SS HILDENA, a steel steamship built by Charles Rennoldson & Co at South Shields in 1914.
262grt, 96nrt, 120.25 x 13.5 x 10.25 ft; 1 deck, quarter deck 42ft, boat deck 9ft, forecastle 18ft.
Screw propulsion, steam C2cyl (15.5 & 33 x 24ins), 52rhp, 1 boiler; machinery aft, built Shields Engineering Co Ltd, North Shields.
Owned Joseph Monks & Co Ltd, Liverpool
Voyage Partington to Waterford with coal
On 15 January 1918, struck by SS Hirano Maru (incoming in convoy) and sank with loss of all 7 hands.
Location: 3-4 miles north of Skerries, Anglesey. Approx: 53°28.7N, 4°36.4W

SS Hildena

Information from inquiry in June 1919:

Weather was fine, though it was dark, being about 6:00 am on 15th of January. The Hirano Maru was in a convoy, heading up the Irish Sea, past Holyhead and Anglesey to Liverpool escorted by HMS Ambuscade. She was initially heading in a NE direction and was travelling at full speed without lights. The SS Hildena had left the Manchester Ship Canal heading for Ireland on 14th January 1918 and was moving in a South Easterly direction, North of the Skerries, but was showing lights, and she was first seen by the Hirano Maru about 4 to 5 miles distant towards the East. North of the Skerries, the Hirano Maru turned East, (this was planned by the convoy the day before) and this turn brought her onto a heading towards the SS Hildena, who was now crossing from left to right in front of the Hirano Maru, but still 3 miles distant. The Hildena did not alter course or speed and made no sign of having seen the Hirano Maru, until the collision. The Hirano Maru slowed her engines when she realized that a collision was possible, but was still almost at full speed when the collision occurred, and she made no course change. She ended up striking the Hildena amidships, almost splitting her in half. The SS Hildena sank quickly before either the Hirano Maru or her escort, HMS Ambuscade, could offer help.
  The evidence of Captain Hector Fraser (who was on the bridge of Hiranao Maru the whole time) is that he did display a light 3 minutes before the collision, when still about a mile apart, however this did not match with records in either of the 2 logs, and was disputed by the court examiner.
  The judgment of the hearing (made in June 1919) was in favour of the SS Hildena, and the owners of the Hirano Maru (N.Y.K.) had to pay compensation to the owners of the Hildena for loss of the vessel and cargo and their legal costs, laying the blame for the incident on Captain Hector Fraser.

  Note that the Hirano Maru left Liverpool for Yokohama and was in St George's Channel on 4th October 1918. She was torpedoed by UB-91 with a great loss of life. Out of 97 passengers and 147 crew, only 11 passengers and 19 crew were rescued by USS Sterret.

  The men lost on the Hildena were
Evan Baird 38 Born Connahs Quay - Master;
Fred Hughes 49 Born Connahs Quay - Mate;
Fred Hughes(jr) 17 Born Connahs Quay - Sailor;
John Hughes 69 Born Amlwch - Sailor;
Thomas Jones 49 Born Bagillt - Engineer;
Rob. Jones 56 Born Holyhead - 2nd Engineer;
D. McDonnell 22 Born Waterford, Ireland.