SS Goodleigh (1928)

For other ships with the same name, see Empire Commerce and SS Goodleigh.

History
Name
  • Goodleigh (1928–37)
  • Christoph Van Doornum (1937–39)
  • Empire Commerce (1939–40)
Owner
  • Dulverton Steamship Co Ltd (1928–37)
  • Reunert & Co GmbH (1937–39)
  • Canadian Government (1939)
  • Ministry of War Transport (1939–40)
Operator
  • Dulverton Steamship Co Ltd (1928–37)
  • Fisser & Van Doornum (1937–39)
  • H Chisholm & Co Ltd (1939–40)
Port of registry
  • United Kingdom London (1928–37)
  • Nazi Germany Hamburg (1937–39)
  • United Kingdom London (1939–40)
BuilderJ L Thompson & Sons Ltd
Launched1928
CompletedMarch 1928
Out of service9 June 1940
Identification
  • Code Letters LBHC (1928–34)
  • Code Letters GNQB (1934–37)
  • Code Letters DJVA (1937–39)
  • Code Letters GLVA (1939–40)
  • United Kingdom Official Number 160368 (1928–37, 1939–40)
FateStruck a mine and beached
General characteristics
TypeCargo ship
Tonnage
  • 3,845 GRT (Goodleigh)
  • 3,751 GRT (Christoph Van Doornum)
  • 3,857 GRT (Empire Commerce)
  • 2,323 NRT (Goodleigh)
  • 2,240 NRT (Christoph Van Doornum)
  • 2,302 NRT (Empire Commerce)
Length360 ft 0 in (109.73 m)
Beam50 ft 0 in (15.24 m)
Depth23 ft 9 in (7.24 m)
Installed powerTriple expansion steam engine
PropulsionScrew propellor

Goodleigh was a 3,857 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1928 by J L Thompson & Sons Ltd, Sunderland for the Dulverton Steamship Company. In 1937 she was sold to Fisser & Van Doornum, Emden and was renamed Christian Van Doornum. She was in port in Canada when war was declared between the United Kingdom and Germany. She was seized as a war prize and passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). Renamed Empire Commerce, she served until 9 June 1940 when she struck a mine off Margate, Kent. She was beached and her cargo was salvaged, but Empire Commerce was deemed a constructive total loss and was scrapped in situ. She was the first Empire ship lost through enemy action in the Second World War.