Post by Administrator on Feb 27, 2023 20:35:45 GMT
VIA: John Anzevino.
A familiar postcard of the Steamship 'Walkure', capsized at Barry Dock in 1908 and only saved from complete submersion by the S.S. 'Trevessa' which was moored alongside, a ship that it's self later sank in the Pacific Ocean and set Cpt. Cecil Foster and his crew on their epic 1,700 mile journey.
Perhaps less known, the German S.S. 'Walkure' was captured at the beginning of WW1 by the allied French Gunboat 'Zelee' and taken to Papeete Port, Tahiti as a prize of war. Whilst at anchor the port was attacked by German heavy cruisers SMS 'Schnarhorst' & SMS 'Gneisenau'. The Walkure and Zelee came under heavy shell fire and although they suffered damage the crew were still able scuttle both ships to avoid falling into German hands. The wreck of the gunboat Zelee still sits in 30 metres of water to this day, but in 1916 the SS 'Walkure' was bought for $29,000, re-floated, repaired, sold for $825,000, renamed the S.S. Republic. Sold again and renamed S.S. Normanna the ship was unfortunate to catch fire and beached at Tenerife in 1925, and thereafter scrapped. The SMS Schnarhorst & SMS Gneisenau were sunk 3 months after their attack on Papeete Port at the Battle of the Falkland Islands.
A familiar postcard of the Steamship 'Walkure', capsized at Barry Dock in 1908 and only saved from complete submersion by the S.S. 'Trevessa' which was moored alongside, a ship that it's self later sank in the Pacific Ocean and set Cpt. Cecil Foster and his crew on their epic 1,700 mile journey.
Perhaps less known, the German S.S. 'Walkure' was captured at the beginning of WW1 by the allied French Gunboat 'Zelee' and taken to Papeete Port, Tahiti as a prize of war. Whilst at anchor the port was attacked by German heavy cruisers SMS 'Schnarhorst' & SMS 'Gneisenau'. The Walkure and Zelee came under heavy shell fire and although they suffered damage the crew were still able scuttle both ships to avoid falling into German hands. The wreck of the gunboat Zelee still sits in 30 metres of water to this day, but in 1916 the SS 'Walkure' was bought for $29,000, re-floated, repaired, sold for $825,000, renamed the S.S. Republic. Sold again and renamed S.S. Normanna the ship was unfortunate to catch fire and beached at Tenerife in 1925, and thereafter scrapped. The SMS Schnarhorst & SMS Gneisenau were sunk 3 months after their attack on Papeete Port at the Battle of the Falkland Islands.