Wreck of the Persier

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The Persier was a 5000 ton British built merchantman. She was built in Newcastle in 1919 and was sold to Belgium shortly after. She traded all over the world, and even took part at Dunkirk in 1940. She nearly sank while doing convoy duty from America to Britain in 1941. She remainded stranded off Iceland for over a year until she was towed back to Britain to be repaired. In 1945 she set off from Cardiff on convoy duty. Off Eddystone she met her nemesis from a couple of torpedoes from UB-1017. Confusion reigned as lifeboats were launched only to be shattered by her propellor. People were spilt out over the heavy Force 7 seas. Support vessels managed to rescue the crew and passengers. The Persier carried on alone drifting into the night. She sank but no one knew where.

In 1969, a fisherman found the wreck in Bigbury Bay. Divers from Plymouth Sound went down and brought up the ship's bell. They bought the wreck for 300 pounds and still own her.



Duration: 00:03:17 / Uploaded: 03-03-08


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