1929 Map and berths of River Clyde from Shieldhall to Glasgow City Centre

Reardon Smith's NORWICH CITY is wrecked in the Pacific Ocean.

   The Radio Marine Corporation in San Francisco has picked up a relayed wireless message from the U.S. Navy Radio Station at Tutulla, Hawaii, originating with the British freighter NORWICH CITY saying  “ SOS  Ashore on Gardner Island.   Going fast “

  Gardner Island (also known as Nikumaroro) is part of the Phoenix Islands, Kiribati, in the western Pacific Ocean.   It is a remote, elongated, triangular coral atoll with profuse vegetation and a large central marine lagoon.

TERUKUNI MARU launched by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Nagasaki, Japan for NYK Line

From Wikipedia

History

The ship was named for the Terukuni jinja, a Shinto shrine located in Kagoshima.^[2] The Terukuni Maru and her sister ship Yasukuni Maru were built for NYK’s fortnightly scheduled high-speed European service, coming into operation from the autumn of 1930.^[3] Both ships were specially designed for tropical conditions, with state-of-the-art air conditioning and fresh air circulation systems, as their routing was south from Japan, through the Indian Ocean, Suez Canal and Mediterranean Sea.^[4] Both ships were initially designed for use with geared turbine engines for projected cruising speed of 18 knots. However, under increasing pressure from the Japanese government to use only equipment and technologies available domestically, the design was changed to use standard Mitsubishi-Sulzer marine diesel engines, which reduced cruising speed to 15 knots.

The 11,931-ton steel-hulled vessel had a length of 505 feet (154 m), and a beam of 64 feet (20 m), with a single funnel, two masts, and double screws. Terukuni Maru provided accommodation for 121 first-class passengers and 68 second class passengers. There was also room for up to 60 third-class passengers. The ship and passengers were served by a crew of 177.^[5]

Final voyage

On September 24, 1939, at 5 PM, Terukuni Maru departed Yokohama on her 25th voyage to Europe. En route, she made her usual scheduled ports of call: Nagoya, Osaka, Kobe, Moji, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Penang, and Colombo. After transiting the Suez Canal, she called at Beirut, Naples and Marseilles (where she stayed for four days), followed by Casablanca. At 9 AM on November 19, she transited the Dover Straits, turning north to the mouth of the River Thames and her final destination of London. She took aboard a pilot off the South Downs, and underwent contraband inspection while Royal Navy minesweepers checked her route into London for mines. After receiving clearance to proceed, at 35 minutes after midnight on the morning of November 21, an explosion occurred between her second and third holds, after she struck a German magnetic mine at 51°50′N 01°30′E 

  off Harwich on the Essex coast. She sank in less than 45 minutes,^[6] but there were no fatalities as all 28 passengers and 177 crew members were able to escape in lifeboats.^[1][7]

As Japan was officially neutral at the time, the sinking of the Terukuni Maru led to a diplomatic incident between Japan and both the United Kingdom and Germany. Both countries officially denied responsibility for the mine. However, it is almost certain to have been a German mine because the type of mine used is one that had been developed by the Germans and because the United Kingdom would not have placed mines in its own shipping lanes.^[1] Although Japan was increasingly allied towards Germany, the Japanese government protested the loss with the Nazi German government, but the ship owner was not compensated for the loss.^[1]

The wrecked ship lay partly submerged on its side at 8 fathoms (48 ft; 15 m) depth, visible to wartime shipping.^[8] The wreckage was examined for salvage potential, but salvage work was not undertaken. In 1946 the ship was demolished with explosives as part of a British effort to remove war debris from coastal waters.^[1] The remains of the Terukuni Maru have been recorded.^[7]

Advertisment on 18 January 1927 for David MacBrayne cargo steamer services to West Highlands

THE   ROYAL  ROUTE

GLASGOW  AND  THE  HIGHLANDS

CARGO   STEAMER   SAILINGS

Cargo is being received up to 4pm today (Tuesday)

and tomorrow (Wednesday) for

Craignure,  Lochaline,  Salen (Mull),  Tobermory,

Kilchoan,  Eigg,  Mallaig,  Armadale,  Isleornsay,  Glenelg,

Kyle-of-Lochalsh,  Broadford,  Portree,  Staffin,

Kilmaluag,  Gairloch,  Aultbea,  Inverasdale,  Scorraig,

Ullapool,  Haden-Tarbet,  Lochinver,  Lochnedd,

Badcall,  Stockinish  and  Rodel.

All  Passengers  and  their  Luggage,  Goods  and  Live  Stock  carried subject to Company’s  Conditions

DAVID  MACBRAYNE  LTD.,

119  Hope  Street,  Glasgow  C 2

Cargo for Ardrossan : a 1930's film on youtube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJdGQIN3QAY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJdGQIN3QAY

Cargo for Ardrossan : a 1930s black and white film showing a Shell Oil Tanker arriving at Ardrossan (Scotland) and the many uses which the oil is used for.

   It is a pleasant film and shows lives and employment in a gentler time of life.

June 1930 Sailing Notice for Henderson Line of Glasgow sailings to Eastern Ports and Burma

Henderson Line's CHINDWIN leaves Liverpool for Eastern Ports and Burma

Henderson Line's CHINDWIN leaves Marseilles for Eastern Ports and Burma

Painting of Clyde puffer lighter DRUID (1905-1955) probably depicted in 1930s.

Henderson Line's KEMMENDINE leaves Glasgow for Eastern Ports and Burma

Henderson Line's KEMMENDINE leaves Liverpool for Eastern Ports and Burma

Henderson Line's KEMMENDINE leaves Marseilles for Eastern Ports and Burma

Advertising poster for Compania Hamburguesa Sud Americana

Anchor Line's CALIFORNIA leaves Glasgow on a 25-days return trip to New York

   “Glasgow Fair Holidays” or often referred to simply as “Glasgow Fair” is a local 2-week holiday period usually held in the second half of July each year when schools, businesses and factories in Glasgow all close for two weeks.

Chinese crewman Ah Lok dies on tanker "Achatina" at Ardrossan Harbour

Chinese crew member died, buried Ardrossan cemetery.

***********************************************************

The accompanying images of the Death Certificate and Corrected entry shows the death details ;

Ah Lok

Seaman

Single

When and where died.
1930 July 29th 8h 55m a.m.
On board the S.S. "Achatina" Harbour, Ardrossan.

Male

25 years

Name and profession of father.
Ah Lon
Farmer
Deceased

Mothers details are not listed.

Cause of death.
Pulmonary haemmorhage, cadiac failure.
As certified by James Fraser, M.B. Ch. B.

Signatue and qualification of informant.
Th. Richardson,
Chief Officer
S.S. "Achatina"
(absent)

When and where registered.
1930 July 29th, at Ardrossan.
Jas. W. Fullarton, Registrar.

Webmasters note ; The following correction was made, due to some doubt as to the deceased's correct age.
Originally he was believed to be 25 years, but it was subsequently determined that he was 24 years of age.

REGISTER OF CORRECTED ENTRY

16th Sepember 1931

The following report of Result of a precognition has been received touching the Death of Ah Lok, registered under entry no. 40 in the Register Book of Deaths for the year 1930.

Name, age and sex.
Ah Lok
24 years
(male)

When and where died.
1930 July 29th about 8h 55m a.m. on board the S.S. "Achatina" in the Harbour, Ardrossan.
(Usual residence Foochow, China)

Cause of Death.
Pulmonary Haemmorhage and Cardiac Failure
Certified by Dr. Fraser, Ardrossan.

Precognition - Fiscal's Office, Kilmarnock, 5th August 1930.
Certified by Mr. J. Robertson, Procurator Fiscal.

***************************************************************

A VERY SAD, UNHAPPY ENDING, FOR THE FORGOTTEN FARMER'S SON FROM FOOCHOW.

Further research shows that Ah Lok was buried on 30th July, the day following his death, and the cost of the burial being paid by the Local Authority (Ardrossan Town Council.)
He was buried in the Cemetery's area mid-C 220 - which is open common ground where poor people are buried together without any ceremony - people who have no money or friends to pay for their burial - a paupers burial.
No headstone or monument was erected to show his final resting place, and the photograph shows the grass area of common ground where his body was interred.
It is not possible to be more precise for the location.

*************************************************************