Solving the Mystery of SS Nemesis

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In July 1904, the SS Nemesis vanished in a storm off the Australian coast, taking the lives of 32 crew members. For 120 years, her fate remained a mystery until a chance discovery finally brought the Nemesis' fate to light.
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[@Dan_Ben_Michael]

I’m from the area that the Nemesis was discovered so it’s very interesting to see that it’s covered on this channel as I’m a big fan. FYI, “Wollongong” is pronounced “Wool-on-gong” and “Cronulla” is pronounced “Crow-null-ah”. “Bathurst” is “Bathust”, “Melbourne” is “Mel-bun”, “Brisbane” “Briz-bun”. Aussie pronunciations of place names, especially Aboriginal in origin, can be a little tricky because we murder the English language, so I appreciate the effort. 👍🏽🇦🇺

[@JackoNorm]

I love being from BrisBAIN. I'm so keen for the entire world to mispronounce my city's name for the coming Olypmics

[@Serexy]

I'm not aussie but this guy is a true bogan. Cheers mate!

[@garybrown1404]

Much appreciate the clarification on customary pronunciation!

[@playitstrange129]

he did pretty good for a yank tho, hey?

[@nigelmorroll3343]

It's always nice for a lost ship and her to finally get their names back after being lost for a long time.

[@fubarmodelyard1392]

Videos like this make sure the ships and the souls aboard are not forgotten

[@rogerrendzak8055]

Very profound, statement👍!!

[@firstnamlastnam2141]

Naming a ship 'Nemesis' is one hell of an omen.

[@tmorganriley]

Up there with HMS Erebus and Terror.

[@firstnamlastnam2141]

@@tmorganriley Those are the types of names that people would say are too obvious if they were in a story.

[@matthewalker]

The Sydney Water police regularly use the name Nemisis for one of their boats

[@firstnamlastnam2141]

@@matthewalker that's surprising

[@oganvildevil]

Beats it's lesser known sister ship; the SS What Could Go Wrong?

[@wyattgardner3552]

"...the fog of history" I love your writing, keep up the great work!

[@robertchandler6254]

G'day from Australia Brad. I'd say you've got the market cornered for this sort of well researched, thoughtfully visualised story-telling of maritime history, so you've got my vote for these lesser known vessels and tragedies. If I could recommend another ship lost in similar circumstances to the Nemesis, it would be the SS Koombana, lost on the West Australian coast in March 1912. She was a fabulously appointed cargo liner, calling into rugged frontier ports and she acted as a link with civilisation for isolated communities. She steamed out into an approaching cyclone and was never seen again. I reckon her story would be right up your alley. P.S: You were almost spot on with your pronunciation of Australian place names :)

[@ButterBallTheOpossum]

Another real mystery is what was in the shipping containers that was so valuable that they paid a survey company with an ROV to search for them?

[@miapdx503]

The ROV was looking for lost shipping containers. They just happened onto the Nemesis. Did you watch the video? That was the first thing he said. 😏 have a lovely day 🌹

[@Wretchedgangrelcreature]

In butterball's defense, I was thinking the same thing. The video was not unambiguous in its wording. It could very well have meant the vessel was searching for a particular group of lost shipping containers on commission from a shipping concern.

[@GLF-Video]

Yeah. Searching for sea containers makes no sense.

[@nlwilson4892]

@@miapdx503 You're being very rude. I think it fair enough to ask why the cost of a search vessel was justified to recover some shipping containers. They usually just write them off on their insurance as most of the time whatever is in them is ruined by the sea anyway.

[@miapdx503]

@@GLF-Video Seriously? It's a kind of salvage that nets big bucks! 😆 the ocean floor is littered with them. These guys find them before they become an environmental hazard.

[@Sassymouse88]

A stark reminder that the sea can be beautiful but cruel. Thank you for the dedications you put at the end, its respectful and ensures that the human element isn't glossed over - as much as we mourn a ship itself, there are always people on it who sail it. Sometimes that gets forgotten. Nice to see my great country "down under" being featured! And my city as well (Sydney). Hadn't heard of this disaster at all before this. Thanks for a fantastic video as always Bradley & BoB crew! Well done!

[@roberthennel]

The life of a sailor is always treacherous, and you are constantly with one foot in a watery grave, regadless whether seafairing, inland lake or river. Just about 2 months ago, an engineer was lost on the Danube I used to know, son in law to the owner of a small shipping company, father of 3, just 2 yeas older than me. From what is known, his shift was over, they were in port unloaded in the evening, ready to set sail for another loading. He must have slipped and fell overboard, unfortunately it went unnoticed, eveyone thought he went to sleep and only realised he was missing the next day.

[@sjc4]

May he rest in peace.

[@Chord_]

I appreciated the different approach you took for this video, and would love to see more of it! Particularly, I found the cuts between current day explorations and the final days and hours of the ship to be effective.

[@nickblaine12]

I'm surprised Mike from Ocean Liner Designs didn't get to this amazing story first, considering he's from Australia!

[@jayive34]

I know, right?

[@Ebikelover]

Love all your videos, but a solved shipwreck mystery being solved is incredible.

[@roboboydax]

Could you please make a video about the City of Benares. It’s been forgotten by many. However, I feel like it’s tale needs to be told. A story of drama and horror but in the end a tale of an exciting survival. Keep up the good work. I love your videos.

[@RahilPelichev]

This is the first channel I watched on my new cellphone,a few weeks ago. I've been really enjoying it since then!

[@Monkeyrifle69]

Welcome to the big old boats community, this man’s video are amazing. You can see how much hard work goes into producing these.

[@RahilPelichev]

​@@Monkeyrifle69Thank you for the welcoming!

[@miapdx503]

This is an excellent channel. His research, writing, editing, everything on point. Welcome aboard! 🌹⚓

[@RahilPelichev]

@@miapdx503 😊

[@evanhughes3027]

It would appear you are cell-phoning correctly. Oceanliner Designs and Waterline Stories are also favorites of mine. Bon Appétit.

[@miapdx503]

"Those on shore could do nothing as they fired rocket after rocket" Thank you for another excellent video. Another long lost vessel is not forgotten. Salute 🌹⚓

[@franklinkz2451]

Whatever kind of video you make, its your writing talent that makes them great. Do the stories you want to make

[@kevinmcdowell9074]

The most alarming thing? Seeing our faithful narrator for the first time when I'm not expecting to, it caught me off guard that's all. Am I the only one who finds it jarring when a channel you're familiar with does this?

[@patrickols]

Many times for me is how the face doesn’t seem to match what I imagine it was according to the voice I hear 😊

[@The1nsane1]

Great video. There are so many ship disasters around the world from the late 1800s (age of steam) to the present, you'll never run out of stories to tell.

[@danielkarlsson9326]

i liked this alot so ill gladly see more of this types especially more outside of U.S wrecks but as im Swedish i might be in a minority on that. Either way i find them all fascinating. On why Nemesis could have fired of the rockets we need to look at the crew which by accounts seemed competent enough and the ship was usually sturdy. one posisibility is that after the engine had failed they made some type of Sea Anchor to try and hold the ship towards the waves and that it functioned for a while giving them time to fire the rockets and maybe try to repair the engine. Alas it was for naught. Best regards from the island of Tjörn where both ships and bridges have become wrecks and all families have atleast lost a close relative once to the ocean.

[@zaydenspeechley1882]

I’m from Australia. This is awesome. My dad is from Sydney and I live in Melbourne.

[@liberteus]

ANother beautifully narratted, well illustrated, superbly documented video. I am so grateful that you dedicate the video to the lost souls, that's one last hommage to these courageous sailors, their memories lost in time, their history never previously told, and you shine a light on them, giving them what is, I hope, a memorial for decades to come.

[@JohnDavies-cn3ro]

I always enjoy your films; this is particularly interesting as I recently saw a programme about the Nemesis on another channel.Seems a strange name for a ship, to me at least; almost inviting rouble! There are a couple of other Aussie wrecks that would make interesting stories, as well as the 'Waratah' which would benefit from your treatment.

[@AcaliahWolfsong]

I love your videos!❤ made my morning when I got the notification that a new one was released! No better way to start my work day

[@jjgreek1]

Here we sit in Mazatlan, waiting for the eclipse, listening to your wonderful videos

[@Benson_aka_devils_advocate_88]

Fingers crossed you have perfect weather!!!

[@MovieMakingMan]

I love Mazatlan. Soon after moving to San Antonio from Canada my parents us drove to Mazatlan. The drive was incredible. We drove over the Sierra Madres and the Devil’s Backbone, a 1 1/2 lane road with no guardrails to stop a 3,000 foot plunge off a cliff. Enjoy your trip!

[@Passiona_Official]

Hey just like to say, as an Aussie who watches and loves your channel, I’m super impressed with most of your pronunciations of Australian place names. Not something a North American can often do well

[@dboconnor57]

I love your voice. It is perfect for these stories. I’m a former sailor, and these stories are both evocative and cathartic. Thank you very much.

[@TheSaneHatter]

An interesting story structure: alternating history and mystery in equal measure. It's worth pursuing further.

[@guyk768]

I always enjoy the writing and storytelling in your videos. They're so well done. I'm curious are you okay with video reactions of your videos, @BigOldBoats?

[@kevinmiller7792]

Yes, please keep making videos like this one - it was quite interesting. Thank you.

[@thejudgmentalcat]

Another great, but sad, story for my Saturday morning

[@medea27]

Great video as always! 👍 This is a pretty exciting find as we don't hear much about old shipwrecks in NSW, and it's tied to an interesting time in our state's industrial history. Looking forward to more videos in this same vein.... oceanographers & survey expeditions are finding more shipwrecks at deeper depths with every passing year, so I doubt you'll run out of topics any time soon!

[@ChakatSandwalker]

Huddart-Parker (which you said as 'Packer') was founded in 1876, and bought out in 1961. It was also the owner of the Elingamite, which wrecked with a cargo of gold on NZ's Three Kings Islands in 1902 due to inaccurate charts. Big Old Boats are great, but the Little Old Boats have their own stories to tell.

[@Dakiraun]

Yeah, I would enjoy more content like this. I think it's important to remember the people lost to sea on what was, for them, routine work. Perhaps also (if even possible) a list of the known crews of such vessels so that people see their names again.

[@DarrenLee73]

I'd like to see more videos similar to this one.Enjoyed this one regarding the SS Nemesis.

[@TXGRunner]

This is a good direction to broaden your channel.

[@ParallelOrb]

Beautiful video as always

[@Feline_Frenzy53]

Wonderfully well told story. Thank you.

[@p.k.5455]

Your videos are very well done, and extremely detailed as well as being interesting to watch! Thank you, and good luck with the writers block...😁

[@towgod7985]

Big Old Boats: A very nicely done video, I quite enjoyed it. Cheers.

[@jonilougy6608]

A "Super Thanks" to you! From the Lougy family

[@BigOldBoats]

Thank you so much!

[@rickmcharternet]

Love the channel. More like this one please

[@leightonolsson4846]

Naming a ship "Nemesis" feels like asking for trouble...

[@waygonner]

I had to pause and rewind, thought I heard the horsepower wrong. It’s amazing a 120 hp steam engine could move the ship at all. It must have made a large amount of torque.

[@lisaw150]

So true! There are tons of motorcycles that have more than 120 hp and they weigh some 200 kg and don't have to cut through water!

[@MarinCipollina]

@@lisaw150 Those steam engines weren't that powerful in the first place, especially considering their massive size and appetites for coal in their boilers. 8 knots would have been entirely respectable by 1880 standards. She put in nearly a quarter century of honorable service before meeting her demise. That's a lot more than other ships got.

[@jpd4627]

Fantastic footage. Well done

[@ShaunHopkinsAVFC]

Great video, definitely do more like this!

[@clarsach29]

I liked this one, good to see how shipping works (or doesn't work) away from the Great Lakes sometimes....and good to see a resolution to this history with the discovery of the wreck

[@thestorygiver6217]

Ooooh, it's so nice to get one of these first thing in the morning! It's always relaxing to have a video like this to get ready to.

[@stacypeterson3685]

Agreed. I was like this is a nice way to start the weekend

[@sharkfixation]

Gotta have a good disaster.

[@rogerrendzak8055]

Good documentary, of another shipwreck, I was unaware of👍!!! Also YES, it's nice to learn about, a lesser known, ship disaster👏 (not clapping about the wreak, but the availability, of your upload). I see you did, a funny there. You iterated; "Your support, is what keeps, this channel afloat"😄🚢…………

[@eveletts636]

So good!!!

[@Thespiansewist]

I am an ancestor of my great uncle Alfred Russell fireman who perished on SS Nemesis I have wreckage passed from my grandfather who picked up a draw end on Cronulla Beach July 1904 purportedly from SS Nemesis Thank you for presentation Very good

[@died4us590]

I like any video's you put out, they are well researched, and the narration is always great. You do a good job with the imaging as well, showing the actual vessel as well as footage relative to the time. G-d bless.

[@tommargarites2811]

A sad story, and it always is when a ship goes down, taking the entire crew with it. May God have mercy on their souls.

[@flapjackfae]

Yours is the most soothing disaster reporting.

[@toolsteel8482]

I’d think there would be coal and coke spilled around the wreck site to further confirm it as the Nemesis. Even common cargo ships were nice looking to me, and I especially like when ships had duel modes of propulsion, steam and sail. I enjoy each and every one of these; thanks for sharing.

[@robertirwin7016]

This was a great video. I'd enjoy seeing more of these.

[@randyhebbebusche3644]

A great story, sad for the families of the lost souls. Glad they found it. You have a great voice too.

[@eiriknewquist2007]

You’re doing a great job. Keep up the good work.👍

[@tracysmith3076]

Thank you for not letting those 32 people be forgotten ❤

[@fizzys26]

Great video! And beautifully written.

[@JackMarslow]

Yes more of this. Ship lost at sea, investigation, and results of investigation. Including ships with survivors. Not just mysteriously disappeared.

[@DavidDavid-jm3gq]

More please 😊

[@larryrich327]

Very good video I really liked it

[@Rittlesleo]

Thanks!

[@BigOldBoats]

Thank you!!

[@TheEnigman]

Given the distance from Port Hacking to where the wreck was found those poor souls would have fought for some time after sending those rockets before she finally succumbed. The SS Waratah was another vessel that disappeared off the coast of South Africa (also in a gale) in July 1909. I believe the wreck has been found but it's location kept secret to prevent it being looted and being in an area with dangerous currents.

[@SandraVargas92]

More please, it was very interesting

[@brettjones4733]

Great to see an Aussie story , maybe you could do one on the sinking of HMAS Sydney .

[@user-lm7qy1gs9v]

Nemesis…. I don’t know about this for a ship name. Seems like asking for it!

[@marvwatkins7029]

A wrong name for a ship.

[@ianturner9815]

Great work!

[@Blacksheep1968]

Awesome content. Keep it going

[@PistachioDean]

1:31 *insert Squidward “oh no, he’s hot!” meme here * 😂

[@adub1300]

The thought of a ship having less horsepower than my pickup truck is wild to me

[@MT-tn4ei]

May those who lost their lives that night Rest In Peace.

[@AviationCommercials]

Yes, more of these videos and less big lakes.

[@colinleat8309]

WHY was a commercial ship named Nemesis??? If it was a war ship, it would make sense, but... love your channel 👍

[@donfredette5189]

Great job

[@steveshattuck8128]

Cool video never heard of the SS Nemesis before so eerie not knowing what happened 😱😱😱

[@evolveausevolveaus]

Thanks, as always, for another awesome upload 👍 And an Aussie story, woo hoooo

[@Miakel]

This is an incredible find. I hope someday they will find the SS KOOMBANA, Probably Australias greatest maritime mystery.b

[@buglover-qb1dq]

Sometimes (more often now) my brain doesnt work so well either...

[@playitstrange129]

this is right near my house!! ps,, great try of pronouncing Wollongong.. especially for a yank.. all you needed to do is extend the "woll" to "wool-lon-gong".. its an Abo name, so I actually applaud you for getting it so close... 👏👏👏👏

[@TheJaymon1962]

Excellent

[@kabbacallisto]

4:34 NORTH YORKSHIRE COAST MENTIONED LETS FUCKING GOOOOOO

[@magicpyroninja]

It's fairly safe to say the captain rolled the dice and it didn't come up in his favor sometimes you could do everything right and it's just not your day and the sea loves the challenges The harder we try and make it safe the more the sea decides to let us know that we're still at its whims

[@starterstuff2574]

When someone asks me where I caught that mess of big fish, I always lie

[@the1st_snowcrashes247]

Could you do the mystery of the uss cyclops that disapeared in 1918

[@flyingtigerline]

Ever so good !!!

[@robertbalazslorincz8218]

Okay. I just really badly want to see that someone accidentally stumbles on the Waratah in this fashion Wait so you're telling me just the storm itself was enough to smash the ship into bits? Surely there was a rouge wave involved ?

[@PotooBurd]

This is Amazing! INSTANT SUBSCRIBE🌻 keep it up!

[@jerryglascock1194]

Hey Dave, I know this is an old video but to make it clear. You could have made it very accessible with military bridges. You know what i mean . Since you have alot of military vehicles. Get some bridges.

[@grantadler9343]

Great video

[@roselightinstorms727]

RIP

[@danny1983ish]

I enjoyed the video

[@andiflanagan125]

I'm an Old Alaskan Seafarer from way back. Big Ol' Boats are my passion. I also write. Need help?

[@HoosierDaddy_]

Love ya son! Be safe!

[@gbedmonds1594]

As a former sailor I always feel a deep akin ship to wrecks found at the bottom of the ocean, wondering what it must have been like in those fearful last moments. Lost to history the ships and those lost with her may they forever rest in peace and may God bless the families left behind.

[@larryrich327]

1:44 dude you remind me so much of my cousin he’s cool too

[@randyvac01]

The important thing is the ship has been found and the souls of the crew can be at peace.

[@zainmudassir2964]

Big old Boats is a good looking dude

[@MrHelpy34]

AUSTRALIA MENTIONED RAHHHHH (Please do SS Maitland next)