Additional information courtesy of Paul Clark

Technical

Official Number: 128752
Yard Number: 467
Completed: 1911
Gross Tonnage: 220
Net Tonnage: 85
Length: 116 ft
Breadth: 21.6 ft
Depth: 11.8 ft
Built: Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough
Engine: T.3-cyl by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough
Boiler: Richardsons, Westgarth & Co Ltd, Middlesbrough

History

30.3.1911: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough (Yd.No.467) for Morgan Watkin Howell, Milford Haven as GWENLLIAN.
5.1911: Completed.
17.5.1911: Registered at Milford (M70). Morgan Watkin Howell designated managing owner.
31.5.1911: Registered length amended to 117.4 feet.
8.1914: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (magnetic) (1-3pdr) (Ad.No.354). Ordered to proceed to Lowestoft calling Dover for charts. 13.11.1914: At Lowestoft, parent ship HALCYON.
23.1.1915: Arrived Devonport to fit out for Mediterranean.
29.1.1915: Sailed. Dardanelles Campaign (Sk. Robert M. Limbrick).
20.12.1915: Dardanelles (Gallipoli) evacuation completed. Redeployed to Alexandria *.
11.4.1918: Sold to Henry Carl Smethurst, John Wintringham Smethurst & William Wintringham, Grimsby. John Wintringham Smethurst designated managing owner. Based Egypt.
Post 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Grimsby.
3.1919: Sold to New Docks Steam Trawling Co (Fleetwood) Ltd, Fleetwood. Joseph A. Taylor designated manager.
24.3.1919: Milford registry closed.
27.3.1919: Registered at Fleetwood (FD102).
1919: Arrived Lune Deeps with Norwegian barque VIKAR of Drammen in tow, picked up off Irish Coast disabled by gales on passage from Canada and 22 days overdue.
1924: William W. Brierley designated manager.
2.2.1929: In dense fog stranded on rocks near Mull of Galloway. Set out a kedge anchor.
3.2.1929: Refloated about 4.00 am, shell plating in way of bunkers set up and making water. Proceeded to Stranraer under own power.
8.6.1930: In Wyre Channel, one of 23 trawlers inbound, a few hundred yards from lock pit found channel blocked by trawlers NELLIE BRADDOCK (FD175) and ERNA (FD158) aground on Tiger’s Tail. Swept by tide and also took the ground. Refloated on next tide and entered Wyre Dock.
11.11.1933: Fishing off Barra in company with steam trawler LUCIDA (FD20) arrested by HMS DOON for trawling in a prohibited area. Made off with boarding party onboard.
12.11.1933: Arrived Stornoway escorted by fishery cruiser MINNA.
13.11.1933: Released.
13.2.1934: At Lochmaddy, North Uist, Sheriff Court, Sk. Bert Jinks was fined £65 for illegal trawling and nets and gear ordered to be confiscated.
1939: Sold to The Clifton Steam Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood. Hulbert M. Bird designated manager.
11.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (P.No.FY.544) (Hire rate £55.0.0d/month).
1.1944: Minesweeping operations Humber area (A/Sk. Lieut George W. Alden DSC).
6.6.1944: Sk. Aldan awarded Bar to DSC for leadership, skill and devotion to duty in an important M/S operation 28.1.1944.
1. 1946: Returned to owner.
7.1946: Sold for breaking up. Fleetwood registry closed.

Note: * – Alexander Flemming, Deckhand, was one of three awarded the DSM for minesweeping operations off Palestine.

Click to enlarge images

HMT Gwenellian
Picture courtesy of The Imperial War Museum

S.T. Gwenllian FD102
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Gwenllian FD102
Picture courtesy of The James Cullen Collection

Changelog
21/12/2008: Page published. 5 revisions since then.
10/08/2014: Information updated.
23/03/2015: Picture added.
30/05/2016: Information updated.
12/05/2018: Removed FMHT watermark and updated information.
21/12/2020: Updated history.