Official No: 108314
Class: Stores Carrier
Pennant No: Y 9.26
Tonnages: 2662 grt 1617 nrt dwt
Dimensions: 330.2 x 41.2 x 14.9 ft
Machinery: T. 3 cyl 25½” 41½” & 68” – 45” by G. Clark Ltd, Sunderland. 402 nhp. Single screw.
Official No: 108314
Class: Stores Carrier
Pennant No: Y 9.26
Tonnages: 2662 grt 1617 nrt dwt
Dimensions: 330.2 x 41.2 x 14.9 ft
Machinery: T. 3 cyl 25½” 41½” & 68” – 45” by G. Clark Ltd, Sunderland. 402 nhp. Single screw.
Items of historic interest involving this ship:-
Background Data:
One of an additional group of ships requisitioned by the Admiralty in WW1 to supplement the ships of the RFA.
Career Data:
22 January 1898 launched by Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd, Deptford Yard, Sunderland as Yard Nr 562 named UMGENI for Bullard, King & Co, London.
March 1898 completed
23 March 1898 sailed London to East African ports. Master – Captain R Lewis
3 November 1898 sailed London to East African ports. Master – Captain R Lewis
12 January 1899 sailed London to East African ports. Master – Captain R Lewis
27 July 1899 sailed London to East African ports. Master – Captain R Lewis
21 March 1907 on the River Thames at Erith sailing down river at Halfway Reach in thick fog in collision with ss Cadeby of Hull causing considerable damage to the Cadeby and suffering minor damage to Umgeni’s bow
2 July 1907 before the Admiralty Division of the High Court – Mr Justice Bargrave Deane and with Trinity House advisors the above collision was heard in Court II
30 January 1914 she was the ship chosen by General Smuts to (illegally) deport the ten leaders of the Rand Rioters following strikes and disturbances in Johannesburg. She sailed Durban this day for Las Palmas and London. The nine deported were one from Holland, one from Australia, two from England and five from Scotland. One who escaped capture came from an unstated country and missed the boat.
15 February 1914 arrived at Las Palmas and anchored. The Master refused to permit anyone, including the press, to board and the ship displayed the Quarantine Flag – despite the ships Doctor admitting there was no illness onboard.
24 February 1914 anchored off Gravesend
23 December 1914 requisitioned by the Admiralty for service as a Stores Carrier, name unchanged.
17April 1916 returned to her owners.
7 November 1917 sailed from the Clyde in convoy for Lagos. Her Master was Captain John C Brett
9 November 1917 the convoy encountered heavy weather and dispersed and UMGENI was presumed to have sunk with the loss of approx 48 lives as bodies and wreckage were washed up along the West coast of Ireland.
Captain Brett and the merchant seaman crew are remembered with pride on the Tower Hill Memorial. Three RNVR seaman are remembered with pride on the Chatham Naval Memorial and the Plymouth Naval Memorial. Lieutenant George W A Kingham, West African Frontier Force who was also on board is buried in Paddington Cemetery in grave 1 D 10387