The Mysterious Loss of the Waratah – a true sea mystery

Sea mysteries are always intriguing, but the loss of the Waratah stands head and shoulders above others. The aftermath and Board of Inquiry hearing had no definitive answers, but offered a fascinating glimpse into Edwardian society.

Brian Margetson
Mob ; 07765 408930
E mail; speaker.brian@outlook.com

Time – 30 to 60 minutes to suit occasion
Equipment – presenter provides screen, projector and laptop for a Powerpoint presentation or ZOOM
This presentation is suitable for any type of audience.
Themes – HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY, TRAVEL, TALES OF THE SEA, GENERAL INTEREST

An intriguing Mystery

In the early morning of 27th July 1909 the Waratah overtook a steamship, and sped ahead eventually slipping from sight over the horizon. The officers on the bridge of the slower steamer would not have realised at the time theirs was the last positive sighting of Waratah. To this day, no debris, no bodies and no wreck has ever been found. She simply vanished with her 211 passengers and crew. Let me intrigue you with the story of one passenger, Claude Sawyer, who had disembarked at the previous port having suffered premonitions of this ship’s demise, and succeed in adding an additional swirl of mystery to the loss.

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