Wavelet Gallery

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.

This company was formed by David and William Thomas Needham when, in 1903, William Gray built the steamship Mariner for them. In 1890 their father Thomas, a shipwright, had shares in several local ships and in 1892, David, a clerk of 22, York Road, West Hartlepool, had shares in Coverdale's ship Mennythorpe.

Their office in 1914 was in Exeter Street and all four of the ships that they owned were built by William Gray, three being built for them and the fourth, the Cresswell, being purchased from Jones & Prosser, of London. She was renamed Rivulet but did not serve the company for very long as she was lost in December 1914.

The other three ships also became war losses, though by then they had been sold to other owners. With the sale of the Brooklet in 1915, no doubt at an advantageous price, the company ceased shipowning. At that time their address was 36 Exeter Street, West Hartlepool.

Compiled by Mr. Bert Spaldin.

Family History:

William Thomas Needham was born at Hartlepool on 27 April 1859 to parents Thomas, a shipwright, and Elizabeth (nee Spence). William married Sarah Harrison in 1887. By 1901 the family were living at 18 York Road.

William died at Hartlepool aged 75 on 5 May 1934 leaving effects of £1,085.

David Needham was born at Hartlepool in 1867 to parents Thomas, a shipwright, and Elizabeth (nee Spence). David married Mary Ward at Sedgefield in 1893. By 1911 the family were living in Park Road, Hartlepool.

David died at Hartlepool aged 60 on 17 February 1927 leaving effects of £29,103.

Owners: 1905 Needham Bros, West Hartlepool: 1915 C. Salvesen & Co, West Hartlepool.

Masters: 1905-09 EB Sanderson: 1915 Jenkins Jones, b.1874 Aberaeron: 1911-15 EB Sanderson: 1916 A Hall: 1916 Daniel Cole.

On a voyage from Pensacola for Leith with a cargo of pitch pine Wavelet was mined 11 miles off the Goodwins. 12 lives lost.

The Times 16 February 1915:
‘Bound from Pensacola for Leith with a cargo of timber Wavelet was mined off Kentish Knock on the afternoon of Saturday 13 February 1915. As it appeared that she would founder the 1^st officer & 10 of the crew got into one of the ship’s boats. The small boat capsized in the heavy seas & the 11 occupants were drowned in sight of their comrades who were powerless to help. 12 others, including the stoker & the engineer, who got into a second boat were picked up on Sunday evening by the Arrosoto of Hull who landed them at Ramsgate when they were sent on to Deal. The master, Trinity House pilot, Curtice, & a few of the crew remained on board the Wavelet &, although she was badly damaged & taking in water, after a two hour battle they managed to run her ashore at Pegwell Bay a mile north of Deal. The pilot was praised for his actions & it was reported that immediately after the explosion he calmly lit his pipe which seemed to inspire the crew with confidence.’

A passenger named Shepherd, who joined the vessel in the USA, was missing & it was thought that a South Shields man Samuel Field may also be missing but this was unconfirmed. The vessel was later refloated & repaired.

Lives lost February 1915: Arnold, George, (served as Bellas) sailor, 37, b. Sunderland, resided South Shields; Goldencrown, Lewis, steward, 57, b. Copenhagen; Fasaulus, Stephanis, fireman, 33, b. Syria, Greece; Gannon, Christopher, donkeyman, 53, b. Co. Sligo; Hill, John, sailor, 42, b. Belfast; Jones, Jenkins, 1^st mate, 40, Aberayron, Cardiganshire; Jones, John, fireman, 43, b. Leith, resided South Shields; Mawbray, Alfred, 3^rd engineer, 18, b. Grangetown, Yorks.; Ness, Nils A, able seaman, 22, b. Frederickstad, Norway; Windle, James, fireman, 24, South Shields; Wordingham, Thomas, fireman, 26, b. Sunderland, resided South Shields.

Survivors February 1915:

Cole, Daniel, master, Ripon

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer, Tuesday, February 16^th, 1915:
WEST HARTLEPOOL STEAMER MINED OFF KENT. VESSEL DAMAGED AND BEACHED. SUPPOSED LOSS OF THIRTEEN LIVES.
The steamer Wavelet, of West Hartlepool, from Pensacola to Leith, laden with timber, has been damaged, it is supposed by a stray mine. As the vessel appeared likely to founder at any moment, the first officer and a number of the crew got into one of the ship’s boats, but owing to a heavy gale and rough seas it capsized, and all the were drowned. The captain, pilot, and the remainder of the ship’s crew remained on the vessel. Although the Wavelet was making water, they managed to run her ashore. Yesterday morning, Mrs. Clarke, of South Shields, wife of the boatswain of the Wavelet, received a telegram, handed in at Dover, saying: “Ship mined. Survivors landed Deal.” It appears, on inquiry from the owners, Messrs. Needham Bros., of West Hartlepool, that the vessel, which was from Pensacola for Leith, with timber, and was of 2.992 tons register, was mined off the Kentish Knock. Finding the ship was rapidly sinking, the master put on full steam and beached her.
The owners state that eleven of the crew are missing, besides a passenger named Shepherd, who joined the vessel in the United States. There is reason to believe, however, that a South Shields passenger named Samuel Field is among the missing. A letter has been received by his mother, posted at Brixham on Saturday, where the vessel called for bunkers, stating that he was coming home with the Wavelet, having joined her Pensacola, where he was in hospital.
The Wavelet was commanded by Captain Daniel Cole, of Ripon, who is notified as one of those saved, and the missing, besides Shepherd, are given as;— Jones, chief mate, Cardiff; A. Maybray, third engineer, Teesside; G. Crown, steward; Hill, Ness, and Bellis, able seamen; Jones, Windle, and Sasualas, firemen; and Gannon, donkeyman. Most of the men reside in the Shields district. The saved, besides Captain Cole, are:—W. Maybray, chief engineer; B. Buckingham, second mate; I. Storey, second engineer; C. Metcalf, cook; H. Clarke, boatswain; G. Hunte, mess-room steward; A. McNabb and E. Hubbard, firemen; A. Fulton, J. Carlson, and W. Wilson, able seamen. Captain D. Cole was seen on his ship yesterday by our correspondent. In the opinion Captain Cole and others on board, the damage was done by a mine. For a length of 30ft. the ship’s side has been torn out to a height of 20ft., extending from the keel to about the water line. A huge portion the steel hull was hurled on deck, falling at the feet of the second mate, Buckingham, who only escaped death by inches. The chart house was completely wrecked, and the deck fittings demolished.
Captain Cole stated that the deck was strewn with pieces iron from the mine, and bolt heads and rivets from the damaged hull, whilst a huge column of water was thrown up by the explosion. There was second explosion, which damaged the propeller. It was first thought the ship’s bottom had been blown out, which accounted for the launching the boats, with the unfortunate loss of life. No was killed in the explosion. The damage was almost directly under the bridge, on which Captain Cole and Pilot Curtis were standing, and they were badly shaken.
The Wavelet, which was run ashore in Pegwell Bay on Satutday night, was floated, with the aid of a Dover Harbour tug, about high water mid-day yesterday, and anchored in the Downs. The lumber forming her cargo helped to keep the vessel afloat till she was beached, and now anchor she shows no perceptible list.

On 27 August 1916 bound from Narvik to the Tees with a cargo of iron-ore Wavelet was wrecked near Bjugna Rock, Norway.