SS Goodleigh (1928)

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History
Name
  • Goodleigh (1928–37)
  • Christoph Van Doornum (1937–39)
  • Empire Commerce (1939–40)
Owner
  • Dulverton Steamship Co Ltd (1928–37)
  • Reunert & Co GmbH (1937–39)
  • Canadian Government (1939)
  • Ministry of War Transport (1939–40)
Operator
  • Dulverton Steamship Co Ltd (1928–37)
  • Fisser & Van Doornum (1937–39)
  • H Chisholm & Co Ltd (1939–40)
Port of registry
  • United Kingdom London (1928–37)
  • Nazi Germany Hamburg (1937–39)
  • United Kingdom London (1939–40)
BuilderJ L Thompson & Sons Ltd
Launched1928
CompletedMarch 1928
Out of service9 June 1940
Identification
  • Code Letters LBHC (1928–34)
  • Code Letters GNQB (1934–37)
  • Code Letters DJVA (1937–39)
  • Code Letters GLVA (1939–40)
  • United Kingdom
    Official Number
    160368 (1928–37, 1939–40)
FateStruck a mine and beached
General characteristics
TypeCargo ship
Tonnage
  • 3,845 GRT (Goodleigh)
  • 3,751 GRT (Christoph Van Doornum)
  • 3,857 GRT (Empire Commerce)
  • 2,323 NRT (Goodleigh)
  • 2,240 NRT (Christoph Van Doornum)
  • 2,302 NRT (Empire Commerce)
Length360 ft 0 in (109.73 m)
Beam50 ft 0 in (15.24 m)
Depth23 ft 9 in (7.24 m)
Installed powerTriple expansion steam engine
PropulsionScrew propellor

Goodleigh was a 3,857 GRT

Sunderland for the Dulverton Steamship Company. In 1937 she was sold to Fisser & Van Doornum, Emden
and was renamed Christian Van Doornum. She was in port in Canada when
declared between the United Kingdom and Germany. She was seized as a war prize and passed to the Ministry of War Transport
(MoWT). Renamed Empire Commerce, she served until 9 June 1940 when she struck a mine off Margate, Kent. She was beached and her cargo was salvaged, but Empire Commerce was deemed a constructive total loss and was scrapped in situ. She was the first Empire ship lost through enemy action in the Second World War.

Description

The ship was built by J L Thompson Ltd, Sunderland. She was launched in 1928,[1] and completed in March of that year.[2]

The ship was 360 feet 0 inches (109.73 m) long, with a beam of 50 feet 0 inches (15.24 m) and a depth of 23 feet 9 inches (7.24 m). She had a GRT of 3,845 and a NRT of 2,323.[2]

The ship was propelled by a

triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of 24 inches (61 cm), 40 inches (100 cm) and 66 inches (170 cm) diameter by 45 inches (110 cm) stroke. The engine was built by J Dickinson & Sons Ltd, Sunderland.[2]

History

Goodleigh was built for the Dulverton Steamship Co Ltd. Her port of registry was

Code Letters LBHC were allocated.[2] In 1934, her Code Letters were changed to GNQB.[3]

In 1937,

Second World War on the continent of North America.[5]

Christoph Van Doornum was declared a war prize. She was passed to the MoWT and renamed Empire Commerce.

woodpulp was discharged.[1] The engine room was severely damaged. Greaser Maurice Holden escaped from the engine room, but then realised that the engineer was trapped, went back in and rescued him. For his bravery, Holden was awarded a British Empire Medal.[7] Empire Commerce was declared a constructive total loss and was scrapped in situ. She was the first Empire ship to be lost through enemy action.[1]

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 1-85044-275-4.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link
    )
  2. ^ a b c d "LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  3. ^ "LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  4. ^ a b "LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  5. ^ "Botwood: History of an Airport". Virtual Museum Canada. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  6. ^ "LLOYD'S REGISTER, STEAMERS & MOTORSHIPS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  7. ^ "No. 34921". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 August 1940. pp. 4999–5000.