Maritime record MWX2208 - Kyarra

Remains of 1918 wreck of an Australian liner which foundered 2 miles south-south-east of Anvil Point after being torpedoed by German submarine UB 57. Whilst en route from London to Sydney with a miscellaneous general cargo, including perfume, she was ordered to Devonport to act as a casualty clearing ship for the repatriation of wounded Australian soldiers. It is thought that she was not marked as a hospital ship. Constructed of metal, she was a steam-driven vessel with a single quick-firing gun for defence. Numerous finds have been recovered or washed ashore from the wreck. Status: Site

(1) Built: 1903 Builder: W Denny and Bros. Where Built: Dumbarton HP: 770 Boilers: 4 Propulsion: Screw driven x 2, 8 cylinder triple expansion engines Armament: 1 x 4.7 QF, stern mounted Owner: Australasian United S.N. Co. Ltd. Master: P H Day Crew: 112 Crew Lost: 6 Passengers: 35 (3) Date of Loss Qualifier: A The KYARRA was torpedoed on the port side of the forward boiler room at 8.50am by the German submarine UB57, engineer and four firemen were killed in the explosion, another man died on the shore. The survivors and passengers which included a pilot, were all landed at Swanage. The W/T code books and confidential papers were sunk by the master. The wreck was sold in 1967 to a group of London divers. (2) gives nationality as Australian, destination as Devonport, Port of Registration as Freemantle and additional cargo as soldiers. The steamship KYARRA was taken over for service as a hospital ship during the First World War...the captain was amongst the survivors. (8) 26-MAY-1918, KYARRA, former liner in use as a hospital ship, torpedoed and sunk off Anvil Point. (11) 27-MAY-1918 position 50 34 30N, 01 56 20W. Mast showing; not considered dangerous to navigation.(1) 04-MAY-1918 Sunk 1.5M south of Anvil Point.(1) 25-MAR-1920 Position 50 34 30N, 01 56 20W accepted.(1) 22-MAY-1966 Identified as KYARRA. Large vessel, lying on her side. Many deck fittings winches etc are still recognisable. Transit marks supplied.(1) 03-MAY-1968 Wreck cleared at 62 feet, fouled at 63 feet. Least depth by echo sounder 62 feet in general depth by echo sounder 90 feet. Depth of scour by echo 7 feet. Seabed coarse sand, shell and small stones. Wreck is evidently starting to break up having 3 feet more water over it than in 1958 and a local fisherman reported that he had knocked several pieces off wreck in recent years.(1) 06-MAY-1969 Wreck lying approximately E/W, bows pointing E. Covers an area 600 feet x 150 feet. Lying on starboard side, wheel-house and top superstructure have been swept away. Standing 30 feet high on seabed, but bow stands some 5 feet higher than this. Seabed is sand and rocks. Some salvage has taken place.(1) 05-OCT-1988 Wreck stands 18m high in general depth 30m. Much of cargo still in holds includes French perfume, champagne, stout, red wine, sealing wax, medical supplies, lino and cloth. (1) A white plate, four champagne bottles and a wooden shaving brush were reported to the Receiver of Wreck. (Droit A/038)(12) Bottles from this wreck were reported to the Receiver of Wreck. (Droit A/052)(12)(13) Various items from this wreck reported to the Receiver of Wreck including military badges, bottles, cloth, sealing wax and newspaper. For full list see (Droit A/092)(12) A brass fitting has been retrieved from this site. (Droit A/249)(12) A biscuit coloured oblong glazed tile 12cm x 6cm x 1cm was recovered near the KYARRA, position 50 34.52N 001 56.34W (Droit A/276)(12) 34 perfume bottles, 18 small wrist watches, 15 pocket watches, 26 pens along with buttons, razors, pencils and a porthole have been recovered from this wreck. (Droit A/316)(12)(13) Artefacts reported from this wreck include 4 bottles, 2 pipes, 17 false teeth on a leather card, 2 plastic shoes, 4 buckles, sealing wax, a wooden toothbrush and a ladies watch. (Droit A/410)(12)(13) A bottle of ink, sealing wax and tobacco in a rubber pouch reported from this wreck 1.5 miles south of Anvil Point. (Droit A/416)(12) Items reported from this vessel 1.5 miles south of Anvil Point include 2 rubber shoes, 4 garter slips, a watch, perfume bottle, a pencil, 3 cotton reels, a light switch, a brass hose end, a tool and bits of pottery. (Droit A/417)(12) Four pocket watches, 16 bottles, 2 pipes, 2 coathooks and a set of false teeth reported from this wreck, 1.5 miles off Anvil Point. (Droit A/600)(12)(13) Three plates recovered from this site, position 50 34.90N 001 56.59W. (Droit A/660)(12) A bottle reported from this site. (Droit A/750)(12) A gold ring and possibly a fountain pen top recovered from 50 34.52N 001 56.34W. (Droit A/775)(12) A champagne bottle recovered from this site. (Droit A/832)(12) An empty champagne bottle, a dinner plate, a glass bottle labelled Ellimans Royal Embrocation for Horses and other material recovered off Durlston Head. (Droit A/1020)(12) A small 9 carat gold band recovered from this wreck 0.75 mile from Anvil Point lighthouse. (Droit A/1313)(12) A porthole recovered from this wreck off Swanage. (Droit A/1395)(12) A pair of rubber shoes and a perfume bottle recovered from this wreck, position 50 34.90N 001 56.57W. (Droit A/1419)(12)(13) A glass pot and 2 tiles recovered from this wreck. (Droit A/1439)(12) 5 bottles recovered from this wreck, position 50 34.87N 001 50.58W. (Droit A/1890)(12)(13) 3 bottles, a switch, 2 copper bangles, a spirit level, a coffee pot lid, and a handle recovered from this wreck, 1 mile west of Swanage Bay. (Droit A/1914)(12) 3 smoking pipes and 10 perfume bottles recovered from this wreck off St. Albans Head. (Droit A/1942)(12)(13) Various bottles, 2 pipes, 6 overshoes, 2 forks, a spoon, 3 clothes clips, a pot and a feeding bottle recovered from this wreck, position 50 34.9N 001 56.6W. (Droit A/1963)(12) 3 small glass stoppers recovered from this wreck. (Droit A/2070)(12)(13) A small brass tap, a 12 copper pipe, an 18 copper pipe, a 9 lead, and a joint from a gangway rail recovered from this wreck, 0.5 mile off the Dorset coast, west of Swanage Bay. (Droit A/2129)(12) A pair of galoshes recovered from this wreck, position 50 34.90N 001 56.59W. (Droit A/2230)(12)(13) k t 9 di I li b ttl ll f t I l ibl d t k t (Droit A/2277)(12) 2 bottles and 9 glass stoppers recovered from this wreck, off Anvil Point. (Droit A/2391)(12) A hatch lock recovered from this wreck, off Swanage. (Droit A/2451)(12) A bottle of wine recovered from this wreck, position 50 34.52N 001 56.34W. (Droit A/2587)(12) 4 jugs, a pen, 2 pencils, 2 pieces of wax, 2 pipes, various bottles, 2 eggcups, 2 stoneware ink bottles, 4 watches, 2 dishes, a set of false teeth, 3 torches, among the items recovered from this wreck, position 50 34.90N 001 56.59W. (Droit A/2766)(12) A watch back, a tile, part of a pot, a bottle top, a pot lid, and the bottom of a bottle recovered from this wreck, position 50 34.90N 001 56.59W. (Droit A/2779)(12) 2 portholes recovered from this wreck, approximately 4 miles SW of Anvil Point. (Droit A/2818)(12) A key, a lump of sealing wax, a padlock and a candle holder recovered from this wreck off Swanage. (Droit A/3001)(12) A 0.5 brass shell turned into a cigarette lighter, 3 stout bottles, 2 cotton balls, 2 perfume bottles, a baby teat, 3 electric switches, and 2 size 13 overshoes recovered from this wreck, position 50 34.95N 001 56.50W. (Droit A/3168)(12) 6 watches, silver and gold coloured metal fob watches, and assorted glass bottles, recovered from this wreck, 1.5 miles south of Peveril Point. (Droit A/3176)(12) A brass cap recovered from this wreck, position 51 34.86N 001 56.56W. (Droit A/3391)(12) A ceramic teapot marked Don’t ye be afraid, there be plenty more, a heavily cracked ceramic candlestick holder, and 3 Worcestershire sauce bottles among the items recovered from this wreck, approx. 1 mile SE of Swanage. (Droit A/3442) (12) 14 large perfume bottles, 3 medium perfume bottles, 4 small perfume bottles, 5 small gold watches, a toothbrush, 2 blocks of sealing wax, and 1 part card teeth among the items recovered from this wreck, position 50 34.52N 001 56.34W. (Droit A/3452)(12)(13) An unidentified small brass object recovered from this wreck off Swanage. (Droit A/3484)(12) A brass porthole, 11 perfume bottles (some Roger et Gallet), 4 rubber overshoes (North British Rubber Co. Ltd.) and 2 champagne bottles among the items recovered from this wreck, position 50 34.88N 001 56.55W. (Droit A/3567)(12) A champagne bottle recovered from this wreck, position 50 34.89N 001 56.57W. (Droit A/3626)(12) 2 bench ends and a porthole recovered from this wreck, Swanage. (Droit A/3642)(12) 5 cotton reels, 3 bottle stoppers and a Worcester sauce bottle recovered from this wreck off Swanage. (Droit A/3685)(12) A/3724)(12) A brass plate recovered from this wreck, a mile S of Anvil Point. (Droit A/3824)(12) 3 portholes recovered from a wreck thought to be the KYARRA, off Poole. (Droit A/4090)(12) 2 cups and saucers, 4 perfume bottles, 6 blue bottles, 4 vinegar bottles, 2 shaving bowls with lids, 6 rosewood pipes, numerous glass stoppers and approximately 20 baby feeding bottles among the items recovered from this wreck, position 50 34.52N 001 56.34W, with permission from the owner. (Droit A/4163)(12) 2 pots recovered from this wreck, position 50 34.52N 001 56.34W. (Droit A/4259)(12) Several pieces of broken crockery and part of a perfume bottle recovered from this wreck, off Swanage. (Droit A/4329)(12) A bottle with its contents recovered from this wreck, off Swanage. (Droit A/4344)(12) Additional sources: DS. P62; Dorset Shipwrecks, Burnett, 1982 p24; LR.1917-18 No.940(K); GPCS. P78 At least six leather and rubber tobacco pouches from the Kyarra are held by Poole Museums Service. (64) gross tonnage Position 50 34.90 N 1 56.59 W taken from (65)

Record last edited

May 15 2024 1:41PM