The steel steamship Remus was launched from the Paisley yard of J Fullerton and Co Ltd (Yard No 202) on 12th October 1908. She measured 221.0′ x 34.2′ x 13.1′ and her tonnage was 1079 gross tons, 566 net tons. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine by Ross and Duncan Ltd., Glasgow delivering 163 nominal horse power. She was ordered by G B Wadsworth of Goole.
Extract Lloyd’s Register 1915
In the early morning of 23rd February 1918 the Remus left Longhope under sealed orders with a cargo of coal. Her skipper, Captain Joseph Lea, had a crew of sixteen men under his command. He had been directed to rendezvous with an escorting trawler, HMT Cuckoo, off Stanger Head at the western end of Scapa Flow. The two vessels were then ordered to proceed to a point ten cables off Lowther Rock (Pentland Skerries) then to turn north, steering a zigzag course, and on to Kirkwall entering the port through the swept channel.
SS Remus alongside
As they approached an area SW of Auskerry at 10:20am there was a huge explosion on the ship’s port side, close to the engine room. Debris flew high into the air and the port side lifeboat was totally destroyed. Almost immediately Remus began to settle and sink. Three men in the engine room were killed instantly by the explosion. As the remainder of the crew scrambled to abandon ship two more crewmen lost their lives. The starboard lifeboat was successfully launched but capsized as it hit the water. Thankfully the crew were able to right the boat and seven men climbed aboard. The chief officer and four of the crew, who had remained aboard the sinking ship, were taken off by Cuckoo before Remus slipped beneath the surface. The Cuckoo then picked up the men from the lifeboat and headed to shore. The five injured crewmen were dropped off at the hospital ship HMHS Soudan and the remainder of the crew taken aboard HMS Imperieuse. Interviews with the crew after the incident suggested that the ship had been torpedoed but in fact German war time records later confirmed she had hit a mine laid by UC-59 commanded by Kapitanlieutnant Herbert Lefholz.
Memorial Tower Hill, London
The wreck believed to be Remus lies in position 58° 50.591’N, 002° 45.392’W oriented 028/208 degrees. She lies in 58 metres with a least clearance of 53 metres. The wreck, described by local divers as a rear engined steamship consistent with the layout of the Remus, is broken midships with the stern section sitting upright but with the bow section upside down.
