Saturday 2 December 2023

South Africa: Dane, John H Kirby, Ceres, Rocktail & Bonanza shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

December 1:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1865: Dane, this steam-powered British Royal Mail Ship wrecked just northeast of Cape Recife in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape. The captain tried running between Roman Rock and the shore, striking a previously unknown reef and wrecking. The RMS Dane was the pioneer Union Line mail ship to South Africa. 

1917: John H Kirby, this American transport barque was scuttled by the German raider, SMS Wolf, about 400 km offshore from Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape.

The John H Kirby (1917) shortly before being scuttled, photographed by an unknown person from the SMS Wolf

After capturing the barque, the passengers and useful cargos were transferred, and then, the following day with 270 ford cars destined for Durban still on board, it was scuttled using explosives attached to the starboard side.

The John H Kirby (1917) disappearing underneath the water after the explosives were set off, photographed by an unknown person from the SMS Wolf

1942: Ceres, a British Overseas Airways Corporation Short S.23 Empire Flying Boat (registration no G-AETX) was lost to an explosion caused by a fire from a nearby hangar whilst moored in Durban in KwaZulu-Natal.

An unknown flying boat in front of the flying boat hangars of Durban, date unknown

1965: Rocktail, this motor-powered fishing vessel wrecked at Kosi Bay in KwaZulu-Natal. 

1967: Bonanza, this motor-powered fishing vessel ran aground and burned out at Port Alfred in the Eastern Cape.

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