LR of 1871/72 states 'Wrecked'. On Aug. 01, 1871, per line 1439 here, the 540 ton barque stranded at Falmouth, Jamaica, (NW coast of Jamaica, E. of Montego Bay) while en route from Falmouth, Jamaica, to London with a cargo of sugar etc. Crew of 19 - none lost. The vessel was stated to then be owned by David Pinkney. I learn that 'Jenkins' was the vessel's captain at the time of her loss. The vessel had dropped off her pilot after leaving port at 6 a.m. on Aug. 01, 1871, but settled on rocks near Bush Key Point when the wind failed. Later in the day, at 9 p.m., a crash was heard & the vessel, upon examination, proved to have broken her back. Brinkburn* became a total wreck & most of her cargo was lost. A couple of contemporary news reports - 1 & 2. Can you tell us more or correct this listing in any way? #2752

DAVISON & STOKOE

OF SOUTHWICK

I have added this 'short-lived' shipbuilder into these pages having noted three ships that they built in 1874. Those ships were named Imperatritsa Ekaterina II, Warrior & Westella. But in total they built 12 ships, the earliest being launched in Mar. 1872 & the last in Jan. 1875.

It is clear that on Jul. 21, 1873, John Davison & William H. (Henry) Stokoe entered into a 14 year lease arrangement with Joseph Moore & William Henry Moore for a site at Southwick at which to build ships. At a rent of �50 per annum. John Davison apparently died in Jan. 1875. On Sep. 21, 1875, Stokoe filed a liquidation petition. All of this per a report in 'The Weekly Reporter' Vol XXIX, of Jun. 3, 1876, which report you can read here ex here. It would appear that the reversion rights to the property were owned by Ayres Quay Bottle Company.

So Davison & Stokoe were in business for only a short time. About 3 years.

JOHN DENNISTON
DENNISTON & PEARSON

Can you help with the history of this shipbuilder?

It would seem that he had a shipbuilding yard on the south bank of River Wear & east of the road bridge. Further that his site had previously been owned by William Pearson & was taken over by S. P. Austin and Son as it expanded after 1870. Miramar (you now must be registered to access) refers to two Sunderland shipbuilder names i.e. 'Denniston & Pearson' & 'John Denniston'.

Miramar list (highest number on page). It used to be that you could click on the link that follows & 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 & the following link should work for you:- No numbers.

But that is all that I 'know' today.

Crested Wave
295 tons

21880

1858

A barque. The vessel is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1859/60 thru 1869/70 only.
Crested Wave was, per LR, owned thru 1867/68 by Ayre & Co. of Sunderland. For service from Sunderland to the Mediterranean thru 1861/62 & ex Sunderland thereafter. With 'Dobson', per LR, her captain thru 1865/66 & then A. Laker thru 1867/68.
LR of 1867/68 refers to 'Hearn', also of Sunderland, as her new owner, for service ex Waterford, Ireland, to the Mediterranean. With 'Hearn' serving as the vessel's captain thru 1869/70.
The Mercantile Navy Lists ('MNL'), record the vessel as always Sunderland registered. Owned from 1865 thru 1867 by James Ayre of Sunderland. While MNLs of 1868 thru 1870 all record William Hern of Sunderland as her then owner.
106.0 ft. long, signal letters NJDQ, crew lists for the vessel are available via this page.
What finally happened to Crested Wave? LR of 1869/70 notes that the vessel had been 'Wrecked'.
I learn that on Feb. 02, 1870, Crested Wave left Ancona (E. coast of Italy) for Glasgow, Scotland, with a cargo of Indian corn (a variant of maize). Under the command of (and owned by) William Hern (or William Hern, Jun.) The reports as to what later happened are, to the webmaster at least, a little confusing. But ... on Mar. 24, 1870, per line 129 here, the 295 ton barque foundered at Lisbon, Portugal, while en route from Ancona, Italy, to Glasgow. Not, in fact at Lisbon, rather off Lisbon. Crew of 10 - none lost. At 4 p.m. on Mar. 24, 1870, the vessel's crew abandoned the vessel, then with 7 ft. of water in her holds. At a point about 180 miles NW of Lisbon, Portugal. They stayed beside the vessel until 10.30 p.m. that day when the vessel sank. The crew were at sea in a ship's boat for the next 5 (maybe 6) days, without food or water, until they were rescued by Leon Jeanne, a French schooner under the command of Captain Vannorbecke. Such vessel, which was en route from Mogadore (Atlantic coast of Morocco, now Essaouira) for Huelva (Andalusia, SW Spain), landed the crew of Crested Wave at Cadiz, Spain, on Apl. 07, 1870. The cause of the vessel's sinking is clear - the vessel was struck broadside by a heavy sea when at 39.35N/12.43W, roughly due W. of Lisbon, which sea almost instantly put 19 inches of water into the ship's holds. But the date when that happened is unclear. Maybe Mar. 22, 1870? Some contemporary news reports - 1, 2.
Can you tell us anything more? #2783

2	Hebe 331 tons 28333	1860	A barque. Per 1 (Hebe 1868), 2 (loss of Constance, Hebe loss ref. 90% down). 115.0 ft. long, signal letters PWBS. The webmaster has a few editions of Lloyd's Registers available to him, ex Google Books, see left. It would seem that for many years, at least thru 1874/75, 'T. (Thomas) White', maybe of & certainly registered at South Shields, was the owner & likely he was the initial owner. The vessel would seem to have served both the Mediterranean & the Baltic. The next available register after that of 1874/75 is re 1878/79 where the owner is recorded as 'J. Bambrough' also with a reference to South Shields. Which surely, in fact was, James Bambrough ('Bambrough'), in 1880 & in 1884 of Alice Street, Sunderland. The 1883/84 edition of the register indicates 'J. Bambrough' to be the owner but that the vessel had been lost. Re that loss, I read that the vessel, captained by Henry Webberling, foundered in the Bay of Biscay in Apl. 1883. The Court of Inquiry report re the loss of Constance, in which report reference to the loss of Hebe is found, makes interesting reading. It would seem that Bambrough had been a ship owner for 16 years & in those years had had only 5 ships, all of which had foundered. Clearly the Court was uncomfortable with the history & suspected insurance fraud. Webberling & Samuel Kent, his mate, 'may be said to have had considerable experience in the foundering of vessels.' And re Bambrough? 'he has had the misfortune, or, shall we call it, the good fortune to lose all his five vessels in succession one after the other, the three last within the last 3 or 4 years, and all three by foundering.' Is it possible that you can provide more data?
3	Rose 239 tons 43724	1861	A snow or brig. The vessel was launched early in Jul. 1861, as per this newspaper cutting. And first registered, at Sunderland, on Jul. 26, 1861 (scroll to #43724). Owned by W. Kish of Sunderland, for service from Sunderland to the Baltic with W. Morgan always her captain. The vessel is listed in Lloyd's Register ('LR') from 1861/62 thru 1869/70, always owned by Kish & Co. for service from Sunderland to the Baltic. It seems clear, however, that the vessel was lost early in its life. A notice re its loss was received (2nd link) on Oct. 21, 1863. The vessel is last listed in the Mercantile Navy List of 1863. Also, per LR, in 1863/64, W. Kish owned a later vessel named Rose, built by Edward Potts at Seaham in 1864. An 1863 crew list is available here. 98.5 ft. long. #2169
4	Sovereign 289 tons 29729	1861	A barque. The vessel was launched on Dec. 9, 1861 & first registered, at Shields, on Dec. 27, 1861 (scroll to #29729). It is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1861/62 thru 1869/70. It was owned, per LR, during such entire period by P. Dale of North Shields, for consistent service from Sunderland to the Mediterranean. With J. Brown serving throughout as the vessel's captain. The Mercantile Navy Lists ('MNL') of 1865 & 1866 rather list John B. Dale, of South Shields, as her then owner. The vessel is not recorded in MNL of 1867. 115.0 ft. long, signal letters QGTV. I cannot yet tell you what finally happened to the vessel, likely at a date in 1866 or 1867. Some crew lists are available here. While Tyne & Wear Archives hold the crew list re the voyage from Feb. 2, 1866 thru Jan. 8, 1867. Can you add anything additional? #2168
5	Primrose 226 (later 215, 224 & 208) tons 47692	1864	A snow rigged sailing vessel, which was in service for 43 or more years. 95.2 ft. long, signal letters VPQJ. The vessel is not Miramar listed. The webmaster has a number of editions of Lloyd's Registers available to him thru 1889/90, ex Google Books, see left. The vessel was built for 'Rackl'y &' of Sunderland, which surely means 'Stephen W. Rackley & Co'. Mercantile Navy List ('MNL') of 1870. In the 1872/73 edition of Lloyd's Register, the sale of the vessel to 'W. M. Ward', likely Wm. M. Ward, of Blyth, is recorded, but strangely the very same data is also recorded in the 1873/74 edition. In the 1876/77 edition, the owner has become 'W. M. Ward & Co.', now of North Shields, & in 1880/81 'M. (Matthew) Boyes' of West Hartlepool. MNL of 1880. By the time of the 1883/84 edition, 'T. H. Franks', i.e. Thomas H. Franks ('Franks) the managing owner, was the recorded owner, of Folkestone. (MNL of 1890 & 1900) The vessel was still a registered sailing vessel in 1907 (Mercantile Navy List), still owned by Franks, but is not so recorded in 1911. I cannot today tell you what happened to the vessel, though I have not found any references to its being wrecked. Do you possibly know? The vessel would seem to have initially served the Mediterranean & then the Baltic. Service to Madeira is referenced in 1873/74. Is it possible that you can provide more data? #1834

DENTON & HEWSON
W. DENTON & CO.

Can you help with the history of these shipbuilders who probably should not be put together?

Modest shipbuilders it would seem. So far as I can see, Denton & Hewson built just two vessels, one in each of 1856 & 1858. There was also a 'W. Denton & Co.' but the two vessels that they built were rather earlier, in 1835 & 1843.

Lebanon
225 tons

17085

1856

A snow, built by Denton & Hewson. The vessel, which was launched on Oct. 14, 1856, is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1857/58 thru 1881/82, owned thru 1873/74, per LR, by 'Egglstn & Co.' of Sunderland. Such name is clarified (or confused) by Christie's Shipping Register of 1858 which lists Lebanon's then owners as being George H. Longridge, William Eggleston, Josh. Lincoln, & J. Humble, all of Sunderland. While the Mercantile Navy Lists ('MNL') of 1865 thru 1868 list G. H. Longridge of Sunderland as her presumably managing owner & MNLs of 1869 & 1870 list William Eggleton (i.e. no 's') also of Sunderland.
Her service when so owned? From Sunderland to i) Hamburg, Germany from 1857/58 thru 1860/61, ii) the Mediterranean from 1861/62 thru 1865/66. And thereafter as a Sunderland coaster. With 'Mason', per LR, her captain thru 1860/61, 'Hutchinson' from 1861/62 thru 1864/65, 'McRae' thru 1866/67 & 'Phillips' from 1866/67 thru 1873/74.
A little operational history. While 'Mason' was the vessel's captain Lebanon served Hamburg a few times but also served Bordeaux (France), Wolgast, (Germany), Danzig (then Prussia, now Germany) & Cronstadt (St. Petersburg, Russia). 'Hutchinson' would seem to have become the vessel's captain in May 1859. After Hutchinson's first voyage to Cronstadt, disaster struck Lebanon early on Aug. 15, 1859. The vessel had loaded at Monkwearmouth Colliery, a cargo of gas coals for delivery to Cronstadt. During the overnight hours hydrogen gas had been generated from those coals, which gas was inadvertently ignited by a seaman. A great explosion resulted causing much damage to the vessel & wounding at least three crew members - hair burnt off, broken limbs, etc. Repairs were effected to the vessel & the shipments of coal to Cronstadt, 'Hutchinson' in command, resumed. As per these (1 & 2) contemporary reports. Research is needed re later periods.
In 1873/74, per LR, Lebanon became owned by J. Morgan of Sunderland for continued service ex Sunderland. I note that Turnbull's Shipping Register of 1874 lists J. Morgan as the vessel's then 100% owner. A puzzle surely is that MNL does not list the vessel after 1870. Per LR, J. Dowell served as the vessel's captain for a portion of 1874/75 & then 'Dickenson' from 1874/75 thru 1879/80.
It would seem that 'Morgan' did not own the vessel for very long. LRs from 1876/77 list no owner name but do note that the vessel had become Swedish owned. And continue to record 'Dickenson' as the vessel's captain. LRs of 1880/81 & 1881/82 do not list a captain's name.
93.0 ft. long, signal letters MFDW, crew lists thru 1874 are available.
Can you tell us more. Or correct any portion of the above text. Or tell us about her Swedish ownership & history. #2426

DIXON E.

Can you help with the history of this shipbuilder?

So far as I can see, this particular 'Dixon', i.e. E. Dixon, built just one vessel in 1842 (below) & one more, a 23 ton lighter, in 1850.

Yar
183/155 tons

1842

A snow or brig, always Lloyd's Register ('LR') recorded as a schooner. Yar, which was launched in Jan. 1842, is LR listed from 1842/43 thru 1847/48 & not thereafter. It was owned, thru such entire period, per LR, by Squires & Co. of Sunderland, for consistent service from Sunderland to the Isle of Wight with, again per LR, 'Findlay' always serving as the vessel's captain. Presumably carrying cargoes of coal.
I learn that the river that enters the North Sea at Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, is not the Yar, rather the Yare. But that there are two rivers on the Isle of Wight named Yar, i.e. the eastern & the western Yar, the western of which enters the Solent at Yarmouth, Isle of Wight. It seems likely that the vessel was originally named in view of its intended service.
The vessel is not recorded in the North of England Maritime Directory of 1848/49, & particularly not in the Sunderland section. But Yar is recorded in the equivalent directory of 1854/55, in 1853 data, noted to then be registered at Whitby, Yorkshire, & owned by Thos. and Robert Mills of Whitby - with Robert Mills her then captain. Such ownership data is essentially confirmed by Turnbull's Shipping Register of 1856 (in 1855 data).
This Whitby shipping history book page tells us that the vessel became Whitby registered in 1850, owned by Thomas & Robt. Mills.
A little 'best efforts' Yar operational history. All with 'Mills' in command. i) On Oct. 31, 1850, the vessel, coal laden, briefly was ashore on the West Bar at Whitby (in red). ii) On Jun. 3, 1853, the vessel arrived at Le Havre, France, ex Seaham. iii) On Sep. 4, 1853, the vessel arrived at Gravesend, London, ex Gothenburg, Sweden. iv) On Aug. 20, 1854 the vessel arrived at Hamburg, Germany, ex Seaham. v) On both Jun. 30 & Jul. 27, 1855, Yar arrived at Shields ex Boulogne, France.
I note that Wikipedia records a vessel of the name being driven on shore at Sunderland on Dec. 23, 1853. Such vessel, per 'Lloyd's List', would seem to have been Yarmouth registered & captained by 'Millar'. It seems likely that it was not 'our' vessel.
What finally happened to Yar? While the webmaster has been unable to locate a contemporary news report or any details, it is stated here that in Dec. 1855, Yar became a total loss on Kessingland Beach, near Lowestoft, Suffolk. A puzzle, perhaps, is that the vessel would not seem to have been issued an Official Number on Jan. 1, 1855.
Can you help add to or correct the above modest vessel history? #2616

DIXON H.

Can you help with the history of this shipbuilder?

There would seem to have been many Sunderland shipbuilders with the family name of Dixon. So far as I can see, this particular 'Dixon', i.e. H. Dixon, built 17 vessels between the years of 1825 & 1844.

1		Ami 204/182 tons 388	1844	A snow or brig. *Ami, which was launched in Jul. 1844, is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1844/45 thru 1852/53, then a 21 year LR silence, & again from 1874/75 thru 1880/81. Per LR it was owned, thru 1850/51, by J. Barry - registered at Sunderland thru 1847/48 & at Whitby thereafter, for service from Sunderland to Rochester, Kent, thru 1847/48 & as a London coaster from 1848/49 thru 1850/51. With A. Dodds, per LR, her captain thru 1848/49, then (again per LR), thru 1852/53 by 'Bedlington' - J. Bedlington per Turnbull's Shipping Register ('TR') of 1855. In 1851/52, per LR, the vessel (of 163 later 182 tons) became owned by 'Bedlington' of Whitby, for service from Stockton to London in 1851/52. This Whitby 1908 shipping history page tells us that Ami* had first become Whitby registered back in 1845 (Feb. 28, 1845 - scroll to #388), owned by Matt. Bedlington, Isaac Storm, & J. Barry of Sunderland. Such 'Bedlington' ownership is well documented. The North of England Maritime Directory of 1854/55, in 1853 data, records Mat., Jac., and Mat. Bedlington jun., and I. Storm, all of Robin Hood's Bay ('RHB'), Yorkshire, as the vessel's then owners. With Chas. Bailey Barton her then captain. TR of 1856, in 1855 data, records M., M. jun., and J. Bedlington and Co., all of RHB, with J. Bedlington now her master. While Christie's Shipping Register of 1858 records Matthew Bedlington, and Son, Isaac Storm & Jacob Bedlington as her then owners. The Mercantile Navy Lists record *Ami* as registered at Whitby from 1857 thru 1881 - with, from 1865 thru 1874 (1870), Jacob Bedlington her managing owner, Matthew Bedlington her managing owner from 1875 thru 1879, & James Knott of Newcastle such owner in 1880 & 1881. The Whitby history page confirms that the vessel became Shields owned in 1879. LR records in 1879/80 that J. Knott had become the vessel's owner. What finally happened to *Ami? LR of 1880/81 notes that the vessel had been 'Wrecked'. On Nov. 14, 1880, on the coast of Holland (Ami). Wikipedia tells us (thanks!) that the brig foundered in the North Sea on Nov. 14, 1880, off Goeree, Zeeland, Netherlands with the loss of all hands. The 'Daily News', of London, stated as follows on Nov. 15, 1880 - 'Ami*, brig, of Whitby, is reported by telegram from Helvoet to have sunk in deep water outside Goree; crew drowned.' Goree or Goeree-Overflakkee, is a South Holland delta island, located SW of Rotterdam. 81.4 ft. long, signal letters HCPT. A great many crew lists are available here. It would good to learn more detail as to the circumstances of the vessel's loss. And the name of her captain, at the time of her loss. Can you tell us more? #2583
2		Exertion 143 later 123 tons 22569	1844	A schooner or brig. The vessel, which was launched in Nov. 1844, is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1845/46 thru 1857/58, for the first 5 of such years, i.e. thru 1849/50, recorded in the 'Liverpool Book'. Am I correct in presuming that that meant that the vessel was then Liverpool registered? It would seem so since I read that it became registered at Newcastle on Mar. 14, 1849. LR of 1845/46 records W. Keiss, of Sunderland, as *Exertion's then owner for service from Sunderland to Honfleur, France. LR of 1846/47 records W. Keiss & T. Lee, of Sunderland, for service from Yarmouth, Norfolk, to 'Bologn'. While LRs from 1847/48 thru 1849/50 record T. Lee of Sunderland for continued service from Yarmouth to 'Bologn'. 'Bologn' looks though it might mean Bologna, Italy, but that is unlikely since that city is not a seaport. I suspect that 'Bologn' meant Boulogne, France. The 'Lee' ownership is confirmed by the North of England Maritime Directory of 1848-9 which states that in Apl. 1848, the vessel was owned by T. & J. K. Lee, of Sunderland. From 1845/46 thru 1849/50 LRs record 'Lewer' as always being the vessel's captain. In 1850/51, per LR, Arnott & Co., of Newcastle, became Exertion's owners, thru 1857/58 at least. For service from Newcastle to the Baltic in 1850/51 & 1851/52, from Shields to the Mediterranean in the next two years, & from Newcastle to Le Havre, France, in 1854/55 & 1855/56. No voyage detail is LR provided after 1855/56. Turnbull's Shipping Registers of both 1855 & 1856 record the vessel as then Newcastle registered with J. B. & J. Morton, junr. & G. Arnott, of Howden, her then owners. With, in the 1855 edition, G. Arnott noted to be the vessel's captain - as is confirmed by LRs of 1850/51 thru 1857/58. LR did not record Exertion* after 1857/58. It is clear, however, that the vessel's ownership changed in or about 1858. Christie's Shipping Register of 1858 states that the vessel was then owned by J. Johnson of St. Peter's (likely means St. Peter's Quay, Newcastle) & E. Topping of Newcastle. While the Mercantile Navy List of 1865 records John Johnson, of St. Peter's Quay, Newcastle, as the vessel's then owner or managing owner. MNLs of 1866 & 1867 both record a new owner - Wm. Elder of Peaton Sluice, Northumberland - means Seaton Sluice, I presume. Signal letters NMBP, Crew lists, thru 1867, are available here. Which brings us to what happened to *Exertion* likely in 1867. Wikipedia tells us (thanks!) that a vessel of the name, sank in the North Sea on an unknown date in Aug. 1867. She was on a voyage from Dordrecht, South Holland, Netherlands, to Findhorn, Moray, (Moray Firth), Scotland. As per, I read, a report in the Times of London on Aug. 5, 1867. Was this 'our' *Exertion? It would seem so. I learn that Exertion, described as being a Newcastle schooner, en route as stated above, sprang a leak & foundered on Jul. 29, 1867 - off Terschelling Island (West Frisian Islands in the North Sea, N. of Harlingen, Netherlands). Exertion's master (unnamed), his wife & their two children, together with the crew, took to a ship's boat. They were picked up by J. D. Carolina, a Norwegian brig & landed at Nieuve Dieppe (Nieuwe Diep, N. end of North Holland Canal, effectively Amsterdam). The captain of J. D. Carolina*, Captain A. Abrahamsen, refused compensation for his assistance but was awarded a telescope for his actions. As per this page (in red) ex here. Can you tell us anything additional? #2422

DIXON R.

Can you help with the history of this shipbuilder?

There would seem to have been many Sunderland shipbuilders with the family name of Dixon. So far as I can see, this particular 'Dixon', i.e. R. Dixon, built 16 vessels between the years of 1819 & 1840.

1		Benton 187 later 168 tons 3738	1828	A brig or snow. *Benton, which was launched in May 1828, is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1829/30 thru 1838/39 & not thereafter. Thru 1832/33 the vessel was, per LR, owned by 'McCree' for service from London to the Baltic, with W. Friend (W. J. Friend in 1829/30) her captain. LRs of 1834 thru 1838/39 provide fragmentary data only - of 187 tons, Sunderland registered & with T. M'Cree her captain. No owner name, rig, year & place of build, proposed voyages etc. Fortunately the vessel is recorded in other places. The North of England Maritime Directory of 1848/9 records Benton, in Apl. 1848, as registered at Sunderland & owned by J. M. Penman of Bishopwearmouth, Sunderland. The equivalent directory of 1854/55, records the now Shields registered vessel as owned, in 1854, by Robert Morrison of South Shields with Thos. Taylor serving as the vessel's captain. Turnbull's Shipping Register ('TR') of 1855 states her then owner to rather be R. Morrison, jun. of South Shields with Thomas Taylor her captain. And records the vessel as a brigantine. TR of 1856 confirms such ownership. Christie's Shipping Register of 1858 records the vessel, still Shields registered, as then owned by Thomas Dixon of South Shields. But, clearly in error, lists the vessel as built in 1816. The Mercantile Navy List ('MNL') records the vessel as registered at Shields from 1857 thru 1862 & at South Shields from 1863. MNLs of 1865 thru 1867, list George Foreman of South Shields as her then owner or managing owner. The vessel is not listed in MNL of 1868. Signal lettsrs HVND, some crew lists are available here. What finally happened to Benton? Wikipedia records that on Jan. 24, 1867, Benton, en route from London to the Tyne, was driven ashore & wrecked at Whitburn (located 3 miles N. of Sunderland), County Durham. Further that her six crew were rescued by the lifeboat Thomas Wilson. This page advises that Benton* was in ballast when she ran aground on rocks off Whitburn, that there was, at such time, dense fog, a southerly gale & heavy seas. Fearing the vessel would soon go to pieces, the crew took to a ship's longboat & pulled out to sea. The lifeboat *Thomas Wilson* found *Benton* both waterlogged & abandoned, then searched for & found the longboat & brought *Benton's crew safely to shore. The vessel's loss was the subject of a later Board of Trade Inquiry, whose findings are summarised here. The Court was of the opinion that navigation lights etc. were readily visible at the time presumably meaning that the fog had not been dense as reported. Further that the loss of Benton* on Whitburn Steel Rocks was due to the default of William Forman, the vessel's master, who had not taken a cast of the lead & had hugged the coast too closely. The captain's licence was suspended for a six month period. Is there anything you can add? Or correct? #2520
2		James Bales 261 later 229 tons 34875	1839	A brig or snow. There would seem to have been some initial confusion as to the name of this vessel, which was listed in Lloyd's Register ('LR') thru 1842/43 as James Bailes (with an 'i'). But thereafter as *James Bales. The vessel, which was completed in Jul. 1839, is LR listed from 1839/40 thru 1867/68. It was initially owned, thru 1842/43, by W. Briggs of Sunderland for service from Sunderland to Odessa (Black Sea, Ukraine), with 'Bayley' serving as the vessel's captain. In 1842/43, M. Robson, also of Sunderland, acquired the vessel for service from Sunderland to Quebec, Canada, thru 1844/45, ex the Clyde thru 1847/48 & ex Sunderland thereafter, & specifically to Hamburg, Germany, in the period from 1848/49 thru 1850/51. With 3 captains it would appear - 'Burnicle' thru 1845/46, 'J. Robson' from 1845/46 thru 1850/51 & then 'Wilson'. The North of England Maritime Directory of 1848/9 lists M. & W. W. Robson, of Monkwearmouth, as the vessel's owners in Apl. 1848. LRs from 1853/54 thru 1867/68 record James Bales* as owned by the Downie family of North Shields, i.e. 'W. D'wnie' thru 1854/55 & J. Downie thereafter, with many men serving as her captain over the years. In time sequence R. Brown, T. Oswell, R. E. Gordon, Armstrong, J. Hall, T. Oswell, T. Beagle & finally W. Benham. The vessel served ex Shields thru 1860/61 to such destinations as Hamburg, France, the Mediterranean, Oporto (Portugal) & Spain. From 1861/62 thru 1863/64. the vessel served the Mediterranean ex Cork, Ireland. From 1864/65 it served ex Shields. The 'Downie' ownership is confirmed by Marwood's North of England Maritime Directory of 1854 as James Downie of North Shields with Robt. Brown her captain. Such ownership data is essentially confirmed by Turnbull's Shipping Register ('TR') of 1856 & by Christie's Shipping Register of 1858, which last register spells the owner's name as James Downey. TR of 1855 reported F. Armstrong as the vessel's then captain. The Mercantile Navy Lists of 1865 thru 1867 list James Downie of North Shields, as her then owner. 88.5 ft. long, signal letters RMGW. Was first recorded by LR at 229 tons in 1857/58. A few crew lists are available here. I read that on Jan. 2, 1857 *James Bales* left Shields for Cartagena, SE Spain. This Lloyd's List report seems that it went soon ashore, near Sunderland, maybe twice. During a storm. The exact meaning of the words is not clear to the webmaster. LR of 1867/68 notes that the vessel had been wrecked. On Jan. 7, 1867, per line 9 here, and as per this page (in blue), the snow, said to be of 299 tons, foundered at Bigbury Bay, Devon, while en route from North Shields to Cartagena, Spain, with a cargo of coke. Crew of 9, all lost. The winds were SSE at force 10. Contemporary reports from Penzance, Cornwall, refer to many vessels lost in the Channel at about the same time. Is there anything you can add? #2493

DIXON T. S.

Can you help with the history of this shipbuilder?

There would seem to have been many Sunderland shipbuilders with the family name of Dixon. So far as I can see, this particular 'Dixon', i.e. T. S. Dixon, built 12 vessels between the years of 1828 & 1842. But ... many of such vessels are noted elsewhere to have been built by T. & W. Dixon.

Houghton-le-Spring
353/405 tons

1837

A barque. Two Sunderland build lists are available to the webmaster. One of them lists T. & W. Dixon as the vessel's builder, the other T. S. Dixon. Houghton-le-Spring, completed in May 1837, is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1837/38 thru 1848/49 & not thereafter. I have read that it was launched on Apl. 22, 1837. It was initially listed, thru 1839/40, as Houghton le Spring (no hyphens) but the hyphens were added in from 1840/41.
The vessel was initially owned, thru 1838/39 per LR, by R. Brown of Sunderland for service from Sunderland to St. Petersburg, Russia. LR notes that R. Brown served as the vessel's captain thru 1838/39.
In 1839/40, per LR, the vessel became owned by Green & Co. of London. With 'Cousins' her captain from 1838/39 thru 1841/42, J. Barclay from 1841/42 thru 1843/44, 'Simpson' for a while, & 'Cousins' again from 1844/45 thru 1846/47.
I note in passing that having sold this vessel, R. Brown acquired another vessel of the name built at Sunderland in 1939. Green & Co. became, per LR, Greene & Co. in 1845/46 & in 1846/47 became Blyth & Co., clearly a related entity to Greene. LRs of 1847/48 & 1848/49 do not provide a captain's name.
Under 'Greene/Blyth' ownership the vessel served from London to the West Indies in 1839/40, from London to Jamaica from 1840/41 thru 1843/44, ex London thru 1847/48 & from London to St. Kitts in 1848/49.
LR of 1848/49 notes that the vessel had been 'Wrecked'. I learn that on Feb. 01, 1848, Houghton-le-Spring, 'Anwyl' in command, left Gravesend, London, for Bahia, Brazil, & Mauritius, with a cargo of coal. Wikipedia tells us (thanks!) that on Apl. 04, 1848, the vessel ran aground at Bahia while en route from, London to Mauritius. Further that her crew were rescued. 'Lloyd's List' tells us (in red) that the vessel was stranded, on the night of Apl. 4, 1848, at the mouth of the port at Bahia, driven ashore during a gale from the south. Near the lighthouse, I understand. The vessel was condemned & the wreck & cargo soon sold - for 1,100,000 then Brazilian Reals, I have read.
This 'cryptic' wreck listing page (ex here) refers to the vessel being stranded & sold, with a reference date of May 22, 1848 - the date of the Lloyd's List on which it appeared.
A word about Benjamin Greene, who clearly is the owner LR listed as Green & Co. or Greene & Co. of London. There is lots of data WWW available about him & his family including this volume. Benjamin Greene was a Bury St. Edmunds brewer who acquired sugar estates in the islands of St. Kitts & Montserrat in the 1820s, I have read in 1823. In the following years, his sons Benjamin Buck Greene, Charles Greene & William Greene managed those estates, which by the 1830s accounted for about 1/3 of the entire sugar exports of the island of St. Kitts. In 1836, Benjamin Greene moved to London & established Benjamin Greene & Son, a merchant & shipping company which specialized in the importation of sugar into the U.K. Blyth & Co., also of London, maybe Blyth & Greene, is clearly a company related to Benjamin Greene & Son.
This listing was first created having seen a reference to a barque named Houghton-le-Skerne, built in Sunderland in 1837, which was wrecked on Jul. 20, 1850 at Red Island, while en route from Port Talbot (near Swansea, Wales), to Quebec, Canada. Per line 268 on this page. I did think that such reference to Houghton-le-Sterne was in error & that it was Houghton-le-Spring which was so wrecked. But I am surely quite wrong about that.
Is there anything you can add? #2698

2		Grace 187/169 tons	1838	A brig or snow. The vessel, which was launched in Jun. 1838, is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1838/39 thru 1850/51 with the exception of 1847/48. Thru 1843/44, per LR, *Grace* was owned by T. Dixon of Sunderland, i.e. by its builder, for service as a Sunderland coaster. With, again per LR, G. Grant serving as the vessel's captain. From 1843/44 thru 1846/47, per LR, the vessel was owned by 'Kirkwood' of Sunderland, for continued service as a Sunderland coaster with 'Pearson' noted to be her captain. I note that LR of 1846/47 has limited detail which suggests that the vessel may have then been in process of sale. The North of England Maritime Directory of 1848/9 records *Grace, in May 1848, as registered at Hartlepool & owned by Nathaniel Kearsley of Hartlepool, George Smith of Little Ayton, & William Williamson of Great Ayton. Both the 'Ayton's are in today's North Yorkshire. LRs, however, from 1848/49 thru 1850/51, record the vessel as Newcastle registered, & both owned & captained by J. Hicks of Newcastle. For service as a Newcastle coaster. What finally happened to Grace? Wikipedia advises (thanks!) that on Feb. 5, 1851, a vessel of the name, en route from London to Newcastle, was in collision with a schooner & sank off Trimingham (near Cromer), Norfolk, as a result of such collision. Further that her crew survived the encounter. Now 'Wiki' does not provide captain's names in their wreck listings, data which often proves to be most helpful in identifying which particular vessel was lost. Fortunately Lloyd's List comes to our rescue. And advises that the Grace* in question was Newcastle registered & captained by 'Hicks'. i.e. 'our' *Grace. Her crew were landed at Scarborough, Yorkshire, on Feb. 6, 1851. The schooner with which Grace* collided is not identified - rather like a 'hit & run' today, it would seem to have 'taken off' after the collision. Is there anything you can add or correct? #2517
3		Accord 253/246 tons 2045	1839	A brig or snow, launched in Mar. 1839, which is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1839/40 thru 1855/56. The vessel's initial owner, per LR, was White & Co., of Sunderland, who owned it thru 1845/46, with 'Eiley' serving as the vessel's captain. For service from Sunderland to London. For a brief period, in 1846/47 & 1847/48 per LR, 'Scurfield', also of Sunderland, owned the vessel for service from Sunderland to Hamburg, Germany, with J. Fielder noted to be her captain. In 1848/49, 'Adamson' of Sunderland became the vessel's owner, per LR right thru to 1855/56, for service, where LR indicated, from Sunderland to London or ex Sunderland. Such owner name means J. & W. Adamson, of Bishopwearmouth, in Apl. 1848, as per the North of England Maritime Directory of 1848/49. I should specifically reference that LR notes service from Shields to the Baltic in 1853/54. 'Adamson' briefly served as the vessel's captain for a portion of 1848/49 but from 1848/49 thru 1855/56 a captain named 'Harding' so served. It seems clear that 'Adamson' was not the vessel's owner from about 1852/53. Most LR editions in that specific period provide limited detail about the vessel & particularly advise no port of registration. We know, from this page (scroll to #2045) that the vessel had become Shields registered on Oct. 29, 1853. The North of England Maritime Directory of 1854/55 tell us that in 1854 John Paxton, of South Shields, had become the vessel's owner with Robert Hooper serving as the vessel's captain. While Turnbull's Shipping Register ('TR') of 1855 lists Jno. Paxton, of South Shields, again with Robert Hooper her captain. The vessel is also listed in TR of 1856. The above noted service from Shields to the Baltic in 1853/54 now makes sense. What finally happened to the vessel? I am unable to provide that data but note that a notation on this page (again scroll to #2045) tells that the vessel had been lost as per a certificate, with a date of May 30, 1856 as I read the handwriting. It is not clear whether that date is the date of the vessel's actual loss, or rather just the date of the certificate. If you know what happened to the vessel & when, do consider being in touch with the webmaster for inclusion of that data here. A puzzle to report! Crew lists would seem to exist re this vessel for years of 1894, 1896 & 1903. Surely in error. #2285

DOBBINSON H. or (DOBINSON)

Can you help with the history of this shipbuilder?

So far as I can see, H. Dobbinson (or Dobinson), built 40 vessels over the period from 1831 to 1846.

1		Flora 145/135 later 136 tons 23640	1837	*Flora, which was launched in Oct. 1837, is recorded in Lloyd's Registers ('LR') from 1841/42 thru 1845/46, owned by P. Welch of Sunderland, for service from Sunderland to Rouen, France, with 'Grant' consistently her captain. I cannot spot the vessel in any later LR edition. It seems likely that the vessel is the 130 ton schooner noted to have been built by 'Dobinson' at Sunderland as per this launch announcement (in blue) re vessels launched at Sunderland in late 1837. The vessel is, however, recorded in a number of NE shipping registers. The North of England Maritime Directory of 1848/9, in Apl. 1848 data, lists P. Welch of Monkwearmouth as Flora's then owner. While Marwood's equivalent register of 1854/5, in Mar. 1854 data, lists Pattison Welch & John Winn, both of Sunderland, as being the vessel's then owners with John Winn serving as her captain. Turnbull's Shipping Register ('TR') of 1856 & Christie's Shipping Register of 1858 essentially confirm 'Welch' as still the owner, listing P. Welch & Pattison Welch, respectively. TR of 1855 has R. Shepherd as the vessel's then captain. What finally happened to Flora? On May 31, 1860, per line 201 here in a U.K. Government 1860 wreck listing, the 136 ton schooner was lost on Rysum Shoals (approaches to Emden, Germany), while en route from Emden to Shoreham (West Sussex), with a cargo of oats. The true date would seem to have been May 30, 1860. None of her crew of 6 were lost. The vessel's then owner was recorded as being Pattison Welch. While 'Severins' was the vessel's then captain as per this contemporary report. The webmaster re-examined this listing having spotted these - 1 & 2 - (particularly the first) references to the vessel. Which data conflicts with the data provided above. I learn that there was, indeed, a then Sunderland registered vessel named Flora* which foundered 120 miles off Flamborough Head, Yorkshire, on Apl. 15, 1860. When en route from Sunderland to Hamburg, Germany, with 'Stockdale' (T. Stockdale) in command. Her crew of 8 made it to Grimsby in their ship's boat. But it was just a reporter's error & was not this vessel. It was rather *Flora*, a brig built at Dundee in 1843 - ON #23032. Such vessel is referenced here (then Shields registered) & was U.K. Government 1860 wreck listed on this page (both marked in blue), noted to have then been owned by C. T. Mitcheson. Can you add anything additional? Or correct the above in any way? #2896
2		Miriam 198 later 183 tons 19601	1837	A snow or square. *Miriam, which was launched in Oct. 1837, is Lloyd's Register listed from 1838/39 thru 1844/45 & not thereafter. The vessel is, the webmaster believes, the brig noted to have been built by 'Dobinson' at Sunderland as per this launch announcement (in red) re vessels launched at Sunderland in late 1837. Miriam* was owned by Penman & Co. of Sunderland, for service from Sunderland to London thru 1840/41 & from Sunderland with no destination stated, thereafter. With R. Turner serving as the vessel's captain thru 1841/42 & G. Ayre from 1841/42 thru 1844/45. The North of England Maritime Directory of 1848/49, in Apl. 1848, lists H. Penman, of Bishopwearmouth, Sunderland, as the vessel's then owner. The vessel must have been soon sold. Marwood's North of England Maritime Directory of 1854/55 lists the vessel, in Mar. 1854, as owned by Matthew Blackit of Sunderland with Wm. Clark her then captain. Turnbull's Shipping Register ('TR') of 1856 lists M. Blackett as being the vessel's then owner while Christie's Shipping Register of 1858 states her then owner to be Matthew Blackit of Sunderland. TR of 1855 adds that W. Clark was then the vessel's captain. The Mercantile Navy List records *Miriam* as Sunderland registered from 1857 thru 1860. And does not record the vessel in 1861. No crew lists seem to be available for the vessel. On Jan. 26, 1860, per line 592 here (on a U.K. Government 1860 wrecks list page), the 183 ton square came ashore at Robin Hood's Bay ('RHB') (SE of Whitby, Yorkshire) when in ballast. None of the crew of 7 were lost. *Miriam* was then stated to be owned by Matt. Blackit. The basic facts re the vessel's loss, as just stated, are fully accurate, but the words give absolutely no idea of the circumstances that caused not only the loss of *Miriam* but of many other ships also, up and down the E. coast, on Jan. 26, 1860. 10 ships were driven ashore at RHB alone that day & many more were lost or damaged elsewhere on the coast. As a result of a violent storm & snowstorm that hit on the evening of Jan. 26, 1860. 'Lloyd's List' gives us a basic summary report of the events at RHB that day (*Miriam* marked in red). I note however that a number of the vessels that Lloyd's List reported on shore may have later been got off & repaired - *Emily, Earl Bathurst, Veronica, Swan, & William Watson* seem not to be recorded in the U. K. Government wreck list. 'The Standard' newspaper, of London, in an extensive article you can read here, tells us of the true extent of the storm that day & of the vast damage that was incurred by vessels large & small. *Miriam* is mentioned in the article but in the total scene merited just half a line of the article's text. 'Lloyd's List' incidentally reported, on Feb. 9, 1860, that *Miriam* had indeed become a wreck. Can you tell us anything additional. #2598

DOUGLAS D. A.

Can you help with the history of this shipbuilder?

So far as I can see, D. A. Douglas built 35 vessels over the period from 1848 to 1874. Both of the vessels so far recorded below are noted to have been built at Southwick.

1		Saint Bernard 448 tons 43723	1861	A barque. *Saint Bernard, which was launched on Jul. 10, 1861 & first registered at Sunderland on Jul. 23, 1861, is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1861/62 thru 1876/77 only, always, per LR, registered at Liverpool & owned by R. Girvin of Liverpool thru 1875/76 & by Girvin & Slater, also of Liverpool, in 1876/77. Per LR, the vessel served from Sunderland to S. America, in 1861/62 & 1862/63, from Swansea to S. America from 1863/64 thru 1868/69 & thereafter ex Liverpool incl. service from Liverpool to S. America in 1869/70 & 1870/71. Her captains per LR? S. Kelly thru 1863/64, 'Williams' from 1863/64 thru 1869/70, W. Smith fom 1869/70 thru 1871/72, 'Longhurst' briefly, 'Cunningham' from 1872/73 thru 1874/75, & T. Tookes from 1874/75 thru 1876/77. The webmaster has only spotted a single reference to Saint Bernard* at 'Welsh Newspapers Online'. On Oct. 5, 1866, the vessel was entered out for departure from Cardiff, Wales, Wiliiams in command, for 'Zanjoy', wherever that is. The webmaster believes that this newspaper cutting reports the launch of the vessel early in Jul. 1861. Built for a Liverpool shipowner. Now the Mercantile Navy List ('MNL') records the vessel as rather Sunderland registered thru 1864 & Liverpool registered thereafter, thru 1876. Noted, from 1865 thru 1876 (1870), to be owned by Robert Girvin of Liverpool. 127.9 ft. long, signal letters TQDS, crew lists for many years are available here. What happened to *Saint Bernard*? LR of 1876/77 notes that the vessel was 'Missing'. This U.K. Government listing, ex here, tells us that on Mar. 31, 1876, the vessel left Iquique, northern Chile, for Queenstown, Ireland, with a cargo of 691 tons of nitrate of soda in bags. With a crew of 15 - the captain is not there named. The vessel is noted to have been owned, at the time of her loss, by R. Girvin, of Liverpool & O. Cunningham of Bootle, Liverpool. Wikipedia advises, that on Mar. 28, 1876, the vessel left Iquique bound for Falmouth, Cornwall, rather than for Queenstown, presumably for orders, & that the vessel was assumed to have foundered with the loss of 15 lives. Lloyd's confirmed, in these announcements, that Falmouth was the vessel's intended destination & that 'Tookes' was the vessel's then captain. There is confusion as to the captain's name. A 2nd U.K. Government listing, ex here, tells us that his name was rather T. Fookes. At 'Welsh Newspapers on Line', I have read both 'Toohes' & 'Tookes'. Is there anything you can add or correct? #2522
2		Saint Thomas Packet 275/229 tons 44706	1862	A brig, which was launched in Jan. 1862, & is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1862/63 thru 1871/72. Owned initially by Longton & Co. of Liverpool, for service from Sunderland to St. Thomas (presumably Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands), later Newcastle to the West Indies. The Mercantile Navy Lists ('MNL') of 1865 & 1866 both list Longton & Co., of Liverpool, as the vessel's then owner. With Archibald serving as the vessel's initial captain (for just a short time), then J. Hignett (1862/63 thru 1865/66), then J. Gibson. In 1866/67, W. R. Smith, of Blyth, Northumberland, became the vessel's owner for service from Blyth to the Mediterranean. With Gibson continuing to serve as captain thru 1867/68 then Milburn to the end (T. Milburn from 1870/71). MNLs of 1867 thru 1871 (1870) all list the vessel as registered at Liverpool & owned not by W. R. Smith but rather by T. A. Smith of Blyth. 98.5 ft. long, signal letters TWGJ. In early Jun. 1869 the vessel left Pill & Kingroad (Gloucestershire, mouth of River Avon) for Newport, Wales, Milburn in command. In late Apl. 1871, the vessel, en route from Lisbon, Portugal, to Antwerp, Belgium, grounded on the Goodwin Sands (English Channel 6 miles E. of Deal, Kent). It was got off & towed into Ramsgate, East Kent, leaky. LR of 1871/72 states 'Foundered'. On Aug. 28, 1871, per line 1490 here, the 275 ton brig was sunk 'in the Sleeve' (can anybody clarify the term? Maybe near Ringkobing on the W. coast of the Jutland peninsula of Denmark), while en route from Cronstadt (St. Petersburg, Russia), to London with a cargo of wheat. Crew of 9 - none lost. Vessel then owned by Thomas A. Smith. Many crew lists are available here. #2201

DRYDEN J.

The webmaster knows nothing about this modest shipbuilder, who would seem to have built 6 vessels only during the period from 1822 thru 1831

John and Ann
137 later 138 tons

3789

1827

A snow or brig. The vessel would seem to have been Lloyd's Register ('LR') recorded from 1828 thru 1841/42, a gap of 6 years, then from 1848/49 thru 1854/55. During the period thru 1841/42, John and Ann was, per LR, owned by 'Collingwood' of Sunderland, with J. Curry (thru 1829), 'Wood' (briefly), 'Wardrppr' (1830 thru 1833), and 'Almond' serving as the vessel's captains. For service i) initially from London to Cadiz, Spain, ii) from 1830 thru 1833 for service from Cowes, Isle of Wight, to Bilbao, Spain, & iii) from Sunderland to France thereafter.
I can next track the vessel in the North of England Maritime Directory of 1848/49 where the 137 ton snow is, in Jul. 1848, registered at Newcastle & owned by George Younghusband of South Shields.
From 1848/49 thru 1854/55, per LR, John and Ann was owned by 'Coltm'n', clearly Coltman, of South Shields with J. Tullock, J. Coltman & A. Morrison serving as her captains. For service ex Shields to such ports as London, Boulogne & Rouen (both France) & Galatz (i.e. Galați, on the Danube, Eastern Romania, Black Sea). The LR data re years 1853/54 & 1854/55 is minimal, which suggests that the vessel may well then have been sold or lost.
The North of England Maritime Directory of 1854/5 lists the vessel as now registered at Newcastle & owned by Cuthbert Forster in Apl. 1854 with W. Forster the vessel's captain. Turnbull's Shipping Registers of 1855 & 1856 confirm such data, the 1856 edition advising that her Official Number ('ON') was 3789.
The above text was written a while ago. In updating the listing the available data has been reviewed. This page (scroll to #3789), as I read the handwriting, tells us that John and Ann was registered at Newcastle on Sep. 12, 1833, & further, was lost on Nov. 3, 1855. A certificate re such loss is noted to have been dated Nov. 23, 1855. Wikipedia tells us (thanks!) that John and Ann, a collier en route from Newcastle to London, was driven ashore & wrecked at Kessingland on Nov. 3, 1855, further that her crew were all rescued. Kessingland is, I learn, on the Suffolk coast, a little S. of Lowestoft. This Lloyd's List report (in red), I believe, refers to the vessel's loss, tells us that her voyage was in the other direction i.e. from London to Newcastle, & that 'Halcrow' was then her captain.
If any site vistor has knowledge of the history, I invite them to be in touch. It would be good to be able in another way to link 'Halcrow' ( a captain name not LR referenced), with 'our' particular John and Ann. I say that because late 1855 was a difficult time for vessels named John and Ann.
On Oct. 30, 1855, a schooner of the name, noted to be of N. and/or of S. Shields, tried to put back into the Tyne in gale force conditions. It had left for Perth or maybe for Cromarty, both Scotland, with a cargo of coal, & John Halder in command. The vessel drove onto 'the Black Middens entrance to the Tyne', or, in an extensive report 'ran onto fearful rocks near to Tynemouth Point'. Her crew, clinging for their lives in her rigging, were rescued by pilot boats. Per 1 & 2. And on Nov. 3, 1855 (in blue), another vessel of the name, noted to be of Sunderland, en route in ballast from London to Sunderland, was on shore at Kessingland but was expected to be got off. It was under the command of Captain Bruce. The webmaster is not yet able to identify which particular vessels named John & Ann they were nor whether they were built at Sunderland. Need help!
Before this page was modified, it contained extensive data about yet another vessel named John and Ann, which vessel was wrecked on the coast of Denmark on Oct. 27, 1868. Such data has been moved within the site & is now available here.
Is there anything you can add? #2462

DRYDEN T.

The webmaster knows nothing about this modest shipbuilder, who would seem to have built 4 vessels only, two in each of 1848 & 1849.

Mora
243 later 219 tons

23627

1848

A snow or brig, which was launched in Feb. 1848, & listed in Lloyd's Registers ('LR') from 1849/50 thru 1861/62 only. It was initially owned & captained, per LR, by 'Simms' of Sunderland, for service from Sunderland to the Baltic. The North of England Maritime Directory of 1848/49 advises, however, that at Aug. 1, 1848 her owners were rather W. H. Pearson, P. Sim, & W. Hay, all of Sunderland.
In 1850/51, per LR, Mora became owned by Muir & Co. of Glasgow, Scotland, for service from the Clyde to Mauritius with 'Chalmers' serving as the vessel's captain.
'Whitehead', also of Glasgow, became the vessel's owner in 1854/55 for service from the Clyde to Australia in 1854/55 & for service ex Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1855/56. With J. Teulon serving as her captain.
The vessel became first LR listed at 219 tons in LR of 1856/57 in which year 'Darnton' of Sunderland both acquired the vessel & captained it for service from Sunderland to the Baltic. Christie's Shipping Register of 1858 reports Mora as then owned by Wm. Darnton & Robt. Adamson, both of Sunderland, which data is essentially confirmed by Turnbull's Shipping Register of slightly earlier 1856.
LR of 1861/62 notes that the vessel had been 'Wrecked'. On Dec. 3, 1861, stated to be owned by Wm. Dainton, Mora was lost at Scroby, i.e. at Scroby Sands which run from Caister to Great Yarmouth, 4 miles off the Norfolk coast. While en route to London (from?) with a cargo of coal. Crew of 7 - none lost. As per line 1885 on this page. No crew lists for the vessel seem to be available. Is there anything you can add? #2387

TO END THE PAGE

For your pleasure and amusement. Most folks like donkeys.

A 'Raphael Tuck & Sons' Oilette postcard #9494. 'A Ripping Time'. Mailed at Sunderland in 1909. An eBay image, cleaned up a little for better presentation on this page. Strangely, the second postcard image, later added below, also seems to be similarly entitled i.e. 'A Ripping Time', Oilette postcard #9494. How can that be, I wonder. Both part of a series?

There must have been a series of cards, maybe a set under that 9494 number. I have since seen a couple of additional variations on the theme. It would seem that the postcards date from about 1908/1909 thru to about 1915 or 1916. That is just what I have observed - I am not an expert on the subject!

There is another postcard image of donkeys on Roker beach here.

And a few more images that may well please you. They certainly please the webmaster. None of them relate to the Sunderland area, of course.

May I suggest that you navigate the site via the index on page 001.PRIOR PAGE / NEXT PAGE

To Thomas M. M. Hemy Data Page 41. All of the other Thomas Hemy pages, including image pages, are accessible though the index on Thomas Hemy page 05. [ ] � � � � �

To the Special Pages Index.

A SITE SEARCH FACILITY

THE GUEST BOOK - GO HERE