Bradfyne Gallery

Steamship Bradfyne.

NEW CARDIFF SHIP

LAUNCH OF THE BRADFYNE WEST HARTLEPOOL

Western Mail. 22/2/28

The fifth of the eight new ships ordered by Sir William Reardon Smith, Bart., for the St. Just and Leeds Shipping Company (Limited) was launched at West Hartlepool on Tuesday. As the vessel left the ways she was christened Bradfyne by Mrs. D. A. Low, daughter of Sir W. R. Smith and wife of Mr. D. A. Low, a director of the Leeds Shipping Company.

She was built by Messrs. William. Gray and Co. (Limited), West Hartlepool and is to be engine by the Central Marine Engineering Works, West Hartlepool.

The dimensions of the vessel are: - Length 400ft., width 54ft., and depth 28ft. Her dead-weight capacity is 8,500 tons on about 25 ft. Draught.

The Bradfyne has been built for the Leeds Shipping Company (Limited), who recently took delivery of the steamers Bradesk and Braddovey, and is a sister ship to the Leeds City and Quebec City, which have already been delivered to the St Just Company. Another addition to the large fleet already controlled by Sir William. Reardon Smith is to be made next month, when the steamer King City will be launched for the St. Just Company.

FOR CARDIFF OWNERS

LAUNCH OF FINE STEAMER AT CENTRAL YARD

Northern Daily Mail. 22/2/28

Yesterday, Messrs. Wm. Gray and Co., Ltd., launched from their Central Shipyard. West Hartlepool. the handsome steel screw steamer Bradfyne, which is the third of four vessels being built being built to the order of Sir Wm. Reardon Smith and Sons, Ltd., Cardiff.

The vessel, which will take the highest class in British Corporation  Registry of Shipping, is of the following dimensions: Length B. P. 400ft., breadth 51ft. 3in., depth moulded to upper deck, 28ft. 0 ½  in., with open shelter deck and forecastle.

The ship is constructed of the deep channel framing with double bottom carried right out to shell, and has six watertight bulkheads, together with a steel centre line bulkheads in the holds and ‘tween decks, , with wood shifting boards in way of hatches for special carriage of grain cargoes.
                                  
                                                   ACCOMMODATION

Spacious accommodation for the captain and officers is arranged in a steel houses amidships, the engineers being berthed in large houses alongside casing, and the crew forward.

For the quick handling of cargo, 11 powerful steam winches are to be provided to work 11 derricks. A direct-acting steam windlass forward and steam steering gear amidships are also to be fitted.

The topmasts are to be telescopic, lowering to a height suitable for the Manchester Canal Bridges. The vessel will be completed in all respects as a first-class cargo steamer, her equipment including a refrigerating plant, including an efficient wireless installation and electric light throughout.

                                                   THE ENGINES.

Triple-expansion engines having cylinders 25in., 42in., and 70 inches diameter x 48 inches stroke, and two boilers 16ft. 0in. dia x 12ft 0in. long, forced draught, and one boiler  12ft. 0in. dia x 11ft 0in. long, natural draught, working at a pressure of 200lbs., and fitted up for coal and oil burning, will be supplied by the Central Marine Engineering Works of the builders, and a number of auxiliaries of the “C.M.E.W.” type will be installed, including an auxiliary condenser, singlex harbour feed pump, centrifugal pump, pair of independent feed pumps,  general service pump, ballast pump, oil transfer pump, pair of oil separators, overhead direct contact feed heater, combined drain and scum tank, and evaporator
                                                    THE CEREMONY

The ship and machinery are being built under the supervision of Mr. W. J. Liley and Capt. E. A. Tamlyn on behalf of the owners, and the ceremony of naming the steamer Bradfyne was gracefully performed by Mrs. Douglas A. Low, daughter of Sir William. Reardon Smith, Bart.

The owners were represented by Mr. Douglas A. Low and Mr. T. F. Major, and the builders by Mr. F. C. Pyman (managing director), Mr. A. McGlashan, and Mr. J. H. Farmer (directors), Mr. T. S. Simpson (general manager), and Mr. W. Wilson (yard manager). Amongst those present Mrs. F. C. Pyman,  Mr. W. H. Stephenson (British Corporation surveyor).

Master: 1940 Robert Greville Vanner.

On a voyage from Montreal for Sydney & Belfast in convoy SC-11with a cargo of grain & a total compliment of 43 Bradfyne was torpedoed by German submarine (U-100 Joachim Schepke) & sank SE of Rockall in the Atlantic Ocean in 55.04N/12.15W on 22 November 1940. 4 survivors were picked up by the Norse King & landed at Belfast. 39 lives lost including master.

Lives lost November 1940: Adam, William, marine, 42, Middlesex; Adan Mohamed, fireman/trimmer, 45; Ali Ahmed, fireman/trimmer, 44; Barker, Jack, 4^th engineer, 23, Goole, Yorks.; Barnard, Redvers, ordinary seaman, 21, Middlesbrough; Blower, John Kenneth, able seaman, 32, Hirwaun, Glamorgan; Butcher, Charles John, 2^nd officer, 25; Davies, Edward Harry, steward, 36; Dawn, Joseph Walter, sailor, 25, Waltham, Lincs.; Daynes, Henry Gordon Lechmere, apprentice, 17, Sawbridgeworth, Herts.; Dualeh Jama, donkeyman, 40; Duguid, Alistair John, 1^st radio officer, 20, East Kilbride, Lanark.; Evans, Phillip, chief officer, 34, Walsall, Staffs.; Ferris, Kenneth William, deck boy, 17, Tonyrefail, Glamorgan; Goodhall, Albert, fireman/trimmer, 38; Hafazalullah Umborullah, fireman/trimmer, 32; Hughes, Raymond, deck boy, 16, Borth, Cardiganshire; Kahen Farah, fireman/trimmer, 32; Kahin Ahmed, fireman/trimmer, 25; Lewarne, Stanley, 3^rd officer, 45; Lewis, Evan William, boatswain, 46, Rgyl, Flintshire; Ling, Henry Miles, ordinary seaman, 18; Loven, Frederick, able seaman, 51; Mohamed Abdul, fireman/trimmer, 38; Richardson, Thomas Henry, steward, 28; Robson, John George, 2^nd engineer, 30, Fulwell, Sunderland; Rogers, Glyn Kendrick, 2^nd radio officer, 20; Saleh Murshed, fireman/trimmer, 60; Siepen, Cyril Louis, 6^th enginner, 22; Tattam, John Marquis, 5^th engineer, 19; Thomson, Peter, chief engineer, 54; Tongs, Herbert Donald, cook, 27, Penarth, Glamorgan; Vanner, Rupert Greville, master, 37; Wanucacchey Din Maribull, fireman, 34, Nugegoda, Ceylon; Wheeler, Maurice Walter, 3^rd engineer, 25 Pitsmoor, Sheffield; Whitty, Patrick, carpenter, 57; Williams, Idwal Mason, apprentice, 19, Penrhiwceiber, Glamorgan; Wilson, Ronald, assistant cook, 21, Penarth, Glamorgan; Wines, Thomas Glyn, cabin boy, 19.

Bradfyne Yardbook pages