Oceanic

Shetlopedia - The Shetland Encyclopaedia

The Oceanic off the Knab in August 1914.
Photo from Shetland Museum and Archives.

On the 8th September 1914 in calm but misty weather the White Star liner Oceanic drove ashore on the Shaalds of Foula, possibly as a result of navigational errors caused by divided naval and mercantile command.

Requisitioned for war service as an auxiliary cruiser in 1914 and attached to 10th Cruiser Squadron based at Brae, HMS Oceanic patrolled the waters around Shetland and the Faeroes, carrying Royal Marines to search suspicious vessels for contraband.

The story of this wreck and the salvage of over 250 tons of copper and brass fittings was documented in the book "The Other Titanic", by Simon Martin, which was published by The Shetland Times.

The propeller blade from the Oceanic in front of Shetland Museum and Archives.

Oceanic Bell in Shetland Museum.

Many relics of the Oceanic exist throughout the isles, including this one which is used as the leg of a bird table.