Author Archives: Bill Johnson

S.T. Balmedie A113

Additional information courtesy of Andy Hall and David Slinger

Technical

Official Number: 123374
Yard Number: 146
Completed: 1906
Gross Tonnage: 204.66
Net Tonnage: 59.29
Length: 115.35 ft
Breadth: 21.85 ft
Depth: 12.10 ft
Built: Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen
Engine: T.3-cyl by Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen

History

1906: Launched by Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen (Yd.No.146) for The Balgownie Steam Trawl Fishing Co Ltd, Aberdeen as BALMEDIE.
10.1906: Completed.
29.12.1906: Registered at Aberdeen (A113). Andrew Lewis designated manager.
By 1912: Believed fishing out of/landing into Fleetwood.
3.09.1912: In heavy weather and SW strong gale, between The Smalls and Bardsey Island, sighted drifting Admiralty caisson which had broken away from tug MILEWATER (320grt/1888) about 20 miles NNE of The Smalls while on delivery voyage from the yard of Workman, Clark & Co Ltd, Belfast to Portsmouth. Closed and with great difficulty Sk. Andrew Smith managed manoeuvre tand get a line onboard to hold the caisson.
4.9.1912: At about 3.00am. the two man runner crew, exhausted by their experience, requested to be taken off the caisson and a boat transfer was effected with two members of the trawler crew replacing them (one named RILEY). Steam trawler WRENTHORPE (FD80) came on the scene and also got a line onboard and tow was commenced for Holyhead with HM cruiser BRISTOL escorting.
5.9.1912: Tow parted but reconnected.
7.9.1912: Arrived off Holyhead, transferred to tug MILEWATER and placed safely on the Government Buoy in the West Refuge Harbour.
14.11.1912: Salvage awards were made in the Admiralty Court in respect of services rendered to the Admiralty caisson in September. The caisson cost £16,000 to build. BALMEDIE was awarded £600 with a further £45 for the three men who rendered boat services. WRENTHORPE was awarded £530.
1.1.1914: Tonnage altered to 81.52net under provision of Merchant Shipping Act 1907.
8.1914: requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (Ad.No.350). Dardanelles campaign (Sk. George Reynolds RNR).
27.4.1915: During progress of the battle off Anzio Beach, berthed alongside at stern of hired Glasgow registered steamer IONIAN (8268grt/1901) which was light ship. Ionian turned propeller which cut into shell plating causing her to fill and sink alongside. All crew saved.
22.12.1915: Aberdeen registry closed “Ship lost at Dardanelles, April 1915”.

Changelog
18/08/2018: Page published.
31/07/2019: Information updated.

S.D/T. Paramount R193

Seasonal visitor
Additional material courtesy of Andy Hall, Barry Banham and Peter Bell

Technical

Official Number: 130026
Yard Number: 494
Completed: 1911
Gross Tonnage: 95
Net Tonnage: 43
Length: 87.0 ft
Breadth: 18.6 ft
Depth: 9.6 ft
Built: Cochrane Shipbuilders Ltd, Selby
Engine: T.3-cyl by Crabtree & Co Ltd, Gt. Yarmouth

History

Additional material courtesy of Andy Hall, Barry Banham and Peter Bell

26.8.1911: Launched by Cochrane Shipbuilders Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.494) for John Mitchell, Kessingland and R. Sillett, Lowestoft as PARAMOUNT.
24.5.1911: Registered at Lowestoft (LT1116).
25.5.1911: Completed. John Mitchell c/o Mitchell Bros, Lowestoft designated managing owner.
12.1914: Requisitioned for war service as a patrol boat and later minesweeper (1-6pdr HA) (Ad.No.1295). Based Ramsgate (Sk. Herbert W. McNeil RNR).
11.1916: With drifter PRESENT HELP (Ad.No.0 (LT1120) took into Ramsgate for examination a schooner which was proceeding up channel to the east of the Goodwins, onboard thirteen German Army officers and non-commissioned officers who had been fighting in the Camaroons.
C1916: Sk. E. Hemp RNR appointed CO.
18.3.1917: Four German destroyers shelled Margate, torpedoed and sank the Hull registered steamer GREYPOINT (894grt/1889) at anchor off Broadstairs, shelled Ramsgate and drifters, hitting PARAMOUNT in several places and severely injuring the skipper and two hands.
10.1917 – 3.1919: Employed as a minesweeper with ASM137.
24.11.1917: In the English Channel off Ramsgate, U.boat (U48) (Kapitanleutnant Karl Edeling) fouled the A/S nets laid to the north of the Goodwins and at about 3.00am. drifted onto the bank. The U.boat was lightened in anticipation of refloating. At daybreak leaving Ramsgate in company with the drifters MAJESTY (Ad.No.1292) (LT66) and PRESENT HELP, proceeding north sighted the stationary U-boat. Closing, they opened fire with their 6pdrs and the fire was returned by the U48 with her superior weaponry, inflicting some damage to PRESENT HELP. They were joined by drifters ACCEPTABLE (Ad.No.1290) (LT1291) FEASIBLE (Ad.No.221) (LT1191) and LORD CLAUD HAMILTON (Ad.No.) (LT1047 ) and the destroyer HMS GYPSY (‘C’ class) which engaged the U48 with her 12pdr scoring thirteen hits. The encounter was brief and escape impossible, Kapitanleutnant Edeling ordered timed scuttling charges to be placed fore and aft and surrendered. The U-boat blew up and with 19 dead including the CO, the 17 survivors were landed at Ramsgate.
Post 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Lowestoft.
21.2.1920: Sold to Ramsgate Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Ramsgate.
12.3.1920: Lowestoft registry closed.
3.1920: Registered at Ramsgate (R193). Thomas W. Chapman designated manager.
15.4.1921: Entered Ramsgate with a live mine onboard, picked up in the trawl. Not allowed to proceed “through the bridge”, mine removed by coastguard and naval party and rendered safe.
1922 – 1928: Seasonal white fish trawling out of Milford and Fleetwood.
24.11.1924: Fishing off the French coast in the neighbourhood of Sangatte (Sk. Fred Setterfield); at Ramsgate landed 30 trunks of turbot valued at £750. Such a catch had never before been recorded at the port.
21.12.1925: Returned to Ramsgate at 2.00pm to land the cook, Robert Pedder who had been struck by the trawl warp when fishing the Sandette bank grounds. When the vessel was turning, Pedder was struck in the face inflicting a severe scalp wound. Charles Setterfield, son of the skipper, who holds a first aid certificate, was able to treat the injury and make him comfortable. At hospital the wound was stitched and Mr Pedder taken home.
26.10.1926: After fishing “The Falls” returned to Ramsgate with a good shot of herring and thirty sharks, caught in the nets when chasing the herring.
6.11.1926: Reported that Louis Martin, night watchman, saved the life of skipper Fred Setterfield when he fell into deep water in Ramsgate Harbour, holding him up until help arrived.
31.3.1927: At Fleetwood, loading a drum of carbide into the generator in the engine room, overflowed and fell into a pool of water on the plates. A large volume of gas was emitted and ignited by the stove and on reaching the drum, exploded. William Stone, deckhand who was cleaning the cabin was thrown violently against the side and was cut about the head. The deck of the cabin was torn up and dense smoke enveloped the ship. The alarm was raised and the fire was quickly extinguished by the Dock Fire Brigade.
19.7.1927: At Ramsgate landed a 144lb sturgeon. Auctioned on the market it made £3.14s and was displayed before being sent to London.
30.12.1927: Sailed Ramsgate for a trip at the back of the Goodwins (Sk. Fred Setterfield).
2.1.1928: Returning to Ramsgate in the early hours around high water, in a strong SSW wind and heavy sea, stranded on sandbank alongside East Pier, Ramsgate when there was a problem in the engineroom. Five members of the crew including the skipper were taken off by the Ramsgate lifeboat Prudential (Cox. T. Read) while three other crewmen climbed the mainmast and were pulled to safety on the pier. Ch Eng. William Surman (38) who was badly scalded by an explosion in the engine room was taken to hospital and detained. Later the body of Harry Often (26), 2nd Eng. was washed ashore on Ramsgate sands. At low water, Ramsgate Fire Brigade de-watered the ship and 200 boxes of fish were recovered. Subsequently refloated and taken in to the harbour for survey and repair.
12.3.1928: On the afternoon tide, sailed for “the West’ard” (Padstow, Milford and Fleetwood) (Sk. Fred Setterfield) after repair and refurbishment following the January incident.
1928-1939: Seasonal white fish trawling out of Padstow, Milford and Fleetwood. Harry Eastoe Rees, Milford managing agent.
31.11.1928: Off Ramsgate, Arthur Medhurst (26), Third hand, fell overboard and drowned.
1932: Alfred H. Lanfear Jnr designated manager.
16. 2.1935: Arrived Milford with drifter/trawler MILL o’ BUCKIE (R129) in tow. MILL o’ BUCKIE had been driven ashore in a strong gale in late January on the west side of Rosslare Harbour, Co Waterford, resting on hard ground with two blades of propeller partially broken and leaking in the stokehold. After salvage, hired to tow her back to Milford for temporary repairs prior to returning to Ramsgate.
24.11.1938: Put into Dover with a leaking boiler tube.
15.11.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeping drifter (P.No.FY954) (Hire rate £25.10.0d/month).
12.1939 – 2.1940: Fitting out as a minesweeper, Swansea Command (Sk. E.C.E. Blowers RNR).
21.1.1940: Took off crew, sixty in number – twenty injured, of Liverpool registered steamer PROTESILAUS (9577grt/1910) (Alfred Henry Dennistoun Shand, Master), Liverpool for Barry in ballast, which had been mined at 9.36am about six miles WSW of Mumbles Head, Bristol Channel (mines laid off Rotherslade 5.12.1939 by U.boat (U28)). Survivors landed at Swansea and vessel towed into Swansea Bay and beached off Mumbles Light House. Later broke in two.
10.1941 – 3.1942: Refitting at Gloucester.
From 2.1942: Sk. C. E. Blowers RNR, CO.
16.12.1943: Sk. Frederick William White RNR, CO.
2.1944 – 3.1944: Listed as Special Service Vessel, Milford Command (but still at Swansea).
4.1944 – 3.1945: Plymouth Command.
4. – 8.1944: Listed at Milford.
9.1944 – 2.1945: Listed at Portsmouth.
4.1945 – 9.1945: Portsmouth Command.
1945: Sold to Harry Eastoe Rees, Milford Haven.
1945: Sold to Drifter Trawlers Ltd, Milford Haven. Harry Eastoe Rees designated manager.
19.1.1946: Returned to owners at Milford Haven.
2.1946 – 5.1949: Fishing out of Ramsgate.
12.1946: Entered Ramsgate with a live mine onboard, picked up in the trawl.
07.1950: Laid up at Milford Haven.
12.8.1950: Returned to service.
1955: Sold to Rees Shipbreaking Co Ltd, Llanelli for breaking up.
3.8.1955: Sailed Milford for Llanelli under own power.
8.1955: Ramsgate registry closed. Last Ramsgate registered steam trawler.

Click to enlarge images

S.D/T. Paramount R193

S.D/T. Paramount R193
Picture from the Internet

S.D/T. Mill o' Buckie R129

S.D/T. Mill o’ Buckie R129
Picture from The Internet

Changelog
02/07/2018: Page published.
12/07/2018: Updated information.
18/07/2018: Added image.

S.D/T. Provider R19

Additional information courtesy of Andy Hall and Barry Banham

Technical

Official Number: 125533
Yard Number: ?
Completed: 1907
Gross Tonnage: 98.8
Net Tonnage: 21.46
Length: 86.7 ft
Breadth: 18.7 ft
Depth: 8.6 ft
Built: Robert Cock & Sons Ltd, Appledore
Engine: C.2-cyl by Wm Burrell & Co, Southtown, Gt. Yarmouth
Boiler: Riley Brothers (Boilermakers) Ltd, Stockton on Tees

History

24.09.1907: Launched by Mrs W. Burrell, wife of the owner, at Robert Cock & Sons Ltd, Appledore (Yd.No.?) for Wm. Burrell, Southtown, Gt. Yarmouth as PROVIDER.
6.10.1907: Sailed Appledore for Gt. Yarmouth in tow of the London tug CHALLENGE (137grt/1884) for machinery installation.
8.2.1908: On completion of machinery fit, registered at Yarmouth (YH999). Wm. Burrell designated managing owner.
6.8.1909: Shetland. When proceeding to Mr Wm. Lowe’s station to discharge a shot of herring, in a very strong westerly breeze and a strong sea running, too little allowance was made for the force of the wind and sea when “taking’ the stage and collided with considerable force, damaging the structure which required costly repairs.
11.10.1913: At about 11.00am. stranded on Yarmouth South Beach, north of the harbour entrance whilst making for the harbour in a SE gale. All crew taken off by breeches buoy by Gorleston Rocket Brigade.
12.10.1913: Refloated and taken into Yarmouth by the paddle tugs YARE (104grt/1883) and KING EDWARD VII (138grt/1901) with tug GEORGE JEWSON (57grt/1908) breasted up and pumping out.
1.1.1914: Tonnage altered to 35.39 net under provision of Merchant Shipping Act 1907
1914: Requisitioned for war service as an A/S net drifter (1-3pdr HA) (Ad.No.1904).
12.2.1916: Sold to C. & R. Harvey Ltd, Lowestoft. Deployed to Aegean Sea.
14.3.1916: Yarmouth registry closed.
15.3.1916: Registered at Lowestoft (LT42). Charles Harvey, Kessingland designated manager.
Post 12 3.1919: Returned to owner at Lowestoft.
1925 -1929: Seasonal trawling out of Padstow and Milford with occasional landings at Fleetwood. William H. Kerr, Milford managing agent.
18.2.1926: Off Portland on passage to Padstow grounds, shipped a heavy sea which damaged the forecastle companionway hatch. Put into Brixham for repairs.
20.2.1926: Sailed Brixham for Padstow.
1928: Landing into Fleetwood.
8.6.1928: Typical landing 43 boxes.
17.2.1930: Sold to Stanley Rowden, Ramsgate.
28.3.1930: Lowestoft registry closed. Registered at Ramsgate (R19). Stanley Rowden designated managing owner.
1935 – 1938: Seasonal trawling out of Milford with occasional landings at Fleetwood. William H. Kerr, Milford managing agent.
23.12.1937: At Ramsgate landed a conger eel, 10ft long weighing 74lbs.
31.5.1940: At Dunkirk. Deckhand Reginald Penn (19), Ramsgate, drowned when boat he was working, carrying soldiers from the beach to off laying ships, capsized.
1940 – 1942: Seasonal trawling out of Milford Haven. William H. Kerr, Milford managing agent.
1943 – 1944: Fishing out of Milford Haven. William H. Kerr managing agent.
6.1945: Returned to fish out of Ramsgate.
30.11.1945: In the Channel, reported still having trouble with aeroplane parts caught in the trawl, mostly petrol tanks but also a set of bomb doors.
1.1946: At Ramsgate established a new record landing of 1,000 stone of mixed fish from a two day trip.
8.10.1946: When outwards from Ramsgate to the fishing grounds sighted six crates floating, managed to haul them onboard and returned to harbour. Crates contained water heaters part of the cargo of the New Orleans registered Liberty ship HELENA MODJESKA (7176grt/1944) which had stranded on the Goodwins on 12.9.1946 and later broke in two.
8.1948: Due to the increase in price of bunker coal, the only steam trawler operating out of Ramsgate (the other steam trawler TREASURE (R37) laid up – heavier on coal consumption).
11.10.1947: Off Ramsgate (Sk. George Foster), picked up the 24ft yacht ESPERANZA, whose owner, John Summers (38), Exeter was taken ill the previous night; delivered Ramsgate. ESPERANZA was being sailed single handed to British Guiana.
1950: Sold to Ronald Fielding, Leeds.
1952: Broken up at Ramsgate. Ramsgate registry closed. Last steam trawler to work out of Ramsgate.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Provider R19

S.T. Provider R19
Picture courtesy of The Andy Hall Collection

Changelog
15/06/2018: Page published.
08/03/2019: Image added.
17/07/2021: Updated history.