| Summary : 1917 wreck of Scottish schooner, also described as a ketch, which foundered 8 miles NE of Pendeen Lighthouse, after being shelled, then captured by UC-51 and scuttled with charges, while bound from Runcorn for Dieppe with coal. She was the third of five small sailing vessels to be sunk that day, preceded by the MOSS ROSE (906461) and MARY SEYMOUR (906458), and followed by the WATER LILY (1109048), and JANE WILLIAMSON (906459). UC-51 would herself be lost in November 1917 but there are variant reports of her last resting place (929128 account of wreck event; 832137 possible remains).Constructed of wood in 1868 on an iron frame with galvanised iron bolts, i.e. composite construction, the MARY ORR was a sailing vessel. |
More information : Primary Sources:
MARY ORR, schooner, 84 tons, built at Glasgow 1868, on an iron frame with galvanised iron bolts; details as she appeared in Lloyd's Register 1869-70. Dimensions 81.8ft x 20.7ft x 9.7ft. (6)
10-SEP-1917: MARY ORR, British sailing vessel of 91 tons, sunk by submarine 8 miles N by E of Pendeen lighthouse, bound from Runcorn for Dieppe with coal. (4)
Secondary Sources:
10-SEP-1917: MARY ORR, British sailing vessel, was captured and then sunk by bombs, 8 miles N by E from Pendeen lighthouse. (1)
10-SEP-1917: Following delays due to bad weather at New Ferry and Holyhead, this schooner arrived late off Trevose Head and unfortunately encountered a German submarine in the process of sinking another schooner, the MOSS ROSE at 10.30am. Without attempting to escape, the crew of the MARY ORR abandoned their vessel at 11am and from the safety of their boat watched the same enemy vessel sink another sailing ship, the MARY SEYMOUR. The submarine then turned its attention to the empty MARY ORR and fired several shells into her before boarding and placing a scuttling charge. She then called the boat containing the crew of the MARY ORR alongside, towed them to the WATER LILY, which was lying about a mile away, and took off her crew before sinking that sailing vessel as well. The survivors were then towed by the Belgian SS ADOUR to St. Ives. (2)(5)
Described as a ketch. (2)(5)
10-SEP-1917. MARY ORR, 91 tons, stopped and sunk by UC-51 8 miles N x E of Pendeen Lighthouse, in position 50 18N 005 40W, while bound from Runcorn for Dieppe with coal. This source states that MARY ORR was the last vessel sunk by UC-51 on this date; crew saved by U-boat and towed to WATER LILY. (7)
Built: 1868 (2)(5)(6)(7)
Builder: C. Connell and Co. (2)(5)(6); Charles Connell & Co. (7)
Where Built: Glasgow (2)(5)(6); Scotstoun (7)
Master: R Gill (2)(5)
Crew: 4 (2)(5)
Owner: Marwood and Co. (2)(5)(7), Glasgow (7)
Date of Loss Qualifier: Actual date of loss
Additional sources cited in Shipwreck Index of the British Isles:
N11.1917(ADM.137); LR 1917-18, No.311(M) |