Newton Beech (1925) |
Builder: |
William Pickersgill & Sons Ltd. Sunderland, England |
Ordered: |
N/A |
Keel Laid: |
N/A |
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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 |
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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
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From
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To
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Name
|
N/A |
Oct. 5, 1939 |
J. Robison |
Notes |
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Oct. 5, 1939: |
The Admiral Graf Spee sighted the Newton Beech at a distance of 24.5 km and set an |
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 |
Crewmen rescued from the Altmark |
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Abel, A. (Donkeyman) |
Moody, A. (Able Seaman) |
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Angus, E. (Fireman & Trimmer) |
Morrison, D. (Fireman & Trimmer) |
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Atkinson, R. (Cadet) |
Northey, T. (4th Engineer) |
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Beattie, G. (Chief Steward) |
O'Connor, M. (Cabin Boy) |
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Bell, J. (Fireman & Trimmer) |
Reay, C. M. S. (Deck Boy) |
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Bowler, W. (Fireman & Trimmer) |
Saville, H. (2nd Engineer) |
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Byrne, G. H. (3rd Mate) |
Smith S. (3rd Engineer) |
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Campbell, W. (Ordinary Seaman) |
Smith, F. C. (Fireman & Trimmer) |
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Gilleard, W. (Fireman & Trimmer) |
Swaby, J. (Able Seaman) |
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Hanlon, P. (Able Seaman) |
Wardell, A. (Fireman & Trimmer) |
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Holland, H. (Able Seaman) |
White, A. W. (Sailor) |
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Hunter, T. W. (Apprentice) |
Williams, G. S. (Carpenter) |
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Johnson, G. (Fireman & Trimmer) |
Woodman, W. M. (2nd Mate) |
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Martin, A. (Ships Cook) |
Worsey, G. D. (Galley Boy) |
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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 |
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Page revised Mar. 26, 2008 |