S.S. Gothland

Category

Library Item

Item no

36358

Title

Page from Leith Miscellany, volume IV, S.S. Gothland

Artist / maker

Unknown

Date

1932

Type

Reproduction

The S.S. Gothland was built at Henry Robb, shipbuilders, Leith in 1932.

The text says 'The Gothland was built to trade between Leith and Hamburg.

During the first two years of war she was employed in runs to Italy and North Africa.

In October 1941 she was called to service as a rescue ship attached to North Atlantic convoys, but she was not designed for the stress of the long Atlantic rollers, nor the bitter weather off Nova Scotia and Labrador, which added tons of snow and ice to her upper structure.

In the winter of 1943 Gothland collided with an iceberg in dense fog. Fortunately the damage to her bow was all above water-line and she was able to continue her journey.

For four years she continued her arduous and responsible duty. Because of frequent air attacks and the large number of survivors often on board from sunken ships she was provided with a fighting ship escort.

After the war Gothland resumed her peace-time trade, her Captain wearing an OBE ribbon, and three of her crew the BEM.'

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Landscape > Water > Seas

Places > Edinburgh areas > Leith

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Transport > Water > Ships

Transport > Water > Steamships