Additional information courtesy of Douglas Paterson and Christine Simm
Technical
Official Number: 139794
Yard Number: 427
Completed: 1917
Gross Tonnage: 269.82
Net Tonnage: 105.79
Length: 121.7 ft
Breadth: 22.6 ft
Depth: 12.4 ft
Built: The John Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co, Aberdeen
Engine: T.3-cyl by W. Beardmore & Co Ltd, Glasgow
History
1917: Launched by The John Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co, Aberdeen (Yd. No.427) for Wetherly’s Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Aberdeen as GRACE WETHERLY.
3.1917: Completed. William R. Wetherly, manager.
19.3.1917: Registered at Aberdeen (A744).
3.1917: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-6pdr HA) (Ad.No.3337). Based Le Havre.
Post 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Aberdeen.
1.9.1920: At Aberdeen landed 112 crans of good quality mostly spent herring, prices ranged from 52s 6d to 66s 6d per cran.
27.9.1920: At Aberdeen landed 208 crans of herring with a big supply forward prices ranged from 39s to 49s per cran. 6.6.1923: At Fleetwood landed 86 boxes.
20.6.1923: At Fleetwood landed 90 boxes.
17.3.1924: At Aberdeen landed a good shot of 36 tons, but demand was not keen and prices were well below those of the previous week.
22.3.1924: Arrived Granton for bunker coal sailing the following day for fishing grounds.
13.6.1924 to 21.11.1926: Coaling at Burntisland prior to sailing for fishing grounds.
11.8.1924: Landed at North Shields.
13.7.1925: At Aberdeen along with twenty-nine trawlers and five steam liners landed an aggregate catch of 348 tons.
7.12.1926: At Aberdeen along with twenty-seven trawlers and two steam liners landed an aggregate catch of 276 tons. Demand was poor.
24.1.1927: Sold to Alexander Malcolm Morrice, Margaret Morrice, John Morrice, Mary Jane Morrice and George Dow Taylor, Aberdeen. Fitted out for lining.
2.8.1927: Registered at Aberdeen as MARGARET MORRICE (A744) ((BoT Minute No. M/RG10761/1927 dated 30.7.1927), Alexander Malcolm Morrice, designated managing owner.
12.8.1927: At Aberdeen still as GRACE WETHERLY, a liner, with four liners and thirty-eight trawlers landed an aggregate catch of 290 tons. Demand was fair.
28.9.1927: At Aberdeen as MARGARET MORRICE, a liner, with five liners and forty-two trawlers landed an aggregate catch of 275 tons. Demand was keen.
1928: Landing at Aberdeen.
26.3.1929: At Aberdeen with seven liners and thirty-seven trawlers landed an aggregate catch of 825 tons including 200 tons of Iceland fish from three Germans and 82 tons from one other.
30.9.1929: Tonnages altered to 268.41g 108.23n Certificate of survey at Aberdeen dated 28.9.1929,
4.12.1929: Berthed at the Fish Market in Aberdeen. Alex Morrice, 10 Ferryhill Terrace, a young motor driver’s assistant, was helping to land the catch. Morrice was engaged in guiding the baskets of fish from the ship to shore and back again, when the lashing for the span broke causing the gin to fall on his head inflicting two deep cuts. He was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and detained.
4.11.1930: At Aberdeen landed along with thirty-five trawlers a moderate supply of 230 tons. Demand was fairly keen.
29.4.1931: At Fleetwood landed 100 boxes.
27.4.1931: At Fleetwood “ … the MARGARET MORRICE, an Aberdeen liner, with 70 boxes of Iceland cod and 300 stone of halibut.”
6.10.1931: At Fleetwood landed 200 boxes, line caught fish.
1931-32: Landing irregularly at Fleetwood (Alex Keay, managing agent).
10.5.1932: At Aberdeen along with two liners and twenty-seven trawlers landed an aggregate catch of 340 tons including 180 tons of Iceland fish landed by three German trawlers.
13.9.1932: At Fleetwood sailed for fishing grounds after landing.
2.10.1933: At Aberdeen landed a splendid shot of 120 score halibut from Faroe.
5.9.1934: Sold to Andrew Walker King, Alexander King, George Walker, George Main and William Christie, Aberdeen. Landing at Aberdeen.
11.10.1934: Light landings at Aberdeen. Landed 50 boxes/150 score cod and ling.
6.11.1934: Registered at Aberdeen as YTHAN BRAES (A744) (Proposal to Change of Ship’s Name posted 10.10.1934.). Andrew Walker King designated managing owner.
15.4.1935: Landed 6 score halibut, 170 boxes/75 score.
15.10.1935: Moderate catches landed at Aberdeen. Landed 70 boxes/160 score.
25.1.1936: Moderate catches landed at Aberdeen. Landed 1 score halibut, 70 boxes, 40 score cod, 3 score skate.
14.7.1936: Landed 111/2 score large halibut, 30 boxes, 65 score cod & ling, £482 gross.
7.10.1936: Landed 40 score halibut, 125 boxes, 30 score cod, 18 score skate.
11.3.1937: Landed 140 boxes, 45 score cod.
11.8.1937: Berthed at Pocra Quay, Aberdeen for repairs. At about 10.00pm the watchman found the galley full of smoke. With the help of two men from the quayside he attempted to extinguish the fire with buckets of water. Shoreside, Mr E. C. Matheson Jnr, a butcher, saw the blaze and summoned the fire brigade, his timely action probably saved the trawler and a far more serious fire as she was berthed alongside the Aberdeen colliers BERRYDEN (506grt/1904) and TORQUAY (870grt/1914). It was some time before the seat of the fire could be accessed and considerable damage was done before the fire was extinguished by the Fire Brigade.
2.12.1937: Sold to Mrs Margaret Hay or King, Aberdeen. George Walker designated manager.
24.12.1937: Landed 2 score halibut, 140 boxes, 50 score cod, 30 score skate.
17.2.1938: Several vessels landed fair shots at Aberdeen. Landed 31/2 score halibut, 150 boxes, 35 score cod, 21/2 score skate.
24.1.1939 – 6.5.1939: Coaling trips from Aberdeen to Granton.
22.6.1939: From a three week trip landed a fine shot of line caught fish. 28 score halibut, 155 boxes smaller fish, 80 score cod, 55 score skate made £960 gross.
18.4.1941: Sold to National Fish Curing Co Ltd, Aberdeen.
19.8.1942: Requisitioned for war service as a water boat (fitted with portable tanks) (P.No.Y.7.41).
1944: Fitted out as a fuelling trawler (for refuelling diesel landing craft). Assigned Operation Neptune – Normandy landings.
23.5.1944: Assigned as a fuelling trawler to Force G.
3.7.1944: Operation Neptune ended.
2.1946: Returned to owners after restoration at Aberdeen (George A. Marnock, manager).
1946: Trawling/lining out of Aberdeen.
5.3.1947: With twelve other trawlers landed 415 tons. Control prices applied.
1950s: Seasonal white fish trawling from Fleetwood.
19.5.1952: On the Iceland grounds. A wireless message was received for Alex Ritchie, a fisherman onboard, in an effort to bring him to the bedside of his father who was dangerously ill at his home, 31 Sinclair Row. Aberdeen.
30.4.1953: At Aberdeen Sheriff Court, Ernest Ross, 106 Gaitside Braes, Aberdeen pleaded guilty to failing to sail in the trawler on 22 January and delaying departure. With a previous conviction he was fined £10.
18.1.1954: At Aberdeen Sheriff Court, John Foxcroft Mitchell, 31 Menzies Road, Aberdeen pleaded guilty to failing to sail in the trawler on 19 October 1953 and delaying departure. The matter was serious because the vessel, a liner, worked on a share basis. Mitchell had been drinking on the morning the vessel was due to sail and had several previous convictions. A fine of £10 was imposed with 35s expenses.
17.3.1958: Sailed Aberdeen for fishing grounds (Sk. Bert Scouller). About one and half hours after sailing the skipper was told that there had been some trouble amongst the crew and two men had been hurt. The trawler was immediately put about and on berthing at Point Law, William Gordon (38), 37 Bedford Avenue was taken to the Royal Infirmary for treatment to a head wound but was not detained. The other man, Rex Davidson, had a cut near his eye but refused treatment. The men said they had fallen; no action was taken.
2.1.1959: Sold to Peter & J. Johnstone Ltd, Aberdeen.
1960: Sold to BISCO (£3,100) and allocated to Shipbreaking Industries Ltd, Charlestown, Fife for breaking up (Contract No.79E).
7.7.1960: Sailed Aberdeen for Charlestown.
8.7.1960: Delivered Charlestown.
8.7.1960: Breaking commenced.
21.10.1960: Aberdeen registry closed “Vessel broken up. Advice received from owners and shipbreakers.”
Click to enlarge image
HMT Grace Wetherly
S.T. Ythan Braes A744
S.T. Ythan Braes A744
Changelog
16/11/2010: Page published. 2 updates since then.
16/08/2018: Picture added.
21/10/2018: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
02/09/2021: Removed incorrect image.
03/09/2021: Updated history and technical details.
02/10/2022: Added images.