roypaule Posted 25 June , 2009 Share Posted 25 June , 2009 26 June Dear Sirs: I'm doing some research on a ship the SS HUMMERSEA. Was this ship torpedoed, etc? When did it happen and where? I'm trying to find the connection if this ship was sunk on 30 December 1915 to corroborate with the death of a Fireman (Merchant Navy) by the name of Joseph Wilson (who, per CWGC died on 30 Dec 1915). Thank you in advance and kind regards Roy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 26 June , 2009 Share Posted 26 June , 2009 26 June Dear Sirs: I'm doing some research on a ship the SS HUMMERSEA. Was this ship torpedoed, etc? When did it happen and where? I'm trying to find the connection if this ship was sunk on 30 December 1915 to corroborate with the death of a Fireman (Merchant Navy) by the name of Joseph Wilson (who, per CWGC died on 30 Dec 1915). Thank you in advance and kind regards Roy Hi Roy, From the Miramar Ship Index, for starters: Single Ship Report for "1098789" IDNo: 1098789 Year: 1897 Name: HUMMERSEA Launch Date: 13.7.97 Type: Cargo ship Date of completion: 8.97 Flag: GBR Keel: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tons: 539 Link: 1546 DWT: Yard No: 140 Length overall: Ship Design: LPP: 50.3 Country of build: GBR Beam: 8.1 Builder: Craggs Material of build: Location of yard: Middlesbrough Number of screws/Mchy/ Speed(kn): 2T- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Owner as Completed: Skinningrove Iron Co Ltd (T.C.Hutchinson), Middles Naval or paramilitary marking : A: * End: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subsequent History: Disposal Data: missing - sailed Middlesbrough 30.12.15 for Caen I'll keep looking but some enterprising chap will likely beat me to it. -Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 26 June , 2009 Share Posted 26 June , 2009 I might add: Memorial University's Maritime History Archive appears to have some crew lists from this ship: http://www.mun.ca/mha/holdings/viewcombine...cial_No=1098789 -Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Lowrey Posted 26 June , 2009 Share Posted 26 June , 2009 Roy, As Daniel pointed out, Hummersea is a missing vessel. The CWGC and RN have been fairly generous when it comes to the crews of missing ships, with the general presumption apparently being that if a ship disappeared, it was likely because of war-related causes (torpedo, mine, etc.) even if no specific event has been linked with sinking the vessel. I don't know what happened to Hummersea. There's not a lot of U-boat activity at that time, so that isn't the answer. A mine is always possible but in my estimation the most likely cause of loss is weather. The weather was absolutely horrible on December 31, 1915 and January 1, 1916 and a number of other ships disappeared at this time: Hummersea, 539 grt, built 1897, Missing since sailing from Middlesbrough, 30 Dec 1915, for Caen, pig iron Glenariff, 490 grt, built 1897, Missing since sailing Newport, Mon., 30 Dec 1915, for Belfast, coal Tynemouth, 2222 grt, built 1909, Missing since sailing from Cardiff, 31 Dec 1915, for Shetlands/Orkneys under sealed Admiralty orders, coal Satrap, 2234 grt, built 1913, Missing since sailing from Barry, 31 Dec 1915, on sealed Admiralty orders, coal -- per LWL, destination "Naval Base in North within 5 days steam of Cardiff" (Tynemouth and/or Satrap could also have hit mines recently laid by the German raider Möwe.) Best wishes, Michael uboat.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrecktec Posted 26 June , 2009 Share Posted 26 June , 2009 Hello Roy These are the men who were lost with the ship: BLOMQUIST, A. Nicholai Seaman MM BURROWS, Thomas Henry 2nd Mate MM DE VRIES, K.1st Mate MM DODDS, Peter Chief Engineer MM HALLSTROM, Fritz Sam MM HANNAFORD, Charles F. Master MM JACOBSEN, John Seaman MM LAVERICK, Thomas R., Steward MM WILSON, David 2nd Engineer MM WILSON, Joseph Fireman MM Cheers Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dundeesown Posted 26 June , 2009 Share Posted 26 June , 2009 This vessel has a mention as being on the go in 1927,being used to carry pig Iron ? see my post in your thread about the lad Wilson. Gary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kath Posted 26 June , 2009 Share Posted 26 June , 2009 Gary, as I've replied in that thread, probably a second ship with the same name. Roy, The NA have 1915 crew lists for Hummersea if you search the Catalogue with her Official No: 98789 Yet, years ending in '5', are held by the National Maritime Museum. Kath. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrecktec Posted 26 June , 2009 Share Posted 26 June , 2009 Cannot find any other ship called Hummersea, just the one that was listed as missing ? Cheers Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 26 June , 2009 Share Posted 26 June , 2009 Hi Ron, The Crew lists at Memorial University predate 1915, skip 1915 and continue after 1916, supposedly when the ship was lost, so I would gather there was a second ship with that name, though it is not in Miramar. I found a web page referencing a later ship by that name here: http://www.communigate.co.uk/ne/lingdaleit...ry/page82.phtml You have to scroll down a bit for the reference. Certainly there is no entry in uboat.net's database of merchant ship losses. Perhaps someone would care to have a peek at the Lloyd's Registers after 1915 to see what turns up? Of course, now that we know the date of construction for this Hummersea, probably wouldn't hurt to look this ship up too for additional details. Nothing in Photoship.co.uk either, but got some hits in the Scotsman's Newspaper Archive. You may want to check those out... -Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrecktec Posted 26 June , 2009 Share Posted 26 June , 2009 Hi Daniel I have checked up to 1930 and still no signs of another SS Hummersea, unless it was under about 250-tons, but that would have shown in Miramar, so it will be interesting to hear if anyone else can find it Cheers Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dundeesown Posted 26 June , 2009 Share Posted 26 June , 2009 It`s on communigate site This is The NorthEast Journal 6 Gary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Lowrey Posted 26 June , 2009 Share Posted 26 June , 2009 Gary, The page you are referring to http://www.communigate.co.uk/ne/lingdaleit...ry/page82.phtml is simply not reliable when it comes to this. It's as simple as that. For example, the Cattersty was a steamer built in 1894 for the Skinningrove Iron Co., Ltd. (T. C. Hutchinson), Middlesbrough. She was resold in 1915 to R. A. Constantine & T. H. Donking, Middlesbrough and renamed Taywood. By 1927, she Estonian and had been renamed Valve. Best wishes, Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 26 June , 2009 Share Posted 26 June , 2009 Hi all, Kind of interesting that there is so little on this ship (but perhaps not so surprising). If we have no success by the next time I get to NYPL I will ask them to pull more copies of Lloyd's for a look. Michael, if I do go, and you are interested in more look ups, let me know. Oh, and nothing in Hockings, either. -Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 6 July , 2009 Share Posted 6 July , 2009 Hi all, It just occurred to me that as this ship was not lost due to enemy action, it may have an entry in the Wreck Reports held at Southampton Libraries, here: http://www.plimsoll.org/WrecksAndAccidents...rts/default.asp 'Hummersea' does not come up via the search feature, but that does not necessarily mean anything. Roy, I would recommend sending them an email to see what (if anything) they have. I recently requested two reports not listed via the web site, they had both and mailed them to me free of charge. I hope that should you find success you share with the rest of the class... Happy hunting... -Daniel EDIT: I pinged my contact over there this afternoon...hopefully I will have a reply soon as to whether they have anything or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 8 July , 2009 Share Posted 8 July , 2009 Hi all, Here's what my contact at Southampton Library had to say about the SS Hummersea: Our file of inquiry reports do not include one on the loss of the Hummersea. She is listed in the Board of Trade returns in the section on missing vessels but with little more detail than you already have. According to this entry, she was 18 years, a steel steam ship, carrying a cargo of pig iron. The Hummersea was not heard of since sailing from Middlesbrough for Caen on 29 December 1915. 12 lives were lost. Lloyd's Register of Shipping returns for 1916 also list the Hummersea's loss under the heading of missing vessels. According to the website of the National Register of Archives, the records of the Skinningrove Iron Co have been deposited at 2 locations - Corus Northern Regional Record Centre Commerce Way Skippers Lane Industrial Estate South Bank Middlesbrough TS6 6UT England Tel: 01642 468672 Corus Colors Regional Record Centre Shotton Works Deeside CH5 2NH Wales Tel: 01244 812345 I am sorry not to have been able to help you further. I now pass the baton on to whomever wants to pursue this further. Best of luck. -Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now