1937

TROUBLE ON SOUTH AFRICAN VESSEL
'Mutiny' on Titanic Rescue Ship

The Admiralty was informed last night that a wireless message had been received by HMS Resolution from the Sherard Osborn, bound from Table Bay to Rotterdam, which left Madeira on August 25th, stating that there was serious trouble on board. The Resolution was unable to communicate with the Sherard Osborn owing to wireless interference.
In a message received at Lloyd's from the London ship British Viscount, the trouble on board the Sherard Osborn is described as almost mutiny and sabotage. HMS Broke is leaving Plymouth to investigate.
The Sherard Osborn was one of the ships that went to the rescue in the Titanic disaster. She has been described as one of the oldest of her type afloat, and it was stated last April that she was likely to be scrapped.
Built at Greenock in 1877, she is of 1,481 tons. She was built as a cable ship, and during the war acted as a wireless transmitting vessel with Cape Town as her base. In 1921 she was converted into a yacht.
HMS Resolution left Devonport on August 21st for the west coast of Spain.

(The Times, Thursday September 2, 1937, p.12)

TROUBLE IN A BRITISH STEAMER
Order Restored

It appears that all is now quiet on board the South African steamer Sherard Osborn, which on Wednesday send out a wireless message stating that there was trouble on board.
HM flotilla leader Broke, which left Plymouth on Wednesday just before midnight to investigate this message, came up with the Sherard Osborn at 10.45am yesterday. Communicating by flag, the steamer declined assistance, saying that the incident was closed and that she was proceeding to Antwerp. The Broke turned for home and arrived at Devonport last night.
Mr Alexander Hamilton, Chairman and Managing Director of Mitchell Cotts & Co., owners of the Sherard Osborn, stated yesterday that the company had received a telegram from the Master stating that he was dissatisfied with some members of the crew and asking that they should be discharged at the end of the voyage.

(The Times, Friday September 3, 1937, p.12)

The South African steamer Sherard Osborn, which reported trouble on board last week, arrived in Antwerp on Sunday. The Captain refused to make a statement, but some of the sailors said that protests had been made about their food and quarters. They denied that there had been any fighting on board.

(The Times, Wednesday September 7, 1937, p.11)

 

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