|
From a South Queensferry WW I Photo and Postcard Album HMS Columbine |
© Reproduced with acknowledgement to John Gordon, Easdale, Oban, Argyll & Bute, Scotland
|
HMS Columbine |
|
The Ship Thank you to John Gordon for sending me the photograph above. It comes from an Album of Photos and Postcards that that was kept during World War I by his great Aunt, Emily Borrowman, when she worked in the Post Office at South Queensferry. |
|
John added: "it appears that Emily spent almost all of WWI at South Queensferry, working at the Post Office. When the Grand Fleet was in the Forth this must have been a busy Post Office." John Gordon, Easdale, Oban, Argyll & Bute, Scotland: February 5, 2013. |
|
The Crew Here is a photograph of the crew of Columbine, taken at the Queensferry studio of photographer, Peter McGill. This also comes from the World War I Album that was kept by Emily Borrowman. |
|
Message 1. Al Lorentzen Inverness, Illinois, USA |
|
Thank you to Al Lorentzen who wrote: |
|
HMS Columbine "HMS Columbine was a very strange looking vessel, indeed. What was her purpose? It looks asif she would capsize in even a moderate wind." Al Lorentzen, Inverness, Illinois, USA |
|
Answer? I don't know the answer to Al's question above. Perhaps somebody will email me with some information that I can pass on to Al. Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: February 24, 2012 |
|
Message 2. John Cavanagh Durham City, Durham, England |
|
Thank you to John Cavanagh for replying to Al Lorentzen's question above. John wrote |
|
HMS Columbine "This ship was one of a long line bearing the name. 'HMS Columbine'. According to the history that I have, this particular one was purpose-built/converted in 1917 to serve as a depot ship based at Port Edgar, serving torpedo boats (destroyers). Hence the bulky shape. She didn't have to go anywhere!" John Cavanagh, Durham City, Durham, England February 25, 2013 |
|
Message 3. David Bain Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England |
|
David Bain read the Wikipedia entry for HMS Columbine, then wrote: |
|
HMS Columbine "HMS Columbine was an Osprey-class screw sloop launched as HMS Wild Swan in 1876, converted to a base ship and renamed HMS Clyde in 1904, renamed HMS Columbine in 1912 and sold in 1920. There's mention elsewhere of HMS Columbine being a shore establishment for destroyers at Port Edgar so I presume the name transferred or was shared with what looks like an accommodation ship." David Bain, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England |
|
Message 4. Al Lorentzen Inverness, Illinois, USA |
|
Thank you to Al Lorentzen who wrote: |
|
HMS Columbine "At first, I thought HMS Columbine might have been a 'prison hulk' as in days of old, but noted there were no bars on the windows." Al Lorentzen, Inverness, Illinois, USA |
|
Al also found an internet page featuring an early prison hulk - a large bulky vessel. The picture was captioned: "The first prison hulks in England appeared after a 1776 act allowed them to be used to house prisoners." |
|
Message 5. Bob Hale Gosport, Hampshire, England |
|
Thank you to Bob Hale who wrote: |
|
HMS Columbine "HMS Columbine was converted to a Depot Ship and my Grandfather joined the ship c1913 as a Marine." Bob Hale, Gosport, Hampshire, England: 26 May 2016 |