Transom of a lifeboat from the screw steamer 'Turquoise' (originally catalogued as FHD0048).The boat came from one of two coasters belonging to William Robertson of Glasgow, which were converted to fleet messengers in the First World War. They were on their way to the Dardanelles in 1915 when sunk by gunfire from the German submarine U28. ‘Nugget’ sank off Porth Hellick on St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, before she could be beached, while ‘Turquoise’ went down well out to sea. Although U28 fired on the crews while in their boats, the survivors were brought into St Mary’s by the naval patrol boat, ‘Anthony Hope’.

‘Turquoise’ details at time of wreck. Screw steamer of 486 tons, registered in Glasgow. Built by J. Shearer and Sons, Glasgow, 1893. Dimensions (in feet and tenths): 165.2 x 26.1 x 11.1. Owner: William Robertson. Registered voyage: unknown. Cargo: unknown. Master at loss: J. McGougan(?). Wrecked: 31 July 1915.