Additional information courtesy of Gary Hicks Plymouth Merchant Ships, Christine Simm and David Buckley

Technical

Admiralty Number: 4205
Official Number: 144592
Yard Number: 447
Completed: 1918
As built: 360disp
Gross Tonnage: 276
Net Tonnage: 106
Length: 125.6 ft
Breadth: 23.4 ft
Depth: 12.6 ft
Built: J. Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co, Aberdeen
Engine: 480ihp T.3-cyl by Bellis & Morcom Ltd, Birmingham

History

10.1918: Launched by J. Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co, Aberdeen (Yd.No.447) (“Castle” class) for The Admiralty as WILLIAM HUMPHRIES (Ad.No.4205).
24.12.1918: Completed.
11.5.1920: Sold by auction at London (Baltic Exchange) to James Ritchie, Milford Haven.
8.6.1920: Registered at London (Part I) as WILLIAM HUMPHRIES O.N.1343592.
1921: Sold to Ivey Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Milford Haven. David G. Jones designated manager.
17.10.1921: Registered at London (Part IV) (LO533).
1923: Sold to James Ritchie, Milford Haven. James Ritchie designated managing owner.
7.4.1926: Sold to James Ritchie & William T. Davies, Hakin, Milford Haven. James Ritchie & William T. Davies designated managing owners.
21.8.1926: In collision with steam trawler CHARLES BOYES (LO334) whilst proceeding to lock out at Milford; sustained damage to stem.
12.10.1931: Outwards from Milford in dense fog, at about 6.00am. in collision with French crabber THEMSIS, 31grt; of Camaret anchored in the Haven about 400yds from the dock entrance; crabber foundered, all six crew picked up and returned to Milford.
15.1.1938: Returning from West Coast of Ireland grounds (Sk. James T. H. McDonald), in WNW gale and heavy seas, at about 12.45 a.m. in position 180 miles WSW from St. Ann’s Head lost propeller. Shipped very heavy seas and sent out distress, trawler WILLIAM DOWNES (LO530) responded but could not locate. Also in response to distress, at about 9.50 a.m. NEATH CASTLE (SA65) arrived and with difficulty, connected and set course for Milford.
17.1.1938: Delivered Milford Haven.
7.10.1938: Fishing in Dingle Bay (Sk. Albert Saunders) in squally weather with WNW winds and a heavy ground swell. At about 10.00am. responded to a request to stand by Milford trawler AVOLA (M249) disabled with rudder problem. Later asked to connect, two warps passed and tow commenced. Shortly after 10.00pm. informed that rudder was now working, warps recovered and stood by for nearly an hour as AVOLA skipper was satisfied all was well. Returned to grounds and continued to fish. Later awarded £525 salvage and £53.7.8d for damages.
27.5.1939: Reported disabled, picked up by Milford trawler MICHAEL GRIFFITH (LO529) and delivered Milford Haven.
4.8.1939: Sold to Saint Andrew’s Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull. Basil Arthur Parkes, Thornton-le-Fylde designated manager. Fishing from Fleetwood. 11.10.1939: In the early hours in very thick fog, inwards in the river Wyre (Sk. Charles Bridge), struck the loaded steam hopper LYTHAM (292grt/1894), berthed alongside the North Wall; backed off and proceeded to Wyre Dock. The LYTHAM, manned by watchman William Cass, who was unscathed, damaged and making water finally settled alongside the quay only to be struck again by another inbound trawler.
12.10.1929: Surveyed and no leakage found. LYTHAM discharged by crane and refloated.
14.11.1939: Sailed Fleetwood for West of Scotland grounds (Sk. Charles Horace Bridge); thirteen crew all told.
21.11.1939: Fishing 35m NW of Rathlin Island in company with steam trawlers CUIRASS (GY436) and SULBY (FD87). Between 8.30 – 9.30am. stopped by U-boat (U-33); crew abandoned in boat. Sunk by gunfire, five rounds from deck gun, in approx position 55.27N – 08.01W. Lifeboat believed last seen by a lifeboat from SULBY also sunk by U-33. Presumed boat foundered or men died of hyperthermia.
27.11.1939: Posted missing.
29.11.1939: Sk. Charles Bridge body washed up below Compass Hill, Canna. Buried on Canna.
1.12.1939: Body of William Jewell washed ashore at Loch Scavaig, near Portree, Skye and later that of Ernest Lee. Both buried in Cill Chriosd Churchyard, Broadford, Isle of Skye.
8.12.1939: Reported by steam trawler WESTLYN (FD8) fishing off the Western Isles that over two days they had recovered from the trawl two bodies and taken to Castlebay, Barra for identification. Bodies identified as those of James Gordon and William Wright, both buried in Cuier Parish Church Cemetery, Isle of Barra.
9.12.1938. Body of Daniel Sturman washed ashore near Portree, Skye. Buried in Portree Cemetery, Isle of Skye.
27.1.1940: London registry closed “Vessel sunk by enemy action”. The twelfth steam trawler out of Fleetwood to be lost by enemy action since the start of the war and the sixth owned by BDSF&I Co Ltd, Fleetwood.

Crew: All Fleetwood unless noted. Sk. Charles Horace Bridge (38), Westgate; John Nolan (29), Balmoral Terrace, 2nd hand; James Arthur
Kaye (26), Poulton Road, 3rd hand; Ernest Elijah Lee Thurling, served as Ernest Elijah Lee (38), 47 Borrowdale Avenue, Ch. Eng; William Arnold Jewell (48), 45 Hamlet Road, 2nd Eng; deckhands, Arthur Edward Hardingham (33), Addison Road; M. Kuberski (18) (Polish national), Seamen’s Mission; George Buller Spillings (27), Back Poulton Street; Thomas Henry Wilson (24), Ormerod Street, Thornton; Daniel Sturman (36), 4 Ash Street; firemen/trimmers, James Gordon (18) Cambridge Road; William Wright (23), 35 St. Hellier’s Road, Blackpool; cook, William George Thacker (34), Milton Street.

(William Humphries, Landsman (prest), age 21, b. Carnarvon, North Wales – VICTORY (SB783))

Click to enlarge images

HMT William Humphries
Picture from the Internet

Gravestone on Canna
Picture from the Internet

William Jewell grave,
Cill Chriosd Churchyard, Broadford, Isle of Skye.

Ernest Lee
Cill Chriosd Churchyard, Broadford, Isle of Skye

Daniel Sturman
Portree Cenetary

S.T. William Humphries LO533
Picture courtesy of The David Buckley Collection

Changelog
08/01/2009: Page published. 5 updates since then.
04/09/2015: Information updated.
06/04/2020: Information updated.
04/08/2022: Added an image.
06/08/2022: Added an image.
07/08/2022: Updated history.
09/08/2022: Added images.