The Orkney Image Library
Help us get organised! If we haven't correctly identified which area this picture is best listed under, please select it below and click Done!
This one is for them in the know, Longhope or Stromness men. I have no idea of the date the photo was taken, could have been pre 2nd.World War, 1930s. The ship is carrying a deck cargo of timber, don't know where the ship is aqround or her name so I will leave it to you. I found this photo in the bottom of a drawer. Added by Phil Brough.
View Large VersionPicture added on 01 December 2010 at 11:40
This is the SS Borg ashore in Birsay Bay, July 1931, with Marwick Head in the background. She struck the North Shoal and was badly damaged and was subsequently beached.
Added by Tommy Matches on 01 December 2010
That is in birsay bay .
Added by Alan Breck on 01 December 2010
this photo is taken from about the palace in birsay. and marwick head in back ground.
Added by A Breck on 01 December 2010
Where was she going and where was she from please?
Added by Barbara Jolly on 02 December 2010
The Borg was registered in Sarpsborg Norway and was on passage from Leningrad to Belfast with a cargo of timber for shipyard scaffolding. The Captain, Einer Wold was accompanied by his wife and six year old daughter. They were all rescued along with the crew of fifteen.
Added by Tommy Matches on 03 December 2010
Norwegian ship - on passage from Leninggrad to Belfast wae a cargo o timber. 3rd July 1931.
Anonymous comment added on 03 December 2010
Hi!Tommy,great info.and so quick, I see Barbara asking the same questions that I was going to ask, so I will wait and see what comes up. What happened to her and did any of the Locals' get any of the timber off the ship?.Added by Phil Brough.
Added by Phil Brough. on 03 December 2010
If you go to the Orkney Library and Archive and ask for Orkney Vintage Club Newsletter No 9,on Page 5,you will find an article on The Borg written by Tommy Matches. There is another update in Newsletter No 10, page 34
Added by Harold Esson on 04 December 2010
The house called strathborg in sandwick was built with some of the wood of the boat I heard, dont know if it is true. I also heard Jim o Flaws anchored a Fordson major tractor to the beach took off the back wheels bolted on some kind o drums and used it as a winch to pull wood ashore.Dont know if this is right either?
Added by Dunky Hay on 05 December 2010
That sounds about right, Dunky! Orcadians would never miss a chance like this, Innovation and determination springs to mind! Added by Phil Brough.
Added by Phil Brough. on 08 December 2010
re- the fordson used as a winch..... the old Navy slipway beside the west pier at Lyness, had a fordson bolted on a base and connected to the slipway winches, worked a treat hauled out fairly big boats no bother..
Added by Jimmy Hamilton on 10 December 2010
The cargo was disposed of in various ways. A sale was held on the Links in September '31 attended by a lot o folk and good prices were achieved. Messrs Peace and Baikie, owners of the Kirkwall wood yards bought the remainder of the cargo and hired locals to help with the salvage. Lots more went quietly away to be hidden in the local barn roofs etc for future use by the locals. I actually cut up a couple of battens from the Borg during the seventies! Jim o Flaws did indeed use a Fordson tractor with the back wheels removed and a home made winch fitted to salvage scrap from the ship during the fifties. As far as I know this same tractor and winch was used to salvage scrap from a blockship at the fourth barrier later and I believe was eventually buried by the sand there. You are right about Strathborg, Dunky, being built using Borg wood. Maybe its all in the name!
Added by Tommy Matches on 11 December 2010
I kaen whar some o the chairs are. LOL!
<< back
Added by Kevin Tullock on 25 July 2023
Birsay
