PS Duchess of Montrose

PS "Duchess of Montrose" was a paddle steamer built in 1902 cite web |title=Launched 1902: PS "Duchess of Montrose"|url=http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/viewship.asp?id=2199|publisher=www.clydesite.co.uk|accessdate=2008-09-18] and employed by the Caledonian Steam Packet Company as a River Clyde excursion steamer. She saw active service during the First World War after being requisitioned by the Admiralty and converted into a Minesweeper. She was lost near Dunkirk on 18 March 1917 after striking a mine. [cite web |title=Lists of Naval Losses |url=http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/losses.htm|publisher=battleships-cruisers.co.uk|accessdate=2008-10-04]

Construction

In October 1901 the Caledonian Steam Packet Company invited tenders from six of the Clyde shipyards to build a replacement for the paddle steamer "Meg Merrilies". On 29 October 1901 they accepted an offer made by John Brown & Company of Clydebank to build the ship for £19,572,Paterson, Alan J.S. (1969) "The Golden Years Of The Clyde Steamers (1889-1914)". David & Charles Ltd. ISBN 0715342908] and the keel was laid in Govan, Glasgow on 19 December 1901. The minutes of the Caledonian Steam Packet Company for 4 February 1902 record that: cquote|It was agreed, subject of the approval of Her Grace, the Duchess of Montrose, that the new steamer should be named "Duchess of Montrose". "Duchess of Montrose" was launched on 8 May 1902 and achieved the contracted speed during trials on 4 June 1902.

Design

"Duchess of Montrose" was fitted with a triple-expansion steam engine incorporating four cylinders (two high-, one intermediate-, and one low-pressure) arranged in tandem to drive two cranks. This arrangement was considered more efficient than the conventional two-cylinder compound steam engine and provided greater manoeuvrability at piers. The use of relatively small paddle wheels, intended to save wear and tear, meant that "Duchess of Montrose" had a diminutive paddlebox and, in conjunction with a very vertical funnel, she was easily recognisable amongst the Clyde fleet. She featured saloons fore and aft and an open bow under the promenade deck.

Career

Excursion Steamer

Initially employed on the Ayr station, she went on to service both the Gourock and Wemyss Bay routesMcQueen, Andrew (1923) "Clyde River Steamers 1872-1922", The Strong Oak Press, ISBN 1871048176] before being used for general railway connections further upstream. [cite web |title="Duchess of Montrose" at Paddle Steamer Resources website |url=http://paddlesteamers.awardspace.com/DuchessofMontrose1902.htm |publisher=Tramscape|accessdate=2008-09-18]

Troopship

In February 1915, along with "Duchess of Argyll" and "Duchess of Hamilton", she was requisitioned by the Admiralty as a troopship and spent the first few months of her service ferrying troops from Southampton to France. It is reported that she initially arrived in Southampton in her Caledonian Steam Packet livery but was soon repainted naval grey.Bacon, Sir Reginald (1919). "The Dover Patrol 1915-1917". George H. Doran Company.]

Minesweeper

In May 1915 she was given the pennant number PP585 and converted into a minesweeper by Lieutenant Commander W G Rigg. This work involved having the end of her saloon cut away to main deck level and replaced with minesweeping equipment. From 14 July 1915 she was stationed at Dover under the command of Lieutenant Alexander Duff Thomson Royal Naval Reserve and from April 1916 she was stationed at Dunkirk.

Loss

On the morning of Sunday 18 March 1917, "Duchess of Montrose" left Dunkirk harbour and at 9am began sweeping close to the Gravelines Buoy. She recovered five mines (from Barrage 248 laid by the U-Boat "UB-12" [Spindler, Arno.(1941) "Der Krieg zur See, 1914-1918: Handelskrieg mit U-Booten, Volume 4." E.S. Mittler und Sohn.] ) before stopping for low water.Dorling, Captain Taprell (1935) "Swept channels: being an account of the work of the minesweepers in the Great War". Hodder and Stoughton Ltd. ISBN 9780198224969] Around an hour after she resumed sweeping, "Duchess of Montrose" hit a mine amidships, broke in two and sank in less than a minute. Her wreck lies at coord|51|03|N|2|07|E [cite web |title=HMS Duchess of Montrose (PP585)|url=http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?11401|publisher=www.wrecksite.eu|accessdate=2008-09-18] cite web |title=Ships hit during WWI - "Duchess of Montrose" |url=http://www.uboat.net/wwi/ships_hit/1735.html |publisher=www.uboat.net|accessdate=2008-09-18]

Casualties

Twelve of the crew of "Duchess of Montrose" were lost in the sinking: [cite web |title=Royal Navy Casualties, killed and died, March 1917|url=http://www.naval-history.net/xDKCas1917-03Mar.htm |publisher=www.naval-history.net|accessdate=2008-09-18]

Nine of those lost have no known grave and their names are recorded on the Plymouth Naval Memorial

* Norman MacDonald is buried at Dunkirk Town Cemetery (Grave Ref: I.I.7) [cite web |title=CWGC: Casualty Details, MacDonald N|url=http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=617307 |publisher=The Commonwealth War Graves Commission|accessdate=2008-09-18]
* Cyril Hambly Panther is buried at Lewisham (Hither Green) Cemetery [cite web |title= The War Graves Photographic Project, Cyril Hambly Panther|url= http://www.twgpp.org/information.php?id=625595|publisher=The War Graves Photographic Project|accessdate=2008-09-18]
* Donald John MacLennan is buried at Scarp Burial Ground [cite web|title= CWGC: Casualty Details, MacLennan D J|url= http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=327757|publisher=The Commonwealth War Graves Commission|accessdate=2008-09-18]

The grave of William Earnest Sparkes is located at Dover (St James's) Cemetery; he is reported to have died of heart disease on the 8th of July 1917, four months after the sinking. [cite web |title= The War Graves Photographic Project,Sparkes, William Ernest|url= http://www.twgpp.org/information.php?id=615611|publisher=The War Graves Photographic Project|accessdate=2008-09-18]

Thirty one men are reported to have been rescued.

Bravery Awards

Lieutenant Alexander Duff Thomson RNR received the Distinguished Service Cross on 2 July 1917 for minesweeping operations carried out in "Duchess of Montrose" between 1 June 1916 and 31 March 1917. His citation read: cquote|His zeal and attention to duties are above the average, and I have had personal experience of his coolness and resource. He was blown up in P.M.S. "Duchess of Montrose" and 10 days afterwards, as soon as a ship could be found for him, he was again sweeping in the area in which he was blown up.|20px|20px|"The London Gazette", 29 June 1917 [ADM 171 / 84 Q 025 "Recommendations, Honours & Awards to RN, RNR, RNVR, RM, RFC, RNAS, RAF." The National Archives, Kew.] [ cite news|url=http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/ViewPDF.aspx?pdf=30159&geotype=London&gpn=6519&type=ArchivedSupplementPage&all=&exact=DistinguishedServiceCross&atleast=&similar=|publisher="The London Gazette"|title=Honours for Service in Mine-Sweeping Operations|date=29 June 1917]

References