British shipping companies (H)

Last modified: 2023-07-03 by
Keywords: hogarth | houlder line | houston line | hudson steamship | huelin renouf | hull gates shipping | humber line | hunting & son | hh | hg | ahl | star: (blue) 7 points | mammoth |
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• H. Hogarth & Sons Ltd.
• Holder, Middleton & Co.
• R.H. Holman
• Hopemount Shipping Co.
• Samuel Hough, Ltd.
• Houlder Line Ltd
• Joseph Hoult & Co.
• Houston Line (London) Ltd.
• Hoveringham Gravels, Ltd.
• Chas. Howard & Sons
• Hoyland Line
• R.M. Hudson & Sons
• Hudson’s Bay Company
• Hudson Steamship Co.
• Huelin Renouf Shipping
• Hull Gates Shipping Co. Ltd.
• Humber Line
• Humber Tugs Ltd.
• Hunting & Son
• Hutchins Bros.
• J & P. Hutchison, Limited

• House flags of British shipping companies
• House flags of shipping companies
• United Kingdom

H. Hogarth & Sons Ltd. Ships wore the Scottish saltire at the foremast from 1918 to differentiate their vessels from those of Lloyd Austrico due to both having "Baron" as the first name of their vessels. This continued after the need was gone and then following their management amalgamation into Scottish Ship Management Ltd. in 1968 the ships continued to use the saltire as a stem jack but the houseflag of the management company.
Neale Rosanoski, 15 June 2004

The Hogarth family website (click 'The 'Hungry Hogarths' at left - and that is how the house flag was "read") shows the flag crossed with the Scottish saltire. As to Scottish Ship Mgt, the site at http://www.scottishshipmanagement.com/index.html reports:

"Scottish Ship Management Limited was formed in 1968 as a result of the merger of the shipping staff of H. Hogarth & Sons and Lyle Shipping Co. Unfortunately, in 1986, as part of the demise of the British Merchant Navy, the company ceased to exist.

The purpose of the site is to provide a bit of background to the history of SSM and to serve as an archive of material. (..)

H. Hogarth & Sons had been shipowners since 1862 whilst Lyle could trace their origin back to 1798. In 1980 Lyle aquired the 50% of Scottish Ship Management owned by H. Hogarth & Sons, making SSM a wholly owned subsidiary of Lyle Shipping. SSM continued to manage the Hogarth fleet as well as that of its parent, Lyle. In its heyday, Scottish Ship Management maintained offices in the U.K., Australia and U.S.A. and employed over 400 people."

Holder, Middleton & Co.

Holder, Middleton & Co., located in London
It is a blue flag with a golden mitre with two ribbons in its centre.
Source: Lloyds (1912); p.117, image no. 1658
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 18 September 2008

R.H. Holman

image by Ivan Sache, 19 April 2008

Lloyds Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of "R.H. Holman" (#283, p. 50), a company based in London, as white with a small red triangle on each corner and a red "H" in the middle.
Ivan Sache, 19 April 2008 

Hopemount Shipping Co.

image by Jarig Bakker, 28 December 2004

Hopemount Shipping Co., Newcastle-on-Tyne - five horizontal stripes of black and yellow, proportioned 2:1:1:1:2
From Scott, R.M., The Caltex book of Flags and Funnels, Capetown, Caltex Africa Ltd. (1959).
Jarig Bakker, 28 December 2004

image by Jarig Bakker, 28 December 2004

However Brown (1951) [Wedge (1951)] shows for Hopemount Shipping Company Ltd. (Stott, Mann & Fleming Ltd.), Newcastle-upon-Tyne the same colors proportioned 1:2:1:2:1
Jarig Bakker, 28 December 2004

Hopemount Shipping Co. For such a simple design everyone seems to disagree on the flag. The company itself, formed 1918, was one of several, all of which had ships with prefix of "Hope" and apparently all used the same livery, operated by Arthur Stottt & Co. Ltd. who in 1939 became Stott, Mann & Fleming Ltd. Sources up to WW2 thus show in either of these names. Around 1950 the name changed to Stott, Mann & Co. Ltd. operating only through Hopemount Shipping Co. Ltd. with Hopemount passing to the ownership of Common Brothers in 1966, fading away a few years later.

As far as the black and yellow banded flags are concerned, the 1st from Scott is in line with the earlier editions of Stewart (1953), that from Brown (Wedge, 1951) is from that series, Talbot-Booth (1936)) shows the bands all being equal whilst the US Navy 1961 has the yellow bands only slightly wider than the black.
Neale Rosanoski, 3 March 2005

image by Ivan Sache

Prior to the sale [to Common Bros. in 1966] a new flag was adopted being shown by Stewart 1963 with a yellow flag and a blue circle bearing a white "H".
Neale Rosanoski, 3 March 2005

Samuel Hough, Ltd.

image by Ivan Sache, 27 March 2008

Lloyds Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of "Samuel Hough, Ltd." (#107, p. 42), a company based in Liverpool, as red with the white letters "SH" in the middle.
Ivan Sache, 27 March 2008 

This company was known as Houlder Brothers & Co. in the 1950's.
James Dignan, 8 October 2003

Houlder Brothers & Co.Ltd. posted as insolvent on 19 May 2004 (The Times).
Ron Lahav, 20 May 2004

Hoveringham Gravels, Ltd.

image by Jarig Bakker

Hoveringham Gravels has a fleet of dredgers, engaged in the production of aggregates for the construction industry. The company takes its name from its base in Hoveringham near Nottingham. In 1953, at its quarry there, a large section of the tusk of a Mammoth was found. Some time later, further pieces of tusk and a tooth, were discovered. The association with the strength and solidity of this huge prehistoric beast seemed singularly apt for a firm in their line of business, and in 1958, they adopted the Mammoth as a trading symbol. The company now trades as part of the Hoveringham Group.
Source: Loughran (1979) "A Survey of Mercantile Houseflags & Funnels".
Jarig Bakker, 4 April 2005

Joseph Hoult & Co.

image by Ivan Sache, 21 March 2008

Lloyds Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of "Joseph Hoult & Co." (#52, p. 39), a company based in Liverpool, as red with a blue rectangle bordered white and charged with a white letter "H".
"Joseph Hoult, a prominent ship owner writes the London Times offering £400, ($2,000) apiece to the next four mercantile vessels or trawlers,
which sink German submarines". (The New York Times, 8 March 1915)
"Announcement of award of £510 by Sir Henry Kimber and Messie. Joseph Hoult & Co. to the transport Mona's Queen (Capt. W. Cain), in respect of the sinking of an enemy submarine; captain receives £300, first officer £50, and the crew with an extra £10 to the " sighters of the enemy." (Examiner Annual, Isle of Man, 1920)
Joseph Hoult rests in the graveyard of Thornton Hough, together with "local dignitaries".
http://www.scarecrowfestival.co.uk/history2.htm 
Ivan Sache, 21 March 2008 

Houston Line (London) Ltd.

image by James Dignan

Based on Sampson (1957)
James Dignan, 18 October 2003

The (British & Commonwealth Shipping Co., Ltd.) Clan Line flag is flown at foremast.
Houseflag: Union Jack over red St. George's Cross in White ground with H in Red on White in center. (in addition the Clan Line flag is flown at the fore.) The British & Commonwealth Shipping Co.'s burgee is flown superior to house-flag.
Jarig Bakker, 18 October 2003

Founded 1880 in Liverpool as RP Houston & Co. Transported frozen meats from Argentina to the UK and in 1885 began passenger service. In 1898 a subsidiary, British & South American Steam Navigation Company. The company was sold to Clan Line in 1918, its South American services resold to the Royal Mail in 1926, and renamed Houston Line in 1932. In 1956 the company, and others, merged to form British & Commonwealth Shipping Company. The company disappeared as an entity by 1970.
Phil Nelson, 19 October 2003

image by António Martins-Tuválkin

Houston Line (London) Ltd. Although the company is given as ceasing operations around 1970 the name continued to be used as a shipowner until the beginning of the 1980s so the flag may have continued to be flown until then. The panel of the Union Flag as shown is too small. A photo of an actual flag shows, unlike all sources, with only one exception, the arms of the main cross being the same width as the principal cross of the Union Flag panel. Although I would normally give credence to an actual flag the overwhelming support for the main cross being wider makes me wonder.
Neale Rosanoski, 31 May 2004

Chas. Howard & Sons

image by Ivan Sache, 15 March 2008

Lloyds Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of "Chas. Howard & Sons" (#20, p. 37), a company based in London, as blue with, in the middle, the white letters "CH & S".
Ivan Sache, 15 March 2008 

Hoyland Line

Postcard [o9oXXb] (6th pc., 4th row, 1st flag) shows for Hoyland Line a horizontal triband of black, red and golden (i.e., identical in design to the flag of Germany).
António Martins, 18 Sep 2006

Hoyland Line was a UK based line in London originating 1891 and ceasing trading 1900.
Neale Rosanoski, 19 September 2009

R.M. Hudson & Sons

image by Ivan Sache, 20 March 2008

Lloyds Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of "R.M. Hudson & Sons" (#51, p. 39), a company based in Sunderland, as red with a white disk charged with a red letter "H".
Ivan Sache, 12 March 2008 

Hudson’s Bay Company

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 24 October 2010

Hudson’s Bay Company (see also our Canadian page on the Hudson's Bay Company)
It is a red ensign with dotted white capitals “H:B:C:” in the lower fly.
Source: Campbell and Evans (1953); plate V, flag no.6
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 24 October 2010

Hudson Steamship Co.

image by Phil Nelson, 11 April 2000

The second image is from Stewart and Styring's Flags, Funnels and Hull Colors 1963. The upper flag could be (and is likely) an earlier version.

Hudson Steamship Co. Originated as John Hudson & Co. [or John Hudson (London) Ltd.] who were involved in the coal trade from 1905, becoming shipowners in 1915 and forming the Hudson Steamship Co. Ltd. in 1920, and the first flag shown by Brown 1926, under the later name, is red with a white "H". By 1929 they are showing the blue flag version which is shown by all sources up until Brown 1982 who notes that it is unlikely to be seen again. The company itself was involved in the continental and coastal colliery trade being originally based in London but then shown as Brighton around the beginning of the 1970s. In the mid 1960s they also seem to have begun trading as John Hudson Fuel & Shipping Ltd. moving from the coal to the oil trade, and it is likely that The Thornhope Shipping Co. Ltd. of 1974 was a subsidiary. However Lloyds state that a Hudson Steamship Co.Ltd. was formed in 1980 and as they were operating (amongst others) The Thornhope Shipping Co. Ltd. they could be either the original company or a successor. The striped  flag may therefore apply to this company, it being impossible to judge because a source is not given. It then appears that these companies were then acquired by the Norwegian company of Mosvold Shipping A/S in 1988 but I cannot trace them by the end of the century.
Neale Rosanoski, 31 May 2004

A red saltire on white with a yellow lozenge overall charged with a black "H".
Jorge Candeias, 07 Mar 1999

Huelin Renouf Shipping. The letter should be blue as shown on the company website.
Neale Rosanoski, 31 May 2004

Other sites:

• Company website
  reported by Dov Gutterman, 20 Feb 1999

Hull Gates Shipping Co. Ltd.

image by Jarig Bakker, based on the website of the National Maritime Museum.

From the website of the National Maritime Museum, "the house flag of the Hull Gates Shipping Co. Ltd., Hull. A white pennant with red borders. In the centre is the monogram 'HG' in red. The flag is made of a wool and synthetic fibre bunting. It has a cotton hoist and is machine sewn. A rope and two Inglefield clips is attached." Jarig Bakker

Humber Tugs Ltd.

image by Jarig Bakker, 28 October 2005

Humber Tugs Ltd., Immingham - red pennant, black diamond, white "S".
Source: Loughran (1995)
Jarig Bakker, 28 October 2005

Hunting & Son

Hunting & Son, Ltd. (Northern Petroleum Tank S.S. Co., Ltd., Field Tank S.S. Co., Ltd., Hunting Steamshiop Co., Ltd.) - houseflag: Red and White horizontal stripes; seven-point blue Star in center.
Sources: All about Ships and Shipping, 1938, 1959; Lloyd's Calendar 19599
Jarig Bakker, 17 October 2003

Hutchins Bros.

image by Ivan Sache, 20 March 2008

Lloyds Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of "G.W. Bowman" (#50, p. 39), a company based in Cardiff (Wales), as white with a red letter "H".
Ivan Sache, 12 March 2008 

J & P. Hutchison, Limited

image by Jarig Bakker

Source: Brown's Flags and Funnels [Wedge 1926]

J & P. Hutchison, Limited, Glasgow - vertical blue-white-red; on white a green thistle with red flower.
Jarig Bakker, 24 January 2005

See also: Moss Hutchinson Line, Ltd.