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William Reardon Smith was born in Appledore in Devon in 1856 and went to sea at 12 years of age, working his way from cabin boy to master by 1881.
After a successful career he settled in Cardiff and in 1905 decided to become a shipowner, setting up W R Smith & Sons. His first ship was “City of Cardiff” delivered in 1906 and commanded by his brother John. She was placed in the traditional coal out, grain back trade.
He owned 9 tramp steamers divided amongst 5 companies by 1914. During WW1, 12 more ships were acquired but 10 were lost. These were replaced by German vessels surrendered as war reparations and, in 1919, the 7 steamers of Letricheux & David were acquired followed by the 1922 purchase of Kirk Shipping Co Ltd with 4 small coasters. By 1922 the fleet was up to 43 vessels totalling 314,270 tons, operated by 6 Reardon Smith companies. William became a baronet in 1920.
In the late 1920s the size of the fleet began to reduce and 17 of the older ships were sold, although some replacements were bought, including 4 motor ships. A regular service from UK to the West Coast of North America was started in 1928 under the name of Reardon Smith Line Ltd – the first time the owners name had been used since the original “City of Cardiff”.
The collection includes a photograph of “Tacoma City”, which was one of the 4 ships used on this liner service until it was discontinued in 1937.
When Sir William died in 1935 the fleet stood at 28 ships. In 1936 the company became chartering brokers for the British Iron & Steel Corporation, handling their imports of iron ore and scrap.
There were 24 ships in the fleet at the outbreak of WW2, but it suffered very heavily from enemy action. Slow moving tramps were an easy target. There were 20 ships lost out of the original 24; a total of 16 replacements were obtained, but 3 of these were lost; a further 36 ships were managed for the MOWT and 10 of these were war casualties. The post war fleet was augmented by 5 war-built “Park” class and orders were placed for new tonnage. By the end of the 1950s there were 14 ships in the fleet; all war-built or newer.
Reardon Smith took delivery of their first bulk carrier in 1964 and from this date they progressively reduced their fleet of conventional cargo ships, with the last 3 being sold in 1972. The subsequent history of the company is obscured by Reardon Smith being a major manager of ships for other owners. It is understood to have finally ceased its direct shipowning activities in 1985, according to a website showing a timeline of events in Cardiff. Sir William Reardon Smith & Sons Ltd still exists and continues to be owned by Smith family, but appears to be non-trading.
| Vessel Name | Vessel Type | Launched/Completed | Tonnage | DWT | Builder |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City | Cargo 558,180 G. | May 1941. Yard No: 662 | Gross: 5212 Net: 2898 | 9055 | Wm. Doxford & Sons. Ltd. Sunderland |
| Atlantic City | No Info | 1967 | Gross: 27029 Net: 17223 | 45780 | Fairfield Shipbuilders & Engineering Co. Ltd. Glasgow |
| Bradburn | Cargo 500,000 G. | 1930. Yard No: 1035 | Gross: 5532 Net: 3308 | 9321 | Wm. Gray & Co. Ltd. West Hartlepool |
| Bradfyne | Cargo 500,000 G. | 1928 | Gross: 4740 Net: 2900 | 9100 | Wm. Gray & Co. Ltd. West Hartlepool |
| Bradglen | No Info | 1930?? | |||
| Bradford City | No Info | 1943?? | |||
| Cornish City | Cargo 56,870 G. | 09/03/1943. Yard No: 702 | Gross: 7322 Net: 4483 | 10246 | Wm. Doxford & Sons. Ltd. Sunderland |
| Devon City | No Info | 1913?? | |||
| East Lynn | Cargo 590,000 G. | 1928 | Gross: 4685 Net: 3210 | 8873 | Wm. Doxford & Sons. Ltd. Sunderland |
| Eastern City | Cargo 54,350 G. | 15/10/1940. Yard No: 667 | Gross: 5236 Net: 2968 | 9055 | Wm. Doxford & Sons. Ltd. Sunderland |
| Fresno City | Cargo 590,000 B. | 1929 | Gross: 4955 Net: 3000 | 8800 | Wm. Doxford & Sons. Ltd. Sunderland |
| Fresno City | Cargo 1,354,000 G | Dec 1970. | Gross: 16639 Net: 11553 | 25874 | Upper Clyde Shipbuilders Ltd. Govan |
| Great City | No Info | 1914?? | |||
| Great City | Cargo 569,740 G | Feb 1945. Yard No: 722 | Gross: 7381 Net: 4572 | 10116 | Wm. Doxford & Sons. Ltd. Sunderland |
| Homer City | Cargo 529,930 G. | May 1944. Yard No: 1234 | Gross: 7026 Net: 3840 | 9466 | Harland & Wolff Ltd. Belfast |
| Houston City | Cargo 578,230 G. | Aug 1942. Yard No: 691 | Gross: 7287 Net: 4320 | 10410 | Wm. Doxford & Sons. Ltd. Sunderland |
| Houston City | Cargo 753,930 G. | Jan 1963. | Gross: 10335 Net: 5814 | 14630 | Wm. Doxford & Sons. Ltd. Sunderland |
| Indian City | Cargo 584,469 G. | May 1944. Yard No: 299 | Gross: 7079 Net: 4371 | 10319 | Bartram & Sons Ltd. Sunderland |
| Jersey City | Cargo 507,000 G. | 1920 | Gross: 6332 Net: 3921 | 10065 | J. L. Thompson & Sons. Ltd. Sunderland |
| Jersey City | Cargo 525,177 G. | July 1942. Yard No: 291 | Gross: 6643 Net: 4043 | 9776 | Bartram & Sons Ltd. Sunderland |
| King City | No Info | 1928?? | |||
| King City | Cargo 551,190 G. | Dec 1950. Yard No: 776 | Gross: 5593 Net: 2909 | 8820 | Wm. Doxford & Sons. Ltd. Sunderland |
| Leeds City | Cargo 510,515 G. | 1927 | Gross: 4995 Net: 3844 | 8550 | Wm. Gray & Co. Ltd. West Hartlepool |
| Leeds City | No Info | 1955?? | |||
| Madras City | No Info | 1911?? | |||
| New Westminster City | Cargo 510,515 G. | July 1929. Yard No: 1018 | Gross: 4995 Net: 3484 | 8550 | Wm. Gray & Co. Ltd. West Hartlepool |
| New Westminster City | Cargo 603,680 G. | June 1956. Yard No: 814 | Gross: 6159 Net: 3235 | 9300 | Wm. Doxford & Sons. Ltd. Sunderland |
| New Westminster City | Cargo 1,202,000 G. | 1972 | Gross: 16704 Net: 11376 | 25832 | Upper Clyde Shipbuilders Ltd. Govan |
| Orient City | Cargo 541,076 G. | July 1940. Yard No: 311 | Gross: 5154 Net: 2910 | 9040 | Furness S.B. Co. Ltd. Haverton Hill - on - Tees |
| Orient City | Cargo 3,090,000 G. | 1977 | Gross: 39236 Net: 27045 | 10597 | Sunderland Shipbuilders Ltd. Sunderland |
| Queen City | Cargo 511,900 G. | Nov 1950. | Gross: 5593 Net: 2880 | 8820 | Wm. Doxford & Sons. Ltd. Sunderland |
| Quebec City | Cargo 500,000 G. | 1927 | Gross: 4745 Net: 2872 | 9121 | Wm. Gray & Co. Ltd. West Hartlepool |
| Sacramento City | Cargo 500,000 G. | 1924 | Gross: 4573 Net: 2840 | 9106 | Workman, Clark Ltd. Belfast |
| Tacoma City | No Info | 1929?? | |||
| Tacoma City | No Info | 1972?? | |||
| Vancouver City | Cargo 578,760 G. | 31/03/1942. Yard No: 687 | Gross: 7261 Net: 4296 | 10398 | Wm. Doxford & Sons. Ltd. Sunderland |
| Vancouver City | Cargo 1,354,000 G | 1970 | Gross: 16644 Net: 11564 | 25874 | Upper Clyde Shipbuilders Ltd. Govan |
| Vernon City | Cargo 510,515 G. | 1929 | Gross: 4739 Net: 3484 | Wm. Gray & Co. Ltd. West Hartlepool | |
| Welsh City | No Info | 1956?? | |||
| Welsh City | No Info | 1968?? |
