SS Fernside
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- čas přidán 7. 04. 2019
- The small SS Fernside was built in 1921. By WWII she was involved in the transport of precious war coal cargoes up the east coast. She set off on a voyage from Hartlepool to Wick in February 1942 - scheduled to arrive at Wick on 27 February. She never arrived and was listed as missing, presumed bombed, in the Moray Firth.
Whilst shotting a local wreck 5 miles off Stonehaven, the SS Gowrie, we snagged our line about 50 metres away from our usual spot. When we descended expecting to see the Gowrie we found we were snagged on a totally different unknown wreck sitting just out of sight. Deeside BSAC found the bell, which confirmed the identity - we hadn't expected the Fernside to turn up here - so far from where she was presumed lost in the Moray Firth.
My great-uncle Jack Richards died in that ship. His body was the only one found.
Hi Steven - locally no one knew the Fernside had been sunk 4 miles out in the bay here. I’d dived a wreck called the Gowrie a number of times, an intact WWII loss. Despite being pristine there was a debris field of wreckage all around the stern which clearly didn’t come from the Gowrie. It was only when I tried to dive the Gowrie once again and snagged our anchor on something about 50m away I realised there was a 2nd wreck all smashed up and flattened very close to the Gowrie. The bomb hit the aft machinery area - the effect on such a small ship was devastating- the superstructure remains are upside down, blown like that by the explosion.
@@rodmacdonald6396 Hi Rod, thanks for your reply and message, most unexpected. In your video I think I saw the steam engine and boiler quite clearly. Jack's job is listed as "fireman", so that would have been his work area. I wonder why his body came ashore and no others did. Perhaps he had come off watch and was on the upper deck, possibly at night when no-one else was around?
Coincidentally my cousin has lived in the Stonehaven area for years, working for the Met. office.
Thanks for sharing the video. Steven