WWI – carrying pig iron to Dieppe
In 1916 Thalatta ran between Shoreham and Dieppe deep loaded with pig iron to feed the French war machine. Many barges were destroyed during wartime at sea but Thalatta avoided the mines and submarines.
WWI
From 1914 until the end of WWI in November 1918
Converted to a Motor Barge
On 25 May 1917 Thalatta was sold to Wynfield Shipping Co of Grimsby. A 70 hp two-cycle vertical oil engine was fitted in the former skipper’s cabin aft, built by Plenty & Sons of Newbury. She was used as a supply vessel to the Humber boom defences, with Percy Richmond as her skipper (who had previously been mate under James Alliston). Her fore-hold was converted to accommodate her crew which now included an engineer. Her rig was cut down and she worked from Grimsby as a motor barge – her original registration as a sailing vessel was cancelled.
WWI – Thalatta is taken over by the Royal Navy
Thalatta carried some coal freights to the continent (and once returned home with a cargo of eau de Cologne!) before being taken over by the Royal Navy for use as a fleet supply vessel. The Navy gave her a small semi-diesel engine as an auxiliary, but according to all accounts this was never very much use to her, and it was removed a year or two after her return to civilian employment.