● 1915 - s.s. 'Bluejacket' - on the Penarth Pontoon for repair following a hit from a German torpedo in March 1915. 'Showing hole made by the Torpedo on 18th March 1915. The light patch showing the dimensions of the temporary timber bulkhead placed over the damage to enable the steamer to complete her voyage to Cardiff via London.' Note also the extent of the buckling of the plates caused by the explosive forces! I wonder what the man gazing up at the damage is thinking? The lower enlargement has been colourised.

The steamer was hit by a torpedo fired from U34, 15 miles east of the Owers light vessel whilst en route from La Plata to London carrying a cargo of maize. The vessel was built at the yard of J. L. Thompson & Sons, Ltd. of Sunderland in 1904. She had a gross register tonnage of 3,515 tons and was owned initially by George Hallett of Cardiff.

The original photograph is held within the archives of the National Museum of Wales and is reproduced with permission. [629] [Museum item number : 2001.179] [20180323]