S.S. Ruby.
BT 110/402/7 Registry of Shipping and Seamen
Lloyds Register of Shipping 1909
The Iron steamship S.S. Ruby was built by Fullerton J. & Co. Ltd., Paisley in 1882. 234 tons, 37.8m x 6.7m x 2.7 m.
1 x 2-cyl compound steam engine, 1 boiler, single shaft, 1 screw.
1 x 2-cyl compound steam engine, 1 boiler, single shaft, 1 screw.
Lloyds Drawings of SS Ruby 1882
This project obtained a set of Lloyds plans to help understand the layout of the vessel. It became immediately clear that the photo, used in books and websites to represent the S.S. Ruby, is not the vessel lost off Kirkwall in 1917.
The SS Ruby had an engine room midships with a mast fore and aft and the S.S. Ruby in the photo has engine room aft with the two masts forward of the engine room.
The S.S. Ruby in the photo is registered in Glasgow and the S.S. Ruby off Kirkwall was registered in Kirkwall (see Lloyds list below) The S.S. Ruby in the photo would be the one registered 956 on the list as the S.S. Ruby off Kirkwall is 957.
The S.S Ruby was owned at time of loss by Cooper W. & Son, Kirkwall, having been purchased from Mitchell & Rae Ltd on 25th February 1915 (BT 110/402).
The SS Ruby had an engine room midships with a mast fore and aft and the S.S. Ruby in the photo has engine room aft with the two masts forward of the engine room.
The S.S. Ruby in the photo is registered in Glasgow and the S.S. Ruby off Kirkwall was registered in Kirkwall (see Lloyds list below) The S.S. Ruby in the photo would be the one registered 956 on the list as the S.S. Ruby off Kirkwall is 957.
The S.S Ruby was owned at time of loss by Cooper W. & Son, Kirkwall, having been purchased from Mitchell & Rae Ltd on 25th February 1915 (BT 110/402).
Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1914-15
S.S. Ruby was put into service on the Leith run in February 1917 as a replacement to S.S. Express (I).
Orkney Herald, and Weekly Advertiser and Gazette for the Orkney & Zetland Islands - Wednesday 24 January 1917
THE LOSS
On the 28th March 1917 the S.S. Ruby, with a crew of 7, left Leith for Kirkwall with 180 tons of general cargo. On the morning of the 29th March 1917 the S.S. Ruby was passing along the swept channel steaming west into Kirkwall.
Chart showing swept channel and mines found March 1917 - ADM 137/1887
At 10.10am, approximately 2 miles south of Auskerry, S.S. Ruby struck a mine and sank almost instantly.
ADM 137/3984 - Enemy submarines: particulars of attacks on merchant vessels in home waters
The Survivor
A deckhand who was working in the galley jumped overboard as the ship went down and clung to a barrel. He then swam to the ships boat which had floated free. It was 30 minutes before he was picked up by a patrol vessel. He was the only survivor. Recent research by Wendy Sadler in the National Archives has now discovered his identity. He was A.B. John Harrold. This was further confirmed when the crew list was obtained (BT 99/3289). Research is ongoing to find out more about him.
ADM 137/1888 - Secret packs of the Commander in Chief Grand Fleet Volume VIII
BT 99/3289 - Crew List S.S. Ruby.
Footnote: After the loss of the SS Ruby Coopers & Son purchased the S.S. Hebridean and renamed the vessel S.S. Express (II). This vessel was lost on 09/02/1918 in a collision with HMS Grenville north of the Pentland Skerries.
See: SS-Express.
UC-44 or UC-42?
UC-44.
Many books including the main WW1 U-Boat reference books ''The Trade Warfare with U-boats'' (1932) A.Spindler, and ''British Vessels Lost at Sea'' (HMSO) give the date for the loss of S.S. Ruby as 28th March 1917 and this led to the misattribution to the U boat UC-44 (Kurt Tebbenjohanns) as being responsible for laying the mine that sank SS Ruby.
UC-44 had laid 3 mines close to Mull Head, 100m apart on the 9th February 1917,(UC-44 KTB). (Minensperre 7)
The KTB translation:
09. Feb. 1917, 12h52, Course 45°, Mull Head at our stern, on port, about 500 m. I dropped 3 mines,
Many books including the main WW1 U-Boat reference books ''The Trade Warfare with U-boats'' (1932) A.Spindler, and ''British Vessels Lost at Sea'' (HMSO) give the date for the loss of S.S. Ruby as 28th March 1917 and this led to the misattribution to the U boat UC-44 (Kurt Tebbenjohanns) as being responsible for laying the mine that sank SS Ruby.
UC-44 had laid 3 mines close to Mull Head, 100m apart on the 9th February 1917,(UC-44 KTB). (Minensperre 7)
The KTB translation:
09. Feb. 1917, 12h52, Course 45°, Mull Head at our stern, on port, about 500 m. I dropped 3 mines,
Mine Map from KTB UC-44
This area. covering all three mines, was searched with magnetometer in December 2019 with no results.
UC-44 had also been credited with laying the mine that damaged HMS Albacore on 09/03/1917.
In December 2019 a project was conducted, by SULA Diving for HES, to locate the bow of HMS Albacore. While researching for this project it was established that it was UC-55 that had laid the mine that caused the damage to HMS Albacore and not UC-44. See here: HMS-Albacore.
It was decided to also reassess the loss of SS Ruby.
UC-42.
Research in March 2020 by Michael Lowrey, Kevin Heath, and Simon Schnetzke show that another U boat, UC-42, was the U-Boat responsible for laying the mine that sank S.S. Ruby.
UC-42 (Otto Heinrich Tornow) was active off Kirkwall on the night of 28th March 1917. UC-42 laid 9 mines, in two lines. (UC-42 KTB)
Study of UC-42 KTB and Spindler's mine map shows one of these lines, Minensperre 49 (mine barrier 49), consisted of 5 mines, laid 100m apart, south to north, running across the swept channel into Kirkwall. It was considered most likely, due to its location, that one of these mines accounted for S.S. Ruby.
The second line, Minensperre 49a, consisting of 4 mines, was outside the swept channel to the north east and not on a route that S.S. Ruby would have passed over.
UC-44 had also been credited with laying the mine that damaged HMS Albacore on 09/03/1917.
In December 2019 a project was conducted, by SULA Diving for HES, to locate the bow of HMS Albacore. While researching for this project it was established that it was UC-55 that had laid the mine that caused the damage to HMS Albacore and not UC-44. See here: HMS-Albacore.
It was decided to also reassess the loss of SS Ruby.
UC-42.
Research in March 2020 by Michael Lowrey, Kevin Heath, and Simon Schnetzke show that another U boat, UC-42, was the U-Boat responsible for laying the mine that sank S.S. Ruby.
UC-42 (Otto Heinrich Tornow) was active off Kirkwall on the night of 28th March 1917. UC-42 laid 9 mines, in two lines. (UC-42 KTB)
Study of UC-42 KTB and Spindler's mine map shows one of these lines, Minensperre 49 (mine barrier 49), consisted of 5 mines, laid 100m apart, south to north, running across the swept channel into Kirkwall. It was considered most likely, due to its location, that one of these mines accounted for S.S. Ruby.
The second line, Minensperre 49a, consisting of 4 mines, was outside the swept channel to the north east and not on a route that S.S. Ruby would have passed over.
Mine Map from KTB UC-42
The KTB also shows the UC-42 remained in the vicinity of Auskerry after laying the mines and records that on the morning of 29/03/1917 a detonation of a mine was clearly heard.
A translation reads:
11.45 - When heading on course 110deg, a sharp bang like a mine detonation is heard. Powerful turbines noised that sometimes go over the boat and keep it under water. It is almost certainly a destroyer flotilla on northern and southern patrol route. Noises can be heard like detonations of depth charges at great distances. The movement of the boat at a depth of 40m shows that the swell is strong. Running underwater. 5 miles east of Auskerry.
Footnote: The time in the KTB is in Berlin time so would have been written at 10.45.GMT.
UC-42 was lost by the explosion of one of her own mines off Cork, Ireland on the 10/09/1917 at 51°44N’, 8°12’W. 27 dead (all crew lost).
UC-44 was sunk by one of her own mines on 04/08/1917 off southern Ireland. 29 dead and 1 survivor.
A translation reads:
11.45 - When heading on course 110deg, a sharp bang like a mine detonation is heard. Powerful turbines noised that sometimes go over the boat and keep it under water. It is almost certainly a destroyer flotilla on northern and southern patrol route. Noises can be heard like detonations of depth charges at great distances. The movement of the boat at a depth of 40m shows that the swell is strong. Running underwater. 5 miles east of Auskerry.
Footnote: The time in the KTB is in Berlin time so would have been written at 10.45.GMT.
UC-42 was lost by the explosion of one of her own mines off Cork, Ireland on the 10/09/1917 at 51°44N’, 8°12’W. 27 dead (all crew lost).
UC-44 was sunk by one of her own mines on 04/08/1917 off southern Ireland. 29 dead and 1 survivor.
MINESWEEPING
Bi-Monthly Minesweeping Reports 1-15 April 1917. (ADM 116/1516)
The Bi-Monthly minesweeping reports up to 5th of April claims that six mines had been ''accounted for'', but the barque ''Urania'' had in fact been torpedoed by UC-42 on the 28th March 1917 12 miles east of Auskerry.
The story of the Sloop HMS Carnation can be found here .......................HMS CARNATION
The story of the Sloop HMS Carnation can be found here .......................HMS CARNATION
Bi-Monthly Minesweeping Reports 15-30 April 1917 (ADM 116/1516)
THE WRECK
On 27/05/2021 SULA Diving, assisted by Ian Rendall, Great Grandson of George Rendall, the Mate on S.S. Ruby, conducted a survey with side scan sonar and magnetometer.
The search area was established using the information from UC-42s KTB.
The KTB mine map was overlaid onto a modern Admiralty chart to give a detailed accurate search area for the wreck of the SS Ruby.
This was then plotted onto a base-map to use in the MaxView survey software.
The search area was established using the information from UC-42s KTB.
The KTB mine map was overlaid onto a modern Admiralty chart to give a detailed accurate search area for the wreck of the SS Ruby.
This was then plotted onto a base-map to use in the MaxView survey software.
Chart with UC-42 mine map overlaid
Nine survey lines were plotted that crossed over UC-42s mine field (Minensperre 49). Each line was 2000m long and were spaced 100m apart. This would give full coverage of the mine line and 1000m each side. The system used was the C-Max CM2 side scan sonar.
.
.
Survey area and side scan coverage. MaxView.
The survey started at the southern end of the mine line. The area is mostly bedrock with some sand filled gullies.
The wreck was located 100m west of the plotted mine line.
Its location, as S.S. Ruby was steaming west along the swept channel, would correspond with the third or forth mine laid in ''Minensperre 49''.
Once located a magnetometer survey was conducted and the wreck gave a good response as would be expected from an iron vessel. This was post processed with SonarWiz 7 software and overlaid onto the side scan sonar mosaic.
The wreck was located 100m west of the plotted mine line.
Its location, as S.S. Ruby was steaming west along the swept channel, would correspond with the third or forth mine laid in ''Minensperre 49''.
Once located a magnetometer survey was conducted and the wreck gave a good response as would be expected from an iron vessel. This was post processed with SonarWiz 7 software and overlaid onto the side scan sonar mosaic.
Side Scan Sonar image of S.S. Ruby and Magnetic contour overlay created with SonarWiz 7
Images: SULA Diving
Images: SULA Diving
THE DIVE
The wreck of the S.S. Ruby was dived on the 8th June 2021 by Bertrand Taylor and Keith Rendall.
As shown in the side scan the wreck is upright with the hull collapsed on the seabed. The bow is to the south east and is very badly damaged which was most likely from the mine.
S.S. Ruby (1882) was a two hold vessel, one fore, one aft, with engine and boiler room between. There were areas on the wreck that match the Lloyd's drawing.
Starting from the stern, the ships cast iron propeller with the rudder post in place. The prop shaft can be clearly seen which would have passed under the aft hold. There is no evidence of any cargo in the aft hold. There is a large water tank under the aft hold on the ships plan and this is clearly seen. At the forward end of the hold is the steam driven cargo winch, upside down, across the prop shaft.
Forward of hold is the large upright 2-cylinder compound engine.
Further forward is the ships single boiler with the outer casing partly degraded so the boiler tubes can be seen.
Next is the forward hold which contains some of the ships cargo. There are what appear to be bags of cement, now solid and mixed with these were a large number of jars, possibly for jam or marmalade.
Forward of this hold the ship is badly damaged but remains of the forward hold steam winch and forward mast can be seen but beyond this the bow, chain locker, anchor winch appear to be missing..
As shown in the side scan the wreck is upright with the hull collapsed on the seabed. The bow is to the south east and is very badly damaged which was most likely from the mine.
S.S. Ruby (1882) was a two hold vessel, one fore, one aft, with engine and boiler room between. There were areas on the wreck that match the Lloyd's drawing.
Starting from the stern, the ships cast iron propeller with the rudder post in place. The prop shaft can be clearly seen which would have passed under the aft hold. There is no evidence of any cargo in the aft hold. There is a large water tank under the aft hold on the ships plan and this is clearly seen. At the forward end of the hold is the steam driven cargo winch, upside down, across the prop shaft.
Forward of hold is the large upright 2-cylinder compound engine.
Further forward is the ships single boiler with the outer casing partly degraded so the boiler tubes can be seen.
Next is the forward hold which contains some of the ships cargo. There are what appear to be bags of cement, now solid and mixed with these were a large number of jars, possibly for jam or marmalade.
Forward of this hold the ship is badly damaged but remains of the forward hold steam winch and forward mast can be seen but beyond this the bow, chain locker, anchor winch appear to be missing..
Photos: Bertrand Taylor.
Photos: Keith Rendall
This wreck is the last resting place for six men, five of them local to Kirkwall and Westray. Nothing was removed from the wreck and the dive was used to record and document the site.
CREW.
† 29th March 1917
† 29th March 1917
Mercantile Marine War Medal 1914-18
James Marwick. Photo: M Marwick
MARWICK, JAMES (42), Fireman. Born 2nd May 1874 at St. Catherine’s Place, Kirkwall, Husband of Jessie Arm Marwick (nee Sinclair), of 6, Olaf Place, Kirkwall, Orkney.
Remembered on the Kirkwall War Memorial and on the Tower Hill Memorial.
Remembered on the Kirkwall War Memorial and on the Tower Hill Memorial.
Orkney-herald-and-weekly-advertiser-Wednesday 11th April-1917
William Mason Death Penny and medals. Photo: Heather Scott
MASON, WILLIAM (42). Master, Born 25th January 1875 at East Thorn, Westray, son of James Mason and Ann Mason (née Allan). Husband of Jane Sophie Mason (née Hardy Tulloch )of 4, Olaf Place, Kirkwall, Orkney. .
Remembered on both the Westray & Kirkwall War Memorial, The Kirkwall Masonic Lodge War Memorial and on the Tower Hill Memorial.
Remembered on both the Westray & Kirkwall War Memorial, The Kirkwall Masonic Lodge War Memorial and on the Tower Hill Memorial.
Orkney-Herald-and-Weekly-Advertiser-Wednesday 18th April-1917
Orkney Herald, and Weekly Advertiser - Wednesday 18th April 1917
With thanks to Heather Scott for the above images.
George Rendall. Photo: Mark Rendall
RENDALL, GEORGE SMITH (40), Mate. Born 17th January 1877 at Nether Brough, Westray, son of George Rendall and Margaret S. Rendall (née Seator) Husband of Christina Rendall (nee Stout), of Lizburn, Broughton, Westray, Orkney. Brother of Able-Seaman Stewart Rendall.
Remembered on the Westray War Memorial and on the Tower Hill Memorial.
Remembered on the Westray War Memorial and on the Tower Hill Memorial.
RENDALL, JOHN (23), Fireman, Born 3rd May 1894 at Quoynabreckan, Westray, son of William Rendall and Jane Rendall (née Harcus) Husband of Maggie Ellen Rendall (née Thomson) of 89 Upper Bridge Road, Chelmsford, Essex,
Remembered on the Westray War Memorial and on the Tower Hill Memorial.
Remembered on the Westray War Memorial and on the Tower Hill Memorial.
Orkney Herald, and Weekly Advertiser - Wednesday 18th April 1917
Stewart Rendall. Photo: Mary Rendall
RENDALL, STEWART (30), Able Seaman, Born 19th November 1886 at Nether Brough, Westray, son of George Rendall and Margaret S. Rendall (née Seator). Brother of Mate George S. Rendall.
Remembered on the Westray War Memorial and on the Tower Hill Memorial.
Remembered on the Westray War Memorial and on the Tower Hill Memorial.
SEVIS, GEORGE DAVID (41), Engineer, Born 12th February 1875 at Livingston Place, Portobello, Edinburgh, Son of John Sevis and Alice Sevis (née Armstrong). Husband of Jessie Sevis, of 48, North Junction St., Leith. Father of John & Christina. Remembered on the St Andrew’s Church of Scotland `War Memorial and the Tower Hill Memorial.
Leith St Andrew’s Church of Scotland, Edinburgh War Memorial. Photo:Joanne Baird
MEMORIALS
WESTRAY
Westray War Memorial Photo: W Sadler
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KIRKWALL
Master William Mason in mentioned on the War memorial within the Kirkwall Masonic Lodge. Photo: K Rendall
Kirkwall War Memorial Photo: Orkney Islands Council
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TOWER HILL MEMORIAL, LONDON
All the crew lost on SS Ruby are remembered on the Tower Hill Memorial.
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NAIRN CEMETARY
Memorial headstone with dedication to brothers George & Stewart Rendall in Nairn Cemetery. Photo: Fifer in Exile
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ST OLAF'S CEMETARY, KIRKWALL
Headstone with dedication to James Marwick, St Olafs Cemetery, Kirkwall. Photo: The Orkney Family History Society.
Footnote: It has been suggested James Marwick was recovered and buried here but if that was so he would not be included on the Tower Hill Memorial. Research is ongoing.
Newspaper Articles
To be Let
By the lamented deaths of the Tenants in
connection with the “Ruby” catas-
trophe, Two Houses in Olaf Place will be
vacant at the May Term.
Apply, Mr WM.
FLETT, Wellington Street.
Advert in The Orcadian of 07/04/1917. Transcribed by George Burgher
By the lamented deaths of the Tenants in
connection with the “Ruby” catas-
trophe, Two Houses in Olaf Place will be
vacant at the May Term.
Apply, Mr WM.
FLETT, Wellington Street.
Advert in The Orcadian of 07/04/1917. Transcribed by George Burgher
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
THE LOSS OF THE STEAMER “RUBY.”
____
SIR, In your last week’s issue the follow-
ing advertisement appeared:-
“To be Let.- By the lamented deaths of
the tenants in connection with the ‘Ruby’
catastrophe, two houses in Olaf Place will
be vacant at the May Term, Apply, Mr Wm.
Flett, Wellington Street.”
This was the first intimation given by the
reverend landlord to the widows of the two
tenants referred to, and, as such, was a cold-
blooded, contemptible, and cruel action to-
wards the bereaved, at a time when their loss
and grief were scarcely more than realised.
It may be stated that the landlord in ques-
tion had previously called on the two widows
in his ministerial capacity, and profession-
ally condoled with them in their “lamented”
loss, but refrained from making any allusion
to his intention of evicting them from their
homes.
Comment upon this is unnecessary – I leave
it to a sympathetic public to form their own
conclusions. It should also be stated, if only
in fairness to Mr Flett, the beadle, that dif-
ferent parties, on making enquiries, of him
regarding the houses, were somewhat sur-
prised to be told that he knew nothing what-
ever either about the advertisement of the
houses.
My object in using the medium of your paper
is to inform the reverend landlord,
as well as the public generally, that these
two houses in Olaf Place will not be vacant
at the May Term
The tenants have no intention at present of
leaving. Their rents will be paid for the
ensuing year.
I take this opportunity of thanking very
sincerely the public who have so generously
responded to the appeal now being made on
behalf of the widows and fatherless by a
committee of lady collectors, and to bespeak
for those in need, a continuance of the gen-
erosity from those who have not yet been called upon.
The collectors have not yet completed their
work but so far, I am glad to say, their
labours have met with a very gratifying
result. – I am, etc., P. S. COOPER. [?]
Letter in The Orcadian of 14/04/1917 – Transcribed by George Burgher
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
THE LOSS OF THE STEAMER “RUBY.”
____
SIR, In your last week’s issue the follow-
ing advertisement appeared:-
“To be Let.- By the lamented deaths of
the tenants in connection with the ‘Ruby’
catastrophe, two houses in Olaf Place will
be vacant at the May Term, Apply, Mr Wm.
Flett, Wellington Street.”
This was the first intimation given by the
reverend landlord to the widows of the two
tenants referred to, and, as such, was a cold-
blooded, contemptible, and cruel action to-
wards the bereaved, at a time when their loss
and grief were scarcely more than realised.
It may be stated that the landlord in ques-
tion had previously called on the two widows
in his ministerial capacity, and profession-
ally condoled with them in their “lamented”
loss, but refrained from making any allusion
to his intention of evicting them from their
homes.
Comment upon this is unnecessary – I leave
it to a sympathetic public to form their own
conclusions. It should also be stated, if only
in fairness to Mr Flett, the beadle, that dif-
ferent parties, on making enquiries, of him
regarding the houses, were somewhat sur-
prised to be told that he knew nothing what-
ever either about the advertisement of the
houses.
My object in using the medium of your paper
is to inform the reverend landlord,
as well as the public generally, that these
two houses in Olaf Place will not be vacant
at the May Term
The tenants have no intention at present of
leaving. Their rents will be paid for the
ensuing year.
I take this opportunity of thanking very
sincerely the public who have so generously
responded to the appeal now being made on
behalf of the widows and fatherless by a
committee of lady collectors, and to bespeak
for those in need, a continuance of the gen-
erosity from those who have not yet been called upon.
The collectors have not yet completed their
work but so far, I am glad to say, their
labours have met with a very gratifying
result. – I am, etc., P. S. COOPER. [?]
Letter in The Orcadian of 14/04/1917 – Transcribed by George Burgher
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Orkney Herald, and Weekly Advertiser and Gazette for the Orkney & Zetland Islands - Wednesday 02 May 1917
ROUSAY - Service of Sacred Praise
..............The collection, which amounted to £2 lls 6d, has been given to the fund in process of collection in Orkney on behalf of the widows and orphans left by the loss of precious lives in the disaster that befell recently the s.s. Ruby. The service was opened and closed with prayer.
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ROUSAY - Service of Sacred Praise
..............The collection, which amounted to £2 lls 6d, has been given to the fund in process of collection in Orkney on behalf of the widows and orphans left by the loss of precious lives in the disaster that befell recently the s.s. Ruby. The service was opened and closed with prayer.
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Orkney Herald, and Weekly Advertiser and Gazette for the Orkney & Zetland Islands - Wednesday 05 September 1917
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