HMT Rhodesia
Trawler Rhodesia Photo: Ian Crawford Collection
HMT Rhodesia. (No 1215) 09/04/1915
Displacement: 155 grt.
Length: 30.5 m. Beam: 6.4 m. Draught: 4.3 m.
Propulsion: 1 x 3-cyl. triple expansion engine, single shaft, 1 screw, 1 boiler, ketch rigged
Complement: officers and men.
Crew Lost: 0
Armament:
Displacement: 155 grt.
Length: 30.5 m. Beam: 6.4 m. Draught: 4.3 m.
Propulsion: 1 x 3-cyl. triple expansion engine, single shaft, 1 screw, 1 boiler, ketch rigged
Complement: officers and men.
Crew Lost: 0
Armament:
Hull Steam Fishing & Ice Co. Ltd House Flag
Iron trawler Rhodesia built by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd., Beverley (Hull) in 1899 for Hull Steam Fishing & Ice Co. Ltd., Hull and registered as H443.
Eastern Morning News - Tuesday 10 January 1899
The second return from Hull is that of Messrs Cook, Welton,
and Gemmell, who also build a large number of vessels for
the trades of Grimsby and Hull, and still use iron largely in
the construction. Their return is:--
COOK, WELTON, AND GEMMELL. HULL.
Name, Description, and Gross Tons lcd.
Port of Registry. Name, Register. H.P.
Rhodesia (iron), Hull ..........................55 220
Hired by the Admiralty in 1915 as an auxiliary patrol vessel,
Eastern Morning News - Tuesday 10 January 1899
The second return from Hull is that of Messrs Cook, Welton,
and Gemmell, who also build a large number of vessels for
the trades of Grimsby and Hull, and still use iron largely in
the construction. Their return is:--
COOK, WELTON, AND GEMMELL. HULL.
Name, Description, and Gross Tons lcd.
Port of Registry. Name, Register. H.P.
Rhodesia (iron), Hull ..........................55 220
Hired by the Admiralty in 1915 as an auxiliary patrol vessel,
History
Yarmouth Gazette and North Norfolk Constitutionalist - Saturday 10 June 1899
Strange Death At Sea.—A smacksman named W.J. Johnson, who removed to Hull during the recent period of trawling depression, has been drowned from the Red Cross steam trawler Rhodesia. The vessel was about to leave the fleet for Hull, when Johnson remarked to the cook, who is also a Gorleston man, '' Good bye, I am going,” and was next seen in the sea. Before any rescue could be effected he had sunk.
Strange Death At Sea.—A smacksman named W.J. Johnson, who removed to Hull during the recent period of trawling depression, has been drowned from the Red Cross steam trawler Rhodesia. The vessel was about to leave the fleet for Hull, when Johnson remarked to the cook, who is also a Gorleston man, '' Good bye, I am going,” and was next seen in the sea. Before any rescue could be effected he had sunk.
The Loss
Wrecked near South end of Tulm Island, Isle of Skye. in 57.41.20N, 06.20.40W); no lives lost
The Wreck
There is a charted wreck at the south end of Tulm Island just off the NW coast of Skye. The wreck card 1920 identifies the wreck as HMT Rhodesia. The wreck card was created in 1930 with the first entry being:
''H5348/30 17.9.30 WK CLOSE E OF SE END OF REEF OFF SOUTH END OF TULM ISLAND 40 YARDS FROM SHORE HULL IS NEARLY AWASH AT LOW WATER, MAST SHOWING AT HIGH WATER. (AUTHORITY NOT STATED). GIVES APPROX POSN 574111N, 062051W. NCA.''
In 1978 the wreck was reported to be in generally good condition.
''H5348/30 17.9.30 WK CLOSE E OF SE END OF REEF OFF SOUTH END OF TULM ISLAND 40 YARDS FROM SHORE HULL IS NEARLY AWASH AT LOW WATER, MAST SHOWING AT HIGH WATER. (AUTHORITY NOT STATED). GIVES APPROX POSN 574111N, 062051W. NCA.''
In 1978 the wreck was reported to be in generally good condition.
Charted wreck reported as HMT Rhodesia. Chart 2210.
www.naval-history.net/ has HMT Rhodesia listed as being lost on ''Obb Rock S of Tulm Is,''.
Monday 19 April
RHODESIA (1), Admiralty trawler, 155/1899, Hull Steam Fishing & Ice, Hull-reg H443, hired 1/15 as auxiliary patrol vessel, Admiralty No.1215, Skipper Philip Marr RNR (wi - A Gibson, Captain). Wrecked near Stornoway, Isle of Lewis (He/wi - on Obb Rock, S of Tulm Is, South Harris, in 57.41.20N, 06.20.40W); no lives lost (+Lr/C/D/He/dk/hw/wi)
Thursday 27 May
ROLULU, Admiralty trawler, 170/1909, George F Sleight, Grimsby-reg GY399, hired 4/15 as auxiliary patrol vessel, Admiralty No.1468, Skipper James Hodson RNR. Hebrides area, ran aground on Obb Rock, S of Tulm Is, South Harris in bad weather and wrecked, listed heavily to port but stern remained above water long enough for crew to be taken off; no lives lost (+Lr/C/D/He/dk; ADM.137/117) See: HERE
Monday 19 April
RHODESIA (1), Admiralty trawler, 155/1899, Hull Steam Fishing & Ice, Hull-reg H443, hired 1/15 as auxiliary patrol vessel, Admiralty No.1215, Skipper Philip Marr RNR (wi - A Gibson, Captain). Wrecked near Stornoway, Isle of Lewis (He/wi - on Obb Rock, S of Tulm Is, South Harris, in 57.41.20N, 06.20.40W); no lives lost (+Lr/C/D/He/dk/hw/wi)
Thursday 27 May
ROLULU, Admiralty trawler, 170/1909, George F Sleight, Grimsby-reg GY399, hired 4/15 as auxiliary patrol vessel, Admiralty No.1468, Skipper James Hodson RNR. Hebrides area, ran aground on Obb Rock, S of Tulm Is, South Harris in bad weather and wrecked, listed heavily to port but stern remained above water long enough for crew to be taken off; no lives lost (+Lr/C/D/He/dk; ADM.137/117) See: HERE
