Deerwood SS (Convoy FS-559)

SS DEERWOOD (Convoy FS-599)

Position ... 52 54 066 N / 001 43 888 E
Cargo ... Coal, Blyth to London
Built ... 1919
Tonnage ... 1914 grt
Dimensions ... 81.7 x 11.6 x 5.1 mtrs
Engine ... x1 triple expansion / 3 cylinders
Boilers ... x2
Power ... 192 nhp
Speed ... 9 knots
Lost ... 06/08/1941
Cause of loss ... Ran aground
Lives lost ... x2
Builder ... John Crown & Sons Ltd, Sunderland.
Engine builder ... MacColl & Pollock, Sunderland.
Owner at time of loss ... Tyne & Wear Shipping - W. M. France, Fenwick & Co Coastwise Colliers Ltd, London.

Type ... Cargo. Long raised quarter deck, x4 holds, engine and bridge midships, plumb bow, counter stern.
Ownership History
Built in 1919 by John Crown & Sons Ltd of Sunderland as the War Thames for the Shipping Controller (TSC), London. In 1919, the same year as the the War Thames was built, she took on her new name of Deerwood, when taken over by Tyne & Wear Shipping - W.M. France, Fenwick & Co Coastline Colliers Ltd, London who owned the her until the time of her loss on Haisborough Sands in 1941.
Circumstances of loss
Part of the ill fated convoy FS- 559, the Deerwood  grounded on Haisborough Sands on the 06/08/1941 along with 7 other vessels. Click on link below for circumstances of loss (Oxshott and Gallois)
Oxshott and Gallois
Vessels lost on Haisborough sands from convoy FS-559. Aberhill, Afon Towey, Betty Hindley, Deerwood, Gallois, Oxshott, Taara, Agate.
UKHO
The UKHO have the position listed above as that of two wrecks, one of these being the Deerwood (Bell raised 1990). The second wreck is believed to be be that of the Afon Towy, also of convoy FS-559.

John Crown & Sons Ltd, builders of the Deerwood. Original company set up in 1847 by Luke Crown and his son John Crown. The company went through various name changes until such time in 1901 when it became John Crown & Sons. 1903 saw John Crown & Sons become a limited company. During WW1 the company built 4 colliers. Due to lack of orders the yard was closed between 1934-1938. WW11 was a productive time for the yard, vessels built were, 4 colliers, 9 Empire tugs, 7 flower class corvettes, 3 Isles class trawlers, 1 River class frigate and 2 Castle class frigates.

In 1946 the yard was taken over by Joseph. L. Thompson & Sons, but continued to to build ships under the name of John Crown & Sons until 1960 when the yard was merged into Joseph. L. Thompson & Sons.
Below ... The machine shop at McColl & Pollock

MacColl & Pollack, builders of the Deerwood's engine. Established in 1896/1897 and incorperated as a limited company in 1903.

At its peak the company employed around 500 men, in turn supplying engines for some 400 vessels. In 1935, due to the economic down turn of the 1930's, MacColl and Pollock wound up the business and shut their doors for the last time.
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