26/05/2026
Sat 30 May 2026 ropes off 09:30 Duchess 22m plus Drift 4 spaces left for this popular trainee wreck dive.
The Dutchess SS was a British Cargo Steamer of 586 tons built in 1899 by Ailsa Shipbuilding Company, Yard No 83 for John Hay of Glasgow.
HMS Cossack collision with Duchess 1st July 1917, 3 miles off the Royal Sovereign light vessel
When war broke out, the Government requisitioned hundreds of merchant ships, which became known as the "transports", and they spent the next four years conveying government supplies over to the French channel ports.
At 09.08pm on 30th June 1917, the Duchess slipped out of Newhaven Harbour and assembled off the breakwater with 27 other ships. These comprised of Transports, Torpedo Boats, Mine-Sweepers and other es**rts vessels. Later in the evening they set off along the coast towards Dungeness.
On 1 July 1917, Cossack collided with the transport SS The Duchess near Eastbourne. Cossack's depth charges exploded as a result of the collision, sinking The Duchess and blowing off Cossack's stern. Cossack was towed to Dover for repair.
One of the es**rt ships, Torpedo Boat 3, included the following information in the ship's log: "1 July. 12.15am: Transport and HMS Cossack collide. Depth charges from Cossack blew up the transport which sank 12.16am. Closed Transport searched for survivors. Picked up 4 survivors of Transport SS Duchess 02.00am. Proceeded to the assistance of Cossack - took in tow. Arrived Newhaven and discharged survivors"
Another es**rt ship HMS Leven, had a similar entry in her log - "Went to assistance of HMS Cossack in collision. Arrived on scene and found Cossack safely afloat, her stern being badly damaged"
HMS Cossack also sunk HMS Glatton in Dover Harbour, but that’s another story.
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