Arrived  in  the  White  Sea,  she  had  a  series  of  trying  experiences  there,-
mainly  on  account  of  the  heavy  ice  floes.  These  were  eventually  so
strong  that  all  the  bow  sheathing  fixed  by  the  Admiralty,  under  the
conditions  stated,  though  (as  he  afterwards  stated)  never  approved  of
by  the  captain,  was  torn  off,  water  thereupon  entering  through  the
holes  caused  by  the  dislodged  rivets.  The  captain  proceeded  to  bring
his  ship  closer  to  shore,  to  avoid  the  ice  drift ;  but  the  vessel  struck  a
submerged,  uncharted  rock  and  was  wrecked  (June  19th,  1918).  Three
other  vessels  of  the  Great  Central  Fleet  which  were  lost  whilst  on  Admiralty
service  were — the  Leicester,  mined  in  the  Channel,  February  12th,  1916  ;
the  Chesterfield,  mined  in  the  Mediterranean,  May  18th,  1918,  and  the
Immingham,  sunk  by  collision  in  Lemnos  Bay,  June  12th,  1918.  These
disasters  involved  the  loss  of  twenty-two  lives,  namely,  one  officer,  two
engineers,  fifteen  seamen,  two  naval  ratings,  and  two  passengers.
The  small  craft  owned  by  the  company  also  contributed  considerably
to  the  national  effort.  The  ferry  steamers  Killingholme,  Brocklesby  and
Cleethorpes  were  requisitioned  as  seaplane  carriers.  The  steam-tender
Marple  was  employed  at  Boston  in  connection  with  the  repatriation  of
prisoners.  A  large  number  of  small  tugs  and  waterboats  were  either
employed  continuously  on  Admiralty  work  or  were  kept  available  at
call.  Special  mention  should  be  made  of  the  Immingham  tugs.  Central
No.  I  and  Central  No.  2.  The  principal  towage  assistance  required  by
Admiralty  vessels  when  entering  or  leaving  Immingham  Dock  was
rendered  by  these  tugs,  as,  also,  were  the  towages  within  the  dock  itself.
