Salvage of 460 Gold Bars

[Julius SCHMIDT]

Diver John Johnstone 1941 40 fathoms over 8 tons-555 gold bars

 

[Akimbo]

Diver John Johnstone 1941 40 fathoms over 8 tons-555 gold bars

That was an extraordinary operation for the time, though not record setting for depth or value of gold salvaged. I wish someone would write a thread on Johnno Johnstone and the RMS Niagara gold salvage for our Diving History forum.

BTW, I think you have a typo. The Niagara sank in 70 fathoms (128m/420'), not 40.

 

[Russjstewart]

Hi @Akimbo
This newspaper article may be of interest to you

Diving bell a deep mystery

Delve into the secretive history of a WWII relic on display in Castlemaine.

www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au

 

[OTF]

I'm a little unclear on how the actual recovery worked in that story - were they using hardhat divers to cut into the room and recover gold? Or just a grappling claw directed by an observer in the diving bell?

 

[Akimbo]

I'm a little unclear on how the actual recovery worked in that story - were they using hardhat divers to cut into the room and recover gold? Or just a grappling claw directed by an observer in the diving bell?

Grappling claw directed by an observer in the diving bell.

 

[OTF]

Incredible that they were able to get anything at all that way. Seems ridiculously difficult.

 

[Akimbo]

Incredible that they were able to get anything at all that way. Seems ridiculously difficult.

It was, but that is what makes it such a compelling story.

 

[happy-diver]

I don't suppose it's 30 fathoms from where the observation chamber was rested on the ship to the bottom
ha ha ha ha ha!

Ok bullion room at almost 60 fathoms

There's a photo of me somewhere, trying to hug that chamber

 

[happy-diver]

What an adventure look at that tender

He sure was knocked around in that bell

Just like NASA

Ahhhh!!!

Is that a bicycle helmet, and a carbon dioxide scrubber, a what???


These are good books

 

[happy-diver]

Here they are here they are here they are!

Gold From the Sea | Etsy Australia

Among the innumerable episodes which has brought luster and prestige to men of British blood will be counted the salvage of the treasure bullion which went down with the R.M.S Niagara June 1940 and was mined off the coast of New Zealand in June 1940. This is the story as witnessed by James Taylor.

www.googleadservices.com

Niagara's Gold by Jeff Maynard (Paperback, 1996) for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Niagara's Gold by Jeff Maynard (Paperback, 1996) at the best online prices at eBay!

www.ebay.com.au

Gold from the Sea The Epic Story of the Niagara's Bullion by J.R.W. Taylor 1942 | eBay

Gold from the Sea by J.R.W. Taylor. In Acceptable condition.

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There they are there they are there they are!


I climb out of the ocean a cascade of water
and they enquire how many bar how deep
and how long were you there in that deep

and I just push past them loudly laughing

Mask on face, reg in place
fins on feet til bum in seat