Bronze Age Gold from Wales

Photograph of the S.S. TORRINGTON, with inset portrait of Capt. A. Starkey at top right.

S.S. TORRINGTON (D.W. tonnage 9,350). Built in 1905 by Wm. Doxford & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. A British merchant ship owned by W.J. Tatem & Co. of Cardiff. A Turret-deck ship. When launched this was one of the largest cargo-carriers afloat. It has a very elaborate system of derricks for quick cargo working. The twin masts with outriggers allow the derricks to swing out to an unusual degree. The davits are hinged at the base to swing boats clear of turret deck. On the 8 April 1917 she was torpedoed by U55. The crew of the Torrington took to their boats, but the submarine surfaced, took the captain prisoner and lined the rest of the crew up on deck. The vessel then dived, drowning the crew members with a loss of 34 lives.