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Hms Iolaire: Beasts Of Holm, Lewis, North Minch
Requisitioned Steam Yacht (20th Century), Yacht (20th Century)
Site Name Hms Iolaire: Beasts Of Holm, Lewis, North Minch
Classification Requisitioned Steam Yacht (20th Century), Yacht (20th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Amalthaea; Iolanthe; Rione; Rubha Thuirubha Airinis; Biastan Thuilm; Rubha Thuilm; Arnish Light; Stornoway Harbour Approach; Tolm; Cala Steornabhaigh
Canmore ID 102823
Site Number NB43SW 8001
NGR NB 44428 30409
Datum WGS84 - Lat/Long
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/102823
- Council Western Isles
- Parish Maritime - Western Isles
- Former Region Western Isles Islands Area
- Former District Maritime
- Former County Not Applicable
NB43SW 8001 4442 3041
N58 11.3167 W6 20.9333
NLO: Rubha Airinis [name: NB 422 308]
Cala Steornabhaigh [name centred NB 431 315]
Rubha Thuilm [name: NB 444 305]
Stornoway [name: NB 425 330].
For associated and overlooking monument (NB 44507 30483), see NB43SW 200.
Evidence = Divers Report
Horizontal Datum = OGB
General water depth = 11
Circumstances of Loss Details
-----------------------------
The Admiralty yacht IOLAIRE struck the rock known as Beasts of Holm [Biastan Thuilm] and sank.
Report by Dr. Langdon, Channel Islands, letter dated 24 March 1970.
An account of vessel's loss may be found in 'Sea Sorrow' published by Stornoway Press. It states that an explosion occurred when she sank. Witnesses stated that the probable cause was the boiler bursting.
Report by RAF Brize Norton Sub Aqua Club 1976.
Surveying Details
-----------------------------
6 May 1971. A position is given of bearing 113 degrees, 1297 metres from Arnish Light, at a depth of 21.3 metres. The vessel is totally broken up. The bell and name plate have been recovered and were presented to Stornoway Town Council. Most of those lost when she sank were returning RNR personnel following the end of World War I.
Report by C. Robb, Receiver of Wreck, Stornoway.
2 March 1976. An area "inboard" of Biaston Holm beacon was searched by divers who confirmed that the wreck is broken up. The general depth is 17 metres. The wreck's position was fixed 58 11 17.6N, 006 20 58.3W.
Report by HMS HERALD, 1 December 1975.
13 October 1976. The wreck was located and dived upon at 58 11 19N, 006 20 56W. The vessel is badly broken up with the highest point being 3 metres above the seabed. The wreck was searched for by divers in HMS HERALD's position, 58 11 17.6N, 006 20 58.3W, and not located.
Report by RAF Brize Norton Sub Aqua Club 1976 Hebrides Survey.
23 August 1979. The wreck lies close inshore just E of IOLAIRE monument, parallel to the shore in 12 metres and amongst rock outcrops. The wreck is well broken up with large boiler 3 metres in diameter. Some shellsand cordite lie around the wreckage.
Report by RAF Coningsby Sub Aqua Club 1979.
11 November 1985. The wreck lies in 23 metres(?). A large boiler and 2 iron propellers are all that remains of the main structure.
Report by RAF Lossiemouth Sub Aqua Club expedition, 1985.
Hydrographic Office, 1995.
(Classified as yacht: former names cited as Amalthaea, Iolanthe and Rione, and date of loss as 1 January 1919). Iolaire: this vessel was wrecked at Beast [Beasts] of Holm, outside Stornoway harbour.
Registration: British. 634 tons [unspecified].
(Location of loss cited as N58 11.32 W6 20.93).
I G Whittaker 1998.
The Admiralty yacht HMS Iolaire stranded on New Year's morning 1919 while carrying nearly three hundred men and within a mile of the safety of Stornoway harbour. Over two hundred died, most of them from Ness and the West Side of Lewis. At the time of sinking, the vessel was carrying a large leave party from Kyle of Lochalsh to Stornoway, and was loaded beyond the capacity of the available emergency aids.
The vessel was built in 1881 for the Duke of Westminster as the luxury sailing yacht Amalthaea. In 1915, she was requisitioned for war service from her then owner, Mr Duff Assheton Smith (later Sir Michael Duff). Although converted and used for anti-submarine warfare and patrol work, much evidence of her pre-war style was retained (although boarded over for protection). Her name was changed several times before she became HMS Iolaire, serving as the naval base ship at Stornoway and taking the name of the parent establishment.
(The website article included a detailed account of the loss and of the subsequent public enquiry, with a list of casualties. Numerous illustrations are published, including side view of the vessel while still in use as a yacht.)
NMRS, MS/2085.
(Formerly entered in error as troopship; reclassified as Requisitioned, Steam Yacht). This wreck is charted (Wk) in 8m depth of water to landward of the Biastan Thuilm or Beasts of Holm. This group of skerries rises from a depth of 18m about 1.7nm SE of the pier area at Stornoway and about 0.6nm ESE of the entrance to the ill-defined area of sheltered water that is noted as Stornoway Harbour on the published chart. No seabed type is noted nearby.
This vessel evidently stranded, rather than foundered as has been stated on occasion. The loss of this vessel is not cited by R and B Larn (1998).
Holm is not noted as such on the 1997 edition of the OS 1:50,000 map, but may be equated with Tolm [name: NB 457 314]. As defined by RCAHMS, Stornoway harbour (NB43SW 19.00) is at NB 422 326.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 15 November 2004.
HO chart no. 2529 (1978, revised 1997).
Arnish Point is to be equated with Rubha Airinis, which forms the W side of the outer entrance into Cala Steornabhaigh, the outer part of Stornoway Harbour. Arnish Point Lighthouse (NB43SW 20.00) is at NB 43250 30828.
Beasts of Holm [Biastan Thuilm] is probably to be equated with Rubha Thuim, on the E side of the entrance to Cala Steornabhaigh, which forms the outer harbour at Stornoway.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 26 September 2008.
Loss (1 January 1919)
(Classified as yacht: former names cited as Amalthaea, Iolanthe and Rione, and date of loss as 1 January 1919). Iolaire: this vessel was wrecked at Beast [Beasts] of Holm, outside Stornoway harbour.
Registration: British. 634 tons [unspecified].
(Location of loss cited as N58 11.32 W6 20.93).
I G Whittaker 1998.
The Admiralty yacht HMS Iolaire stranded on New Year's morning 1919 while carrying nearly three hundred men and within a mile of the safety of Stornoway harbour. Over two hundred died, most of them from Ness and the West Side of Lewis. At the time of sinking, the vessel was carrying a large leave party from Kyle of Lochalsh to Stornoway, and was loaded beyond the capacity of the available emergency aids.
The vessel was built in 1881 for the Duke of Westminster as the luxury sailing yacht Amalthaea. In 1915, she was requisitioned for war service from her then owner, Mr Duff Assheton Smith (later Sir Michael Duff). Although converted and used for anti-submarine warfare and patrol work, much evidence of her pre-war style was retained (although boarded over for protection). Her name was changed several times before she became HMS Iolaire, serving as the naval base ship at Stornoway and taking the name of the parent establishment.
(The website article included a detailed account of the loss and of the subsequent public enquiry, with a list of casualties. Numerous illustrations are published, including side view of the vessel while still in use as a yacht.)
NMRS, MS/2085.
Evidence Of Loss (1995)
Evidence = Divers Report
Horizontal Datum = OGB
General water depth = 11
Circumstances of Loss Details
-----------------------------
The Admiralty yacht IOLAIRE struck the rock known as Beasts of Holm [Biastan Thuilm] and sank.
Report by Dr. Langdon, Channel Islands, letter dated 24 March 1970.
An account of vessel's loss may be found in 'Sea Sorrow' published by Stornoway Press. It states that an explosion occurred when she sank. Witnesses stated that the probable cause was the boiler bursting.
Report by RAF Brize Norton Sub Aqua Club 1976.
Surveying Details
-----------------------------
6 May 1971. A position is given of bearing 113 degrees, 1297 metres from Arnish Light, at a depth of 21.3 metres. The vessel is totally broken up. The bell and name plate have been recovered and were presented to Stornoway Town Council. Most of those lost when she sank were returning RNR personnel following the end of World War I.
Report by C. Robb, Receiver of Wreck, Stornoway.
2 March 1976. An area "inboard" of Biaston Holm beacon was searched by divers who confirmed that the wreck is broken up. The general depth is 17 metres. The wreck's position was fixed 58 11 17.6N, 006 20 58.3W.
Report by HMS HERALD, 1 December 1975.
13 October 1976. The wreck was located and dived upon at 58 11 19N, 006 20 56W. The vessel is badly broken up with the highest point being 3 metres above the seabed. The wreck was searched for by divers in HMS HERALD's position, 58 11 17.6N, 006 20 58.3W, and not located.
Report by RAF Brize Norton Sub Aqua Club 1976 Hebrides Survey.
23 August 1979. The wreck lies close inshore just E of IOLAIRE monument, parallel to the shore in 12 metres and amongst rock outcrops. The wreck is well broken up with large boiler 3 metres in diameter. Some shellsand cordite lie around the wreckage.
Report by RAF Coningsby Sub Aqua Club 1979.
11 November 1985. The wreck lies in 23 metres(?). A large boiler and 2 iron propellers are all that remains of the main structure.
Report by RAF Lossiemouth Sub Aqua Club expedition, 1985.
Hydrographic Office, 1995.
Note (15 November 2004)
(Formerly entered in error as troopship; reclassified as Requisitioned, Steam Yacht). This wreck is charted (Wk) in 8m depth of water to landward of the Biastan Thuilm or Beasts of Holm. This group of skerries rises from a depth of 18m about 1.7nm SE of the pier area at Stornoway and about 0.6nm ESE of the entrance to the ill-defined area of sheltered water that is noted as Stornoway Harbour on the published chart. No seabed type is noted nearby.
This vessel evidently stranded, rather than foundered as has been stated on occasion. The loss of this vessel is not cited by R and B Larn (1998).
Holm is not noted as such on the 1997 edition of the OS 1:50,000 map, but may be equated with Tolm [name: NB 457 314]. As defined by RCAHMS, Stornoway harbour (NB43SW 19.00) is at NB 422 326.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 15 November 2004.
HO chart no. 2529 (1978, revised 1997).
Note (26 September 2008)
Arnish Point is to be equated with Rubha Airinis, which forms the W side of the outer entrance into Cala Steornabhaigh, the outer part of Stornoway Harbour. Arnish Point Lighthouse (NB43SW 20.00) is at NB 43250 30828.
Beasts of Holm [Biastan Thuilm] is probably to be equated with Rubha Thuim, on the E side of the entrance to Cala Steornabhaigh, which forms the outer harbour at Stornoway.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 26 September 2008.
Reference (2011)
Whittaker ID : 1599
Name : IOLAIRE (EX. AMALTHAEA, IOLANTHE, ...)
Latitude : 581119
Longitude : 62056
Registration : BRITISH
Type : YACHT
Tonnage : 634
Position : Exact Position
Loss Day : 1
Loss Month : 1
Loss Year : 1919
Comment : Wrecked at Beast of Holm outside Stornoway Harbour.
Reference (19 April 2012)
UKHO Identifier : 000743
Feature Class : Wreck
Wreck Category : Dangerous wreck
State : LIVE
Classification : Unclassified
Position (Lat/long) : 58.18822,-6.34998
Horizontal Datum : ETRS 1989
WGS84 Position (Lat/long) : 58.18822,-6.34998
WGS84 Origin : Block Shift
Previous Position : 58.18862,-6.34888
Position Quality : Precisely known
Depth : 8.0
Depth Method : Found by diver
Depth Quality : Least depth known
Water Depth : 11
Water Level Effect : Always under water/submerged
Vertical Datum : Mean Low Water Springs
Name : HMS IOLAIRE
Type : ADMIRALTY YACHT
Flag : BRITISH
Tonnage : 999
Tonnage Type : Displacement
Date Sunk : 01/01/1919
Bottom Texture : Sand
Contact Description : Notable debris
Original Sensor : None reported
Last Sensor : Diver Sighting
Original Detection Year : 1971
Last Detection Year : 1985
Original Source : Other
Last Source : Divers
Circumstances of Loss : **BUILT IN 1902. HIRED 1.3.15. STRUCK THE ROCK KNOWN AS BEASTS OF HOLM [BIASTAN THUILM] & SANK. AN EXPLOSION OCCURRED WHEN SHE SANK, WITNESSES STATED PROBABLE CAUSE WAS THE BOILER BURSTING.
Surveying Details : **6.5.71 POSN 113DEGS, 7C FROM ARNISH LT, AT A DEPTH OF 70FT. TOTALLY BROKEN UP. BELL & NAME PLATE RECOVERED & PRESENTED TO STORNOWAY TOWN COUNCIL. MOST OF THOSE LOST WHEN SHE SANK WERE RETURNING RNR PERSONNEL FOLLOWING END OF WW1. (C ROBB, RECEIVER OF WK, STORNOWAY. N/NL 1634/70).
**H2438/76 2.3.76 AREA INSIDE BIASTON HOLM BN SEARCHED BY DIVERS WHO CONFIRM WK IS BROKEN UP. GEN DEPTH OF 17MTRS. WK FIXED IN 581117.6N, 062058.3W. (HMS HERALD, HI 24/75). NC 2529.
**H1289/76/338 13.10.76 WK DIVED IN 581119N, 062056W [OGB]. BADLY BROKEN UP WITH THE HIGHEST POINT BEING 10FT ABOVE THE SEABED. WK WAS SEARCHED FOR BY DIVERS IN HERALD'S POSN, 581117.6N, 062058.3W, & NOT LOCATED. (RAF BRIZE NORTON SAC, 1976 HEBRIDES SURVEY). AMEND TO WK 8MTRS. NC 2529.
**H4893/77 23.8.79 LIES CLOSE INSHORE JUST W OF IOLAIRE MONUMENT, PARALLEL TO THE SHORE IN 12MTRS, AMONG ROCK OUTCROPS. WELL BROKEN UP WITH LARGE BOILER 3MTRS DIAMETER. SOME SHELLS & CORDITE LIE AROUND THE WRECKAGE. (RAF CONINGSBY SAC 1979).
**H1310/85/40 11.11.85 LIES IN 23MTRS(?). LARGE BOILER & 2 IRON PROPELLERS ARE ALL THAT REMAINS OF MAIN STRUCTURE. (RAF LOSSIEMOUTH SAC EXPED, 1985).
POSITIONS BELOW THIS POINT ARE IN DEGREES, MINUTES AND DECIMALS OF A MINUTE
**25.11.02 ARTICLE REGARDING LOSS OF VESSEL IN INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY DTD 2.1.1994 INSERTED IN PRESS ARTICLES BRANCH FOLDER.
**17.6.09 SHOWN IN 5811.293N, 0620.999W [EUT] ON 2529 [JUNE 09' EDN].
General Comments : BOILER & 2 PROPS REMAIN
Chart Symbol : WK 8.0
Date Last Amended : 17/06/2009
Date Position Last Amended : 17/06/2009
