The R. & J. H. Rea freighter s.s. 'Bangarth' shown at tips 15 to 18 in this Photochrom postcard dating from 1906. In 1872 Russell Rea commenced business as a coal merchant in Liverpool. A few years later his brother James Rea joined the partnership and the name of the firm was changed to R. & J. H. Rea. They owned a fleet of five steamers, each having a capacity of about 2,500 tons dead weight named the 'Bangarth', 'Calgarth', 'Dalegarth', 'Gatesgarth', and 'Throstlegarth'. In addition to these vessels they possessed five steam tugs and about 200 lighters. Messrs. E. & J. H. Rea had shipping offices at London, Liverpool, Southampton, Bristol and Cardiff. [053]
s.s. 'Bangarth' was lost during 1917 when she was torpedoed without warning 13 miles off the River Tyne by the German submarine UB-34. Some Penarth connected lives were lost :
'Two lives were lost during the attack, Frank Alfred Cook and Taliesin Jenkins. Cook was First Engineer and aged 41 and born at Appledore. He was son of Alfred and Elizabeth Tully Cook and husband to Martha Ann Cook of Earl Road, Penarth. Jenkins was Second Engineer aged 42, born at Blaina, Monmouthshire. He was son of Samuel and Margaret Jenkins and husband to Margaret Sarah Jenkins of Windsor Road, Penarth. Both men were of the Mercantile Marine regiment and remembered at the Tower Hill Memorial, London.' - Many thanks to the Scuba Diving UK website for the above info. [863]
