Technical
Official Number: 108531
Yard Number: 554
Completed: 1897
Gross Tonnage: 144
Net Tonnage: 42
Length: 106 ft
Breadth: 20.6 ft
Depth: 11 ft
Engine: 300ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by N.E. Marine Engineering Co Ltd, Sunderland
Built: Edward Bros, North Shields
History
16.6.1897: Launched by Edwards Bros, North Shields (Yd.No.554) for Kelsall Brothers & Beeching Ltd, Manchester as QUAIL.
21.7.1897: Registered at Fleetwood (FD179). John E. A. Kelsall & George Beeching, Fleetwood appointed managers.
7.1897: Completed.
24.3.1899: Fleetwood registry closed. Transferred to Hull.
12.4.1899: Registered at Hull (H236).
19.8.1907: Sailed Hull at 1.50pm. to join the K&B ‘Gamecock’ fleet in the North (Sk. William Lewis); nine hands all told. The weather was fine and clear but for some unexplained cause got eastward of her intended course and 40 minutes after leaving Hull stranded on the Foul Holme sand immediately opposite Killinghome lighthouses.
20.8.1907: At 1.30am. came afloat, instead of proceeding to sea went to anchor in the main channel with Killingholme lights in line bearing NW1/2W, distance about 11/4 miles, and Newsham Booth light bearing SWbyS distance 1/2 mile. This position was right in the middle of the fairway. Vessel exhibited lights as required by Humber Trinity House Rule No.3. and at about 2.40am. an anchor watch was set; the watch was taken John William Dilbo (16), deckhand and later by the third hand, James Nicolini. At about 3.00am. the trawler was run into by the Hull steamer DYNAMO (504grt/1884) (Capt Tom Mossop Clifford) outward from Hull for Antwerp, cargo general; no warning was given by the third hand who was alone on deck. The QUAIL was struck on the starboard quarter cutting into the deck some 2ft in way of the skipper’s berth. All crew succeeded in reaching the deck except the skipper, and second hand though the Ch Eng. experienced great difficulty in escaping from the cabin as it filled with water. After the collision the two ships remained in contact for a time and the crew of the QUAIL, except the skipper, second hand and third hand made their way onboard the DYNAMO. As the ships separated the third hand was seen hanging on the starboard cable of the DYNAMO and although an attempt was made to rescue him he fell into the water and was swept away. A boat was manned and pulled over to the QUAIL which was sinking fast to search for the skipper and second hand. On arrival cries were heard and the second hand was discovered in the cabin standing on the table, the door being held shut by water pressure. The skylight was smashed but being fixed there was no escape and the door could not be opened, however as the pressure equalised the second hand was able to make his escape, considerably injured. There seemed to be no doubt that the skipper, in his berth, was killed at the moment of impact. At about 3.30am. the QUAIL foundered and the DYNAMO left the scene for Hull with the seven survivors.
2.10.1907: At the Formal Investigation held at Hull (No.S.240), the Court found that the collision and loss of life were caused by (i) the QUAIL being anchored in the middle of a particularly dangerous part of the fairway (ii) Her lights being rendered difficult of identification, owing to the bright lights at the new Immingham Dock works (iii) The absence of a vigilant lookout on board the DYNAMO. The Court also found Mr. Tom Mossop Clifford, the master of the DYNAMO who was the only party to the inquiry belonging to that vessel in default, but under the peculiar circumstances of the case it refrained from dealing with his certificate. It, however, strongly impressed upon him the necessity of being more careful in future.
1907: Subsequently salvaged.
5.4.1908: Hull registry closed and vessel registered anew following repair and lengthening (H236). Returned to service.
4.1908: Repaired at Goole – including new wheelhouse and lengthened to 116.5 ft.
15.4.1908: Re-measured after lengthening 162g 61n.
8.9.1911: Registered office transferred to Hull. George Beeching, Hull & John E. A. Kelsall, London appointed managers.
11.1914: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (2-3pdrs) (Ad.No.645).
2.1915: Renamed QUAIL II. Based Portland.
23.6.1915: Foundered at 11.40 pm. about 7 miles SW from Portland Bill having been in collision with steam tug BULLDOG (72grt/1884).
11.11.1916: Hull registry closed “Total loss”.
Click to enlarge image
S.T. Quail H236
Picture courtesy of The Steve Farrow Collection
Changelog
03/01/2009: Page published. 4 revisions since then.
28/10/2014: Picture added.
04/02/2016: Information updated.
09/09/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.