The 1145 ton ‘Zor’ survived two World Wars and was nearly 50 years old when she got into difficulties near the Dudgeon lightvessel. The Sheringham lifeboat saved the last 4 of the crew on her just before she sank on 19 May 1955.
Originally named ‘DYH Tau’, she was built in 1907, by R.W.Hawthorn, Leslie and Co. on the Tyne, for the Russian S.N. & Trading Co. of Odessa. She remained in Russian and Soviet ownership until 1925 when she was taken over by a French shipping company. Renaimed ‘Ferlo’ then ‘Ture’ in 1929, she was then sold to a Swedish company and renamed ‘Glitt’.
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| S.S. 'Glitt' (1930) |
She was bought by a Turkish company in 1954 and renamed ‘Zor’. At this time her crew were mostly German with Willi Hagemann their captain and Harry Grieve the Chief Engineer.
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| S.S. 'Zor' (1954) |
When the weather appeared to moderate, she left Cuxhaven to cross the North Sea but during the crossing the Chief Engineer said: “we met weather such as I have never seen before.” The ‘Zor’s timber cargo shifted so that by 3pm on the 18th May, she had developed a list of 45˚ to starboard and her engine room was flooded
Fortunately, the collier ‘Richmond Queen’ of London picked up her distress call before the ‘Zor’s radio masts were lost and she relayed the ‘Zor’s message to the Coastguards . The Wells lifeboat went out and took off four men and the captain’s wife. By about 11pm the tug ‘Serviceman’ had arrived on scene and, with fuel running low, the Wells lifeboat left the 'Zor'.
When our lifeboat Honorary Secretary, Mr. H. G. Johnson, heard at 11.35pm that Wells lifeboat had left four men aboard the ‘Zor’ and was returning to station he phoned the Coastguards to enquire about lifeboat coverage. He was told to wait for further information.
Just after midnight our Hon. Sec. phoned the Coastguard again and was told that the Sheringham lifeboat was not needed as the ‘Richmond Queen’ and ‘Serviceman’ were standing by the ‘Zor’. Mr Johnson told the coastguard that he was not happy about the lack of a lifeboat on scene and that he would authorise calling out the Sheringham lifeboat.
When we launched at 15 minutes past midnight, the weather had moderated but there was a heavy swell on the shore. The launching tractor was well handled in very difficult conditions.
At sea the weather deteriorated rapidly and near the Sheringham Shoal the sea was very rough and cox’n ‘Downtide’ West decided to it was too dangerous to cross the shoal in the dark. He altered course to pass "below the sands" [west of the Sheringham Shoal]. The weather continued to worsen and because of the danger to the crew of being knocked overboard, ‘Downtide’ proceeded at three quarter speed.
At daylight full speed was resumed and we reached the casualty at 6.00am.
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| Track of the Sheringham Lifeboat 19th May 1955 |
It was immediately clear to us in the 'Foresters Centenary' that the ‘Zor’ was sinking and we proceeded alongside her starboard (lee) side. ‘Downtide asked the captain to abandon ship but he refused.
The tug ‘Serviceman’ informed ‘Downtide’ that he hoped to tow the ‘Zor’ when the weather moderated, but we were sure that the ‘Zor’ would sink first and we stood by as close to the ‘Zor’ as conditions permitted. Timber was constantly being washed from the ‘Zor’s starboard side and she had a list to starboard of at least 45˚.
By 8.30am the tug had got a line aboard but when he started to pull it was clear that the ‘Zor’ would quickly sink. The master of ‘Zor’ beckoned the lifeboat.
‘Downtide’ decided he dare not approach again on the starboard side. The position was desperate, there was a lot of floating timber which prevented us running up alongside and so 'Downtide' decided that his only chance was to ram the ship on her port (weather) side where there was a rope down the ship’s side at the only clear point. The lifeboat’s engine held her in position and we hauled the survivors into the lifeboat from the rope.
We sheared away and informed the tug that all the crew had been taken off. The ‘Zor’s’ mainmast then snapped, the deck cargo shot off, the ship righted herself and sank stern first, about ten minutes after the lifeboat had left her.
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| Timber floating around the ‘Zor’ |
Sheringham lifeboat returned to her station. arriving back at 1.35pm.
Arthur Scotter, 4 crew from ‘Zor’, Brian Pegg, Henry ‘Joyful’ West, Henry ‘Downtide’ West, Jimmy ‘Chibbles’ Bishop, Jack Dyball, Sid ‘Plug’ Emery.
Full Crew List:
Henry ‘Downtide’ West Coxswain
Henry ‘ Joyful’ West 2nd Coxswain
Teddy ‘Lux’ Craske 1st Mechanic
Jimmy ‘Chibbles’ Bishop 2nd Mechanic
Jack Dyball Reserve Mechanic
Arthur Scotter Acting Bowman
Sid ‘Plug’ Emery Lifeboatman
Henry Bishop Acting Signalman
Brian Pegg Lifeboatman
Eric Wink Lifeboatman
Time on Duty: 14 hours
Lives rescued: 4
Location of Casualty: 4 miles WNW of Dudgeon LV.
I shall never forget Captain Hagemann shaking my hand as he left the lifeboat, despite losing his ship and cargo.
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| Captain Hagemann shakes my hand on the beach |
The deck cargo of timber washed ashore first before the hold cargo came in – a prize for many along the coast, but we were happy with saving four lives.
This was the last major service launch authorised by Mr. H.G. Johnson before he retired as Honorary Secretary of Sheringham Lifeboat in October 1955. He had been joint Hon Sec. with his father and later his sister since 1932. In recognition of this dedication to the Sheringham Lifeboat station Mr. Johnson was presented with a small token of our gratitude from the crew. It was my privilege to make the presentation on behalf of the crew.
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| Presentation to Mr. H.G. Johnson on his Retirement as Hon. Sec. |
