THE SINKING OF THE SS PENGUIN
FRIDAY 12 FEBRUARY 1909
AFTER STRIKING THOMS ROCK, COOK STRAIT, NEW ZEALAND

The SS Penguin was a steamer owned and operated by the Union Steam Ship Company and ran a regular schedule between Nelson, Picton and Wellington. On Friday 12 February 1909, at around 10pm, the Penguin struck Thoms Rock in the Cook Strait during a heavy gale. Cook Strait has a reputation as one of the wildest stretches of water in the world with 22 known wrecks in area between Cape Terawhiti and Sinclair Head alone. Of the 102 people onboard, only 30 survived the wreck. For further information I recommend "The Wreck of The Penguin by Bruce E Collins (Steel Roberts, Wellington 2000)". Also see SS Penguin - Linked.

THE PASSENGERS WHO DIED
BIRD Charles Edwin Grace Picton
BISHOP Clarence Nelson Aged 3 years
BISHOP (nee VICKERS) Elizabeth Mary (Polly) Mrs Nelson
BONE Albert Edward Picton
BRITTAIN Mary Mrs Picton
CAPE-WILLIAMSON Keith Hawthorne Nelson
COLLINS James Nelson
COUMBE Edward Nelson
DORAN Mary Agnes Miss Picton
EVANS (nee KING) Amelia (Millie) Mrs Nelson
GREIG Archibald Picton Aged 7years. Grandson of Mrs HART
HALE Clarence Harrington Picton
HALE (nee PAAP) Marion Beatrice Mrs Picton
HANNAM George Alexander Nelson Aged 5 years
HANNAM Joseph Walter Nelson
HANNAM Margaret Ellen Amelia Nelson Aged 3 years
HANNAM Ronald Edward Nelson Aged 10 years
HANNAM Ruby May Nelson Aged 2 years
HART (nee TAYLOR) Laura Mrs Picton
HENRY William Higgins Nelson
HENRY (nee MAXWELL) Eusebia Margaret Mrs Nelson
HOLCROFT Edward Sylvester Picton
HOLMES Mr Picton
HUNT Jane Rebecca (Jennie) Miss Nelson
JOHNSON Mr Nelson
McALLEY (McAULEY) Marion Miss Picton
McGUIRE Florence Susan Nelson Aged 5 years
McGUIRE Ivy Alice Nelson Aged 10 years
McGUIRE Rose Agnes Nelson Aged 12 years
McGUIRE Wallace George Nelson Aged 9 years
NODEN Clara Nelson
RENNIE Jessie Miss Nelson
RIBBANDS Dorothy Mary Miss Picton
ROGERS Thomas Picton
SEED John Nelson
SHAW Harry Wharton Nelson
SYMONS Ethel Agnes Nelson Aged 14 years
SYMONS Mary Alice Nelson Age 15 years
SYMONS (nee REID) Minnie Ethel Mrs Nelson
TOOMER Alice Amelia Nelson Age 11 years
TOOMER Amelia Maria (Millie) Mrs Nelson
TOOMER Ivy Dorothy Nelson Aged 17 years
TRICE Angelina Mrs Picton
TROADEC Gustav Nelson Aged 17 years
UNDERWOOD Henry James Picton
WHITE Noel Winsbury Picton
WOODWARD Felix Nelson

THE CREW THAT DIED
ALEXANDER Charles Chief Steward
BARNES George A Trimmer
CLAYDON George William Saloon Waiter
CONIE Albert E Trimmer
COOKE Forth Rotheram Messroom Steward
CROOK Ernest Saloon Waiter
DRISCOLL Frank J Second Officer
FAIRBAIRN Robert Fireman
GAFFRA George Donkeyman
GALE Edward Able Seaman
HALL Edwin Herbert Second Cook
HAYES Thomas Boatswain
HENDERSON William Ernest Able Seaman
HOPE Annie Miss Forecabin Stewardess
JACOBS Maude Alice May Mrs Stewardess
JOHNSON G F (Wellum) Second Pantryman
LOOSEMORE Albert George Third Officer
McGUIRE Henry Scullion
McINTYRE Walter Archibald Chief Officer
RAFFERTY John Greaser
RENTOUL Walter Stanley Third Engineer
URQUHART Robert William Chief Engineer
WESTACOTT C Able Seaman
WOOD (aka WARD) John Fireman
WOODFORD Thomas Able Seaman

THE PASSENGERS THAT SURVIVED
ALLEN T Picton
BRIDGE Gerald Picton
DOWNES Cecil E Picton
ELLISON Robert Alexander Picton
GREEN William Henry Picton
HANNAM (nee THOMPSON) Ada Louise Mrs Nelson
HOGG Leonard T Picton
HOLLAND Thomas Picton
HOPKINS A L Picton
JACK Robert McLean Nelson
MATTHEWS Ellis Picton
PERKINS George Edward Nelson
RIGGS-MILLER Thomas Henry Picton
SHAW Frank Picton

THE CREW THAT SURVIVED
FARRELL George Patrick Able Seaman
FRANCIS George William Boots
HULL W "Jimmy" Bedroom Steward
JACKSON Charles Lawrence Able Seaman
JONES Charles Pantryman
KEYES L G "Mickey" Forecabin Steward
LUKE William Webb Second Engineer
LYNN D Chief Cook
MAIDEN Walter (aka William PIERRE) Fireman
McCORMICK (McCORMACK) David Bedroom Steward
NAYLOR Francis Edwin Captain
PIERRE William (aka Walter MAIDEN) Fireman
REES W G Bedroom Steward
SNELGROVE H S Ordinary Seaman
THOMPSON Arthur Revell Purser
WATT Robert Goodsman Second Steward
WICKTORIN Oscar Frederick Greaser


Return To HOME

FAMILIES I AM RESEARCHING | MISCELLANEOUS GENEALOGICAL STUFF | NEW ZEALAND — ON LINE GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY RESOURCES | NEW ZEALAND — YOUNG BOY IMMIGRANT SCHEME 1911 — 1914 | NEW ZEALAND DISASTERS AND TRAGEDIES | NEW ZEALAND MISCELLANEOUS GENEALOGICAL INDEXES | NEW ZEALAND LAND WARS — MISCELLANEOUS GENEALOGICAL INDEXES | NEW ZEALAND AND WORLD WAR ONE | NEW ZEALAND AND WORLD WAR TWO | NEW ZEALAND ROLLS OF HONOUR AND WAR MEMORIALS — BY LOCATION | NEW ZEALAND ROLLS OF HONOUR AND WAR MEMORIALS — BY CONFLICT | NEW ZEALAND ROLLS OF HONOUR — MILITARY NURSES | PAKEHA/MAORI TRANSLITERATIONS | PASSENGER LISTS TO NEW ZEALAND | SHAND — FAMILY HISTORY | SOUTH TARANAKI, NEW ZEALAND — GENEALOGICAL RESOURCES | SPONDON, DERBYSHIRE, ENGLAND — GENEALOGICAL RESOURCES | WANGANUI COLLEGIATE SCHOOL 1865 — 1947 | WESTERN BAY OF PLENTY, NEW ZEALAND — GENEALOGICAL RESOURCES