The Duchess was a rear engined coastal steamship built by Charles Rennoldson & Company of South Shields (Yard No.211) and launched on 6th February 1924 for her owners J Hay & Son of Renfield Street, Glasgow. Her steel hull had measured 195.1′ x 30.3′ x 12.1′ and her tonnage was 798 gross tons, 355 net tons. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine of 137 nominal horse power by William Beardmore of Coatbridge. The vessel’s official number was 147885.
The Duchess under way
On the evening of 11th November 1940, two vessels approached the Little Minch off the north west coast of Skye. From the south, the coaster The Duchess was heading north intending to passage south down the North Sea coast for London with a general cargo including maize and sugar. From the north, the London registered steamship Trefusis (5299 tons) was heading south for Oban with an unspecified cargo, both vessels were travelling at around 9 knots.
It was later found that only one of the vessels was displaying lights which turned out to be the main cause of what was about to unfold. As the two vessels neared they were on converging courses. The Trefusis, seeing The Duchess off her port bow, altered course to starboard. The Duchess only seeing the Trefusis at the last minute turned to port. By this stage a collision was inevitable. The Trefusis crashed into the small coaster which sank quickly taking taking with her the crew except the steward who was picked up by the Trefusis.
War Aconite later Trefusis
In January 1943, the owners of The Duchess took out an action in the High Court in London against the owners of the Trefusis, the Hain Steamship Company of London, claiming they were responsible for the loss of their vessel. In his judgement, Mr Justice Bucknill apportioned blame of two-thirds Trefusis and one-third The Duchess. This seems harsh as the Trefusis was running without lights but the judgement was based on the fact that both vessels did not reduce speed and both altered course. We have been unable to trace the court transcript which would give better insight into the rationale of the make the judgement.
So why was the Trefusis transiting the Minch with no lights? It is likely she was steaming under orders from the convoy commander Convoy HX-84, famously known for the heroic actions of HMS Jervis Bay in defending the convoy against attack from the German raider Admiral Sheer. The convoy left Halifax on 28th October and was spotted by the Admiral Sheer on 5th November. The Admiral Sheer was immediately engaged by the Jervis Bay which attacked the German raider allowing time for the convoy of 38 vessels to disperse. Tragically the Jervis Bay was out gunned and was eventually sunk but the fight allowed time for all but 6 merchantmen to make UK ports safely.
The convoy transit time was estimated at 10-11 days from Halifax to the UK dependant on weather, so it is likely that the Trefusis was inward bound to Oban and running dark having been part of the original convoy.
The wreck of The Duchess will probably lie in deep water off the north coast of Skye in the main shipping channel. We have assigned a notional position near the turning point for the channel off Waternish Point. The newspaper cutting below gives a bit more background to the story of Convoy HX-84.
