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| Ship: | WESTWARD | | Arrived: | 7 December 1946 | | Departed: | 24 May 1948 | | Career: | Built as cargo ship DANEFOLK by A/S Rodby Havns Jernskibs at Rodby Havn. Four-masted twin screw steel schooner, owned by Suenson & Jespersen, Copenhagen.
24 June 1920 ran aground off the Norfolk coast and was attended to by the LOUIS HEARTWELL, a pulling lifeboat from Cromer ( No. ON495 ) [ShipsNostalgia.com]
c1924 Sold to M A Robinson, registered in London.
1925 September - advertised to make a round the world cruise from Southampton, as twin screw motor yacht WESTWARD.
1939 taken to Harwich, renamed BADGER, part of shore-base HMS BADGER, and used to accommodate naval personnel and stores. She remained in Harwich for the duration of the War.
"Moored at the eastern end of Parkeston Quay, Harwich, to serve as a depot and rest ship for the East coast corvettes of the "Duck" class: SHELDRAKE, PUFFIN, MALLARD etc., and was renamed by the Navy HMS BADGER.
"While I was stationed at Harwich, the BADGER retained her four poles and her hull was painted black except for the bow extended beyond the quay, which was painted white or pale grey. The reason for this, I believe, was a sort of camouflage. The BADGER figures in the background of a number of my war-time paintings.
- P.A. Vicary of Cromer, letter to Sea Breezes published August 1961. Vol. 32 page 147.
Dec 1946 towed from Harwich to the Blackwater. Oyster Company correspondence [ H08_002 ] gives some background. She was serviced by the Oyster Company who provided three watchmen for 24 hour coverage. A boat had to be provided to get them ashore. Still owned by the Admiralty under Director of Small Craft Disposals, who had it placed with H.E. Moss as agents.
24 Oct 1947 'Delivered' by Admiralty to Captain Petersen for new owners.
1948 Hotel Ship at Kobenhavn. D/S Hetland A/S [ George Swieszkowski ]
7 April 1947 Jeff Curtiss records her off Bradwell, in grey, sails removed, no bowsprit.
c1948 purchased by the Crown Development Corp.
Towed to Grimsby and converted to a fish factory vessel ( now two masts and one funnel ) by Doig of Grimsby.
1949 renamed AFRICAN QUEEN, registered in Gibraltar for work in the Mediterranean and Persian Gulf areas [ShipsNostalgia.com]
Renamed ARGENTARIO-1956, PALOMA-1960.
1 Jul 1963 on fire 21.45N/37.20E and broken up Port Sudan Aug 1963
From Oyster Company ledger:
- 24 January 1947 BADGER Compensation 7 wks 1 day, Director of S.C. Disposals.
- 24 May 1948 BADGER compensation 2 wks 2 days. H.E. Moss & Co. (agents).
For summary of some of Oyster Company correspondence, see HH08_002 . | | Tonnage: | 2,001 gross | | Built: | 1920 | | Type: | Auxiliary Schooner | | Official No: | 148556 | | ID | 1148556 |
| Above: Auxiliary schooner WESTWARD. It is not known where this picture was taken but would be 1924 to 1939. She was at Harwich as HMS BADGER during WW2 and was moored off Bradwell 1946-c1949
Official No. 148556, ex DANEFOLK, built 1920, 2,001 tons gross. Date: 1930s.
Source: Mersea Museum | 
| Above: Thought to be the schooner WESTWARD / BADGER when she was in the River Blackwater. She was at Harwich as HMS BADGER during WW2 and was moored off Bradwell 1946-c1949
Official No. 148556, ex DANEFOLK, built 1920, 2,001 tons gross. Date: c1948.
Source: Mersea Museum / Peter Bibby Collection | 
| Above: BADGER laying off Tollesbury Pier. Formerly the yacht WESTWARD. Date: 1945.
Source: Mersea Museum / Kevin Bruce | 
| Above: WESTWARD - small photograph from an album, where it was marked "1925 off Wivenhoe". There is no river bank in the background so perhaps it is a bit farther afield.
She was built as the cargo ship DANEFOLK in 1920 and the same year was aground on the Norfolk coast. In 1925 she was advertised to make a round the world cruise. Date: 1925.
Source: Mersea Museum / Ian Clarke Collection |
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