Not The ARCHIBALD RUSSELL!
The Scottish four masted barque ARCHIBALD RUSSELL was build 1905 in Greenock
History is never really definitive. If you layer enough information you might end up with a general consensus, but rarely do you settle on absolute facts. I sometimes think of this humble publication as a receptacle in which to hold those layered stories. And so when Iain Cameron told me of a mistake in his previous article I was delighted to be able to add another layer to the history to tall ships in Australia.
Here’s the update in his own words.
Archibald Russell the true yarn
By Iain Cameron, Perth, Western Australia.
This is by way of an apology to the Editor and Readers of Southern Woodenboat Sailing’s website for the factual errors in my article - “Archibald Russell – My tangible linkage and family yarns”, posted on 24th August 2022.
The comments made in that post were my response to an earlier SWS article titled, “The End of Great Sailing Ship Era - Tall Ships”, 9th August 2022.
The factual errors and my apology are directed at my family’s 100-year-old historical model, I am its custodian, by claiming it to be of the four masted barque Archibald Russell (Reg. No. 121209). That ship was built for, owned by and sailed under the House Flag of John Hardie & Sons, Glasgow between 1905 and 1923.
I am now absolutely certain my family’s model is not the Archibald Russell. Firstly, my model, as photographed, is not that of a traditional four masted barque, but is that of the traditional a four masted full-rigged ship of the time. This has been recently (30th January 2023), confirmed by Jesper Grönholm, a Curator at Gustav Erikson’s Museum at Mariehamn, Finland. Erikson purchased the Archibald Russell in December, 1923 and was the ship’s last owner, before it was broken up in 1949. A similar conclusion was also reached by Ross Shardlow, Albany, Western Australia, a notable Australian marine historian and artist (26th January 2023). This is now also my conclusion and is shown in the original article’s two supporting photographs. First, is a true authentic photograph of the four masted barque, Archibald Russell. The photograph of my family’s model shows a traditional four masted full-rigged ship whose name is unknown. SWS readers attention is directed at the differences in the spars and sail configuration of the fourth mast known as the jigger mast.
Another major piece of evidence in this discrepancy, is that my model is carrying on its mainmast, now very discoloured, the House Flag of Robert and John Craig, Glasgow. If my model were of the Archibald Russell it would be carrying instead the House Flag of John Hardie & Sons, Glasgow. Again, this was discussed and pointed out by Jesper and Ross during their detailed assessment, at my request, of photographs of my family’s model.
Research is currently underway to determine what is my family’s model ship’s actual name. Jesper Grönholm and Ross Shardlow offer a strong suggestion that it is representative of R. & J. Craig’s new design ‘County Class’ of four masted square riggers which proved to be a remarkable success, and were a major milestone in maritime history. The first of those was the County of Peebles (1875) and was quickly followed by a series of these highly successful four masted iron full-rigged clippers built and launched for the Craig brothers between 1875 and 1887 by Barclay Curle, shipbuilders, Whiteinch, Glasgow on the River Clyde.
R. & J. Craig’s County of Dumfries (1878), note the similarity with our family’s model.
In closing, I am standing by the remainder of my original article’s family folklore as “true” as best can be determined from revisiting some historical family records and in many discussions with my cousin, who is their current custodian. Any suggestions in solving the mystery from SWS readers would be gratefully accepted.