BROOMHILL (PROBABLY)

The SS Broomhill was a steam-powered collier built in 1909 for the Brookhill Collieries Ltd., tasked with the vital role of transporting coal. Like many merchant vessels of its time, it was pressed into service during the First World War, braving the dangerous, submarine-infested waters around the British Isles to supply the Allied war effort.

Its final voyage came on May 10, 1917. While steaming from the Tyne to Rouen, France, with a full cargo of coal, the Broomhill was spotted by the German submarine UC-75. Approximately four miles off Prawle Point, Devon, the U-boat fired a single torpedo, which struck the collier and sent it to the seabed. The sinking was a stark reminder of the perils faced by the merchant navy during the Great War.

Today, the wreck tentatively identified as the Broomhill lies at a depth of 47 metres. This is a challenging dive reserved for experienced, deep-certified divers. Those who make the descent are rewarded with the sight of a classic WWI-era steamship. While time and the sea have taken their toll, key features such as the two large boilers and the triple-expansion engine are still clearly identifiable, standing as proud relics of a bygone age of steam power. The wreckage provides a rich habitat for marine life, with its metal structures often shrouded in colourful anemones and schooling fish.