Technical
Additional information courtesy of Geoff Davidson
Official Number: 127403
Yard Number: 194
Completed: 1907
Gross Tonnage: 226
Net Tonnage: 85
Length: 120 ft
Breadth: 21.6 ft
Depth: 11.4 ft
Built: Dundee Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Dundee
Engine: 71hp T.3-cyl by W. V. V. Lidgerwood, Glasgow

History

10.1907: Launched by Dundee Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Dundee (Yd.No.194) for Mrs Ann Harries, Neyland (managing owner) as HERO.
11.1907: Completed.
21.11.1907: Registered at Milford (M218).
1911: Sold to Neyland Steam Steam Trawling & Fishing Co, Neyland. Alexander Scott, Llanstadwel designated manager.
8.1914: Requisitioned for war service as a minelayer (1-6pdr HA) (Ad.No.156).
1917: Fitted out as a minesweeper. Based Dover.
31.1.1919: Sold to Noah Ashworth, Rowland Morris & Ernest Taylor, Fleetwood. Joseph A. Taylor designated manager.
12.3.1919: Waiting instructions whether required for Post-War Service (SS).
1919: Returned to owner.
16.7.1919: Milford registry closed.
18.7.1919: Registered at Fleetwood (FD227).
18.11.1919: Sold to The Clifton Steam Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood. Joseph A. Taylor designated manager.
1920: Returned after restoration and survey at Cowes.
1924: William W. Brierley designated manager.
23.2.1936: Sustained damage in collision in Wyre Channel with steam grab dredger ROSSALL (239grt/120) and steam trawler DINAS (FD63).
4.5.1939: At Fleetwood landed a sturgeon, 4ft 2inches long weighing 2 stone. Bought by Messrs Broughton & Co who had received an order for such a fish from the Royal Household. Despatched to London immediately to be put onboard the EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA (21,833grt/1913) to be served during their Majesties crossing of the Atlantic prior to the Royal Tour of Canada.
6.1940: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (P.No. FY1866) and renamed HEROINE (Hire rate £56.10.0d/month).
4.1944: Fitted out for smoke making (Esso) trawler and assigned to Operation Neptune – Normandy landings.
9.6.1944: Sailed Solent for Mulberry B with Group B2 as part of Convoy ETC6. Employed smoke making.
3.7.1944: Operation Neptune ended.
27.11.1944: Returned and reverted to HERO (FD227).
3.10.1945: Sold to John Yolland Jnr & Others, Milford Haven.
14.3.1946: Sold to William D. Uglow & Samuel F. Uglow, Milford Haven. William D. Uglow & Co designated managers.
1951: Sold to William James (Milford Haven) Ltd, Milford Haven. Hubert S. Smith designated manager.
1952: Sold to Yolland Brothers Ltd, Milford Haven. J. Yolland designated manager.
3.1953: Fishing off the Irish Coast (Sk. Lenny Brown). Developed boiler trouble and tow requested. CLOUGHSTONE (H374) (Sk. Bert Horst) connected and commenced tow to Milford.
17.3.1953: Delivered Milford.
18.5.1953: Fishing off the Smalls (Sk. C. Shearing). At about 8.00 a.m. hauling in dense fog 30 miles West of the Smalls Lighthouse run down by steamer RIVERCREST (7008g/1944) on passage Liverpool-Casablanca, and foundered. Eleven crew* picked up from water by RIVERCREST but one man died +. Crew landed at Milford.

* Sk. Charles Shearing; G. Stammer, Mate; G. Burder, Bosun; J. Owen, Third Hand; Chief Eng. A. Scales; 2nd Eng. R. Mallett; fireman J. Canavon; deckhands. G. Snelling & J. Harries; cook. R. Leckie.
+ fireman Arthur Thorne (65)

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Hero FD227
Picture courtesy of The John Stevenson Collection

Changelog
24/01/2009: Page published. 3 updates since then.
13/07/2017: Removed image and updated information.
05/01/2021: Updated history.