RMS Hesperian
History | |
---|---|
United Kingdom | |
Name | Hesperian |
Namesake | Garden of the Hesperides |
Owner |
|
Port of registry | United Kingdom, Glasgow |
Route | Liverpool – Quebec – Montreal |
Builder | Alexander Stephen and Sons |
Yard number | 425 |
Laid down | 1907 |
Launched | 20 December 1907 |
Completed | 1908 |
Acquired | 1908 |
Maiden voyage | 25 April 1908 |
In service | 25 April 1908 |
Out of service | 6 September 1915 |
Identification | Official number: 124266 |
Fate | Torpedoed and sunk on 6 September 1915 |
General characteristics | |
Type | Passenger ship |
Tonnage | 10,920 GRT |
Length | 147.8 metres (484 ft 11 in) |
Beam | 18.3 metres (60 ft 0 in) |
Depth | 9.1 metres (29 ft 10 in) |
Installed power | Twin triple expansion engines |
Propulsion | 2 screw propellers |
Speed | 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
Capacity | 1,460 passengers (210 1st-class, 250 2nd-class & 1,000 steerage) |
RMS Hesperian was a British ocean liner that was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-20 85 nautical miles (157 km; 98 mi) south west by south of the Fastnet Rock in the Atlantic Ocean on 4 September 1915 with the loss of 32 lives, while she was travelling from Liverpool, United Kingdom to Montreal, Canada.[1]
Construction
Hesperian was launched for the
Early career
For her maiden voyage she sailed from Liverpool on 25 April 1908, calling also at Quebec, en route to Montreal. Hesperian was chartered to the Canadian Pacific Line in January 1910, where she also served the Glasgow - Halifax - Boston route.[3]
Attack and sinking
Hesperian departed Liverpool for Montreal on 3 September 1915 at 7 pm under the command of Captain William Main. The ship was carrying 814 passengers and 300 crew, among the passengers were also wounded Canadian soldiers returning home from the front lines. Also on board was the metal casket of Frances Stephens which was boxed in a wooden crate. The widow of Canadian politician George Stephens had been lost in the sinking of the RMS Lusitania four months prior and was being repatriated for burial next to her husband in Montreal.[4][5]
Having barely left port and sailing in a
Wreck
The wreck of Hesperian lies 130 miles (210 km) west of Cobh, Ireland in 377 feet (115 m) of water. Her wreck was the site of a few 'grave robbing' incidents, when local Irish fishermen caught some artifacts from the wreck in their nets in November 2017.[8][9]
References
- ^ "Hesperian". uboat.net. 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ "SS Hesperian [+1915]". wrecksite.eu. 6 September 2010. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ "S/S Hesperian, Allan Line". norwayheritage.com. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ "The Sinking of the Allan Liner R.M.S. Hesperian". medievalhistory.net. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ "RMS Hesperian Archival Collection". ggarchives.com. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ "RMS Hesperian". rmslusitania.info. 8 August 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ "RMS Hesperian sinking... German torpedo..." rarenewspapers.com. 6 September 1915. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ "Shipwreck of HMS Hesperian 'targeted by graverobbers'". thetimes.co.uk. 30 November 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ "Irish fishermen say treasure hunters are raiding a 1915 shipwreck that once set sail for Montreal". cbc.ca. 7 December 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2023.