Additional information courtesy of Andy Hall and Maggie Law Maritime Museum

Technical

Official Number: 106724
Yard Number: 530
Completed: 1896
Gross Tonnage: 154
Net Tonnage: 42
Length: 106 ft
Breadth: 20.6 ft
Depth: 10.9 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by N.E. Marine Engineering Co Ltd, Sunderland
Built: Edwards Bros, North Shields

History

7.11.1896: Launched by Edwards Brothers, North Shields (Yd.No.530) for Southern Steam Trawling Co Ltd (64/64), Waterford, Co. Waterford (Cornelius C. Morley, Milford Haven) as LUCERNE.
12.1896: Completed for James Herbert Marr (64/64), Hull. James Herbert Marr designated managing owner.
9.12.1896: Registered at Hull (H339).
1898: Fishing from Fleetwood.
29.5.1902: Transferred to the newly formed company J. Marr & Son Ltd (64/64), Fleetwood. James H. Marr designated manager.
11.10.1902: Outward for fishing grounds, off Mull of Galloway, in collision with Carnarvon steam coaster VAYNOL (233grt/1892), Glasgow for Port Dinorwic in ballast, which subsequently foundered. Crew picked up and landed at Douglas, IoM.
5.7.1903: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Williams Deacon’s Bank Ltd, London (A).
24.5.1905: Hull registry closed.
25.5.1905: Registered at Fleetwood (FD34).
13.11.1911: Homeward from SW grounds crossing Cardigan Bay in an easing SW gale with heavy seas running (Sk. R. Wright). In the early hours sighted a sailing vessel with signals of distress. Closed and found the Bridgwater ketch GOOD TEMPLAR (63n/1881) (George Creemer, master) on passage Liverpool to Bridgwater with coals for Bridgwater Gas Company, disabled at the mercy of the sea and drifting before the gale, with wheel shelter and wheel carried away, port bulwarks and boat badly damaged, sails torn. With great seamanship Sk. Wright manoeuvred to provide a lee as close to the ketch as possible and launched the boat manned by three volunteers. After a difficult passage the boat came alongside the ketch and took off the master and two crew. Stood by for a while but the ketch had settled and foundered, sinking stern first. Made for St. Tudwal’s Road, near Abersoch where the survivors were landed. Continued passage to Fleetwood.
2.1912: Robert Robson, 2nd Hand, Joseph Robert Scott, Bosun, James Cowell, deckhand awarded BoT Sea Gallantry Medals (Silver) for their part in the rescue of the crew of the GOOD TEMPLAR.
1.1.1914: Tonnage altered to 60.32net under provision of Merchant Shipping Act 1907.
3.4.1915: Sold to Robert Moon & Joseph Moon (64/64 joint owners), Aberdeen for £7,750.
3.4.1915: Mortgage (A) discharged.
5.4.1915: Robert Moon designated managing owner.
24.4.1915: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to North of Scotland & Town & County Bank Ltd, Aberdeen (B).
19.5.1915: Stopped by U-boat (U23) 50 miles NE by N from Rattray Head, crew took to boat; scuttled. Sk. Leadbetter and crew picked up by
Danish steamer URDA (698g/1890) and landed at Fraserburgh.
29.5.1915: Fleetwood registry closed “Sunk by enemy”.

(* Crew of Good Templar all Bridgwater – George Creemer, Master; Edward Thomas, AB; Walter Cornish, Cook. Lost – John Champion Jnr, Mate, washed overboard while on the wheel with the master when a very heavy sea struck the ketch at 1130pm on 12 November off the North Bishop, three miles due west from St. David’s Head, Pembrokeshire, carrying away the wheel shelter and the wheel. He could not be recovered.)

Changelog
26/12/2008: Page published. 3 updates since then.
07/10/2015: Information updated.
28/12/2019: Information updated.
29/12/2019: Information further updated.