Orkney Image Library

Well Phil I have seen this picture before,in fact I may even have a copy somewhere in my vast collection.

I will take a stab at it and suggest it is the S.S.Express which sailed out of Kirkwall at the beginning of the 20th century and disappeared with all hands sometime in the first world wartime.
It was suggested at the time that she either struck a mine or was rammed by another ship somewhere in the Pentland Firth region.
It was something of a mystery at the time
This was well documented at the time so perhaps some one with a better (and older) memory than mine will be able to help.

Did the man 2nd from right move side-to-side during exposure, or is he a remarkable example of macrocephaly? Answers on a post please.

I think I can answer my own question, at least in part. No macrocephaly, just a distortion somewhere in the imaging process between camera and computer screen. The ship's funnel is bent directly above the man's head, the man above him has a fat left arm (and a bit of a big head) and the man first right has a fat right arm.
No wotsit, Sherlock?

this could be the s.s.express or her sister ship thes.s.s.ruby it was the ruby that struck a mine about a mile south of the mouth of the string she went down very quickly and captain mason and five of the crew were lost my grandfather was the fireman onboard her and was lost this happened on the 28 march 1917. i gained more information on this from captain irvine westbank st ola who was on the amelia steaming about a mile behind them they put on full steam and were able to get the survivers and others on board the amelia

This could be the S.S. Express or her sister ship the S.S. Ruby. It was the ruby that struck a mine about a mile south of the mouth of the string. She went down very quickly and Captain Mason and five of the crew were lost. My grandfather was the fireman onboard her and was lost. This happened on the 28 March 1917.

I gained more information on this from Captain Irvine of Westbank, St Ola, who was on the amelia steaming about a mile behind them. They put on full steam and were able to get the survivors and others on board the Amelia

On doing some more research further to what Peter has added, there was only one person picked up from the S.S. Express when she sank. He was George Foulis from Kirkwall, he was alive when rescued but died shortly after. He was a Grandfather to George Foulis and John Foulis who both live in Kirkwall and St.Ola respectively, George being a former Kirkwall Harbour Master who can be seen walking daily around Kirkwall at the same time every day. Added by Phil Brough.

If 'we' are talking of the s.s. Express which was previously the s.s. Hebridean then I am fairly sure that this is not the Express. I have a few pictures of the Hebridean and there are significant differences.

Found this same photo in Orkney Herald, and Weekly Advertiser and Gazette for the Orkney & Zetland Islands - Tuesday 14 December 1948 which states this is the SS Express (I) taken about 1909. The Hebridean became the Express (II) after the loss. The article also names a few of people in the photo.