Casgliadau Arlein

Port broadside view of S.S. HAXBY entering Cardiff docks, about 1936.

One of ’Ropner’s Navy’. Robert Ropner emigrated from his native Germany to West Hartlepool in 1858 and set up as a shipowner on his own account in 1874; by 1914 his company operated fifty-seven tramp steamers. The 5,207 gross ton Haxby, built at West Hartlepool in 1929, was typical of the ‘long bridge deck’ design of vessel operated by Ropners in the inter-war years. The Haxby was sunk by the German auxiliary cruiser Orion in the Atlantic on 24 April 1940, but the company that owned her remains in existence today, operating a number of bulk carriers. (Source: Shipping at Cardiff: Photographs from the Hansen Collection 1920-1975 by David Jenkins, 1993).

S.S. HAXBY (5207 gt). Built 1929 by Wm Gray & Sons for Ropner Shipping Co. She was intercepted east of Bermuda by the German raider ORION on 24 April 1940 and was shelled, despite her distress signals, killing 17 crew. The remaining 24, including the captain, were taken prisoner and the ship torpedoed and sunk.