View source for SS Meriones

{{More footnotes needed|date=December 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}} 
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image= Postcard of SS Meriones dated 1923.jpg
|Ship caption= ''Meriones''
}} 
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header= 
|Ship country= [[United Kingdom]]
|Ship flag= {{shipboxflag|UK|civil}}
|Ship name= ''Meriones''
|Ship namesake= [[Meriones (mythology)|Meriones]]
|Ship owner= [[Blue Funnel Line|China Mutual Steam Nav Co Ltd]]
|Ship operator= [[Blue Funnel Line|Alfred Holt & Co]]
|Ship registry= [[Port of Liverpool|Liverpool]]
|Ship route= 
|Ship ordered= 
|Ship builder= [[Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company|Palmers Sb and Iron Co]], [[Hebburn]]
|Ship original cost= 
|Ship yard number= 921
|Ship laid down= 
|Ship launched= 19 August 1921
|Ship sponsor= 
|Ship completed= September 1922
|Ship maiden voyage= 
|Ship acquired= 
|Ship in service= 
|Ship out of service= 
|Ship identification= *UK [[official number]] 145974
*[[Code letters]] KMSP (until 1933)
*{{ICS|Kilo}}{{ICS|Mike}}{{ICS|Sierra}}{{ICS|Papa}}
*[[Maritime call sign|Call sign]] GBCK (1934 onward)
*{{ICS|Golf}}{{ICS|Bravo}}{{ICS|Charlie}}{{ICS|Kilo}}
|Ship fate= Wrecked 25 January 1941
|Ship notes= 
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class= 
|Ship type= [[Reefer ship|Refrigerated cargo ship]]
|Ship tonnage= *1930: {{GRT|7671}}, {{NRT|4808}}
*1934: {{GRT|7557}}, {{NRT|4739}}
|Ship displacement= 
|Ship length= {{cvt|459.7|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam= {{cvt|58.4|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught= 
|Ship depth= {{cvt|26.2|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship decks= 2
|Ship power= 6,000 [[Horsepower#Shaft horsepower|SHP]]
|Ship propulsion= *2 × [[Steam turbine#Marine propulsion|steam turbines]]
*1 × [[Propeller|screw]]
|Ship speed= {{convert|14.5|kn|km/h|0}}
|Ship capacity= {{convert|111000|cuft|0}}
|Ship crew= 
|Ship armament= 
|Ship sensors= from 1934: wireless [[direction finding]]
|Ship notes= One of a class of 11 [[sister ship]]s
}}
|}

'''SS ''Meriones''''' was a [[Blue Funnel Line]] [[Reefer ship|refrigerated cargo]] [[steamship]]. She was launched in 1921 on the [[River Tyne]] as one of a class of 11 ships to replace many of Blue Funnel's losses in the [[World War I|First World War]].

In 1941 the [[World War I|Second World War]] ''Meriones'' became stranded on a sandbank in the [[North Sea]]. An attempt to salvage her was disrupted by enemy air attacks, and she became a [[total loss]].

Blue Funnel Line named its ships after characters from [[Greek mythology]]. [[Meriones (mythology)|Meriones]] was a warrior in [[Homer]]'s ''[[Iliad]]''.

==A new class of Blue Funnel Line ships==
Blue Funnel Line lost 16 ships in the First World War. Thereafter the company replaced its fleet, mainly with a class of 11 new steamships of about {{cvt|460|ft|abbr=on}} [[Length between perpendiculars|registered length]], {{cvt|58|ft|abbr=on}} [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] and [[tonnage]] of about {{GRT|7500}}, all launched between 1920 and 1923.{{sfn|Le Fleming|1961|pp=24, 48, 49}}

Blue Funnel ordered members of the new class from five different shipyards. [[Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company]] built two: {{SS|Automedon||2}} at [[Jarrow]] and ''Meriones'' at [[Hebburn]], both launched in 1921.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.tynebuiltships.co.uk/A-Ships/automedon1922.html |title=Automedon |work=Tyne Built Ships |publisher=Shipping and Shipbuilding Research Trust |access-date=29 December 2020}}</ref><ref name=TBS>{{cite web |url= http://www.tynebuiltships.co.uk/M-Ships/meriones1922.html |title=Meriones |work=Tyne Built Ships |publisher=Shipping and Shipbuilding Research Trust |access-date=29 December 2020}}</ref>

Palmers launched ''Meriones'' on 19 August 1921 and completed her in September 1922. Like most members of the class she was powered by two [[Steam turbine#Marine propulsion|steam turbines]], which drove a single [[Propeller|screw]] via [[Gear train|double reduction gearing]]. Between them her turbines developed 6,000 [[Horsepower#Shaft horsepower|SHP]] and gave her a speed of {{convert|14.5|kn|km/h|0}}.<ref name=TBS/> Her holds had refrigerated space for {{convert|111000|cuft|0}} of cargo.<ref>{{cite book |url= https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/30/30a0609.pdf |year=1930 |title=Lloyd's Register |chapter=List of Vessels Fitted with Refrigerating Appliances |volume=I |place=London |publisher=Lloyd's Register |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

In 1934 ''Automedon''{{'}}s [[code letters]] KMSP<ref>{{cite book |url= https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/33/33b0595.pdf |year=1933 |title=Lloyd's Register |chapter=Steamers & Motorships |volume=II |place=London |publisher=Lloyd's Register |via=Plimsoll Ship Data |access-date=29 December 2020}}</ref> were superseded by the [[Maritime call sign|call sign]] GBCK, and she was fitted with wireless [[direction finding]].<ref>{{cite book |url= https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/34/34b0563.pdf |year=1934 |title=Lloyd's Register |chapter=Steamers & Motorships |volume=II |place=London |publisher=Lloyd's Register |via=Plimsoll Ship Data |access-date=29 December 2020}}</ref>

==Second World War service==
In the Second World War ''Meriones'' mostly sailed unescorted. In November 1939 she sailed in [[Gibraltar convoys of World War II#HG convoys|Convoy HG]] 7 from [[Port Said]] to Liverpool.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/hg/index.html?hg.php?convoy=7!~hgmain |last=Hague |first=Arnold |title=Convoy HG.7 |work=HG Convoy Series |publisher=Don Kindell, Convoyweb |access-date=29 December 2020}}</ref> In May 1940 she sailed in [[SL convoys|Convoy SL]] 32 from [[Freetown]] in [[Sierra Leone Colony and Protectorate|Sierra Leone]] to Liverpool.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/sl2/index.html?sl.php?convoy=32!~slmain |last=Hague |first=Arnold |title=Convoy SL.32 |work=SL /MKS Convoy Series |publisher=Don Kindell, Convoyweb |access-date=29 December 2020}}</ref>

==Grounding==
In January 1941 ''Meriones'' had partly loaded a mixed cargo for [[Port of Brisbane|Brisbane]], and joined a convoy heading from [[Port of London|London]] to [[Port of Hull|Hull]] on her way to load the rest of her cargo. Her cargo included cement, [[sodium nitrate]], [[manganese]], [[tinplate]] and a large quantity of cable and machinery.<ref>{{harvnb|Tikus|2003|p=}}{{page needed|date=December 2020}}</ref> Also aboard were two racehorses owned by the [[Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester|Duke of Gloucester]],<ref name=Bensley>{{harvnb|Bensley|2001|p=}}{{page needed|date=December 2020}}</ref> who had recently been appointed [[Governor-General of Australia]]. ''Meriones''{{'}} [[Ship's company|complement]] numbered 101 including her [[Master mariner|Master]], crew and passengers.

On 22 January 1941 ''Meriones'' struck the wreck of the [[cargo ship]] {{SS|Monte Nevoso||2}}, which had grounded and sunk on [[Haisborough Sands|South Haisborough Bank]] in 1932. ''Meriones'' became grounded upon the wreck,<ref name=Jolly>{{harvnb|Jolly|2002|p=}}{{page needed|date=December 2020}}</ref> and her number six hold filled with water.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

On 24 January [[Great Yarmouth]] [[Port authority|Port and Haven Commissioners]]' {{GRT|122}} [[salvage tug]] ''Richard Lee Barber''<ref>{{cite book |url= https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/41/41a0478.pdf |year=1941 |title=Lloyd's Register |chapter=Steamers & Motorships under 300 tons, Trawlers, &c. |volume=I |place=London |publisher=Lloyd's Register |via=Plimsoll Ship Data |access-date=29 December 2020}}</ref> took pumps to try to refloat ''Meriones''. ''Richard Lee Barber'' carried a [[Marine salvage|salvage]] officer, Blue Funnel Line's marine superintendent, Captain Glazier,<ref name=Bensley/> and [[Coxswain]] [[Henry Blogg]] of the [[Cromer Lifeboat Station|Cromer Lifeboat]], who had the best knowledge of Haisborough Sands.<ref name=Jolly/>

Meanwhile German aircraft attacked ''Meriones''. One attack was made as ''Richard Lee Barber'' approached Haisborough Sands, but was eventually repelled by gunners on nearby ships. An attack at 1415 hrs wounded one of ''Meriones''{{'}} [[Defensively equipped merchant ship|DEMS]] gunners. Another attack at 1600 hrs dropped bombs which fell very near ''Meriones''. German aircraft dropped a total of 23 bombs in three attacks on the ship.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

At 1516 hrs the Cromer lifeboat was called. {{ship|RNLB|H F Bailey|ON 777|2}} was launched at 1534 hrs, commanded by Second Coxswain Lewis Harrison. She reached ''Meriones'' about 1830 hrs and went alongside ''Richard Lee Barber''. Blogg rejoined ''H F Bailey'' and took Captain Glazier aboard ''Meriones''. ''H F Bailey'' then stood by.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

==Rescue==
[[File:Cromer Lifeboat H F Bailey.jpg|thumb|[[Cromer Lifeboat Station|Cromer Lifeboat]] {{ship|RNLB|H F Bailey|ON 777|2}}]]
The sea had been moderate, with an east-northeasterly wind. But now the wind increased and the sea started to break over Haisborough Sands. ''Meriones''{{'}} crew's quarters were awash, and the two horse boxes had broken loose. ''Meriones'' asked ''H F Bailey'' to rescue her crew.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

''H F Bailey'' positioned herself in the [[Windward and leeward|lee]] of ''Meriones'' and, after several attempts, was made fast to the ship with large ropes. She took half of ''Meriones''{{'}} crew to the [[Royal Navy]] [[Tugboat|tug]] ''Saint Mullion'' which was anchored nearby. She then returned to ''Meriones'', took off another 40 crew, but then the {{convert|6|in|adj=on|abbr=out}} and {{convert|9|in|adj=on|abbr=out}} ropes that had secured ''H F Bailey'' to ''Meriones'' broke. ''H F Bailey'' took the 40 men to ''Richard Lee Barber'', which was now at anchor within the sands.<ref name=Bensley/>

Eight men now remained on ''Meriones'': her Master and officers. The Duke's racehorses could not be rescued, so one of the officers shot them. ''H F Bailey'' took the last men off ''Meriones'' at about 0100 hrs on 26 January. ''H F Bailey'' was also carrying the [[Naval surgeon|ship's doctor]] from ''Meriones'', and the gunner who had been wounded in one of the air attacks, and who was now on a [[stretcher]].<ref name=Bensley/>

There was now heavy rain mixed with sleet. Heavy seas were running both on shore and on the sand banks. In the darkness Blogg was uncertain of ''H F Bailey''{{'}}s position, so Blogg took her to the deeper waters of Cockle Gat south of Haisborough Sands, and anchored for the rest of the night.<ref name=Bensley/>

After five and a half hours it was light enough to fix ''H F Bailey''{{'}}s position from the tower of the [[parish church]] of [[Winterton-on-Sea]] two miles to the south. ''H F Bailey'' weighed anchor and at 1015 hrs she reached Great Yarmouth to land the last 10 rescued men.<ref name=Bensley/>

==Loss of ''Meriones''==
During 26 January 1941 German aircraft attacked ''Meriones'' again, setting her afire. By 27 January she was beyond salvage.<ref name=Bensley/> Her wreck now lies on South Haisborough Bank next to that of ''Monte Nevoso'' at a depth of {{convert|19|m|ft|abbr=on}} at position {{coord|52|51|N|01|45|E|type:landmark_source:dewiki|display=inline,title}}. The two wrecks are {{convert|19.1|km|nmi|disp=flip}} north by northeast of [[Hemsby]], {{convert|22.3|km|nmi|disp=flip}} north of [[Caister-on-Sea]] and {{convert|24.1|km|nmi|disp=flip}} north of Great Yarmouth.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

==Cromer Lifeboat crew==
{| class="wikitable"
|-----
! colspan="3" |  The rescue of ''Meriones''<ref>{{harvnb|Malster|Stibbons|1986|p=}}{{page needed|date=December 2020}}</ref> 
|-----
! colspan="3" | {{RNLB|H F Bailey|ON 694|2}}
|-----
! Name
! Rank
|-----
| [[Henry Blogg|Henry G Blogg]] || Coxswain||[[File:Henry Blogg 1 Feb 2008 (1).JPG|25px]]
|-----
| Lewis Harrison || Second Coxswain|| 
|-----
| W T Davis ||Bowman|| 
|-----
| H W Davis|| Mechanic|| 
|-----
| W Davis|| Assistant Mechanic|| 
|-----
| [[Henry Thomas Davies|Henry “shrimp” Davies]]|| Signaller||[[File:Henry Shrimp Davies photo in the Henry Blogg Museum 16 Feb 2008 (2).JPG|25px]]
|-----
| [[SS English Trader#Cromer Lifeboat Crew|Edward W ("Boy Primo") Allen]] || Signaller||[[File:Edward Walter Allen (1).JPG|25px]]
|-----
| J J Davis Jnr|| crew|| 
|-----
| R C Davis || crew|| 
|-----
| J R Davis || crew||
|-----
| L B Harrison || crew||
|-----
| S Harrison || crew||
|-----
| R Cox || crew||
|-----
|G cox || crew||
|-----
|J J Davis Snr || Stand-by Coxswain||
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book |last=Bensley |first=Mick |year=2001 |title=The Rescues of Henry Blogg and the crews of the Cromer Lifeboat |publisher=Benginn |isbn=1-85770-229-8 }}
*{{cite book |last=Jolly |first=C |year=2002 |title=Henry Blogg, the Greatest of the Lifeboatmen |place=North Walsham |publisher=Poppyland Publishing |isbn=0-946148-59-7 }}
*{{cite book |last=Le Fleming |first=HM |year=1961 |title=Ships of the Blue Funnel Line |place=Southampton |publisher=[[Adlard Coles Nautical|Adlard Coles Ltd]] }}
*{{cite book |last1=Malster |first1=Bob |last2=Stibbons |first2=Peter |year=1986 |title=The Cromer Lifeboats, 1804–1986 |place=North Walsham |publisher=Poppyland Publishing |isbn=0-946148-21-X}}
*{{cite book |last=Tikus |first=Ayer |year=2003 |title=The Ship-Wrecks off North East Norfolk |publisher=Ayer Tikus Publications |asin=B0032Z2NU0 }}
*{{cite map |title=Harwich and Rotterdam to Cromer & Terschelling Admiralty Small Craft Chart |scale=1:300,000 |series=small craft charts |publisher=[[United Kingdom Hydrographic Office]] |number=SC1408 }}

==External links==
*{{cite web |url= https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/cromer-lifeboat-station |title=Cromer Lifeboat Station |publisher=[[Royal National Lifeboat Institution|RNLI]]}}
*{{cite web |url= https://rnli.org/magazine/magazine-featured-list/2020/june/henry-blogg-lifesaving-legend |title=Henry Blogg: Legendary lifesaver |publisher=[[Royal National Lifeboat Institution|RNLI]] |date=17 June 2020}}
*{{cite web |url= https://alfredcorry.co.uk/cromer-lifeboat-shed |title=The Cromer Lifeboat Shed |publisher=The Alfred Corry Lifeboat Museum}}

{{January 1941 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Meriones}}
[[Category:1921 ships]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in January 1941]]
[[Category:Ships built by Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company]]
[[Category:Steamships of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:World War II merchant ships of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the North Sea]]
[[Category:Ships of the Blue Funnel Line]]