SS Hopelyn
Encyclopedia
SS Hopelyn was a Merchant vessel
from Newcastle
which became stranded and then wrecked on Scroby Sands
of the Norfolk coast on the 17 October 1922.
with the Yard Number 1041. She was and 285 feet (86.9 m) long. The ship was ordered by the Hopemount Shipping Company Ltd, (a subsidiary of Swan, Hunter Ltd & Wigham Richardson Ltd) and operated by Stamp, Mann and Company shipping mainly coal from Newcastle
.
. As she made her way down the east coast of England she encountered a north-easterly gale. On the morning of 18th the Hopelyn encountered problems when her steering gear broke down. Temporary repairs were made to the steering but the gale had gradually increased making conditions increasingly worse by the hour. The captain decided that it would be safer for his ship and crew to head for the relative safety of Yarmouth roads. Unfortunately the temporary repairs failed and the captain could not control the ship. The strong gale and crashing seas drove the Hopelyn on to the Scroby sands where she became stranded.
. This he managed to do, just before the heavy sea caused the wireless mast to be swept away. It was now 9:30 pm and the Hopelyn was breaking up fast. The crew of 24 had to taken shelter in the Bridge but after a short while had to move to the highest point of the ship’s superstructure, namely the 12 foot square wireless room..
Kentwell had been launched. She was only powered by oars and Coxswain
Billy Fleming had acquired a tow from the tug George Jewson. The two vessel’s found conditions at sea difficult with 30 to 40 foot waves. As the lifeboat approached the Hopelyn, coxswain Fleming sent up flares to highlight the ships position. By now the Hopelyns back was broken and she was beyond any idea of salvage. The crew of the lifeboat were concerned to see that only a small section of the ship was showing above the heavy seas. The crew were also concerned that they could see no sign that the crew were still alive and on board the Hopelyn. Equally coxswain Fleming had no reason to assume that the crew had perished or left the ship. With this in mind Fleming held his position right through the night. At daybreak Fleming and his crew could still not see or hear any sign of life on the wreck and so coxswain Fleming made the decision to return to shore. Within one hour of the lifeboats return to Gorleston, the coxswain received word from the Caister
coastguard that a makeshift flag had been hoisted from the funnel
of the Hopelyn.
The two lifeboats meet at some point between the wreck and Gorleston. Coxswain Fleming, who had now been at sea for close to sixteen hours, transferred on to the Agnes Cross. With the help and guidance of Fleming, the Lowestoft
lifeboat now approached the Hopelyn as darkness closed in. After a time the conditions forced the Agnes Cross to return to shore.
Merchant vessel
A merchant vessel is a ship that transports cargo or passengers. The closely related term commercial vessel is defined by the United States Coast Guard as any vessel engaged in commercial trade or that carries passengers for hire...
from Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
which became stranded and then wrecked on Scroby Sands
Scroby Sands
Scroby Sands is a sandbank or shoal, off the coast of Norfolk, England which runs near shore, north to south from Caister south towards Great Yarmouth. The sands are now clearly marked by the Wind turbines of Scroby Sands wind farm which were erected in 2003-4...
of the Norfolk coast on the 17 October 1922.
History
The Hopelyn was a steam merchant ship which was built in 1918 at Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd Sunderland, EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
with the Yard Number 1041. She was and 285 feet (86.9 m) long. The ship was ordered by the Hopemount Shipping Company Ltd, (a subsidiary of Swan, Hunter Ltd & Wigham Richardson Ltd) and operated by Stamp, Mann and Company shipping mainly coal from Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
.
Final voyage
The SS Hopelyn left Newcastle on the 17 October 1922 with a cargo of 3,400 tons of coal and a crew of twenty four plus the ships cat called Tishy, bound for LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. As she made her way down the east coast of England she encountered a north-easterly gale. On the morning of 18th the Hopelyn encountered problems when her steering gear broke down. Temporary repairs were made to the steering but the gale had gradually increased making conditions increasingly worse by the hour. The captain decided that it would be safer for his ship and crew to head for the relative safety of Yarmouth roads. Unfortunately the temporary repairs failed and the captain could not control the ship. The strong gale and crashing seas drove the Hopelyn on to the Scroby sands where she became stranded.
Mayday
The captain immediately asked the wireless operator to send out a MaydayMayday (distress signal)
Mayday is an emergency procedure word used internationally as a distress signal in voice procedure radio communications. It derives from the French venez m'aider, meaning "come help me"....
. This he managed to do, just before the heavy sea caused the wireless mast to be swept away. It was now 9:30 pm and the Hopelyn was breaking up fast. The crew of 24 had to taken shelter in the Bridge but after a short while had to move to the highest point of the ship’s superstructure, namely the 12 foot square wireless room..
Lifeboat launched
Following the Mayday being received by the coastguard, the Gorleston LifeboatGreat Yarmouth and Gorleston lifeboat station
Great Yarmouth and Gorleston lifeboat station is a RNLI base in Norfolk, England. There were originally two separate stations at Great Yarmouth and Gorleston - two coastal towns either side of the River Yare. These were merged in 1926.-Great Yarmouth:...
Kentwell had been launched. She was only powered by oars and Coxswain
Coxswain
The coxswain is the person in charge of a boat, particularly its navigation and steering. The etymology of the word gives us a literal meaning of "boat servant" since it comes from cox, a coxboat or other small vessel kept aboard a ship, and swain, which can be rendered as boy, in authority. ...
Billy Fleming had acquired a tow from the tug George Jewson. The two vessel’s found conditions at sea difficult with 30 to 40 foot waves. As the lifeboat approached the Hopelyn, coxswain Fleming sent up flares to highlight the ships position. By now the Hopelyns back was broken and she was beyond any idea of salvage. The crew of the lifeboat were concerned to see that only a small section of the ship was showing above the heavy seas. The crew were also concerned that they could see no sign that the crew were still alive and on board the Hopelyn. Equally coxswain Fleming had no reason to assume that the crew had perished or left the ship. With this in mind Fleming held his position right through the night. At daybreak Fleming and his crew could still not see or hear any sign of life on the wreck and so coxswain Fleming made the decision to return to shore. Within one hour of the lifeboats return to Gorleston, the coxswain received word from the Caister
Caister-on-Sea
Caister-on-Sea, also known colloquially as Caister, is a settlement in Norfolk in the United Kingdom, close to the large town of Great Yarmouth. It is a seaside resort and busy holiday destination on the "Golden Mile", with its main attraction being its sandy "Georgian Beach". It is home to Great...
coastguard that a makeshift flag had been hoisted from the funnel
Funnel
A funnel is a pipe with a wide, often conical mouth and a narrow stem. It is used to channel liquid or fine-grained substances into containers with a small opening. Without a funnel, spillage would occur....
of the Hopelyn.
Adversity
Fleming and his crew once again set out for Scroby sands. The Kentwell had got to one hundred yards from the ship when a large wave had thrown the lifeboat back on to the sands. A second attempt was made with the result that the Kentwell was thrown violently against the hull of the Hopelyn causing serious damage to the lifeboat, so much so that coxswain Fleming had to get his boat clear of the wreck and sands and return to shore. In response to this the Lowestoft motor lifeboat Agnes Cross was launched with Coxswain Jack Swan at the Helm.The two lifeboats meet at some point between the wreck and Gorleston. Coxswain Fleming, who had now been at sea for close to sixteen hours, transferred on to the Agnes Cross. With the help and guidance of Fleming, the Lowestoft
Lowestoft
Lowestoft is a town in the English county of Suffolk. The town is on the North Sea coast and is the most easterly point of the United Kingdom. It is north-east of London, north-east of Ipswich and south-east of Norwich...
lifeboat now approached the Hopelyn as darkness closed in. After a time the conditions forced the Agnes Cross to return to shore.