Professional underwater photographer & diving journalist John Liddiard , dived the wreck of the T R Thompson on 26th July 2009. His photos can be viewed on his webiste :- http://www.jlunderwater.co.uk/ .
To look specifically at his shots of of the T R Thompson wreck , click www.jlunderwater.co.uk/piclib/goto.htm?pic=09_07_26_2338 . The TRT photos are numbered 2338 (and onwards). All of John's photos have captions that identify the wreck feature being photographed.
We hope that in due course , possibly after more dives on this wreck, John will be able to write-up a "Wreck Tour" in the DIVER Magazine.
Many thanks John , and well done on the identification work.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
T.R. Thompson Look-a-Like ?
A previous post by Tad (9th Aptil 2008) mentions the Westburn as a T R Thompson look-a-like , and well it might be , but it's been pointed out to me by esteemed Wreck Tour author (for DIVER magazine) John Liddiard, that many ships of the era may have looked similar bit not in fact been sister ships. Fair point , worth some more research Tad!
DIVER magazine has a write-up on a dive on the Westburn by John, you can read his account on the following LINK.
You can check Tad's posting HERE.
DIVER magazine has a write-up on a dive on the Westburn by John, you can read his account on the following LINK.
You can check Tad's posting HERE.
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Nautical Archaeolgy Society Honours Project
I am delighted to announce the Meridian Divers Adopt-A-Wreck Project on the Steamship T R Thompson has been awarded the "Runner Up" certificate in the annual national NAS award. The award was announced at the NAS Annual Conference held in the Historic Dockyard at Portsmouth . For full details and photographs visit the link below:-
http://meridiandivers.blogspot.com/2008/11/nas-honours-meridian-divers-t-r.html
Meridian Divers were presented with an engraved wine decanter as a sign of the NAS recognition.
http://meridiandivers.blogspot.com/2008/11/nas-honours-meridian-divers-t-r.html
Meridian Divers were presented with an engraved wine decanter as a sign of the NAS recognition.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Thompson One Name Study (2)
The following comment (on a post of the same title) is reproduced here for convenience:-
Thank you very much for publishing this material - you have things in the blog that I wasn't aware of, although I think I was aware of the ship that carried his name. It is good to know that it is not yet forgotten. Best regards Michael Thompson mthompson@btinternet.com
Thank you very much for publishing this material - you have things in the blog that I wasn't aware of, although I think I was aware of the ship that carried his name. It is good to know that it is not yet forgotten. Best regards Michael Thompson mthompson@btinternet.com
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Johannes LOHS ~ Grave
An early post on this blog (16/5/2004) states LOHS is buried Vlissingen, Holland. Some further enquiry shows that Vlissingen was NOT his FINAL resting place.
I recently received the following information from Mr A Meerman, the Town Archivist for Vlissingen:-
In 1918 Johannes LOHS, in German records registered as Johannes Oswald LOSZ, commander of the German submarine U.B. 57, was buried inVlissingen in 1918.
From the same submarine were buried in Vlissingen, Julius Eduard Hans Luis SCHEELE and Friedrich Karl Wilhelm BLUMENBERG.
During the Second World War the Germans moved their graves to the new cemetary in Vlissingen to be joined with the German soldiers who died during WW2.
In 1949 all German soldiers, buried in Vlissingen were moved to the German Cemetary in Ysselsteyn in the Dutch province of Limburg. The address is: German War Cemetary, Ysselsteyn , Timmermannsweg , AM Ysselsteyn.
I am indebted to Mr Meerman for this information.
Click Here to view general images of the German War Cemetary
The military cemetery can be found in Ysselsteyn, Netherlands, in the Province of Limburg close to the German border. The cemetery is the only German military cemetery in the whole Netherlands. 85 killed soldiers from the First World War and almost 32.000 from the Second World War are buried here on a territory of 28 hectares. For each killed soldier one cross has been placed. The data (name, grave location, dates of birth and death, rank - if known) have been written on the crosses with white colour.
My command of the German language is negligible but the German War Graves Commission has a record of LOHS which states :-
Johannes Lohs ruht auf der Kriegsgräberstätte in Ysselsteyn (Niederlande) .Endgrablage: Block C Grab 70
I take this to mean his memorial is in Block C , Grave 70 of the Ysselteyn Cemetary.
Click here to view the record (in German)
I recently received the following information from Mr A Meerman, the Town Archivist for Vlissingen:-
In 1918 Johannes LOHS, in German records registered as Johannes Oswald LOSZ, commander of the German submarine U.B. 57, was buried inVlissingen in 1918.
From the same submarine were buried in Vlissingen, Julius Eduard Hans Luis SCHEELE and Friedrich Karl Wilhelm BLUMENBERG.
During the Second World War the Germans moved their graves to the new cemetary in Vlissingen to be joined with the German soldiers who died during WW2.
In 1949 all German soldiers, buried in Vlissingen were moved to the German Cemetary in Ysselsteyn in the Dutch province of Limburg. The address is: German War Cemetary, Ysselsteyn , Timmermannsweg , AM Ysselsteyn.
I am indebted to Mr Meerman for this information.
Click Here to view general images of the German War Cemetary
The military cemetery can be found in Ysselsteyn, Netherlands, in the Province of Limburg close to the German border. The cemetery is the only German military cemetery in the whole Netherlands. 85 killed soldiers from the First World War and almost 32.000 from the Second World War are buried here on a territory of 28 hectares. For each killed soldier one cross has been placed. The data (name, grave location, dates of birth and death, rank - if known) have been written on the crosses with white colour.
My command of the German language is negligible but the German War Graves Commission has a record of LOHS which states :-
Johannes Lohs ruht auf der Kriegsgräberstätte in Ysselsteyn (Niederlande) .Endgrablage: Block C Grab 70
I take this to mean his memorial is in Block C , Grave 70 of the Ysselteyn Cemetary.
Click here to view the record (in German)
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Adopt-A-Wreck Award Applicants
The T R Thompson Project Team are delighted to announce that they have (at long last) submitted an application to the Adopt-A-Wreck Award scheme operated by the Nautical Archaelogy Society.
A multi-media computer based application (Four Copies) has been sent to the NAS HQ at Fort Cumberland, Portsmouth ( where a number of the Team completed their NAS training) . The application represensts a lot of work conducted over the last four years. The closing date for applications is 1 September . Winners & Runners-Up will be presented Awards at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard on Saturday 8th November.
Whatever the judges decision the project has provided us all with an immense interest which has not only raised the profile of the Wreck and it's history but also acted as a catalyst for divers to go diving , to go to new places, meet new people and in some cases add highly memorable moments to their and our lives.
A multi-media computer based application (Four Copies) has been sent to the NAS HQ at Fort Cumberland, Portsmouth ( where a number of the Team completed their NAS training) . The application represensts a lot of work conducted over the last four years. The closing date for applications is 1 September . Winners & Runners-Up will be presented Awards at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard on Saturday 8th November.
Whatever the judges decision the project has provided us all with an immense interest which has not only raised the profile of the Wreck and it's history but also acted as a catalyst for divers to go diving , to go to new places, meet new people and in some cases add highly memorable moments to their and our lives.
Friday, August 22, 2008
A Summary of the Loss of UB57
A summary from Global Underwater Explorers :-
After sinking the City of Brisbane, the UB-57 headed for home in Zeebrugge, Belgium. During the journey, having first checked that the horizon was clear, she started to surface to run on diesels and recharge her batteries. Upon surfacing, Lohs opened the hatch to find himself almost directly beneath a low-flying British airship. A crash dive was immediately ordered, but they had been spotted and the airship started dropping bombs. Fortunately, they evaded sinking and continued their journey home.
On 14 August 1918, Lohs radioed to base that he had sunk 15,000 tons of shipping and was returning to base. That night he started through the narrow and swept straits of Dover. Nothing more was ever heard from him but it is likely that he hit a mine near Zeebrugge. Lohs' body and those of some of his crew were washed up near the mouth of the river Scheldt about one week later. Lohs was one of the Imperial Navy's war heroes, having sunk an impressive seventy-six merchant ships and one warship, a total of 148,677 tons. During World War II, one of the U-boat flotillas operating from France was named in his honour.
Johannes Lohs ~ UB57 Commander
Johannes Lohs has his Wikipedia Page ( with much shared data that is also on u.boat.net) .
Uboat.net
The uboat.net website now carries a section that relates to World War I, UB57 and the T R Thompson feature in their records.
View their WWI content via :- http://www.uboat.net/wwi/ or
Click here to visit the u.boat.net page on the T R Thompson
View their WWI content via :- http://www.uboat.net/wwi/ or
Click here to visit the u.boat.net page on the T R Thompson
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Leslie Francis Jack ~ Memorial
In Loving Memory Andrew Jack , Master Mariner , drowned in the wreck of S.S. George Royle on Sheringham Shoal. Jan 18 1915 , Aged 45 Years. Faithful to Duty.Leslie Francis son of the above drowned off Beachy Head through ????????????? Aged 16 Years.
[From Mr Norman Jack]
The Ship's Master ~ William Shewan
A hand written record states the Master was William Shewan late of the "Gladas Royal" which was also sunk. The "Gladas Royal" was a similar / identical ship to the TR Thompson.
Photograph of a painting of the "Gladas Royal"
[Info from Alf Rodenby]
Survivors Employments
A hand written note on a copy of the ships plans says " This Steamer was sunk by a mine or torpedo off Beachy Head on 29th March 1918. All hands were lost with the exception of an Apprentice, Sailor & Gunner who were picked up after several hours in the water"
Another (printed) record states "Torpedoed and sunbk by the German Submarine UB57 at 3.45am three survivors were picked-up who were landed in Dover, the master being amongst those lost. Wreck lies in averahe depth of 30m on even keel oroientated E/W with the bow to the E. The Stern is intact but gun has fallen into the hull, her superstructure collapsed.
[Info from Alf Rodenby]
This ties in with the post of June 28th 2008 "TRT Survivors" (below) which names the survivors as :-
Apprentice - Alex Hardy Finnie b.1900 Aberdeen
Sailor - H Price (ABS)
Gunner - John Daly 27 years (b.1891?) of 58 Chapel Street, Newry
Another (printed) record states "Torpedoed and sunbk by the German Submarine UB57 at 3.45am three survivors were picked-up who were landed in Dover, the master being amongst those lost. Wreck lies in averahe depth of 30m on even keel oroientated E/W with the bow to the E. The Stern is intact but gun has fallen into the hull, her superstructure collapsed.
[Info from Alf Rodenby]
This ties in with the post of June 28th 2008 "TRT Survivors" (below) which names the survivors as :-
Apprentice - Alex Hardy Finnie b.1900 Aberdeen
Sailor - H Price (ABS)
Gunner - John Daly 27 years (b.1891?) of 58 Chapel Street, Newry
Ship Specifications ~ All that for £32,000!
T R Thompson: Port No 10, Date 3/5/1897, Built Sunderland. Builder Short Brothers of Pallion, Yard No 258, Launched 5/3/1897.
A steel screw steamer , one deck, two mast , schooner rigged, Elliptical sterned Clincher built. Fitted with a Billet head, L360', B47.2' D 24.6' Tonnage underdeck 3306.22, Poop 88.42, Forcastle 47.45, Bridge space Port 19.67, Starborad side House 22.49, lockers two on bridge space 2.62, chart house 10.31, Excess to Hatchway 41.00, Gross Tonnage 3538.18, deductions per contra 1277.12, Registered tonnage 2261.06, Engine builder John Dickinson of Sunderland. Tri Compound Dia of Cylinders 24.5,40, 66, 45 HP 300 WHP 1HP 1500 Two Boiles 1601PS. Length of engine room 47.7' Purchase Price £32,000, named after the companys agent and large shareholder in Westolls Ships. Owner James Westoll of 13 john Street, Sunderland. Designated Managing Owner . Advice under his own hand, received 3/6/97
A steel screw steamer , one deck, two mast , schooner rigged, Elliptical sterned Clincher built. Fitted with a Billet head, L360', B47.2' D 24.6' Tonnage underdeck 3306.22, Poop 88.42, Forcastle 47.45, Bridge space Port 19.67, Starborad side House 22.49, lockers two on bridge space 2.62, chart house 10.31, Excess to Hatchway 41.00, Gross Tonnage 3538.18, deductions per contra 1277.12, Registered tonnage 2261.06, Engine builder John Dickinson of Sunderland. Tri Compound Dia of Cylinders 24.5,40, 66, 45 HP 300 WHP 1HP 1500 Two Boiles 1601PS. Length of engine room 47.7' Purchase Price £32,000, named after the companys agent and large shareholder in Westolls Ships. Owner James Westoll of 13 john Street, Sunderland. Designated Managing Owner . Advice under his own hand, received 3/6/97
Monday, August 18, 2008
Deteriorating Wreck
Propellor / Rudder Area 2006
Propellor / Rudder Area 2008
Upright ribs on stern 2007
Ribs hanging off stern 2008
Looking back over some of the video images taken this year it is easy to see how much the stern of the wreck is deteriorating. There are now no upright ribs on the stern with large areas now collapsed. You also used to be able swim through the rudder and propeller gap but now the hull has collapsed over the port side which prevents a clear swim through. The images above show these changes
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Sketch Plan of Beni Saf Port
Port of Beni Saf , Algeria (click to enlarge)The plan indicates the water inside the harbour is 9m deep.
Beni Saf, Algeria in the 21st Century
I little googling has turned up a 'modern' video of Beni Saf, Algeria (the port at which the TR Thompson loaded iron ore before it's fateful journey back to the UK). I don't think the quality of the images is quite up to our own videographer's work but nevertheless it does give view of the place this century!
Click HERE to go to You Tube and the video!
Click HERE to go to You Tube and the video!
Beni Saf , Algiers ~ The TRT's Cargo Collecting Destination
For more information on the Algerian port & town of Beni Saf , click HERE. Lots of background detail!
Saturday, August 02, 2008
The Barry Dock & Railways Company
Directors of the Barry Dock & Railways Company at time of opening of Barry No1 Dock 18th July 1889:-
Lord Windsor - Chairman
David DAvies - Deputy Chairman
J Corey
E Davies
P L Davies
L Gurrett
A Hood
J W Insole
E W Perks
J H Thomas
T R Thompson
E H Watts
In 1891 the Barry Dock and Railways Company changed it's name to the Barry Railway Company.
Source
On Thursday 18th July 1889 the new Barry Dock was opened for traffic. Mrs Lewis Davis of Ferndale performed the task of opening the dock by cutting the ribbon. The first vessel to enter the dock was the SS Arno (Sunderland) in tow of the tug Levant and steered by T R Thompson one of the Directors.
Lord Windsor - Chairman
David DAvies - Deputy Chairman
J Corey
E Davies
P L Davies
L Gurrett
A Hood
J W Insole
E W Perks
J H Thomas
T R Thompson
E H Watts
In 1891 the Barry Dock and Railways Company changed it's name to the Barry Railway Company.
Source
On Thursday 18th July 1889 the new Barry Dock was opened for traffic. Mrs Lewis Davis of Ferndale performed the task of opening the dock by cutting the ribbon. The first vessel to enter the dock was the SS Arno (Sunderland) in tow of the tug Levant and steered by T R Thompson one of the Directors.
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