Additional information courtesy of Andy Hall

Technical

Official Number: 94025
Yard Number: 112
Completed: 1896
Yard Number: 112
Gross Tonnage: 118.86
Net Tonnage: 30.14
Length: 95.0 ft
Breadth: 19.9
Depth: 9.8 ft
Engine: C.2-cyl by Muir & Houston, Glasgow
Built: Mackie & Thomson Ltd, Govan

History

10.7.1896: Launched by Mackie & Thomson Ltd, Govan (Yd.No.112) for The Caithness Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Wick as REDWING.
8.1896: Completed as a liner/netter.
1896: Registered at Wick (WK607) (4/96). Daniel Wares Georgeson designated manager.
12.8.1896: Arrived Wick.
14.8.1896: Proceeded to sea for a trial trip in Wick Bay.
31.5.1897: At Aberdeen landed 103cwt of white fish.
9.1897: At Sunderland, fitted out as a steam trawler by Robert Thompson & Sons Ltd, Bridge Dockyard.
4.6.1898: Sold to Sunderland Steam Fishing Co Ltd, North Shields. Thomas Melrose, John Phillips (Kinnear & Co), North Shields & David Bell, Sunderland,designated managers.
5.9.1898: Sailed Tyne (Sk. Horn) for Wear, to be fitted with latest equipment for trawling.
25.9.1898: Landed first catch at Sunderland Fish Market.
7.10.1898: Wick registry closed.
10.1898: Registered at Sunderland (SD1).
5.6.1901: Reported that John Brown of the Aberdeen Steam Trawling & Fishing Co Ltd, Aberdeen has purchased the steam trawler FLEETWING (SD2) on behalf of John Walker and crew of the steam liner CRAGIEVAR (A782) for conversion to a liner and also the trawlers LAPWING (SD3) and REDWING for The Steam Herring Fleet Co. Ltd, Aberdeen. To be converted to a drifter.
29.6.1902: Sold to The Steam Herring Fleet Ltd, Aberdeen. John Kerr designated manager.
6.1901: Sunderland registry closed.
3.7.1901: Registered at Aberdeen (A425).
1901: At Aberdeen fitted out as a steam drifter.
6.5.1903: Arrived Aberdeen in tow of steam trawler TALLY HO (H522) having been picked up disabled with engine trouble.
3.8.1904: At Peterhead landed 60 cran of herring.
25.8.1904: At Aberdeen landed 50 cran of herring.
17.10.1904: Berthed in Lowestoft. At about 11.00pm, George Cameron (35), Peterhead, said good night to the rest of the crew and turned in. The following morning he could not be found onboard. Creepers were used to drag in the vicinity of the berth and sometime later his body was recovered from the water.
19.10.1904: At the inquest held in the Lowestoft Courthouse, evidence was taken from the Mate, who stated that the deceased was known to be a sleep walker. He thought that he had gone on deck to cool down, leaned on the rail and fallen overboard. A verdict of “Accidental Death” was recorded.
30.9.1907: Some 14 miles off Aberdeen, picked up steam liner CRUDEB BAY (A890) disabled with engine trouble and delivered Aberdeen.
5.6.1909: On arrival at Aberdeen reported that a crew member had fallen into the stokehold and suffered head injury. Transferred immediately to the Infirmary.
18.10.1910: Sailed Aberdeen for fishing grounds (Sk. James Rennie).
24.10.1910: In a severe gale off Hoy Head, Orkney, lost rudder and drifting disabled. Drifted for some fifteen hours before steam trawler HELLOS ((GY784) (Sk. Alfred Barker) responded to signals of distress. With difficulty connected and commenced tow to Aberdeen. Progress was slow due to weather until reaching Aberdeen Bay when the tow parted and the NE wind drove the trawler towards the shore. The HELLOS departed and on entering Aberdeen informed the authorities of the situation. The trawler was picked up by the steam trawler RUBISLAW (A907) which brought her clear into the Bay and stood by to await a tug.
24.10.1910: Arrived safely at Aberdeen under tow.
31.12.1912: Sold to John Alexander & David Ritchie & Sk. John Buthlay, Aberdeen. John Buthlay designated managing owner.
1.1.1914: Tonnage altered to 50.65n under provision of Merchant Shipping Act 1907.
8.1915: At Aberdeen fitted out as a steam trawler.
29.8.1915: Registered as a steam trawler.
29.5.1917: Requisitioned for Fishery Reserve.
12.7.1917: John Alexander Morrice Ritchie (31), eldest son of the late Alexander Ritchie, and of Mrs Ritchie, 28 Ferry Road. Torry, lost at sea. He was mate onboard H.M.Trawler GEORGE MILBURN (A634) (Ad.No.3301) which struck a mine of Dunmore, Co. Waterford. He was previously a member the crew of steam liner REDWING.
1919: Released.
4.10.1927: For Sale. The steam trawler REDWING at present laid in Aberdeen, will be exposed for sale, by public roup, within the Douglas Hotel, Market Street, Aberdeen, on Tuesday 18th October, 1927, at 12 o’clock noon. Length, 95ft.; breadth, 19.9ft; tonnage gross 118.86; winch, ‘Strath’ type, 1915 used only half-yearly. Low Upset Price £650. For further particulars of the vessel and arrangement as to inspection apply to Messrs. Peter & J. Johnstone, fish salesmen, Market Street or Messrs. A. C. Morrison & Richards, 256 Union Street, Aberdeen, the latter of whom will exhibit the conditions of sale.
11.11.1927: Sold to Sk. George Craig & Alexander Forbes Wood, Aberdeen. Alexander F. Wood designated managing owner.
1931: Sold to Sk. Ernest W. Mutton, Aberdeen. Ernest W. Mutton designated managing owner.
31.12.1932: Berthed at Maitlands Quay, Aberdeen outboard of the steam drifter POPPY (BCK175). Sk. Mutton while crossing to board his vessel, fell into a 6ft hole in the drifter’s deck, dislocating his shoulder.
4.4.1933: Arrived Aberdeen with nine crew of Lowestoft steam trawler EDITOR (LT92), picked up some 16 miles off Aberdeen after she had started to take in water and subsequently foundered in position 57.10N 1.30W.
14.11.1933: At Aberdeen Sheriff Court, Nathan William Smith, labourer, admitted having, on November 12th -13th, stolen twenty two lemon sole from the steam trawler then berthed at the Fish Market. With six previous convictions he was sentenced two months in prison.
2.11.1935: Responded to distress from steam trawler VICTORIA REGINA ((A590) disabled some 14 miles off Aberdeen with with boiler tube plate given out. Connected and delivered Aberdeen.
1936/37: Fishing from Fleetwood (Sk. Ernest Mutton)(Alex Keay managing agent). Selection of landings at Fleetwood.
10.1.1936: First landing at Fleetwood 36 boxes.
19.2.1936: Landed 69 boxes.
5.3.1936: Landed 46 boxes.
26.3.1936: Landed 69 boxes.
4.9.1936: Landed 55 boxes.
18.12.1936: Landed 70 boxes.
13.3.1937: Landed 40 boxes.
5.4.1937: Landed 62 boxes.
1937: Sold to Thos. W. Ward Ltd, Sheffield for breaking up at Preston.
10.6.1937: Arrived Preston from Fleetwood under own power.
7.3.1938: Aberdeen registry closed “Vessel broken up”.

Click to enlarge image

Rachael (background) Redwing (foreground)
Hercules (alongside)
Dania (outboard)
Picture courtesy of Bill Blow

Changelog
24/02/2010: Page published. Three updates since then.
29/01/2016: Picture added.
24/04/2018: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
29/10/2022: Updated history.