Penarth Dock, South Wales - the heritage and legacy

Volume Ten - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - Even more aspects - The Lloyd's Register at Penarth Dock . . .

s.s. 'Clovelly' - formerly 'War Fiend' and 'Berenice'

The s.s. 'War Fiend' was a steel hulled, screw vessel, built and launched at the Midland Shipbuilding Company Limited yard, Ontario, during 1918. She was of 2,129 gross and 1,262 net register tons being 251.0 ft. long x 43.58 ft. breath x 20.33 ft. deep. She was subsequently renamed 'Berenice' (1920-1923) and 'Clovelly' (1923-1926). During WWI, she was requisitioned by the British Government, being under the Shipping Controller, and managed by E. C. Downing. In 1920, she was owned by Cie Auxiliare de Navigation, Nantes, and renamed 'Berenice'. Finally, in 1923, she was renamed 'Clovelly' and was wrecked at Santa Maria de Ortigueira off Cabo Ortegal, N.W. Spain, on the 17th January 1926 whilst on a voyage from Penarth for Casablanca, Morocco, with a cargo of coal. At the time of her loss, she was owned by the Lewis Steamship Company Limited of Cardiff. [949] [950]



The War Fiend - Built by the Midland Shipbuilding Company for the Imperial Munitions board, finished in 1919, as a cargo ship. - A wonderful photograph borrowed from the Huronia Museum (Central Ontario's history, heritage, and culture) of Midland, Ontario, Canada. The site explains the history of the ship-yard and the contribution they made to British war efforts during two world wars. The lower image has been colourised. Midland opened the shipyards in the early 1900’s by a group that formed the Midland Drydock Co. They began with above-water repairs before moving on to build freighters. The yards closed down in 1928 only to be reopened in 1940 to help fill the demand for warships. The shipyards built Corvettes, mine sweepers and submarine trawlers for the British and Canadian Navy’s. After the war, the shipyards continued to build freighters, tugs, and barges for the commercial shipping industry. The Midland shipyards, largest shipyards on the Great Lakes, were closed for good in 1957. [952]

Frederick Charles Reece - Gallantry on Spanish Coast - About 3 am on the 17th January 1926, the ss Clovelly stranded near Barra de Ortigueira on the coast of Spain and, despite all efforts to refloat her, remained hard and fast. The weather was dark and misty, with heavy rain and a very rough sea. About 9 am a boat was launched with a crew of five hands in charge of the second officer, for the purpose of taking soundings and running out a kedge anchor, but the boat, on leaving the ship was overturned and the occupants were thrown into the water. All regained the upturned boat with the exception of the second officer and a Malay seaman, who were carried away. Observing them in difficulties, Reece dived overboard from the Clovelly into the rough sea in an endeavour to place a life-buoy within reach of the second officer, whom however, disappeared before Reece could reach him. The remaining four members of the boat's crew, and Reece himself, were rescued by means of lines. Frederick Charles Reece was subsequently awarded a Sea Gallantry Medal, the Board of Trade Medal for Saving Life at Sea. [820]