Windermere Gallery

In 1866, Thomas Appleby and Robert Ropner founded the shipping company of Appleby, Ropner & Co. This partnership was dissolved in 1874, with each partner establishing their own companies: T. Appleby & Co., and R. Ropner & Co.

The vessels listed below under ship are those that were built at West Hartlepool and those that were built elsewhere are listed under a general history.

Family History:

Thomas Appleby was born at Garmondsway, Durham in 1839 to parents John (farmer) and Elizabeth Davison (nee Richardson) Appleby. He married Harriet Wearmouth at Pittington on 9^th December 1868. In 1871 the family were living at Seaton Carew. By 1881 the couple were living at Ashfield House, Greatham with their five children. Harriet died in December 1904.

Thomas was chairman of the Hartlepool Gas Company, president of the South East Durham Conservative Association and a J.P.

Thomas died at Greatham aged 69 on 24^th November 1909 leaving effects of £116,954.

In this section you will find information, photographs and stories relating to more than 260 Hartlepool seamen who lost their lives during during the First World War, and of the ships they served on.
To find a particular crewman, simply type his Surname in the Search Box at the top of the page.

This section will, in time, contain the stories of more than 450 merchant ships built or owned in the Hartlepools, and which were lost during the First World War. As an illustration of the truly global nature of shipbuilding, these ships were owned by companies from 22 different countries, including more than 30 sailing under the German flag at the outbreak of war.

Dundee, Perth, Forfar and Fife’s People’s Journal – April 4^th, 1914
MOTHER AND CHILD RESCUED FROM WATERLOGGED SCHOONER. Almost battered pieces by storm the Atlantic, the American schooner Laura M. Lunt was sighted flying signals of distress by the Cardiff steamship Windermere, which had also suffered considerably from the heavy seas. The schooner was waterlogged and helpless. A boat launched by the Windermere was badly damaged, but the chief engineer, Mr. T. Lumley, of West Hartlepool, two sailors, and the cook jumped into it. They reached the schooner and rescued Captain Johnson, his wife, and his four-year-old daughter, and six seamen. The schooner when left was sinking fast. The Windermere’s own deck fittings were smashed and carried away. One of the boats was damaged, and the bridge was wrecked. A Greek seaman named Marcus George, who tried to reach the forepart of the vessel, was struck by wave, swept overboard, and drowned.

Western Mail – September 30^th, 1914
CARDIFF STEAMER DAMAGED. The Cardiff steamer Windermere is reported by Lloyd’s agent to have docked at Newport News, after grounding Plymouth, Massachusetts, with two plates damaged. The Windermere is a steamer of 2,292 tons gross, and is managed by Mr. W. R. Corfield, for the Cardiff Steamship Company.

Liverpool Echo – November 25^th, 1914
A gold watch and chain for Mr. G. J. Savage (master), a binocular glass for Mr. T. Sunley (first mate), and gold medals for M. Franco (cook). M. Mazzadomoz, M. Hermendz and J. Christo (seamen), of the steamship Windermere, of Cardiff, in recognition of their services in saving life from the wreck the American schooner Laura Lunt on March 4^th, 1914.

Portsmouth Evening News – August 1^st, 1916
SUNK IN MEDITERRANEAN. It is learned officially that the steamship Windermere was sunk an enemy submarine on the evening of Juno 27th, the crew escaping in two boats. The boat containing the mate and eleven men reached Las Salinas in Majorca at noon on June 28^th. They were treated with every care and consideration by the Spanish authorities and people. No news has been received of the remaining boat with the captain and eleven hands, in spite of a rigorous search conducted local feluccas.

Western Mail – August 1^st, 1916
CAPTAIN AND ELEVEN MEN MISSING. The announcement is now made that the Cardiff steamer Windermere was sunk by an enemy submarine on the evening of June 27th, the crew escaping in two boats. One boat, containing the mate and eleven men, reached Los Salinas, in Majorca, at noon on June 28^th, where they were treated with every care and consideration and given food and lodging, and in the morning conveyed to Santany. A Spanish medical officer at Felanitx came over expressly to make a medical inspection and to see that the men had every attention. Next day they were conveyed to Palma by train, the railway company providing accommodation for them free of charge, Spanish officials of Santany accompanying them to the station see them off. Nothing could exceed the cordial and friendly anxiety of the people oi Majorca to do all in their power in the way of comfort and entertainment for the survivors. No news has been received the remaining boat, with the captain and eleven hands, in spite of rigorous search conducted by local feluccas. The Windermere was a boat of 2,292 tons, owned by the Cardiff Steamship Company (Limited), and registered at Cardiff (Mr. W. R. Corfield manager).

Newcastle Journal – August 30^th, 1915
BRAVERY AT SEA. PRESENTATION TO A SKIPPER IN NEWCASTLE. The gallant action of an English skipper received recognition at the offices of the Local Marine Board, Newcastle, on Saturday, when Captain John George Savage, master of the steamship Windermere, was made the recipient of a handsome gold watch and chain, the gift of Dr. Woodrow Wilson, the President of the United States. Mr. James E. Tully, who presided, made the presentation, and among others present at the ceremony were Mr. Hetherington Nixon, the American Vice- Consul, and the following members the Local Marine Board:—Mr. John Maccoy, Mr E. R. Newbigin, Mr. J. W. Witherington, Captain Taylor, and Mr. John Deans, R.N.R. (acting secretary). The Chairman said on March 4th of last year, when the Windermere was a voyage from Newport News to Jamaica, she sighted the American schooner Laura W. Lunt, which was making signals of distress. The captain of the Windermere sent a lifeboat to her assistance, and the crew of nine, including the master's wife, were rescued and taken on board the Windermere, the schooner being abandoned. The weather was very rough, and the lifeboat was damaged by the heavy seas, but, after two trips to the wreck, the crew and passengers, who were all Americans, were rescued. The schooner had boats and nothing with which to make rafts, and would have foundered in about four hours. Captain Savage, who belongs Bristol, briefly expressed his thanks, and remarked that was only too pleased to have been a position to what he had done. Great praise was due to the men in the boat, which was leaking badly during the work of rescue.