Doris Voyage History

The Doris on the southern end of Seaton Carew beach in September 1930 before her salvage began.

The Danish auxilliary schooner Doris, which ran aground on the Seaton-side of the North Gare breakwater on 26th September, 1930.

Doris—Lifeboat Elizabeth Newton

1930 26 September—About 12 noon a verbal message was received at the Coxswain’s house from the Coastguard that a vessel was seen to be getting too far to leeward in Hartlepool Bay. The Coxswain & his Assistant happened to be working in the boat-house at the time & the Motor Mechanic had just left the boat-house to go to dinner & had crossed the ferry. He, with some of the crew, at once returned to the house. The signal guns were fired about this time by the Coastguard. The lifeboat was then launched & proceeded across the Bay to the wreck through tremendous broken seas. On arriving near the vessel the Coxswain had to watch his chance & manoeuvre the boat to enable him to get alongside. This he succeeded, with much difficulty, in doing. After asking the Captain by megaphone whether he wished to leave the vessel, the Captain at first said no. The lifeboat was then driven to southward & endeavoured to approach the vessel again. The Coxswain again asked the Captain whether he wished to leave the vessel as he was in a very dangerous position. The Captain then asked the Coxswain where exactly he was & the Coxswain explained his position & told him that if he got on the rocks close by the lifeboat would not be able to get near him. The lifeboat was again washed away from the vessel. After being able to approach her for the third time the Coxswain observed that the men on the vessel had got lines ready to throw to the lifeboat, but the boat was again driven away. On being able to come near the vessel for the 4^th time one of the lifeboat men was able to throw a small line to the vessel & the men on the vessel mad a big rope fast to this line & the lifeboat men then hauled the big rope to the lifeboat & were thus enabled to pull the lifeboat alongside the vessel. When they got alongside the vessel 8 of the men jumped aboard the lifeboat. As the 9^th man was about to jump out, a sea washed him back into the vessel, but the lifeboat was still hanging to the ship by the rope & was able to draw closer alongside & the 9^th man then jumped into the arms of the Assistant Coxswain. The lifeboat men then chopped away the ship’s rope & got clear of the vessel & returned home through heavy seas with the nine rescued men & were greeted by the great crowd, which had gathered along the Town Wall, with hearty cheers. The rescued men were looked after by the agents of the Missions to Seamen & the Shipwrecked Mariner’s Society.

1. Rig, name & port of vessel?—3 Masted schooner, Dorisof Thurso

2. Names of Master & Owner?—Soren Kobke.  Skibrereder Rs Jogensen

3. Number of persons on board?—Nine

4. Tonnage & whether vessel loaded, in ballast, how occupied, whither bound?—218 tons reg. light, from Wick to Hartlepool to load

5. Exact position where casualty occurred?—Just south of Longscar Rocks

6. Nature of casualty, collision or stranding. Did vessel become total wreck? If not, state what became of her.—After crew were rescued vessel washed ashore about 30 yards abreast of North Gare Breakwater & is likely to become a total wreck

7. Direction of wind?—NNE

8. Force of wind?—Strong gale

9. Condition of sea?—Very heavy

10. Condition of weather?—Rain & cold

11. Time when signal was first seen or warning received?—About 12 noon

12. State of tide?—Low water

13. Was information received by telephone or telegraph?—Verbal message by phone from the Coastguard to the Coxswain & the joint Secretary JS Wood.

14. Were the adjacent stations informed of the action being taken by the lifeboat?—Yes

15. Time of launching lifeboat?—12.35pm

16. Time of reaching wreck?—1pm

17. Time of returning ashore?—1.35pm

18. Time of returning lifeboat to boat-house?—4pm

19. Number of lives saved by the lifeboat?—Nine

20. Number of lives lost?—None

21. Was service done under sail or oars?—Motive power

22. How did the boat behave?—Splendidly

23. By whose authority was she ordered out?—Joint Secretary JS Wood

24. State how many hours the Signalman was on duty—

25. Was any damage done to the boat? Extent of repairs required? Are they in hand?—No

26. Were any stores lost or broken?—Megaphone washed overboard

27. Amount, if any, of reward received locally or from elsewhere?—No

28. Will salvage be claimed? State amount if settled.—None

State here the names of the crew of the lifeboat on this occasion & the number of times they have been off in the lifeboat to a wreck.--

Coxswain Robert Hood; Assistant Coxswain Frank Sotheran; Acting Bowman Ben Rowntree; Assistant Motor Mechanic Frank Sotheran junior; Jacque Hood & T Gilchrist

6 men. 2 persons assisting to launch & haul up lifeboat. The helpers were on duty from the time the lifeboat was launched until she was re-housed.

Alfred Belk, Honorary Secretary

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer – Saturday 27 September 1930:

VESSEL ABANDONED. Crew Rescued by Hartlepool Lifeboat.

 (From Our Correspondent.) WEST HARTLEPOOL, Friday.

During a strong northerly gale this afternoon the Danish three-masted motor schooner Doris of Thurso, got into serious difficulties in Tees Bay, and the crew had to abandon the vessel, and were rescued by the Hartlepool lifeboat.

The Doris, which was light, was on voyage from Wick to West Hartlepool, but when attempting to enter the port was blown too far to leeward, and got into difficulties in the vicinity of the Longscar Rocks. The coastguards at Seaton Carew realised the Doris was in a dangerous position, and though she had made no signals of distress, the coastguards summoned the Hartlepool motor lifeboat. Mr. Robert Hood, the coxswain of the lifeboat, said the task of rescue was very difficult. The sea was rough, and they had to make three attempts to reach the Doris. Eventually they got alongside, and the crew of nine jumped into the lifeboat and were brought safely into Hartlepool. They were received by Messrs. J. Graham and Son on behalf of the Shipwrecked Mariners' Society, and looked after at the Mission to Seamen.

CAPTAIN'S STORY. Captain S. Kobki, of the Doris, whom interviewed immediately after his rescue, said they left Wick on Monday, and had had rough weather all the way down the coast.

“When endeavouring to make Hartlepool this afternoon," he said, “I found the vessel was being driven too far to leeward, and was in immediate danger of striking the dangerous rocks off Seaton Carew. We threw out two anchors with especially strong chains and cables and were riding the storm like a cork when the lifeboat arrived. We were warned by the lifeboat crew that if the schooner struck the rocks she could not live ten minutes and it would be impossible to effect our rescue. We, therefore, abandoned the ship.”

Captain Kobki said that if the weather moderated he hoped they would be able to return to the Doris. When the crew abandoned the vessel they had to leave behind all their belongings. “Whilst in Wick,” said Captain Kobki, “I had a dream that the Dons had gone to pieces. It is most singular and I have no idea why I should have had that dream, but I did."

At four o'clock the Doris had dragged her anchors and drifted to within a quarter of a mile of the North Gare breakwater at Teesmouth. Later in the evening she was driven onto the rocks at the base of the breakwater, and if the storm continues nothing can save her from being battered to pieces.

Hundreds of people gathered on the breakwater as the vessel was drifting foot by foot up the beach to the wall, the waves washing completely over her. Had the crew not abandoned the vessel there can be no doubt they would have lost their lives, as rescue operations would have been impossible later in the day.

Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail – Friday 17 October 1930:

THE WRECK OF THE DORIS The Danish three-masted schooner Doris which was wrecked off recently, and at present lying with a broken back near the slag wall, Seaton Carew, has been purchased by the North-East Salvage and Shipbreaking Company. An examination of the engines will he carried out shortly, and arrangements made for the dismantling of the vessel.

Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail – Tuesday 30 December 1930:

Presentations by Lady Londonderry.

THE AWARDS. Capt. Oliver, on behalf of the Lifeboat Institution, then read details of the awards to be presented. The first of these was the vellum and bronze medal to Coxswain Robert Hood of the lifeboat and monetary awards to the members of the lifeboat crew, namely, Acting-Cox. Frank Southern, Acting-Bowman Ben Rowntree, Motor Mechanic H.W. Jefferson. Assist. Motor Mechanic Frank Southern (junr), A. Hood, and T. Gilchrist. . These awards were in connexion with the rescue of the crew of the three masted schooner Doris which was wrecked on September 26.

A HIGH DISTINCTION. A further presentation which the Marchioness was asked to make was that of the vellum to Mr. Alfied Belk, the local honorary secretary to the lifeboat, appointing him as Honorary Life-Governor of the Lifeboat Institution. This, said Mr. Oliver, was the highest distinction that the Institution could confer on any one of its honorary workers and was only given for long and devoted service. Mr. Belk had been hon, secretary since 1881, so that he had held the post for 49 years. His brother preceded him in the position, and during their periods of office the Hartlepool lifeboat had saved 268 lives.

The rescued crew of the Danish schooner Doris, which was wrecked at the North gare on 26th September, 1930 and broken up on Seaton Beach.

The remains of the Danish auxiliary schooner Doris are occasionally seen when tide and weather conditions result in the removal of sand from the wreck site. This image was taken from the North Gare in 1983 by John Yeadon.

A rare colour image of the remains of the Danish auxilliary schooner Doris, which was wrecked at the North Gare in 1930. The stern of the vessel is closest to the camera and part the small auxilliary motor can be seen inside the hull. She was built in Denmark in 1918.

A photo taken in 2013 showing the remains of the engine of the Doris lying near to the North Gare where she was salvaged after being wrecked in 1930.

Images and documents relating to shipwrecks that have occurred around the North Gare and Teesmouth.

Images and documents relating to shipwrecks that have occurred at Seaton Carew.