SS Hopelyn was a merchant ship from Newcastle that became stranded and then wrecked on Scroby Sands[1] of the Norfolk coast on 17 October 1922.

[2] Hopelyn was a merchant steamship which was built in 1918 at Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd Sunderland, England[3] with the Yard Number 1041.

Hopelyn left Newcastle on 17 October 1922 with a cargo of 3,400 tons of coal[3] and a crew of twenty four plus the ship's cat called Tishy, bound for London.

The crew of 24 took shelter in the Bridge but after a short while had to move to the highest point of the ship's superstructure, namely the 12-foot square wireless room.

[2] Within one hour of the lifeboats return to Gorleston, the coxswain received word from the Caister coastguard that a makeshift flag had been hoisted from the funnel of the Hopelyn.

A second attempt was made with the result that the Kentwell was thrown violently against the hull of the Hopelyn causing serious damage to the lifeboat,[2] so much so that coxswain Fleming had to get his boat clear of the wreck and sands and return to shore.

It was now the morning of 21 October[2] and the Agnes Cross left her home port with a mixture of Lowestoft and Gorleston crewmen.

Quickly the crew of the ship left the wireless room and scrambled down ropes on to the motor lifeboat Agnes Cross.