View source for SS Monte Nevoso

{{More footnotes needed|date=December 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}} 
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image= Oil Painting of the Monte Nevoso, Lifeboat Museum 13 February 2010.JPG
|Ship caption= "Rescue to the ship SS Monte Nevoso"<br>oil painting, artist unknown
}} 
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header= 
|Ship country= [[Kingdom of Italy|Italy]]
|Ship flag= {{shipboxflag|Kingdom of Italy|civil}}
|Ship name= ''Monte Nevoso''
|Ship namesake= [[Snežnik (plateau)|Monte Nevoso]]
|Ship owner= *1920: Lloyd Adriatico Soc di Nav
*1929: SA Coop di Nav 'Garibaldi'
|Ship operator= 
|Ship registry= [[Port of Venice|Venice]]
|Ship route= 
|Ship ordered= 
|Ship builder= [[Northumberland Shipbuilding Company|Northumberland Sb Co]], [[Howdon]]
|Ship original cost= 
|Ship yard number= 257
|Ship laid down= 
|Ship launched= 24 November 1920
|Ship sponsor= December 1920
|Ship completed= 
|Ship maiden voyage= 
|Ship acquired= 
|Ship in service= 
|Ship out of service= 
|Ship identification= *[[code letters]] NZKU
*{{ICS|November}}{{ICS|Zulu}}{{ICS|Kilo}}{{ICS|Uniform}}
|Ship fate= Wrecked 14 October 1932
|Ship notes= 
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship type= [[Cargo ship]]
|Ship tonnage= *1920: {{GRT|5889}}, {{NRT|3590}}
*1932: {{GRT|5843}}, {{NRT|3590}}
|Ship displacement= 
|Ship length= {{cvt|399.9|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam= {{cvt|52.9|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught= 
|Ship depth= {{cvt|32.8|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship decks= 1
|Ship power= 572 [[Horsepower#Nominal horsepower|NHP]]
|Ship propulsion= 3-cylinder [[Marine steam engine#Triple or multiple expansion|triple-expansion engine]]
|Ship speed= {{convert|11.5|kn|km/h}}
|Ship capacity= 
|Ship crew= 33
|Ship sensors= 
|Ship notes= [[sister ship]]: ''Monte Santo''
}}
|}

'''SS ''Monte Nevoso''''' was a [[Cargo ship|cargo]] [[steamship]] that was launched in 1920 in England, owned in [[Kingdom of Italy|Italy]], and wrecked in 1932 in the [[North Sea]] off the coast of [[Norfolk]].

Her wreck was a hazard to navigation, and in 1941 the [[Reefer ship|refrigerated cargo ship]] {{SS|Meriones||2}} was wrecked on it.

==Building and ownership==
The [[Northumberland Shipbuilding Company]] built ''Monte Nevoso'' at [[Howdon]] on the [[River Tyne]], launching her on 24 November and completing her that December.<ref name=Nevoso>{{cite web |url= http://www.tynebuiltships.co.uk/M-Ships/montenevoso1920.html |title=Monte Nevoso |work=Tyne Built Ships |publisher=Shipping and Shipbuilding Research Trust |access-date=29 December 2020}}</ref> She was a [[sister ship]] for ''Monte Santo'', which the Northumberland Shipbuilding Co had built earlier that year.<ref name=Santo>{{cite web |url= http://www.tynebuiltships.co.uk/M-Ships/montesanto1920.html |title=Monte Santo |work=Tyne Built Ships |publisher=Shipping and Shipbuilding Research Trust |access-date=29 December 2020}}</ref><ref name=LR30>{{cite book |url= https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/30/30b0816.pdf |year=1930 |title=Lloyd's Register |chapter=Steamers & Motorships |volume=II |place=London |publisher=Lloyd's Register |at=MON |via=Plimsoll Ship Data |access-date=29 December 2020}}</ref>

Each ship had a three-cylinder [[Marine steam engine#Triple or multiple expansion|triple-expansion steam engine]] that was rated at 572 [[Horsepower#Nominal horsepower|NHP]], but they came from different builders. [[Richardsons Westgarth & Company]] built ''Monte Santo''{{'}}s engine, and the [[Wallsend Slipway & Engineering Company]] built ''Monte Nevoso''{{'}}s engine.<ref name=Nevoso/><ref name=Santo/><ref name=LR30/>

The first owner of both ships was Lloyd Adriatico Società di Navigazione. In 1929 ownership of both ''Monte Santo'' and ''Monte Nevoso'' passed to Società Anonima Cooperativa di Navigazione 'Garibaldi'.<ref name=Nevoso/><ref name=Santo/><ref name=LR30/>

==Final voyage and grounding==
Early in October 1932 ''Monte Nevoso'' left the port of [[La Plata]], [[Argentina]] with a cargo of wheat, maize and [[Flax|linseed]] for Europe. {{convert|300|nmi|km}} off [[Land's End]] she was ordered by wireless to proceed to [[Port of Hull|Hull]] to discharge her cargo.

''Monte Nevoso'' steamed up the [[English Channel]] and through the [[Strait of Dover]] into the North Sea. At 0300 hrs on 14 October her [[Mate (naval officer)|deck officer]] on [[Watchkeeping|watch]] sighted the [[Lightvessels in the United Kingdom#Former lightvessel stations|Newarp lightship]], {{convert|6|nmi|km}} from the ship off the coast of [[Norfolk]].<ref name=Jolly>{{harvnb|Jolly|2002|p=}}{{page needed|date=December 2020}}</ref>

Her [[Master mariner|Master]], [[Sea captain|Captain]] Angelino Solvatore, and his [[Chief mate|chief officer]] were in her chart room studying charts of the [[Haisborough Sands|Haisborough]] buoys, and the chief officer recommended that they steer a course more to port to avoid the flood tide carrying them farther starboard. As they spoke it was reported from the bridge that there was a light on the port bow. Solvatore and his chief officer checked this sighting from the port rail. Realising that ''Monte Nevoso'' was now by the South Middle Haisborough Light, Solvatore ordered the [[helmsman]] to turn hard to port, as the ship needed to be starboard of the buoy for a safe passage.{{clarify|reason=Needed to be starboard of the buoy, or needed the buoy to be on her starboard side?|date=December 2020}} No sooner had he given the order, than he got a reply that the ship would not answer the [[Steering#Watercraft|helm]]. By 0400 hrs it was clear that ''Monte Nevoso'' was aground on South Haisborough Bank.<ref name=Jolly/>

==Attempts to save the ship==
''Monte Nevoso'' spent four hours trying unsuccessfully to get off the sandbank under her own power. Then at 0800 hrs her wireless operator signalled the Humber radio station asking for a [[Tugboat|tug]] to assist. At 0930 hrs [[Her Majesty's Coastguard|HM Coastguard]] at [[Gorleston-on-Sea]] alerted [[Cromer Lifeboat Station]], which launched the [[Lifeboat (rescue)|lifeboat]] {{ship|RNLB|H F Bailey|ON 777|2}}.<ref name=Bensley>{{harvnb|Bensley|2001|p=}}{{page needed|date=December 2020}}</ref> [[Smit International|L Smit & Co]]'s [[salvage tug]] ''Noordzee'',<ref>{{cite book |url= https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/32/32a0388.pdf |year=1932 |title=Lloyd's Register |chapter=Steamers & Motorships under 300 tons, Trawlers, &c. |volume=I |place=London |publisher=Lloyd's Register |at=NON-NOR |via=Plimsoll Ship Data |access-date=29 December 2020}}</ref> which was based in [[Great Yarmouth]], also reached ''Monte Nevoso''.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

The lifeboat [[coxswain]], [[Henry Blogg]], and the salvage tug captain, Martin van der Hidde,<ref name=Jolly/> boarded ''Monte Nevoso''. Blogg warned Solvatore that the weather was to change for the worse. Solvatore was reluctant to let ''Noordzee'' try to pull his ship off the bank, until at 1630 hrs he was persuaded when a crack appeared in ''Monte Nevoso''{{'}}s deck over her [[Fuel bunker|bunker]].{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

With ''H F Bailey''{{'}}s help, a line was secured between ''Monte Nevoso''{{'}}s stern and ''Noordzee''. ''Monte Nevoso'' ran her engine astern as ''Noordzee'' pulled, but the ship did not move. Van der Hidde summoned five more tugs. Smit's ''Gele Zee'',<ref>{{cite book |url= https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/32/32a0222.pdf |year=1932 |title=Lloyd's Register |chapter=Steamers & Motorships under 300 tons, Trawlers, &c. |volume=I |place=London |publisher=Lloyd's Register |at=GEI-GEO |via=Plimsoll Ship Data |access-date=29 December 2020}}</ref> the United Towing Company's ''Irishman'',<ref>{{cite book |url= https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/32/32a0275.pdf |year=1932 |title=Lloyd's Register |chapter=Steamers & Motorships under 300 tons, Trawlers, &c. |volume=I |place=London |publisher=Lloyd's Register |at=ION-IRM |via=Plimsoll Ship Data |access-date=29 December 2020}}</ref> ''Scotsman''<ref>{{cite book |url= https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/32/32a0487.pdf |year=1932 |title=Lloyd's Register |chapter=Steamers & Motorships under 300 tons, Trawlers, &c. |volume=I |place=London |publisher=Lloyd's Register |at=SCH-SCO |via=Plimsoll Ship Data |access-date=29 December 2020}}</ref> and ''Yorkshireman''<ref>{{cite book |url= https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/32/32a0594.pdf |year=1932 |title=Lloyd's Register |chapter=Steamers & Motorships under 300 tons, Trawlers, &c. |volume=I |place=London |publisher=Lloyd's Register |at=YON-YUN |via=Plimsoll Ship Data |access-date=29 December 2020}}</ref> and a tug called ''Hermies''{{clarify|reason=No vessel of this name in Lloyd's Register for 1932|date=December 2020}} arrived, and ''H F Bailey'' passed their towing lines to ''Monte Nevoso''. Late in the afternoon all six tugs together tried to pull ''Monte Nevoso'' free, but she did not move.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

==Rescue of the crew==
[[File:Cromer Lifeboat H F Bailey.jpg|thumb|[[Cromer Lifeboat Station|Cromer Lifeboat]] {{ship|RNLB|H F Bailey|ON 777|2}}]]
Overnight the wind reached gale force by 0500 hrs.<ref name=Bensley/> By daybreak ''Irishman'' and ''Yorkshireman'' had lost their lines. ''Scotsman'' had to be cut free for safety. By 0800 ''Monte Nevoso'' showed signs of starting to break up, so the remaining tugs were cast off. ''H F Bailey'' rescued 29 of ''Monte Nevoso''{{'}}s crew and Captain van der Hidde. Captain Solvatore, his chief officer, [[chief engineer]] and [[Radio operator|wireless operator]] refused to leave their ship, so ''H F Bailey'' left them aboard and took their 29 shipmates to Great Yarmouth.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

''H F Bailey''{{'}}s crew changed into dry clothes and at 1400 hrs left Great Yarmouth to return to ''Monte Nevoso''. At 1645 hrs they reached the ship, where Solvatore and his last three officers still refused to leave. Solvatore told coxswain Blogg "My radio is all right. If I need assistance I will send for you", so ''H F Bailey'' returned to Great Yarmouth again. Blogg notified the Coastguard, and lodged his crew at the Mariners' Refuge for the night.<ref name=Bensley/>

Overnight ''Monte Nevoso'' lost her wireless aerial and broke in two, and Solvatore and his three officers launched the ship's [[Motorboat|motor boat]]. As no distress signal had been received, ''H F Bailey'' returned to sea at 0500 hrs. At 0600 hrs the four survivors fired a [[Flare gun|distress flare]]. The crew of the [[Fishing trawler|trawler]] ''Gleam'' from [[Lowestoft]] sighted the flare and rescued the four. Unaware of the rescue, ''H F Bailey'' continued to the wreck.<ref name=Jolly/>

==Rescue of pets==
[[File:Henry Blogg 1 Feb 2008 (3).JPG|thumb|upright|"Monte" from ''Monte Nevoso'' and a waxwork of Henry Blogg in Cromer Lifeboat Museum]]
''H F Bailey'' reached ''Monte Nevoso'' at 0800 hrs. Unaware that Solvatore and his men had abandoned ship, Blogg and some of his crew searched the wreck. They heard whimpering in one of the cabins, so Blogg forced the door. Inside were two dogs: a small [[terrier]] which fled into the wreckage of the ship and was never found, and a [[St. Bernard (dog)|Saint Bernard]].<ref name=Bensley/> In another cabin the lifeboat crew found several caged birds. They rescued the birds and the St Bernard and took them to [[Cromer]], where they landed 1300 hrs. ''H F Bailey''{{'}}s mission had lasted 52 hours and she had covered {{convert|70|nmi|km}}.<ref name=Jolly/>

The lifeboat crew handed the St Bernard to the [[Norfolk Constabulary|local police]], who put him in [[quarantine]] for six months. In gratitude Solvatore gave him to Blogg, who had never had a dog before. Blogg renamed him "Monte" after the ship, and became deeply attached to him. After Monte died in 1935<ref name=Jolly/> he was [[Taxidermy|stuffed]]. He is now in the Henry Blogg Lifeboat Museum in Cromer.

==Awards==
[[File:Henry Bloggs Cainine defense medal and Italian Medal 13th February 2010.jpg|thumb|upright|Henry Blogg's [[Dogs Trust|Canine Defence League]] silver medal and Italian silver medal in Cromer Lifeboat Museum]]
For his part in rescuing the crew of ''Monte Nevoso'', the RNLI awarded Blogg its [[Awards of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution#Medal of the RNLI|Silver Medal]]. For rescuing Monte the [[Dogs Trust|Canine Defence League]] and the [[Fascist Italy (1922–1943)|Italian Government]] each awarded Blogg a silver medal. The Italian Government awarded each of ''H F Bailey''{{'}}s crew a bronze medal, and the RNLI awarded each of them the ''Thanks of the Institution'' written on vellum.<ref name=Jolly/>

==Cromer Lifeboat crew==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|+ Crew of {{ship|RNLB|H F Bailey|ON 694|2}} for the rescue of the ''Monte Nevoso''<ref>{{harvnb|Malster|Stibbons|1986|p=}}{{page needed |date=December 2020}}</ref>
|-
! Name
! Rank
!
|-
| [[Henry Blogg]] || Coxswain||[[File:Henry Blogg 1 Feb 2008 (1).JPG|25px]]
|-----
| W T Davis || ||
|-----
| J Davis Jnr. || ||
|-----
| G Cox|||| 
|-----
| A Balls|||| 
|-----
| G Balls||||
|-----
| R Davis || Mechanic ||
|-----
| William H ''"Pimpo"'' Davies |||| 
|-----
| Robert ''"skinback"'' Cox ||crew||[[File:Robert skinback Cox.JPG|25px]]
|-----
| J Davis Snr. ||||
|-----
| J W Davis ||||
|-----
| R Blogg ||||
|-----
| W Allen |||| 
|}

==Wreck of ''Meriones''==
[[File:Postcard of SS Meriones dated 1923.jpg|thumb|The [[Reefer ship|refrigerated cargo ship]] {{SS|Meriones||2}}, which was wrecked on ''Monte Nevoso''{{'}}s wreck in 1941]]
On 25 January 1941 the [[Blue Funnel Line]] cargo ship ''Meriones'' ran aground on the wreck of ''Monte Nevoso'' and became a [[total loss]]. Coxswain Blogg and the crew of ''H F Bailey'' rescued her crew. The two wrecks now lie next to each other on South Haisborough Bank at a depth of {{convert|19|m|ft|abbr=on}} at position {{coord|52|51|N|01|45|E|type:landmark_source:dewiki|display=inline,title}}. The two wrecks are {{convert|19.1|km|nmi|disp=flip}} north by northeast of [[Hemsby]], {{convert|22.3|km|nmi|disp=flip}} north of [[Caister-on-Sea]] and {{convert|24.1|km|nmi|disp=flip}} north of Great Yarmouth.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book |last=Bensley |first=Mick |year=2001 |title=The Rescues of Henry Blogg and the crews of the Cromer Lifeboat |publisher=Benginn |isbn=1-85770-229-8 }}
*{{cite book |last=Jolly |first=C |year=2002 |title=Henry Blogg, the Greatest of the Lifeboatmen |place=North Walsham |publisher=Poppyland Publishing |isbn=0-946148-59-7 }}
*{{cite book |last1=Malster |first1=Bob |last2=Stibbons |first2=Peter |year=1986 |title=The Cromer Lifeboats, 1804–1986 |place=North Walsham |publisher=Poppyland Publishing |isbn=0-946148-21-X}}
*{{cite book |last=Tikus |first=Ayer |year=2003 |title=The Ship-Wrecks off North East Norfolk |publisher=Ayer Tikus Publications |asin=B0032Z2NU0 }}
*{{cite map |title=Harwich and Rotterdam to Cromer & Terschelling Admiralty Small Craft Chart |scale=1:300,000 |series=small craft charts |publisher=[[United Kingdom Hydrographic Office]] |number=SC1408 }}

==External links==
*{{cite web |url= https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/cromer-lifeboat-station |title=Cromer Lifeboat Station |publisher=[[Royal National Lifeboat Institution|RNLI]]}}
*{{cite web |url= https://rnli.org/magazine/magazine-featured-list/2020/june/henry-blogg-lifesaving-legend |title=Henry Blogg: Legendary lifesaver |publisher=[[Royal National Lifeboat Institution|RNLI]] |date=17 June 2020}}
*{{cite web |url= https://alfredcorry.co.uk/cromer-lifeboat-shed |title=The Cromer Lifeboat Shed |publisher=The Alfred Corry Lifeboat Museum}}

{{1932 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Monte Nevoso, SS}}
[[Category:1920 ships]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1932]]
[[Category:Merchant ships of Italy]]
[[Category:Ships built on the River Tyne]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks in the North Sea]]
[[Category:Steamships of Italy]]