Tim Posted 14 April , 2007 Share Posted 14 April , 2007 OK one for naval historians out there. Back in the 1960's parts of Homebush Bay on the Parramatta River, was used as a ship breaking up yard. Today there are hulks of the ships that never were completely broken up and just left to rust. There are two vessels there that have a military history and they lay side by side together. The vessel in question is this "little" tug. Heroic - a steel tugboat, built at South Shields, United Kingdom in 1909 by J.P. Rennoldson & Sons, 268 tons and 38.10m in length. Registered in Sydney as folio 25 of 1909, Official Number 125198. Built for Thomas Fenwick of Sydney, the famous Sydney tug towed an ex-French three-masted warship Eure to Sydney from Noumea for breaking-up in 1911. Commandeered by the British Admiralty during World War One and renamed Epic, it was engaged in rescue work off the Scilly Isles. It arrived home in 1919. The Heroic rescued the freighter Allara when torpedoed off Sydney during World War Two. It is unclear when Heroic was hulked at Homebush Bay although c.1973 it was sold to J.B. Mullins who intended to rename the vessel Bustler II. Source: Maritime Archaeology Unit, NSW Heritage Office Does anyone have info whatsoever on this tug's service in WWI? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kin47 Posted 14 April , 2007 Share Posted 14 April , 2007 Hello There were three deaths in EPIC in 1918. No other deaths appear in WWI or interwar years. MYLER JEREMIAH FIREMAN, Mercantile Marine Reserve 899061 EPIC 13-Apr-18 DIED IN OPEN BOAT CRAIG ALEXANDER TY/ENGINEER S/LT, RNR EPIC 04-Nov-18 DROWNING FLANAGAN WILLIAM J. ASST COOK, Mercantile Marine Reserve 881022 EPIC 20-Nov-18 ILLNESS Hope this bit helps. All best don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Posted 14 April , 2007 Author Share Posted 14 April , 2007 Cheers Don. Much appreciated. Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellow Posted 14 April , 2007 Share Posted 14 April , 2007 Do you plan buying the Tug and restoring it Tim? Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Posted 14 April , 2007 Author Share Posted 14 April , 2007 I think she's well beyond that Steve! So is poor HMAS Karangi who lies besides her. They are both under the "care" of the NSW Heritage Office, so not for sale anyway. It truly is a sad end to these two vessels. Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARABIS Posted 20 June , 2007 Share Posted 20 June , 2007 OK one for naval historians out there. Back in the 1960's parts of Homebush Bay on the Parramatta River, was used as a ship breaking up yard. Today there are hulks of the ships that never were completely broken up and just left to rust. There are two vessels there that have a military history and they lay side by side together. The vessel in question is this "little" tug. Heroic - a steel tugboat, built at South Shields, United Kingdom in 1909 by J.P. Rennoldson & Sons, 268 tons and 38.10m in length. Registered in Sydney as folio 25 of 1909, Official Number 125198. Built for Thomas Fenwick of Sydney, the famous Sydney tug towed an ex-French three-masted warship Eure to Sydney from Noumea for breaking-up in 1911. Commandeered by the British Admiralty during World War One and renamed Epic, it was engaged in rescue work off the Scilly Isles. It arrived home in 1919. The Heroic rescued the freighter Allara when torpedoed off Sydney during World War Two. It is unclear when Heroic was hulked at Homebush Bay although c.1973 it was sold to J.B. Mullins who intended to rename the vessel Bustler II. Source: Maritime Archaeology Unit, NSW Heritage Office Does anyone have info whatsoever on this tug's service in WWI? Hello Tim, Just a little more info about Epic from "British Warships 1914-1919". Pendant No. Jan. 1918 - W.22. Admiralty service from 3/5/1917 to 17/5/1920. David. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
historydavid Posted 20 June , 2007 Share Posted 20 June , 2007 Hello Tim, the Epic was used as a Rescue Tug during the war. Best wishes David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lörscher Posted 21 June , 2007 Share Posted 21 June , 2007 Tim, here are some of her rescue-efforts during WW 1: 07.04.1918 british S/S WAR TEMPLAR was torpedoed by german U 53 170 miles SW of Eddystone, was towed into Devonport by EPIC, BLAZER, REVENGER, PLUNGER and ICTOR 15.05.1918 british S/S WAR GRANGE was torpedoed by german U 55 in Newquay area, was towed in by EPIC and BLAZER and beached 08.08.1918 american S/S WESTWARD HO was torpedoed by german U 62 in Bay of Biscay, was towed in by EPIC and WOONDA, reaching Brest on 12.08.1918 16.08.1918 american S/S WEST BRIDGE was torpedoed by german U 90 in Bay of Biscay, was towed in by EPIC and WOONDA over 400 miles, reaching Brest, France, on 22.09.1918 For the latter two vessels you can find some more info on the net, especially some photos at www.navsource.org best wishes from Germany Oliver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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