RADCLIFFE                                 


Operator       Radcliffe Channel Islands Shipping Co. Ltd.

Builder          H.B. Nevins Inc, City Island, New York  Comp 1.6.1942

Tonnage        251grt  158nrt

Dimensions   138'6"  24'2"  7'3"

Propulsion    Twin screw, 8 cyl oil engines.

Passengers    350 passengers



Built in America as part of the War effort, the vessel was purchased by Mr. W. R. Metcalf when his Radcliffe Channel Islands Shipping Co. Ltd. won the contract to provide the shipping services between Guernsey and Sark. Named RADCLIFFE she arrived in Guernsey on July 22 1949 and took up service the same day. The company got into financial difficulties in December that year, and the vessel made her last call to Sark on December 3 and sailed for Falmouth on December 9.

Mr Metcalf continued in business and renamed the vessel REGENCY BELLE in July the following year and operated her on excursions from Brighton to Worthing and along the coast.

She remained registered in Guernsey, and ownership passed on January 18 1951 to  Mr. S. R. Crowe. On August 4 1952 the vessel with 162 passengers grounded off the West Pier at Brighton, and all were trapped and drenched until the tide came in again.                                                                                     

On May 2 1955 the vessel passed to Joint owners with Mr. W. R. Metcalf again being involved, but later in the month she was registered to Torbay Cruising Co. Ltd. ( S. Barber) and operated from Paignton.   On  December 26 1956 she sank at her mooring at Paignton but was raised with substantial damage, and was repaired by Dorset Lake Shipyard.

In February 1964 she was delivered to Lowestoft for her new owners Marine Salvage & Survey Service Ltd to whom she was registered on April 28 that year. Her Guernsey registry was closed on March 12 1965 on transfer to London and on July 3 that year she sailed from Lowestoft as REGENCY having been converted into a  supply vessel for the new oil industry in the North Sea.

The venture could not have been a success as she was sold by the Admiralty Marshall to Overseas & General Brokerage & Finance Co. Ltd. on January 6 1966 and her end came on September 19 1967 when she sank off the Wolf Rock after being gutted by a  fire which broke out in the engine room.


                                                                                                                Picture  :  WSSPL   111w  12k   






































Leaving St. Peter Port In this picture you can make out the light ochre colour between the black hull and white top section.                                                            




                                                                                                           Picture  :  Unknown   



































Approaching Le Maseline Harbour.                                     




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Alongside in Le Maseline Harbour, Sark.                                                              




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RADFORD                                                       On 163735           



Owner          Radcliffe Channel Islands S.S. Co

Builder         H. Robb Ltd., Leith.                Completed 11.1935

Tonnage       477grt  184nrt    

Dimensions  150.0(rl)  27.7  13.5

Propulsion   Single screw, SR, 3cyl 13 " 23" & 38" -27"  154NHP  860IHP   

                                                                                                      18 knots.




This vessel was completed for the Royal Navy in November 1935 as H.M.S. BASSET, a trawler, and following War service she was sold on September 13 1947 to Mr. W.R. Metcalfe

After conversion into a passenger / cargo vessel she was registered in Guernsey on July 31 1948 as RADFORD, with the owner being William Radcliffe Metcalfe, trading as Radcliffe Channel Islands S.S. Co., of Victoria Street, Alderney. The Managing owner was given as Mr. Metcalfe of Esplanade Quay, Cambridge, Dover, but this was altered on September 14 to Victoria Street, Alderney. The master being Albert Terence Mastin, and the ship was mortgaged to Barclay Bank on August 12.

RADFORD took over the Weymouth, Alderney, Guernsey service from DUNAVON, arriving in Guernsey for the first time on August 2 1948.

The company went into liquidation in December 1949, and RADFORD left Guernsey for the last time on December 7 1949. The ship was registered to Barclays Bank on December 20 1949 with, R.L. Davis of 58 Theobalds Road, W.C.1. being appointed manager.

The ship was laid up at Falmouth, and interestingly John Lawson Metcalfe, (holding no certificate) was appointed master on October 28 1950, and on January 23 1952 there was a Bill of sale by Barclays Bank to Charles Barnett of Chateau Le Toc, Alderney, being entered the into Register 28 January 1952.

The ship’s register was cancelled on 1953 13 August 13 1953, the ship being broken up. This on advice  from owners.





Pictue  :  WSSPL   






































RADFORD swinging in St. Peter Port Harbour.




Picture  :                 201w  31.5k  


































Vessel alongside in Weymouth.








RED COMMODORE                  1947 - 1948              On 181712



Operator        Commodore Cruises Ltd.

Builder           Dickie & Sons, Bangor.     1942

Tonnage         1947  101grt  53nrt

                     1948  120grt  64nrt

Dimensions     1947  112.0(rl)  17.8  7.65     

                    1948  108.4(rl)  17.8  9.5

Propulsion     Twin screw, Gray Marine Motor Corp, Detroit.  330 BHP     

                                                                                                         11 knots



RED COMMODORE is a unique vessel in Channel Islands shipping history, as her charter for the Guernsey to Sark services in 1947 resulted in the formation of Commodore Shipping which today is known as Condor Ferries.

Built as RMS 537 in 1942 she was registered to at London to Charles Barnett  September 4 1947, the owner being the MD of Commodore Cruises Lim.

RED COMMODORE arrived in St. Peter Port on September 9 1947 on charter to Sark Projects Ltd. who were starting a service between Guernsey and the other islands.  The company failed, but the owners of RED COMMODORE saw the potential of operating this type of craft on the route, and returned the following year in their old right.

The vessel had departed St. Peter Port on October 29 1947 bound for Newhaven, but returned to Guernsey on July 28 1948 to operate for Commodore Cruises Ltd.  

She operated the summer season, and departed back to Newhaven on October 29 1947 and was not seen again.

Due to material alterations the ship was re-registered on July 31 1948 with Charles Barnett still being the owner.

Following her Guernsey service the ship was sold by Bill of Sale dated June 5 1951 to Commodore Cruises Ltd, and then on May 2 1952 she passed to Walter Fletcher CBE MP (co owner of Commodore Cruises Ltd.), and the Register was closed on October 20 1952 upon being broken up.


                                                                                                                                               Picture :  Unknown



























                             RED COMMODORE pictured having just arrived in St. Peter Port and being made

        ready for service in  September 1947.


This ship holds a special place in Commodore / Condor   history, as it was as result of her charter for the Sark service in 1947 that   Commodore Cruises Ltd themselves commenced a service the following year with Commodore Shipping Ltd. being formed in 1952. Later in 1964 the company was involved in the formation of Condor Ltd, and in 1983 took full control of the company.

In 2003 the Commodore Group changed its name to the Condor Group.           


                                                                                                        Picture  :  WSPL  301w  443k   






































Another picture of RED COMMODORE taken at an English port.                               

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RESCUE  (I)                   1869-1878            On. 63476




Owner          A. Collenette.                                      

Builder         William. Hepple & Son,  Low Walker on Tyne, Newcastle on Tonnage       82grt  20nrt                                                                Tyne.  1869

Dimensions   84.3(rl)  18.0  9.4

Propulsion    Paddles,                                     33 HP


                                                           

Registered in Guernsey on October 7 1869, she arrived in St. Peter Port on October 22 from her builders. Apart from towing sailing vessels in and out of the harbours, RESCUE (I) also undertook excursions within the islands, and is noted as operating one to Jersey on June 6 1870.

It is interesting that details from the Ships Registry states that she remained owned by Abraham Collenette through her time in Guernsey, whereas the Mercantile Naval List gives her owner from 1873 as William Warren Bird, Senior, also of Guernsey.

The ships spent a relative short life of only nine years in Guernsey, being sold in October 1878 to William Brown of Monkwearmouth, Durham, and the ship being registered in Sunderland. He was not the sole owner with 28 shares, others being Robert Lumley Cook, (also a steam tug owner) having 21, John Hazard, (master mariner) having  10, and John Brown, (waterman) having  5.

But this changed in only three months, due to the death on January 24 1879 of William Brown, resulting in his shares passing to Elizabeth Brown. On September 5 1893 John Brown sold his 5 shares to R. L. Cook, and on July 26 1895  all other shares in the vessel passed to him, but a mortgage was held still by Elisabeth Brown. Robert Lumley Cook was shown as trading from 12 James William Street, Sunderland.

The ship did stay long in his ownership as she foundered 4 miles S.E. by E. of the Harbour Light at Sunderland on August 3 1897.





                                                                                                     Picture  :              303w  209k   







































RESCUE (I) About to depart St. Peter Port



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RESCUE  (II)                      1878-1896                     On. 75269

                                                

Owner          John T. Laine.

Builder         J.T. Eltringham, South Shields.    1878

Tonnage       1878   104grt  10nrt

           1888 111grt  0nrt

                   1890     94grt  10nrt  

Dimensions   101.4(rl)  18.0  9.3

Propulsion    Paddles, SR, 1cyl 35 " -54" side lever engine  75 RHP

Passengers   112



Built to replace a vessel of the same name, and at a time that two screw steamers had been built for Guernsey trade in the previous four years, it is surprising that paddles as a method out propulsion was selected. Sailing vessels were still being towed in and out of port, but the excursion trade was starting to build up in the Islands.

Registered in Guernsey on July 9 1878 to John Thomas Laine, the vessel is noted operating a excursion from Greve  de Lecq, Jersey to Sark on August 28 1878, and also provided excursions to Sark.

By 1887 she was owned by the Guernsey Towing & Trading Co. which had been formed by Mr. Laine, and by June 1895 the vessel no longer had a passenger certificate.

With a new vessel building she was sold by a Bill of Sale dated May 7 1896 to John Murray of South Shields, though the ship had departed St. Peter Port for South Shields the day before. The press report stating that she was to be used as a trawler. On May 22, 2 shares in the vessel passed to Thomas Murray, and she remained with them until her registry was closed on September 16 1913 having been sold for breaking up at Slikkerveer, Holland.



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RESCUE (I) Embarking passengers




                                                                                                Picture  :             301w  288k  










































Pictured at the end of the North Pier in Jersey.







                                                                                                             Picture  :  jws 1045   





























RESCUE (II) seen inside Creux Harbour Sark. Note that there is no landing opening  landing in the end of the jetty, something which was built so that once the south pier head was built and vessels no longer entered the harbour, passengers                                                                                                       203w  51.9k






                                                                                                         Picture  :          321w  98.5k   
































Moored off Creux Harbour.                                                                                 






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RIDUNA                              1927 – 1931             On 144466



Owner Owner        Alderney Steam Packet Co. ., (Mgr N.P. le Cocq Barbenson.)

Builder        Bow, McLachlan & Co. Ltd., Paisley             1904

Tonnage      224grt 88nrt

Dimensions 130.0(rl)  23.2  11.5

Propulsion   Single screw, SR, 3cyl 13" 20" & 30 " -21"   65 RHP

Passengers   200     



Purchased by the Alderney Steam Packet Co in April 1927 to replace the paddle steamer HELPER, RIDUNA arrived in St. Peter Port from Appledore at 22:00 hrs on Monday April 29, having left the English port at 18:30 hrs the previous day.


The next day, May 30,  she ran three pleasure trips round Herm and Jethou in  the evening, each with full load of 200, and the following day made her maiden voyage to Alderney, still with the white hull of her previous owners, and four days later on June 3 she made her first call at Sark.

On October 6 1928 management of the company passed to Peter Thomas Mignot and Edward George  Willis, but the company was in difficulties and was placed into liquidation in 1929, with a new company of the same name being registered in Guernsey. It had offices at 39 Pollet Street, with Peter Thomas Mignot being the sole manager, and a bill of sale dated November 18 placed the vessel in the hands of the new company.

This move did not resolve the problems, and less than two years later on February 2 1931 it was announced that the company was to be taken over by the St. Malo & Binic Steam Ship Co. Ltd., but the deal did not include  RIDUNA.

She remained for a short period to cover the overhaul of COURIER which she replaced the following day  February 2, and maintained the services until making her last trip to Sark on March 9, and to Alderney on March 10/11 1931, the last sailing of the Alderney Steam Packet Co.  

On March 31 1931 the ship left St. Peter Port at 20:30 hrs bound for shipbreakers at Plymouth, being officially sold to William Hubert Davies, Freeman's Wharf, Storehouse, Plymouth, by bill of sale dated May 18. Her registry was officially closed on March 26 1932.


The vessel had been built in 1904 as H.M.S. ARGUS with her first crew joining on March 4 1905, and she remained as such until 1916 when she was transferred to the H.M. Coast Guard service as the cutter ARGON.

At the end of the 1914-1918 war there was no regular passenger service to the Scilly Isles, and following a meeting in the islands a delegation went to London, and with the help of Mr William Henry Ward , brother to Fred Ward one of the delegation (soon to become Chairman of the new company) purchased the vessel. The vessel was purchased by W.H. Ward in his own name, renamed PENINNIS, and registered in London as such on March 31 1920, but registry was transferred to Scilly on April 6 1920. She remained in his ownership until March 11 1921 when she was “sold” to the Isles of Scilly Steamship Co. Ltd., and remained in service until February 1926 when having been replaced by the new vessel SCILLONIAN, she was laid up at Appledore.

In Guernsey, the paddle steamer HELPER was not an ideal vessel for the services to Sark and Alderney. The point was proved on March 31 1927 when she suffered damage to a paddle box and also plating at Sark, the result  was that it was decided to replace her with the laid up vessel, and she was acquired by a bill of sale dated April 23 1927.




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  RIDUNA arriving St. Peter Port in her white livery..   





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   Vessel seen at Alderney.                                                          





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   A lovely picture of RIDUNA now with a black hull passing the Cambridge berth.

 Note PRINCESS ENA in the background. Date on the back of the post card is

 July 19 1928.                                                                                   338w  214k





                                                                                                                                                             Picture  :    341w  50.4k













































   The vessel enters St. Peter Port at speed.                                                341w  50.4k   




                                      




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ROSE                       1851                 On 9531



Owner         Thomas Rose.

Builder        F.C. Clarke, West Park, Jersey.      1851

Tonnage      83 3379/3500 burthen tons   : 129gr  

Dimensions 125.3(rl)  18.0  9.3

Propulsion   Paddles,




The vessel was built at the Jersey shipyard of F. C. Clarke at West Park for the Jersey owner Mr. Thomas Rose.

Appropriately named ROSE the vessel was launched on May 30 1851 and it is stated that the boiler from SUPERB (wrecked on the Minquiers) was installed on June 13, and she made a trial trip to Guernsey on July 21. ROSE then made a trip to Guernsey and Alderney July 30 before entering the trade to  Saint Malo the day after.

The service must have run into difficulties 1853, as on December 27 the newspaper stated that “the vessel has been acquired by  Jersey & Australian S.N. Co, and should  should soon leave for  Melbourne.

In the event this did not take place, as the paper reported on February 3 1854 that “the vessel has been acquired by Jersey Steam Navigation & Towing Association”. The had a new boiler installed in the April, and she took up service to Granville on May 13, with the service being advertised on June 2 under Jersey Steam Packet Co.

The vessel had in fact been sold on May 9 to Giffard Nicholas Le Quesne, Thomas Rose,  George Mann and Charles Orange all trustees of the Jersey Steam Packet Company.

On August 26 1856 the vessel was in distress off the Minquiers, and was towed to Jersey by  SIR FRANCIS DRAKE.

The vessel arrived in Jersey for the last time on October 4 1861, and was then laid up until being sold on October 10 1862 to Captain John de Caen who had the vessel repaired by Mr. George Innis before sailing for London on October 30 on speculation.

She remained there, still registered in Jersey, and on June 10 1863 she was registered to William Hutchison Thomson, London, and was again sold on December 24 1863 to John Yuill who on that day moved the port of registry to London, and four days later on December 28 she was registered to

Donald Macgregor, of 24 Harrington Square, Regents Park.

The new owner then sent the vessel across the Atlantic Ocean to take part in the American Civil War, but she was too small and slow to make an impression. Still named ROSE she ran aground off Georgetown on June 2 1864 when inbound from Nassau, and was then destroyed by WARSUTTA,

Though some information state that she was captured by the Federals.

Stamps.


                                                                                                                                                                                  Picture  :  Jersey Heritage Trust collection


























                                                                                                                                           P.  J. Ouless sketch dated October 30 1858




                                                                                                                                                                                  Picture  :  Jersey Heritage Trust collection

























                                                                                                                                                     P. J. Ouless sketch dated June 24 1859         








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ROSE STAR            Carteret - Gorey route 1929 - 1930       

JOY BELL II             Guernsey - Sark route 1931 - 1933


Owner          Mr Rose.

Builder         Lloyds, Albert Yard, Woolston.                   1924

Tonnage       60gr  32net 27dw

Dimensions   71.4(rl)  16.0  8.2

Propulsion    Twin screw, Gardner & Sons, 4 cyl oil engines, each 48 HP

Passengers    106 pass



This vessel first came to the Channel Islands in 1929 having been acquired in June by  Mr. Rose of Cherbourg, who was the agent at the port for the White Star Line. He placed her on the route between Carteret and Gorey. The venture was not a success and ceased after only two years.

The vessel had been built in 1924 as UNITE, for Montagu Aubrey Lloyd.  at his yard  at Woolston, Southampton, and registered at Southampton on June 6. On April 21 1926 she passed to Lloyds Albert Yard & Motor Packet Services Ltd., and on June 6 1929 her certificate was cancelled upon sale to Mr. Rose of Cherbourg

Following her two years at Carteret she was purchased by Sark Motor Ships of 6 New Street, St.Peter Port., with Manager/owner being Duncan Henderson C.B.G.,  La Ville Ruissel, Sark.. She was registered in Guernsey on May 29 1931 as JOY BELL II, but she had a short life on the service, being lost on February 24 1933 when she broke from her moorings at Sark and was dashed to pieces.


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 Two post cards of vessel in Carteret.                                                             




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                                                                    Picture : G.P.C. Ltd.   305wa  93k      








































 JOY BELL II in Creux Harbour, Sark.                                                 




                                                              Picture : G.P.C. Ltd          300wa  39k        





    



































 JOY BELL II nearing Cat Rock.                                             




                                                               Picture :  Unknown   31owa  122k        









































 JOY BELL II seen here with COURIER (1886) outside Creux Harbour, Sark.

  Pictured between May 1931 and February 1933                               








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