 | 180 |
 | Park School History Publications |
 | 1928 |
 |  |
An early aerial view of Invergordon
An aerial view of the harbour and the town, probably taken between the Wars. Does anyone know the name of the ship in the foreground?
Picture Added on 18 April 2004.
Comments
My understanding was that the majority of the tanks contained fuel oil while some were designated to hold water so that navy ships could be supplied at the Admiralty Pier. I don't believe that the contents changed due to likely cross-contamination.
On 15th February 1941, a Junkers 88 dropped two bombs on the tank farm. One went through tank 13 into the next tank and exploded without causing a fire. The oil from the tanks flowed out onto the railway track and flowed along this westwards to the station. The second bomb went through another tank but failed to explode. The plane then avoided the church spire and shot up a Sunderland flying boat moored in the Firth. The unexploded bomb was defused and the oil was hosed into the Firth.
Added by Malcolm McKean on 24 June 2004.
On 15th February 1941, a Junkers 88 dropped two bombs on the tank farm. One went through tank 13 into the next tank and exploded without causing a fire. The oil from the tanks flowed out onto the railway track and flowed along this westwards to the station. The second bomb went through another tank but failed to explode. The plane then avoided the church spire and shot up a Sunderland flying boat moored in the Firth. The unexploded bomb was defused and the oil was hosed into the Firth.
Added by Malcolm McKean on 24 June 2004.
A variation on the story of the bombing of the tank farm is contained in the excellent book by Marinell Ash entitled 'This Noble Harbour - A History of the Cromarty Firth'. (Copies of the book can be obtained from the Cromarty Firth Port Authority).
I quote: "Late on the morning of 17 February 1941 a lone German bomber managed to fly into the Firth under the guns on the Sutors and scored a direct hit on number thirteen tank at Seabank Tank Farm at the back of Invergordon. The bomb exploded inside the tank rupturing its sides. The top of the tank fell down intact. Oil spilled down into the railway cutting and into the sea."
There seems to be some doubt as to the precise date, but it is generally agreed that it was tank thirteeen that was destroyed. There is still a gap where it used to exist.
Added by Malcolm McKean on 25 June 2004.
I quote: "Late on the morning of 17 February 1941 a lone German bomber managed to fly into the Firth under the guns on the Sutors and scored a direct hit on number thirteen tank at Seabank Tank Farm at the back of Invergordon. The bomb exploded inside the tank rupturing its sides. The top of the tank fell down intact. Oil spilled down into the railway cutting and into the sea."
There seems to be some doubt as to the precise date, but it is generally agreed that it was tank thirteeen that was destroyed. There is still a gap where it used to exist.
Added by Malcolm McKean on 25 June 2004.
Take a look at picture #389 to see the effect of the bombing raid.
Added by Malcolm McKean on 07 September 2004.
Added by Malcolm McKean on 07 September 2004.
Is there any truth in the story that there were two men working on top of tank 13 when it was hit? The story goes on to say that the two presumed to be dead were seen later that day in the Caley bar to everyones amazement!
Added by Robert from the museum on 09 September 2004.
Added by Robert from the museum on 09 September 2004.
Now, about the ship. Unquestionably a battleship of the ROYAL SOVEREIGN class - I think HMS REVENGE (actually the first of the class to commission), which from Winter 1917-18 had the upper bridge extended aft until it was very close to the funnel. This remained a distinguishing feature - see drawings in Breyer's 'Battleships and Battlecruisers 1905-70'. The date? Sometime after Spring 1925 (when prominent searchlight towers at the foot of the mainmast were removed, and the aforesaid upper bridge structure enlarged further) but before 1931 (see photo on p170 of Raven and Roberts' 'British Battleships of WW2 - the fore-topmast has been removed to allow siting of a HACS director). In fact the photo may have been taken no later than REVENGE's refit which began January 1928 - during which the HACS director was first fitted (Raven & Roberts p140 - there's also a good photo here of REVENGE in 1926) and the fore-topmast probably removed. So, what am I saying - the summer of 1925, 1926 or 1927. I'll look at Admiralty Movement Records in the library of the RN Museum, Portsmouth.
Added by Mark Brady on 10 September 2004.
Added by Mark Brady on 10 September 2004.
Robert - my uncle Gordon Andrews wrote an account of the bombing (including about the two presumed dead men and also the horse...). He told me that he was planning a visit to the museum in the next couple of weeks, so if you spot him, do ask him about it, and we'll try to dig out his account.
And isn't it amazing how an expert can date a photo so accurately using information the rest of us wouldn't have an idea about?
Added by Caroline Robb on 10 September 2004.
And isn't it amazing how an expert can date a photo so accurately using information the rest of us wouldn't have an idea about?
Added by Caroline Robb on 10 September 2004.
The crude oil from the tank flowed through the station and on to the sea. Oil stains could still be seen on the platform edges, and the cellars under the station were filled with the stuff. The German bomber also strafed the siding that runs along the bottom of Bulls Hill leaving bullet markings on the rails. After this attack the gun positions between the Middle pier and Dockyard pier had at least two layers of bricks removed as the bofors could not be deflected enough to fire at the plane.
Added by Douglas Will on 15 January 2006.
Added by Douglas Will on 15 January 2006.
Added by Michael Coghill on 24 June 2004.