The steel cargo passenger steamship Killarney was launched from the yard of A & J Inglis Ltd., of Glasgow (Yard No.311) on 1st April 1919 ordered by the Burns and Laird Line, Glasgow and laid down under the name Moorfowl, she was purchased after her launch by City of Cork Steam Packet Co. Ltd and registered in London on 12th July that year. Her construction had been delayed due the war and Burns and Laird cancelled the order before she was completed. She measured 265.0′ x 36.1′ x 15.9’ and her tonnage was 1578 gross tons, 668 net tons. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine by A & J Inglis delivering 414 nominal horse power. However, in 1920, presumably due to a change of plan, the vessel was finally purchased by G & J Burns Ltd and the name changed to Moorfowl. Two years later the company became Burns & Laird Lines of Glasgow and a further name change followed in 1929 to Lairdsmoor.
SS Lairdsmoor
Lloyds register 1927
The Lairdsmoor was en route from Dublin to Greenock on 7th April, 1937. Aboard were thirty two crew under the command of Captain John Campbell and six passengers. She was carrying a general cargo which included 300 head of cattle. Around 3:20am, the Lairdsmoor was in collision with the Shaw Savill & Albion liner MV Taranaki in dense fog off Black Head, Galloway. The Lairdsmoor was badly holed in the collision and immediately began to sink. All the passengers and crew, except the captain and the fireman, Edward McBride, were rescued by the Taranaki before the Lairdsmoor vanished in less than 15 minutes, sinking in deep water.
MV Taranaki
Despite sustaining damage to her bow plating, the Taranaki managed to reach Liverpool and once docked was inspected by the Board of Trade and it was found she had two large holes in her starboard bow.
The damaged bow of the Taranaki
Only on arrival did the full story become known. The Lairdsmoor had been heading north at dead slow speed when all aboard felt the whole vessel shudder, with the larger 8448 ton vessel hitting and become wedged in the focsle head of the Lairdsmoor. The crew raised the passengers who, with no time to collect their belongings, abandoned ship either by a single lifeboat or by Jacob’s Ladder onto the Taranaki. Captain Campbell was last seen lying on the floor of the bridge,. The crew believed he was dead and had been struck by debris from the collision. They had hastily fitted a lifejacket in the hope the body may float and be recovered. Edward McBride was in the engine room when the Taranaki struck but was engulfed by a fractured 40 ton fuel oil tank. Last to leave were the remaining ship’s officers who threw a life raft over the side and managed to jump aboard. Their rescue was hampered by fuel oil on the surface and many distressed cattle who by now were able to swim out of the holds only to drown in the cold water of the North Channel. The passengers and crew were looked after in the Shipwrecked Mariners Home in Liverpool until they able to make they way home.
Some of the Lairdsmoor’s crew ashore in Liverpool
The reported position of the collision was 5 miles – 260° from Black Head which gives an approximate position of 54° 50.950’N 05° 17.500’W and general seabed depths of 150-170 metres in the area. The general location is swept by strong tides.
