The winner of the July competition was Alan Blackwood of Troon.

Alan Blackwood writes:

This month’s ‘unknown’ is the single screw 1,557 grt Cedartree of the Shamrock Shipping Company Ltd. of Larne, one of a series of equally sized and similar design steamers operated by the Company during varying intervals between 1898 and 1955. Completed by John Crown & Sons Ltd. at their Monkwearmouth Yard, Sunderland to the order of the London based Tree Steamship Company Ltd. (Howard Jones Ltd., Managers) during May 1928, her main propulsion was by a 193 nhp triple expansion engine constructed by G. Clark Ltd., of Wallsend-on-Tyne and returning a maximum speed of 10 knots. She had overall dimensions of 245.0 x 36.6 x 16.0 feet. She was sold to J. Crown & Sons (her builder) on 15th June 1933, retaining her name and original PoR of London, preparatory to onward sale the following year to Francis W. C. Common of Newcastle, again without name change or port of registry. During 1936 her registered ownership was transferred to the Home Line Ltd. of Newcastle (Common Brothers Ltd., Managers). Again without change of name or original PoR., she was purchased during 1938 by the Shamrock Shipping Company with management appointed to Wm. Lawson & A.R. Watson. During 1940 W.C. Lawson was appointed manager and during 1950 transferred to that of Charles S. Brown. Cedartree was sold out of the Shamrock fleet during 1956 to L. S. Carr (Shipping) of Newcastle and further disposed of later in the year to Vrangos Inc. of Panama (Panajotis Vrangos, Manager), when renamed Bluebell. During 1957 she was renamed Silverbell without change of registered ownership. Resold during 1958 to Campagnia Esercizi Maritima Manfredonia (Vincenzo Scarcia, Manager) when renamed Peppinella, she was registered at Bari for Italian flag operation. Whilst on voyage from Venice to Amsterdam, she collided in thick fog during 20th April 1958 with the 8,584 grt Bergen registered cargo ship M.V. Sunoak and sank near the Fairy Bank in a position some 30 miles east of Ramsgate. Her 63 year old Triestian Master refused to abandon his charge and went down with her. The remaining 19 crew members survived.

H. Newham writes:

The unknown ship in the July issue is the Cedar Tree built in 1928 By J. Crown & Son, Sunderland for Tree Shipping Co.Cardiff. In 1933 she was returned to the builders and layed up. In 1934 she was sold to Common Bros. Newcastle. There is no record of her trading with this the company. She was sold in 1938 to Shamrock Shipping Co., Larne. In 1956 she was sold to Greek owners and in 1958 she sank after a collision.

Michael Luscombe writes:

I think the ship is RFA Bacchus, built by Caledon Shipbuilders and launched in July 1936. She served throughout World War Two. She continued her service after the war and was sold in 1962 and became Pulau Bali.

Derick Goubert writes:

July’s unknown ship is Shamrock Sg. Co. Ltd. S.S. Cedertree, o.n. 160409, 1557grt, 824nrt, 245×36.6×16.0 ft, T3cy (19,31,51×36″) engine by G. Clark Ltd., Sunderland, 193 nhp. She was built by John Crown & Sons Ltd., Sunderland in 1928 for Tree SS. Co. Ltd. (Howard Jones Ltd. Managers), London. In 1933 she was sold back to the builders. In 1934 sold to Francis W. C. Common, Newcastle. In 1936 she was transferred to Home Line Ltd., (Common Bros. Ltd. Managers), Newcastle. In 1938 she was sold to Shamrock Sg. Co. Ltd., Larne (Wm. Lawson and A. R. Watson, managers). In 1940 W. C. Lawson was appointed manager. In 1950 Charles S. Brown was appointed manager. In 1956 she was sold to L. S. Carr (Sg.) Ltd. In 1956 she was sold to Vrangos Inc. (Panajotis Vrangos manager), Panama and renamed Bluebell. In 1957 she was renamed Silverbell. In 1958 she was sold to Cia. Esercizimar Manfredonia (Vincenzo Scarcia manager), Italy, and renamed Peppinella. On 20-4- 58 she collided in fog on first voyage for this owner with Sunoak 8,584grt/1956 on voyage Venice to Amsterdam and sank 30 miles east of Ramsgate.

Mike Goadby writes:

This month’s unknown ship is the steamship Cedartree built by J. Crown and Sons Ltd., Sunderland in 1928 for Tree Shipping Co Ltd., Cardiff, owned by Howard Jones Ltd., London. She was sold to Shamrock Shipping Co. Ltd. of Larne Northern Ireland. In 1956 the vessel was sold to P. Vangros and renamed Bluebel”, later, in 1958 she was sold to Italian owners and renamed Pepinella. On April 20th 1958 she collided with Sunoak and sank on Fairybank, east of Broadstairs, Kent. The ship was on her first voyage for her new owners.

Peter Sommerville writes:

This month is a complete stab in the dark and influenced by the George Rankin of Leith article in the July issue. I will guess Abbotsford (1,588 grt) of the above company built by Goole Shipbuilders in 1924 and sunk by a torpedo 10th March 1940.