Steam Pinnace 199 – Newsletter – March 2019

199 Update:

A third trial of 199 took place on 5th Feb. The editor placed this picture (above) on the internal Facebook operated by the NMRN with a comment that Frank (on the left) just couldn’t watch. Frank responded that actually he was looking for the speed dial number on his mobile phone for the salvage team in case it was needed. To be fair, the leakage through the shrunken hull timbers was much reduced but still not good enough for her to be left afloat in No 4 Boathouse dock. Next attempt 19th Feb – this has to be when high water coincides with Serco’s working hours. We are very grateful for their ongoing help in resolving this problem. The 19th Feb relaunch saw an improvement, but it was still not good enough to leave 199 afloat. More work was dome on the hull planking joints especially around the A-bracket palms starboard. The tide times saw 199 volunteers gathering before 7am (right) on 28th Feb for yet another relaunch. This was much improved especially as a result of the work around the A-bracket but still not good enough for her to stay in the water. More work on the hull!

(Left) Frank Fowler watching for tell-tale flow from 199’s own bilge pumps. She has modern yacht style, float operated pumps. It was much less than previous occasions. However, the pumps run from 12-volt batteries and so prolonged running needs back up from a 240v shore supply and battery chargers for security.

(Right) John Sheehan, Ivan Steele ad Paul Woodman discuss the findings of their inspection of bilge levels.

Strange Pinnace – Andrew Berry has come across an interesting video of a pinnace (minus funnel …. or diesel conversion? Perhaps just a stake ?) in Southampton Water in front of "Centaurus", an S23 Short Empire Flying-boat, leaving for flight to New Zealand in 1937. This was just the test flight, but it was hoped to make it a viable commercial flight. It was predicted to take 10 days to make the journey from Britain to New Zealand. The first series of the Short Empires could carry 5 crew, 17 passengers, and 4,480 lb of cargo at a maximum speed of 174 knots and were powered by four 920 horsepower Bristol Pegasus radial engines. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_Empire

Stills from the video to show both the bow and stern of the pinnace. Anyone know anymore? https://www.britishpathe.com/video/empire-flying-boat-leaves-for-flight-to-new-zealan/query/Airways

Centaurus (G-ADUT) had a short career. She was transferred from Imperial Airways to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as no. A18-10 in 1939 but was sunk during a Japanese air raid on Roebuck Bay, Broome on 3 March 1942. https://www.ozatwar.com/bretts.ht

Photo of ADUT, still in Imperial Airways livery, from the Australian Museums Victoria Collections

https://collections.museumvictoria.com.au/items/1548735

Another cartoon postcard circa 1920s from Jack Lee’s box of old photos (see last month) where the Fire Party seem to have a few problems.

Many thanks to Tim Stockford who volunteers in the Historic Dockyard Chatham. He kindly arranged for local searches in the yard and through the Medway Queen organisation for references to find a Jack Lee. Sadly, no hits.

Steam Launch Froya - a 31' steam cutter, probably build by J. Samuel White in Cowes around 1870 – see photos overleaf. It is believed a number were built for the Royal Navy. She was bought by the Danish navy and taken to Denmark onboard "Fregatten Jylland" (see overleaf). Froya was discovered by enthusiasts circa 2010 as a hull with no machinery. She is now at the Jylland Museum, Ebeltoft, Denmark – but not all is at it seems!

3 photos by Peter Dick, newsletter editor of the Historical Diving Society

Interesting to compare her with Tim Hollins’ “Mischief” or Royal Naval Steam Cutter No. 438 (right – photo by editor) built in 1897 by Thames Ironworks & Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. at Blackwall. There are no side decks and the foredeck arrangements are not the same. The stern and tiller seem similar.

Fregatten Jylland – there was an item about her in the Feb 2010 newsletter (how time flies) which is reprinted here:

Danish Link – through contacts in the Historic Diving Society, I have been approached by a retired Danish naval commander who is involved with the restored steam JYLLAND (or JUTLAND in English) which is in a museum dock at Ebeltoft. Despite being described as a frigate, she is 2m longer than VICTORY, was launched in 1860 and fought against the Austrian-Prussian fleet in the Battle of Heligoland in 1864. They have a steam launch to restore, possibly of British origin – no details yet apart from their 4 million kroner budget – and have asked if they can visit 199. With Ivan’s encouragement, I have made a positive response and await their proposals. As I hear they are a very hospital crowd from my old diver friends, an idea has been floated of an end of season run to Denmark (by air – a bit too far for 199!). Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jylland_(ship) (Reprinted from the 199 Newsletter Feb 2010)

Follow up by Tim Hollins: It is fascinating how quickly things get forgotten, and Froya is a very good case in point. Jylland did indeed have a steam cutter of around 1870-80, probably built by J Samuel White. The hull survived, though in poor condition and without any machinery. In about 2008/9 it was decided to build a replica, and my father (by editor – the late Peter Hollins MBE) was approached for advice. The project manager, Anders Kristensen, visited us and came and looked at Mischief and Osborne (& 199) and, after much consideration, my father agreed to sell the engine from Steam Cutter 463, together with all the boiler casing and funnel, all of which had survived when 463 itself was destroyed by fire by vandals at the Maritime Workshop (463 was 30 feet, so although the engine was rather later - 1899 - it was the right size). My father also provided all the detailed piping diagrams that we had produced for Mischief, and Anders followed these closely in doing the machinery installation. A new boiler shell was commissioned from a Danish boiler maker and, in 2011, when my Dad turned 90, he and I flew to Ebeltoft to see the engine completely overhauled, the new boiler steaming and the new hull almost completed. The project was completed in 2012 and a friend of ours helped my father go again to Ebeltoft for the official launching and first steaming of the replica cutter. I didn’t know she was called Froya, but it is undoubtedly her because that is the right size and I immediately recognise the engine, funnel and boiler casing from the photos. They did a superb job in recreating her, and I hope she is actively steamed. So, in short, The Maritime Workshop and my father in particular played a pretty crucial role in Froya’s re- creation! Here is a short video of Froya in steam, with some other smaller launches in 2015: https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipOA3I79kDYjAZI5F0ev6uhmaFudnQnzlpnzPjh2vTglqAHIzHcWyzB9 yXEnF8lymg/photo/AF1QipPW6ty2BTrKu9QYDOcT54ZzqRHb2A3QwkO1qNuz?key=dWpvR3hEOE9haWp1d FhHX3dfdk04Q0dkNFVLMUJn

Gymkhana - Many thanks to Paul Woodman who passed on this HMS Vernon and Tenders Gymkhana programme from 1907 which he came across. The range of prizes is interesting – see overleaf.

The Torpedo Race might create some interest from today’s Health and Safety officers!! The equipment provided included: 3 x 16 ¼ lb tins of wet guncotton, a Very light and a Bickford’s fuse, Pistol and Primer. Don’t think that “wet guncotton” is a safe form! Guncotton is made by treating cotton (used as the source of cellulose) with concentrated sulfuric acid and 70% nitric acid cooled to 0 °C to produce cellulose trinitrate. (By editor – I recall us making some hairy ammonium trinitrate in the chem lab at high school when teacher wasn’t looking – silly boys - makes bangs like toy gun caps). While guncotton is dangerous to store, the hazards it presents can be reduced by storing it dampened with various liquids, such as alcohol. For this reason, accounts of guncotton usage dating from the early 20th century refer to "wet guncotton". The power of guncotton made it suitable for blasting. As a projectile driver, it had around six times the gas generation of an equal volume of black powder and produced less smoke and less heating….and they were apparently heaving it around at a gymkhana! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrocellulose

The Bickford fuse (invented by William Bickford) is simply a length of cord either filled with combustible material, or itself made from combustible material. A safety fuse is often coded by its burn time for 30 cm, i.e. 30 seconds, which means that a length of fuse 30 cm long will take 30 seconds to burn. They are available for sale today at 2 euro per metre. http://www.pyrogate.eu/safety-fuses/bickford-fuse.html Although someone may wonder why you need one!! A video of a fuse in use is at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6Irb8BAMf0

Vendetta – a letter from reader John Bingeman

“Martin, Reading your interesting piece about ‘Jack’ Lee, not that it will be of much help but here is a picture of Vendetta from my father’s album. He served in Vendetta as a Sub-Lieutenant from 16th December 1919 to 6th October 1921 when he became a Lieutenant. His time in Vendetta seems to have been enjoyable judging from the pages of photographs. Unfortunately, very few ratings appear. My best wishes for 2019, John” By editor: Commander John Bingeman, a retired naval engineer, an experienced diver and an amateur maritime archaeologist, was the first licensee of HMS Invincible. In the 1980s he conducted the first Invincible excavation and your editor was lucky enough to take part in early dives. John’s final report “The First HMS Invincible (1747-58) – Her Excavations (1980-1991)” was published in 2010. He has been widely involved in marine archaeology events and organisations since then.

HMS Vendetta – a V Class destroyer variously designated as FA3, F29 & D69. She was launched in 1917 at The Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Govan and was active in the later stages of WW1. She was transferred to the RAN in 1933 and served during WW2. She was sold off and scrapped in 1946. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Vendetta_(D69)

Vendetta in Sydney Harbour in April 1939

Photo from the State Library of New South Wales -

http://digital.sl.nsw.gov.au/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=FL1285614&embedded=true&toolb ar=false

Some more pictures from “Jack” Lee’s memory box

Looks like an old diesel engined 32 ft cutter that has been salvaged – looks as though it has had a fire? Thought to be taken in the 1920s.

Thanks to Tim Deacon who found this postcard of a twin funnel pinnace towing cutters full of Royal Marines at Ostend.

For sale on eBay

Length: 45cm “This model is powered and fitted with radio gear for speed control and steering. It has Lipo batteries. The model comes with a crew of 4, a midshipman, a senior rating as helmsman and 2 others, all hand-made and painted for 1910.” £80 – no bids as at 26 Feb. Buyers beware – “…fitted with radio gear” but the control box illustrated elsewhere in the advert isn’t mentioned. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/143146793883?ul_noapp=true Steam Boat Events in 2019

Thames Steam Boat Sunday - 2nd June 2019. This event invites the public to come and savour these colourful craft on June 2nd at a number of sites along the length of the Thames and, says organiser Dave Howard, 'to achieve the largest number of steamboats out on the River Thames for over 100 years. Locations agreed so far are Windsor, Cookham, Marlow, Pangbourne, Lechlade. More details to follow, see: https://steamboatassociation.co.uk/event-3213150

Chatham Docks Festival of Steam and Transport - 21 & 22 Apr 2019 at The Historic Dockyard, Chatham https://thedockyard.co.uk/whats-on/festival-of-steam-transport-2019/

Puffing a-Wey - 28 to 30 Jun 2019 on the River Wey, Guildford Puffing a-Wey is a National Trust/Steam Boat Association joint project to bring to Dapdune Wharf in the centre of Guildford. If you search on the web for this event take care – there are junk pages with the same name going back to 2015. https://steamboatassociation.co.uk/event-3115198

By editor – these events in the south are listed for readers who might wish to go along. It has no links to 199’s possible programme for 2019. Thanks to The Steam Boat Association for the information.

The Daniel Adamson Preservation Society – in case you are up that way, the society’s 1903 tug known as “The Danny” is open for free tours from 11am to 4pm at Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge (near Runcorn) from March 2nd and every weekend in March and April 2019. https://www.thedanny.co.uk/news Photos at: https://www.thedanny.co.uk/gallery

Another maritime event – the editor with a small group of retired naval engineers and their wives were very privileged to be shown around the recently restored Painted Hall (right) at the old Royal Naval College, Greenwich on 27 Feb - sometimes described as the UK’s Sistine Chapel. The editor was a student at the college for 18 months in the early 70s and had three meals a day in the hall! Our recent visit was escorted by the conservationist who oversaw the two-year, £8.5M project, William Palin. The results are stunning and well worth a visit. The Hall is open to the public from 23 March. Photo courtesy of the RN College web site. There is much more to see around the grounds and nearby. Excellent lunch in The Old Brewery on site. Just a suggestion - search for cheap, off-peak train to London and then take the fast Thames Clipper to Greenwich. https://www.ornc.org/history-of-the-painted-hall#vV3thwwf3FLw3Iub.97 https://www.thamesclippers.com/

Book List 106

Hunters of the Steel Sharks: The Submarine Chasers of WWI Todd A. Woofenden; Signal Light Books 2017; 224 pages; ISBN-10: 0978919203 ISBN-13: 978- 0978919207. In 1918, a war time fleet of 303 U.S. submarine chasers formed a new offensive against the enemy, armed with depth charges, deck guns and an array of new, top secret submarine detection and pursuit devices. These miniature wooden war , the smallest commissioned vessels in the American navy, were the first major deployment mechanism for early antisubmarine warfare equipment and were remarkable in their capabilities and service. This is the history of the submarine chasers of the Great War, extensively illustrated with period photographs and diagrams, and rich with personal anecdotes, an up-close account of the early days of ASW based on rare, unpublished documents.

The Royal Navy Day by Day Lawrie Phillips; The History Press, 2017; 848 pages; ISBN-10: 0750982667 ISBN-13: 978-0750982665. This is the fifth edition of the Royal Navy’s unofficial but de facto standard naval history reference book which is issued to all HM ships and establishments. Two pages are devoted to every day of the year into which Lawrie Phillips packs a selection of significant naval events – operational and administrative – from the Armada to Afghanistan and beyond. A further challenge has been to make the entries representative of the wider service – to include the Royal Marines and in later years the Submarine Service, naval aviation, the WRNS, women at sea and the RFA. The whole is illustrated with hundreds of historic images.

Fisher, Churchill And The Dardanelles Geoffrey Penn; Pen & Sword Books Ltd 1999; pages: 288; ISBN-10: 0850526469 ISBN-13: 978-0850526462. Winston Churchill's obsession with the Dardanelles had fatal consequences for many thousands of servicemen. Moreover, it almost destroyed the career of the most influential British figure of this Century. Penn's latest work examines in depth an extraordinary and ill-matched politico/military relationship which was to have the most far-reaching results.

For God's Sake Shoot Straight Leonard Sellers. Pen & Sword Books Ltd; 1995) 192 pages: ISBN-10: 0850524709 ISBN-13: 978-0850524703. Leonard Sellers asks whether justice was done to those who faced the firing squad. He tells the story of Edwin Dyett, one of only 3 officers executed between 1914 and 1918 for an offence that was not a crime in civilian life, whose story was used in the novel The Secret Battle by A.P. Herbert.

Lighter Than Air - The Life and Times of Wing Commander N.F. Usborne RN, Pioneer of Naval Aviation Guy Warner; Pen & Sword Aviation 2016 Pages: 280; ISBN-10: 147382902X ISBN-13: 978-1473829022. Neville Usborne entered the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1897. His chief task during the Great War was to dream up new tactics and designs to combat the Zeppelin menace, perceived as one of the most damaging threats of the entire conflict. 1915 he was appointed Inspector Commander of Airships at the Admiralty. Unfortunately, his illustrious career was destined to be cut short in 1916 when he was killed testing a prototype of one of his own designs.