Additional information courtesy of Christine Simm and David Slinger
Technical
Official Number: 139220
Yard Number: 280
Completed: 1917
Gross Tonnage: 270
Net Tonnage: 105.23
Length: 128.8 ft
Breadth: 23.0 ft
Depth: 12.6 ft
Built: Dundee Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Dundee
Engine: T.3-cyl by W. Beardmore & Co Ltd, Glasgow
History
9.1917: Completed by Dundee Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Dundee (Yd.No.280) for J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood as ANIDA.
24.9.1917: Registered (Part I & IV) at Fleetwood. O.N.139220 (FD299).
27.9.1917: Sold to The Devon Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood. James A. Robertson, designated manager. Requisitioned by The Admiralty from the builders and fitted out as an anti submarine trawler (1-12pdr and hydrophone) (Ad.No.3059). Based Aegean Sea.
5.12.1918: Sold to J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood. James A. Robertson designated manager.
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Fleetwood.
10.12.1922: On the dock at Fleetwood, William Fox, fireman in the trawler was seen by Hornby Leadbetter, watchman, staggering about around a mooring ring on the dockside. When asked what he was doing he said that he had lost his ship. Leadbetter told him that the trawler had shifted berth and directed him to where she was tied up also telling him to keep clear of the dock edge. Fox was last seen walking between two sheds as though leaving the dock.
14.12.1922: At about 4.00pm, William Schofield, prawn fisherman, 72 Adelaide Street, Fleetwood, found the body of Fox about 20 yards from the water’s edge, on the east side of the Wyre Channel the inner side of No.4 black buoy. He informed the master of the tug, which was in the Channel and the body was conveyed ashore.
16.12.1922: At the inquest held at the Bourne Arms Hotel, Knott End, concerning the death of William Fox, the Lancaster Coroner, Mr Neville Holden, questioned the witnesses at length about the drinking habits of the Fleetwood fishermen in an effort to understand more fully the circumstances of the death. It seemed obvious that the deceased was in a drunken state when he disappeared and must have fallen into the dock. Verdict, “Found Drowned.”
15.10.1924: Sailed Fleetwood for St Kilda grounds (Sk. John Robson); thirteen crew all told.
27.10.1925: Homeward with only a moderate catch, stopped at the Klondyke ground for a last haul.
29.10.1924: Making for the North Channel with a fresh westerly breeze and frequent heavy rain showers reducing visibility, at 4.50am when off the Rhinns of Islay, stranded on a partially submerged part of Frenchman’s Rocks, about a mile and a half from Orsay Light. Close to high water and owing to the cross currents, there were big seas breaking over the rocks causing heavy surf. The order was given to launch the lifeboat and the crew ordered into it, however, after the 2nd engineer got in and the mate threw the apprentice in, two heavy seas swept the trawler carrying the crew and everything on deck overboard. In the water close to the lifeboat was the mate and after freeing himself from the net, his shouts for help resulted in him being able to grab the gunwale of the lifeboat and he was hauled onboard. A cry for help was heard but in the darkness and heavy surf they were unable to do anything, their task being to keep the boat head to sea to prevent being swamped. It took all their strength to keep the boat off the rocks and fortunately the tide which was making southward carried the boat round Orsay into Lochindaal. It was the intention to take the boat into Port Charlotte, but after going from a mile and a half to two miles, they saw a small cove in the rocks and also two men near the water’s edge who directed them to a safe landing; it was 8.30am when they landed. The survivors were taken to Wester Ellister farm, given food and dry clothing and later walked back to view the site of the stranding and observed that the trawler was breaking up and nothing further could be done. Later that day, eight of the islanders launched a boat and pulled to within 20 yards off the wreck, but owing to the surf could not get any closer. They searched every rock that was visible in the hope of finding survivors or bodies but nothing was discovered.
30.10.1924: Survivors taken by motor boat to Port Ellen where they started their journey back to Fleetwood by ferry and rail.
1.11.1924: Arrived Fleetwood on the 8.30am train.
26.11.1924: Fleetwood registry closed “ Vessel lost 29/10/24.”
(*Lost. All Fleetwood unless stated. Sk. John Robson, Warren Avenue North; Alexander B. Clarke, Bosun, Shakespear Road; George Southern, Chief engineer, 76 Blakiston Street; Patrick Nolan, 96 Dock Street, William Slater, Fishermen’s Mission, Jack Smith, Fraserburgh and Charles Davidson, Aughton Street, deckhands; Henry Morrice, cook, 1 Aughton Street; John Robinson, Fishermen’s Mission and Henry Walsh, firemen, 9 School Street, Blackburn. Survivors. Charles Hughan, Mate; Philip Rodgers, 2nd engineer and Robert Taylor, apprentice.)
Click to enlarge image
S.T. Anida FD229
Picture courtesy of The Osta Collection
Changelog
14/05/2012: Page published. 7 updates since then.
01/11/2019: Added an image.
16/05/2020: Updated information.
21/03/2023: Updated history.