A tragic event, all those men returning from war. Iolaire Disaster SinkingXofXHMYXIolaireX-XlistXofXallXonXboardXatXtimeXofXgrounding Iolaire Disaster 1919: Iolaire Crew
Yes it was a truly tragic event for the islanders. Strange, running aground when all on board knew the area so well, a real mystery. Tom
The passengers were from the islands of Lewis, Harris and Berneray but the crew of the armed yacht were not. It was reportedly the first time Lt Cotter had taken the yacht into Stornoway Harbour at night after the vessel had been posted there. Does anyone know whether the HMY Iolaire (built as Iolanthe by Ramage & Ferguson of Leith in 1881) was a single or twin screw vessel. There is a photograph of the vessel which was named HMY Amalthaea until October 1918, at Port Dinorwic, North Wales. This shows a single screw vessel but she is much too high for the two men shown, to be a vessel of 412 tons. The propellor towers over them. Can anybody shed a light - her dimensions in feet were 189.3 x 27.1 x 15.0 ? Regards Malcolm Macdonald
Malcolm, Hello and welcome to the forum. There are several Marine experts on the forum who may just know off the top of their head. I am sure they will make contact when they see your post. Is there a family connection with this tragedy? I found this good site which provides a good account. Iolaire I will try and find out details of the Yacht if I can. Regards Tom
Thanks Tom I am involved with the two other websites given in the original posting (above). My grandfather (same name) was one of those lost and, together with Donald John MacLeod from Bridge of Don, we are researching the tragedy in all its entirity. The Iolanthe ship number was 1085043. This was the yacht lost serving as HMY Iolaire on 1 January 1919. She had replaced HMY Iolaire, 862 tons, number 26301 which was broken up shortly after service in WW2. Regards Malcolm Macdonald
Hello Malcolm, Welcome aboard - we meet again. You have researched this ship more than anyone I know, but the only place I can think that you would get this kind of information would be from Lloyd's Register. Have you seen this and would you be able to get hold of it from your library. Horizon Information Portal Regards Hugh
Hello Hugh Yes, I have tried the Lloyds Register but it does not include the number of screws. It has everything else, from electric lights being provided to number of masts, but is missing that vital detail I require. I have asked three local divers, Messrs Alasdair Macleod, Michael Skelly and Chris Murray for their views. Macleod has not dived on the wreck for a long time, Skelly says that there is only one propellor shaft on the wrecksite and I await news from Murray (ex-Coastguard Helicopter Winchman). Nevertheless, plans would be the only definitive answer (unless of course a second shaft came into the equation on the seabed). Apart from my own digging for started a model but has had contradicting opinions over the HMY Iolaire being single or double screw. A case for Colombo methinks! Regards Malcolm
Malcolm, I cam across a video made about a dive on the wreck which was well made and over 8 mins long. Unfortunately non of the shots showed any clues of the vessel being either single or double prop. Drawn a complete blank on searches up to now. Do you have any idea as to what happened with the original builders, where they taken over or just went bust? Just thinking outloud as to where any archive plans from the company may have ended up. Regards Tom
Tom The film was probably the one made about a year ago by Murray & Skelly (the latter is an ITV cameraman). Regarding Ramage & Ferguson Ltd of Leith who built the ship - I can find no trace of ships credited to them building them after 1921. One of the co-founders in 1877, John Ferguson retired from business in 1932 (I do not know whether that was still shipbuilding) and died in 1935 aged 82. I cannot find exact details re his partner Richard Ramage but I believe he died around 1920 aged 86. Whether the yard closed or was taken over in the 'twenties/'thirties, I know not. I am loathe to visit the Scottish National Archives on a wild goose chase for one detail. My last posting lost a handful of words. A friend, Iain Campbell, wishes to make a scale model of the vessel and his working models are renowned in the islands. There is much detail and photographs of the hull, masts, rigging, lifeboars and superstructure but little of what lay beneath the waterline. Regards Malcolm
Immediately after posting I came across more detail of the yard. In 1924 Hawthorns, Cran & Smerville and Ramage & Ferguson were aquired by Henry Robb Ltd at the Victoria Shipyards. Ramage & Ferguson reportedly went into liquidation in 1935, following John Ferguson's death. Henry Robb Ltd did not close until 1984 so hopefully Ramage & Ferguson's records were not disposed of.
Malcolm, That sounds like a great lead. I wish you well and hope that you can get your hands on a real plan of the ship. Regards Tom
It would appear that the Amalthaea built in 1881 as Iolanthe (which sank as HMY Iolaire on 1 January 1919) was indeed single screw vessel. Thanks for the support. Malcolm
Malcolm, A great result and best of luck with the model. Can you post a picture or two when it is completed? Regards Tom
