the crew were saved. While staying at a hotel in St Just, as he assessed the wreck, Reardon Smith became aware that the area was a potential source of investors as there was still much wealth in the area inherited from the fortunes made from Cornish mining. As a result, in 1912 he established the St Just Steamship Co Ltd, with capital of £90,000. The venture was well-supported. As the name Cornish City had already been bestowed on a second-hand purchase, the company's first ship was called Devon City. The company was later renamed the Reardon Smith Line in 1928 with a capital of £1,232,000. In 1913, Reardon Smith established the Great City Steamship Co Ltd with capital of £60,000, which was subsequently amalgamated with the St Just Steamship Company in 1917 and wound up. Reardon Smith's companies prospered, and by the outbreak of the First World War he owned nine tramp steamers, divided amongst five companies, with all engaged in the exporting of coal from south Wales. First World War In 1916, the Instow Steamship Co Ltd was merged with the St Just Steamship Co Ltd in 1916 and the name was disestablished. In the early years of the war his fleet continued to expand, with ships ordered just prior to the war being delivered in 1915. However, as the war continued and it became almost impossible to order new ships, Reardon Smith purchased second-hand vessels to continue his expansion and to replace his losses due to enemy action In 1916, Reardon Smith bought the Coniston Water Steamship Co Ltd and its only vessel the Coniston Water. Following the sinking of the ship by U-87 on 21 July 1917, it was wound up in 1918. A major purchase was that of eight ships of the London and Northern Steamship Co Ltd in early 1917. Although he had to pay a high price it was still worthwhile for as long as the war continued and in the immediate period afterwards the price of ships continued to increase. During the war, Reardon Smith was able to acquire a total of twelve more ships, but ten were lost. Post-war Wartime losses were initially replaced in 1919 when seven ships were acquired from the Swansea-based Letricheux & David Co and then in 1920–1921 by nine German vessels surrendered as war reparations which were purchased for £468,000. Immediately following the end of the war,