SS Glentworth
Encyclopedia
SS Glentworth was a cargo ship
built by Hawthorn Leslie & Co.
in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England
in 1920 for R.S. Dalgliesh's Dalgliesh Steam Shipping Co. Ltd., also of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. After the Great Depression
affected UK merchant shipping in the first years of the 1930s, Dalgliesh sold Glentworth to a company controlled by Counties Ship Management
(an offshoot of the Rethymnis & Kulukundis shipbroking company of London) who renamed her SS Box Hill.
Late in 1939 Box Hill sailed from St John, New Brunswick bound for Hull with a cargo of 8,452 tons wheat. On New Year's Eve she was 9 nautical miles (16.7 km) off the Humber
lightship
when she struck a German mine
. The explosion broke her back and she sank almost immediately with the loss of all hands.
Box Hill was Counties Ship Management's first loss of the Second World War
. CSM's losses continued until just a week before the surrender of Japan
in August 1945, by which time the company had lost a total of 13 ships.
Both sections of Box Hills wreck were a hazard to shipping and showed above the water. In 1952 the Royal Navy
dispersed her remains with high explosive and Admiralty
charts now mark her position as a "foul" ground.
Cargo ship
A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade...
built by Hawthorn Leslie & Co.
Hawthorn Leslie and Company
R. & W. Hawthorn Leslie and Company, Limited, usually referred to as Hawthorn Leslie, was a shipbuilding and locomotive manufacturer. The Company was founded on Tyneside in 1886 and ceased building ships in 1982.-History:...
in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1920 for R.S. Dalgliesh's Dalgliesh Steam Shipping Co. Ltd., also of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. After the Great Depression
Great Depression in the United Kingdom
The Great Depression in the United Kingdom, also known as the Great Slump, was a period of national economic downturn in the 1930s, which had its origins in the global Great Depression...
affected UK merchant shipping in the first years of the 1930s, Dalgliesh sold Glentworth to a company controlled by Counties Ship Management
Counties Ship Management
Counties Ship Management Co. Ltd. was an ocean-going merchant shipping company based in the United Kingdom. During the Second World War CSM merchant ships made a substantial contribution to supplying the British war effort, at a cost of 13 ships lost and 163 officers and men killed.-Founding of...
(an offshoot of the Rethymnis & Kulukundis shipbroking company of London) who renamed her SS Box Hill.
Late in 1939 Box Hill sailed from St John, New Brunswick bound for Hull with a cargo of 8,452 tons wheat. On New Year's Eve she was 9 nautical miles (16.7 km) off the Humber
Humber
The Humber is a large tidal estuary on the east coast of Northern England. It is formed at Trent Falls, Faxfleet, by the confluence of the tidal River Ouse and the tidal River Trent. From here to the North Sea, it forms part of the boundary between the East Riding of Yorkshire on the north bank...
lightship
Lightvessel
A lightvessel, or lightship, is a ship which acts as a lighthouse. They are used in waters that are too deep or otherwise unsuitable for lighthouse construction...
when she struck a German mine
Naval mine
A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, an enemy vessel...
. The explosion broke her back and she sank almost immediately with the loss of all hands.
Box Hill was Counties Ship Management's first loss of the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. CSM's losses continued until just a week before the surrender of Japan
Surrender of Japan
The surrender of Japan in 1945 brought hostilities of World War II to a close. By the end of July 1945, the Imperial Japanese Navy was incapable of conducting operations and an Allied invasion of Japan was imminent...
in August 1945, by which time the company had lost a total of 13 ships.
Both sections of Box Hills wreck were a hazard to shipping and showed above the water. In 1952 the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
dispersed her remains with high explosive and Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
charts now mark her position as a "foul" ground.