Technical

Official Number: 141963
Yard Number: 202
Completed: 1919
Gross Tonnage: 275
Net Tonnage: 120
Length: 125.4 ft
Breadth: 23.4 ft
Depth: 12.6 ft
Engine: 89hp T.3-cyl and boiler by R. & W. Hawthorn, Leslie & Co Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne
Built: C. Rennoldson & Co, South Shields

History

17.2.1919: Launched by C. Rennoldson & Co, South Shields (Yd.No.202) (“Castle” class) for The Admiralty as JAMES GILL.
1919: Sold to Société Anonyme “Delta”. Ostend (J. H. Nierinck, manager)
8.1919: Completed. Registered at Ostend as PIERRE FRANCOIS DESWARTE (O207).
9.1922: Sold to Jules H. Nierinck, Blackpool (managing owner).
10.1922: Ostend registry closed.
5.10.1922: Registered at Fleetwood as OUR MONICA (FD413).
9.10.1924: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Grimsby (Fred Parkes, Wyberton, manager).
8.6.1929: Sold to McRae Steam Trawling Co, Milford Haven (John McR. Knight manager).
14.6.1929: Fleetwood registry closed.
18.6.1929: Registered at Milford (M17).
22.7.1929: Registered at Milford as HELEN McRAE (M17).
1.8.1929: First landing at Milford.
1929: Sold to John McR. Knight, Milford Haven (managing owner).
23.11.1936: Sold to George Knight, James Yeandle, George T. Kelway, Milford & Ivor J. Powell, Neath (Harry Easto Rees, manager).
25.11.1936: Sold to Milford Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Milford Haven (Harry Eastoe Rees, manager).
12.1936: Registered at Milford as MILFORD DUCHESS (M17).
1.1.1937: First landing at Milford.
9.9.1938: James Carpenter Ward appointed manager.
28.8.1939: Last landing before requisition.
31.8.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (Hire rate £85.18.9d/month). Converted by Philip & Son Ltd, Dartmouth (1-12pdr) (P.No. FY.613).
1.1.1941: Based at Portsmouth (Ty/Lieut. R.P. Drane RNVR).
6.1941: At Portsmouth with M/S Group 55 (Senior Officer – Acting Ty/Lieut Cdr R. P. Drane RNVR).
8.12.1944: Returned to owner at Milford.
3.1945: Completed Special following restoration at Milford.
27.3.1945: First Post War landing at Milford.
2.4.1948: Last landing at Milford.
4.1948 Sold to Dinas Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood.
16.4.1948: Milford registry closed.
4.1948: Registered at Fleetwood as DINAS (2) (FD268).
6.1954: Sold to Hammond Lane Foundry Ltd, Dublin for breaking up.
6.1954: Arrived Dublin from Fleetwood under own power. Fleetwood registry closed.

(James Gill, AB (volunteer), age 42, b. Poole, Dorset – VICTORY (SB637))

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Milford Duchess M17
Picture courtesy of Greenday (TPF)

S.T. Dinas FD268
Picture © Peter Brady

S.T. Dinas FD268
Picture courtesy of the JJ collection

Changelog
15/01/2009: Page published. 5 updates since then.