{"id":581,"date":"2024-03-21T13:55:54","date_gmt":"2024-03-21T13:55:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/seswpcourse.hosted7.connect.ie\/?p=581"},"modified":"2024-03-27T11:32:45","modified_gmt":"2024-03-27T11:32:45","slug":"ss-lochgarry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seswpcourse.hosted7.connect.ie\/index.php\/2024\/03\/21\/ss-lochgarry\/","title":{"rendered":"SS Lochgarry"},"content":{"rendered":"

History of the SS Lochgarry<\/em><\/span><\/h1>\n
\n

One of Ireland\u2019s most Popular Recreational Diving Wrecks<\/span><\/h3>\n

By Martin Baillie-Johnston<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

The first time I dived the wreck of the SS\u00a0Lochgarry<\/em>\u00a0it was a hot day in June and I was sweating in my dry suit as I waited for the skipper to give us the signal to roll in. There were six of us were diving the wreck. I was last in when we finally got the signal to go. You could still feel the run of the tide as I swam to the shot. By the time I reached the line the buoy was under water with the weight of the tide coupled with the weight of five divers already holding on to it. I had been told previously about the strong currents that surround the wreck and I was getting first-hand experience of the same. I descended down the line and got my first glimpse of the SS\u00a0Lochgarry<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The start of the story of the SS\u00a0Lochgarry<\/em>:<\/span><\/h3>\n

G and J Burns Ltd\u00a0(1)<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

George and James Burns were produce merchants. They became involved in shipping around 1824. The routes between Glasgow to Ayr and Belfast to Liverpool were prominent routes for the company for many years.<\/span><\/p>\n

There is a famous story that in 1829, George Burns wanted his first steam ship called the\u00a0GLASGOW<\/em>\u00a0to sail on the Liverpool service on a Saturday. This meant that the ship would be at sea on a Sunday. In order to achieve his wish Burns had a Chaplin accompany her en-route.<\/span><\/p>\n

SS Vulture<\/span><\/h2>\n

In the late 1890s G and J Burns Ltd ordered two steam ships to be built by A&J Inglis.(2)<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0A & J Inglis were shipbuilders founded in 1862 after the acquisition of a shipyard at Pointhouse, Glasgow. The firm built more than 500 ships in just over 100 years including many famous ones, such as the paddle steamer \u201cMaid of the Loch<\/em>\u201d which is now a visitor attraction on Loch Lomond.<\/span><\/p>\n

The two steam ships ordered by G and J Burns Ltd were launched in 1898, and when completed were 1280gt and 265 feet long. The ships were christened \u201cMagpie<\/em>\u201d and \u201cVulture<\/em>\u201d. Some unusual design features of the time were that\u00a0Magpie<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0Vulture<\/em>\u2019s passenger accommodation was placed amidships and a dining saloon was located in a deckhouse on the poop. Another unusual feature was that both ships were given fidded masts. This allowed the top mast to be lowered in the event that either ship needed to navigate the Manchester Canal.<\/span><\/p>\n

Vulture<\/em>\u00a0was used mainly on the Glasgow to Belfast and Ardrossan to Belfast routes for much of her career, eventually being replaced. During the first World War\u00a0Vulture<\/em>\u00a0was taken off her normal routes and used on the Aberdeen to Bergen route.<\/span><\/p>\n

SS\u00a0Lairdsrock<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n

In 1922 G and J Burns Ltd amalgamated with Laird Lines to form the company Burns and Laird Lines Ltd. G and J Burns Ltd at this time brought 15 ships into the new company one of which was\u00a0Vulture.<\/em>\u00a0By 1924\u00a0Vulture<\/em>\u00a0was over 25 years old and due for a refit. She was upgraded by the Scottish ship builders D and W Henderson who at the time were under the management of Harland and Wolff. They fitted new boilers and modified her accommodation. In May of 1929 all 15 ships in the Burns and Laird Fleet were renamed. As part of the rename all ships were given the prefix\u00a0Lairds<\/em>-. The\u00a0Vulture<\/em>\u00a0was renamed the SS\u00a0Lairdsrock<\/em>. It is believed that between the end of the first World War and 1936 that\u00a0Vulture\/Lairdsrock<\/em>\u00a0continued to sail between Ardrossan and Belfast.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\"Lairdsrock<\/p>\n

Lairdsrock<\/em>\u00a0Leaving Broomielaw\u00a0(3)<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\"Lairdsrock<\/p>\n

Lairdsrock<\/em>\u00a0at Customs House Quay in Greenock\u00a0(3A)<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

SS\u00a0Lochgarry<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n

\"SSIn 1936 Burns and Laird Lines Ltd took delivery of the two modern motor ferries, the\u00a0Royal Scotsman<\/em>\u00a0and the\u00a0Royal Ulsterman<\/em>. The Ardrossan to Belfast night sailings were discontinued and the\u00a0Lairdsrock<\/em>\u00a0became redundant. The\u00a0Lairdsrock<\/em>\u00a0was chartered and eventually sold to David MacBrayne Ltd who renamed her SS\u00a0Lochgarry<\/em>\u00a0in 1937. She became the largest member of the David MacBrayne Ltd fleet.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

SS\u00a0Lochgarry<\/i>\u00a0at Lancefield Quay Glasgow\u00a0(3B)<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

The\u00a0Lochgarry<\/i>\u00a0was extensively refitted with new accommodation and a new funnel, before becoming a West Highland Cruiser. She cruised around scenic parts of the west coast of Scotland including:<\/span><\/p>\n

The Arran and Islay islands; Durat Castle; Lochness; Oban; and Tober Moray as well as offering views of some of the tallest Munros.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\"SS<\/p>\n

SS\u00a0Lochgarry<\/i>\u00a0brochure for Highland Cruises from the late 1930s.\u00a0(4)<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Page from Cruise brochure showing the sights.\u00a0(4A)<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"Page<\/p>\n

World War2\u00a0(4B)<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

On the 24th<\/sup>\u00a0of April 1940 the\u00a0Lochgarry<\/em>\u00a0was requisitioned by the government. She had been laid up at the time of requisitioning possibly due to not being used as a cruise ship during the winter months. She sailed to the south to England where she was chartered as a troop ship bringing troops to and from France. She took part in Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of British and French troops from the beaches of Dunkirk during the period May to June 1940. Shortly after departing from Dunkirk on the 29th<\/sup>\u00a0of May she was attacked and damaged by enemy bombs which also holed her Royal Navy escort. Despite this she returned to England safely with over 1000 troops on board. From England the\u00a0Lochgarry<\/em>\u00a0returned to Scotland and was released from Admiralty work on the 12th<\/sup>\u00a0of June 1940. She entered dry dock for repairs at Ardrossan in mid-June and then returned to Greenock\u00a0in late June where she remained laid up for the rest of the year. She operated under charter for the Admiralty for a total of 50 days.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Admiralty paid \u00a33091 for her 50 day charter. The insurance recovered was \u00a350. Her costs for the same period were \u00a35575 which incurred a total loss of \u00a32446.<\/span><\/p>\n

In January 1941 she began a second charter for the Ministry of War Transport which required her to sail between Douglas, Ramsey, Barrow in Furness and Liverpool. She then sailed to Reykjavik in Iceland before returning to England.<\/span><\/p>\n

After this the\u00a0Lochgarry<\/em>\u00a0was employed as a troop ship and made several trips between Leith and Torshavn in the Faroe Islands surviving another air attack on the 17th<\/sup>\u00a0of September. The rest of 1941\u00a0(5)<\/sup><\/span>\u00a0her sailing between Oban and Torshavn and surviving yet another air attack on Christmas day of that year.<\/span><\/p>\n

Final Voyage\u00a0(6)<\/sup><\/span>\u00a0(7)<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

Departing from Torshavn on 1st<\/sup>\u00a0of January 1942 the Lochgarry sailed to Glasgow via Oban. She left Glasgow on the afternoon of the 20th<\/sup>\u00a0of January for Oban to pick up a group of Soldiers bound for the Faroe Islands. She was in ballast with a crew of 49 hands and one passenger.<\/span><\/p>\n

As the evening wore on the weather turned, the wind increased to a moderate gale and visibility was poor with periods of rain and snow. At 10:15pm that evening a course was set for the Mull of Kintyre, the weather remained poor with gale force winds and limited visibility. The ship continued at full speed and the Mull of Kintyre light was expected to be seen around midnight. No light was spotted and at 12:25am the\u00a0Lochgarry<\/em>\u00a0struck rocks. The master thought that this was the Mull of Kintyre but it turned out to be the rocks off Torr point.<\/span><\/p>\n

The master ordered the engines full astern and the\u00a0Lochgarry<\/em>\u00a0refloated herself at 12:35am. The engines were then reduced to slow astern and her stern turned into the wind. The master ordered some of the crew to shore up the watertight bulkhead in the forward hold, whilst others were ordered to make lifeboats ready to abandon ship.<\/span><\/p>\n

Distress rockets were sent out at intervals. An SOS was sent out and a reply received. Unfortunately as the master had believed their position to be the Mull of Kintyre incorrect information was sent regarding the ships position and the rescue tug never appeared. Around 2:40am a signal lamp was spotted on the shore flashing the letter U. The signal represented the fact that the ship was running into danger. The master turned the bow into the wind and the\u00a0Lochgarry<\/em>\u00a0began to take on water rapidly and the order to abandon ship was given between 3 and 4am.<\/span><\/p>\n

The two after lifeboats were lowered and the crew made their way away from the ship. The master and chief engineer stayed on board until 5:30 am when they then left the vessel in another lifeboat. The Master and Chief Engineer arrived on Rathlin Island around 6:30am. They found 25 of the ship\u2019s crew there, however 23 of the crew were missing. It eventually transpired that the lifeboat containing the 23 missing crew members had been swept north and struck the only offshore rock on Rathlin Island\u2019s east side. The life boat capsized drowning some of its occupants. The crew members that made it ashore, subsequently died as a result of exposure and injuries they suffered on hitting the rocks whilst trying to reach shore. The Rathlin coast guide organised search parties after seeing the distress rockets. All survivors were accounted for by the morning of the 21st<\/sup>\u00a0of January.<\/span><\/p>\n

A board of Inquiry to investigate the sinking of the Lochgarry was conducted in the County Building in Glasgow between the 1st and 4th<\/sup>\u00a0of September 1942. At the end of the inquiry the court found that\u00a0\u201cThe loss was probably due to an abnormal set towards the Irish coast owing to a moderate S.E. gale, occurring during darkness and in poor visibility owing to frequent snow and rain squalls, but was also contributed to by the default of the master.\u201d\u00a0(5A)<\/sup><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

It was recommended by the court that the master\u2019s certificate\u00a0\u201cshould not be dealt with\u201d\u00a0(5B)<\/sup><\/span><\/i>\u00a0that is taken from him but he should be severely reprimanded due to his failure to sight the Mull of Kintyre. Failure to sight the Mull of Kintyre should have caused the Master to take precautionary measures.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

A diver entering the forward hold. The chain placed there by the Royal Navy is clearly visible.\u00a0(7A)<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The Wreck<\/span><\/h2>\n

The wreck today sits upright on the sea bed off the Coast of Rathlin Island in approximately 32 meters. It is largely intact though the stern section has started to collapse. The wreck is usually buoyed, when I last dived the wreck the shot was attached to the port railings around midships.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

View facing the forecastle accommodation.\u00a0(7B)<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"ViewThere are several recognisable features on the wreck. Some wood decking plates have survived and there are several bollards still in place. One of the most discernible features is the black and white tiles on the deck. This was once a bathroom floor, the walls and ceiling have rotted away to revel the tiles, some pieces of porcelain from toilets and sinks can be seen nearby. The engine room is open and the triple expansion engine is exposed. Coming forward on the wreck it is possible to see into the forward Hold, the width of the hold is covered with heavy chain placed there by the Royal Navy in an attempt to stop anyone obtaining the rifles, grenades and munitions stored in the hold.<\/span><\/p>\n

Forward on from the hold the back of the forecastle is open and access is easy with natural light penetrating from above and the sides.<\/span><\/p>\n

A trip to the bow of the wreck clearly shows the damaged inflicted from the impact with the rocks off Torr Point.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Divers at the bow. Note the damage caused by the grounding to the bow.\u00a0(7C)<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The Lochgarry is one of the most popular recreational wrecks in Ireland. It rests in a very tidal area and should only be dived at slack tide. At the height of the dive season it is usual for the site to be extremely busy. On a recent dive Dr E. Bourke diver and Shipwreck Historian recovered a gasmask hose that would have been carried by one of the many soldiers that the Lochgarry transported.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Gas mask of ww2 period and hose from similar found on Lochgarry<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"Gas<\/p>\n

Notes:<\/span><\/h2>\n

1\/The historical archives held by Caledonian and MacBrayne show that in the MacBrayne Board Minutes of 29th<\/sup>\u00a0Sep 1942 that the book value of the vessel was \u00a336,386-10\/7d and the insured value was \u00a350,000. The amount received from the underwriters made for a profit of \u00a316,676-12\/10d over the book value.<\/span><\/p>\n

References<\/span><\/h2>\n