FAMOUS SHIPS

The "NEOTSFIELD"

It is believed that the Neotsfield was the last iron square-rigger built by Messrs. A. McMillan & Son of Dumbarton, one of the fine ship building firms in the United Kingdom. Some of the excellent ships launched from McMillan’s slips were Earl of Zetland, Dunbritton, Northern Monarch and Thomasina McLellan. The yard also launched some famous steel ships, some of which were Queen Elizabeth, Swanhilda, Queen Margaret, Bedford and Vincent. The Neotsfield was launched on August 10, 1889. She was not an extreme ship in any way, but was a good carrier and a very fine sailor for her day. Her measurements were: Registered tonnage, 1,894; Length, 269 feet 6 inches; Breadth, 40 feet 1 inch; Depth of Hold, 22 feet 7 inches; Poop, 44 feet in length; fo’c’sle-head, 28 feet. At the time of her launch, the Neotsfield was expected to take her place with the other great clippers in the wool trade out of Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane. She was expected to load wool, tallow and hides and race home around the Horn with the knowledge that they had to make good passages in order to catch the London wool sales. Her competition at the time was not yet the steamers, but the famous Aberdeen White Star Liners and many other ships of world wide reputation for speed, not the least of which was the now old tea clipper Cutty Sark. Her new owners were F. H. Dangar, of the then well known Sydney shipping firm of Dangar, Gedye & Co. Mr. Dangar had a genuine love of fine ships and was not just interested in how much money he could make off the ship. The Neotsfield was named after Mr. Dangar’s station, Neotsfield, where many of the finest horses of the land were bred. The ship under Mr. Dangar’s ownership was painted Blackwall fashion utilizing the same standards as the Navy as regards paint and polish. The Neotsfield, a very well-proportioned and powerful looking ship, was kept like the smartest of yachts by Captain Rugg and was greatly admired She usually loaded the wool on the east side of Circular Quay were many keen people who loved the sea and ships spent their lunch hour watching the world famous sailing clippers load. Captain Rugg commanded her throughout her entire career in the Sydney trade. Her passages to and from Australia were nothing out of the way, she proved a capable and steady ship which made good passages voyage after voyage. She depended on strong, fair winds in the "roaring forties" to make good passages and bore up well while being driven. Her best passage was made after she had been sold by Mr. Dangar to R. Thomas & Co. She was then commanded by Captain Evans. She left Cape Town in June, 1906 and made the run to Port Hunter in 30 days. The steamer Howick Hall left East London for the same port just three days after the Neotsfield had sailed from Cape Town, and she reached Port Hunter a whole day behind the sailing ship. R. Thomas & Co. bought the Neotsfield in 1902. They disguised her under a coat of gray and put her into the West Coast trade. Here she found herself sailing to Hamburg in rivalry with the great German nitrate clippers and she could not equal the great passages of some of these famous ships. Her first Captain under Thomas house flag was E. Jones, Captain Evans taking over in 1905. Her remained in command until 1916, when Captain W.L.B. Kelk took over. The Neotsfield kept clear of accident but in the early part of WW I she arrived in Plymouth in a very battered condition, having come through some very bad weather, which stripped the ship of her figure-head and bulwarks. During the summer of 1916 she went out from New York to Melbourne in 130 days. In the following year she was sold to James Bell & Co., of Hull, and Captain T. Dunning succeeded Captain Kelk in command. The end came on June 26, 1917. When 112 miles south-west by south of Bishop’s Rock, the Neotsfield was stopped by a German submarine. The crew were allowed to leave in their own ships boats, then the fine old full-rigger was sent to the bottom using time bombs.

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