Isle of Guernsey
The Southern Railway, with its long-established association with the shipbuilding firm of William Denny and Bros Ltd., of Dumbarton, not surprisingly commissioned this company to build two new vessels for its Southhampton-Channel Islands route. The Isle of Guernsey was commissioned in 1930 and enjoyed great popularity in the islands. Of 2,143 gross tons; 862 net; her length was 296 ft. 5 in.; beam 42 ft. 1 in.; depth 14 ft. 2 in.; and she could carry 800 first-class and 600 second-class passengers. Her speed was 19′/2 knots and she was driven by four steam turbines, single reduction geared to two screw shafts. She was notable as one of the first ships to be fitted with echo-sounding apparatus.
The Isle of Guernsey travelled regularly across the Channel until the outbreak of war in September 1939, when she was converted into a hospital ship. Serving at the evacuation of Dunkirk, she was attacked by German aircraft and damaged by shrapnel, shells and bullets but successfully avoided the bombs which were aimed at her.
Later in the war she was engaged in Scottish waters and elsewhere. In 1944, the Isle of Guernsey was fitted up as a landing ship, infantry, and used in the D-day operations. She carried Canadians to France on D-day and immediately afterwards returned to England to transport troops for service in France.
In January 1945, the first civilian cross-Channel service was restored from Newhaven to Dieppe, this being the only port available in France, and the Isle of Guernsey was employed on that route for a short time. On June 25, 1945, she became the first steamer to resume the service between Southampton and the Channel Islands. She continued so to operate until May 12, 1961, when she was the last Southampton mail steamer to leave Guernsey. Retained as a Channel Islands relief vessel for a short period, the Isle of Guernsey was sold to the Belgian ship-breakers Van Heyghen Freres, in November 1961. SG81
Built as a ferry under yard No. 1234 by William Denny & Bros, Dumbarton, Scotland for the Southern Railway.
17 December 1929 launched under the name ISLE OF GUERNSEY.
Tonnage 2.143 gross, 1.124 net, 802 dwt., dim. 306.0 x 42.0 x 16.0ft. (draught).
Powered by four Parsons SR geared steam turbines, manufactured by the builder, 540 nhp., twin, screws, speed 19.5 knots.
Passenger accommodation for 1.400 passengers.
March 1930 delivered to owners.
According some collectors the vessel depicts on the stamp is the ISLE OF SARK, but by comparing photo’s of the two ships, the name on the stamp is correct.
The ISLE OF SARK her closed bulwark is much longer than seen on the stamp, and the ISLE OF GUERNSEY got only near the bow a very short closed bulwark, and then a open railing, as seen on the stamp.
Till the Second World War used in the service between Southampton and the Channel Islands.
03 September 1939 war broke out, and already the next day the ISLE OF GUERNSEY left Southampton at 00.50 with on board RAF personnel and equipment to France.
06 September returned in Southampton to resume her ferry service to the Channel Islands.
23 December 1939 taken out of service and converted to Hospital Carrier No 26, and she left Southampton in this roll on 6 October for Dieppe, but casualties were low, and not before 19 October she crossed the Channel with her first load of wounded or sick for the main hospital in Newhaven.
She made an other voyage, before she was moved to Cherbourg on standby on 25 March 1940, then at Dieppe in April and Boulogne on 19 May.
Then she made two crossings between Southampton and Cherbourg before used in the service from Dover to France.
26 May 1940 she sailed from Dover for Dunkirk, where she loaded 346 stretcher cases, 146 more that she original was planned for, bringing them to Newhaven.
29 May she sailed from Dover for her second voyage to Dunkirk, during the voyage she rescued a downed airman, but when busy with this, she was attacked by 10 enemy airplanes.
The ISLE OF GUERNSEY escaped and entered Dunkirk early in the morning of the 30th, where she embarked 490 patients before sailing a few hours later for Newhaven.
After disembarking the patients, she underwent repairs.
01 June sailed from Newhaven, and used as hospital ship at Weymouth Bay, Southampton, Falmouth and Milford Haven the next two months.
Then the British Admiralty decided to use her as a Target Ship and arrived off Barry Island on 07 August, and was refitted at Penarth.
21 October 1940 commissioned as HMS ISLE OF GUERNSEY.
01 November left Penarth and sailed to Lamlash, Isle of Arran, where she was used as aircraft target towing vessel.
April 1941 moved to Campbeltown and in July returned to Lamlash, all that time was she based at the Firth of Clyde till September 1943.
27 September 1943 paid off and arrived at Leith on 29 September to be refitted in Infantry Landing Ship for the D-Day landings.
02 January 1944 work was completed, and sailed out of the Firth of Forth on 06 February for the South coast of England.
05 June 1944 sailed from the Solent as part of Assault Convoy J10.
06 June her six landing craft put troops ashore at June beach-head, then she crossed the Channel to embark 800 troops at Newhaven for France.
October 1944 she was used to transport troops between Southampton and Ostend, Belgium.
Then made 7 return crossings with troops from Newhaven to Dieppe, commencing on 01 October.
15 January 1945 temporarily released by the British Government she left Newhaven for the first commercially cross-Channel sailings since 1940 bound for Dieppe.
She made the crossing thrice weekly in both directions until 23 March.
Again chartered by the British Government to cover the Newhaven-Calais forces leave service from 31 March for three weeks.
Thereafter moved to Southampton and made the first sailing on 25 June 1945 for Guernsey and Jersey after a break of five years.
Made five return voyages before she was put again in the Newhaven to Dieppe service.
Later put mostly as reserve ferry in the service from Weymouth to the Channel Islands, and made also daytrips from Weymouth or Torquai to the Channel Islands.
12 June 1961 left for the last time from Guernsey, and thereafter put in reserve.
November 1961 already sold to van Heyghen Freres at Gent (Ghent,) Belgium for scrapping and under tow arrived there 20 November 1961.
Sources: Lloyds Register 1938. Short Sea Long War by John de S. Winser. Railway and other steames by Duckworth and Langmuir.
Comment by Auke — November 25, 2008 @ 8:01 pm