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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

S.S. Pickle


Rory Reynolds

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Hello all

I was given a mixed bag of photos' circa WWI and would like help identifying one of the ships.

The words Survey S.S. Pickle appear on the reverse of the photo but a quick google shows up no ships with that name.

Has anyone heard of or does anyone know about this ship?

Regards

Rory

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There were at least three vesselss called Pickle

Built 1857 PICKLE 284-tons

Built 1873 PICKLE 254-tons

Built 1943 PICKLE 850-tons

The last one being an RN minesweeper built 1943 by Harland and Wolff; she was sold and renamed Parakrama in 1959 and broken up at Hong Kong in 1964 - obviously not yours though. Don't know about the one built in 1873?

Cheers Ron

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http://www.iziko.org.za/sam/exhibitions/norfolk/index.html

1920 The Government's Fisheries Survey vessel, SS Pickle, commissioned.

http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:f8TEh...=clnk&gl=uk

p56 ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM

The S.S. Pickle, a vessel of the Government of the Union of South Africa conducted a marine survey of Mocambique in 1925—6, the results of which were reported on by K. H. Barnard in 1926.

Kath.

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'Pickle' goes back even earlier than that (in Royal Navy service) HMS Pickle was the ship - I think a schooner - bought from a private owner in the Bahamas. Due to its speed it was the first ship to bring back the news of Trafalgar to the UK.

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RE.

" HMS Pickle the first ship to bring back the news of Trafalgar to the UK."

This ship met Cornish fishermen who took the news to Penzance.

The local mayor became the first person to publically proclaim victory at the Battle of Trafalgar and the subsequent death of Nelson.

See: http://www.freebase.com/view/wikipedia/ima...mmons_id/390256

Rory's question re "photo with Survey S.S. Pickle on the back" is, I think, answered in my post 4, especially as he's in South Africa.

Kath.

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Hi all

I rather think Kath has solved the mystery. The fact that the ship was South African and that the word "survey" was appended to the rear of the photo leads me to this conclusion.

Herewith, as per Daniel's request, is the photo - a very poor one I am afriad!

Regards

Rory

post-19572-1245777607.jpg

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Pickle was one of two German whalers seized in South Africa in 1914. They were both 167 tons and built in 1913. Seeadler became Pickle, and Sturmvogel took the magnificent name of Fly. I believe they were probably used for minesweeping during the war and sold off afterwards.

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Thank you Richard

It is quite amazing how details are starting to surface around this simple photo.

Would anyone know what connection there would be to German East Africa? The reason why I ask is that there is a link between a chap wwho was with the 8th S.A.I. in GEA as a Machine Gunner and this ship.

Would it have been too small to be used for troop conveyance?

Regards

Rory

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