Plans afoot to restore converted lifeboat from first torpedoed passenger ship
How upturned vessel connects Stronsay to Second World War tragedy
(Story dated: Thursday, January 5, 2006)

Ross Reid reports on how the lifeboat came to be a recognisable feature over the years on the island.

The Stronsay Development Trust is appealing for information concerning a converted lifeboat/houseboat currently located on the foreshore at Seafield.

It is believed to have come from the passenger ship SS Athenia, infamously sunk on the first day of the Second World War in the North Atlantic by a German submarine.

Brian Crowe, a director of the trust, said that as a result of enquiries made and information obtained over the last 12 months, there is now convincing evidence that this lifeboat did indeed come from the Athenia.

He also said the trust hopes to be in a position soon to apply for funding to restore and display the vessel as a memorial to those who died and survived the attack.

With acknowledgement to numerous official records relating to the sinking of the Athenia and from the book A Night of Terror, by Max Caulfield, based on accounts of the tragedy related by survivors, Brian described the circumstances of the incident.

The SS Athenia, which was carrying hundreds of passengers, when she came under attack shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War.

“When the official announcement about the war was made to the nation, the 13,500-ton passenger ship the Athenia was en route from Liverpool to Canada, with 1,147 passengers and crew on board.

“The route to be taken was westward along the north coast of Ireland and then across the North Atlantic to Montreal and Quebec.

“The declaration of war was not unexpected, and as Captain Cook of the Athenia was aware of the possibility of German submarines in the area, the ship’s 26 lifeboats had been prepared and were ready for launching should the need arise.

“Later that day, well into the Atlantic, about 300 miles from Liverpool, the Athenia was torpedoed by the German submarine U-30 captained by Oberleutnant Fritz-Julius Lemp.

The German submarine U-30, which was responsible for the attack on the Athenia. Some 112 people lost their lives as a result.

“It took several hours for the ship to finally go down, during which time the 26 lifeboats were launched and from which more than 1,000 survivors were rescued, with three British destroyers and three merchant ships attending the scene.

“Some 112 people lost their lives, 93 of them passengers, in the initial explosion or died as a result of the sinking.”

Brian added: “There are many stories of individual heroism and tragedy related by survivors and recounted by Max Caulfield. In this book, the author comments that several days after the sinking, the captain of a passing ship, the SS Transylvania, noticed in the area an empty and abandoned lifeboat floating on the wave.”

Brian states that information provided by local people on Stronsay, Shapinsay and Kirkwall, has provided primary evidence of both the identity and the history of the lifeboat/houseboat currently on Stronsay.

This information concerns events in the early 1940s when an empty lifeboat was towed into Shapinsay having been found drifting on the currents off Deerness.

The interior of the upturned former lifeboat as it is today. Without restoration, the future looks bleak for the vessel.

It was acquired by a Captain Dennison, of Shapinsay, and used for carrying egg-boxes and the like.

It has been verified that this lifeboat at some time had the name ATHENIA on it, and that it was commonly accepted then, as it is now, that this vessel was from the Athenia.

During the late 1940s the boat was regularly used for collecting and transporting seaweed, and there are those today who can still remember this boat, affectionately known as Desperate Dan, in view of its substantial weight and clumsiness in handling.

In 1949, the boat was acquired by Mr J. Chalmers (Pye), of Seafield, Stronsay, who moved it from the foreshore, at Lower Station, to the foreshore at Seafield and converted it into a houseboat, where it has remained to this day.

Brian said that in 2004, the Stronsay Development Trust decided with the agreement and support of the current owner, Clive Martin, and as part of its development plan, to investigate and confirm the history and identity of the lifeboat with a view to obtaining funding for its restoration and preservation.

Contrasting views of the former lifeboat of the SS Athenia, which was initially used to ship egg boxes and then seaweed, before it was brought ashore and converted into a boat house. The Stronsay Development Trust now plans to restore it to its former glory.

Brian said the many supporters of this project feel this is a matter requiring immediate action due to the serious physical deterioration of the lifeboat over the years.

The trust believe as custodians of almost certainly the only surviving lifeboat from this ship, it has a duty to preserve this vessel to serve as a memorial to those who died and indeed those who survived.

The development trust is nearing the completion of its inquiries into the history of this lifeboat and officials say they are indebted to those who have provided much invaluable information and help.

However, they would still like to hear from anyone who can add further to the information already gleaned.

It has been suggested that small personal effects, such as clothing, hair grips, a teaspoon and other such items may have been on the lifeboat when it first arrived, and the trust would appreciate hearing from anyone who may be able to help.

The pictures of the SS Athenia and U-30 were supplied courtesy of Mike Kemble. More information is available on his website, www.mikekemble.com.

Mr Kemble is also the author of a soon-to-be published book entitled On a Sailor’s Grave — Maritime Disasters of the Second World War.