Category Archives: Lost Vessels

Vessels that have been lost

S.T. Rego GY1239

Technical

Official Number: 113239
Yard Number: 8
Completed: 1902
Gross Tonnage: 177
Net Tonnage: 48
Length: 102.5 ft
Breadth: 21.0 ft
Depth: 11.1 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by Earle’s Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Hull

History

1902: Launched by George Cooper, Hull (Yd.No.8) for George F. Sleight, Grimsby as REGO.
2.2.1903: Registered at Grimsby Part IV (GY1239). George F. Sleight designated managing owner.
2.1903: Completed.
12.2.1903: Registered at Grimsby Part I – O.N.113239.
Pre 1914: Fishing out of Fleetwood.
28.9.1914: At Fleetwood, landed an old mine casing trawled up off the Firth of Clyde.
23.9.1916: On a North Sea trip. When some 40 miles SEbyE of Spurn Light vessel stopped by U-boat (UC16). Crew abandoned in boat and sunk by gunfire.
18.10.1916: Grimsby registry closed “Sunk by a submarine”.

Changelog
12/12/2017: Page published.

S.T. Kestrel GY831

Additional information courtesy of Bill Blow
Technical

Official Number: 109817
Yard Number: 216
Completed: 1898
Gross Tonnage: 181
Net Tonnage: 65
Length: 109.1
Breadth: 21.0
Depth: 11.3 ft
Built: Cochrane & Cooper Ltd, Beverley
Engine: T.3-cyl by Charles D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull

History

21.7.1898: Launched by Cochrane & Cooper Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.216) for Thomas Baskcomb, Grimsby as KESTREL.
12.9.1898: Completed.
13.9.1898: Registered at Grimsby (GY831). Thomas Baskcomb designated managing owner. Later fishing out of Fleetwood.
1.1911: Sold to Alick Black, Grimsby. Alick Black designated managing owner.
3.12.1912: Sold to Alfred Bannister, Grimsby. Alfred Bannister designated managing owner.
1.1.1914: Tonnage altered to 74 net under provision of Merchant Shipping Act 1907.
17.3.1917: When some 20 miles E by S of Longstone Light, stopped by U-boat (UC50). Crew abandoned in boat and vessel sunk by gunfire. All crew saved.
22.3.1917: Grimsby registry closed “Sunk by enemy submarine”.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Kestrel GY831

S.T. Kestrel GY831
Picture courtesy of The Stephen Myerscough Collection

Changelog
10/04/2017: Page published.

S.T. Lord Beaconsfield GY563

Additional information courtesy of Andy Hall and Bill Blow

Technical

Official Number: 137032
Yard Number: 639
Completed: 1915
Gross Tonnage: 301.46
Net Tonnage: 156.49
Length: 135.0 ft
Breadth: 23.5 ft
Depth: 12.35 ft
Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby
Engine: T.3-cyl (520ihp) and boiler by Charles D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull

History

3.4.1915: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.639) for Anchor Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby as TRIBUNE.
15.7.1915: Registered at Grimsby (Part IV) (GY563).
6.8.1915: Registered at Grimsby (Part I).
6.8.1915: William Somerville Letten designated manager.
18.8.1915: Completed.
9.1915: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-6pdr HA, 1-7.5” A/S Howitzer) (Ad.No.1747).
5.2.1916: George Somerville Letten designated manager.
2.1918: Renamed TRIBUNE II.
1920: Returned to owner and reverted to TRIBUNE (GY563).
12.9.1923: Sold to The Beacon Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby.
25.9.1923: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to London Joint City & Midland Bank Ltd, London (A).
9.10.1923: William Francis Goodwin designated manager.
27.11.1923: Mortgagee re-styled Midland Bank Ltd, London.
1.10.1924: Registered at Grimsby as LORD BEACONSFIELD (GY563) (BoT Minute No.1421 dated 16.9.1924).
1927: Seasonal fishing out of Canso, Nova Scotia.
12.1.1928: Reported that when outward for Icelandic grounds, encountered severe gale in North Atlantic and swept by heavy seas smashing the wheelhouse and carried it away along with the two lifeboats. Deckhand J. Laurenson who was at the wheel was carried away with the wreckage of the wheelhouse and not seen again. Arrived Seyðisfjörður for repairs.
30.7.1928: Mortgage (A) discharged.
4.8.1928: John Denton Marsden designated manager.
31.9.1928: Sold to Consolidated Fisheries Ltd (64/64), Grimsby.
30.11.1928: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Midland Bank Ltd, London (B).
3.1929: Chartered to fish in Canadian waters based at Canso, Nova Scotia in a training role.
28.3.1929: Grimsby registry closed “ … transferred to the Port of Canso, Nova Scotia … “.
7.7.1930: Notification received from Registrar of Shipping, Canso that transfer of Registration has not been accepted, the owners having failed to comply with requirements of the Canadian Shipping Act. (?? Order 39039/30 dated 2.7.1930 refers).
7.7.1930: Registry re-opened at Grimsby (GY563).
18.3.1931: From Icelandic Coastguard steamer ODINN. “Trawler LORD BEACONSFIELD ashore 35 miles east of Portland (Iceland). On rocks. Weather calm and swell moderate to rather rough.” At 10.00am. crew left and safe on shore.
24.3.1931: Refloated and taken in tow for Reykjavik; four crew onboard.
30.4.1932: Reported that outward from Grimsby for Icelandic grounds, in collision off the Scottish Coast in dense fog with Aberdeen steam trawler DEVANHA (A458); neither vessel suffered much damage.
12.9.1933: Mortgage (B) discharged.
12.9.1933: Sold to Sk. Martinus August Olesen, Grimsby and Archibald Ambrose Winter, Cleethorpes (64/64 joint owners).
14.9.1933: Martinus August Olesen designated managing owner.
28.9.1933: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Consolidated Fisheries Ltd, Grimsby (C).
3.4.1935: Sold to Consolidated Fisheries Ltd (64/64), Grimsby.
8.4.1935: Sir John Denton Marsden Bt designated manager.
28.8.1937: On the Icelandic grounds, deckhand A. C. Dennison (20) of Grimsby was scalded by boiling oil whilst extracting oil from cod livers. Landed at Seyðisfjörður but died in hospital.
8.1939: Requisitioned for war service as an auxiliary patrol vessel (Hire rate £83.1.0d/month).
4.9.1939: Based Grimsby on Fishery Protection duties.
4.6.1940: Converted for service a s a minesweeper (1-12pdr)(P.No.FY608). Based Ipswich with M/S & Patrol Group 79.
12.1941: Ty/Sk. Alfred Hill RNR appointed CO.
23.4.1942: Sold to J. Bennett (Wholesale) Ltd (64/64), London.
28.4.1942: Harry Markham Cook, Fleetwood designated manager.
11.8.1943: Sk. Wilfred Thompson RNR appointed CO.
6.1945: Paid off to Reserve, awaiting disposal.
16.10.1945: Returned to owner after restoration and classification at Aberdeen. Sailed Aberdeen for Icelandic grounds (Sk. Sydney Brewis, Hull); seventeen crew all told.
17.10.1945: In dense fog, stranded on rocks off Prail Castle, 1nm SW of Red Head, Auchmithe, Angus. In response to rockets and distress call, attended by Arbroath lifeboat, JOHN & WILLIAM MUDIE, Cox. William Swankie. As tide receded assumed list to port of about 45° and engine room and stoke hold flooded to a depth of 10ft. All crew taken off by lifeboat and landed at Arbroath; personal gear brought ashore in ship’s boat. Later attended by two salvage vessels, but salvage considered impractical and vessel considered a constructive total loss (CTL). Accepted as loss by underwriters.
6.12.1945: Grimsby registry closed “Total Loss”.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Lord Beaconsfield GY563

S.T. Lord Beaconsfield GY563
Picture courtesy of The James Cullen Collection

Lord Beaconsfield

Lord Beaconsfield
Picture © IWM

Changelog
28/03/2017: Page published.

sv Farmer – FD??

Information courtesy of Andy Hall

Technical

Official Number: 27318
Gross Tonnage: 39
Rig: Smack

History

1861: Launched by Thomas Smith, Ashton Quays, Preston (Yd.No.?) for John Wright, Fleetwood and others as FARMER.
1861: Completed. Registered at Fleetwood (FD??). John Wright designated managing owner.
1867: Sold to John Stove, Lerwick, Shetland.
1867: Fleetwood registry closed.
1867: Registered at Lerwick (LK102).
5.8.1872: Advertised for sale in the Shetland Times. Offers to John Stove Jnr, Grocer, Lerwick.
6.10.1873: Advertised for sale by auction on 28.11.1873, if not sold previously.
16.2.1874: Advertised for sale again.
By 1876: Owned by John Walker, 1 Polworth Terrace, Edinburgh.
15.11.1876: Whilst anchored off Sandlodge, Sandwick, Shetland parted her cable and drove ashore; crew landed safely.
By 1878: Fishing registration closed.
4.5.1878: Advertised in Shetland Times – “Wanted a crew for the smack “FARMER”, to sail her on shares in the Coasting Trade, viz., carrying ore from Sandlodge Mines to the Southern Markets and General Goods Home“.”.
12.1880: John Walker declared bankrupt.
29.10.1881: Advertised in the Shetland Times for sale by auction unless previously sold along with the smack (cutter) DRYAD 53g/1846 both belonging to the sequestrated estate of Mr John Walker. Considerable repairs undertaken to both vessels two years ago. Both vessels open to view at Lerwick.
21.2.1882: At anchor off Lerwick, cable parted and driven onto Freefield Quay, Lerwick.
By 1883: Owned by John Morgan Aitken, Lerwick.
30.4.1887: Labourer William Garriock injured “While unloading paving stones when vessel lurched with the motion of the sea.“
24.12.1887: Shetland Times: “Owing to the unavoidable absence of the steamer “EARL of ZETLAND”. The following arrangements have been made until her return. The steamer “QUEEN” will make a trip to the North isles in the first week of January and every alternate week, the smack “FARMER” has been put on the passage sailing alternately for the North Isles and Yellsound until the return of the “EARL of ZETLAND”.”.
21.5.1898: Drove ashore and wrecked at Port Stoth beach in an ESE force 4 wind having loaded granite stones and asphalt for Potrnaguran, Isle of Lewis for the erection of the lighthouse at Tiumpan Head. Capt. W. Irvine and three crewmen landed safely (vessel was uninsured). Registration closed.

Changelog
24/11/2016: Page published.

sv Martha and Lizzie – FD??

Additional information courtesy of Gary Hicks and Geoff Davidson

Technical

Official Number: 70163
Net Tonnage: 35

History

1874: Completed by David Banks Jnr & Co, Queen Anne’s Battery, Plymouth as MARTHA AND LIZZIE. Registered at Fleetwood (No.7/1974). Owned by William Thompson, Blackburn.
4.8.1874: Sailed Fleetwood at 1.00pm. for the fishing grounds off Morecambe Bay (Sk. Robert Rimmer); five crew all told.
5.8.1874: On the ‘oyster beds’ some nine miles NNW of Morecambe Bay Lightship in company with other trawlers including CYGNET (FD110), EZRA (FD1) (Sk. Richard Wright) and MARY ASHCROFT (FD??), with the trawl down in a moderate SW breeze under main and jib running across the tide. At about 6.00pm. when hauling the net saw a ship under full sail on the port tack coming towards them. Hauled the jib sheet to get clear of the vessel and sailed away about two miles before letting go the net again. An hour later trawling on the port tack, saw the same ship again bearing down on them now on the starboard tack. When it became obvious that the ship would not pass clear, paid out about five or six fathoms of trawl rope to head the smack. When close shouted to the ship to bear away or luff up, but saw no one onboard. The MARTHA AND LIZZIE was struck amidships and went down under the ship’s bow. Three men, David Cowell, George Cowell and Edward Rimmer, were able to get hold of the chain cable and scramble onboard the ship assisted by a crew member, leaving two men struggling in the water. David Cowell asked Capt Austen to lower a boat, but Murphy, the channel pilot, said he had seen the two men go down. After wearing ship, payed off on the port tack and when in a position close to where the collision had occurred, saw a boat belonging to the CYGNET searching. After wearing ship again transferred the survivors to the boat. They were initially placed onboard the MARY ASHCROFT but later taken to Fleetwood onboard the CYGNET. Robert Rimmer and fisherman David Cowell were drowned. The ship proved to be the American ship IRONSIDES (1400grt/) (Capt. George Blackstone Ashton), Liverpool for New York with general cargo.
27.8.1875: Body of Robert Rimmer recovered by John Wilson, fisherman, some few miles NW of Morecambe Bay Lightship.
25.12.1874: At Liverpool, Capt Ashton was arrested on a charge of manslaughter and taken to Kirkham to await trial.
19.1.1875: At Blackpool Police Court, Capt Ashton was charged on remand with running down a fishing smack and causing the death of two men. The prosecution alleged that the captain did not do his best to save the men. The case was adjourned for one week.
25.1.1875: At Poulton Petty Sessions Capt Ashton was committed for trial at the next Lancaster Assizes.
11.3.1875: At Lancaster Assizes Capt Ashton found not guilty, by direction of the judge, on the grounds that he was an American subject on board an American registered vessel and not subject to the jurisdiction of the Queen and therefore the case could not be supported.

Changelog
30/10/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.