By Chris Michael
The Stanleigh had started life as the Ernst Hugo Stinnes after her construction in Germany just before the First World War. Successively renamed the Corpath then Prekla, she acquired her final name in 1937 when she joined the fleet of British merchant entrepreneur Jack Billmeir. After many unsuccessful ventures in shipping, he finally found his way to fortune by supplying the Republican side during the Spanish Civil War. He bought old vessels, since the loss insurance was less, and used them to import sorely needed material into North West Spain. Many were attacked by General Franco's Nationalist forces. The Stanleigh was herself hit by a bomb while lying at Valencia on 28 July 1938. This bomb caused a fire and injured two crewmen. The fire was brought under control quickly. She was attacked again at Valencia on 5 August when two bombs landed alongside her. Her superstructure was damaged but not seriously and she was quickly put back in service.
The Stanleigh was nearly 30 years old by then but she had been fitted with large topside tanks and still had a role to play. She was a steamer with her machinery aft - looking like a large coaster. She had two single-ended boilers with 4 corrugated furnaces with a grate surface of 5 square metres. She was used to transport material around the coast of Britain during the Second World War.
Although she survived enemy actions in Spain, she was to be less lucky next time she was hit by a bomb. On a voyage from Devonport to Barrow in ballast on His Majesty's Service, she had a crew of 22 and one gunner aboard. She was in convoy in the Irish Sea under the command of Captain Bibbings when she was attacked by a German aircraft. A bomb hit her and she started to sink. There were six survivors but 17 men, including Captain Bibbings, were killed.
Her listed position when bombed is close to the position of the Chagres. Several other wrecks are charted in locations quite distant from their reported position when attacked. Thus one possibility is that the charted wreck 'Unknown A' is the Stanleigh.
This wreck was discovered by surveying after the War and was swept by wire to establish the exact clearance. The survey reported the wreck as lying at 145 feet and appearing to be 100 metres long. This wreck is listed by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board and Hydrographic Office as Unknown. It lies somewhat west of the charted wreck of the Munster. Indeed some divers believe that this wreck is part of the Munster although that is not confirmed by the detailed wreckage lying on the seabed.
From diving on the wreck, I estimate that she lies north-south with her bows south. Her bow section is fairly intact and is upside down. Amidships and the stern are more broken up but there are 6m vertical sections at the stern. A large mast lies to the west amidships. Part of a gun has been found near the stern. There are remains of engine components and one boiler is prominent at the north west corner of the wreck. This is a boiler which has a size typical of boilers found on coasters. There appears to be a second similar boiler underneath wreckage nearby. Overall, the size of the wreckage suggests a ship of around 1,000 tons. The wreck has a variety of marine life with many congers. The vertical plates are festooned with huge orange and white plumrose anemones. It is a very attractive dive site.
From the state of corrosion of the hull, I estimate that she is of Second World War vintage. The Stanleigh and Ystroom are the only unlocated Second World War wrecks I am aware of. The Ystroom had diesel engines - so no boiler. This leaves the Stanleigh as a candidate: she had two boilers. She is reported to have been bombed 12 miles away from the Bar. However, several other wrecks are now located equally far from their position reported in wartime. The overall size of the wreck and the fact that the engine machinery is all located at the stern both fit the Stanleigh. It will be interesting to find more definite evidence about the identity of this wreck.