July’s unknown ship brought many replies most of whom identified her as the Jhelum.

The winner of the July competition was John Jordan of Co. Cork.

John Jordan writes:

I believe this ship. is SS Jhelum of 4,038 tons, built by Barclay, Curle & Co. of Glasgow in 1936, for James Nourse Ltd. She was sunk in March 1941 by U-105 off French West Africa. She was part of the scattered Convoy SL-68 bound from Turkey-Capetown-Freetown-UK. Eight of her crew were lost and 49 survived to be interned by the Vichy French authorities at St. Louis, Senegal.

M.S. Green writes:

I think the ship is the James Nourse Jhelum, built by Barclay Curle & Co Ltd., Glasgow, yard No 657 in 1936/4,038grt.

She was torpedoed on 21.03.41 by U 105, 500 miles west of Cabo Blanco.

Ken Dagnall writes:

I believe that the ‘unknown ship’ for the month of July is the Johllla of James Nourse Ltd.

Built in 1937 by Barclay Curle & Co. Ltd., Glasgow

4,042 gross tons, propelled by a triple expansion steam engine with LP turbine.

1960 sold to Chip Nam Co. Ltd., Hong Kong and renamed Singapore Pearl.

1962 sold to Cia de Nav. Darien, Panama and renamed Sentosa.

1964 sold to Hong Kong Shipping Co. (Panama) Ltd., Panama and renamed Doreen.

1965 sold to Holly Navigation Co. S.A., Panama – China Pacific Navigation Co., Hong Kong and renamed Primal Venture.

1968 broken up at Hong Kong by Hong Kong Salvage & Towage Co. Ltd.

Bob Blowers writes:

I believe this month’s unknown ship is the steam ship Jhelum built in 1936 by Barclay, Curle & Co., Glasgow for James Nourse Ltd of London.

She was a typical split-accommodation cargo ship of that time, though smallish at 4,038 Gross Tons, and with dimensions of 120.5 x 16 x 8.7 metres. She was fitted with triple expansion and LP turbine engine giving a service speed of 11 knots.

She had a very similar sister ship the SS Johilla, also built in 1936 by Barclay, Curle, which continued in Nourse Line’s service until 1960 when she was sold to Hong Kong and renamed Singapore Pearl.

In March 1941 the Jhelum, while proceeding in the scattered convoy SL-68, en-route from Izmir in Turkey, Cape Town & Freetown to Oban with nearly 5,000 tons of general cargo she was torpedoed and sunk by U105 some 500 miles off the West coast of Africa, losing 8 of her crew. The Master, 47 crew-members and one gunner were later landed at St Louis, Senegal and were interned by the Vichy French authorities.

Peter Sommerville writes:

I think this ship is the Jhelum (4,038 grt) built by Barclay Curle in 1936 for James Nourse Ltd., London. She was torpedoed and sunk by U105 300 miles NW of the Cape Verde Island with a loss of eight lives. Her sister Johilla built in 1937 by the same yard survived the war and was sold in 1960 finally being broken up in 1968.

Alan Blackwood writes:

This month’s ‘unknown’ is the 4,038 grt steamer Jhelum, the first of two not quite identical shelter deckers constructed by Barclay, Curle & Co. Ltd. at their Whiteinch Yard, to the order of the P & O associated company James Nourse Ltd. of London for prospective employment on their owner’s long established routes UK/ European ports to Calcutta with bulk cargo, thereafter to the West Indies with Rice and gunnies, usually followed by a ballast passage to the US East coast to load bulk grain or similar for the UK.

Following her acceptance trials, Jhelum was delivered on 17th August 1936 and registered at London. She measured

395’5”LOA x 381’1”LBP x 52’9” max. beam and a summer draught of 23’7.75”. Her propulsion machinery consisted of a single triple expansion engine constructed by her builder and supplemented by a low pressure exhaust turbine – the whole fed by superheated steam at 220psi Max. from two single ended boilers.

Jhelum was requisitioned by the Ministry of War Transport’s Liner Division on 16th may 1940. Whilst on a voyage with a cargo of 4,896 tons including 1,400 tons of borax, 1,550 tons of figs and other general from Izmir via Table Bay, initially destined to Oban, she had joined Convoy SL-68 at Freetown for the final stage of her northwards passage, but following its scattering due to attack, she was torpedoed and sunk during the late evening of 21st March 1941 by U-105 in a position some 500 miles due west of Cabo Blanco (French West Africa). Of her crew of 53 plus 1 gunner, eight were lost in the attack with the survivors taking to three of her four boats and landed during 3rd April at St. Louis, Senegal where they were interned by the Vichy French Authorities.

Peter Harris writes:

This month’s Unknown ship is the Nourse Line cargo ship Jhelum, built by Barclay Curle in 1936. Her sister ship was Johilla. 4,038grt. Built for the company’s Indian service. In 1942 she was requisitioned for the liner division and as such was sunk on 21.3.41 by U105, 500 miles west of Cabo Blanco.

Gerald Dodd writes:

I think that July’s mystery ship is James Nourse’s steamer Jhelum. She was built by Barclay, Curle and Co. on the Clyde, for James Nourse SS Co. Ltd., in June 1936, yard number 657. She was 4,038 grt and powered by a triple expansion steam engine with a low pressure turbine.

At 21.59 hours an 21st March 1941 the Jhelum, with a general cargo which included, 1,400 tons of boracite and 1,550 tons of figs from Izmir and Table Bay to Oban, when she was torpedoed and sunk by U 105, in a position 500 miles West of the African coast, at Cabo Blanco. The Master, one gunner and 47 crew members left the ship in 3 lifeboats and landed at St Louis, Senegal where they were interned by Vichy France. 8 crew members lost their lives.

David Smith writes:

I would suggest that the July unknown ship is the Nourse Line steamer Jhelum, built on the Clyde by Barclay, Curle & Co. Ltd. and completed in 1936. She was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic in 1941 with 8 lives lost from her compliment of 54.

Mike Goadby writes:

This month’s unknown ship is the 4’038 grt steamship Jhelum built in 1936 for James Nourse, London by Barclay, Curle at the Clyde Holm yard in Glasgow, (yard no 657). She was powered by a T3cyl with a low pressure turbine which developed 325nhp. She had a very short life of only five years. The vessel was torpedoed by U105 on the 21st March 1941 in a position 500 miles west of Cape Blanco whilst on passage from Izmir to Oran via Table Bay. Her near sister ship built in 1937 was Johilla also from Barclay, Curle. She survived the second world, not being broken up at Hong Kong until 1968.

Laurance Ward writes:

I believe this ship to the Jhelum completed 17/08/1936 for James Nourse Ltd., of London. Built by Barclay, Curle & Co. Ltd., Glasgow Clydeholm Yard and engine supplied by Barclay,

Curle & Co. Ltd of Glasgow. 4,038 grt/2,403 nrt, overall length 381.1 ft, breadth 52.7 ft and depth 23.7 ft. Engine T.3 cyl (20, 32, 52 X 42in) with low pressure turbine, 325 nhp, 1 screw.

16/05/1940 requisitioned for the Liner Division. On the 21/03/1941, she was torpedoed by U105 500 miles West of Cabo Blanco, 21deg N/25deg W on passage Izmir/Table Bay to Oban, with a general cargo.

She had been originally been in convoy SL-68 which had been scattered. Of the 53 crew and a gunner on board, 8 were lost and the rest interned in Senegal, where they landed in three boats on 03/04/1941.

John Chitty writes:

This month’s mystery ship is one of two Barclay Curle & Co. sister ships built for James Nourse ltd., – s.s. Jhelum or s.s. Johilla. Jhelum yard no. 657 delivered August 1936 on following dimensions:

Tonnages 4,038 GRT/ 2,403 NRT on length 381.1 ft. Beam 52.7 ft and depth 23.7ft. Powered by a 3 cyl. triple expansion engine with LP turbine developing 325 NHP. Giving 11 kts. Vessel was sunk by torpedo, when about 300 miles off Cape Verde islands, from U-boat 105 on 21st March 1941, following the scattering of convoy SL.68. Johilla yard no.661 delivered February 1937 on following dimensions: tonnages 4,042 GRT/ 2396 N,RT. Length 395.4 ft. Beam 52.7 ft. Depth 23.7 ft. With main engine of triple expansion engine with LP turbine developing 325 NHP giving speed of 11 kts. in 1960 the vessel was sold to Chip Nam Co. Ltd. of Hong Kong , and renamed Singapore Pearl. 1962 saw her sold on again to Cia de Nav Darien of Panama being renamed Sentosa. A further sale in 1964 to Hong Kong Shipping Co. (Panama) saw her renamed Doreen. Her final renaming to Primal Venture took place in 1965 when she was sold to Holly Nav. Co. s.a. Panama/Pacific Nav. Co. of Hong Kong. In 1968 she was scrapped in Hong Kong by Hong Kong Salvage & Towage.

If pressed to select one I would choose Johilla on bases of her longer career with Nourse Line giving more opportunities for her to be photographed.

Doug Burn writes:

I think the mystery ship is the Jhelum, built in 1936 for Nourse Line by Barclay Curle & Co. Glasgow. Dimensions 4,038 grt 2,403 nrt, length 381.1 x 52.7 x 23.7 feet. Launched 18th June 1936 delivered 17th August 1936, requisitioned for the Liner Division May 1940. On 21st March 1941 she was torpedoed by U105 500miles off Cabo Blanco, bound from Izmir and Table Bay for Oban, with 4,900 tons of general cargo. Of the 53 crew and a gunner on board 8 were lost and the rest interned in Senegal where they landed in three boats on 3rd April. A very short career 1936-1941.