Newton Beech (1925)

Builder:
William Pickersgill & Sons Ltd.
Sunderland, England
Ordered:
N/A
Keel Laid:
N/A
Year Built:
1925
Launched:
September 2, 1925
Type:
Cargo
Completed:
October 1925
Fate:
Sunk Oct. 8, 1939 by the German cruiser Admiral Graf Spee.

Location: South Atlantic, off the coast of Angola, Africa.

The 34 crewmen are taken POW, no casualties.

(Captured by the Admiral Graf Spee on Oct. 5 about 546 miles ESE of Ascension Island
at position 09.35S - 06.30W)


Owner
John Ridley, Son & Tully
(Tyneside Line)
Newcastle-on-Tyne, England


Dimensions, machinery and performance
Length:
372' 8"
Engines:
1 steam turbine
Beam:
54' 6"
Boilers:
N/A
Draft:
26' 8" (depth)
Shafts:
1
Gross Tons:
4,651
HP:
N/A
DWT:
7,690
Speed:
10 knots
Crew:
N/A
Funnels:
1


Captains
From
To
Name
N/A
Oct. 5, 1939
J. Robison


Notes
Oct. 5, 1939:

The Admiral Graf Spee sighted the Newton Beech at a distance of 24.5 km and set an
interception course at 21 knots flying the French flag. When 1,800 meters away the French
flag was dropped and the Kriegsmarine ensign was hauled up. The Newton Beech was
taken by surprise, but as soon as Capt. J. Robison recognized the German raider he had
radio officer Prior transmit a distress signal. He sent three groups of four letters
"RRRR" (signaling that they were being approached by a raider) and also sent their position
and that they were under attack. Oberleutnant zur See Heinrich Schünemann and a 16 man
prize crew boarded the Newton Beech and recovered the Admiralty papers, which had not
been thrown overboard. The crew were taken POW, but remained on the Newton Beech.

Oct. 7, 1939:
The 35 man crew of the Ashlea is transferred to the Newton Beech.
Oct. 8, 1939:
Both crews are transferred to the Admiral Graf Spee, Newton Beech is sunk, exact position
unknown. 2 1/2 tons of supplies are taken from the Newton Beech and she is scuttled
using two charges. She sinks at 23:47 hrs.
Oct. 18, 1939:
Crew transferred to the Altmark.
Nov. 29, 1939:
J. Robison (Master), Q. B. Bell (Chief Engineer), J. L. Coutts (Chief Officer) and
M. Prior (Radio Officer) were transferred back to the Admiral Graf Spee, they remained
POW's on the Admiral Graf Spee until released in Montevideo, Uruguay Dec. 14, 1939
following the Battle of the River Plate.

Feb. 16, 1940:

The 302 crewmen from Newton Beech, Ashlea, Huntsman, Trevanion, Doric Star and Tairoa
being held prisoner on the Altmark were rescued by the HMS Cossack F-03 in Jøssingfjord,
Norway after the crew of the Cossack forced the Altmark to ground and boarded the ship.



Crewmen rescued from the Altmark
Abel, A. (Donkeyman)
Moody, A. (Able Seaman)
Angus, E. (Fireman & Trimmer)
Morrison, D. (Fireman & Trimmer)
Atkinson, R. (Cadet)
Northey, T. (4th Engineer)
Beattie, G. (Chief Steward)
O'Connor, M. (Cabin Boy)
Bell, J. (Fireman & Trimmer)
Reay, C. M. S. (Deck Boy)
Bowler, W. (Fireman & Trimmer)
Saville, H. (2nd Engineer)
Byrne, G. H. (3rd Mate)
Smith S. (3rd Engineer)
Campbell, W. (Ordinary Seaman)
Smith, F. C. (Fireman & Trimmer)
Gilleard, W. (Fireman & Trimmer)
Swaby, J. (Able Seaman)
Hanlon, P. (Able Seaman)
Wardell, A. (Fireman & Trimmer)
Holland, H. (Able Seaman)
White, A. W. (Sailor)
Hunter, T. W. (Apprentice)
Williams, G. S. (Carpenter)
Johnson, G. (Fireman & Trimmer)
Woodman, W. M. (2nd Mate)
Martin, A. (Ships Cook)
Worsey, G. D. (Galley Boy)
Miller, L. R. (Bosun)
Zerk, L. F. A. (Mess-room Boy)


Additional information for this page was provided by General Enrique R. Dick and Hugo R. Sochi.


Builder's Data
Page revised Mar. 26, 2008