CAYZER, IRVINE & COMPANY LIMITED.
TURNBULL MARTIN & CO. LTD. SCOTTISH SHIRE LINE.
R.P. HOUSTON LINE.
SCOTTISH TANKERS LTD.
 |
Clan Line
Captain John Bax
Source: "Gathering of the Clans" by N.L. Middlemiss Merchant Fleets by Duncan Haws Research: Terry Robins |
The funnel colours of the Houston vessels remained red with a black top during the twenties, the only exception being that the Clan Line house flag was flown at the foremast while the Houston house flag flew on the mainmast. During the thirties however, the Houston ships wore half–Clan, half-Houston funnel colours by painting the famous twin red bands on the black portion, which was extended down the funnel. The funnel colours of the Scottish Shire Line vessels remained yellow. In 1920 – 21, CLAN MACBEOLAN, CLAN MACEWEN and CLAN MACRAE were transferred to the British and South American Steam navigation Company Limited, with Houston Line as managers and renamed HALESIUS, BUTESHIRE, BANFFSHIRE respectively.
1918 – 1920.
Official No.131427. Grt 4652 Nrt 2903
385.0 X 51.5 X 27.4 Feet.
2.2.1912 Launched and 3.1912 completed by Craig, Taylor and Co., Stockton (Yard No 149) as LORD CROMER for SS Lord Lathom Co.Ltd. (J.Herron and Co., managers) Liverpool. 1918 purchased by The Clan Line Steamers Ltd. And renamed CLAN MACBEOLAN. 1920 transferred to British and South American Steam navigation Colt. (Houston Line, managers) and renamed HALESIUS. 1936 sold to N.Sitnas and Co., Andros, and renamed AVRA. 25.9.1941 sank when in collision off Duncansby Head.
1912 – 1920.
Official No. 133053. Grt 5140 Nrt 3190
430.5 X 53.6 X 26.6 Feet.
16.3.1912 Launched and 1912 completed by Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Co.Ltd., Jarrow (Yard No 817) for The Clan Line Steamers Ltd. 1920 transferred to the British and South American Steam Navigation Co. Ltd. (Houston Line, managers) and renamed BUTESHIRE. 25.2.1948 arrived at Preston for scrapping.
(2)
1912 – 1921.
21.11.1911 Launched and 1.1912 completed by W.Doxford and Sons Ltd., Sunderland (Yard No 429) for The Clan Line Steamers Ltd. 9.1914 aided crew of H.M.S.PEGASUS after German Cruiser KÖNIGSBERG sank her at Zanzibar. 10.1914. Towed H.M.S.CHATHAM off Leven Rocks near Kilindini, Mombassa. 9.3.1915 chased by submarine off Liverpool Bar Light Vessel, and managed to escape. 1921 transferred to British and South American Steam Navigation Co. Ltd. (Houston Line, managers) and renamed BANFFSHIRE, 29.9.1943 torpedoed and sunk by submarine U532 in position 9° 26’ N 71° 20’ E, 380 miles S.W. from Mangalore.
At the same time CLAN MACARTHUR was transferred to the Scottish Line and renamed BERWICKSHIRE.
(2)
1912 – 1921.
Official No. 133085. Grt 5815 Nrt 3614
450.1 X 57.1 X 26.8 Feet.
26.9.1912 Launched and 1912 completed by Sir W.G. Armstrong, Whitworth and Co. Ltd., Newcastle (Yard No 846) for The Clan Line Steamers Ltd. 27.4.1917 chased by a submarine off Scilly Isles but escaped. 1912 transferred to Scottish Shire Line (Turnbull, Martin and Co., managers) and renamed BERWICKSHIRE. 20.8.1944 torpedoed and sunk by submarine U861 in position 30º 58’ S 38º 50’ E, 500 miles E.S.E. of Durban while on a voyage from Durban to Tamatave and Mauritius.
CLAN SKENE and CLAN KEITH were also transferred at this time to the British and South American navigation Company Ltd. Becoming HALOCRATES and HILARIUS respectively, but were transferred back to Cayzer, Irvine and Co Ltd in 1924 resuming their former names.
1919 – 1920.
1923 – 1942.
Official No 141893. Grt 5214 Nrt 3222
401.0X 52.3 X 28.5 Feet.
11.1918 Launched as WAR ADDER for the Shipping Controller and 1.1919 completed as CLAN SKENE by C.Connell and Co. Ltd., Glasgow (Yard No 389) for The Clan Line Steamers Ltd. 1920 transferred to British and South American Steam Navigation Co. Ltd. (Houston Line, managers) and renamed HALOCRATES. 4.7.1923 stranded in the Strait of Kanso, Nova Scotia, refloated and towed to New York. 1923 transferred back to The Clan Line Steamers Ltd. 10.1.1942 torpedoed and sunk by U333 in position 31º 43’ N 70º 43’ W, 360 miles S.E. from Cape Hatteras while on a voyage from cape Town to N. America.
(1)
1918 – 1920.
1924 – 1937.
Official No.136654. Grt 4306 Nrt 2685
385.0 X 52.0 X 25.1 Feet.
13.1.1914 Launched and 3.1914 completed by Bartram and Sons Ltd., Sunderland (Yard No 231) as ETONIAN for Cambrian Steam Navigation Co. Lt., (J. Mathias, manager) Cardiff. 1918 purchased by The Clan Line Steamers Ltd. 1920 transferred to The British and South African Steam Navigation Co. Ltd., (Houston Line, managers) and renamed HILARIUS. 1924 transferred back to The Clan Line Steamers Ltd. 1937 sold to Minster Steamship Co.Ltd., London for £ 23,000 and renamed ORMINSTER. 1940 sold to South American Saint Line (B and S Shipping Co.Ltd.) 23.8.1944 torpedoed and sunk by submarine U480 in position 50º 09’ N 0º 44’ W 35 miles N.W. of Cap d’Antifer while returning from the Normandy beaches, six of her crew were lost
After the war Clan Line were extended loading rights homewards from South Africa particularly for the export of fruit and as well as accelerating their own building program to replace losses, the company purchased two vessels from Lang and Fulton Ltd., the ARDGRYFE and ARDGARROCH and renamed them CLAN KENNETH and CLAN KENNEDY respectively.
(1)
1918 – 1934.
Official No. 127551. Grt 5100 Nrt 3184
400.0 X 52.0 X 27.4 Feet.
17.8.1909 Launched and 9.1909 completed as ARDGRYFE for SS Ardgyfe Co. (Lang and Fulton.), London. 1918 purchased by The Clan Line Steamers. and renamed CLAN KENNETH. 1934 broken up at Blyth by Hughes Bolckow and Co.Ltd.
(1)
1918 – 1924.
Official No. 123539. Grt 5086 Nrt 3198
400.0 X 52.0 X 19.3 Feet.
11.9.1907 Launched and 10.1907 completed by Russell and Co., Glasgow (Yard No 570) as OTTERBURN for Burn Line (R.Shankland, manager). 1912 sold to SS Ardgarroch Co. Ltd (Lang and Fulton Ltd.) London, and renamed ARDGARROCH. 1918 purchased by The Clan Line Steamers, and renamed CLAN KENNEDY. 16.1.1924 stranded 1 mile north of Thorpness, Suffolk, on the Sizewall Bank while on a voyage from New Caledonia to Hamburg with ore and copra. 1.1924 refloated and sold to J. Cashmore, Newport, for breaking up.
Also purchased was HUNTSCRAFT from Harris and Dixon Ltd., to be renamed CLAN MACKAY a year later. This vessel, completed in July 1913 for German owners by William Doxford and Sons Ltd. As SÜDMARK, had been captured and requisitioned by the Admiralty and managed by Harris and Dixon Ltd. Until 1917 when they bought her.
(4)
1919 – 1934.
Official No.136793. Grt 5182 Nrt 3205
420.0 X 54.1 X 26.3 Feet.
3.6.1913 Launched and 7.1913 completed by W.Doxford and Sons Ltd., Sunderland (Yard No 455) for Hamburg – America Line, Hamburg, as SÜDMARK. 17.8.1914 captured by The Royal Navy, and taken into Suez while on a voyage from Yokohama to Hamburg. 9.1914 requisitioned by The Shipping Controller, management taken over by Harris and Dixon Ltd. 1915 renamed HUNTSCRAFT. 1917 management taken over by Union Castle Line. 1919 purchased by The Clan Line Steamers Ltd. 1921 renamed CLAN MACKAY. 19.10.1934 WRECKED ON carpenters Rock, Sierra Leone, while on a voyage from Cairns, Australia to Montreal.
Another purchase for the British South American Steam Navigation Co Ltd. At this time was the Belgian vessel YPRESVILLE, built in Glasgow in 1918 for Lloyd Royal Belge. She was renamed HALIZONES, and was brought back into the ownership of Cayzer, Irvine and Co. Ltd. In 1923 and renamed CLAN MACWHIRTER after a three spell as WILLCASINO with the Convoy S.S. Co. Ltd.
1923 – 1942.
Official No. 142598. Grt 5941 Nrt 3702
424.4 X 55.8 X 28.8 Feet.
26.4.1918 Launched and 7.1918 completed by Lloyd Royal Belge (GB) Ltd., Glasgow (Yard No 3) as YPRESVILLE FOR Lloyd Royal Belge, Belgium. 1919 sold to British and South American Steam Navigation Co. Ltd. (Houston Line, managers) and renamed HALIZONES. 1920 sold to Convoy Steamship Co.Ltd. (H.D.Kempt. manager) and renamed WILLCASINO. 1923 purchased by Clan Line Steamers Ltd. And renamed CLAN MACWHIRTER. 26.8.1942 torpedoed and sunk by U156 in position 35º 45’N 18º 45’ W, 200 miles north of Madeira.
Twelve vessels were completed for the company between 1920 and 1924, eight by Ayrshire Dockyard at Irvine, three by Lithgows at Port Glasgow and one CLAN MACILWRAITH of 1924, by Greenock Dockyard, which had been purchased by the company in 1918. Theses were the last company vessels to be issued with a set of sails.
(1)
1924 – 1950.
Official No. 147931. Grt 4839 Nrt 2878
387.4 X 52.2 X 27.6 Feet.
14.8.1924 Launched and 11.1924 completed by Greenock Dockyard Co. Ltd., Greenock (Yard No 403) for The Clan Line Steamers Ltd. 1950 sold to F.A.Vinnen, Bremen and renamed MAGDALENE VINNEN. 1956 sold to Cia Nav.Vaptistes SA, Costa Rica, and renamed SAN GEORGE. 18.4.1958 arrived Antwerp for scrapping.
The company ventured into another area of trading in 1926 when they bought two small steamers; formally the Navy store ships POLYANTHUS and IVY, for St. Lawrence trading from Mexican Owners and registered them in Montreal. The NAYARIT was kept for only two years before being sold, whereas the COLIMA served the company until 1930 when she was sold to British Trade Crusades, for whom she gave another three years of service. The company replaced COLIMA with the SINALOA and she continued St. Lawrence trading until sold in 1933 to ship owners in Greece. As trading conditions got worse the company got rid of any trade, such as those to the River Plate in 1926, which were sold to Kaye, Son and Co. Ltd,. London, and on the St Lawrence which did not fit into the main pattern of trading. All vessels were maintained on the high seas during the depression, although in 1926 and again in 1932 the company capital was reconstructed. The company had only four new vessels between 1924 and 1936 but two of these, CLAN MACDONALD of 1928 and CLAN MACDOUGALL of 1929 had revolutionary engines. They had Burmeister and Waine double acting four stroke air injection diesel engines with electric pressure- charging blowers. They were the first company ships to have composite superstructures and long foredecks and were fitted with a 120 Ton derrick on the foremast.
(3)
1928- 1929.
Official No. 160210. Grt 6022 Nrt 3558
432.2 X 57.7 X 28.8 Feet.
21.2.1928 Launched and 6.1928 completed by Greenock Dockyard Co. Ltd., Greenock (Yard No 414) for The Clan Line Steamers Ltd. 1929 transferred to Scottish Shire Line (Turnbull, Martin and Co.Ltd., managers) and renamed STIRLINGSHIRE 2.12.1940 torpedoed and sunk by U94 in position 55º 36’N 16º 22’W, 350 miles N.W. of Main Head while on a voyage from Sydney to U.K. via Halifax.
(2)
1929 – 1943.
Official No. 160234. Grt 6843 Nrt 4079
454.0 X 62.3 X 28.9 Feet.
28.9.1928 Launched and 1.1929 completed by Greenock Dockyard Co.Ltd., Greenock (Yard No 415) for The Clan Line Steamers Ltd. 6.1935 in collision with the Danish Steamer HJORTHOLM and sank at Swansea. The Danish Steamer HJORTHOLM was broken up as a result of this collision. 31.5.1941 torpedoed and sunk by U106 in position 16º 50' N 25º 10' W, having just sailed from St.Vincent, Cape Verde Islands for the U.K.
However, CLAN MACPHERSON of 1929 and CLAN MACALISTER of 1930 reverted to triple expansion engines, but for the first time working in conjunction with the Bauer-Wach exhaust turbine. So satisfactory did the experiment prove that many of the older ships of the company were converted to this system. Greenock Dockyard built all four vessels.
(3)
1929 – 1943.
Official No. 160249. Grt 4191 Nrt 4191
454.0 X 62.3 X 28.9 Feet.
9.3.1929 Launched and 5.1929 completed by Greenock Dockyard Co. Ltd., Greenock (Yard No 416) for The Clan Line Steamers Ltd. 1.5.1943 torpedoed and sunk by U 515 in position 7º 58’ N 14º 14' W 75 miles S.W. of Freetown, having sailed from Takoradi on 26.4.1943 for the UK.
(3)
1930 – 1940.
Official No.161909. Grt 6795 Nrt 4097
453.8 X 62.3 X 28.9 Feet.
29.1.1930 Launched and 4.1930 completed by Greenock Dockyard Co.Ltd., Greenock (Yard No 418) for The Clan Line Steamers Ltd. 29.5.1940 bombed and sunk off Dunkirk during the evacuation.
When CLAN MACBRIDE of 1912 departed for India under the command of Capt. Last in December 1931, fully loaded with cargo, there were eight racehorses stowed next to the poop on either side of No 5 hatch. Things went well until they were in the Mediterranean, but by Christmas day a full gale had blown up and the horses were in great distress, being wet and frightened. H.S. Pengelly, later Capt., forfeited his Christmas dinner and volunteered to move the horse onto No 5 hatch, and the horses were landed in Bombay in good condition. A more unusual cargo awaited them. Forty boxes of bullion containing bar gold and hundreds of thousands of British gold sovereigns were manifested for shipment to Tilbury. Theses were locked in the only high security place on the ship – The Chief Steward’s store, which had iron bulkheads, all round a heavy iron door with a good lock, and arrived safely at Tilbury.
(1)
1912 – 1937.
Official No.133987. Grt 4922 Nrt 3009
390.0 X 50.5 X 27.9 Feet.
19.12.1912 completed trials by Ropner and Sons Ltd, Stockton (Yard No 474) for The Clan Line Steamers Ltd. 1937 sold to McCowen and Gross Ltd., London, under the scrap and build scheme and renamed HEATHCOT. 1938 broken up.
The opportunity was taken to purchase five second – hand ships from companies who had not been so fortunate. These were two standard WW1 types purchased from White Star Line for £53,000 each in 1933 and which had been used on the Australian run, renaming them CLAN COLQUHOUN and CLAN FARQUHAR, and two purchased from C.W. Kellock and Co. Ltd. in 1929, renaming them CLAN GRAHAM. CLAN GRANT together with CLAN ROBERTSON purchased from the New Zealand Shipping Co. Ltd. In 1934 as OTAKI and sold to Stanhope S. S. Co. in 1938.
(2)
1933 – 1947.
Official No. 142741. Grt 7914 Nrt 4888
450.0 X 58.5 X 37.1 Feet.
12.12.1918 completed trials by Workman, Clark and Co.Ltd., Belfast (Yard No 436) as WAR ARGUS for the Shipping Controller (White Star Line, managers). 8.1919 sold to Oceanic steam navigation Co.Ltd. (White Star Line) and renamed GALLIC. 1933 purchased by The Clan Line Steamers Ltd. And renamed CLAN COLQUHOUN. 1947 sold to Zarati Steamship Co.Ltd., Panama, and renamed IOANNIS LIVANOS. 1949 sold to Dos Oceanos Compagnie de Nav SA, and renamed JENNY. 1951 sold to Djakarta Lloyd N.V. Indonesia and renamed IMAN BONDJOL. 1952 renamed DJATINEGARA. 1.12.1955 ashore at Lingayen near Manila after leaking and flooding while undertow from Djakarta to Osaka for scrapping. 21.2.1956 refloated, towed to Manila. 6.1956 scrapped at Osaka.
(2)
1933 – 1948.
Official No. 142695. Grt 7958 Nrt 4888
450.4 X 58.4 X 37.2 Feet.
19.9.1918 Launched and 31.10.1918 completed as WAR ICARUS by Harland and Wolff Ltd., Belfast (Yard No 540) for the Shipping Controller. 5.1919 sold to Atlantic Transport Co.Ltd. and renamed MESABA. 1925 sold to Oceanic Steam Navigation Co.Ltd. (White Star Line) and renamed DELPHIC. 1933 purchased by The Clan Line Steamers Ltd. And renamed CLAN FARQUHAR. 7.1948 scrapped at Milford Haven.
(3)
1929 – 1938.
Official No.132773. Grt 5785 Nrt 3511
426.0 X 54.1 X 37.3 Feet.
3.4.1912 Launched and 6.1912 completed by Hawthorn, Leslie and Co. Ltd., Hebburn (Yard No 452) as PORT LINCOLN for Commonwealth and Dominion Line Ltd. 1927 sold to C.W.Kellock and Co Ltd. And renamed CAMBRIAN BARONESS. 1929 purchased by The Clan Line Steamers Ltd. And renamed CLAN GRAHAM. 1938 Sold to Neill and Pandelis Ltd., London, and renamed MARITIMA. 2.11.1942 torpedoed and sunk by U522 in position 52º 20' N 45º 40' W, 500 miles N.E. of St Johns, Newfoundland.
(3)
1929 – 1939.
Official No. 135132. Grt 5817 Nrt 3554
426.0 X 54.1 X 37.3 Feet.
7.1912 Launched and 9.1912 completed by Hawthorn, Leslie and Co Ltd., Hebburn (Yard No 456) as PORT MACQUARIE for Commonwealth and Dominion Line Ltd. 1927 sold to C.W. Kellock and Co. Ltd. And renamed CAMBRIAN MARCHIONESS. 1929 purchased by The Clan Line Steamers Ltd. And renamed CLAN GRANT. 1939 sold to Stanhope Steamship Co. Ltd., London. (J.A. Billmeir, managers) and renamed STANGRANT. 13.10.1940 torpedoed by U37 in position 58º 27' N 12º 36' W 220 miles west of the Butt of Lewis.
Part Five