The iron paddle steamer Grenadier was launched from the Clydebank yard of James and George Thomson (Yard No 224) on 19th March 1885. She measured 222.9′ x 23.1′ x 9.3′ and her tonnage was 372 gross tons, 99 net tons. She was powered by a 2 cylinder diagonal oscillating steam engine by J and G Thomson delivering 200 nominal horse power.
Extract Lloyd’s Register 1927.
Built for David MacBrayne Ltd., Glasgow she entered service on the west coast and inter islands routes of Scotland predominantly on the Iona and Staffa run from Oban. She was requisitioned for war service by the Admiralty on 3rd July 1916 and served throughout the war under the name of HMS Grenade before returning to her owners and her regular service on 23rd October 1919. Her graceful clipper lines made her very popular with day trippers although her insatiable appetite for coal made her less popular with her owners. It was from this regular trip that she returned to her usual berth at the North Pier, Oban on the evening of 5th September, 1927. It was to be her last trip.
PS Grenadier departing North Pier, Oban.
Around 12:45am the sleeping town was awakened by a series long blasts from the Grenadier’s siren quickly followed by the discharge of a rocket from the Police station – the prearranged signal to call the Fire Brigade. As some of the townsfolk began to make their way down to the harbour, the North Pier and the surrounding streets were illuminated by huge flames leaping from the moored steamer. The fire spread rapidly and, by the time the Fire Brigade arrived, she was totally engulfed in flames. The unfortunate crew had been asleep on board and had to flee for their lives. Some managed to make it to the gangway but it too was soon on fire and the rest of the crew had to scramble over the side of the ship and into small boats which had by now arrived on the scene.
After the fire, sunk alongside North Pier.
Three men lost their lives on the ship. The efforts of the Fire Brigade made no impression on the flames and so her stern was pulled away from the pier and allowed to sink in the harbour which finally extinguished the fire. The bodies of the three dead men were later recovered by divers. The Grenadier was raised but was so badly damaged that she was taken to Ardrossan and broken up.
Salvage work almost complete – Dalmadan.com
Newsclip from May 1928.
