A little bit more about the Vindicatrix

davidwheeler · March 4

Although hardly a typical canal boat, mention has been made of the 'Vindicatrix' recently and some may be interested to learn a little more of her history before her arrival, on September 1s 1939 at Sharpness where she remained until towed away by the tugs Addie and Primrose for breaking.She was built of steel by Russell and Company at Port Glasgow in 1893 as the 'Arranmore' for the Maiden City Line, and managed from Glasgow. Her maiden voyage was in October 1893. She was very heavily rigged, with stump topgallant masts and fore and main topgallant yards 76 feet long. A three masted ship, square rigged on all three, she must have required carefully handling to avoid the fate of her two sisters 'Blairmore' and 'Culmore' both of which were sailed right under at sea. She had her problems. In 1899, after a change of command, her new captain fell ill with dysentery and died after being put ashore in Rio de Janeiro. Her chief officer took over, but after rounding Cape Horn, the ship lost her rudder. Her new captain rigged a jury rudder and brought her safely to Valparaiso. Misfortune followed her and in November 1903, while at anchor in Algoa Bay, a ferocious storm drove many ships adrift and one of them, a steamer, bore down of the Arranmore, dragged her anchors, and drove her ashore. The impact carried away her masts. Her crew, and the captain, his wife and two children managed to struggle ashore over the wreckage. For six months the Arranmore remained semi-submerged before she was salvaged by Smit's ocean tug the Zwarte Zee and towed back 6800 miles, over 54 days, to the Clyde.

Repaired she made her first visit to Sharpness in 1906, with a cargo of salt. In 1910 she was sold to H.Folshe of Hamburg and was renamed 'Waltrute'. She sailed with that company until 1913, when sold to the Hamburg Harbour Mission as a sailor's hostel, her masts cut short. In 1914 the ship was commandeered by the German Navy and, used as a submarine depot ship in Heligoland, fitted with a locomotive boiler for steam, cooking facilities and electric light. It is thought that it was then that the main deck was covered in. In 1919, surrendered to the British Navy, the 'Waltrute' was towed to Leith and used as an accommodation ship for German crews awaiting repatriation. At Leith, misfortune struck again and she dragged her anchors and ran ashore at Inchkeith. Salved again, she became the property of the Shipping Federation Ltd, renamed 'Vindicatrix' and registered at London. In 1925 she was towed from Leith to the West India Dock, London and fitted out as a seamen's hostel. On completion she was moved to Gravesend, with the intention, it is thought, of using her as a strike breaker in the 1926 general strike. But she was never so used. Then came the move under tow to Sharpness, where she stayed until her last voyage, to the breakers, in 1966.

All this information comes from a short article by Mr C H Wright, 'Vindicatrix' first officer, in Sea Breezes July 1966, in case you hadn't read it. Mr Wright drew his information from a former officer of the 'Arranmore', Capt J H Pelham. There may be more to tell.

And while on the subject, again in case it is of interest, I will endeavour to reproduce the National Sea Training Schools pamphlet. You could tear off the bottom of the back page and send away for more details. This is what my neighbour did, under age, to escape from his East London home. He was a Vindi boy, as tough as you make them and as good a mate. It should come out in four bits: page 1, top and bottom, page two likewise and a photo of the cadets to finish with..