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​HMY Zarefah

Picture
HMY Zarefah.  (No 046)  08/05/1917
​
Displacement: 279 grt.

Length: 39.4  m.    Beam: 6.7 m.   Draught: 3.6 m.

Propulsion: 1 x 3-cyl. triple expansion engine, single shaft, 1 screw, 1 boiler

​Machinery:

Complement:   officers and men.

Armament: ​​2 x 3pdr.
The yacht Zarefah, built as Maretanza V  by George Brown & Co., Greenock in 1905 for Sir John Denison-Pender, . Zarefah was hired by the Royal Navy in 1914 and then purchased in 1916.

​At 6.30 pm  on the evening of the 8th May 1917  HMY Zarefah reported that several mines had been discovered, just showing, off Mull Head, near Kirkwall, Orkney.

​At 7.12 one mine was destroyed by HMY Zarefah despite a warning for the yacht to stay clear.

At 7.15 pm HMY Zarefah then struck a mine and sank with the loss of 16 crew. 
Motor launches approached the area and found that mines that were reported just showing on the surface had now dipped in the tide. 

The next day a seaplane was used to help spot the mines for the motor launches.

 Over the next few days the remaining 7 mines were destroyed or swept by minesweepers. (ADM 116-1517. Bi Monthly Mine-sweeping Reports, 1st to 15th June 1917. (120))

UC-31
​

HMY Zarefah struck a mine that had been laid one and a half hours earlier by UC-31 ( ​​Kptlt.Otto von Schrader). 

The KTB shows that at 7.22 pm (Berlin Time) 08/05/1917 UC-31 started laying the first of 3 mine lines, each consisting of 3 mines. Two lines were laid across the east end of The String and one line laid off Mull Head. 

At 9 14 pm (Berlin Time) A detonation is heard but cannot estimate distance. Propeller noises are then heard passing over the U Boat. 
​
The KTB  then reports that s
ince the boat has not been seen and no tracking of the boat has taken place, it is likely that the results of the mine laying will be successful​. ​
Picture
UC-31 mine lines 8/5/1917. (UKHO)




​The Wreck Today


UKHO wreck card ​1297.

1917 wreck was recorded in position 585920N, 024130W.

1926  inserted on chart NDWPA (1917)  (Non Dangerous Wreck Position Approximate (1917))

​

2002 The wreck of the HMY Zarefah was located by Andy Cuthbertson of the dive vessel MV Jean Elaine in position 
58°59,23'N  02°41,523'W.





Video of HMY Zarefah: HERE        taken by Ivan Houston​.

​
Video of engine and boiler:
​
​ ENGINE & BOILER

  
​Courtesy Scapa Scientific 

Gary Playfoot was one of the first divers on the wreck and kindly allowed us to use his story which can be downloaded here.. 


zarefah_story.pdf
File Size: 115 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Picture

The Crew - (Research ongoing)
​RNR
CUTHBERT, Benjamin, Ty/Sub Lieutenant, RNR
​
​GILBERT, Alfred S, Lieutenant, RNR
​KANE, James F, Ty/Sub Lieutenant, RNR
​MACIVER, Roderick, Seaman, RNR, A 5466
SMITH, Edward H, Signalman, RNVR
​STEPHEN, Alexander P, Ty/Lieutenant, RNR
​WALLACE, Herbert K, Leading Telegraphist, RNVR
​MMR
CARTER, John A, Assistant Steward, MMR
​GILBERT, William, Fireman, MMR
​GREEN, Albert E, Assistant Steward, MMR
​MAIN, Percy, Able Seaman, MMR, 746037
​MIDDLEWICK, William T, 2nd Engineer, MMR
​MUIR, Stanley, Fireman, MMR
​ST LEDGER, John H, Able Seaman, MMR
​TYLER, Peter, Able Seaman, MMR, 602114
​WEITZEL, Herbert E, Cook, MMR
Sponsors
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      • Steam Pinnace 288
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      • HM M.L. 62
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  • MERCHANT SHIPS
    • S.S. RUBY
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    • S.S. ARGUS
    • S.S. REMUS
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    • TRAWLER AMADAVAT
    • S.P. DRONE
  • OTHER TRAGEDIES
    • ORKNEY >
      • Orkney Tragedies
      • Lieut. Gerald F.W. Addison
      • Diver P.O. Alfred Edwin Church
      • A.B. William Sydney Wooldridge
      • A.B. Charles James Moody
      • Houton ''whaler'' tragedy
      • Orkney Rescues
    • RNAS AVIATION >
      • SSP 2
      • SSP 4
      • Short 74 Seaplane ''77''
    • SHETLAND >
      • Shetland Tragedies
      • Lieut. James Winstanley-Pochin R.N.
      • Lerwick Explosion
    • U BOATS >
      • WW1 U BOAT TYPES
      • SM U 18
      • SM U 36
      • SM U 77
      • SM U 92
      • SM U 102
      • SM UC 55
    • INTERNATIONAL >
      • U.S.S RICHARD BULKELEY
      • U.S.S. Curlew
  • MAP
  • MEDALS & AWARDS
  • Contact
  • Acknowledgements
  • Abbreviations
  • LINKS