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38-532: Thomas Wilson Sons & Co. was a British shipping company, founded in 1840, It evolved from a joint venture formed by merchants Thomas Wilson , John Beckinton and two unrelated partners named Hudson in 1822. The company expanded and by the early 20th century operated a relatively large fleet, but in 1906 part of the operation was merged with the North Eastern Railway creating Wilson's & North Eastern Railway Shipping Co. Ltd and later in 1916

76-595: A 49-year career in 1933. She undertook occasional cruises during the winter off-season, and in January 1890 her itinerary took her from Hull to Madeira , Nice , Malta , Constantinople and Odessa returning home in early April. She was lengthened in 1895. Transferred to Grimsby –Gothenburg route in 1911, and was withdrawn from service to become a cadet training ship and was moored in Hull's Railway Dock very close to Wilson's head office. Found to be unsound in 1913 she

114-684: A joint service with DFDS . Sold to Jose Maria Maycas, La Roda Hermanos and others in 1909 and renamed Vicente La Roda . Her owners became Compania Valenciana, who were later absorbed into Compania Transmediterranea in 1917. She was sunk during the Spanish Civil War but later raised and rebuilt in 1945 becoming the Juan Illueca for new owners Enrique Illueca. Her career continued until June 1960 when this remarkable ship became wrecked on Cape Penas whilst on passage from Bordeaux to Gijon , 61 years after her launching. She entered

152-569: A joint venture with his partner John Beckinton and two others. He did not come to the business with a background in shipping but through the use of ships for shipping of ore he quickly saw the potential opportunity and became a noted specialist shipowner. By 1825 he owned his first steam ship and saw the company become a prominent figure in promoting the Port of Hull to the third largest port in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland during

190-458: A netlayer under German naval control, returning to Ellerman Wilson after the war ended. The company had no further use for her and she was sold to French interests in 1921, trading as a cargo ship under the same name between Southern France and North Africa until 1930 when she was sold for scrap. Her reign was sadly cut short after only seven months when she grounded whilst creeping up a fog-shrouded Humber Estuary in January 1912. The strength of

228-646: A round voyage for Ellerman & Bucknall to South Africa . Withdrawn from service in 1929, she was laid up until sold for breaking up at Briton Ferry by Thos. W. Ward in July 1932. In 1901 she was transferred to full Woermann ownership, renamed Alexandra Woermann and entered the Hamburg to German West Africa trade. During the First World War she served the German Navy as a transport vessel and

266-508: A series of cruises out of London to Copenhagen and return, via Kristiansand, which continued until 1936 when she was withdrawn and sold for scrapping in Bruges by Van Heyghen Freres. The success of her cruises were mirrored by cruises from Hull to Norway by other Ellerman Lines vessels transferred from the group companies. The City of Canterbury in 1933, the City of Paris in 1934 and 1935 and

304-613: The City of Nagpur from 1936 until 1939. The vessel was initially used on the Oslo service but entered the long established joint service with DFDS for which she had been built between Hull and Copenhagen alternating with their Hroar during 1923. She survived the Second World War , during which she mainly operated coastal duties and returned to the Copenhagen service in 1946 but was confined to relief duties as she neared

342-589: The Humber Estuary , sinking the vessel, but all on board were rescued by the Aaro which continued relatively undamaged into Hull. On 1 August 1916 she was torpedoed and sunk by U-20 SW off Stavanger with the loss of 3 lives and the remainder of the crew were taken captive. This was the third loss the Line had suffered within a three-week period and there is little doubt that these losses contributed greatly to

380-530: The Wilson Line of Hull . Thomas died in 1869 and the company was taken over by Charles and Arthur, with David as silent partner. A few years later when they were beginning to question their own sons ability to continue running the firm, Charles and Arthur brought in a non-family member to become the new Managing Director, Oswald Sanderson. Parts of the company merged with the North Eastern Railway forming Wilson's & North Eastern Railway Shipping Co. Ltd ;

418-623: The Bergen/Trondheim route in 1910 and continued to trade the Norwegian routes during the First World War . Having survived one attack in October 1915 outrunning her assailant, she was lost to a torpedo attack by U-87 off Shetland on 21 August 1917. Entered Oslo service but switched to the Bergen/Trondheim route in 1911. In January of that year the vessel collided with the Norwegian registered Richard (1,082 grt), whilst entering

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456-558: The Canary Islands. Her owner was absorbed into Compania Transmediterranea in 1917 and she served this company as Barcelo until scrapped in 1929. She was utilised on various services mainly on the emigrant traffic and made numerous calls to Stettin . Before the First World War worked Hull–Oslo as a supplementary or relief vessel. She was a war loss when sunk by U-69 submarine on 2 November 1916. Survivors were rescued by USS  Emeline . She served with Spero in

494-587: The Hull–Gothenburg service but later also included Oslo and occasionally Danzig . Changes in U.S. immigration quotas in 1923 reduced the level of carryings in this trade and the vessel was laid up in July 1928 being eventually sold to Danish shipbreakers in 1932. Employed initially in the Hull–Danzig service before transferring to the London / Hull – Gothenburg / Oslo routes. In the winter of 1927/8 she performed

532-519: The Hull–Gothenburg service. In 1914 she was converted by the Admiralty to an armed merchant cruiser and renamed HMS Calyx to avoid confusion with an existing HMS Calypso . She was employed on northern patrols but was found to be too small for the high seas often encountered and was returned to ferry services between London, Kristiansand and Oslo. However she was torpedoed and sunk by U-53 on 11 July 1916. Entered service to Oslo transferring to

570-637: The Wilson family's decision to sell out to Ellerman. Requisitioned by the Admiralty in November 1914 she was fitted out as an armed merchant cruiser, but like the Calypso before her, was found to be too small for the Atlantic in all weathers and was returned to her owners in July 1915 and resumed her North Sea services. In July 1916 she was captured by a German auxiliary cruiser south of Arendal and became

608-416: The Wilson fleet to 52 ships. In 1903 23 ships were purchased from Bailey & Leetham. In 1906 part of the operation was merged with the North Eastern Railway creating Wilson's & North Eastern Railway Shipping Co. Ltd . In 1906 the company purchased the shares in the ailing local firm Earle's Shipbuilding and ordered ships from them. The company was sold to Sir John Ellerman in 1916, owner of

646-405: The company was taken over by his sons Charles and Arthur Wilson, with David remaining a silent partner. A few years later the brothers were beginning to question the ability of their own sons to continue running the firm and brought in a non-family member, Oswald Sanderson , to become the new Managing Director. In 1878 the company purchased the seven ship fleet of Brownlow Marsdin and Co., bringing

684-476: The emergence and rise of steam shipping in Britain. In 1841, Thomas Wilson took full control of the company, after the other partners left, and so he brought his eldest son David into the business as his partner, making the name Thomas Wilson & Son Ltd . In 1850 his other sons Charles and Arthur joined and became active partners, the name changing to Thomas Wilson & Sons Co Ltd, though usually known as

722-484: The emigrant trade until switched to Copenhagen route before the First World War. Requisitioned as a frozen meat ship but rejected as unsuitable after only a few days. Operated in a 'cargo only' service after the war until 1931 when she was laid up at the end of that year and was broken up at Grangemouth the following year. One of seven vessels built by that yard at the time for the Line of which only Salmo

760-642: The end of her working life. Finally withdrawn and laid up in October 1958. She was sold to breakers in Antwerp the following year. Mini cruises on the round voyage became very popular but the increasing competition from the faster North Sea ferries gradually reduced her passenger carryings resulting in her being withdrawn at the end of 1966 and eventually sold for scrapping in Bruges in mid-1967 when no buyer for further trading could be found. A fine traditional looking car ferry which relatively quickly became dated by

798-432: The liner. Following repair she was sold to W. Morphy and Son of Hull and changed hands again before the First World War when sold to Greek interests and renamed Elefsis . She was lost on passage between Corsica and Elba on Christmas Day 1920 by which time she was named Photios . She became surplus to requirements in 1910 and sold to Spain's Compania Valenciana and renamed Barcelo , operating between Spanish ports and

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836-408: The majority was acquired in 1916 by Sir John Ellerman and renamed Ellerman's Wilson Line. Thomas was the son of David Wilson (1745–1810) and Elizabeth ( née Gray; born c.  1750 ). He married Susannah West (1796–1879), the daughter of John West and Grace Harrop, at Drypool , Yorkshire, on 1 September 1814. They had 13 children: SM U-102 SM U-102 or SM Unterseeboot 102

874-553: The maritime and business world of the period, as it provides an example of the changing fortunes of a family business. It has been suggested that Thomas Wilson is a good example of the emergence of specialist shipowners at this time. Funnels: Red with black top. Hull: black (Thomas Wilson Sons) or dark green (Ellerman's Wilson) but occasionally white where the vessel had refrigerated capacity. Lost at Bergen in 1885. Transferred to London– Riga service in about 1904 and operated alongside Bailey & Leetham's Jaffa and Zara until

912-746: The new drive through vessels being introduced by competitors. In 1972 switched to Hull – Zeebrugge and in April 1973 was sold to Maritime Company of Lesvos in Greece and renamed Sappho entering service on their Lesvos – Piraeus service in June 1973. The vessel changed hands becoming the Santorini 3 and finally the Santorini before being sold for scrapping at Alang, India arriving there in January 2004. Thomas Wilson (shipping magnate) Thomas Wilson founded Beckington, Wilson and Company in 1822 as

950-513: The outbreak of the First World War . Lost along with 26 of her 29 crew, following a torpedo attack by U-102 , in the Mull of Galloway on 3 March 1918. Sold in 1888 to Tyne Steam Shipping Co., and joined newly amalgamated Tyne Tees Steam Shipping Company in 1904, retaining her name and trading generally to Hamburg. At the outbreak of the First World War she was unlucky to be in Hamburg and

988-416: The partnership and the new company was formed. The two Hudson partners retired in 1840–41 allowing Thomas Wilson to take full control. He brought his eldest son David into the business as his partner. In 1850 his other sons Charles and Arthur joined and became active partners, the name changing to Thomas Wilson Sons and Company, though usually known as the Wilson Line of Hull . Thomas died in 1869 and

1026-417: The remaining company was sold to Sir John Ellerman who created Ellerman's Wilson Line which continued to trade until closed in 1973. None of the partners came from shipping background but were quick to see the opportunity of becoming involved in the industry and they acquired their first sailing ship the "Thomas and Ann" in 1825, and a schooner "Swift" in 1831. In about 1836 John Beckington dropped out of

1064-581: The same success, despite a brief revival in the 1950s, and was eventually closed in 1973 when the Ellerman company turned its focus elsewhere. From a background in iron importing, the focus was on steam shipping, still in its early stages and eventually saw the company become a prominent figure in modern steam shipping. Initially, the firm concentrated on Swedish iron ore importing for the Sheffield iron trades but gradually turned to focus on shipping all over

1102-459: The successful Ellerman Line and supposedly the richest man in Britain at the time. There can be little doubt that the loss of three of its largest and most prestigious ships to enemy action ( Aaro and Calypso sunk; Eskimo captured) in a three-week period in the summer contributed greatly to the Wilson family's decision to sell the company. Though it kept the Wilson name (Ellerman's Wilson Line of Hull) and continued for several years, it never saw

1140-473: The tide pushed her partially onto a bank and as the tide fell she broke her back and became a total loss. All on board were rescued, and much of the cargo and expensive fittings were salved. The hulk quickly began to break up and sink in the mud and she was finally blown up being a hazard to navigation. Sold in 1915 to Ellerman & Papayanni and renamed Italian before being transferred to Ellerman's Wilson Line and renamed Rollo in 1920. Mainly employed on

1178-422: The world, with Hull becoming one of the most significant ports to flourish under the advent of steam. Previously getting out of the Humber Estuary was difficult despite the convenient location of Hull , but with steam, it became easy to reach the sea and navigate around Britain. At one time the firm was well on its way to becoming the world's largest private shipowner. The company stands out as one of interest in

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1216-698: Was a German Type U 57 submarine used by the Imperial German Navy in World War I . U-102 was launched on 12 May 1917. She was commissioned to the Imperial Navy on 18 June 1917. Serving with II Flotilla the U-boat carried out seven war patrols and sank four ships for a total of 9,340  gross register tons  (GRT), and damaged another of 10,757  GRT tons ( HMS Virginian ). About 28 to 30 September 1918 U-102 struck

1254-745: Was detained by the German authorities. She was abandoned by her owners to the North of England P & I Club. After the war ended in 1918 she was returned to the UK where she was sold to Portuguese interests and renamed Afra followed by Leca . She was sold again to the US Shipping Board and allocated to James R. Armstrong of Colon being renamed El Amigo . After 2 further years she was sold on again to Hammond Oil Co., and registered at Tampico, Mexico. Between 1926 and when finally broken up in 1935 she

1292-442: Was for passenger service. She mainly served Bergen and Stavanger until 1911 when she switched to a secondary Grimsby–Kristiansand / Oslo service. Just before the First World War she moved to a Grimsby–Gothenburg service. In wartime she served in coastal traffic and was torpedoed by U-60 and lost off Fastnet Rock on 7 April 1917. Under Wilson ownership she traded mainly from Hull or Newcastle upon Tyne to Copenhagen in

1330-565: Was renamed Edith F and Cecilia as she changed hands a further three times. Sold after less than a year in 1886 to the Greek government and renamed Sfaktirea and used as a naval auxiliary until returned to commercial service about 20 years later as the Mykali . Changed hands several times within the Greek shipping industry being renamed Mykali Togia before finally being scrapped in Italy after

1368-534: Was replaced by the new Calypso in 1904. Ariosto was withdrawn from Wilson service in 1910 after an uneventful career She was sold to Spanish owners La Roda Hermanos of Valencia and renamed Luis Vives . She was lost to a torpedo attack by UB-18 off the Scilly Islands on 11 September 1916. She was badly damaged in a collision in poor visibility with 18,000 ton Hamburg America Line ship President Lincoln in January 1911 and escorted to Dover by

1406-488: Was sold for scrapping in Newport in. A new shore based training school known as RMS Eldorado was established in her memory. In 1910 she was switched to their coastal service from Bergen to Vadso until March 1931, in her 42nd year of service, when she ran aground and was wrecked in a storm off the Norwegian coast. Six lives were lost but thanks to the extreme gallantry of crewman Einar Ramm, 56 people were saved. The Romeo

1444-618: Was surrendered to the U.K. Shipping Controller in March 1919 and placed under White Star Line management. Purchased by Ellerman's Wilson in November 1920 and renamed Calypso in memory of the vessel lost during the war. Early in her new career she performed round trips to India but then settled on the Oslo, Gothenburg and Danzig services, and later became a summer-only vessel on the Hull–Oslo service, laying up in winter at Hull. In 1933 she started

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