Orkney Image Library

Kirkwall Bay? Carness with Shapinsay behind on the right.

I have been looking for this picture for a while, I went to Shapinsay with my mother on the Iona before I started school, possibly 1944 or 45. My granny was Frances Nicholson and I am reasonably sure her father John? Nicholson worked on the IONA . I seem to remember him having a long beard- am I right?

Oh look it's my birthplace. I was named after the boat and the Dennisons. I was born on the way to Kirkwall at 8:10pm on Jan 3rd 1956. I now live in Wolverhampton and have 5 grandkids.

Please could anyone help with information on a Mr James Love who I am informed served on board The Iona in 1930/31.
Did she ever travel the coast down to Bristol or was her area of operation only in the Scottish Isles.
Any information on the ship or Mr Love would be most welcome.
Thanks in anticipation.
Terry Taylor
Bristol
8th April 2009

I think the fleet in the background is the 'Black Hawk' American Flotilla which was based in Kirkwall after the First World War to sweep mines. Notice the high fender on the edge of Kirkwall pier. The Iona is still with her open wheelhouse and the lifeboat is housed on the port side. This was changed just before the start of the war when the dinghy went on top of the engine casing and the wheelhouse was enlarged. The funnel and ventilators were replace with larger ones and the navigation lights went on to the wheelhouse roof. It later had a roof compass and
chart table added (by using the port rear window.).
She still has her original mast. This was broken and shortened, with a much shorter and heavier one in her final days.

I have been researching my family history and it appears my great great grandfather was a stoker on a ss Iona in 1891, he was 26yrs old. Can anybody confirm this. His name is Adam Dick.

I think this pic could have been taken during or very soon after WW1. The warships look very British and I think that is a M class destroyer in the foreground. They were all built in 1914 and mostly scrapped in 1921. I don't see any minesweepers but do see a couple of cruisers with 3 funnels which by the rake in their funnels suggest Scout Cruisers, Adventure, Forward, Pathfinder or Sentinel Class.

A bit more investigation makes the destroyer in the foreground to be possibly either HMS Mansefield or HMS Mentor. They were the only destroyers built with the 4 funnel (2x2) arrangement but if anybody knows better, over to you!!!

A look at Tom Kent's photo on page 174 of Shoal & Sheaf might settle the argument. If that is right the ships are of the 1st and 2nd divisions of the Torpedo Flotilla in August 1906.

Yes it is. I remember seeing it there . A very sad end for such a fine vessel that served the Island so well for so long.