Source Richard Cox Collection
Official No: 99135
Builder: J. Readhead & Sons, West Yard, South Shields
Launched: 10 June 1891
Pennant No: Y 3.636
Into Service: 29 April 1915
Out of service: 27 December 1916
Fate: 27 December 1916 captured and scuttled
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: One of an additional group of ships requisitioned by the Admiralty during WW1 to augment the ships of the RFA
Career Data:
10 June 1891 launched by J. Readhead & Sons, West Yard, South Shields, Newcastle-upon-Tyne as Yard Nr: 272 named ETHELGONDA for John H. Harrowing, Whitby
11June 1891 the Shields Daily Gazette reported –
July 1891 completed
22 December 1891 sailed Barry for Genoa
23 July 1892 passed Ushant sailing east bound
29 July 1893 sailed Gibraltar for Antwerp
26 June 1896 passed Prawle Point when on passage from New Orleans to Rotterdam
4 June 1897 wrecked near Micoud, St Lucia on passage from Buenos Aires to Boston carrying wool
20 September 1897 was refloated and later sold
1898 sold to Charles Hill & Sons, Bristol name unchanged
1899 sold to A. Harrowing, Whitby and renamed AISLABY
1901 owners restyled as J.H. Harrowing, Whitby – name unchanged
1905 sold to Asolvesby Steamship Co Ltd (R. Harrowing & Co, Managers) Whitby – name unchanged
1911 sold to Wm. Coupland & Co, Newcastle – name unchanged
20 August 1914 was stopped and boarded in the North Atlantic by the Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS MARMORA in position 44°28N 08°25W and was allowed to proceed
21 August 1914 was challenged in the North Atlantic by the 2nd Class Cruiser HMS VINDICTIVE in position 46°38N 07°01W
HMS VINDICTIVE
29 April 1915 requisitioned for Admiralty service as a collier until 15 April 1916
6 October 1916 re-deployed as an Admiralty collier until …
27 December 1916 captured by German Submarine U-46 (Kptlt. Alfred Saalwächter) and scuttled with explosives in the Bay of Biscay 10 miles off Estaca Point, El Ferol in position 43°51N 07°28W when on passage from Lisbon to Bilbao in ballast. Her Master was taken prisoner
Notes:
Another (German) source gives her loss position as 43°58N 07°30W