Discovery of wreckage

[Tony P]

In May, 1962, the tug Kenley reported that on several occasions her towing wire had fouled an obstruction approximately one and a half cables South of No. 6 jetty, B.P.Refinery. A close hydrographic survey of the area was carried out, and the echo sounder traces showed that the bottom was extremely irregular, and strewn with what appeared to be numerous pieces of wreckage, in some cases projecting several feet out of the silt of the river bed. The current Admiralty chart gave no indication of a wreck being in this area.

On the 9th July, 1962, a diving survey over the main concentration of wreckage, confirmed that the area was indeed strewn with numerous pieces of steelwork, some enveloped by silt and others projecting out of it at various heights and angles of repose. The wreckage collectively was not of any definite shape or form, but just an irregular heap of distorted pieces of metal. One piece of steel plating which was recoved early on in the survey had been twisted and torn by the force of an extremely violent explosion. Other pieces of steel were then recoved, similarly riven and distorted, which led to the reasonable conclusion that the entire wreckage could only be the result of an explosion of great magnitude.

It was known that H.M.S.Princess Irene, a minelayer of 6,000 tons, had been destroyed by an internal explosion off the Isle of Grain In Saltpan Reach on the 27th May 1915, with the tragic loss of 274 lives, and all the evidence so far indicated that the weckage now located off No.6 Jetty, was that of the Princess Irene. It was agreed that a joint survey of the area should be carried out, using a lifting craft and divers from H.M.Dockyard. The survey took place between the 20th and 25th August, 1962 and confirmed that a considerable area of the river bed was strewn with wreckage, some pieces standing clear of the bottom for as much as 6 feet. During this survey (Jumbo) the lifting craft, recovered three badly damaged Boiler Drums approximately 14 feet in length and of 3 feet 6 inches diameter. The drums were deposited on Bridge Wharf Depot, Rochester, and a careful examination revealed that on one boiler drum, the maker's name, and number and test mark were still intact. The maker name being Babcock and Wilcox, the makers, detailed their representative to examine the boiler drum in question, and later confirmed in writing that the firm's records showed that the water tube boilers of this type had been fitted in H.M.S.Princess Irene, thereby establishing the identity of the surrounding wreckage beyond any reasonable doubt.

The Admiralty were informed that the wreckage had been identified as being that of H.M.S.Princess Irene and were requested to buoy and clear the wreck. In October, 1962 a sweep survey by H.M.S.Echo showed the area as foul at 23 feet below Chart Datum. This information was promulgated by a notice to Mariners. At the same time, as a result of strong representations by the Medway Pilots Association, and in the absence of any positive action by the Admiralty, the Conservancy Board undertook to mark the wreck by means of a lighted wreck buoy.

See you later

Best Wishes

Tony P

[stiletto_33853]

Tony,

Great piece on the Princess Irene, thanks for posting this.

Andy

[historydavid]

That is a very informative report, Tony.

The fact that the Admiralty did not "know" the wreck/wreckage was there probably accounts for the Princess Irene not having been declared a war grave.

Best wishes

David

[Jonathan Saunders]

Tony, I am going to need to find my file on the IRENE. I cant believe they did not know the location of the wreck in 1915. The question for me, is why did they forget about it.