SS Langton Grange (1896)

During the month of October 1899, following her arrival in Australia, Langton Grange continued unloading her cargo at ports of Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. After several delays, the steamer took on board 2,500 cases of preserved meat, 688 horses and the remaining 60 men of the N.S.W. Mounted Rifles in addition to cargo of frozen meat bound for London, and departed Newcastle on November 15. After arrival in South Africa, the Imperial Government bought out the whole frozen meat cargo of the vessel as provision for the army.[10]

In January 1901 the steamer headed from South Africa to Buenos Aires to bring more horses for the army, however, her charter was cancelled, and she sailed from La Plata to England.

Upon arrival in England from South America, Langton Grange was again chartered by the American & Australian Line and left London for New York via Liverpool on April 5, 1901. After loading her cargo, consisting among other things of 50,375 cases of kerosene, and a large number of steel rails, the vessel sailed from New York on May 25 and reached Adelaide on July 27. She encountered some rough weather on her way on July 10 flooding her passenger accommodations and stokehole and injuring 3 crew members. She made two more trips from Australia to Durban, in September 1901 and March 1902, carrying horses and provisions for the British army in an unofficial capacity, before returning to London on June 3, 1902. On leaving Broadmount on the night of February 23, 1902 the ship went aground on Mackenzie Island but was subsequently able to refloat herself without suffering any damage.[13]

After the end of hostilities in South Africa, Langton Grange returned to her usual commercial activity. On December 16, 1902 while entering the port of Durban on her voyage from Buenos Aires with a cargo of frozen meat, she struck on breakwater and damaged her forehold and was brought into port with eight feet of water inside.[14] Her cargo was transferred to steamer SS Maori King while she underwent temporary repairs and left Durban on December 23 for Buenos Aires.

During 1903 and through the first half of 1904 the ship continued carrying frozen meat and produce between Buenos Aires and South African ports. On June 2, 1904, while at Buenos Aires, the coal in her No. 9 hold got hot and about 300 tons of it had to be unloaded, but the vessel sustained no damage. Langton Grange proceeded then to Liverpool and arrived there on July 19. After undergoing permanent repairs, she left Newport on October 2 to resume her trade. Once in Buenos Aires she took on board 100 Shorthorn bulls, 500 sheep and around 1,000 mules and horses and departed for South Africa on December 13.[15] While in Cape Town she loaded both damaged and undamaged cargo from SS Buteshire, including 1,700 tons of rails and 2,000 tons of agricultural machinery, and sailed for Australia on February 26, 1905.[16] She arrived at Melbourne on March 24, then continued to New Zealand where the vessel discharged most of her cargo. Subsequently, the ship was chartered by the Japanese Government to carry horses to Hong Kong and arrived in Sydney on April 27, and continued to Townsville for loading. She finished loading 1,093 horses on May 11 and departed the next day. Instead of Hong Kong, she unloaded her cargo at Ujina and departed for her return trip to Australia on June 6 carrying on board 56 officers and crew of steamer SS Courtfield. As Japan was at war with Russia at the time, the cargo may have been considered contraband had the ship run into a Russian navy ship on her journey.

For the remainder of 1905 and through early 1908 Langton Grange continued mostly trade on the New York-Australia-England route under auspices of American & Australian Line, carrying general cargo from North America, and frozen meat and produce, wool and other general cargo from Australia. From 1908 the vessel returned to England-Australia via South Africa route carrying the same type of cargo.

Langton Grange left Liverpool for her final voyage on February 6, 1909 and reached Melbourne on March 26. She carried a large cargo for New Zealand and almost 250 immigrants for Australia. After disembarking her passengers and unloading part of her cargo in Australian ports, she continued to New Zealand and arrived at Auckland on April 7. The ship then spent more than two months unloading her cargo and loading a cargo of frozen meat, cereals and other general cargo at various ports of New Zealand before departing Lyttleton on May 31 for Avonmouth. After a long but uneventful journey the vessel arrived at her destination on July 16. After discharging part of her cargo, she proceeded first to Liverpool and then to Glasgow arriving there on August 1.

Langton Grange departed Glasgow for Newport in ballast around 01:00 on August 4, 1909. She was under command of captain F. Ashley Graves and had a crew of 54. At 04:00 she dropped off a pilot at Greenock and proceeded south at full speed. The weather was hazy and the captain set the course straight for the South Bishop Lighthouse. At about 01:20 on August 5 the Strumble Head Lighthouse was sighted on the port side. Recognizing that the vessel was heading too far into Cardigan Bay, the captain altered the course, but the haze soon masked the lighthouse and no more adjustments were possible. Using his observations and estimating the speed of the steamer to be 13 knots, captain Graves calculated the ship's distance from the lighthouse to be around 5 1/2 miles, which given the conditions was mostly likely erroneous. At around 02:15, soon after spotting the South Bishop Lighthouse, the vessel struck submerged Bell Rock, just off North Bishop Island and got stranded. The ship started leaking immediately, and her No. 1, No.2 and No.3 holds, stokehold and engine room quickly filled with water. At about 08:00 a lifeboat came by from St David's offering assistance and inquiring about the well-being of the crew, but the captain declined the help at that time.[17] Steamer SS Sussex arrived at the scene at approximately 14:00 and took on board 31 crew members and delivered them to Fishguard in the evening.

On August 6 the situation deteriorated, as the vessel started to break up amidships. In addition, hold No.5 had also filled with water, and No. 4 hold started filling up. Another steamer, SS Vigilant came by and took the remaining 22 men including the captain and landed them safely onshore on August 7 when it became clear the ship cannot be saved. The next day the after body sank about 6 feet and salvage attempts commenced. On August 9 the vessel developed a list to starboard and showed more signs of breaking up. Finally, on August 10 the ship parted just in front of boiler space with after body sinking, and the fore part staying up horizontally. The salvors removed gear that could be saved and returned to Milford.[18]

An inquiry into the wrecking was held on September 18–20, 1909 and the court found the captain was at fault for relying too much on the approximate distance from the Strumble Head Light, which likely was inaccurate in a foggy weather at the time of disaster. Additionally, the captain tried to navigate a fine course without regard to the strong tides and currents present in the area. Captain Graves was severely censured but did not lose his license.[19]