SS Norwich City
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Historical records give us a fairly clear picture of the S.S. Norwich City’s construction and operation as a cargo vessel in the British Mercantile Fleet, and her demise on the reef at Gardner Island in the Phoenix Group. What is not so clear is whether she played a passive role in the saga of Amelia Earhart seven and a half years after her grounding. Knowing more about the S.S. Norwich City may help to understand if there was a relationship to artifacts found at The Seven Site and to a post loss radio message that could have provided clues to Earhart’s location.
Construction and Early History
The S.S. Norwich City was launched as the S.S. Normanby on July 12, 1911 at the West Hartlepool yard number 792 of William Gray and Company. Originally built for the London and Northern Steamship Company, she was registered out of London as ship number 132596. The 397 foot bulk carrier had a beam of 53 feet 5.5 inches. The keel had been laid five months earlier on February 9, 1911, and was constructed of steel. She was driven by a Central Marine 412 BHP (1960 IHP) triple expansion reciprocating steam engine whose three cylinders of 70, 40, and 26 inches propelled the ship at an operating speed of 9 knots. Fitted with two multitubular steel boilers, steam was produced at 180 psi. The steering gear and windlass machinery were also operated by steam. At launching, the gross tonnage was calculated to be 5633.2; her displacement was 8730 tons.
The London certificate was given up and cancelled on April 24, 1919 when the ship was re-registered at Bideford, UK, to the St. Just Steamship Company, Limited, with Sir William Reardon Smith, Limited, designated to manage the vessel. The ship’s name was changed to S.S. Norwich City by Board of Trade minutes number 2544. In 1928 modifications to the ship had changed her gross tonnage to its last recorded gross tonnage of 5587.08.
By 1922 the Reardon Smith fleet had grown to 39 vessels. On July 2, 1928, the name of the St. Just Steamship Company, Limited, was changed to Reardon Smith Lines, Limited, and continued to expand.
S.S. Norwich City and the Second Narrows Bridge
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The S.S. Norwich City was involved in an accident, striking Vancouver’s Second Narrows Bridge the year prior to her grounding on Gardner Island. In Vancouver, B.C. the bridge across the tidal bore known as Burrard Inlet was completed in 1925 with its companion rail bridge completed in 1926. The name “Second Narrows” derives from the second narrowing of Burrard Inlet. The bridge was low, and the bascule was built near the south shore in shallow water in order to eliminate the cost of constructing two expensive towers for a lift span, against the recommendations of shipping experts. On April 23, 1928 the S.S. Norwich City struck the Second Narrows bridge. It was the 18th major bridge mishap in the bridge’s three year existence. The S.S. Norwich City was taken to the Burrard Dry Dock Company, where repairs and painting were completed.
SS Norwich City’s Stranding on Gardner
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In Melbourne, Vic., Australia, the S.S. Norwich City off-loaded her cargo of coal for the Metropolitan Gas Company and with its crew of four officers and 31 men, departed for Vancouver, B.C., Canada via Honolulu on November 17, 1929. Steaming in ballast and nearing the halfway point en-route to Honolulu, the S.S. Norwich City encountered a cyclonic weather disturbance with powerful Westerly winds and heavy seas. Strong unexpected currents had set the vessel off its course. Powell Ref Tighar Shortly after 11:00 p.m. on the night of November 29, 1929 in near total darkness, torrential rain, high winds, and heavy seas, the S.S. Norwich City slammed up on the fringing reef of Gardner Island. Link to Tighar
Captain Daniel Hamer had the bridge watch. The order was given to don life jackets and prepare the lifeboats, as he and the officers conducted an assessment of the damage and made soundings around the ship--hoping that daylight would offer the opportunity to “let her off”. Lightning, heavy rain, and high winds, made radio communications difficult for wireless operator Clark; after three hours, contact was made with Apia, Western Samoa.
At 4:00 a.m. smoke was seen coming from the engine room. The wireless operator continued at his post long enough to report the fire to Apia. Hamer’s later testimony painted a dramatic picture: Link“Fanned by the strong wind it wasn’t long before the vessel presented an alarming spectacle. Minor explosions were occurring at frequent intervals while the crew were engaged getting out lifeboats and lowering them to the rail.” After lowering the starboard boat to the gunwale, Captain Hamer and the Chief Officer went to the port boat to lower it when a wave slammed into the weather side of the ship, carrying the lifeboat away. Captain Hamer was then thrown into the sea 40 feet below and given up for lost. By 5:15 a.m. the Mate orderd the starboard life boat lowered with the remaining crew aboard it. When they were ready to “let go” the lines, the lifeboat was swept aft under the quarter and immediately capsized by a wave.
At 6:00 a.m. in Apia’s harbor, John Harry Swindell, Master of the S.S. Trongate, received the harbormaster aboard the ship and was ordered to raise steam. His Excellency, Administrator Allen of Western Samoa gave instructions to proceed to Gardner Island in the Phoenix Group and render assistance to the stranded vessel. With a Government guarantee, the S.S. Trongate was provisioned and a 19 foot whale boat with a six man native crew was brought aboard.
On the Gardner reef, the crew members of the S.S. Norwich City were repeatedly swept out to sea, then tumbled through the surf onto the reef, and swept back again for what seemed an eternity. Eleven men drowned or fell victim to the large number of sharks that gathered. One by one, including Captain Hamer, the survivors found their way across the reef to the shore. Four men were trapped under the overturned life boat. Three survived after the bottom was cut out of the boat to free them.
Sometime after daybreak Saturday morning, both lifeboats and most of the equipment had washed ashore. Provisions were gathered up and a camp was established about 100 yards into the brush to offer protection from the continuing rain and wind. After resting for a while, parties were dispatched to search for water. At noon the survivors had their first ration: a half tin of milk, water and biscuits with corned beef. Later Saturday afternoon, the rain eased some and a fire was started after several attempts.
In Apia, at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Captain Swindell commanded “Proceed Norwich City”, and by 2:00 p.m. the S.S. Trongate left Apia Harbor “Full Away”.
Three crewmen whose bodies washed ashore on Gardner Island were buried; the steward first, the fireman who was trapped under the lifeboat was buried toward evening, and later, the carpenter. The remainder of the eleven men lost were never found.
Sunday was a showery day, but with more sun than was wanted. The ponds of rainwater were quickly drying up, though a three week supply had been stored in the lifeboats’ tanks. In the morning an issue of water was given, and the camp was moved. Parties were dispatched to look for water and coconuts and the remainder worked on building a camp shelter. Upon return of the parties, rations were issued: biscuit, meat, diluted milk, and “coconut for dessert”.
On Monday the S.S. Trongate made contact with the Norwegian tanker, M/T Lincoln Ellsworth, and they made arrangements to rendezvous at Gardner Island at first light the following morning.
Survivors took to the beach at daybreak Monday to look for ships. None were sighted. The long day ended with evening rations, and a hope that the following day would see their rescue.
At dawn on Tuesday several men went to the beach to look for ships, but seeing none, returned to camp. An issue of milk and a biscuit was made, before several men walked to the other side of the island. Two ships were then spotted which came around to the wreck side of the island: one from the north and one from the south. Everyone gathered on the beach as the M/T Lincoln Ellsworth lowered a motor boat, and the S.S. Trongate lowered the whale boat from her aft deck.
On the night of Friday, 29th November 1929, whilst on passage from Melbourne to Vancouver, the SS Norwich City was wrecked on Gardner Island, with the loss of 11 lives.