WW1 Submarine "Deutschland" U-155

[Mikerobe]

This submarine was ceded to the British in the armistice of 1918. It was dismantled at Birkenhead in 1921. However there are at least two web sites that state that the submarine was broken up at Morecambe in 1922.  Thomas W Ward had a shipbreakers yard in Morecambe at that time; he also ran a steel empire based in Sheffield that manufactured Wardonia razor blades, penknives, cutlery and many other artefacts.

I have a small cast iron bust of an, as yet, unidentified  individual. On the rear of the plinth is embossed: MADE FROM "DEUTSCHLAND" METAL (sic), all in upper case but only the word Deutschland in quotation marks. It is highly probable that this bust is made of metal derived from the "Deutschland" but I am having great difficult finding corroborative evidence, depite trawling the internet, and contacting various museums, history societies and individuals.

Unfortunately the name on the front of the plinth cannot be deciphered accurately because due to either a casting fault or subsequent deterioration the letters are insufficiently discrete. To someone familiar with the name it would be instantly recognizable It is difficult to believe that this piece is a singleton and that no others the same or similar were made, but none has so far come to light.

Does this story ring a bell with anybody in Morecambe? Can anyone confirm that the final breaking up did indeed take place in Morecambe, and if so where the scrap metal went? Any information pointing me in the right direction would be received most gratefully.

Regards

Michael

[Mikerobe]

The bust is of Horatio Bottomley...certainly worth putting into Google out of general interest.

[Boy 64]

If the bust is of Horatio Bottomley I would be interested in purchasing it. Horatio Bottomley was orphaned at the age of 6 and eventually was found a place at Sir Josiah Mason's Orphanage, Erdington, Birmingham when 10 years old in 1870. He was inducted as boy number 64 and remained there until 1874. He never forgot this period of his life and often returned to talk to the later orphans about what the world could offer them and distribute suitable gifts. One such gift was a shilling given each year  to the boy who was then number 64 on his birthday. I was boy number 64 from 1953 until 1960 when the orphanage closed. There is a strong old boy and girl network which meets every year on the last Friday of June, next year is the 150th anniversary of Horatio B :)ottomley's birth, it would be nice to have the bust to remind us all of one of our former inmates.

Best Regards

Boy 64

[mikehutch59]

Hi,

Was searching to find out anything about the U-155 as I own the farm next to "The Dicker",the house where Horatio Bottomley lived in Upper Dicker ,East Sussex. He also owned the farm, (Clifton Farm) It was said that it once was resting in one of the ponds on the farm.
In fact in 1988 we had some royal navy divers look in the ponds for it! He apparently paid £15,000 for it in 1920 and exhibited it around the country.

I would be interested in any information about the submarine.

Regards

Mike

[mikehutch59]

Hi,

Was searching to find out anything about the U-155 as I own the farm next to "The Dicker",the house where Horatio Bottomley lived in Upper Dicker ,East Sussex. He also owned the farm, (Clifton Farm) It was said that it once was resting in one of the ponds on the farm.
In fact in 1988 we had some royal navy divers look in the ponds for it! He apparently paid £15,000 for it in 1920 and exhibited it around the country.

I would be interested in any information about the submarine.

Regards

Mike

[mikehutch59]

Would Dr Michael Roberts please re contact me as the phone number that was taken was incorrect.

Please phone or email mike@hutchison1.demon.co.uk