Ben Dearg wreck
SS Ben Dearg (1925-1951) ex Thomas Alexander, ex Etoile Polaire, ex Daily Express, ex Turcoman The Castle Class trawler Ben Dearg was originally built for the UK Admiralty as the Thomas Alexander, and served most of its life as a trawler in French and UK fisheries. It was renamed the Ben Dearg in 1936 and in 1939 the UK Admiralty requisitioned the Ben Dearg as a minesweeper in World War II. The Ben Dearg arrived in Albany in 1949 with its sister ship Commiles, both owned by the Anglo-Australian Fishing Company. The trawlers were employed in trawling the Great Australian Bight, but the venture was unsuccessful. In 1951 the Ben Dearg was scuttled off Swarbrick’s Beach east of Albany in an area today known as Ben Dearg Beach, while the Commiles was sunk in the Rottnest Island Ships’ Graveyard in 1953 after being used for target practice by the RAAF.
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Country Built UK
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Port Built Beverley
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When Built 1920
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Length 38.30
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Beam 7.20
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Draft 3.90
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Engine triple expansion steam engine
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TONA 280.00
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TONB 109.00
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When Lost 1956/04/14
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Where Lost Ben Dearg Beach, Swarbricks Beach (Herald Pt and Islet Point)
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Sinking Scuttled
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Sunk Code Scuttled
Museum Reference
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wreck Ben Dearg
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Protected Not protected
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Found Y
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Inspected N
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Official Number 144518
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Registration Number 144518
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Confidential NO
Artefact information
| wreck | Ben Dearg |
|---|---|
| When Lost | 1956/04/14 |
| Protected | Not protected |
| Found | Y |
| Inspected | N |
| Where Lost | Ben Dearg Beach, Swarbricks Beach (Herald Pt and Islet Point) |
| Latitude Max | -35.01 |
| Longitude Max | 118.05 |
| Position Information | Position from Harbour Master Report |
| Engine | triple expansion steam engine |
| TONA | 280.00 |
| TONB | 109.00 |
| Country Built | UK |
| Port Built | Beverley |
| When Built | 1920 |
| Port Registered | Fleetwood |
| Official Number | 144518 |
| Registration Number | 144518 |
| Length | 38.30 |
| Beam | 7.20 |
| Draft | 3.90 |
| Sinking | Scuttled |
| Sunk Code | Scuttled |
| Owner | Anglo-Australian Fishing Co |
| Builder | Cook, Wellington and Gemmell Ltd |
| Comments | SS Ben Dearg (1925-1951) ex Thomas Alexander, ex Etoile Polaire, ex Daily Express, ex Turcoman The Castle Class trawler Ben Dearg was originally built for the UK Admiralty as the Thomas Alexander, and served most of its life as a trawler in French and UK fisheries. It was renamed the Ben Dearg in 1936 and in 1939 the UK Admiralty requisitioned the Ben Dearg as a minesweeper in World War II. The Ben Dearg arrived in Albany in 1949 with its sister ship Commiles, both owned by the Anglo-Australian Fishing Company. The trawlers were employed in trawling the Great Australian Bight, but the venture was unsuccessful. In 1951 the Ben Dearg was scuttled off Swarbrick’s Beach east of Albany in an area today known as Ben Dearg Beach, while the Commiles was sunk in the Rottnest Island Ships’ Graveyard in 1953 after being used for target practice by the RAAF. |
| Sources | SRO 729/55 13/8/56 Harbour master Albany 13/8/56 includes sketch of position. Marshall G. L. & Douglas L., 2001, Maritime Albany remembered p.196. Site reported by Paul Davies August 2009 as part of rudder, stern and propeller, hull plates and frames, no engine or boiler. Gregg et al., MH vessels database records #11073 and #11074 accessed 14/ 5/ 2010 |
| Confidential | NO |
| URL | http://www.museum.wa.gov.au/maritime-archaeology-db/wrecks/ben-dearg |