Cromarty Image Library | Disperser Funeral Procession

	105
	Unknown
	1940

Disperser Funeral Procession

The Disperser was the vessel used to break up the Natal. When war broke out she was commandeered and sent to Scapa Flow to lay mines. She broke up during a storm, causing the death of six Cromarty men.
Picture Added on 01 January 2003.

Comments

My aunts, Mary and Nancy Robertson who lived in Shore Inn, were in the WRNS and staitoned in Scapa Flow. When the Disperser went down, they were asked to identify the bodies of the six Cromarty men, which they did. I think it was a very brave thing for them to do as Nancy was only 20 and Mary was, I think, about 24.
Added by Freda Bassindale on 09 February 2005.

My Grandfather, John MacKenzie, was Fireman on the S.Y. Disperser. Very emotional looking at the photograph but so pleased to have found it to add to my Family History.
Added by Gloria Watts on 07 April 2005.

The two little boys at the front of the Procession is Cecil Shepherd and Alastair Eastwood, Cecil lost his father Alexander Shepherd and his brother Douglas Shepherd in the disaster.
Added by Margaret Cassie (Clelland ) on 06 June 2006.

My uncle Charles Watson of Gordons Lane Cromarty was lost on the Disperser.

My mother Jane Watson was at her brothers funeral as was my Granny(who I never met). My Granny had lost all her sons by this point John who died in New York, Jimmy who died of menningitis and Charlie

Added by Jill Molyneux (nee Webster) on 23 August 2006.

My grandfather Captain George Abson, Master of the Disperser was drowned when the Disperser was lost in 1940. My mother's cousin's father who was Mr Spence, ship's cook, was also lost. This was a great family tragedy leaving two families without a father. It also finished the South Stockton Shipbreaking Company of which my grandfather Captain Abson was Managing Director. The company was engaged in the salvage of HMS Natal 1937-1940.
Added by Malcolm on 14 April 2007.

I am a granddaughter of Murdo Mackenzie of Invergordon, Chief Engineer of the Disperser. Thank you to those who submitted the press cuttings and the comments. This was indeed a great tragedy.
Added by Rosalie Graham (now Samaroo) on 07 July 2007.

If you found this interesting, have a look at the following groups of pictures.
Loss of the Disperser