HÉLÈNE ― Aviso auxiliaire, ex-yacht.

[kgvm]

The steam yacht "Hélène", 378 tjb, built in 1901 by Soc. Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée, Le Havre, was requisitioned in World War I. It served from 1917 to 1918 as flagship of the Senior Officer Aegean Patrol Force.
In 1930 the ship is listed in Lloyd's register of yachts as French "Girundia", owned by Pierre Dupuy, Bordeaux. In the thirties she was renamed "Vanikoro". 1938 (and 1950) she is listed as French "Espalmador", owned by Hamilton Condon, Cannes.
My questions:
Are there any pictures of that ship?
Who owned the ship as "Hélène"?
Who was owner of "Vanikoro" (and flag)?
Did the ship see any war service in WW II?
Final fate?

[Ar Brav]

Bonjour à tous,
Bonjour Klaus,

Je n'ai pas réponse à vos questions, ceci excepté :

HELENE Patrouilleur auxiliaire ex yacht (1916 - 1919)

Chantier :

N.C.
Commencé : N.C.
Mis à flot : 1901
Terminé : N.C.
En service : 07.01.1916 (MN)
Retiré : 09.09.1919 (MN)
Caractéristiques : 538 t.
Armement : N.C.

Observations :

Yacht
07.01.1916 – 09.09.1919 : réquisitionné au Havre, affecté à Milo
1917 – 1918 : patrouilles en mer Egée.

Il n'est pas noté réquisitionné pendant la Seconde Guerre Mondiale.

Sources :
Dictionnaire de la flotte de guerre française de Colbert à nos jours, Tome II, LV Roche

Cordialement et bon dimanche,
Franck

[kgvm]

Thanks, Franck.
And Le Havre would fit with a note I found that she was owned by Chargeurs Réunis in 1917, even if I don't know why this company should have a yacht (or did they intend to convert her into a small cargo ship?).
Bon dimanche aussi
Klaus Günther

[Ar Brav]

Bonjour Klaus,

Je n'ai malheureusement pas de documentation sur les Chargeurs Réunis, à mon grand regret (les ouvrages sont pratiquement introuvables).
Je ne vois pas non plus de HELENE dans la Fleet List des Chargeurs,
Peut-être quelqu'un a t-il plus de renseignements ?

Bonne journée,
Bien cordialement,
Franck

[Terraillon Marc]

Bonsoir Klaus, bonsoir Franck

Aucun navire dénommé HELENE dans l'ouvrage des Chargeurs, on retrouve la trace de ce navire dans les années 30 avec un équipage de la Transat (mais il est probable que le navire était la propriété d'un armateur privé)

A bientot

[kgvm]

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=134803
the yacht partly visible on the picture is said to be the former "Hélène".
A Bientot
Klaus Günther

[olivier 12]

Good evening Klaus,

The French writer Marcel Proust made a cruise on board yacht HELENE in August 1904. (Cherbourg - Guernesey- Saint Malo- Dinard- Dinan)
But I don't know if this ship is the HELENE you are looking for ?

Here is the link

marcel proust gesellschaft köln - prousts reisen

www.dmpg.de/marcel_proust/reisen.html

Regards
Olivier

[Terraillon Marc]

Bonjour,

De la part de Paul PIED, voici deux images du yacht VANIKORO






La première représente le Vanikoro à Oran en mai 1931.

La deuxième représente l'équipage à Gigon en avril 1931.

Le père de Paul PIED était radio sur ce yacht. C'est le deuxième à partir de la droite (avec cravate).
(Il a aussi navigué comme radio sur le paquebot "Mexique" de la Compagnie Générale Transatlantique.)

A bientot

[kgvm]

Merci beaucoup!
But there were at least two yachts named "Vanikoro", the other one was the former British "Sea Fay", built in 1902 by Lobnitz & Co., Renfrew, 164 GRT. This ship - while in 1930 still registered as "Sea Fay" for Col. J. L. O'Connor of Glasgow - was renamed several times in the next years, first in "Vanikoro", then in "Clitene", later "Rayon Vert". In 1938 she was registered as Yugoslav "Suzuki II" for Zetska Plovidba S.A. In 1939 (the last I have of her) she became Yugoslav "Avala" of Kotor. So the question remains: does your picture show the former "Hélène" or the former "Sea Fay"
Looking at the size I believe its the smaller one, the former "Sea Fay", but who knows?
Regards
Klaus Günther

[kgvm]

Just in case someone is interested:
the yacht shown on the picture in http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=134803 is now definetily identified as the Yugoslav "Tiha", of which a picture is posted, too.
Thanks again for your help.
Regards
Klaus Günther