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<p><i>From Brian Crowe on Facebook:</i></p>
<div class="x1e56ztr" style="margin-bottom: 8px; animation-name:
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font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI",
Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-size:
15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal;
font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing:
normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;
text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2;
word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;
background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness:
initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color:
initial;"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09
x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u" style="word-break: break-word;
max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-family:
inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; min-width: 0px; font-weight: 400;
line-height: 1.3333; color: var(--primary-text); animation-name:
none !important; transition-property: none !important;">A very
brief introduction to the history of the restored lifeboat
originally from SS Athenia, and now on the fore-shore at
Seafield, Stronsay.</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr" style="margin-bottom: 8px; animation-name:
none !important; transition-property: none !important;
font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI",
Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-size:
15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal;
font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing:
normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;
text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2;
word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;
background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness:
initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color:
initial;"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09
x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u" style="word-break: break-word;
max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-family:
inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; min-width: 0px; font-weight: 400;
line-height: 1.3333; color: var(--primary-text); animation-name:
none !important; transition-property: none !important;">'On 3rd
September 1939 war was declared between Great Britain and
Germany. When the official announcement was made to the nation,
the 13,500 ton passenger ship the SS Athenia (Donaldson Line)
was en route from Liverpool to Canada with 1147 passengers and
crew on board. The majority of the passengers were women and
children, and included many refugees from Europe fleeing the
imminent bloodbath of war and oppression in Europe, as well as
tourists mostly from the USA and Canada, whose main aim was to
return home safely. At 11a.m. the news was broken to the
passengers that a state of war now existed between Great Britain
and Germany. The route taken by the SS Athenia was westward
along the north coast of Ireland and thence to Montreal and
Quebec. The declaration of war was not entirely unexpected and
the possible existence of German submarines in the area was
known to Captain Cook of the SS Athenia. By 1p.m. the ship’s 26
lifeboats had been prepared and were ready to be launched should
the need arise. The Athenia was now about 300 miles from
Liverpool, well out into the Atlantic and bound for a neutral
port (Canada did not declare war for five more days). She was an
unarmed passenger ship which had set sail before the declaration
of war, and although alarmed by the turn of events, none of the
passengers could imagine anything really happening to them.</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr" style="margin-bottom: 8px; animation-name:
none !important; transition-property: none !important;
font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI",
Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-size:
15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal;
font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing:
normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;
text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2;
word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;
background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness:
initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color:
initial;"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09
x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u" style="word-break: break-word;
max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-family:
inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; min-width: 0px; font-weight: 400;
line-height: 1.3333; color: var(--primary-text); animation-name:
none !important; transition-property: none !important;">At
7.39p.m disaster struck. The SS Athenia was torpedoed by a
German U boat - U30, captained by Oberleutnant Fritz-Julius
Lemp. Although under strict orders from Hitler to avoid any
confrontation with civil shipping it was later stated in Lemp’s
defence that he thought the SS Athenia was an armed and
converted merchant ship as it was sailing without lights in a
zig-zag formation. A second torpedo misfired, forcing the U boat
to submerge to avoid being struck by it’s own torpedo, and on
resurfacing a third torpedo was fired which also missed. Lemp
then, realising his mistake and being aware of the potential
international repercussions of his actions, rapidly left the
scene, failing to report the incident to his superiors until
September 14th.</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr" style="margin-bottom: 8px; animation-name:
none !important; transition-property: none !important;
font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI",
Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-size:
15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal;
font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing:
normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;
text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2;
word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;
background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness:
initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color:
initial;"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09
x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u" style="word-break: break-word;
max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-family:
inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; min-width: 0px; font-weight: 400;
line-height: 1.3333; color: var(--primary-text); animation-name:
none !important; transition-property: none !important;">The SS
Athenia took several hours to finally go down. Most if not all
the lifeboats were launched, although of the Athenia’s
passengers and crew, 112 were killed (93 of them passengers) in
the initial explosion or died later as a result of the sinking.
There are many stories of individual heroism and tragedy told by
survivors and recounted in the book ‘A Night of Terror’ by Max
Caulfield published by Frederick Muller Ltd, London, 1958. Three
British destroyers Electra, Escort, and Fame, together with two
merchant ships City of Flint and Southern Cross, and the
Norwegian vessel the Knut Nelson, all attended the scene over
the ensuing hours rescuing the more than 1000 survivors from the
lifeboats and the sea.</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr" style="margin-bottom: 8px; animation-name:
none !important; transition-property: none !important;
font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI",
Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-size:
15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal;
font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing:
normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;
text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2;
word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;
background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness:
initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color:
initial;"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09
x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u" style="word-break: break-word;
max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-family:
inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; min-width: 0px; font-weight: 400;
line-height: 1.3333; color: var(--primary-text); animation-name:
none !important; transition-property: none !important;">The
German High Command initially denied any responsibility or
involvement in the incident even going so far as to accuse the
British of deliberately sinking the ship which carried many USA
citizens on board, in order to encourage the USA to enter the
war against Germany. The spectre of the sinking of the passenger
ship Lusitania in the 1st World War haunted the German military
command, and they feared that the sinking of the Athenia could
have grave consequences on world opinion. As it happened this
did not materialise although it did effect German naval tactics
particularly in the early part of the war. Hitler issued an
order that under no circumstances were attacks to be made on
passenger ships, even those in convoy, regardless of nation,
thus causing confusion to U boat commanders as to the vessels
they were permitted to attack- for passenger ships sometimes
carried troops, and freighters, passengers.</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr" style="margin-bottom: 8px; animation-name:
none !important; transition-property: none !important;
font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI",
Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-size:
15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal;
font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing:
normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;
text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2;
word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;
background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness:
initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color:
initial;"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09
x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u" style="word-break: break-word;
max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-family:
inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; min-width: 0px; font-weight: 400;
line-height: 1.3333; color: var(--primary-text); animation-name:
none !important; transition-property: none !important;">Of the
lifeboats from the stricken SS Athenia, all did the job for
which they were designed, ensuring the survival of more than
1000 passengers and crew. Several days after the sinking, the
captain of a passing ship the SS Transylvania, noticed in the
area ‘an empty and abandoned lifeboat’ floating on the waves.</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr" style="margin-bottom: 8px; animation-name:
none !important; transition-property: none !important;
font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI",
Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-size:
15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal;
font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing:
normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;
text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2;
word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;
background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness:
initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color:
initial;"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09
x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u" style="word-break: break-word;
max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-family:
inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; min-width: 0px; font-weight: 400;
line-height: 1.3333; color: var(--primary-text); animation-name:
none !important; transition-property: none !important;">Some
months later an empty lifeboat found it’s way to Shapinsay one
of the northern isles in Orkney, having apparently drifted on
the currents from the north Atlantic to the waters off Deerness
where, it is believed, it was seen and towed into Shapinsay by a
father and son fishing-boat team both of whom have since died.
What is certain is that at some time during the early 1940’s
this lifeboat was acquired by a Captain Dennison of Shapinsay
and used by him for carrying egg-boxes and the like, around and
between the islands. There are those alive today who have
verified that this lifeboat at that time had the name ATHENIA
thereon and it was generally accepted and acknowledged then and
up to the present day that this lifeboat was in fact from the SS
Athenia.</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr" style="margin-bottom: 8px; animation-name:
none !important; transition-property: none !important;
font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI",
Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-size:
15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal;
font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing:
normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;
text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2;
word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;
background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness:
initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color:
initial;"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09
x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u" style="word-break: break-word;
max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-family:
inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; min-width: 0px; font-weight: 400;
line-height: 1.3333; color: var(--primary-text); animation-name:
none !important; transition-property: none !important;">During
the late 1940’s the boat was regularly used for the collection
and transportation of seaweed – a thriving industry after the
war when seaweed was used in the manufacture of iodine, soap,
and fertiliser. Again there are those around today who can
remember this boat – commonly known as ‘Desperate Dan’ in view
of it’s substantial weight and clumsiness in handling, for it
had no engine and had to be towed.</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr" style="margin-bottom: 8px; animation-name:
none !important; transition-property: none !important;
font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI",
Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-size:
15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal;
font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing:
normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;
text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2;
word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;
background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness:
initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color:
initial;"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09
x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u" style="word-break: break-word;
max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-family:
inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; min-width: 0px; font-weight: 400;
line-height: 1.3333; color: var(--primary-text); animation-name:
none !important; transition-property: none !important;">In 1949,
J.M.Davidson of Glasgow shut down his sea-weed processing
factory on Stronsay and the boat became redundant. It was then
acquired by Mr J Chalmers (Pye) of Seafield, Stronsay, who moved
it from the foreshore at Lower Station to the foreshore at
Seafield and converted it into a ‘houseboat’, where it has
remained to this day.</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr" style="margin-bottom: 8px; animation-name:
none !important; transition-property: none !important;
font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI",
Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-size:
15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal;
font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing:
normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;
text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2;
word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;
background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness:
initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color:
initial;"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09
x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u" style="word-break: break-word;
max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-family:
inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; min-width: 0px; font-weight: 400;
line-height: 1.3333; color: var(--primary-text); animation-name:
none !important; transition-property: none !important;">In 2004
the Stronsay Development Trust decided with the agreement of the
current owner of the lifeboat, Mr Clive Martin, to investigate
and confirm beyond reasonable doubt the history and identity of
the lifeboat as being from the SS Athenia, with a view to
obtaining funding for it’s restoration and preservation. This
step is thought by many to be long overdue particularly bearing
in mind the deterioration in the condition of the lifeboat over
the years. The sinking of the SS Athenia was a tiny but
nevertheless significant event in the overall maritime annals of
the 2nd World War, and as custodians of almost certainly the
only surviving lifeboat from this ship, we feel it a duty to
preserve this unique vessel to serve both as a memorial and a
reminder of those who died and indeed of those who survived.'</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr" style="margin-bottom: 8px; animation-name:
none !important; transition-property: none !important;
font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI",
Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-size:
15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal;
font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing:
normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;
text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2;
word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;
background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness:
initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color:
initial;"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09
x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u" style="word-break: break-word;
max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-family:
inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; min-width: 0px; font-weight: 400;
line-height: 1.3333; color: var(--primary-text); animation-name:
none !important; transition-property: none !important;">It is
exciting and very pleasing to see the SS Athenia lifeboat now
beautifully restored on the foreshore at Seafield, Stronsay.
Huge thanks are due to the Stronsay Development Trust and to
Clive and Madeleine Martin for persevering and supporting this
project over a period of some 16 years or so, not forgetting the
vital help and financial support of sympathetic Trusts and
official bodies<span style="animation-name: none !important;
transition-property: none !important; font-family: inherit;"><i
style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property:
none !important;"><span> </span>(details will be added when
verified</i></span>).<br style="animation-name: none
!important; transition-property: none !important;">
For those who would like fuller details, you will find these in
the Stronsay Heritage Centre, or if you have an hour or so to
spare in Kirkwall, visit the Archives in Kirkwall Library. Thank
you.</span></div>
<p></p>
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