The steel steamship VIC-29 was launched from the Northwich yard of Isaac Pimblott and Sons Ltd (Yard No 651) in January 1944. She measured 66.8′ x 18.5′ x 8.8′ and her tonnage was 97 gross tons, 41 net tons. She was powered by a compound steam engine by Hayward Tyler and Co. Ltd delivering 100 registered horse power. Built for naval service in the latter months of the war, she survived the conflict operating as a water carrier and was finally purchased by G and G Hamilton, Glasgow in October 1948 who changed her name to Glenrosa. She entered service on the inner island routes of the west of Scotland.
In days before electronic navigation equipment it was often the case that during a violent storm a number of ships could be lost at the same time but it is very in usual in modern times that there should be two shipwrecks within a few miles and within a few hours of each other. However, in January of 1958 this is precisely what happened.
On the 13th HMS Barcombe went ashore near the entrance of Loch Buie on the south coast of Mull. The sister ship of the Barcombe, the Barrington, was standing by the sunken boom defence vessel intending to carry out a salvage survey. On the night of Wednesday 15th, an officer on the Barrington heard voices hailing his ship through the fog and shortly afterwards was astonished to see a small boat pull along side with the four shipwrecked crew of the Glasgow puffer Glenrosa aboard.
Glenrosa ashore on coast of Mull.
Captain Kaj Anderson of the Glenrosa related his tale as soon as he boarded the Barrington. They had sailed from Troon for Bunessan, Mull with a cargo of 120 tons of coal for her owners G & G Hamilton of Bothwell Street, Glasgow. As they approached Mull the fog was very dense and, just before nine o’clock, there was a loud crunching sound as she ran ashore. The captain said that he had a problem with his compass which had been affected by a local magnetic anomaly in the Loch Buie area. They fired all their distress rockets but to no avail and, as their little ship was grinding on the rocks in the swell, they feared she might slip off into deep water so took to the ship’s boat and decided to head for Loch Buie to raise the alarm. By the time they pulled away into the night the Glenrosa had indeed sunk deeper beneath the surface and only her funnel was still showing above water. Luckily they came upon the Barrington a couple of hours later.
The Glenrosa was to become a total wreck. She was subsequently heavily salvaged where she lay and today the main signs of the loss are scattered pieces of rusting metal on the shore. There are a few small remnants of wreckage, including the steam engine block and propshaft, on the stone beach and in the shallows, in approximate position 56° 19.615’N, 005° 47.294’W.
