Two lifeboats off the port quarter of the stricken general cargo steamer King Cadwallon (1900)

A port quarter view taken from a boat of two ship's lifeboats at 'easy oar' off the port quarter of the general cargo steamer King Cadwallon (1900) aground on Hard Lewis Rocks off St. Martin's, Isles of Scilly. The position of the men to the oars suggests they rowed the boats backwards away from the ship.The port side of the ship is on the right of the image. The boats contain bags of crew belongings.

King Cadwallon was on voyage from Cardiff to Naples with a cargo of coal in foggy conditions when she struck the rocks off St Martin's at about 5am on 22 July 1906. On striking the head canted to starboard and the forehold filled with water within 10 minutes. The crew abandoned ship and awaited rescue. The ship became a total loss after slipping back into deeper water.

Object Details

ID: G14370
Collection: Historic Photographs
Type: Glass plate negative
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Gibson & Sons of Scilly
Date made: Circa 22 July 1906
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Gibson's of Scilly Shipwreck Collection
Measurements: Overall: 6 1/2 in x 8 1/2 in