 There can be little doubt that the loss of three of its largest and most prestigious vessels to enemy action [ "Aaro" and "Calypso" sunk ; "Eskimo" captured ] during a three-week period in the summer contributed greatly to the Wilson family's decision to sell the company.Though it kept the Wilson name (Ellerman's Wilson Line of Hull) and continued for several years, it never saw the same success, despite a brief revival in the 1950s, and was eventually closed in 1973 when the Ellerman company turned its focus elsewhere.From a background in iron importing, the focus was on steam shipping, still in its early stages and eventually saw the company become a prominent figure in modern steam shipping.