James Plumpton Ship Index

The Yallaroi

James Plumpton was an Apprentice on this ship with Messrs. Brown & Co. London

He sailed on the Yallaroi between 1897 to ~ 1905

Yallaroi was a wool trade 3 masted sailing ship - Australia to UK.

This immaculate ship drew huge crowds wherever she went.

Burned out in Genoa while loading in 1923

P&O SS Plassy - 3rd Mate - 09-02-1910 to 02-04-1910

Was a Troopship & Hospital Ship during the Great War.

Visited by King George V who commented how clean and efficient she was.

Broken up in Genoa 1924

P&O SS Simla - 3rd mate - 1910

1896 Converted to troopship in Boer War.

Collided with an unknown steamer off Gravesend in 1910, but wreckage left

aboard led to its identification. Torpedoed and sunk off Malta in 1916 - loss of 10 crew

P&O SS Mongolia (II) - 2nd Mate - from Tilbury UK to India, Australia, 31-05-10 to 11-09-10

This was the second P&O Mongolia liner and features in James Plumpton's (Photo Album)

She was a 2 funnel liner built by Caird & Co. Greenock in 1903. Mongolia was sunk in June 1917 with passengers, and mail bound for India, China, as well as her holds filled with general cargo bound for Australia. The German raider the SMS Wolf had been laying mines and Mongolia struck one on June 23, 1917 some 50 miles S/W of Bombay.

The mine caused an explosion, which killed 23 people including 3 passengers as well as 3 officers in the engine room, 14 native and 3 European crewmembers. All the ships survivors from the Mongolia were rescued without any further loss by nearby vessels, but it was not possible to save the Mail that went down with the ship.

(Mongolia 1 was launched in 1865, Mongolia 2 in 1903 and Mongolia 3 was 1922)

P&O Mongolia 2 is not to be confused with the Pacific Mail Steamship Company liner 'Mongolia' also launched in 1903 !

P&O SS Egypt - Sailed from Tilbury UK to Bombay 31-01-1911 to 24-02-1911

The SS Egypt Sank off Cape Finisterre, France in English Channel 1922 - 71 crew & 15 passengers died.

The wreck contained a secret cargo of 5 tons gold, 10 tons silver and 1000's sovereigns on board, valued at the time around £1m. (£200 million by 2012 gold prices)

The wreck was finally discovered in 1930 and recovery of the treasure was completed by 1935.

When the news of the Egypt's sinking hit the newspaper's in 1922, I wonder if it crossed James Plumpton's mind that he had sailed on her 11 years earlier in 1911...

It must have been fairly big news In 1930 when the wreck containing the treasure was found. At that time, James was most likely dreaming of his own voyage to search for hidden Treasure across the Atlantic.

When the first bars of gold were retrieved from the Egypt in June 1932, James would have been unaware of this news as he had already set sail on the 'Vigilant' from Brixham for Cocos Island. However, I'm sure the story of the Egypt being found and salvage efforts were very inspirational news just before their departure. It was most likely something to chat about over a pint in the Commercial Inn with his friends who would crew the expedition with him later that year.

P&O SS Devanha - Bombay to Shanghai ~1911 / 1912.

Requisitioned as troopship in 1915, landing 12th Battalion at Anzac, Gallipoli.

Then converted to hospital ship - last vessel to leave Dardanelles.

Converted back to troopship in 1919 and repatriated Australian soldiers.

Continued Passenger service 1921-1925. Scrapped in Japan 1928.

P&O SS India - 2nd Mate 14-02-1912 to 25-02-12 China to Singapore

Later hired by Admiralty for use as armed merchant cruiser during WW1. Manned primarily by reservists

Torpedoed off Norway by SM U-22 in August 1915 - Loss of 160 Crew, 141 Survivors

P&O SS Nyanza - Calcutta - 2nd Mate 24-04-1912 to 25-07-12

Built 1907 - P&O Ship Requisitioned as Merchant Carrier

Torpedoed 9th Dec 1917 (U-53) Off Lizard 49 Casualties, Repaired.

Torpedoed again 5th Feb 1918 (U-40) - 4 Casualties, Repaired

Scrapped 1927-28 Japan.

P&O SS Macedonia - Bombay - 2nd mate - 24-04-14 Tilbury

Later requisitioned by the government for use a armed merchant cruiser.

Commissioned in August 8th 1914 - Workers at Tilbury fitted eight 4.7 inch guns in two days.

Supported Main British Fleet in Battle of the Falklands, sinking the Santa Isobel German Collier Ship.

Returned to mail service UK to Bombay on 15th Sept 1921 - Scrapped 1931 Japan.

HMS Devonshire - Officer Training - 11-04-1910 to 08-05-10 (28 days)

Built Chatham, launched 30th April 1904

Lead ship of her class and in the reserve 3rd Fleet when James Plumpton did his training.

Assigned to the Grand Fleet in 1914 - See my HMS Devonshire page

Reinforced patrols near Shetland & Faeroe Islands & Norwegian Coast

Scrapped 9th May 1921

HMS Vivid & HMS Defiance Gunnery/Torpedo/Mine Training School Devonport 13-11-1912 to 31-01-1913

HMS Defiance (photo) was converted into a Torpedo School Ship in 1884 being docked in Devonport.

Ship Broken up in 1931. The figurehead was saved and displayed inside another training ship.

The HMS Defiance Figurehead was restored in 2019 with 13 other ships figureheads.

At the time of writing, the figureheads are on display at ‘The Box’ Museum & Gallery in Plymouth

HMS Indefatigable - Lieutenant - Exercises - 01-02-1913 to 05-12-1913 (Photo Album)

Lead WW1 Battlecruiser Built HMNB Devonport, Plymouth, launched in 1909.

Armament: 4 × twin BL 12" guns, 16 × 4" in guns, 2 × submerged 17.72 in torpedo tubes

Indefatigable was sunk on 31 May 1916 during the Battle of Jutland, the largest naval battle of the war..

Only three of the crew of 1,019 survived.

HMS Cockatrice - Served during 06-12-1913 to 31-01-1914 (prior to WW1)

Acasta Class Destroyer launched 12th November 1912

Joined Grand Fleet patrolling Orkneys & English Channel carrying out Anti Submarine Ops.

Damaged during severe storm Dec 1914, repaired

1918 Joined Northern Patrol Force Dundee - Scrapped 9th May 1921

HMS Prince George - Lieut. Cmdr. - Gallipoli Dardanelles - 1914-1915 ( Photo album 1 2 3 )

HMS Prince George was a Majestic-class pre-dreadnought battleship launched in 1895.

Participated in bombardments of Turkish forts and supported the Allied operations at Gallipoli

Crew Landed at Suvla Bay and covered evacuation of allied troops (see James Plumpton's Photo albums)

Several near misses when hit by an unexploded torpedo below the water line and a 6" shell through a deck vent.

Wrecked at Campeduin, Netherlands on way to being scrapped. Remains are still visible from the beach to this day.

HMS Dongola - P&O Liner converted to Hospital Ship - James Plumpton left Mudros for Malta on this ship. Treatment for Dysentery 19-10-1915 to 04-11-1915

Plumpton has returned from the beach, also Ree. The former is . not very well, has had a form of dysentery for ten days, so is going to Malta in the Dongola for the trip. He will be returning in about a fortnight.

HMS Hindustan - Lieut.Cmdr. James Plumpton served on her from 09-04-1916 to 18-06-1916

HMS Hindustan was an 18 Gun Pre-Dreadnought Battleship launched 1903

Part of the Northern Fleet Patrol hunting Submarines in the North Sea

Kind Edward VIII who abdicated in 1936, served on her during 1911 as a Mid-shipman.

HMS Excellent Shore Base located on Whale Island, Portsmouth

James Plumpton was sent on Anti-Submarine Course 20-02-1917 to 28-04-1917

HMS Excellent was commissioned in 1869 (Photo 1970 Courtesy of News Archive)

HMS Vernon - Portsmouth - Otter fitting duties (Anti-Mine) 26-04-17

The 'Vernon' Floating Torpedo & Mining School was commissioned in 1876

I believe that the photo above is a close representation of it when James Plumpton did his training.

3 Ships were moored and connected with bridges.

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Left - 'Vernon II' (HMS Marlborough) - sank 1924,

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Centre - 'Vernon III' (HMS Warrior 1860)

HMS Warrior was Britain's first iron clad battleship was restored in the 1980's and is now a museum / visitor attraction.

It now requires some additional restoration.

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Right - 'Vernon I' (HMS Donegal) - scrapped 1925.

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The old Vernon establishment was disbanded in 1996

The Gunwharf quay still has many surviving establishment buildings and the Vernon 'Floating' monument is definitely worth a look if you are in the area, or read out about it here: https://www.vernon-monument.org.uk

HMS President - Otter fitting duties - Thames Training Ship / RNVR London Base 16-02-18

HMS Buzzard was a Nymph class sloop launched in 1887. She was converted to a drill ship for the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserves at Blackfriars, and was renamed HMS President in 1911. When James Plumpton attended the site in February 1918, it was most likely present but was being wound down.

It was then lent out to the Marine Society before being scrapped in 1921.

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It's replacement HMS Saxifrage, renamed HMS President in 1921, served until 1988.

She was berthed in the River Thames on the Victoria Embankment and is one of the last three surviving Royal Navy warships of the First World War. I understand that she is now awaiting refurbishment work in Chatham, Kent and will be returned to the Thames when completed.

https://uboatproject.wales/2019/09/23/hms-saxifrage-and-the-sinking-of-oronsa-and-damao/

BM273 'Vigilant' Ex- Brixham Fishing Trawler

Sailed from Brixham to Cocos Island Costa Rica 1932 and other islands looking for treasure.

Crew of nine, 12,000 mile voyage, Wrote book 'Treasure Cruise' - Sold ship in Panama 1933

SS Monica M - Owned 06-09-1935 to 28-09-1935

I am not yet sure if this is the correct 'Monica M' but it was built in 1936, so it's possibly similar anyway.

Photo Courtesy of ShipSpotting.com © PWR

SS Colombie - passenger ship - returning from Panama 1933 (ref. 'Treasure Cruise' Book) -

James Plumpton boarded the Colombie and spoke to Captain Monsieur Garrique

"I duly reached Colon and boarded the "Colombie" at 9 a.m.; a very fine ship with but few passengers, and I was fortunate enough to have a four-berth cabin to myself. During the next ten days we called in swift succession at Cartagena, Port of Colombia, Curacao, Puerto Cabala, La Guayra, Carupano, Trinidad, Barbadoes, Fort de France, Basse-a-terre, and Point-a-Pitre, from which we sailed on March 26th, arriving at Plymouth on April 4th. This homeward voyage in this French steamer, which lasted nineteen days, was a time of absolute rest, which I began to feel was much needed. The great kindness, too, shown me on board, and particularly that of my friend the second Captain, Monsieur Garrique, cannot forget. For I was a third-class passenger; it is therefore worthy of record that. I could not have been better treated had I been a millionaire. "

SS Colombie was launched and commissioned 1931 for Compagnie Générale Transatlantique

Used as Merchant Ship and converted to a Hospital Ship during WW2

Brought back into service then scrapped in 1974

Photo By Captainorchardly - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=68001017

The "Vigilant" received supplies from SS Nokomis - (off Costa Rica 1933 - Treasure Cruise)

Running low on fuel and food, Commander Plumpton and the crew of the Vigilant were helped by SS Nokomis:

"The stores were soon transferred to " Vigilant", when she cast off again and steamed away back to Balboa. Shortly after this a boat came across from" Nokomis", and the officer in charge of her brought her Commanding Officer's compliments, and an enquiry as to whether there was anything more he could do for us.

I intended boarding to thank Captain Carter, for that was his name, but as we knew that "Nokomis" was going herself to Balboa in a few days' time we deferred it till then, when we should all be able to go on board to do this. "

"Then down to the quay where the "Nokomis" was moored up, to see Captain Carter, with whom we passed a pleasant hour or two. I found him a very congenial companion, and could, with the greatest pleasure, have spent a much longer time in his company, but there were other things to do, and, in any case, we had accepted an invitation to dine with him and his officers two days later. He was a man very much in love with his profession, which perhaps, in his case, is more or less natural, for he was actually born at sea. I hope -that I shall some day meet him again."

- Treasure Cruise, Cdr. J. Plumpton