SS Sussex was a cross-Channelpassenger ferry, built in 1896 for the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LBSCR). After the LBSCR came to a co-operation agreement with the Compagnie des Chemins de Fer de l'État Français, she transferred to their fleet under a French flag. Sussex became the focus of an international incident when she was severely damaged by a torpedo from a German U-boat in 1916 and at least 50 passengers died. After the war she was repaired and sold to Greece in 1919, being renamed Aghia Sophia. Following a fire in 1921, the ship was scrapped.
Sussex at Boulogne after being torpedoed in March 1916. The entire forepart of the ship was destroyed in the attack.
History
Name
Sussex (1896–1920)
Aghia Sophia (1920–22)
Owner
London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (1896–1914)
Compagnie des Chemins de Fer de l'État Français (1914–1919)
D Demetriades (1919–22)
Operator
London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (1896–1917)
Built in 1896 by William Denny and Brothers of Dumbarton at a cost of UK£60,016 for the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway Company, with some participation of the French Compagnie des chemins de fer de l'Ouest (CF de l'Ouest) which had been operating the Newhaven-Dieppe service jointly since 1863.[1][2]Sussex was an almost exact replacement of the 1893-built Seaford, which sank in 1895 after collision with another LBSCR vessel, the cargo ship Lyon; in the light of that sinking, an extra watertight bulkhead was incorporated.[1][3]Sussex had a certified capacity of 750 passengers.[1]
Sussex was 275.0 ft (83.82 m) long, with a beam of 34.1 feet (10.39 m), depth of 14.0 feet (4.27 m) and draught of 9.9 feet (3.02 m). As built, she measured 1,117 GRT and 328 NRT. She was powered by two four-cylinder triple expansion steam engines made by Denny & Co, totalling 308 nhp or 4772 ihp, to give the required service speed of 20 knots (37 km/h).[4]Sussex was launched on 30 April 1896 by Viscountess Duncannon, whose husband was a director, and later chairman, of LBSCR.[2] The ferry undertook builders' trials on 10 and 14 July, achieving 20.4 knots (37.8 km/h), and was delivered on 18 July.[1][5]
History
Sussex served on the Newhaven - Dieppe route,[4] making her maiden voyage on 31 July 1896.[3]
In March 1912 she came to the assistance of the stricken P&O liner Oceana, which had been in collision with the 2850-ton German-registered 4 masted steel-barquePisagua and subsequently sank with the loss of 9 lives.[3] Replaced by the Paris on the Newhaven - Dieppe route in 1913, she was moved to Brighton to offer long day trip excursions, in competition with the White Funnel fleet paddle steamers of Bristol-based P and A Campbell.[3] However, this proved unlucrative, and she was laid up from the end of that season.[6] She was then sold in 1914 to the Compagnie des Chemins de Fer de l'État Français, remaining under the management of the LBSCR.[7]
World War I
During the First World War, shipping from Newhaven was diverted to operate from Folkestone in order to free Newhaven for supplying British troops on the Western Front.[6]
On 24 March 1916, Sussex was on a voyage from Folkestone to Dieppe when she was torpedoed by SM UB-29.[8] The ship was severely damaged, with the entire bow forward of the bridge blown off.[6] Some of the lifeboats were launched, but at least two of them capsized and many passengers were drowned.[9][10] Of the 53 crew and 325 passengers,[11] at least 50 were killed,[4] although a figure of between 80 and 100 is also suggested. Sussex remained afloat and was eventually towed stern-first into Boulogne harbour.[11]
The dead included the celebrated Spanish composer Enrique Granados, his wife Amparo,[12] a Persian prince, Bahram Mirza Sardar Mass'oud, and Irish tennis player Manliffe Goodbody. Vera Collum, returning to her hospital in France where she worked as a radiographer, was badly injured. Several Americans were injured, including Wilder Penfield, then a medical student at Oxford University and later an eminent neurosurgeon. His left leg was shattered by the blast, and Penfield required months of treatment and rehabilitation afterward.[13]
Although none of the 75 US citizens aboard were killed,[14] the incident enraged public opinion in the United States, and caused a heated diplomatic exchange between the US and German governments.[15] In May 1916, Germany issued a declaration, the so-called Sussex pledge, which effectively represented the suspension of the "intensified" U-boat campaign.[16]
Between 1 and 3 January 1917, HMS Duchess of Montrose, HMS Myrmidon, HMS Nepaulin, HMS Redcar, HMT Security assisted in the salvage of Sussex after she struck a mine near the West Dyck shoal on her way to Dunkirk, each ship receiving a portion of the salvage money.[17]Sussex remained in France, and was used by the Marine Nationale at Le Havre.
Post-World War I
Sussex was repaired in France post-war, and in 1920 was sold to D Demetriades, Piraeus, being renamed Aghia Sophia. She was scrapped in 1921 following damage sustained in a fire.[4]
References
^ abcdLyon, David John (1975). The Denny List: Part II. Greenwich: National Maritime Museum. p. 399.
^ ab"Launches and Trial Trips". Glasgow Herald. No. Year 114, No.105. 1 May 1896. p. 11. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
^ abcdLee, Tom. . Paddle Steamer Picture Gallery. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
^ abcd. Clydesite. Archived from the original on 31 May 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^"Launches and Trial Trips". Glasgow Herald. No. Year 114, No.171. 17 July 1896. p. 3. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
^ abcBailey, Peter (15 December 2005). "Torpedoed on the crossing to Dieppe". Sussex Express. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Sussex". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UB 29". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
^"Attack on the Sussex, March 24, 1916". US History. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
^Smith, Gordon. "ROYAL NAVY SHIPS RECEIVING NAVAL SALVAGE and PRIZE BOUNTY MONEY". Naval History. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
Sources
Bridgeland, Tony (2002). Outrage at Sea: Naval Atrocities in the First World War. Barnsley: Pen and Sword Books. ISBN0-85052-877-1.
External links
Media related to Sussex (ship, 1896) at Wikimedia Commons
January 03, 2023
sussex, cross, channel, passenger, ferry, built, 1896, london, brighton, south, coast, railway, lbscr, after, lbscr, came, operation, agreement, with, compagnie, chemins, État, français, transferred, their, fleet, under, french, flag, sussex, became, focus, in. SS Sussex was a cross Channel passenger ferry built in 1896 for the London Brighton and South Coast Railway LBSCR After the LBSCR came to a co operation agreement with the Compagnie des Chemins de Fer de l Etat Francais she transferred to their fleet under a French flag Sussex became the focus of an international incident when she was severely damaged by a torpedo from a German U boat in 1916 and at least 50 passengers died After the war she was repaired and sold to Greece in 1919 being renamed Aghia Sophia Following a fire in 1921 the ship was scrapped Sussex at Boulogne after being torpedoed in March 1916 The entire forepart of the ship was destroyed in the attack HistoryNameSussex 1896 1920 Aghia Sophia 1920 22 OwnerLondon Brighton and South Coast Railway 1896 1914 Compagnie des Chemins de Fer de l Etat Francais 1914 1919 D Demetriades 1919 22 OperatorLondon Brighton and South Coast Railway 1896 1917 Marine Nationale 1917 19 D Demetriades 1919 22 Port of registryNewhaven United Kingdom 1896 1914 Dieppe France 1914 19 Piraeus Greece 1919 22 RouteNewhaven Dieppe 1896 1914 Folkestone Dieppe 1914 16 BuilderWilliam Denny amp BrothersCostUK 60 016Yard number530Launched30 April 1896Completed17 July 1896Out of service1916 19IdentificationUK Official Number 105651FateDamaged by fire 1921 then scrappedGeneral characteristicsTypePassenger ferryTonnage1 117 GRT 328 NRTLength275 0 ft 83 82 m Beam34 1 ft 10 39 m Draught9 9 ft 3 02 m Depth14 0 ft 4 27 m Installed powerTwo 4 cylinder triple expansion steam enginesPropulsionTwin propellorsSpeed20 5 knots 38 0 km h Capacity750 passengersCrew32 crewSussex in the English Channel Contents 1 Description and construction 2 History 2 1 World War I 2 2 Post World War I 3 References 4 Sources 5 External linksDescription and construction EditBuilt in 1896 by William Denny and Brothers of Dumbarton at a cost of UK 60 016 for the London Brighton and South Coast Railway Company with some participation of the French Compagnie des chemins de fer de l Ouest CF de l Ouest which had been operating the Newhaven Dieppe service jointly since 1863 1 2 Sussex was an almost exact replacement of the 1893 built Seaford which sank in 1895 after collision with another LBSCR vessel the cargo ship Lyon in the light of that sinking an extra watertight bulkhead was incorporated 1 3 Sussex had a certified capacity of 750 passengers 1 Sussex was 275 0 ft 83 82 m long with a beam of 34 1 feet 10 39 m depth of 14 0 feet 4 27 m and draught of 9 9 feet 3 02 m As built she measured 1 117 GRT and 328 NRT She was powered by two four cylinder triple expansion steam engines made by Denny amp Co totalling 308 nhp or 4772 ihp to give the required service speed of 20 knots 37 km h 4 Sussex was launched on 30 April 1896 by Viscountess Duncannon whose husband was a director and later chairman of LBSCR 2 The ferry undertook builders trials on 10 and 14 July achieving 20 4 knots 37 8 km h and was delivered on 18 July 1 5 History EditSussex served on the Newhaven Dieppe route 4 making her maiden voyage on 31 July 1896 3 In March 1912 she came to the assistance of the stricken P amp O liner Oceana which had been in collision with the 2850 ton German registered 4 masted steel barque Pisagua and subsequently sank with the loss of 9 lives 3 Replaced by the Paris on the Newhaven Dieppe route in 1913 she was moved to Brighton to offer long day trip excursions in competition with the White Funnel fleet paddle steamers of Bristol based P and A Campbell 3 However this proved unlucrative and she was laid up from the end of that season 6 She was then sold in 1914 to the Compagnie des Chemins de Fer de l Etat Francais remaining under the management of the LBSCR 7 World War I Edit During the First World War shipping from Newhaven was diverted to operate from Folkestone in order to free Newhaven for supplying British troops on the Western Front 6 On 24 March 1916 Sussex was on a voyage from Folkestone to Dieppe when she was torpedoed by SM UB 29 8 The ship was severely damaged with the entire bow forward of the bridge blown off 6 Some of the lifeboats were launched but at least two of them capsized and many passengers were drowned 9 10 Of the 53 crew and 325 passengers 11 at least 50 were killed 4 although a figure of between 80 and 100 is also suggested Sussex remained afloat and was eventually towed stern first into Boulogne harbour 11 The dead included the celebrated Spanish composer Enrique Granados his wife Amparo 12 a Persian prince Bahram Mirza Sardar Mass oud and Irish tennis player Manliffe Goodbody Vera Collum returning to her hospital in France where she worked as a radiographer was badly injured Several Americans were injured including Wilder Penfield then a medical student at Oxford University and later an eminent neurosurgeon His left leg was shattered by the blast and Penfield required months of treatment and rehabilitation afterward 13 Although none of the 75 US citizens aboard were killed 14 the incident enraged public opinion in the United States and caused a heated diplomatic exchange between the US and German governments 15 In May 1916 Germany issued a declaration the so called Sussex pledge which effectively represented the suspension of the intensified U boat campaign 16 Between 1 and 3 January 1917 HMS Duchess of Montrose HMS Myrmidon HMS Nepaulin HMS Redcar HMT Security assisted in the salvage of Sussex after she struck a mine near the West Dyck shoal on her way to Dunkirk each ship receiving a portion of the salvage money 17 Sussex remained in France and was used by the Marine Nationale at Le Havre Post World War I Edit Sussex was repaired in France post war and in 1920 was sold to D Demetriades Piraeus being renamed Aghia Sophia She was scrapped in 1921 following damage sustained in a fire 4 References Edit a b c d Lyon David John 1975 The Denny List Part II Greenwich National Maritime Museum p 399 a b Launches and Trial Trips Glasgow Herald No Year 114 No 105 1 May 1896 p 11 Retrieved 6 August 2020 a b c d Lee Tom TSS Sussex Paddle Steamer Picture Gallery Archived from the original on 10 June 2015 Retrieved 5 August 2020 a b c d Launched 1886 ss SUSSEX Clydesite Archived from the original on 31 May 2012 Retrieved 5 August 2020 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint unfit URL link Launches and Trial Trips Glasgow Herald No Year 114 No 171 17 July 1896 p 3 Retrieved 8 August 2020 a b c Bailey Peter 15 December 2005 Torpedoed on the crossing to Dieppe Sussex Express Retrieved 30 December 2010 Helgason Gudmundur Ships hit during WWI Sussex German and Austrian U boats of World War I Kaiserliche Marine Uboat net Retrieved 30 December 2010 Helgason Gudmundur WWI U boats UB 29 German and Austrian U boats of World War I Kaiserliche Marine Uboat net Retrieved 30 December 2010 Bridgeland 2002 p 82 Lyn MacDonald The Roses of No Man s Land London Macmillan 1980 pp 139 143 a b une torpille allemande qui va changer la face du monde in French Saint Sevin Retrieved 30 December 2010 Enrique Granados Sprachcaffe Retrieved 30 December 2010 Penfield Wilder 1977 No Man Alone A Neurosurgeon s Life p 36 Little Brown and Company Toronto ISBN 0 316 69839 3 Macdonald p 139 Bridgeland 2002 pp 89 98 Attack on the Sussex March 24 1916 US History Retrieved 30 December 2010 Smith Gordon ROYAL NAVY SHIPS RECEIVING NAVAL SALVAGE and PRIZE BOUNTY MONEY Naval History Retrieved 30 December 2010 Sources EditBridgeland Tony 2002 Outrage at Sea Naval Atrocities in the First World War Barnsley Pen and Sword Books ISBN 0 85052 877 1 External links Edit Media related to Sussex ship 1896 at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title SS Sussex amp oldid 1126273181, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
