Death of Robert Singer Innes at sea

ficam · Post by **ficam** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 12:32 am

Hi everyone, I first posted on the site a couple of years ago looking for any information on the death of my great grandfather , Robert Singer Innes.

I have not found him yet but have found a couple of clues and wondered if anyone can help with any more detail ...

Robert was said to have died at sea at the end of WW1 in the English Channel on a ship called the "Masson Sand" . I have had no success tracking down a ship called the Masson Sand, however I have now found a ship called the Masnedsund, which if you say it quickly with an Aberdeenshire accent may just be the one....!! It appears to have been involved in some kind of altercation in 1920 which fits with what I think I know...my problem is that it is a Danish ship and I have been unable to find any more information as to what happened to it in 1920....

Its official number is 137274...and it was built in 1880 and appears to have been owned by De Dansk Statsbaner, which if my translation is correct appears to be the state railroad...??!

I have found what appears to be indexes to court proceedings between owners of the "Frenchman, Linesman and Autocrat" and the owners of the Masnedsund in 1920...and I think the Autocrat may be a tug , so possibly some kind of salvage dispute..? The story was that the ship hit a mine in the Channel.

If anyone has access to anywhere which can give me more detail on the Masnedsund and what happened to her I would be very grateful. I have tried web searches and apart from a photo on a postcard can find no further info..

I will find this man if it kills me...!

Thanks to all

Post by **marilyn morning** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 3:05 am

Hi ficam,

Perhaps you have this information already?

There's three entries for Robert on Worldconnect

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin ... 971&id=I41

Regards
Marilyn

ficam · Post by **ficam** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 9:17 pm

Thanks for the reply Marilyn - I do have that info

. It was I believe taken from the first family tree I set up when all I put for Robert's death was that he was "lost at sea 1920/21" as that was all I knew - and I now keep finding postings quoting that back to me!! And I still don't know much more!!

Thanks again[/img]

ficam · Post by **ficam** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 1:30 am

Hello all - just to let you know I have found a report on the demise of the Masnedsund in the Scotsman archives. It went down in a storm on the 6 December 1920 and the first anyone knew of it was when the only survivor walked into the shipping agents office in London days later > he had been picked up by a French ship and taken to Bordeaux. And was advised by the British Consul in Bordeaux to go to London to let everyone know what had happened....definitely before the digital age of communication...!!

The story even made a few lines in an Iowa paper ...found in Ancestry!!

Now I just need to prove that my G grandfather was on this vessel.......back to Kew....but finally getting somewhere!

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 12:26 pm

Nice going ficam,

All I could find was the bit in the 1907 Maritime Review which said it was a steamer of 750 tons.

All the best,
Alan

Post by **marilyn morning** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 3:38 pm

Hi ficam,

I thought you may be the author of those entries on Worldconnect, but one never knows?

Fantastic find in the Scotsman & Iowa newspaper, keep plugging along!!

Regards
Marilyn

Hugh Stevely · Post by **Hugh Stevely** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 5:40 pm

Hi ficam,

Is this the same photo you have of the Masnedsund looks like she,flying the Danish Flag here.

http://www.gaicka.co.uk/Chris/masnedsund.htm

Hugh.

ficam · Post by **ficam** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 11:22 pm

It is the same photo Hugh - apparently she was Danish and was sold to a Sunderland company sometime around 1920. The company only lasted a few years according to the web site the photo is on.....I have also found a report from the Happisburgh RNLI who were called out to the ship in October 1920 but just "stood by and assisted vessel..." so either it was very unlucky ( in trouble twice in a few months) or possibly not very seaworthy...?

According to the Scotsman she was only 240 tons - nothing ever ties up exactly with this game , does it?

Hugh Stevely · Post by **Hugh Stevely** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 2:00 pm

Hi ficam,

Yes i read the report from the the Happisburgh RNLI .

Also the Folio 846 of 1920: William Kerison v Owners of Masnedsund cargo and freight. Case no: K927. Brief notes of proceedings.

The Autocrat may be a tug, i am looking to see what name she had before Masnedsund may find some info there.

Good luck with your search.

Hugh.

ficam · Post by **ficam** » Wed Sep 23, 2009 10:36 pm

Thanks Hugh - anything that can help will be gratefully received!!

TalkingScot.com

Death of Robert Singer Innes at sea

Death of Robert Singer Innes at sea

Photo Masnedsund

Masnedsund