The steel steamship Ambassador was launched from the Stockton-on-Tees yard of Ropner and Sons Ltd (Yard No 547) on 26th November 1924. She measured 399.0′ x 53.2′ x 25.2′ and her tonnage was 4450 gross tons, 2658 net tons. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine by Blair and Co Ltd., Stockton-on-Tees delivering 422 nominal horse power. She was ordered by Hall Brothers Steamship Co Ltd., Newcastle. A large fast vessel, she operated on routes worldwide including to Australia and New Zealand. In 1939 she was purchased by Crest Shipping Co Ltd., London and re-named Bancrest.
Bancrest as Ambassador under way
Lloyds register 1939
Within months of the start of World War Two Bancrest departed from Methil on November 15th for Southend and Gibraltar in convoy OG.8 arriving there on December 5th. Five days later she departed to Norfolk, Virginia then on to Philadelphia and Halifax NS arriving there on January 14th. A few days later she departed for a Transatlantic trip to Leith, Scotland. She sailed unaccompanied relying on her speed to outrun any U-boats that might attack her. The details of the trip and the attack east of Orkney are not recorded but, on 30th January, she was attacked by a German Heinkel HE11 bomber operating out of the German air base at Sylt Island and suffered a direct hit. The explosion killed one of the crew aboard Bancrest, able seaman Laurence Isbister, but the remainder of the crew safely disembarked in the ship’s boats and survived.
The wreck of Bancrest has not been positively identified but the wreck in position 58° 54.743′ N, 002° 00.902′ W closely matches the dimensions of Bancrest and the location also appears consistent with the vague reports available on the incident. The wreck, which is oriented 096/276 degrees, lies in 83 metres with a least depth of 75 metres. The wreck has been dived and is reported to lie upside down with a large hole in her side visible consistent with bomb damage.
