Category Archives: Lost Vessels

Vessels that have been lost

S.T. City of Dundee FD4

Technical

Official Number: 136887
Yard Number: 576
Completed: 1914
Gross Tonnage: 269
Net Tonnage: 107
Length: 125.3 ft
Breadth: 23.5 ft
Depth: 12.8 ft
Built: Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough
Engine: T.3-cyl by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough

History

27.4.1914: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough (Yd.No.576) for Fred Kelsall & Co Ltd, Fleetwood (Thomas F. Kelsall, manager) as CITY OF DUNDEE.
22.5.1914: Registered at Fleetwood (FD4).
5.1914: Completed.
1.6.1914: Landed at Fleetwood from maiden trip.
11.1914: Requisitioned for war service as an auxiliary patrol vessel (Ad.No.678). Based Dover.
15.9.1915: At 7.10 pm. foundered after collision with steamer PATROCLUS (5509grt/?) at the Folkestone Gate. Officer in Command Lieut. Albert J. Coles RNR and seven men saved, six by PATROCLUS and two by steamer MISTLEY (135grt/?) . Remainder of crew, Warrant Officer Telegraphist, RNR and six men, lost*.
28.9.1915: Fleetwood registry closed.

(Lost* – Ty/Warrant Telegraphist Ernest A. Sutton; Charles E. Freeman, 2nd Hand; Arthur Howe, 2nd Engineman; Thomas Baker & Thomas May, deckhands; William E. Hill, trimmer.)

(Note: “Lieut. A. J. Coles RNR and Lieut. A. Bean RNR “SEAWARD HO” rendered good Service on Folkestone Gate, when traffic route had to be diverted at a moment’s notice”.)

Click to enlarge image

S.T. City of Dundee FD4

S.T. City of Dundee FD4
Picture courtesy of The Bill Blow Collection

Changelog
18/05/2012: Page published. 5 revisions since then.
09/08/2014: Picture added.
03/11/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
05/12/2019: Updated information.

S.T. Bracklyn FD2

Technical

Official Number: 136888
Yard Number: 401
Completed: 1914
Gross Tonnage: 303
Net Tonnage: 122
Length: 125.8 ft
Breadth: 23.4 ft
Depth: 13.2 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl by J. Abernethy & Co, Aberdeen
Built: J. Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co, Aberdeen

History

22.4.1914: Launched by J. Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co, Aberdeen (Yd.No.401) for The Brooklyn Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood as BRACKLYN.
5.1914: Completed (Richard W. Mason, manager).
28.5.1914: Registered at Fleetwood (FD2).
12.1914: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (Ad.No.667).
28.3.1916: Bad weather, with other vessels ran ashore on Corton Beach, Gt. Yarmouth. Weather eased and towed off by tug LOWESTOFT (172grt/1898) assisted by Lowestoft lifeboat KENTWELL (Cox George Ayres).
1917: Thomas Cardwell appointed manager.
11.5.1917: Mined off Great Yarmouth.
21.5.1917: Fleetwood registry closed.

(MPK – Lieut Arthur E.L. Rudd; Ty/Sk. Archibald Radmore; Robert Bailey, 2nd Hand: John N. Saunders & Robert W. Mitchinson, Enginemen; William Colby, deck hand; Magnus Adamson & John T. Alden, trimmers; Percy M. Stace, trimmer/cook.)

Notes: On 28 March 1916 two sailing ships, two steamers and the minesweeper BRACKLYN went on Corton Beach, off Great Yarmouth, in bad weather. The Lowestoft lifeboat, KENTWELL, was launched but the weather was so bad that no crews could be found and it is doubtful if they could have been taken off because of the weather.
When the weather eased the KENTWELL was towed down to one of the schooners. When they arrived they found that the coastguards with their rocket apparatus had rescued all the crews with the exception of that from the ship nearest Hopton. The Gorleston lifeboat, MARK LANE, had got them. When they returned, George Ayers the 2nd Coxswain who was in charge, was asked to go out to the minesweeper. They went out and helped the tug LOWESTOFT to get her off the beach. Later in the year an award of £40 for salvage was received.
Having survived this it seems ironic that BRACKLYN was subsequently lost to a mine.

Changelog
18/05/2012: Page published. 5 updates since then.

S.T. Brookfield FD76

Technical

Official Number: 122943
Yard Number: 207
Completed: 1906
Gross Tonnage: 241
Net Tonnage: 71
Length: 130.0 ft
Breadth: 22.6 ft
Depth: 13.5 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl by Renfrew Bros & Co, Irvine
Boiler: A. F. Craig & Co Ltd, Paisley
Built: Ardrossan Dry Dock & Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Ardrossan

History

27.6.06: Launched by Ardrossan Dry Dock & Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Ardrossan (Yd.No.207) for Deep Sea Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood as BROOKFIELD.
3.9.1906: Mortgaged to Ardrossan Dry Dock & Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Ardrossan & George Milne, Glasgow, joint mortgagees (A).
6.9.1906: Registered at Fleetwood (FD76), Arthur Thomas Liver appointed as manager.
9.1906: Completed.
30.5.1907: Mortgage (A) discharged.
31.5.1907: Mortgaged to London City & Midland Bank Ltd, London (B).
5.3.1910: Mortgage (B) discharged.
3.1910: Sold to J. A. Steenken, Bremerhaven.
17.3.1910: Fleetwood registry closed.
3.1910: Registered at Bremerhaven as Friedrich Bolte (BX95).
1910: Lost.

Changelog
18/05/2012: Page published. 8 updates since then.

S.T. Belmont FD64

Additional material courtesy of Bill Blow

Technical

Official Number: 122939
Yard Number: 183
Completed: 1906
Gross Tonnage: 209
Net Tonnage: 54
Length: 117.5 ft
Breadth: 21.6 ft
Depth: 11.6 ft
Engine: 380ihp T.3-cyl by Gauldie, Gillespie & Co, Aberdeen
Boiler: A. & W. Dalglish, Pollockshaws, Glasgow
Built: Scott & Sons Ltd, Bowling

History

27.3.1906: Launched by Scott & Sons Ltd, Bowling (Yd.No.183) for the Double Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood as BELMONT.
4.5.1906: Registered at Fleetwood (FD64). Charles Henry Double appointed manager.
5.1906: Completed. Insured value £6,000.
21.5.1906: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Manchester & County Bank Ltd, Manchester with interest at 41/2% (A).
30.10.1906: Harry Melling, Preston designated manager.
18.11.1906: Leaving Fleetwood for fishing grounds suffered machinery problems and in freshening weather drove ashore on Pilling Sands. Repair/salvage team put onboard.
19.11.1906: Weather deteriorated to full WNW gale and vessel was swept by seas, rolling heavily and driving further across the sands. Fleetwood lifeboat MAUD PICKUP launched and with great difficulty in the shallow waters and gale force winds succeeded, after several attempts, in taking off all 32 men onboard. Subsequently salvage team returned onboard, vessel was lightened by removing bunkers and ice to carts and when complete, 100 paraffin cans placed under and at high water each day, working the propeller scoured a channel to bring her 3/4 mile to deeper water.
12.1906: In continuing heavy weather anchored with three anchors and cables and position maintained by steaming ahead whilst awaiting tug which could not approach for three days. Paddle tug/tender LUNE (252grt/1892) connected and safely delivered Fleetwood. Repaired and returned to service.
25.2.1907: Title changed to The Lune Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood.
26.5.1908: William Leadbetter appointed manager.
9.2.1909: Henry Melling appointed manager.
14.3.1911: In collision with steam trawler ROMULUS (FD128) in Wyre Channel when outwards for the fishing grounds.
1.5.1911: Damaged slipway cradle when quarter irons failed to position her keel on centre line aft when sueing; fell on port side.
28.12.1912: Mortgage (A) discharged.
1.1.1914: Tonnage altered to 81.43net under provision of Merchant Shipping Act 1907.
6.1915: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-6pdr HA) (Ad.No.3248).
10.12.1918: William Would appointed manager.
11.12.1918: Sold to William Would (64/64), Grimsby (managing owner).
14.12.1918: Fleetwood registry closed.
19.12.1918: Registered at Grimsby (GY1262).
1919: Returned to owner.
1.4.1920: Sold to The Woodbury Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Grimsby.
10.4.1920: Harold Arthur Jeffries appointed manager.
1.4.1920: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to William Would, Grimsby for the sum of £10,250 with interest at 5% (B).
16.11.1920: Mortgage (B) transferred to London Joint City & Midland Bank Ltd, London.
14.8.1922: Mortgage (B) discharged.
14.8.1922: Sold to William Would (64/64), Grimsby.
4.9.1922: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to London Joint City & Midland Bank Ltd, London (C).
13.11.1922: William Would appointed manager.
27.11.1923: Mortgagee restyled to Midland Bank Ltd.
20.2.1925: Sold by order of the mortgagee under mortgage (C) to Thomas Thorburn Irvine, Aberdeen.
3.4.1925: Thomas Thorburn Irvine appointed manager.
4.4.1925: Grimsby registry closed.
7.4.1925: Registered at Aberdeen (A101).
26.1.1928: Leaving Peterhead (Sk.James Sinkins), struck by heavy seas crossing the bar and drove ashore on Horseback Rocks, Peterhead. Lost propeller and holed; crew saved by life-saving brigade, before vessel rolled over on her beam ends. Declared a constructive total loss by the underwriters and put in the hands of a shipbreaker and broken up in situ.
17.3.1928: Aberdeen registry closed.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Belmont FD64

S.T. Belmont FD64
Picture courtesy of The Fred Baker Collection

S.T. Belmont FD64

S.T. Belmont FD64
Picture courtesy of The Cynthia Collection

S.T. Belmont FD64

S.T. Belmont FD64
Picture courtesy of The Alan Hirst “Dodds” collection

S.T. Belmont FD64

S.T. Belmont FD64
Picture courtesy of The Alan Hirst “Dodds” collection

S.T. Belmont FD64

S.T. Belmont FD64
Picture courtesy of The Cynthia Collection

Changelog
18/05/2012: Page published. 9 updates since then.
24/05/2015: Information updated and pictures added.
21/10/2017: Removed FMHT watermarks from images.
16/08/2019: Updated information.

S.T. Blaefell FD40

Additional information courtesy of Bill Blow and Mike Thompson

Technical

Official Number: 166657
Yard Number: 1239
Completed: 1942
Gross Tonnage: 380
Net Tonnage: 142
Length: 147.8 ft
Breadth: 25.1 ft
Depth: 13.2 ft
Engine: 650ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by Charles D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull
Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby

History
10.1.1941: Ordered. A/S trawler based on commercial GULFOSS.
11.7.1941: Keel laid.
8.10.1941: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.1239) (“Fish” class) for The Admiralty as BONITO (P.No.T231).
3.4.1942: Completed as a A/S trawler (1-12pdr HA/LA, 4-MG, ASDIC, DC).
09.04.1942: Commissioned. Mediterranean station.
1943: Armament increased by 3-20mm.
1946: Laid up at Rosyth on Disposal List (SORF, Rosyth).
20.5.1946: Sold to Consolidated Fisheries Ltd (64/64), Grimsby for the sum of £18,857. Converted to steam trawler at a cost of £29,725. (Total £48,582).
4.2.1947: Registered at Grimsby as BLAEFELL (GY456). O.N.166657. 650ihp.
4.2.1947: Thomas Rowan Ronald appointed manager.
11.3.1947: Sir John Denton Marsden, Bart appointed manager.
22.4.1947: First trip.
31.12.1954: Sold to The Clifton Steam Trawlers Ltd (64/64), Fleetwood.
5.1.1955: Grimsby registry closed.
5.1.1955: John ? Channock, Cleveleys appointed manager.
6.1.1955: Registered at Fleetwood (FD40).
28.6.1956: Company taken over by Boston Deep Sea Fisheries Ltd, Fleetwood. (Fred Parkes, Blackpool, manager).
5.9.1956: Sold to B. Gelcer & Co (Proprietary) Ltd, Cape Town.
1956: Fleetwood registry closed.
1956: Registered at Cape Town (CTA387).
12.1956: Registered at Cape Town as BENJAMIN GELCER (CTA387).
Pre 1966: Company sold to Irvin & Johnson Ltd, Cape Town, who became managers.
2.1967: Stripped of all usable parts and non-ferrous metal and scuttled off Cape Town. Cape Town registry closed.

Click to enlarge image

HMT Bonito

HMT Bonito
Picture reproduced under IWM Non-Commercial Licence

S.T. Blaefell GY456

S.T. Blaefell GY456
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection

Changelog
18/05/2012: Page published. 9 updates since then.
15/10/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
24/08/2019: Updated information.