SS Goodleigh (1928)

History
Name	Goodleigh (1928–37); Christoph Van Doornum (1937–39); Empire Commerce (1939–40);
Owner	Dulverton Steamship Co Ltd (1928–37); Reunert & Co GmbH (1937–39); Canadian Government (1939); Ministry of War Transport (1939–40);
Operator	Dulverton Steamship Co Ltd (1928–37); Fisser & Van Doornum (1937–39); H Chisholm & Co Ltd (1939–40);
Port of registry	London (1928–37); Hamburg (1937–39); London (1939–40);
Builder	J L Thompson & Sons Ltd
Launched	1928
Completed	March 1928
Out of service	9 June 1940
Identification	Code Letters LBHC (1928–34); ; Code Letters GNQB (1934–37); ; Code Letters DJVA (1937–39); ; Code Letters GLVA (1939–40); ; United Kingdom Official Number 160368 (1928–37, 1939–40);
Fate	Struck a mine and beached
General characteristics
Type	Cargo ship
Tonnage	3,845 GRT (Goodleigh); 3,751 GRT (Christoph Van Doornum); 3,857 GRT (Empire Commerce); 2,323 NRT (Goodleigh); 2,240 NRT (Christoph Van Doornum); 2,302 NRT (Empire Commerce);
Length	360 ft 0 in (109.73 m)
Beam	50 ft 0 in (15.24 m)
Depth	23 ft 9 in (7.24 m)
Installed power	Triple expansion steam engine
Propulsion	Screw propeller

Goodleigh was a 3,857 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1928 by J L Thompson & Sons Ltd, Sunderland for the Dulverton Steamship Company. In 1937 she was sold to Fisser & Van Doornum, Emden and was renamed Christian Van Doornum. She was in port in Canada when war was declared between the United Kingdom and Germany. She was seized as a war prize and passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). Renamed Empire Commerce, she served until 9 June 1940 when she struck a mine off Margate, Kent. She was beached and her cargo was salvaged, but Empire Commerce was deemed a constructive total loss and was scrapped in situ. She was the first Empire ship lost through enemy action in the Second World War.

History

Name	Goodleigh (1928–37) Christoph Van Doornum (1937–39) Empire Commerce (1939–40)
Owner	Dulverton Steamship Co Ltd (1928–37) Reunert & Co GmbH (1937–39) Canadian Government (1939) Ministry of War Transport (1939–40)
Operator	Dulverton Steamship Co Ltd (1928–37) Fisser & Van Doornum (1937–39) H Chisholm & Co Ltd (1939–40)
Port of registry	London (1928–37) Hamburg (1937–39) London (1939–40)
Builder	J L Thompson & Sons Ltd
Launched	1928
Completed	March 1928
Out of service	9 June 1940
Identification	Code Letters LBHC (1928–34) Code Letters GNQB (1934–37) Code Letters DJVA (1937–39) Code Letters GLVA (1939–40) United Kingdom Official Number 160368 (1928–37, 1939–40)
Fate	Struck a mine and beached
General characteristics
Type	Cargo ship
Tonnage	3,845 GRT (Goodleigh) 3,751 GRT (Christoph Van Doornum) 3,857 GRT (Empire Commerce) 2,323 NRT (Goodleigh) 2,240 NRT (Christoph Van Doornum) 2,302 NRT (Empire Commerce)
Length	360 ft 0 in (109.73 m)
Beam	50 ft 0 in (15.24 m)
Depth	23 ft 9 in (7.24 m)
Installed power	Triple expansion steam engine
Propulsion	Screw propeller