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The Fleets
J. A. Billmeir / Stanhope Steamship Co.
Jack Billmeir formed the Stanhope SS Co. in London in 1934.
The company started with two small second hand coasters and rapidly expanded.
In 1936 the company became heavily involved in carrying cargo to Republican
ports during the Spanish Civil War and made huge profits from this enterprise.
Ships were also involved in carrying refugees from Spain to France and
Morocco. (see http://www.mariners-l.co.uk/stanbrook.jpg )
Billmeir was an astute businessman and many of his ships made just the
one voyage,
generally to Spain and were then sold at a profit. After the end of the
war in Spain, Billmeirs' ships were banned from Spanish ports by the
Nationalist Government but by the outbreak of WWII, the company owned
16 ships. The smaller ships were engaged in coastal trades and the larger
ones mostly to the River Plate. More vessels were acquired during the
war, but losses were heavy and 17 ships were sunk. Jack Billmeir died
in 1963 and the company was
sold.
Many thanks to Ted Finch for his assistance in collecting this data.
The following list was extracted from various sources. This is not an
all inclusive list but should only be used as a guide. If you would like
to know more about a vessel, visit the Ship
Descriptions (onsite) or Immigrant
Ship web site.
Funnel:
Fleet:
|
 |
| Vessel |
Built |
Years in Service |
Tons |
| Dunkeld |
1937 |
1944 purchased from Lomond Shipping
Co., Glasgow, 1945 renamed Stankeld, 1951 sold to Westralian Farmers
Transport Ltd renamed Swanbrook. |
4,956 |
| Elstead |
1943 |
ex- Harperley, 1955 purchased from J & C. Harrison,
London renamed Elstead, 1959 scrapped. |
7,061 |
| Framlington Court |
1924 |
1944 purchased from Court
Line, London, 1945 renamed Stancourt, 1952 sold to Lansdowne & Co.,
Hong Kong renamed Landscape. |
5,026 |
| Jersey Hart |
1943 |
1944 purchased from Morel
Ltd, Cardiff, 1945 renamed Stanpark, 1951 sold to T. Dunlop & Sons,
Glasgow renamed Queen Eleanor, 1956 sold to Douglas SS Co., Hong
Kong renamed Inchdouglas, 1970 scrapped. |
7,275 |
| Kenwood |
1912 |
ex- New Londoner, 1936 purchased from Tyne-Tees SS
Co. renamed Kenwood, 1936 sold to Sodeco Soc. Anon, Panama renamed
Janu. |
1,374 |
| Lexamine |
1946 |
cadet training ship, 1954 sold to E. Victory, Gibraltar. |
129 |
| Parracombe |
1928 |
1940 purchased from Pyman Bros, West Hartlepool,
6th May 1941 bombed and sunk by Italian aircraft off Malta. |
4,698 |
| Queen of the Bay |
1919 |
1938 purchased from Blackpool S.N. Co., 1938 sold
to Atlamer SS Line, Paris. |
783 |
| Raby Castle |
1925 |
1942 purchased from Lancashire
Shipping Co., 1945 renamed Stanhall, 1951 sold to Wallem & Co., Hong
Kong renamed Ami, 1956 sold Japan renamed Hisakawa Maru, 1962 scrapped. |
4,996 |
| Sheaf Spear |
1919 |
1937 purchased from Sheaf Steam Shipping Co., Newcastle,
1937 sold to Cie France-Navigation, France renamed Bougaron I, 1942
seized by Italy renamed Modena, 1943 bombed and sunk at Palermo. |
3,050 |
| Stanbank |
1942 |
5th May 1942 torpedoed and sunk by U.103 while SE
of New York ; loss of 9 lives. |
5,966 |
| Stanbell |
1943 |
ex- Empire Beresford, 1943 managed for MOWT by J.
A.. Billmeir, 1945 purchased from MOWT renamed Stanbell, 1955 rebuilt
to 10,341 tons, 1960 sold to Malaya Shipping Co., London renamed
Kelantan, 1965 scrapped. |
9,804 |
| Stanbridge |
1917 |
ex- Ch. N. Kahan, 1937 purchased from Europaische
Tanklager, Germany renamed Stanbridge, 1939 sold to Europaische Tankreederei,
Hamburg renamed Eurofeld, 1944 scuttled at St. Nazaire. |
5,863 |
| Stanbrook |
1909 |
ex- Lancer, 1937 purchased from Fisher Renwick renamed
Stanbrook, 1937 sold to G. M. Mavroleon, Greece renamed Polyfloisvios,
1937 repurchased by Billmeir reverted to Stanbrook, 18th Nov. 1939
mined and sunk in North Sea with loss of all hands ; loss of 21 lives. |
1,383 |
| Stanburgh |
1912 |
ex- Dunstanburgh, 1938 purchased from Tyne-Tees Steam
Shipping Co. renamed Stanburgh, 4th Nov. 1938 abandoned after explosion
while loading petrol at Sete. |
1,095 |
| Stanburn (1) |
1924 |
ex- Hebburn, 1938 purchased from W.A. Souter & Co.,
Newcastle renamed Stanburn, 29th Jan. 1940 bombed and sunk by German
aircraft off Flamborough Head ; loss of 25 lives. |
2,881 |
| Stanburn (2) |
1919 |
ex- Coity Castle, 1946 purchased from Salvage Association
after grounding damage renamed Stanburn, 27th Oct. 1946 sank after
striking submerged object in Mediterranean. |
2,767 |
| Stanburn (3) |
1951 |
1954 sold to U.S.S.R renamed Zapoljarje, 1979 scrapped. |
5,575 |
| Stancleeve |
1942 |
1951 sold to Skibs A/S Preba, Norway renamed Akera,
1961 scrapped. |
5,970 |
| Stancliffe (1) |
1914 |
ex- Drakelow, 1937 purchased from Drakelow SS Co.
renamed Stancliffe, 1938 sold to P. G. Cottaropoulas, Greece renamed
Navarinon. |
1,735 |
| Stancliffe (2) |
1936 |
ex- Huncliffe, 1940 purchased from Lambert Bros renamed
Stancliffe, 12th Apr. 1940 torpedoed and sunk by U.37 off Scottish
coast ; loss of 37 lives. |
4,511 |
| Stancliffe (3) |
1941 |
ex- Empire Brook, 1946 purchased from MOWT renamed
Stancliffe, 3rd Apr. 1947 abandoned after grounding near Sharpness
Dock and sold to Cardiff for repairs, 1948 purchased by Newbigin
SS Co. renamed Gripfast. |
2,852 |
| Stancloud |
1958 |
1964 company taken over by George Nott, Coventry,
sold to Panama renamed Panos, 1972 sold Greece renamed Evgenia K.
Chimples, 1976 renamed Aepos, 1977 scrapped. |
12,700 |
| Stancor |
1904 |
ex- Alburn, 1936 purchased from V. Zatorskis, Riga
renamed Stancor, 5th Jun. 1940 shelled and sunk by U.48 in position
58.48N 08.45W. |
790 |
| Stancourt (1) |
1907 |
ex- Douglas, 1937 purchased from London, Midland & Scottish
Railway Co. renamed Stancourt, 1937 sold to G. M. Mavroleon, Greece
renamed Nepheligeretis, 1938 renamed Hermes, 1938 renamed Suzy, 1938
renamed Ioanna, 1st Jun. 1940 shelled and sunk by U.37 west of Cape
Finisterre. |
950 |
| Stancourt (2) |
1909 |
ex- Oder, 1938 purchased from Leith,
Hull & Hamburg S.P.Co. renamed Stancourt, 1939 sold to Panama
renamed Inaki, 1942 bombed and sunk off Oporto. |
965 |
| Stancourt (3) |
|
see Framlington Court. |
|
| Stancrest |
1920 |
ex- Sheldrake, 1937 purchased from General
Steam Nav. Co., London renamed Stancrest, 27th Feb. 1937 left
London for Bridgewater and went missing at sea. |
462 |
| Stancroft |
1908 |
ex- Greenbatt, 1937 purchased from Newbigin SS Co.,
Newcastle renamed Stancroft, 1937 sold to G. M. Mavroleon, Greece
renamed Neoptolemos, 1938 repurchased by Billmeir reverted to Stancroft,
27th Dec. 1938 bombed and sunk by Spanish aircraft, 1939 salvaged
by Spanish and renamed Castillo Almansa, 1959 renamed Valira, 1967
scrapped. |
1,407 |
| Stancrown |
1956 |
25th Dec. 1963 aground on Klaipeda, refloated and
abandoned to salvors, 1964 sold to J.M. Ugland, Grimstad renamed
Anette C. |
8,002 |
| Standale |
1908 |
ex- St. Pierre, 1937 purchased from Soc.Navale de
L'Ouest, France renamed Standale, 3rd Apr. 1937 abandoned and sank
north of Leixoes, Portugal after grain cargo shifted. |
2,456 |
| Stanfield (1) |
1892 |
ex- Trinidadian, 1937 purchased from Gulf Refining
Co., USA renamed Stanfield, 1939 scrapped. |
2,432 |
| Stanfield (2) |
1943 |
ex- Thamesfield, 1955 purchased from Hunting & Son,
Newcastle renamed Stanfield, 1961 sold Hong Kong renamed August Moon,
1966 wrecked in South China Sea. |
10,420 |
| Stanfirth |
1944 |
ex- HMS Beauly Firth, 1948 purchased from Royal Navy,
converted for commercial use and renamed Stanfirth, 1961 sold to
Lebanon renamed Akamas, 1966 sold Cyprus, 1968 renamed Skepsis, 1968
scrapped. |
7,285 |
| Stanfleet |
1920 |
ex- Clan Robertson, 1938 purchased from Clan
Line renamed Stanfleet, 1939 sold to Blue
Star Line, London renamed Pacific Star, 27th Oct. 1942 torpedoed
and sunk by U.509 off Canary Islands. |
7,951 |
| Stanford |
1941 |
1952 sold to Scindia
S.N. Co., Bombay renamed Jalamohan. |
5,969 |
| Stanforth |
1915 |
ex- Foreland, 1937 purchased from Shipping & Coal
Co., London renamed Stanforth, 17th Aug. 1945 wrecked Grundkallegrund. |
1,817 |
| Stangarth |
1942 |
12th Mar.1942 torpedoed and sunk by Italian submarine
Morosini in position 22.00N 65.00W with loss of all hands ; loss
of 46 lives. |
5,966 |
| Stangate |
1912 |
ex- Drakedene, 1937 purchased from Drakelow SS Co.
renamed Stangate, 7th Dec. 1942 sank off The Wash after collision
with Greek ship Agios Georgious. |
1,289 |
| Stanglen |
1945 |
ex- Empire Chancellor, 1946
purchased from MOWT renamed Stanglen, 1952 sold to Tsavliris Shipping
Co., London renamed Newminster, 1954 repurchased by Billmeir renamed
Stanpark, 1959 resold to Tsavliris renamed Granny Suzanne, 1960 scrapped. |
9,917 |
| Stangrant |
1912 |
ex- Clan Grant, 1939 purchased from Clan
Line renamed Stangrant, 13th Oct. 1940 torpedoed and sunk by
U.37 off St. Kilda ; loss of 8 lives. |
5,817 |
| Stangrove |
1895 |
ex- Skinningrove, 1936 purchased from Pease & Partners,
Middlesbrough renamed Stangrove, 6th Feb. 1939 captured by Spanish
Nationalist Navy. 23rd Feb. 1939 wrecked at Palma, 1941 salvaged
by Spain renamed Castilla del Oro, 1944 renamed Condestable, 1954
renamed Sotileza, 1955 renamed Mechelin, 1971 scrapped. |
516 |
| Stanhall (1) |
1932 |
ex- Kepwickhall, 1938 purchased from West
Hartlepool S.N. Co. renamed Stanhall, 30th May 1940 torpedoed
and sunk by U.101 in position 48.59N 05.17W. ; loss of 1 life. |
4,831 |
| Stanhall (2) |
|
see Raby Castle. |
|
| Stanhill (1) |
1900 |
ex- Eider, 1936 purchased from Union-Castle
Mail SS Co. renamed Stanhill, 1937 sold to Stavron & Co., Greece
renamed Eider. |
1,236 |
| Stanhill (2) |
1942 |
11th May 1947 wrecked off Ivory Coast. |
5,969 |
| Stanholme (1) |
1927 |
ex- Goleta, 1936 purchased from F. C. Strick & Co.
renamed Stanholme, 25th Dec. 1939 mined and sunk off Bristol Channel
; loss of 13 lives. |
2,473 |
| Stanholme (2) |
1945 |
ex- Sheepshead Bay Victory, 1947 purchased from U.S.
Maritime Commission renamed Stanholme, 1947 sold to P & O
Line renamed Karmala, 1967 scrapped. |
7,674 |
| Stanhope (1) |
1920 |
ex- Sandhill, 1934 purchased from Tyne-Tees SS Co.
renamed Stanhope, 1937 sold to Northern Coasters Ltd, Newcastle renamed
Northern Firth. |
505 |
| Stanhope (2) |
1919 |
ex- Corwen, 1937 purchased from Cory Colliers Ltd
renamed Stanhope, 1950 sold to Schulte & Bruns, Germany renamed Elise
Schulte, 1957 scrapped. |
2,337 |
| Stanhope (3) |
1951 |
1954 sold to U.S.S.R renamed Sovetskaya Arktika,
1985 scrapped. |
6,034 |
| Stankeld |
|
see Dunkeld. |
|
| Stanlake |
1923 |
ex- Mortlake, 1938 purchased from Watts, Watts & Co.,
London renamed Stanlake, 14th Apr. 1943 torpedoed and sunk by German
E-Boat off Lizard Head. |
1,742 |
| Stanland (1) |
1912 |
ex- Borderland, 1938 purchased from Leith,
Hull & Hamburg S.P.Co. renamed Stanland, 1940 sold to the Admiralty
for use as an ammunition hulk, 1951 scrapped. |
1,753 |
| Stanland (2) |
1919 |
ex- Empire Ortolan, 1946 purchased from MOWT renamed
Stanland, 1949 sold Panama renamed Alma, 1953 scrapped. |
4,970 |
| Stanland (3) |
1942 |
ex- Beatus, 1955 purchased from W. H. Seager, Cardiff
renamed Stanland, 1963 scrapped. |
7,162 |
| Stanleigh |
1912 |
ex- Prekla, 1937 purchased from T. N. Epiphaniades
renamed Stanleigh, 14th Mar. 1941 bombed and sunk in Irish Sea by
German aircraft ; loss of 17 lives. |
1,802 |
| Stanloch |
1944 |
ex- Vivien Louise, 1955 purchased from Stevenson Hardy & Co.,
London renamed Stanloch, 1959 scrapped. |
9,912 |
| Stanlodge |
1943 |
1952 sold to Bharat Line, Bombay renamed Bharatvijaya,
1963 scrapped. |
5,977 |
| Stanmore (1) |
1918 |
ex- Wooler, 1934 purchased from Tyne-Tees SS Co.
renamed Stanmore, 1937 sold to John S. Monks, Liverpool renamed Stanville. |
700 |
| Stanmore (2) |
1920 |
ex- Mambika, 1937 purchased from Cie
Africaine de Nav., Antwerp renamed Stanmore, 1937 sold to Cie
France-Navigation, France renamed Guilvinec. Feb. 1941 torpedoed
and sunk by HMS TIGRIS, 60 miles west of Saint Nazaire. |
3,222 |
| Stanmore (3) |
1919 |
ex- Morna, 1937 purchased from London & Edinburgh
Shipping Co. renamed Stanmore, 1937 sold to G. M. Mavroleon, Greece
renamed Naukratouse, 1938 sold Panama renamed Virginia. |
1,387 |
| Stanmore (4) |
1912 |
ex- Arracan, 1938 purchased from British & Burmese
S.N. Co. renamed Stanmore, 1939 sold to E. Grounds, Riga, 1947
wrecked Bordeaux. |
5,525 |
| Stanmore (5) |
1940 |
1st Oct.1943 torpedoed by U.223 in Mediterranean,
beached and total loss. |
4,970 |
| Stanmore (6) |
1945 |
ex- Mahanoy City Victory, 1947 purchased from U.S.
Maritime Commission renamed Stanmore, 1947 sold to P & O
Line renamed Khyber, 1964 sold to Liberia renamed Comet Victory,
1968 renamed Ocean Comet, 1969 scrapped. |
7,675 |
| Stanmore (7) |
1945 |
ex- Fort Jupiter, 1947 purchased from U.S. Maritime
Commission renamed Stanmore, 1960 scrapped. |
10,708 |
| Stanmount |
1914 |
ex- Bratton, 1937 purchased from Stevenson, Hardy & Co.
renamed Stanmount, 24th Dec. 1941 mined and sunk off Great Yarmouth. |
4,468 |
| Stanpark (1) |
1937 |
ex- Haughton Hall, 1940 purchased from Dunn Shipping
Co., Liverpool renamed Stanpark, 19th Jan.1941 captured and sunk
by German battleship Admiral Scheer. |
5,103 |
| Stanpark (2) |
|
see Jersey Hart. |
|
| Stanpark (3) |
|
see Stanglen. |
|
| Stanpool |
1954 |
1954 sold to U.S.S.R renamed Bogdan Khmelnitskiy,
1993 scrapped. |
7,347 |
| Stanray |
1904 |
ex- Hansa, 1937 purchased from Union-Castle
Mail SS Co. renamed Stanray, 1938 scrapped. |
880 |
| Stanrealm |
1944 |
1960 sold to Liberty Shipping Co., Hong Kong renamed
Fortune Glory, 1963 scrapped. |
7,062 |
| Stanridge |
1943 |
1952 sold to Scindia
S.N. Co., Bombay renamed Jalajyoti. |
5,975 |
| Stanrock |
1910 |
ex- Castro, 1937 purchased from Ellerman
Wilson Line renamed Stanrock, 1937 sold to A. Davaris, Panama
renamed Lydia. |
1,105 |
| Stanroyal |
1929 |
ex- Isar, 1948 purchased from North
German Lloyd, Bremen renamed Stanroyal, 1952 sold to Turkey
renamed Haran, 1959 renamed Necip Ipar, 1965 scrapped. |
9,136 |
| Stanthorpe (1) |
1915 |
ex- Kambole, 1937 purchased from Barry Shipping Co.,
Cardiff renamed Stanthorpe, 1938 sold to O. E. Bertin, China renamed
Yolande Bertin. |
4,524 |
| Stanthorpe (2) |
1944 |
ex- Samskern, 1947 purchased from MOWT renamed Stanthorpe,
1949 sold to Larrinaga SS Co.,
Liverpool renamed Domingo de Larrinaga. |
7,242 |
| Stanthorpe (3) |
1944 |
ex- Navarina, 1955 purchased from Eastern Seas SS
Co., London renamed Stanthorpe, 1961 sold to Mullion & Co., Hong
Kong renamed Ardbrae, 1966 scrapped. |
7,033 |
| Stanvale |
1957 |
1957 sold to Denmark renamed Dorothea Basse, 1962
sold Roumania renamed Pace, 1964 renamed Prahova, 1987 renamed Pace,
1991 scrapped. |
12,349 |
| Stanway |
1942 |
ex- Empire Record, 1946-48 managed for MOWT, 1948
purchased from MOWT renamed Stanway, 1951 sold to Comben Longstaff & Co.,
London renamed Yorkbrook. |
2,902 |
| Stanwear |
1956 |
1964 company taken over by George Nott, Coventry,
1966 renamed Lady Era, 1968 sold to Greece, 1977 wrecked off Port
Cartier. |
8,108 |
| Stanwell (1) |
1914 |
ex- Stockwell, 1938 purchased from T & J.
Brocklebank Ltd, Liverpool renamed Stanwell, 1944 to MOWT and
sunk as blockship at Normandy beachhead. |
5,757 |
| Stanwell (2) |
1945 |
ex- Fort Cheswell, 1947 purchased from U.S. Maritime
Commission renamed Stanwell, 1959 sold to T. S. Bendizen, Norway
renamed Landbreeze. |
10,722 |
| Stanwold |
1909 |
ex- Easingwold, 1937 purchased from Atkinson & Prickett
Ltd, Hull renamed Stanwold, 27th Feb. 1941 sank off Brighton with
all hands ; loss of 21 lives. |
1,019 |
| Stanwood |
1915 |
ex- Hesione, 1937 purchased from Houston
Line renamed Stanwood, 10th Dec. 1939 sank in Falmouth Roads
after cargo fire. |
4,158 |
| Welcombe |
1930 |
1940 purchased from Pyman Bros, West Hartlepool,
4th Apr. 1941 torpedoed and sunk by U.98 in Atlantic. |
5,122 |
| Westbay |
1936 |
ex- Nurnberg (North
German Lloyd), 1945 seized by Royal Navy as depot ship, 1948
sold to Irish Bay Lines, Belfast renamed Dundalk Bay, 1957 purchased
by Billmeir renamed Westbay, 1962 scrapped. |
5,579 |
| Westbrook |
1942 |
ex- Alan Evelyn, 1955 purchased from Stevenson Hardy & Co.,
London renamed Westbrook, 1960 scrapped. |
8,137 |
| Westford |
1941 |
ex- Paris City, 1954 purchased from Reardon
Smith & Sons, Cardiff renamed Westford, 1957 sold Liberia renamed
Severn River. |
7,084 |
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