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SS Mendi the Sinking of the Mendi Is Now Remembered As One of the Most Controversial Events of the First World War

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SS Mendi the Sinking of the Mendi Is Now Remembered As One of the Most Controversial Events of the First World War WRECKED! SS Mendi The sinking of the Mendi is now remembered as one of the most controversial events of the First World War. To begin SCUBA’s guide to UK wrecks, Alison Mayor and Martin Davies of Southsea SAC offer a guide to this protected site ne of the worst maritime disasters of the First World War took place to the south of the Isle of Wight with the loss of 650 lives. The tragedy of the SS Mendi is not well known in the UK, but in South Africa the Ostory is regarded as a historic national disaster and has become a symbol of unity and forgiveness. This wreck is a great dive but the diving experience is so much more memorable when you appreciate the horrific story of her loss. Mendi is a relatively challenging dive, but suitable for those experienced divers qualified to dive beyond 40m. Depending on time of year and sea conditions it can be dark, but visibility tends to be 5-10m g DEPTH: 30 –40m VISIBILITY: 5–10m (Depending on time of year) Main image: a diver explores one of Mendi's large deck winches. Top right: a large conger keeps a watchful eye from his porthole. 57 WRECKED! N E W SS Mendi S Boilers Engine (x4) Laying on its side) ( Portholes Steering 33 m Quadrant Propeller ( at end of Hold propshaft) Hold Bow Debris 40 m Pottery & Rudder Plates Debris Fore Mast t s a Field M in Length 120m a Stern M Stern/midships lies at a list of 45 Gun o Bow broken off lies flat on sea bed gon a good day. have corroded away, leaving holes in the heading in a southerly direction slightly Mendi is a large wreck – the main side, a prime residence for conger eels. away from the main wreckage, you features are the four boilers, engine, stern I have a tendency to head to the stern of should find the stern gun that was gun and steering quadrant. The ship is laid a vessel, as it is often the most interesting. originally bolted to the wooden decking. on her starboard side at approximately 45 Heading east behind the second set of The gun is relatively small for a ship of degrees with her bow to the west. The boilers you will see the 424HP triple this size; it is likely to have fallen from highest part of the wreck is the port side expansion engine that has fallen on its side. the main structure years before the of the hull which remains largely intact The top of the engine block has three large collapse of the stern, as it is partly clear some 6m above the seabed. The upper pistons and the connecting rods can clearly of the main wreckage. At the base of the decks and superstructure of the ship have be made out. gun, there are remains of some of the collapsed and are partly lying on the Moving towards the stern area there wooden decking. Ammunition can also seabed in a large debris field to the south. is a tangled mass of material comprising been seen nearby. The dive generally begins at the ribs, girders and the remains of the After visiting the gun, head back north boilers, which are the highest point of superstructure that has collapsed over into the main wreckage and along the the wreck and the easiest part of the the years. This area is where the rear starboard side, where large winches can be wreck for skippers to shot, standing holds would have been located. The seen. These were used to assist in the some 5m off the seabed. Descending wreck gradually levels down to an area loading of cargo. The two masts lie on the down the line into the green murky where the steering quadrant, propeller seabed, extending several metres south waters you eventually arrive at the port and rudder can be found. The steering away from the main wreckage. side of mechanism is slightly elevated above the Continuing west forward of the boilers the ship and the four huge boilers that wreck, while the propeller can be found and towards the bow, you’ll find a lot can be clearly identified by their large closer to the seabed at the end of the of debris on the seabed that has fallen cylindrical shape. They are lying toppled prop shaft. The rudder lies on the seabed from the main wreck. This was the area over slightly in two pairs and just in front close by. around the forward hold and bridge of the engine. One or two of the boilers Coming round from the stern and accommodation. Many of the African g 58 WRECKED! SS Mendi: The Knowledge The 4,230 tonne Mendi was 112m long GAS: Nitrox 27% or trimix are with a beam of 14m. She served on the recommended for a max depth of 40m. Liverpool to West Africa run until The ability to get fills locally is extremely chartered by the British Government in limited, so bring plenty of cylinders, 1916. Her large engine and two pairs of particularly if you are diving more than boilers combined to give Mendi 424hp and one day. Closest air and nitrox supply to a top speed of 12 knots. Lymington is Tal Scuba and Shooting, DEPTH RANGE: General seabed depth Fairmile Road, Christchurch, Dorset. 38-40m. The wreck stands proud 6m near 01202 473 030. boilers, no scour. Wreck site length 120m, RIB LAUNCHING: Unless you have a large width 14m, lies east/west (Stern/Bow). RIB and conditions are perfect, this dive A good torch is essential if the conditions is unlikely to be suitable for RIB diving. turn out to be dark on the day of your dive, There is a public slipway at Lymington. making it difficult to orientate yourself. ACCOMMODATION: Given the depth and size of the Mendi, DURLSTON HOUSE , Gosport Road, you may need at least two dives to see the Lymington, 01590 677 364. Good parking complete wreck and appreciate it fully. suitable for large groups. Packed meals FINDING THE WRECK: 11.3 nautical miles can be arranged in lieu of breakfast for from St Catherine’s Light House at early starts. 50 27.496N, 01 20.047W (WGS84). JEVINGTON , 47 Waterford Lane, TIDAL INFORMATION: Best dived at low Lymington, SO41 3PT. 01590 672148. Very water slack. close to the Lymington boat marina pick up. WRECK LEGAL STATUS: Wreck The New Forest has plenty of designated under the Protection of Military accommodation to suit all budgets. Remains Act 1986. Diving should therefore Campers should contact the Forestry be conducted on a look – don’t touch/take Commission for local campsites. basis. EATS AND TREATS: The local pub/restaurant, the Mayflower is a great place for a ‘second slack’ and is only 100m from the slipway/pontoon at Lymington. Southampton Blown out? If all diving is blown out, Portsmouth a day trip on the Lymington ferry to the Lymington Isle of Wight to visit the Shipwreck Bournemouth Museum may be an option. Isle of Wight Sandown RECOMMENDED CHARTER BOATS: Shanklin Ventnor Wight Spirit – Skipper Dave Wendes has St Catherine’s Light House carried out extensive research on the Mendi and has published books about Want to get more out SS Mendi shipwrecks in the South Coast area. of your wreck diving? www.wightspirit.co.uk Then sign up for a BSAC Wreck Appreciation course. This two-day course enables divers to safely dive wrecks and to recognise and appreciate what they see. Information: www.bsac.com/wreck Check out BSAC’s selection of Wreck Guide books at www.bsac.com/wrecks-books Southsea SAC is a dynamic BSAC club based in Purbrook, Portsmouth. Active in expedition diving, the club scooped the Duke of Edinburgh Award 2010 for their D-Day landing craft project, Neptune Wrecks. Mendi's four large For more information: boilers are a main www.southseasubaqua.org.uk feature and a great place to start the dive. 60 61 WRECKED! WRECKED! gtroops would have been accommodated in the holds. Plates and crockery can be seen in Mendi’s legacy this area, which presumably was part of the galley. These plates helped identify The SS Mendi was the first mail ship the wreck from the crest of the British requisitioned during the First World and African Steam Navigation Company, War. It was used as a British troopship which can be found on some of the to transport more than 800 native South plates. Africans from Cape Town to France. There is a break in the main structure, The troops were to undertake general possibly the collision area where the SS labouring activities and dig trenches at Darro hit Mendi between forward holds the Western front. Shortly before 5am number one and two. In recent years, the on 21 February 1917, she was rammed bow has collapsed and fallen away from the by a larger steamer, SS Darro, in thick main structure, laying on its starboard side fog 11 miles off St Catherine’s Point, only a couple of metres off the sea bed. Isle of Wight. The Mendi sank in less Time and gas permitting, you can head than 20 minutes with the loss of 649 east towards the boilers to return to the lives. Many of them died in the freezing shot line and begin your ascent. As you water after the SS Darro reversed away leave the port side, you will see a number from the collision, allowing seawater to of portholes, which line the side of the ship.
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