According to:-

[www.theshipslist.com]

'Red Rose' which later became Dominican Navy 'El Presidente' was Chartered (presumably as a Yacht) to William Johnston of Liverpool from 1874 to 1876, then deleted from Lloyd's Register. William Johnston 1841-1917 of the 'Johnston Line' (not to be confused with his father the noted sea captain William Moat Johnston 1806-1896) later became an immensely wealthy shipowner and noted philanthropist. However, in 1874 the embryonic 'Johnston Line' only owned one ship of their own and the true basis of its fortune, the live cattle service from Baltimore USA to Liverpool, did not commence until 1880. In other words, what on earth was he doing chartering a Yacht at this very early stage in his career?

Later on, he had two steam Yachts of his own built for him, both named 'Kethailes'. The first, 363 tons of 1897 (British Official #106877), was sold c.1903 to H. A. C. Taylor of New York City, USA and became 'Wanderer'. In 1917 she became the U.S. Navy's ‘Wanderer SP 132’ and saw anti-submarine service in the Bay of Biscay. After returning to civilian life in 1920 as 'Wanderer II' for J.S. Webster, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, she ended up being mysteriously Scuttled in the 3rd Quarter of 1931 (no details known). There is also newspaper evidence that two of her crew were killed in an explosion aboard off St. Petersburg, Florida, on 09 October 1929

The second 'Kethailes', 611 tons of 1903 (Miramar Index #29216), was requisitioned by the British Royal Navy c.1914 as ‘H.M. Yacht Kethailes’. On 11 October 1917 she was Sunk in a Collision near the Blackwater Light Vessel, off Wexford on the south-easternmost tip of Ireland. I have never been able to find out any details of this collision, apart from the names of two of the dead from a church memorial. ?Was she perhaps run down by another Royal Navy ship and the whole thing 'hushed up'? Divers have subsequently located and photographed the wreck.

Any and all additional information about all three Johnston Yachts will be much appreciated, as I am in the process of writing a history of the 'Johnston Line'. My wife is a great-grandaughter of William Johnston, but none of the money survied long enough to come our way - more's the pity! :-)

Mike South
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

BTW: I have several times been asked the derivation of the unusual name ‘KETHAILES’. William Johnston named the Yachts for his four daughters: Kathleen (oldest), ETHel, AILeen, EStele (youngest).