Ardrossan - On This Day In History

[Penny Tray]

LAUNCH AT ARDROSSAN
23 MARCH 1921

THE LANGFJORD

The general cargo vessel LANGFJORD – 212 feet in length, 33 feet in breadth, and 12 feet in depth – built by Ardrossan Dry Dock & Shipbuilding Company Limited for Den Norske Amerikalinje, Christiania, was launched on the above date.

[Further details of this vessel, including one photograph, are contained in the following link:-

https://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?y ... =LANGFJORD

[Penny Tray]

LAUNCH AT ARDROSSAN
23 MARCH 1941

THE COVERLEY

The naval minesweeper COVERLEY – 160 feet in length, 27 feet in breadth, and 10 feet in depth – built by Ardrossan Dry Dock & Shipbuilding Company Limited for The Admiralty, London, was launched on the above date.

[Further details of this vessel, including two photographs - one as the COVERLEY, and one as the OFOTFJORD – are contained in the following link:-

https://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?y ... l=COVERLEY

[Penny Tray]

CASUALTY OF WAR
23 MARCH 1918

ALFRED JONES

Killed in action, Private ALFRED JONES, (34), Australian Infantry – Theatre of war, France and Flanders – son of Charles West Jones and Agnes Jones, 19 Seton Street, Ardrossan.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
23 MARCH 1892

ARDROSSAN – ENTRANCE OF FIRST VESSEL INTO THE NEW DOCK

Yesterday afternoon Messrs McLay & McIntyre’s steamer MERSARIO, 380 tons, loaded with iron ore, from Bilbao, entered the new dock to be discharged by the hydraulic cranes.

Captain Napier was in command, and as the vessel entered the dock with flags flying and her horn sounding loudly the large crowd of townspeople who had assembled cheered heartily, the vigorous blowing of steam whistles on both railways adding to the din.

The vessel anchored on the east side of the dock, ready for discharge.

The opening ceremony does not take place till 12th of April.

[George Ardrossan]

24 MARCH

RESCUED BY SEAPLANE
After having been adrift in the Atlantic for twelve days, in an open lifeboat from which he and eight companions were rescued by an American seaplane, William McMillan, 13 Hill Street, Ardrossan, has returned home. McMillan was one of eight Ardrossan and Saltcoats members of the crew of a tanker which was sunk by a German submarine and the other seven are missing. Out of a total crew of fifty, only the nine men picked up by the seaplane are known to have been saved. No news has been heard of the remainder. The Ardrossan and Saltcoats members of the crew missing are Frank McQuade, David McCubbin, Roderick Brown and William Brown, all of Ardrossan and Alexander McMillan, William Docherty and a seaman named Shields, all of Saltcoats. The tanker was torpedoed twice and, though heavy seas were running, the submarine surfaced and shelled the vessel. The wireless installation was carried away and one the vessel’s four lifeboats were destroyed. “In the confusion caused by the shelling and the heavy seas” said McMillan “only six of us were able to get into one lifeboat. Forty-one of the crew got into the other two lifeboats and three others launched a raft. We all got clear of the vessel before she sank. We were able to drag the three men on the raft, one of whom was the third officer, into our boat. It was decided to lay a course for Bermuda, the nearest landfall. For fifteen hours, the boats kept together until the storm increased in violence to such an extent that sea anchors had to be dropped. When visibility improved, there was no trace of the other two lifeboats. Gales and high seas continued for eleven days” added McMillan. On the twelfth day, the wind fell away entirely. Suddenly, they saw a seaplane sweep out of her course and fly towards them. The plane came down on the sea and took the nine aboard.
The Scotsman, 24 March 1942

George

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VESSEL SCUTTLED
24 MARCH 1917

THE FAIREARN

The coaster FAIREARN, built by Ardrossan Dry Dock & Shipbuilding Company Limited for James Inglis & Company, Glasgow, and launched in 1915, was captured and scuttled with explosives, 16 miles NNW of South Stack, Holyhead, while on a voyage between Garston and Cork with a cargo of coal.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
14 NOVEMBER 1884

ARDROSSAN - FATAL ACCIDENT

An accident which terminated fatally occurred at Ardrossan Harbour yesterday about half-past seven o'clock.

It appears that a seaman called JOHN CAWLEY, while attempting to cross the rails of the Glasgow and South-Western Railway Company at the level crossing near the steamboat quay, was caught by the buffer of a waggon (one of a number which was being shunted) and docked down, the waggon passing over his right leg and arm, inflicting frightful injuries, which resulted in his death about an hour after the accident.

Deceased is a married man, and resides in Quay Street, Saltcoats.

GLASGOW HERALD
24 MARCH 1885

COURT OF SESSION
AGNES RITCHIE OR CAWLEY v. THE GLASGOW & SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY

This is an action by the widow of a male, residing at Saltcoats, claiming £300 from the Glasgow & South-Western Railway Company in respect of the death of her husband, who was killed through being knocked down by a passing waggon at a level crossing on the line of the defender at Ardrossan Harbour.

The accident occurred on 12 November, in the early morning, and the defenders resist the claim on the ground that the deceased must have been culpably negligent in passing the crossing.

The jury returned a verdict for the pursuer, assessing the damages at £250.

[Penny Tray]

CASUALTY OF WAR
24 MARCH 1918

JAMES HUNTER

Killed in action, Private JAMES HUNTER, (22), 2nd Battalion Cameronians – Theatre of war, France and Flanders – son of James and Margaret Hunter, Townhead of Montfode, Ardrossan.

[Penny Tray]

24 MARCH

RESCUED BY SEAPLANE
After having been adrift in the Atlantic for twelve days, in an open lifeboat from which he and eight companions were rescued by an American seaplane, William McMillan, 13 Hill Street, Ardrossan, has returned home. McMillan was one of eight Ardrossan and Saltcoats members of the crew of a tanker which was sunk by a German submarine and the other seven are missing. Out of a total crew of fifty, only the nine men picked up by the seaplane are known to have been saved. No news has been heard of the remainder. The Ardrossan and Saltcoats members of the crew missing are Frank McQuade, David McCubbin, Roderick Brown and William Brown, all of Ardrossan and Alexander McMillan, William Docherty and a seaman named Shields, all of Saltcoats. The tanker was torpedoed twice and, though heavy seas were running, the submarine surfaced and shelled the vessel. The wireless installation was carried away and one the vessel’s four lifeboats were destroyed. “In the confusion caused by the shelling and the heavy seas” said McMillan “only six of us were able to get into one lifeboat. Forty-one of the crew got into the other two lifeboats and three others launched a raft. We all got clear of the vessel before she sank. We were able to drag the three men on the raft, one of whom was the third officer, into our boat. It was decided to lay a course for Bermuda, the nearest landfall. For fifteen hours, the boats kept together until the storm increased in violence to such an extent that sea anchors had to be dropped. When visibility improved, there was no trace of the other two lifeboats. Gales and high seas continued for eleven days” added McMillan. On the twelfth day, the wind fell away entirely. Suddenly, they saw a seaplane sweep out of her course and fly towards them. The plane came down on the sea and took the nine aboard.
The Scotsman, 24 March 1942

George

The following names subsequently appeared on the Ardrossan War Memorial:-

Francis McQuade
David McCubbin
Roderick Brown, and
William Brown.

The following names subsequently appeared on the Saltcoats War Memorial:-

Alexander D. McMillan
William B. Docherty, and
Patrick J. Shields.

I'm surmising that they are all connected with the incident posted by George Ardrossan, and that therefore William McMillan was the only local survivor.

[down south]

SATURDAY 24th MARCH 1973

ARDROSSAN FOUGHT HARD FOR VICTORY

ARDROSSAN ACCIES 19 DUNDEE HSFP 15

Despite a crossfield wind both sides proved that they could master the conditions with good handling, and both defences were well on top.

After 13 minutes play Accies went ahead when Brian Gordon cut inside from the wing. Fitzsimmons picked up and sent Sandy Hogarth over at the corner. Full back Smith did well to send his touchline conversion high between the posts.

From the kick off the visitors were awarded a penalty but the kick went wide and a similar award three minutes later went over after hitting off the upright.

Huggins did well breaking several tackles in a 40-yard burst and turned his final pass well to Ian Hamilton who eluded two tackles with a cut inside to go over for a try which Smith again converted.

Smith's kicking went off when he missed an easy penalty and the Accies' strong pressure only resulted in a succession of mistakes which should have been converted to points.

Dundee went wider with a third penalty and were unfortunate when their left winger made a fine break to be forced into touch inches from the line.

A set scrum was awarded from the line-out infringement and Dundee narrowed the score line with a well taken try which was converted.

From the second half kick-off the home forwards did well to ruck the ball. Ian Ramsay fed out to Hogarth and Malone did well to keep himself and the ball in play to go over at the corner flag.

A lot of pressure from the visitors tested the Accies defence with Neillands, Hogarth and Hamilton tackling well.

A slick three-quarter move from Dundee found a wide gap in the Accies defence which was accepted with a converted try to reduce the deficit to one point.

Dundee should have swung the match in their favour when they missed an easy penalty from the side of the post.

David Kirk playing at stand-off took a 45-yard penalty sending it high between the posts to restore confidence, but the final 10 minutes were hectic and it was only a dour Accies defence that held out and were much relieved when the whistle was blown.

This and the Dundee HSFP v Accies second 15 matches didn't start until 4.15. The Dundee team's bus broke down en route. Ardrossan Accies first and second teams were playing against each other when Dundee arrived but their pre-practice paid off with both the Accies 15s winning.

Ardrossan Accies seconds looked much stronger than usual against Dundee HSFP seconds with the return to play of George Perry and skipper Jimmy Armstrong.

Accies seconds running well with the ball reached their second highest total of the season to win 42 pts to 3 pts. Accies scores came from tries by J Armstrong ( 3 ) , D Brown ( 2 ) , G Perry, Des Strakey and D McAllister one each and McAllister also kicked five conversions.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 30th March 1973

Susan

[down south]

SATURDAY 24th MARCH 1973

KILBIRNIE DOMINATE CUP-TIE PLAY-OFF

KILBIRNIE LADESIDE 4 - WINTON ROVERS 2

Kilbirnie Ladeside finally got the better of Winton at Valefield on Saturday . After two drawn games in the Ayrshire Cup, the Valley side were never in any trouble against an under-par Winton.

It took Kilbirnie only five minutes to show Winton they were in for no easy ride. Ladeside were awarded a penalty which Dave Clarke coolly converted.

Five minutes later, Winton were in deeper trouble as they began to feel the force of the Ladeside front line. Oliphant gathered the ball twenty yards out and sent an unsaveable shot past keeper Ian Dick.

After this goal, it was all one-way traffic towards the Winton goal but surprisingly Ladeside could find no way through and so at the interval, they went in with a comfortable lead.

The manner in which this strong Valley side played in the first half made it look obvious that it would not take long in the second period to extend their lead.

The third goal came seven minutes after the interval. The ball was played to young Bobby Davidson and the winger coolly beat a defender before placing the ball out of Dick’s reach.

Kilbirnie continued to press and in the sixty-second minute, they got number four. It was Davidson who notched it with a stunning eighteen-yarder, hit on the drop.

Content with their four-goal lead, the home side began to relax and this heralded a Winton fightback. In the space of four minutes, Rovers were awarded two penalty kicks. Both were converted by right-half Ronnie Sanderson and came as undeserved consolation goals to a well-beaten side.

The pick of an excellent Kilbirnie side were new keeper Gordon Clark who gave an outstanding performance and Bobby Davidson who has hit top form in the last few weeks.

Those to gain pass marks for Winton were keeper Dick who kept the score reasonably respectable and Johnny Quinn who worked hard up front with little support.

Kilbirnie Ladeside: Clark; Boyle, Oliphant, McLean, Smith, Davidson, Lynn, Mulherron, Clarke and Kerr. Strangely, only ten Kilbirnie players are listed in the newspaper report; probably an error.

Winton Rovers: Dick; Hay, Baillie, Sanderson, Hood, McColl, Rowan, Cardno, Dalling, Dickson and Quinn.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 30 March 1973

Susan

[Penny Tray]

LAUNCH AT ARDROSSAN
25 MARCH 1864

THE COUNTESS OF CARRICK

The wooden schooner COUNTESS OF CARRICK – 85 feet in length, 19 feet in breadth, and 9 feet in depth – built by Joseph Russell, Ardrossan, for McKenna & Company, Girvan, was launched on the above date.

[Further details of this vessel, including three photographs – two as the Lady Limerick and one as the Lairdscastle - are contained in the following link:-

https://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?y ... OF+CARRICK