Umgeni (1)

QBKR

Industrial Unrest in South Africa - January 1914

Umgeni had a comparitively uneventful career until January 1914 when suddenly she became one of the most discussed vessels on the water.

There had been labour upheavals on the Rand, culminating in a great strike and the declaration of martial law.

The Union Government, dealing a swift blow, captured the leading agitators and decided on the unprecedented step of deporting them from South Africa. The nine men in question were secretly conveyed to Durban and put on board Umgeni which had been taken over by the Government. The vessel put to sea on January 28th, 1914. No one knew what was in the wind until outside the three-mile limit the Commander was told what had happened. Umgeni, which did not carry a wireless, was due to call at East London and Port Elizabeth but, instead, she was ordered to proceed direct to London.

The following from 'Dictionary of Disasters at Sea'

UMGENI

At the outbreak of the First World War the Umgeni was taken over by the Admiralty for service as a supply ship.

On November 7th 1917, she left the Clyde in convoy for Lagos.

Two days later the convoy ran into foul weather and became dispersed. The Umgeni was never seen again, but bodies and wreckage from her were washed up along the west coast of Ireland.

Lost in Bad Weather in North Atlantic - 1917

Shortly after the outbreak of war Umgeni was taken over by the British Naval Authorities for use as a squadron supply ship and served in this capacity until April 1916, after which she was used mainly as a collier.

In December 1917 she left the Island of Arran bound for Lagos and proceeded in convoy with several other vessels.

When off the west coast of Ireland heavy weather arose; the ships parted company and Umgeni was never seen again. Bodies and wreckage were eventually washed ashore but how the vessel met her end was never established for no one lived to tell the tale.

Umgeni

Left Clyde

For Lagos

Lost On or around 10 November 1917

Fate

Master

J C Brett

Lost

Chief Officer

W C Seymour

Lost

Second Officer

E Evans

Lost

Third Officer

C B Dorothy

Lost

Wireless Operator

D E Beaty

Lost

Surgeon

R Harrison

Lost

Chief Engineer

A Young

Lost

Second Engineer

T E Butler

Lost

Third Engineer

A E Scully

Lost

Fourth Engineer

R A Hughes

Lost

Chief Steward

H Smith

Lost

Purser

W I Jones

Lost

Bosun

A Smith

Lost

Carpenter

A H Starkey

Lost

Lamptrimmer

M O’Callaghan

Lost

Able Seamen

J T Beckett

H Bradbury

Both Lost

Leading Seaman

C Willmott

Lost

Seamen

W H Carson

L Goldner

T R Jones

F H Lowe

J W Lynch

J Manley

H Robertson

A Thompson

All Lost

Marine

P J Doyle

Lost

Donkeymen

R Kinnair

Lost

Greasers

R Jones

B Laverty

Both Lost

Firemen

J Davies

M Dempsey

I Harris

J Hayden

E Howley

J Lever

R McAllister

J Murphy

G Taylor

J Walton

All Lost

Second Steward

T R Mills

Lost

Chief Cook

W Lyon

Lost

Troop Cook

J J Cooper

Lost

Baker

S R Butler

Lost

Pantrymen

P Doyle

P Duffey

W Owen

All Lost

General Servant

W N Jackson

F Sellwood

J Shepherd

H R Stiling

J W Tilby

All Lost

Scullion

J H Tyrie

Lost

Vessel

Built

Service

Tonnage

Umgeni (1)

1898

1917 lost with all hands in N Atlantic

2622

Official Number

Ship Builder

Engine Builder

Engine Type

HP

Screws

108314

James Laing

Sunderland

Geo Clark

Sunderland

Triple Expansion Steam

402 NHP

1

Master

From

To

R W Lewis

1898

1902

B Lincoln

1902

1903

H H Clark

1903

1908

W G Rivers

1908

1911

A N Hagger

1911

1916

J C Brett

1916

11/1917

A sensational attempt was made in Cape Town to get in touch with Umgeni as she rounded the Cape. Colonel (then Mr) Cresswell chartered the little Magnet, formerly the Robben Island steamer. And with several labour sympathisers put to sea in her. They hoped to meet Umgeni and to intimidate her Commander by pointing out that the methods adopted by the Government were illegal and that by assisting in the deportation he would be storing up trouble for himself. The two vessels never met, the lights of Umgeni were seen in the distance but Magnet could not over haul her and returned to Table Bay. Umgeni duly reached England.

In the meantime the Union Parliament had passed an Act indemnifying the Government in the action it had taken. Messrs Bullard, King and Company were paid, and in addition to the fares of the passengers, the sum of £1000 to compensate them for loss of freight.

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