Postcard Portraits

Morrison's Postcards

Sailor

HMS Zedwhale

This postcard portrait of a sailor was provided by Maureen McIntyre.  She believes this to be a photograph of her great great uncle, John Richmond, taken  around the time of the First World War, wearing his own naval uniform.  The name on the cap is HMS Zedwhale

It is from one of Morrison's studios.   George G Morrison had a studio at Portobello from 1912 until 1928.

Question 1

Does anybody have any information about HMS Zedwhale, or any other comments about this photograph.  This is the only one that I have seen in this style from Morrison's studios.

If you have an views or comments, can you please email me so that I can pass on details to the owner of the photograph.  Thank you.

Answer 1 to

Question 1

John D Stevenson

Trinity, Edinburgh

Many thanks to John D Stevenson, Scottish Maritime History Researcher for providing the following comprehensive information (and more) taken from several reference books:

'HMS Zedwhale'

"HMS ZEDWHALE was the first of fifteen Admiralty Whalers, ordered 15 March 1915 and built by Smith's Dock Co, using designs prepared for whalers to be built for the Russian Government. 

-  The ship was launched in July 1915 and given the number Z1.

-  In September 1915 she was renamed MEG and given the Admiralty No 1790.

-  In 1916, she was renamed ZEDWHALE.

-  On 12 February 1920, she was sold out of service under the same name: new  owners unknown.

-  Within two years, she had been sold to Russian owners and renamed TSAR DUSHAN.  Tsar Dushan was the Tsar of Serbia 1346-55 !"

Answer 2 to

Question 1

Gus Coutts

Duddingston, Edinburgh

Thank you also to Gus Coutts for letting me know that his copy of "Jane's Fighting Ships of World War 1" includes a photograph of HMS Zedwhale together with the names of the other 13 Admiralty Whalers in this class.

All were built 1915 by Smiths Dock Co, 336 tons,  dimensions 139.75 ft x 25 ft x 6.5 ft,  complement 26.

Gus Coutts, Duddingston, Edinburgh:  July 11, 2009

Question 2

Joan  Smurthwaite

Scotland

Is anything else known about HMS Zedwhale?  If you have any further details of this ship, please e-mail me so that I can pass on the information to Joan Smurthwaite who wrote in December 2005:

'HMS Zedwhale'

"Hi,   Though I have nothing to add to the reply already given I just wanted to say that my Father in Law's brother was a Deck Hand aboard this vessel during WW1.

He died in January 1916 aged 19yrs.  I am in the process of sending for his death certificate to see where/how he died.  He is mentioned on the Commonwealth Graves site, so I feel sure his death must have been as a casualty of the war.  He is buried in Whitby, his home town.

I was hoping to find out more about the vessel Zedwhale other than what I already know and is shown on your site,

Maybe someone might see this & be able to tell me of any incident that might have occurred around Jan 1916, regarding HMS ZETWHALE.

Did something happen in or around Whitby at that time or was it elsewhere?   Thank you.

Joan  Smurthwaite, Scotland:  18 December 2005

Answer 1 to

Questions  2

Dave Mallinson

Thank you to Dave Mallinson who wrote:

William Smurthwaite

Joan Smurthwaite asked about her father-in-law's brother, William Smurthwaite DH RNR (STS) 3238SD,  aged 19 son of James and Alice Smurthwaite, Carr's Yard, Bagdale, Whitby who was drowned on Monday 24 January 1916.

He is indeed buried in Whitby cemetery and his name is commemorated on the Memorial Board located in the Parish Church of St Mary, Whitby. It is unlikely that he died as a result of naval action, his cause of death, record as drowning, coupled with him being the only fatality suffered by ZETWHALE around this date, would suggest an accidental death, he was however undoubtedly a casualty of that war.

Dave Malinson, Stontamar Naval Research:  February 11, 2010

Question 3

William Douglas

Balfron, Stirlingshire, Scotland

Thank you to William Douglas who wrote:

"Lt Hon Ronald Douglas served on HMS Zedwhale.  He was the son of the 19th Earl of Morton, and brother to William, who almost certainly was involved in Q ships operating out of Granton.

Is it possible that this vessel was used as a Q ship?

William Douglas, Balfron, Stirlingshire, Scotland:  July 6, 2009

Answer 1 to

Questions  3

Dave Mallinson

Thank you to Dave Mallinson who answered the question about whether or not HMS Zedwhale might have been used as a Q ship.

Dave wrote:

'HMS Zedwhale'

'Q Ship'

"Yes, HMS Zedwhale was used as a Q-ship.  Carson Richie in his book on the subject, Q-ships ,published by Terence Dalton Ltd in 1985 ISBN 0 86138 011 8 devoted three pages to her involvement.

Originally built as a submarine chaser under  nomenclature Z1, she was taken up 2 August 1915, renamed MEG, and as such was under French command with a French crew and flying the tricolour but under the orders of the British Admiralty.

Richie classes the vessel as "something of a mystery among mystery ships" not only questioning her raison d'etre,

Admiralty Comments

The Admiralty had an obsession that the German's had secured a U-Boat base in British or adjacent neutral waters.

The Admiralty classed Zedwhale as "unseaworthy"
(Report from her first commanding officer Lieutenant de Vaisseau Auxiliarre Jean Charlot after she nearly floundered off North Rona Island)
and "quite unfit to be at sea in Atlantic winter weather, only fit for service inside the Minch in small seas"
(Lieutenant de Vaisseau Auxiliarre Jean Charlot (1915) on the bridge of the MEG).

Built by Smith's Dock Co. Ltd., South Bank and completed in July 1915 HM Whaler ZEDWHALE was eventually sold on 20 February 1920 to commercial buyers and later renamed TSAR DUSHAN.  

Dave Malinson, Stontamar Naval Research:  February 11, 2010

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