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SS Trebartha

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History
United Kingdom
NameTrebartha
NamesakeTrebartha Hall
OwnerHain Steamship Company
OperatorHain Steamship Company
BuilderJohn Readhead and Sons Ltd
Yard number463
Launched31 August 1920
CompletedDecember 1920
In serviceDecember 1920
Out of service12 November 1940
General characteristics
TypeCargo ship
Tonnage4,597 GRT
Length400 ft LBP (121.92m)[1] 414 ft o.a (126.18 m)[2]
Beam52 ft (15.85m)[2]
Depth28 ft 6" (8.69 m)[2]
Decks2, Steel. Main and Shelter deck.
Installed powerSteam engine
PropulsionScrew propeller

The SS Trebartha was a 4,597 GRT cargo carrying steamship built in 1920 by John Readhead & Sons Ltd of South Shields for the Hain Steamship Company.[3]: 66  She was attacked by German aircraft on the 11th November and sank on the 12th November 1940.[4]

Building

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Named after Trebartha Hall; a photograph of her namesake was hung in the ship’s smokeroom.[5]

Sister ships

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Trebartha’s sister ships were SS Trevorian and SS Tredinnick, J. Readhead & Sons yard numbers 462 and 464 respectively.[6]

SS Trevorian sank in the North Sea on 29 November 1943 after a collision with the Icelandic trawler Oli Garda.[7]

SS Tredinnick was torpedoed 25 or 29 March 1942 (sources conflict as to the date)[8] by the Italian submarine Pietro Calvi on passage from New York to Table Bay and lost with all hands.[3]: 68 

Cargo ship career

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After conducting her sea trials off the River Tyne[9] Trebartha departed Avonmouth on 24 December 1920 for Liverpool and sailed on 1 Jan 1921[10] for Fremantle; Adelaide; Melbourne; Sydney; and Brisbane[11] under the command of Captain J.H. Pelham.[12]

A letter published in The Fremantle Times Feb 1921 from the Second Officer S.G. Roach reported a ship’s cricket team had been formed by the officers and cadets and would be pleased to play local amateur teams when the ship reached Australia – providing the local teams could provide the bats.[13]

Trebartha arrived in Fremantle at 1240 p.m 17 February 1921[14] before then calling at Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney on the 2, 7, and 14 March.[15][16][17] Whilst in Sydney the apprentice Samuel Hills, aged 16, was overcome by fumigating gas when removing hatch covers and fell 40 ft into No. 2 Hold.[18]

Trebartha sailed from Sydney 24 March with a cargo of 97,608 bags of wheat for the State Wheat Board.[19] After bunkering at Fremantle[20] and passing through the Suez Canal[21] she finished her maiden voyage by arriving in London on 24 May 1921.[22]

On Saturday 29 April 1922 a cricket match was played between the officers of the Trebartha and the Port Pirie YMCA,[23] and in November 1923 another match was played in Port Pirie against High School for a score of 123 runs to 134.[24]

She is recorded as having departed from an unknown port of New Guinea 6 September 1924 with a cargo of 1,911 tons of copra valued at £37,503.[25]

On 5 May 1925, on return from Australia with a cargo of 3058 tons of Port Pirie loaded loose lead concentrates for Antwerp[26] via Rabaul, Kaeweing, Madang, Marseilles and Hull[27] Trebartha stranded on a reef near Nasalomon Island[28] and was refloated in the early hours of 8 May after unloading 500 tons of copra cargo.[29] After proceeding to Rabaul for examination she was declared sea-worthy and continued her voyage.[30] She was under the command of Captain J. Symonds.[28]

She was laid up in the River Fal 16 March 1930 to 27 November 1931.[3]: 126 

During the winter of 1934-1935 she was trapped in ice in the harbour of Vladivostok for nearly a month, Captain T. H. Stanbury telling The Sydney Morning Herald on 22 February that the Chief Officer E.A. Jenkins was almost lost falling through thin ice as he inspected the propeller.[31]

In December 1938 poor weather in the Pacific Ocean on her way from Townsville to St. John’s diminished her usual stores, Captain Barrett then deciding to make a diversion to Pearl Harbor where she was bunkered with 200 tons of coal from US Naval stores.[4][32][33]

On 28 April 1939 the top 20 ft of her after-mast snapped whilst unloading cargo at Woolloomooloo, with the entire mast being replaced in Melbourne.[34]

On 19 January 1940 the Trebartha was involved in a collision with S.S. Cymbeline in Suez Bay which considerably damaged her stem and port bow. Repairs were carried out in Newcastle in March. Trebartha was later found by the British Admiralty Court to be three quarters to blame for the collision.[4][35]

Wartime convoys

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The Trebartha was an active ship: the following are her movements for 1940 and her known convoys.[36][4]

  • Sd. Columbo 31/12 for Suez arr. 15/1/1940. In Suez Rds 17/1. Collision on 19/01. Sd. Port Said for Gibraltar arr. 07/02.
  • Convoy HG 18 Gibraltar 9/2/40 for London arr. 19/2.
  • Sd. for Tyne 28/02 Anch. Southend 29/02
  • Convoy FN 9 Southend 2/03/40 for Tyne arr. 4/03/40
  • Repairs at Newcastle upon Tyne 07/03/1940
  • Convoy FS 44 Tyne 12/04 arr. Southend 14/4
  • Convoy OA 13OG Sd. Southend 16/4 passed Dover 16/4 to form Convoy OG 26 Arr. Gibraltar 25/4
  • Sd. Gibraltar 28/4 for Algiers arr. 30/4 Sd. Algiers 4/5 for Bône Arr. 4/5. Sd. Bône 7/5 for Gibraltar Arr. 11/5
  • Convoy HGF 30 Sd. 12/5 Arr. Greenock 22/5 Sd. 23/5 damaged 23/5. Repairs at Clyde 30/5. Sd Greenock 4/6. Arr. Newport 6/6 Sd. Milford Haven 28/6. Listed as member of Convoys OB 174 and OB 175
  • Arr. Buenos Aires 30/7 Dep. 6/8 for Rosario arr. 10/8. Sd Rosario for B. Aires Arr. 17/8 Sd. 22/8 for Freetown arr. 10/9.
  • Convoy SL48 Sd. 19/9 Arr. Methil Roads 11/10. Convoy FS 311 Sd. 16/10 to pass Southend 18/10. Repairs London 24/10. Sd. Gravesent 7/11. Anchored Southend 7/11. Sd. Southend 8/11 with Convoy FN 329
  • Arr. Methil Roads 10/11
  • EN23 Sd. 11/11 Attacked 4 miles SE Aberdeen 11/11 abandoned sunk 12/11
  • Intended journey London 06/11 to Philadelphia 20/11 for cargo of scrap and steel.

Loss

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On 11 November 1940, the Trebartha was a member of the northbound Methil to Oban Convoy EN 23, on her way in ballast from London to Philadelphia for a cargo of scrap and steel.[4][36]

Coming up the east coast of Scotland, the convoy was attacked by a Heinkel He 111 at 1358, the escorting Avro Anson N.5372 successfully diverting it away; although they were unable to intercept.[37] Four miles SE of Aberdeen [4] the convoy was harried again by a German Heinkel He 115 of 706 Küstenfliegergruppe[38] which attacked and sank both the Trebartha and the SS Creemuir, with loss of four of the Trebartha's crew;[39] and twenty-seven[40] or twenty-nine [41] of the Creemuir's.

Trebartha was struck by an HE bomb, penetrating the bridge and saloon and setting the bridge space bunkers alight.[41] As the men abandoned ship the enemy aircraft machine-gunned the survivor’s boats in the light of the burning ship.[39]: 126–127  They were picked up by the Dutch cargo steamer SS Oberon which, escorted by the lifeboat Emma Constance, put into Aberdeen where the surviving crew of Trebartha and Creemuir were taken to the Seaman's Mission.[42][41]

The abandoned Trebartha drifted in the SSE wind[42] onto the rocks north of Cove Harbour, where she sank the next day.[4] She was reported in December 1940 to have broken in two, "the parts lying on their sides 50 feet apart in about 7 fathoms of water."[43]

Those killed on the Trebartha were 1st Radio Officer Robert Allison McPhillimy, 32; 2nd Radio Officer Charles Arthur Samuel Ractliff, 26; 3rd Radio Officer Francis David Ruffel, 19 and Leading Seaman John William Bennett S1635 RANR, 27.[44]

Present day

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The wreck was commercially salvaged around 1950, the explosives used caused the collapse of the tip of the nearby “Poor Man” sea stack.[45]: 31 

The ship’s bell was trawled up around 1999 and auctioned on eBay in 2010.[44]

This is the photogrammetry 3D model of the SS Trebartha Wreck Rudder and Steering Quadrant

According to the latest update from the (BSAC) British Sub-Aqua Club 0906, Deeside Sub Aqua Club, who regularly dive the wreck and post wreck condition reports that the steering quadrant is still visible and upright.[46]

References

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  1. ^ "Profile & Deck Plans For Trevorian 1919 | Documents". Hec.lrfoundation.org.uk. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  2. ^ a b c ""THE TREBARTHA." Daily Commercial News and Shipping List (Sydney, NSW: 1891 - 1954)". Nla.gov.au. 16 December 1920.
  3. ^ a b c O'Donoghue, K.J.; Appleyard, H.S. (1986). Hain of St Ives. World Ship Society. ISBN 0-905617-41-X.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Merchant shipping movement card: Trebartha. BT 389/30/99 National Archives Kew
  5. ^ Bryan Latham (1971). Trebartha: the House by the Stream. Hutchinson. p. 177. ISBN 978-0-09-105390-1.
  6. ^ "Profile & Deck Plans For Trevorian 1919 | Documents | Archive & Library | Heritage & Education Centre". hec.lrfoundation.org.uk.
  7. ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Trevorian: North Sea (101752)". Canmore.
  8. ^ "Boats". Regiamarina.net.
  9. ^ ""NEW STEAMER TREBARTHA." Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954)". Nla.gov.au. 3 February 1921.
  10. ^ ""SHIPPING REVIEW." Daily Commercial News and Shipping List (Sydney, NSW: 1891 - 1954)". Nla.gov.au. 12 January 1921.
  11. ^ ""SHIPPING." The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW: 1883 - 1930)". Nla.gov.au. 1 January 1921.
  12. ^ ""FREMANTLE POLICE COURT." The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954)". Nla.gov.au. 6 April 1921.
  13. ^ ""To the Editor." The Fremantle Times (WA : 1919 - 1921, 1932)". Nla.gov.au. 18 February 1921.
  14. ^ ""SHIPPING." The West Australian (Perth, WA: 1879 – 1954)". Nla.gov.au. 18 February 1921.
  15. ^ ""SHIPPING NEWS." The Express and Telegraph (Adelaide, SA: 1867 – 1922)". Nla.gov.au. 2 March 1921.
  16. ^ ""MAILS AND SHIPPING" The Herald (Melbourne, Vic.: 1861 - 1954)". Nla.gov.au. 7 March 1921.
  17. ^ ""SHIPPING" The Sun (Sydney, NSW: 1910 – 1954)". Nla.gov.au. 14 March 1921.
  18. ^ ""Overcome by Fumes" Evening News (Sydney, NSW: 1869 - 1931)". Nla.gov.au. 19 March 1921.
  19. ^ ""EXPORT MANIFESTS." Daily Commercial News and Shipping List (Sydney, NSW: 1891 - 1954)". Nla.gov.au. 2 April 1921.
  20. ^ ""S.S. TREBARTHA." The Daily News (Perth, WA: 1882 - 1950)". Nla.gov.au. 5 April 1921.
  21. ^ ""BRITISH & FOREIGN SHIPPING." Daily Commercial News and Shipping List (Sydney, NSW: 1891 - 1954)". Nla.gov.au. 10 May 1921.
  22. ^ ""BRITISH & FOREIGN SHIPPING." Daily Commercial News and Shipping List (Sydney, NSW : 1891 - 1954)". Nla.gov.au. 1 June 1921.
  23. ^ ""CRICKET" Recorder (Port Pirie, SA: 1919 - 1954)". Nla.gov.au. 29 April 1922.
  24. ^ ""HIGH SCHOOL v. s.s. TREBARTHA." Recorder (Port Pirie, SA: 1919 - 1954)". Nla.gov.au. 24 November 1923.
  25. ^ "Australia. Governor-General and League of Nations. Report to the League of Nations on the administration of the Territory of New Guinea Melbourne: Govt. Printer". Nla.gov.au. 1922.
  26. ^ ""Commonwealth Export Manifests." Daily Commercial News and Shipping List (Sydney, NSW : 1891 - 1954)". Nla.gov.au. 22 April 1925.
  27. ^ ""VESSELS INWARD AND OUTWARD BOUND TO AND FROM AUSTRALASIAN PORTS." Daily Commercial News and Shipping List (Sydney, NSW : 1891 - 1954)". Nla.gov.au. 7 May 1925.
  28. ^ a b ""STRANDED." The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954)". Nla.gov.au. 7 May 1925.
  29. ^ ""TREBARTHA REFLOATED" The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947)". Nla.gov.au. 9 May 1925.
  30. ^ ""TREBARTHA AT RABAUL" The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 - 1930)". Nla.gov.au. 15 May 1925.
  31. ^ ""TRAMP SHIP" The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954)". Nla.gov.au. 22 February 1935.
  32. ^ "Coal from seabed (Pearl Harbour) after weather diversion "Tramp Coaled From Sea Bed" The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW: 1931 - 1954)". Nla.gov.au. 25 April 1939.
  33. ^ ""WHERE COAL IS PRECIOUS" The Newcastle Sun (NSW: 1918 - 1954)". Nla.gov.au. 26 April 1939.
  34. ^ ""SHIP'S MAST CRASHES" The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.: 1848 - 1957)". nla.gov.au. 3 May 1939.
  35. ^ ""LAW CASE." Daily Commercial News and Shipping List (Sydney, NSW: 1891 - 1954)". Nla.gov.au. 29 November 1941.
  36. ^ a b "ConvoyWeb". Convoyweb.org.uk.
  37. ^ AIR27/2112/36 Sqd. 612 Dyce Operational Records
  38. ^ "Seekrieg 1940, November". Wlb-stuttgart.de. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  39. ^ a b Hewitt, Nick (2008). Coastal Convoys 1939-1945: The Indestructible Highway. Pen & Sword Maritime. p. 127. ISBN 9781844158614.
  40. ^ "FAA Attack on Taranto, November 1940". Naval-history.net.
  41. ^ a b c MacDonald, Rod (2018). Deeper into Darkness. Whittles Publishing. ISBN 9781849953603.
  42. ^ a b "The S.S. Trebartha and the S.S. Oberan". Lifeboatmagazinearchive.rnli.org. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  43. ^ "Report Of Total Loss Casualty &c For Trebartha Undated | Documents". Hec.lrfoundation.org.uk. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  44. ^ a b "SS Trebartha [+1940]". Wrecksite.eu. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  45. ^ Gray, Douglas W. (2008). Cove Bay - A History. Koo Press. ISBN 9780955834028.
  46. ^ "Deeside Sub Aqua Club 0906". Deesidedivers.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
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