Post by Administrator on Jun 21, 2014 17:27:33 GMT
Ropner, the Merchant Marine at War 1914-1918:
By Billy McGee
As the commemorations for the 100th Anniversary of WWI are getting underway, the then Mercantile Marine will probably not get much of a mention by the media, so I have submitted the following article regarding the Ropner Shipping Co, during WWI for consideration to appear in SeaBreezes. The extract taken from my book "Ropner's Navy" first published in 2008.
At the beginning of WWI the Ropner fleet consisted of fifty-seven ship flying the Red Duster, though the company’s first casualty of the war was not through enemy action but by the stranding of the SS Hawnby off Montrose in September 1914, blamed due to lack of shore lights. The SS Selby became their first war loss after detonating a mine on the 30th September 1914. On the 16th December 1914, the battle cruisers Blutche, Moltke and Seidlitz, units belonging to the German High Seas Fleet bombarded the East coast at Whitby, Scarborough and Hartlepool damaging the company’s office, luckily without loss of life. A shell also exploded in William Ropner’s home killing one of the kitchen staff. William’s eldest sons Leonard and Guy were part of the Hartlepool artillery battery who were returning fire on the German ships causing considerable damage, preventing the German’s main objective to cause damage to the docks and steelworks. SS Saxilby was launched in November 1914. The SS Therese Heymann after leaving the Tyne on Christmas Day 1914 disappeared and nothing was ever heard from the ship and her 21 man crew. The ship was not officially recorded as missing/untraced until 3rd March 1915, though it is believed she was one of several ships mined off Filey around Christmas time. 1915 would see a further seven Ropner ships sent to the bottom. They were SS Willerby, SS Oakby, SS Coleby, SS Gadsby, SS Glenby SS Kirkby & SS Scawby. Two were sunk by the German raiders Printz Eitel Frederick and Kronprinz Wilhelm and five by German U-boats. Only two crewmembers were lost from all seven ships, both these coming from the SS Glenby who were killed when the U-boat, which attacked them continued shelling the ship as the crew were abandoning ship. At this time most of the Germans followed the rules of war engagement towards Merchant shipping and would first stop a ship allowing the crew to abandon ship before sinking any vessel. This would all change in February 1915 when the German government declared the seas around the British Isles a war zone and any ship found there on or after 18th February faced sinking without warning: unrestricted U-boat warfare began for the first time in history and any neutral flag was considered to be no guarantee for safety. This decision would ultimately see the loss of the passenger liner Lusitania causing the death of American citizens, provoking anger in the USA. The American government brought pressure to bear on Germany after the loss and demanded an end to sinking without warning. On 30th August 1915 Germany prohibited further action of this type. The Germans, in an attempt to reduce further damage to American shipping, withdrew all U-boats from the English Channel area. 1916 would see this lull come to an end as unrestricted warfare started up again, which would see the loss of Ropner & Pool ships SS Dromonby, SS Thornaby, SS Trunkby and SS Salmonpool. SS Ashby would also be lost after being wrecked at Ushant on the 15th February 1916.The Ropner ship SS Newby which had been sold the year before to the Temple-Thompson & Clark Co. was also sunk in 1916. On the 24th March 1916 with the sinking of the passenger liner Sussex which again resulted in the loss of US citizens, the Germans were once again pressured into restricting their submarine warfare. By 1917 Germany was becoming desperate, as the British Naval blockade of the North Sea tightened its grip and German supplies and raw materials needed for war became more depleted. In a final attempt to starve Britain into submission and with America likely to become involved in the European war, unrestricted submarine warfare was again declared on the 1st February 1917. Two days later America broke off diplomatic relations with Germany and by April 6th America declared war on Germany. The previous months had seen the loss of the Ropner ships SS Wragby, SS Martin, SS Burnby, and SS Daleby all sunk by U-boats, but things were about to change and Ropner’s were about to fight back and the legend of “Ropner’s Navy” was born and the Merchant marine was about to fight back. (The term “Ropner’s Navy” was not termed until WWII, but the seeds had been sown on 2nd April 1917).
The SS Wandby under the command of Captain David Simpson on voyage from Bilbao to La Rochelle, France in convoy was forced to stop for repairs in the Bay of Biscay due to broken steering chains. The convoy was unable to stop and help, leaving the Wandby drifting alone. During the night a gale blew up severely hampering the repairs, but by the morning of the 2nd April 1917 the ship was underway once more and making speed of 8 knots attempting catch up with the convoy. A short time later a bright flash was seen astern of the ship followed by a huge white splash of a shell bursting in the sea. This was followed by a further five shells bursting around the ship into the sea before the cause was spotted by the ships lookouts. It turned out to be one of the latest German U-boats mounted with two 4-inch deck guns. By 1917 a number of Merchant ships had begun to be armed and were known in WWI as DAMS (Defensively Armed Merchant Ship). The Wandby was one such ship and a small single mounted stern gun had been added. The Wandby began to return fire at a lot less slower pace made even more difficult due to the heavy seas. By now the U-boat was firing off shrapnel and explosive rounds, with the shrapnel rounds peppering the ships decks and the explosive rounds beginning to home in closer. About two miles off the Wandby’s stern the U-boats 36th shell found its mark, striking the port quarter just above the water line severely wounding a crewmember. The damage to the ship was only superficial as it had only been a shrapnel round. The Wandby continued to return fire and her 15th round struck the U-boat, which was last seen with its bow high in the air sinking fast by the stern. The whole action had last forty five minutes. Captain Simpson and three of his crew were later decorated for their action while the crew were rewarded with sums of money. Sadly Captain Simpson was to lose his life on the Ropner ship Empire Merlin sunk during WWII on the 25th August 1940.
The same month as the Wandby’s action another of the company ships took on a U-boat. SS Thirlby, under the command of Captain Thomas Morgan Hill. When WWI had been declared Thirlby had been caught at the Russian port of Cronstadt on the small island of Kotlin in the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea. The ship was held for two years until the company managed to get her out of the Baltic, which proved to be a very expensive affair to the Ropner Co. The British government decided to let the company run this ship free of requisition until the end of the war. This however was to be short lived. On the 24th April 1917 Thirlby was on voyage from Bombay to Dunkirk, sailing alone and unescorted in the Bay of Biscay. At 07.00 hours the unmistakable track of a torpedo was seen crossing the ships bow. Thirlby had earlier been fitted with a small 12-pounder Vickers gun on her stern and her gun crew were called to action stations. Diligent lookouts were posted and Captain Hill eagerly awaited the U-boats next move. This came forty minutes later when the track of another torpedo was sighted. Captain Hill issued the ships wheel swung hard over and the torpedo passed harmlessly across the ships stern. Another ten minutes passed and a third torpedo was sighted and once again the helm hard over the torpedo failed to hit. The U-boat now surfaced astern of Thirlby and was met by a shell from her 12-pounder which caused the U-boat to crash dive. The U-boat then resurfaced three mile astern of the ship, out of effective range of the ships gun and opened up with both four inch deck guns. Evasive zig zagging was taken up by the merchantman as shell after shell rained in. Around one hundred shells had been fired at Thirlby when she was finally hit in one of her cargo holds, the shell exploding amongst her cargo though sustaining little damage. Encouraged by the hit the U-boat began to close in only to be driven back time and time again, as Thirlby’s 12-pounder fired off round after round. This game of cat and mouse continued for four and a half hours with the U-boat firing some 150 rounds and only finding her mark once. Thirlby’s 57th round found its mark exploding on the U-boats conning tower. The Germans having enough broke off the action dropping further astern until she disappeared over the horizon. Captain Hill was awarded the Shipping Federations Gold Medal and diploma while three other crewmembers were awarded the Silver Medal. The success was to be short lived as on her very next trip on the 2nd July, still under the command of Captain Hill, Thirlby was torpedoed and sunk off Fastnet by a German U-boat killing two crewmembers. The U-boat then came along side the survivors in their lifeboats and removed all the lifeboat sails. Despite this Captain Hill and his crew were picked up by a patrol boat and landed ashore in Ireland. This would not be the last Captain Hill would see of the war. The previous month had also seen the loss of SS Westonby and SS Brookby.
On Captain Hill’s safe return to Britain he was requested to join the SS Teesdale, which had been torpedoed and damaged in the English Channel on the 15th June 1917 on voyage to Gibraltar with a cargo of coal. The ship had remained afloat and the ships Master and crew managed to beach the ship at Salcombe Bay, South Devon. After receiving temporary repairs Captain Hill was ordered to bring the ship back to the River Tees where permanent repairs would be undertaken. On the 2nd August about three miles off Saltburn Pier the temporary repairs gave way and the ship started taking on water very quickly and sank shortly after taking two of her crew with her. Captain Hill and the remainder of his crew spent some twelve hours in their lifeboats in very rough seas before safely being landed ashore. The war would still not be over for Captain Hill, as he would see more action during 1918. 1917 would see the loss of two more Ropner ships SS Rollesby torpedoed 15th September and SS Romanby which was lost after a collision with the SS Romera in the North Atlantic. The only good news of 1917 was that the convoy system was finally put into full effect; this would dramatically reduce shipping losses. The first Ropner ship since 1914 was launched in SS Swainby.
February 1918 saw the successful launch of the SS Sedgepool, which was soon overshadowed by the loss of the SS Maltby at the end of the same month. Earlier in the same month, Captain T. Hill formerly of SS Thirlby and SS Teesdale fame was in command of the SS Pikepool on voyage from Rouen to South Wales in an escorted convoy. Somehow a U-boat managed to penetrate the escort screen and torpedoed Pikepool in number two hold, which caused flooding in the engine room and bunker hold. Captain Hill ordered his ship abandoned. As the crew waited in their lifeboats for the ship to sink, Pikepool having settled, showed signs of staying afloat and was re-boarded. Tug assistance was called for and the ship arrived at Portland the following day and was later put back into service. The beginning of March would see no let up and SS Rockpool was lost to a U-boat and her Master, Captain John White taken prisoner. In May SS Saxilby was damaged but survived an attack off Malta.
With the war fully in the Allies favour and better convoy protection nearly three months would pass before the next Ropner loss, the SS Mountby who had earlier in the year escaped from a U-boat by using smoke floats and an evasive zig zagging action to lose the enemy. Her luck ran out on the 10th June 1918 when she was torpedoed off the Lizard on voyage from Cardiff with a cargo of admiralty stores. The 28th September 1918 would see the last Ropner loss of WWI when SS Baldersby was sunk in the St George Channel on voyage from Montreal to Avonmouth. To help the struggling company cope with such severe losses, in 1918 the British Shipping Controller handed over two ships to the Ropner Company to manage for them, SS War Deer and SS War Hind. War Deer would be damaged by a torpedo but both would survive the war.
When the Armistice was signed on the 11th November 1918 the Ropner Company had lost twenty-six of their tramps to enemy action, one other had been seriously damaged causing loss of life and three others lost through various marine causes. Although the ships losses were severe the death rates amongst their crews were surprisingly low, mainly due to the restricted submarine warfare. WWII would be a very different story and would see the death rate amongst the Ropner crews rise almost ten fold due to the unrestricted war fare directed at all Merchant shipping. One of these to die would be Captain Thomas Morgan Hill, who after surviving three Ropner sinkings during WWI would lose his life at the age of 61 while Master of the SS Fishpool which was severely damaged by incendiaries in the first fourteen months of the Second World War. One man who would have more luck than most would be Captain John Kenny. Having already survived the sinking of one ship the SS Oakfield belonging to the Doughty Shipping Co. during WWI before joining Ropner’s in 1918, he would survive the sinking of the SS Maltby in 1918 and a further two Ropner ships sunk in WWII, SS Wandby (2) and SS Empire Rainbow. He would later become Commodore of the Ropner fleet.
Billy McGee
By Billy McGee
As the commemorations for the 100th Anniversary of WWI are getting underway, the then Mercantile Marine will probably not get much of a mention by the media, so I have submitted the following article regarding the Ropner Shipping Co, during WWI for consideration to appear in SeaBreezes. The extract taken from my book "Ropner's Navy" first published in 2008.
At the beginning of WWI the Ropner fleet consisted of fifty-seven ship flying the Red Duster, though the company’s first casualty of the war was not through enemy action but by the stranding of the SS Hawnby off Montrose in September 1914, blamed due to lack of shore lights. The SS Selby became their first war loss after detonating a mine on the 30th September 1914. On the 16th December 1914, the battle cruisers Blutche, Moltke and Seidlitz, units belonging to the German High Seas Fleet bombarded the East coast at Whitby, Scarborough and Hartlepool damaging the company’s office, luckily without loss of life. A shell also exploded in William Ropner’s home killing one of the kitchen staff. William’s eldest sons Leonard and Guy were part of the Hartlepool artillery battery who were returning fire on the German ships causing considerable damage, preventing the German’s main objective to cause damage to the docks and steelworks. SS Saxilby was launched in November 1914. The SS Therese Heymann after leaving the Tyne on Christmas Day 1914 disappeared and nothing was ever heard from the ship and her 21 man crew. The ship was not officially recorded as missing/untraced until 3rd March 1915, though it is believed she was one of several ships mined off Filey around Christmas time. 1915 would see a further seven Ropner ships sent to the bottom. They were SS Willerby, SS Oakby, SS Coleby, SS Gadsby, SS Glenby SS Kirkby & SS Scawby. Two were sunk by the German raiders Printz Eitel Frederick and Kronprinz Wilhelm and five by German U-boats. Only two crewmembers were lost from all seven ships, both these coming from the SS Glenby who were killed when the U-boat, which attacked them continued shelling the ship as the crew were abandoning ship. At this time most of the Germans followed the rules of war engagement towards Merchant shipping and would first stop a ship allowing the crew to abandon ship before sinking any vessel. This would all change in February 1915 when the German government declared the seas around the British Isles a war zone and any ship found there on or after 18th February faced sinking without warning: unrestricted U-boat warfare began for the first time in history and any neutral flag was considered to be no guarantee for safety. This decision would ultimately see the loss of the passenger liner Lusitania causing the death of American citizens, provoking anger in the USA. The American government brought pressure to bear on Germany after the loss and demanded an end to sinking without warning. On 30th August 1915 Germany prohibited further action of this type. The Germans, in an attempt to reduce further damage to American shipping, withdrew all U-boats from the English Channel area. 1916 would see this lull come to an end as unrestricted warfare started up again, which would see the loss of Ropner & Pool ships SS Dromonby, SS Thornaby, SS Trunkby and SS Salmonpool. SS Ashby would also be lost after being wrecked at Ushant on the 15th February 1916.The Ropner ship SS Newby which had been sold the year before to the Temple-Thompson & Clark Co. was also sunk in 1916. On the 24th March 1916 with the sinking of the passenger liner Sussex which again resulted in the loss of US citizens, the Germans were once again pressured into restricting their submarine warfare. By 1917 Germany was becoming desperate, as the British Naval blockade of the North Sea tightened its grip and German supplies and raw materials needed for war became more depleted. In a final attempt to starve Britain into submission and with America likely to become involved in the European war, unrestricted submarine warfare was again declared on the 1st February 1917. Two days later America broke off diplomatic relations with Germany and by April 6th America declared war on Germany. The previous months had seen the loss of the Ropner ships SS Wragby, SS Martin, SS Burnby, and SS Daleby all sunk by U-boats, but things were about to change and Ropner’s were about to fight back and the legend of “Ropner’s Navy” was born and the Merchant marine was about to fight back. (The term “Ropner’s Navy” was not termed until WWII, but the seeds had been sown on 2nd April 1917).
The SS Wandby under the command of Captain David Simpson on voyage from Bilbao to La Rochelle, France in convoy was forced to stop for repairs in the Bay of Biscay due to broken steering chains. The convoy was unable to stop and help, leaving the Wandby drifting alone. During the night a gale blew up severely hampering the repairs, but by the morning of the 2nd April 1917 the ship was underway once more and making speed of 8 knots attempting catch up with the convoy. A short time later a bright flash was seen astern of the ship followed by a huge white splash of a shell bursting in the sea. This was followed by a further five shells bursting around the ship into the sea before the cause was spotted by the ships lookouts. It turned out to be one of the latest German U-boats mounted with two 4-inch deck guns. By 1917 a number of Merchant ships had begun to be armed and were known in WWI as DAMS (Defensively Armed Merchant Ship). The Wandby was one such ship and a small single mounted stern gun had been added. The Wandby began to return fire at a lot less slower pace made even more difficult due to the heavy seas. By now the U-boat was firing off shrapnel and explosive rounds, with the shrapnel rounds peppering the ships decks and the explosive rounds beginning to home in closer. About two miles off the Wandby’s stern the U-boats 36th shell found its mark, striking the port quarter just above the water line severely wounding a crewmember. The damage to the ship was only superficial as it had only been a shrapnel round. The Wandby continued to return fire and her 15th round struck the U-boat, which was last seen with its bow high in the air sinking fast by the stern. The whole action had last forty five minutes. Captain Simpson and three of his crew were later decorated for their action while the crew were rewarded with sums of money. Sadly Captain Simpson was to lose his life on the Ropner ship Empire Merlin sunk during WWII on the 25th August 1940.
The same month as the Wandby’s action another of the company ships took on a U-boat. SS Thirlby, under the command of Captain Thomas Morgan Hill. When WWI had been declared Thirlby had been caught at the Russian port of Cronstadt on the small island of Kotlin in the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea. The ship was held for two years until the company managed to get her out of the Baltic, which proved to be a very expensive affair to the Ropner Co. The British government decided to let the company run this ship free of requisition until the end of the war. This however was to be short lived. On the 24th April 1917 Thirlby was on voyage from Bombay to Dunkirk, sailing alone and unescorted in the Bay of Biscay. At 07.00 hours the unmistakable track of a torpedo was seen crossing the ships bow. Thirlby had earlier been fitted with a small 12-pounder Vickers gun on her stern and her gun crew were called to action stations. Diligent lookouts were posted and Captain Hill eagerly awaited the U-boats next move. This came forty minutes later when the track of another torpedo was sighted. Captain Hill issued the ships wheel swung hard over and the torpedo passed harmlessly across the ships stern. Another ten minutes passed and a third torpedo was sighted and once again the helm hard over the torpedo failed to hit. The U-boat now surfaced astern of Thirlby and was met by a shell from her 12-pounder which caused the U-boat to crash dive. The U-boat then resurfaced three mile astern of the ship, out of effective range of the ships gun and opened up with both four inch deck guns. Evasive zig zagging was taken up by the merchantman as shell after shell rained in. Around one hundred shells had been fired at Thirlby when she was finally hit in one of her cargo holds, the shell exploding amongst her cargo though sustaining little damage. Encouraged by the hit the U-boat began to close in only to be driven back time and time again, as Thirlby’s 12-pounder fired off round after round. This game of cat and mouse continued for four and a half hours with the U-boat firing some 150 rounds and only finding her mark once. Thirlby’s 57th round found its mark exploding on the U-boats conning tower. The Germans having enough broke off the action dropping further astern until she disappeared over the horizon. Captain Hill was awarded the Shipping Federations Gold Medal and diploma while three other crewmembers were awarded the Silver Medal. The success was to be short lived as on her very next trip on the 2nd July, still under the command of Captain Hill, Thirlby was torpedoed and sunk off Fastnet by a German U-boat killing two crewmembers. The U-boat then came along side the survivors in their lifeboats and removed all the lifeboat sails. Despite this Captain Hill and his crew were picked up by a patrol boat and landed ashore in Ireland. This would not be the last Captain Hill would see of the war. The previous month had also seen the loss of SS Westonby and SS Brookby.
On Captain Hill’s safe return to Britain he was requested to join the SS Teesdale, which had been torpedoed and damaged in the English Channel on the 15th June 1917 on voyage to Gibraltar with a cargo of coal. The ship had remained afloat and the ships Master and crew managed to beach the ship at Salcombe Bay, South Devon. After receiving temporary repairs Captain Hill was ordered to bring the ship back to the River Tees where permanent repairs would be undertaken. On the 2nd August about three miles off Saltburn Pier the temporary repairs gave way and the ship started taking on water very quickly and sank shortly after taking two of her crew with her. Captain Hill and the remainder of his crew spent some twelve hours in their lifeboats in very rough seas before safely being landed ashore. The war would still not be over for Captain Hill, as he would see more action during 1918. 1917 would see the loss of two more Ropner ships SS Rollesby torpedoed 15th September and SS Romanby which was lost after a collision with the SS Romera in the North Atlantic. The only good news of 1917 was that the convoy system was finally put into full effect; this would dramatically reduce shipping losses. The first Ropner ship since 1914 was launched in SS Swainby.
February 1918 saw the successful launch of the SS Sedgepool, which was soon overshadowed by the loss of the SS Maltby at the end of the same month. Earlier in the same month, Captain T. Hill formerly of SS Thirlby and SS Teesdale fame was in command of the SS Pikepool on voyage from Rouen to South Wales in an escorted convoy. Somehow a U-boat managed to penetrate the escort screen and torpedoed Pikepool in number two hold, which caused flooding in the engine room and bunker hold. Captain Hill ordered his ship abandoned. As the crew waited in their lifeboats for the ship to sink, Pikepool having settled, showed signs of staying afloat and was re-boarded. Tug assistance was called for and the ship arrived at Portland the following day and was later put back into service. The beginning of March would see no let up and SS Rockpool was lost to a U-boat and her Master, Captain John White taken prisoner. In May SS Saxilby was damaged but survived an attack off Malta.
With the war fully in the Allies favour and better convoy protection nearly three months would pass before the next Ropner loss, the SS Mountby who had earlier in the year escaped from a U-boat by using smoke floats and an evasive zig zagging action to lose the enemy. Her luck ran out on the 10th June 1918 when she was torpedoed off the Lizard on voyage from Cardiff with a cargo of admiralty stores. The 28th September 1918 would see the last Ropner loss of WWI when SS Baldersby was sunk in the St George Channel on voyage from Montreal to Avonmouth. To help the struggling company cope with such severe losses, in 1918 the British Shipping Controller handed over two ships to the Ropner Company to manage for them, SS War Deer and SS War Hind. War Deer would be damaged by a torpedo but both would survive the war.
When the Armistice was signed on the 11th November 1918 the Ropner Company had lost twenty-six of their tramps to enemy action, one other had been seriously damaged causing loss of life and three others lost through various marine causes. Although the ships losses were severe the death rates amongst their crews were surprisingly low, mainly due to the restricted submarine warfare. WWII would be a very different story and would see the death rate amongst the Ropner crews rise almost ten fold due to the unrestricted war fare directed at all Merchant shipping. One of these to die would be Captain Thomas Morgan Hill, who after surviving three Ropner sinkings during WWI would lose his life at the age of 61 while Master of the SS Fishpool which was severely damaged by incendiaries in the first fourteen months of the Second World War. One man who would have more luck than most would be Captain John Kenny. Having already survived the sinking of one ship the SS Oakfield belonging to the Doughty Shipping Co. during WWI before joining Ropner’s in 1918, he would survive the sinking of the SS Maltby in 1918 and a further two Ropner ships sunk in WWII, SS Wandby (2) and SS Empire Rainbow. He would later become Commodore of the Ropner fleet.
Billy McGee