Papers concerning the Sinking of the SS Streonshalh

This collection comprises an account by Captain J J Robinson, master of the SS Streonshalh, of her sinking by the Admiral Graf Spee in 1939, and of the Battle of the River Plate 1939; photocopy of a photography of the SS Streonshalh nd; copy newspaper cuttings relating to the Admiral Graf Spee and the Battle of the River Plate 1980s; photocopy of a receipt issued by Lieutenant Hertzberg, boarding and prize officer of the Graf Spee for the official papers of the SS Streonshalh, countersigned by Captain J J Robinson and Captain Hans Lansdorf 1939.

Open

This collection was deposited by Captain J J Robinson (son of Captain Robinson) in June 1986

The SS Streonshalh was built in Sunderland in 1928 for the Rowland and Marwood Steamship Company. On the 26th November 1939 she left Monte Video, Uruguay, for Freetown, Sierra Leone, carrying a cargo of wheat in bulk. On the 7th December she encountered the German commerce raider Admiral Graf Spee and was sunk, the crew being taken prisoner. The Streonshalh was Graf Spee's last victim, the Battle of the River Plate taking place the following week.

Captain J J Robinson was born in Staithes in April 1899. He was apprenticed to the Rowland and Marwood Steamship Company and obtained his Master's Certificate in 1924. He was promoted to Master in 1936 and commanded various Rowland and Marwood and Headlam's ships until 1957 and for Turnbull and Scott until 1962. He was appointed an OBE for his wartime services. He retired from the sea in 1964 and died in October 1972.