Beschreibung:

A HALF BLOCK BUILDER'S MODEL FOR S.S. MERANNIO (LATER PARITA) BUILT FOR Gledhill & Dishart BY GRAY OF HARTLEPOOL, 1881 the laminate hull carved with black painted topsides lacquered and lined decks and superstructure, plated fittings, including deck rails, winches, companionway etc, painted wooden ventilators, cutaway mast and funnel, the superstructure with open bridge with helm, fitted boats in davits, engine room light, covered hatches, and emergency steering gear, mounted in wooden display board -- 14 x 60in. (35.5 x 152.5cm.) An otherwise unremarkable tramp steamer, in 1939, she was Greek registered, re-named Parita and became part of the 'Aliyah Bet' campaign - illegal Jewish immigration to British Mandated Palatine. Chartered by a group of some 800 Jewish refugees and departing Marseilles in the middle of June, their original intention was to dock at Symrna, Turkey but they were turned away. So began a long meandering journey where the ship, looking for any port to take them, was rebuffed time and time again. After 11 weeks at sea, dehydrated, nearing starvation and losing patience, a group wrested control of the ship and, defying a tight British blockade, ran it up the beach at Tel Aviv in front of the Ritz Hotel on the 22nd August 1939. Although locals did what they could to help, the passengers were arrested and interned by the British. A few days later on 3rd September, War was declared.