Haslingden Technical Specification

In this section you will find information, photographs and stories relating to more than 260 Hartlepool seamen who lost their lives during during the First World War, and of the ships they served on.
To find a particular crewman, simply type his Surname in the Search Box at the top of the page.

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.

Steamship Haslingden.

Official No. 102725: Code Letters NSHT.

Masters: 1895-1901 J Diggins: 1902-17 C Willis: 1917 JC Nisbet: 1918 H Johns.

Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail – 28^th March, 1895
THE s.s. HASLINGDEN. TRIAL TRIP. On Tuesday, the s.s. Haslingden went on her trial trip. She is a steel screw-steamer of the following dimensions: Length overall, 280ft.; breadth, 37ft.; and depth, 20ft. She has been built by Messrs Wm. Gray and Co., Limited, to the order Messrs Murrell and Yeoman of West Hartlepool, and takes Lloyd's highest class. The deck erections consist of poop, raised quarterdeck, long bridge, and topgallant forecastle. A handsome saloon, state room, and accommodation for captain and officers have been fitted up in the poop, and comfortable quarters for the engineers in the after end of the bridge and for the crew in the fore end of the bridge.
THE HULL is built with web frames, double bottom is fitted under each hold for water ballast, and there is also a large ballast tank in the after peak. Four steam winches, donkey boiler, steam steering gear amidships, screw steering gear aft, patent windlass, schooner rig, boats on beams overhead, and all modern appliances have been fitted. The engines are of the triple-expansion type, working on three cranks, they have been supplied by the Central Marine Engine Works of Messrs Wm. Gray and Co. The cylinders are 20in., 31in., and 53in. in diameter, and the piston stroke 36in. The boilers, built of steel, are of large size, and give an ample supply of steam at a working pressure of 160lbs. per square ins.
The vessel proceeded about noon into the Hartlepool Bay, and after Mr Berry had carefully adjusted the compasses, the engines were put full speed ahead, running at about eighty revolutions per minute, the vessel making about 11½ knots per hour. Everything in the engine-room ran exceedingly well, the boilers giving an ample head of steam, and no trouble was experienced of any kind. The engine-room is fitted out with several of the specialities now so well known in connection with the Central Marine engines, the tail shaft being fitted with the patent shaft preserver, and the high pressure piston rod and spindles with Messrs Mudd and Airey's metallic packing. Mudd’s patent evaporator was also provided for supplying supplementary feed, and the engines are in every respect fully up the best practice the day. Capt. J. Murrell and Mr F. Yeoman, the managing owners, were on board to witness the trial, as was also Mr. G. T. Younghusband, their superintendent engineer, under whose supervision the vessel and her machinery have been constructed. There was also on board a party of ladies, including Mrs. Younghusband, Miss Yeoman, Miss Thistle, and others, who greatly enjoyed the fine weather trip to Middlesbrough, to which port the vessel was taken immediately on the conclusion of the trial to load her first cargo. There were also on board Mark Harrison, Mr Whyte, Mr. Brydon jun., Mr Yeoman, jun., and several other visitors. Mr. T. Mudd represented the engine builders.

Aberdeen Evening Express – 29^th May, 1916
Metal Stealing Aberdeen Harbour. "AN UGLY OFFENCE." POLICE HAVE ANOTHER NAME FOR GENERAL DEALERS. " This is an ugly kind of offence," was the comment of Sheriff Young at Aberdeen to-day on the case of James Burnett, general dealer, 155 a Gallowgate, who pleaded guilty to having stolen four zinc boiler plates from the West Hartlepool steamer Haslingden. He admitted a number of previous convictions, the last in 1899.
Without Authority. Mr R. Mackay, solicitor, on behalf of accused, stated that on Saturday Burnett was carrying metal with another man when a detective came upon them, and asked where they had got it. They told the detective, who asked if they were sure the party had the right to sell it, and accused, apparently thinking that all was right, said he got four zinc plates from the same man. Police inquiries led to the discovery that the plates were given without authority. They paid the man 7s and sold the plates for 15s 6d.
Had Done His Bit. Accused served in the Army for seven years, being discharged medically unfit, and with a very good character. On the outbreak of the war joined the Royal Field Artillery, and served until discharged. Subsequently he entered the Royal Naval Reserve, and served there until again discharged. He resumed his former occupation of general dealer.
A Common Offence. Mr. T. Maclennan, procurator-fiscal, said that the man whom accused identified as the party who sold the plates denied the transaction. This form of offence was very common about harbour at the beginning of the war. The police had a different name for "general dealers”. Respectable men were induced to sell quantities scrap metal which they had no business to sell, and got into trouble. The plates were valued at £2. The Sheriff remarked that a point be considered was the fact that it was 16 years since accused had been trouble. It was ugly kind of offence, consisting in approaching men in subordinate positions in connection with vessels and obtaining possession of property, knowing full well that they had no right to part with the articles. The sentence would be 30 days’ imprisonment.

Haslingden Yardbook pages.

Francis Yeoman started out as a clerk in the firm of his uncle, Sherinton Foster, who, as well as being a shipbroker and shipowner was also a master mariner. Francis eventually became a partner and the company became Foster & Yeoman. On his uncle's death he took over the business. A partnership was then formed between Joseph Murrell & Francis Yeoman in 1881. When the partnership was dissolved the company became J.H. Murrell & Co. then J.E. Murrell & Co. and lastly Murrell S.S. Co. Ltd.

The directors of the company in 1945 were Arthur George Murrell F.I.C.S. and Edwin Joseph Murrell F.I.C.S.

Sherinton Foster had shares in the following Hartlepool registered vessels; brig Regent from 1848 to 1851 and was master in 1848; snow Glide from 1851 to January 1854 and was master during those years; snow Bride of Abydos from March 1852 to December 1854 and was master in 1854 when she was wrecked; barque Civility from 1853 to 1859 and was master in 1855; brigantine Naiad in 1859; barque Ken in 1862.

Family History:

Sherinton Foster was born on 25^th March 1815 at Scarborough.  He married Isabella Dunovell in 1838. Sherinton received his Master’s Certificate of Service No. 39180 in March, 1850. Prior to this he had sailed as master on four vessels including the Regent of Hartlepool in 1847. By 1851 Sherinton and his wife were living in Hartlepool and in the 1861 census Frances Yeoman, their nephew was living with them. Isabella died aged 70 at Hartlepool in July 1882.

Sherinton died aged 71 on 20^th September 1886 leaving effects of £132.

Obituary in Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail – Wednesday 8 September 1886.

Our readers will learn with regret of the death of Mr Sherinton Foster, a gentleman well known in the Hartlepools for the best of the half-century.  Formerly a master mariner and afterwards a shipowner, Mr Foster relinquished his position as a merchant in this port to devote the remainder of his life to the work of religion in which he had long taken an active interest. Droll but telling were his discourses to Methodist audiences at Hartlepool. “Sherry Foster's Sermons" as they were familiarly spoken of will long be remembered by Hartlepool Methodists. Some four or five years ago he left the district, withdrew his interest in the firm of Foster and Yeoman, and joined General Booth as a staff officer of the Salvation Army. Though advanced in years, he proved a vigorous as well as a successful evangelist and, at the time of his death which occurred at Easingwold was seventy one years of age. Deceased was a native of Scarborough, and uncle of Mr Councillor Yeoman of Hartlepool.

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Francis Yeoman was born at Scarborough in 1849 to parents Margaret and Thomas.  Francis married Jane Ann Younghusband at Hartlepool in 1873. By the 1881 census the couple were living at Radcliffe Terrace with their three children. By the 1891 census they were living at Gainford House in Henry Smith Terrace with their six children.

Francis died at Hartlepool aged 66 on 28 April 1914 leaving effects of £20,832.

Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough  - Wednesday 29 April 1914.

‘HARTLEPOOL SHIPOWNER’S DEATH. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE LATE MR FRANCIS YEOMAN, J.P. By the death of Mr Francis Yeoman, J.P., the Hartlepools have lost one of their best known and most respected citizens. Over a fortnight ago he was seized with illness whilst on the Hartlepool Golf Links, and since then his condition had caused grave anxiety. He passed away last night at his residence, Gainford House, Hartlepool. Mr Yeoman was a native of Scarborough, and at an early age entered the office of his uncle, Mr Sheridan Foster, who carried on business as a ship broker and insurance agent on the Town Wall, Hartlepool. In due course he was admitted into partnership, and on the death of his uncle continued the business on his own account. Upon the transition of the sailing ship, Mr Yeoman directed his attention to steamship chartering and share brokering, and in 1882 he joined his brother-in-law, Mr J. E. Murrell, as a steamship owner, under the style of Messrs Murrell and Yeoman. The partnership was dissolved in 1900, and the business was continued by Mr Yeoman. In 1886 he was elected secretary of the Hartlepools Shipowners’ Society, and was the district secretary of the Shipping Federation in 1902. For some years Mr Yeoman was a member the Hartlepool Town Council, and he was also a Justice the Peace for the borough. He took a deep interest in religious work. He was a charter member the “James Rewcastle” Lodge of the Independent Order of Good Templars; and for many years treasurer of St. Mark's United Methodist Church, of which he was a munificent supporter. In politics he was a staunch Liberal, and was one of the vice-presidents of the Hartlepools Liberal Association. He was an ardent amateur photographer, and was president of the Hartlepool Amateur Photographic and Sketching Society. He was also an enthusiastic supporter of the Hartlepool Rovers Football Club, of which his sons have been prominent playing members. He was also a member of the Hartlepool Golf Club. Mr Yeoman was of a kind and genial disposition, and was held in very high esteem by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. He was 67 years of age, and leaves a widow, four sons, and two daughters, with whom the deepest sympathy is felt.

At the Hartlepool Police Court this morning Councillor W. Scott Gibb (the presiding magistrate) referred to the great loss the Bench had sustained by the death of Mr Yeoman. He was sure that all his colleagues would bear him out when said that Mr Yeoman always tempered justice with mercy. On behalf of the Bench, Councillor Gibb expressed their deep sympathy with the widow and family of the late Mr Yeoman in their sad bereavement. Mr A. Belk (magistrates’ clerk) associated himself on behalf of the officials of the court with the expression of sympathy and regret, and said no one could be more deeply sensible of the less which the Bench had sustained than the officials, because of the kind consideration always shown to them by Mr Yeoman in the carrying out of their duties.’

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John Henry Murrell was born on 14 February 1837 at Wivenhoe, Essex to parents William and Eliza. He began his working life as an errand boy to a Hosier and then moved on to become a clothier. John married Elizabeth Bainbridge in 1859 at Hartlepool. By 1881 he was listed in the census as a Draper. By 1891 he had become a shipowner and on the census the family were living at Highfield House, Stranton. One of their sons, John William Percy, was listed as a shipowner’s clerk.

John was a partner in the firm of J.H. Murrell & Sons of Cardiff which was managed by his son Cecil.

John died aged 55 at Hartlepool on 8 January 1893 leaving effects of £9908.

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Joseph Edward Murrell was born 1837 at Wivenhoe, Essex to parents William and Eliza. He received his mate’s certificate No. 18784 in 1858.  Joseph married Mary Younghusband at Hartlepool in 1863 and by 1881 the couple were living at South Crescent with their two sons and two daughters. By the 1891 census they had two sons and six daughters. By the time of the 1901 census the family were living at Clifton Avenue.

Joseph died aged 80 at Hartlepool on 21 February 1919 leaving effects of £81,550.

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Edwin Joseph Murrell was born on 21 May 1881 at Hartlepool and by the time of the 1901 census he was listed as a shipowner’s clerk. In the 1911 census he was listed as a clerk and shipowner. He married Kathleen Cooper in 1915. Edwin served on the President 11 from 2 August 1917 to 31 March 1918.

Edwin died aged 81 at Hartlepool General Hospital on 8 April 1962 leaving effects of £124,036. His wife, Kathleen, died in 1935.

The photographs in this Gallery feature in the “Heroism & Heartbreak” talking history ‘Of Ships and Men – Haslingden, Kalo, Snowdon Range’. They have been kindly shared with this project by Mr. Harold Appleyard and Hartlepool Borough Council’s Library and Museums Services. If you have any further information about these ships or their crews and would like to share it with us, then please contact us at infodesk@hartlepool.gov.uk

The following information has been compiled by “Heroism & Heartbreak” Project Volunteers from a wide range of sources, including Lloyd’s Registers, the Miramar Ship Index (http://www.miramarshipindex.org.nz/), U-boat.net (http://www.uboat.net/), and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Tower Hill Memorial records (http://www.cwgc.org/). If you have any further information about these ships or their crews and would like to share it with us, then please contact us at infodesk@hartlepool.gov.uk

Of Ships and Men – Haslingden, Kalo, Snowdon Range

On May the 12^th, 1918, the small cargo steamer Haslingden was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine UB-21, when some 7 miles off Seaham Harbour. Built at the William Gray shipyard in 1895, this 2,000 ton well-deck steamship was owned by F. Yeoman & Sons, of West Hartlepool, and was sailing empty from Rouen to the Tyne to load a cargo of coal. Eleven of the crew were lost: 28-year old, 2^nd Engineer Edward Carroll who lived at No.17 Prissick Street, Hartlepool; John Lenney Bell; James Crawshaw; Robert Heugh; Cyril Reynolds Hunt; H. Johns; Harry Lyth; William Tucker; Thomas Walter Whitehurst; William Whitfield; William Thomas Wiles.

A month later another Gray-built ship was torpedoed and sunk, this time the small steamship Kalo. Built in 1903 as the Estonia for a Danish company, she was taken over by the British Government in 1917 and renamed. On June the 13^th, 1918, while on a voyage from Newcastle to Pauillac in France with a cargo of coal, she was torpedoed off Flamborough Head by the German submarine UB-107. 
Badly damaged and sinking, an armed trawler attempted to tow her towards the shore, but the Kalo quickly sank, going down in 100 feet of water. Three crewmen from the North-East were lost: Hartlepool-born 2^nd Engineer James Mann, who lived with his wife Florence Louisa at No.4 Friar Street, Hartlepool; and Firemen/Trimmers James Leask (born at South Shields), and William Rutley (born at Sunderland).

The four and a half thousand ton steamship Snowdon Range was a locally owned vessel belonging to the Neptune Steam Navigation Company, and managed by Furness Withy. The ship had been built in 1903 by Scott’s Shipbuilding & Engineering Company on the River Clyde and originally named Dalhanna, before being sold and renamed in 1915.
On the 28^th of March 1918, on a voyage from Philadelphia to Liverpool with general cargo and a consignment of explosives, she was torpedoed and sunk in the Irish Sea by the German submarine U-65. Four members of the crew were lost: 21-year old 4^th Engineer James Arthur Bowman, the son of John William and Elizabeth Bowman, who lived at No.8, Whitburn Street, West Hartlepool; and Firemen/Trimmers Saiyed Husain, Richard Keegan, and Robert Barbour Prentice.