Arthur D. Edwardes : SUMMARY RECORD [PRG 1373] • Photograph
The 'Walden Abbey' at anchor
The iron ship 'Walden Abbey', 1799 tons, at anchor [iron ship, 1799 tons, ON84187, 263.0 x 39.1 x 24.1. Built 1881 (11) WH Potter and Son, Liverpool. Owners: J Poole and Co., Liverpool. c.1900 Macvicar, Marshall and Co., registered Liverpool. c.1910 to Norwegian owners without change of name].
The 'Douglas' moored in an unidentified port with iron paddle tugs Cambria and Punch
The iron ship 'The Douglas', 1428 tons, moored in an unidentified port [iron 3 mast ship, 1494 tons. ON58980, 225.2 x 37.9 x 23.6. Built 1869 (1) T. Royden and Sons, Liverpool. Owners W & R Wright, registered Liverpool (built as an auxiliary screw steamship but engine removed after a short time) Visited New Zealand occasionally under charter to Shaw Savill and/or New Zealand Shipping] ['ips Punch' William Watkins, iron paddle steam tug 'Punch' shown in illustration of 'The Douglas'].
The 'Underley' moored in an unidentified port
The iron ship 'Underley', 1292 tons, moored in an unidentified port [iron ship, 1292 tons, ON54549, 225.0 x 37.1 x 23.0. Built 1866 (10) Lune Shipbuilding Co., Lancaster. Owners: Lancaster Shipowners Co., registered Lancaster. Lost on a voyage to Melbourne in 1871 at the Isle of Wight].
The 'William Law' at anchor
The steel ship 'William Law', 1774 tons, at anchor [steel 3 mast ship, 1774 tons, ON98674, 252.1 x 40.0 x 22.4. Built 1891 (10) Russell and Co. Greenock. Owners: William Law Shipping Co., registered Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. 1902 became 'Hilbre' under captain Oscar W. Smith, owned by Smith Brothers Shipping Ltd., registered Cardiff. c.1905 sold to Italian owners and renamed 'Buenos Ayres']. Sunk by the German raider Felix von Luckner in 1917.
The 'Wynnstay' at anchor
The iron ship 'Wynnstay', 1674 tons, at anchor [iron 3 mast ship, 1674 tons., ON91148. 258.8 x 38.2 x 23.1. Built 1884 (7) Russell and Co., Port Glasgow. Owners: DW Davies and Co., registered Liverpool; later P McFarlane, registered Port Glasgow].
The 'Dimsdale' at the Semaphore anchorage after wrecking the Wonga Shoal Lighthouse
The steel ship 'Dimsdale', 1887 tons, at the Semaphore anchorage after wrecking the Wonga Shoal Lighthouse [steel ship, 1887 tons. ON97834. 270.0 x 39.8 x 23.4. Built 1890 (12) CJ Bigger. Londonderry. Owners: C&G Jamieson, registered Liverpool, later Dimsdale Ship Co (Iredale and Porter) registered Liverpool, sold and renamed Kwango under Norwegian flag. Wrecked in Gulf of Saint Lawrence 1915. Famous as the vessel which'sank' the lighthouse off Semaphore in St. Vincent's Gulf in November 1912 (The Wonga Shoal Light)].
The 'Dimsdale' at Port Augusta
The steel ship 'Dimsdale', 1887 tons, at Port Augusta [steel ship, 1887 tons. ON97834. 270.0 x 39.8 x 23.4. Built 1890 (12) CJ Bigger. Londonderry. Owners: C&G Jamieson, registered Liverpool, later Dimsdale Ship Co (Iredale and Porter) registered Liverpool, sold and renamed Kwango under Norwegian flag. Wrecked in Gulf of Saint Lawrence 1915. Famous as the vessel which'sank' the lighthouse off Semaphore in St. Vincent's Gulf in November 1912 (The Wonga Shoal Light)].
The 'Drumpark' at Port Pirie
The iron ship 'Drumpark', 1551 tons, at Port Pirie [iron ship, 1551 tons. ON76529, 243.6 x 37.9 x 22.6. Built 1877 (7) WH Potter and Son, Liverpool. Owners Gillison and Chadwick, registered Liverpool c.1900 to Italian owners without change of name].
The 'Deveron' moored at Port Adelaide
The iron ship 'Deveron', 1323 tons, moored in an unidentified port [iron 3 mast ship, 1323 tons ON72400, 231.3 x 36.2 x 22.0. Built 1875 (11) R. Steele and Co. Greenock. Owners J. Russell registered Greenock].
The 'Desdemona' in an unidentified port
The iron ship 'Desdemona', 1584 tons, in an unidentified port [iron ship 1564 tons. ON70911, 242.0 x 37.7 x 22.9. Built 1875 (1) WH Potter and Co. Liverpool. Owners CT Bowring and Co. Registered Liverpool].
The 'Darling Downs' moored in an unidentified port
The iron ship 'Darling Downs', 1634 tons, moored in an unidentified port [iron 3 mast ship, 1715 tons. ON7887, 258.6 x 40.0 x 22.5. Built 1852 CJ Mare and Co. Blackwall London as SS Calcutta for General Screw Steam Shipping Co. registered London, thence various owners as a steamer and known as SS Portugal c.1860/1: sold and converted to sailing ship by W Pile in 1868 and renamed Darling Downs owners Taylor Bethell and Co. Registered London. Sunk in a collision off The Nore in 1887. As Darling Downs well known in the Sydney passenger trade.
The 'Cuthona' at anchor
The iron ship 'Cuthona', 1752 tons, at anchor [iron 3 mast ship, 1752 tons. ON91209, 250.8 x 39.0 x 24.0. Built 1885 (3) Richardson, Duck and Co. Stockton. Owners JH Worthington and Co. registered Liverpool].
The 'Castelton' at Port Pirie
The steel ship 'Castelton', 1971 tons, at Port Pirie. [steel ship, 1971 tons. ON115175 265.1 x 40.1 x 23.6. Built 1903 (7) A. Rodgers and Co. Port Glasgow. Beynon Shipping Co. Ltd. registered Newport and sold 1915 and became the Norwegian Svalen and in 1922 renamed Skaregrom. Sold to Dutch shipbreakers in 1926, after dismasting in the Bay of Biscay].
The 'Brilliant' and 'Thermopylae' in Sydney Harbour
The iron ship 'Brilliant' (left), 1666 tons, and the composite ship 'Thermopylae' (right), 949 tons, in Sydney Harbour ['Thermopylae' = composite ship, 948 tons, ON60688, 212.0 x 36.0 x 21.0. Built 1868 (8) Walter Hood and Co. Aberdeen. Owners: George Thompson and Co. (Aberdeen White Star Line) registered Aberdeen. Sold to Portugese in 1896 and employed as a Naval Training ship. Built as a China Tea Clipper and then moved into the Australian trades where she became very famous and said to have been one of the fastest clippers in the trade].
The 'Ben Voirlich' with tug 'Resolute' alongside
The iron ship 'Ben Voirlich', 1540 tons, with tug 'Resolute' alongside. [Iron ship, later barque 1540 tons. ON68067, 255.6 x 37.1 x 21.8. Built 1873 (12) Barclay, Curle and Co. Glasgow. Owners: Watson Bros. registered Glasgow. Sold 1891 to German owners and ultimately converted to a barque rig, without change of name. In 1903 sold to Italian owners without change of name. Well known clipper in the Australian trade.]
The 'Avalanche' moored in an unidentified port
The iron ship 'Avalanche', 1160 tons, moored in an unidentified port. [iron ship, 1210 tons. ON70632, 214.6 x 36.0 x 21.1 Built 1874 (8) A. Hall and co. Aberdeen Owners: Savill and Temple, registered Southampton (operating for Shaw, Savill and Co in the New Zealand passenger trade). Lost in a collision in the English Channel shortly after sailing for Wellington, Sept. 10, 1877, with the loss of all but three people (loss variously given but about 90 persons) was in collision with the American ship 'Forest Queen'].
The 'Arranmore' at Wallaroo
The steel ship 'Arranmore', 1946 tons, at Wallaroo. The contract to build her was signed on the 14th April, 1893 and five and a half months later on 30th October 1893,she sailed on her Maiden Voyage [steel ship 1946 tons. ON102634, 263.8 x 39.0 x 23.6. Built 1893 (10) Russell and Co. Port Glasgow. Owners: Sailing Ship Arranmore Co. Ltd. (Thomson, Dickie and Co) registered Glasgow 1910 sold to German owners and renamed 'Waltraute'. In 1913 converted into Sailors Mission in Hamburg. During WW1 was used as submarine depot ship at Heliogland. After war taken to UK under the name 'Vindicatrix' and used to house the crews of surrendered German ships. Later was used as seamen's hostel in West India Docks during the strike of 1925. Was stranded in Algoa Bay Nov. 14 1903, following damage in a gale. She was later refloated and towed to England by the Dutch tug 'Swartezee' for repairs. Dragged her anchors and stranded at Inchkeith while on duty with German surrendered ships, but refloated without damage.] Further information has been provided by Roy Derham MBE, the author of the book 'Vindicatrix': 'The information given beneath the pictures of the Ship Arranmore is in several places, incorrect. The book 'Vindicatrix' was fully researched over two years and records her history from her keel being laid until she was broken up in Newport, Wales, in 1967. She was part of the Maiden City Line managed by Thomson, Dickie & Co. After being pulled from the beach at Algoa Bay in 1903 she was towed home by the Tug Zwart Zee to Greenock in Scotland, NOT England, where she arrived on 26th April, 1904 and she was repaired by her builders. She sailed again just 14 weeks later. She was sold to the Germans in 1910 but was severely damaged off the Falklands inJuly 1913 and under a jury rigged sail, took 40 days to reach Montivideo. From there she was towed back to Hamburg by the tug 'Thames' and turned into a Depot ship for seamen in Hamburg Harbour. In that same year, the Imperial German Navy commandeered her and took her to Heligoland to be decked over and provided with boiler and generator, then she was taken through the Kiel Canal to Eckernfiorde in the Baltic on 10th September 1915 where she provided accommodation for Uboat officers whist they trained. After the war she was anchored in the Firth of Forth off Lieth, Scotland, whilst she was providing accommodation for German crews who had been delivering their ships under the Reparation scheme, On 15th November, 1920, a storm blew her on to the Inchkeith Rocks. She WAS holed and when towed clear, was taken into drydock in Lieth for repair. She should have returned to Hamburg but instead, was handed over to the Shipping Federation who took her to the West India Docks, London. She remained the Waltraute until 1922, when she was named Vindicatrix.'].
The 'Horsa' stranded on the Cornish Coast
The iron ship 'Horsa', 1128 tons, stranded on the Cornish Coast [iron ship, 1163 tons. ON28639. 220.0 x 34.2 x 21.7. Built 1860 (7) Scott and Co. Greenock. Owners: Rathbone Bros. registered Liverpool, later Star Navigation Co. registered Liverpool. Then 'Ship Horsa Co'. (G McAllester and sons) registered Liverpool. On a voyage from New Zealand to England with cereals she stranded 4 April 1893, Bread and Cheese Cove, St. Martins was towed off but foundered 20 miles south west of the Scilly Isles. Not regularly in any trades to Australia but visited both that country and New Zealand as charters found].
The 'Orient' at Port Adelaide
The steel ship 'Orient', 1663 tons, at Port Adelaide.
The 'Orient' at Port Adelaide
The steel ship 'Orient', 1663 tons, at Port Adelaide.
The 'Orient' wrecked at Orient Beach, South Africa
The steel ship 'Orient', 1663 tons, wrecked at Orient Beach, South Africa. The wreck is still visible today at low tide [steel ship, 1663 tons, 258.8 x 38.7 x 22.7. Built 1889 (2) C Connell and Co. Glasgow. Owners: A Evers and Classen, registered Hamburg. Later, without change of name to Russian (Finnish) owners].
The 'Orient' wrecked at Orient Beach, South Africa
The steel ship 'Orient', 1663 tons, wrecked at Orient Beach, South Africa. The wreck is still visible today at low tide [steel ship, 1663 tons, 258.8 x 38.7 x 22.7. Built 1889 (2) C Connell and Co. Glasgow. Owners: A Evers and Classen, registered Hamburg. Later, without change of name to Russian (Finnish) owners].
The 'Strathblane' stranded near Astoria
The iron ship 'Strathblane', 1364 tons, stranded near Astoria on 3 November 1891 [iron 3 mast ship, 1440 tons, ON60389, 235.4 x 37.4 x 22.5. Built 1868 (10) Barclay, Curle and Co., Glasgow. Owners: J&A Allan registered Glasgow. Stranded Nov. 3, 1891.Usually operated in the Atlantic trades to Canada. Wrecked 3 Nov. 1891 near Astoria, when on a voyage from Honolulu towards Portland Oregon, in ballast].
The 'Wild Deer', 'Fernglen' and 'Camille' at Port Chalmers
The composite ship 'Wild Deer' (left), 1016 tons, the iron ship 'Fernglen' (middle), 818 tons and the 'Camille' (right) at Port Chalmers.
The 'Ben-Lee' moored in an unidentified harbour
The steel ship 'Ben-Lee', 2341 tons, moored in an unidentified harbour. [Steel ship, 2341 tons. ON102635, 284.5 x 42.2 x 24.5. Built 1893 (10) Barclay, Curle and Co. Ltd. Glasgow. Owners Watson Bros. (Ben Line) registered Glasgow. c. 1913 (4) J & J Rae, registered Liverpool. Sunk following a collision in January 1916. Repaired and converted into a hulk - full description of accident see Ref. 5, Vol. 2. p279.]
The 'Ardencraig' at Port Adelaide after sinking the 'Norma'
The iron ship 'Ardencraig', 2153 tons, at Port Adelaide after sinking the 'Norma' at the Semaphore anchorage. [iron ship, 2153 tons. ON93332, 277.7 x 40.0 x 24.9. Built 1886 (8) Russell and Co. Greenock. Owners: Edmiston and Mitchells, registered Glasgow: c 1896/7 Crawford and Rowat registered Glasgow. Wrecked when homeward from Australia with grain, in January 1911 on Crim Rocks, Scilly Isles. Earlier had achieved notoriety by running into and sinking 'Norma' at the Semaphore, South Australia, April 21, 1907.]
The 'Aldergrove' at Port Augusta
The iron ship 'Aldergrove', 1331 tons, at Port Augusta.
The 'Thomasina McLellan' in an unidentified port
The iron ship 'Thomasina McLellan', 1873 tons, in an unidentified port [iron 3 mast ship, 1873 tons, ON68058, 262.6 x 40.7 x 23.8. Built 1873 (10) A McMillan and Son, Dumbarton. Owners: Thomson and Grey, registered Glasgow c.1900 EF and W Roberts; 1902 J Nichol l and Co.; 1905 to Russian owners and renamed 'Thomasina'. Sunk by a German submarine in mid 1915].
The 'Claverdon' under sail
The iron ship 'Claverdon', 2521 tons, under sail. [iron ship, 2521 tons. ON89615, 304.7 x 41.3 x 25.2. Built 1884 (7). Oswald, Mordaunt and Co. as Alexandra for J. Coupland, registered London, sold c.1892 and renamed Claverdon by Sailing Ship Claverdon Ltd (F&A Nodin) registered Liverpool. c.1910 G. Gordon and Co. registered Glasgow 1920 sold to Italians and renamed Albertstella. Broken up in 1923.]
The 'Kinpurney' anchored in an unidentified harbour
The steel ship 'Kinpurney', 1944 tons, anchored in an unidentified harbour [steel ship 1944 tons, ON136741, 267.5 x 40.1 x 23.6. Built 1902 (9) A McMillan and Sons Ltd. Dumbarton, as 'S Margherita' for Italian owners, in 1915 called 'Ossa' and in March 1915 renamed 'Kinpurney' and enrolled by J Stewart and Co. registered London (Edwardes says owner Robert Thomas and Co. Caernarvon) Captured by a German submarine 110 miles west from Bishop Rock Jan. 15, 1917 and sunk by a torpedo no lives lost].