Loch Bredan (barque)

Loch Bredan was a British sailing ship built in Glasgow in 1882 which disappeared without trace with all hands around November 1903.

History
Name: Loch Bredan
Owner: Sproat and Company Liverpool Line
Builder: Dobie & Company Govan, Yard No 121
Launched: 1882
In service: 1883
Fate: Lost at sea ca. November 1903
General characteristics
Class and type: Cargo
Tons burthen: 950 tons
Propulsion: Sail
Sail plan: 3-masted barque
Complement: 20 crew

History

The Loch Bredan was a steel-hulled barque of the "Loch" ships of the Sproat Line of Liverpool designed as an ocean-going cargo ship. She first arrived in Australia at Watson's Bay on 25 November 1891, having left Antwerp on 11 August under command of Captain R. Cumming.

In 1902 she was forced to return to port a fortnight after leaving Sydney on her return journey, having run into such severe weather that three lifeboats were smashed and the ship's galley stoved in.[1]

There were grave fears for the vessel's safety on her 1903 voyage from Liverpool to Hobart under Captain T Williams, as she appeared to be around two weeks overdue. Those fears were groundless, as she had been simply held up by unfavourable weather.[2]

Last voyage

She left Adelaide, South Australia in September 1903, having picked up a few crew and a cargo of compressed fodder.[3] She was never heard from again and no scrap of wreckage was ever found. The crew consisted of :— Thomas Williams (master), J. M. Scott (first mate), G. Howell (second mate), J. A. Gibbons (carpenter), C. L. Williams (sailmaker), W. Williams (cook and steward), A. Gaerkens, H. Skinner, D. Friel, T. Williams, T. T. Gunn, J. L. James, G. Hartfield, L. J. Monoghan, C. Burns, S.Thomas (boy). The captain's wife (Mrs. Williams) was also on the articles as stewardess. Five men: N. M. McKcnzie, F. Bucknall. R. Leppar, C. Nelson, joined the vessel at Port Adelaide.[4] F. Bucknall was the son of Frederick Estcourt Bucknall, a former parliamentarian, brewer and real estate developer who lost his fortune in a recent recession.

References
  1. "Twelve Days in a Terrific Gale". The North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times. Tas.: National Library of Australia. 28 May 1902. p. 3. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  2. "Arrival of the Loch Bredan". The Register. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 22 June 1903. p. 4. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  3. "Compressed Fodder Industry". Clarence and Richmond Examiner. Grafton, NSW: National Library of Australia. 8 March 1904. p. 3. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  4. "The Barque Loch Bredan". The Register. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 25 January 1904. p. 4. Retrieved 12 February 2013.

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