Mersea Island Museum - Blackwater Ships


Ship:      LONDON MERCHANT
Arrived:12 April 1930
Departed:14 June 1935
Career:Launched in 1923 as CANADIANA and completed as LONDON MERCHANT.
Laid up in the River Blackwater in 1930 and remained there for almost five years until purchased by T and J Harrison Line on 28 May 1935 and renamed POLITICIAN. On 5 February 1941 she struck rocks off Roshinish point on the Island of Eriskay in the Hebrides. She was on voyage from Liverpool to Kingston and New Orleans with a cargo of Cotton goods, general merchandise, RAF and Army stores and 22,000 cases of Scotch whisky. She was subsequently refloated, beached and partially broken up where she lay. [ from ShipsNostalgia.com 2009 ]
She became well known when the 1947 book 'Whisky Galore' by Compton Mackenzie and the 1948 film of the same name were based on her grounding and sinking.
Arrival date April 1930 from document DF 106/1/10/12 T&MNOFC Record of Ships Moored on Fishery 1930-33 at Essex Record Office.
-14 June 1935 Unmoor Owner/agent T. & J. Harrison.

Voyage Record Card gives arrival off Tollesbury 12 Apr 1930 from London and departure 14 Jun 1935 for Livepool. She had been sold as per Lloyds List 18 May 1935 and renamed POLITICIAN.
Arrived 12 Apr 1930 sailed 7 Dec 1932 [George Swieszkowski - Lloyds List]

"Haven of Rest" by Douglas Gurton lists the vessel but has no further info. See DJG_SHP

Tonnage:7,899 gross
Built:1923
Type:Cargo ship
Official No:147482
ID1147482

LONDON MERCHANT laid up in the River Blackwater. She was laid up 1930, west of Tollesbury Pier. Photograph from A. Duncan.

She was launched in 1923 as CANADIANA and completed as LONDON MERCHANT.
Laid up in the River Blackwater in 1930 and remained there for almost five years until purchased by T and J Harrison Line on 28 May 1935 and renamed POLITICIAN. On 5 February 1941 she struck rocks off Roshinish point on the Island of Eriskay in the Hebrides. The event found fame in the film

Above:  LONDON MERCHANT laid up in the River Blackwater. She was laid up 1930, west of Tollesbury Pier. Photograph from A. Duncan. She was launched in 1923 as CANADIANA and completed as LONDON MERCHANT. Laid up in the River Blackwater in 1930 and remained there for almost five years until purchased by T and J Harrison Line on 28 May 1935 and renamed POLITICIAN. On 5 February 1941 she struck rocks off Roshinish point on the Island of Eriskay in the Hebrides. The event found fame in the film "Whisky ... Date: Before May 1935.
Source: Mersea Museum / Ian Clarke Collection

River Blackwater, Tollesbury. Postcard mailed 15 September 1931

Second ship from the left is LONDON MERCHANT. Date: Before September 1931.

Above:  River Blackwater, Tollesbury. Postcard mailed 15 September 1931 Second ship from the left is LONDON MERCHANT. Date: Before September 1931.
Source: Mersea Museum / Cedric Gurton Tollesbury


Copyright Mersea Island Museum Trust 2024
Hosted by Krystal.io

";