Hilda

This section will, in time, contain the stories of more than 450 merchant ships built or owned in the Hartlepools, and which were lost during the First World War. As an illustration of the truly global nature of shipbuilding, these ships were owned by companies from 22 different countries, including more than 30 sailing under the German flag at the outbreak of war.

Fritz Herskind owned ships from the early 1870's. Herksind & Woods was formed in 1884 between Fritz and Peter Herskind and James Jabez Woods. The partnership was dissolved by mutual consent on the 20th August 1892. On 31st August 1892 the Company became known as Herskind & Co. with the main shareholders Fritz and his father Peter.

Five of Fritz's early ships were built by Matthew Pearse and two by Ropner. All of his subsequent ships were built in West Hartlepool and all appear to have been purchased new.

Official No. 81518: Code Letters TNWC: Code Letters HKGF.

Owners: 1880 Fritz Herskind & Woods, West Hartlepool: 1894 Dampskibsselsk Hekla (Mail & Holby) Christiana: 1895 Hilda SS Co (WM Holby) Christiania: 1912 PA Musoeus, Aalesund-renamed Gisko.

Masters: 1881 BB Murrell (C.N. 25232): 1881 Matthew Wandless: 1882-83 Petersen: 1884-89 White: 1890 DJ Greig: 1891-93 W Meek: 1894-96 C Simonsen: 1897-1900 HM Gundersen: 1905-11 H Bjelland: 1915-17 R Schage.

Crew May 1881:

Jenkins, Robert, chief mate

Crew June 1881:

Barnfather, John, cook, 21, West Hartlepool

Blodorn, Carl, able seaman, 35, Stettin, Germany

Browning, James, fireman, 22, Hartlepool

Dobson, Robert, fireman, 21, Middleton

Giskera Salvalor, able seaman, 35, Catania, Italy

Golding, James, donkeyman, 23, Glasgow

Holland, Charles, able seaman, 38, South Shields

Jamieson, John, steward, 24, Lerwick, Shetland

Miller, Robert, boatswain, 41, Preston, Lancashire

Nielson, HH, 2nd mate, 25, Gans Island, Denmark

Paisaz, James J, able seaman, 21, London,

Robertson, John, mate, 30, Lerwick, Shetland

Sand, August, 2nd engineer, 28, Stockholm, Sweden

Scott, James, 1st engineer, 30, Newcastle-on-Tyne

Thoms, James, fireman,     aged 24, Sunderland

Wandless, Matthew, master, 33, Amble, Northumberland

Warwick, Robert, able seaman, 20, West Hartlepool

Wreck Report 11 May 1881:

REPORT of a Court of Inquiry held at Malta into the cause of the collision between the steamship "HILDA" and "EVANGELISTRIA."
Police Court, Malta, 11th May 1881.
‘The English steamship Hilda, built last year at West Hartlepool, owned by F. Herskind, left Port Said on the 5th instant, bound to Malta, under the command of B. B. Murrell, who holds a certificate of competency as master, No. 25,232, and with a crew of 23 all told. On the following morning, from 8 to 12, the chief mate, who holds a certificate of competency as first mate No. 03,047, was the officer on watch; at about half-past nine he left the top bridge, gave orders to the man at the wheel to look out, and went on the main deck to attend the work; at about ten, while he was mixing paint, shouting was heard, and he perceived a sailing ship on her port bow. It was the Greek schooner Evangelistria, built seven years ago at Scopelo, under the command of Siriaco Strata. The weather was fine and clear, with smooth sea and a slight breeze blowing from the north. The chief mate ordered to port the helm, and the captain, who was in the chart room-ran immediately on the top bridge, and ordered the helm to be put hard a-port and to stop the engines and go full speed astern; all these orders were promptly carried out, but, as the sailing ship was too close to HILDA, the collision could not be avoided, and she struck the schooner on her starboard bow. The schooner foundered with the whole cargo, and her crew, eight in number, were picked up by HILDA.
The Court, assisted by Captain Vinceizo Losco, master of the British steamship Mula, and Stephen Staines, master mariner and surveyor of shipping, after having duly considered all the circumstances of the case, has found that the loss of the Greek schooner Evangelistria is attributable to the chief mate, Robert Jenkins, for having left the top bridge when in charge of the Hilda, and not leaving a proper lookout in his absence. The Court has also observed that should the chief mate have given orders to starboard the helm, instead of porting, probably the collision would have been avoided. It is not to be omitted that the chief mate, during his absence from the top bridge, was attending some ship's work on the main deck, which circumstances the Court has taken into consideration in his behalf.
The Court is also of opinion that no blame is attributable to the captain.
The Court therefore suspends the certificate of the chief mate of the steamship HILDA, Robert Jenkins, for three calendar months from this date, with costs, amounting to nine pounds.’