Category Archives: Lost Vessels

Vessels that have been lost

S.T. Swan FD116

Technical

Official Number: 124688
Yard Number: 96
Completed: 1907
Gross Tonnage: 270
Net Tonnage: 95
Length: 130 ft
Breadth: 23.1 ft
Depth: 12 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl by Shields Engineering Co Ltd, North Shields
Built: Goole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co Ltd, Goole
Boiler: R. Stephenson & Co Ltd, Hebburn-on-Tyne

History

20.2.1907: Launched by Goole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co Ltd, Goole (Yd.No.96) for The Cygnet Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood as SWAN.
5.1907: Mortgaged to London City & Midland Bank Ltd, London (A).
10.5.1907: Registered at Fleetwood (FD116). Richard W. Mason appointed manager.
5.1907: Completed.
1.11.1911: Thomas Cardwell appointed manager.
1.1.1914: Tonnage altered to 103.72 net under provision of Merchant Shipping Act 1907.
8.1914: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-6pdr) (Ad.No.136).
12.1915: Renamed SWAN III.
1919: Returned to owner and reverted to SWAN (FD116).
1.11.1919: Mortgage (A). Mortgagee changed name to London Joint City & Midland Bank Ltd, London.
3.1921: Sailed Fleetwood for South West Irish grounds (Sk. H. Martin); eleven crew.
7.3.1921: In thick fog in the Western Approaches, approx 80 miles off Lands End, run down by Seattle registered steamer EDGEMONT (6865grt/1919), Baltimore for Antwerp, struck amidships and foundered in approx position 49°26N/11°14W. Six men lost and five put onboard the ARLEY (FD44) and returned to Fleetwood.
18.3.1921: Fleetwood registry closed.

(Lost. Sk. B(H) Martin; A. Wignall, Bosun; G. Bond, 2nd engineer; Wairing, fireman, McFallon, deckhand and T. Allen, cook.

Survivors. T. Welch, mate; R. Wilson, Chief engineer; Charles Thomas, deckhand; A. Cooley, deckhand and J. Morris, fireman.)

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Swan FD116

S.T. Swan FD116

S.T. Swan FD116

S.T. Swan FD116
Picture courtesy of The Sankey Collection

Changelog
7/01/2009: Page published. 7 updates since then.
16/10/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.

S.T. Swallow FD167

Additional information courtesy of Geoff Davidson

Technical

Official Number: 108523
Yard Number: 543
Completed: 1897
Gross Tonnage: 243
Net Tonnage: 79
Length: 133.7 ft
Breadth: 21.6 ft
Depth: 10.8 ft
Engine: 550ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by N.E. Marine Engineering Co Ltd, Sunderland
Built: Edwards Bros, North Shields, 1897
Owner: Kelsall Brothers & Beeching Ltd, Fleetwood

History

3.4.1897: Launched by Edwards Bros, Howden-on-Tyne (Yd.No.543) for Kelsall Brothers & Beeching Ltd, Manchester as SWALLOW.
7.5.1897: Registered at Fleetwood (FD167).
5.1897: Completed (John E.A. Kelsall, Fleetwood, manager).
26.2.1898: Working as a fish carrier “fleeter” with the K&B fleet fishing off the Western Isles. Took onboard from trawler TEAL (FD166) survivors of trawler PLOVER (FD173) which had been run down the previous day by Norwegian steamer SAINT ANDREW (2984g/) off Dubh Heartach Light.
27.2.1898: Landed survivors at Fleetwood.
1899: Transferred to Hull (John E. A. Kelsall & George Beeching, Fleetwood, managers).
7.4.1899: Registered at Hull (H97).
12.5.1899: Fleetwood registry closed.
8.9.1911: Registered office transferred to Hull (George Beeching, Hull & John E. A. Kelsall, London, managers).
1.1.1914: Tonnage altered to 95.40 net under provision of Merchant Shipping Act 1907.
10.1914: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-3pdr) (Ad.No.654).
13.11.1914: At Lowestoft, parent ship HALCYON.
30.3.1918: ‘Run down and sunk by steamer believed to be Norwegian AUDAX (928grt/1903) five miles to the south of Whitby at 0300.’ Crew saved. Steamer confirmed as AUDAX.
5.4.1918: ‘Ceased to be on Admiralty charter from 30th March 1918’.
14.5.1918: ‘Ceased to be on Admiralty charter on 29th March, and not on 30th as stated’.
18.5.1918: Hull registry closed “Vessel lost 29th March 1918 whilst under Admiralty Charter”.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Swallow H97

S.T. Swallow H97
Picture courtesy of Nicolina

Changelog
07/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
04/02/2016: Information updated.

s.v. Sunrise FD147

Technical

Official Number: 97926
Completed: 1891
Gross tonnage : 56
Net Tonnage: 56n
Length: 69.3 ft
Breadth: 18.7 ft
Depth: 9.05 ft
Rig: Ketch – trawling
Built: ??, Galhampton

History

1891: Completed by ??, Galhampton for Edward J. Wren, 77 Bevan St, Lowestoft, as SUNRISE.
16.9.1891: Registered at Lowestoft (LT432).
1911: Sold to Thomas Fairclough, 107 Mount Street, Fleetwood (The Sunrise Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood) (John N. Ward, manager).
5.5.1911: Lowestoft registry closed.
18.5.1911: Registered at Fleetwood (FD147).
1912: Magnus B.J. Wedum appointed manager.
3.10.1913: Tonnage altered to 24.46net. New Fishing Certificate issued.
10.3.1918: Fishing 18 miles SE from Maughold Head, stopped by U-boat (UC75) and sunk by bombs. Crew took to boat.
13.3.1918: Fleetwood registry closed.

Additional information courtesy of Adrian Corkill (Dictionary of Shipwrecks off the Isle of Man)

The Manx fishing smack Marguerite, under Skipper Tommy Lee, was bound from Bangor for Douglas. At 5 pm on 9th March 1918, she encountered a German submarine when she was about midway between Anglesey and the Isle of Man. On seeing Marguerite the submarine began shelling her, taking her to be a decoy, as at the time the smack had no registration number and was carrying all her sail. After a couple of shots Marguerite stayed and made towards the submarine, but still the shelling continued. One of the crewmen, Dicky Lee, held up a truce signal, but was dismayed to find that the German’s fired a bullet clean through it.
Tommy Lee, meanwhile, ordered all the canvas to be lowered, and as the submarine came closer, he held up his hand and the shelling stopped. When the submarine was alongside the smack two German officers boarded her and stripped off some of the sails taking it to the submarine. This was intended to be makeshift bedding for the prisoners. They then placed a bomb on the smack and took off her three crew. Marguerite foundered 25 miles N 1/4 E of Beaumaris.
The submarine submerged and lay on the seabed for several hours before cruising off in search of its next victim. The submarine commander then asked to see Tommy Lee and proceeded to conduct a lengthy interrogation through the use of an interpreter. When the commander discovered the smack was not being used for military purposes and was from the Isle of Man (home to many thousands of German prisoners of war), he was much more sympathetic to the crew.
When again the submarine surfaced the fishing smack Sunrise, of Fleetwood, was halted and went the same way as Marguerite, by use of a bomb 18 miles southeast of Maughold Head. This was twenty three hours after the Marguerite had been sunk. Together, the crews of Sunrise and Marguerite, seven in number, were bundled into Sunrise’s small boat, and were set off in the direction of St Bee’s Head, 14 miles distant. The Germans had given the seamen some food and a compass to ease the journey and the unfortunate seamen eventually landed at Whitehaven.

Changelog
07/01/2009: Page published. 3 updates since then.

S.T. Sturdee LT588

Technical

Official Number: 139345
Yard Number: 657
Completed: 1919
Gross Tonnage: 215
Net Tonnage: 88
Length: 115.4 ft
Breadth: 22.1 ft
Depth: 12.1 ft
Engine: 74hp T.3-cyl by Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen
Built: Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen

History

12.6.1919: Launched by Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen (Yd.No.657) (“Strath” class) for The Admiralty as MICHAEL BRION (Ad.No.4430).
9.7.1919: Completed as a fishing vessel for Leonard C. Cockrell, Wivenhoe as STURDEE.
21.7.1919: Registered at Hull (H72).
1919: On registration at Hull measured 202g.
17.9.1919: Hull registry closed.
22.9.1919: Registered at Lowestoft (LT588).
12.1919: Sold to Vanessa Fishing Co Ltd, Lowestoft (Leonard C. Cockrell, manager).
1923: Sold to Arthur S. Bowlby, Harlow (Edward D. W. Lawford, c/o Iago Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Milford Haven, manager).
7.5.1925: Arrested for trawling inside the limits in Bantry Bay, Co. Cork (Sk. Henry A. Edward).
27.8.1925: Appeared at Bantry District Court and fined.
1930: Transferred to Fleetwood when Edward D. W. Lawford moved his vessels to the port.
1932: Laid up at Fleetwood.
9.1932: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood (Basil A. Parkes, manager).
9.1932: Sold to John Gore, Aberdeen (managing owner).
5.11.1932: Lowestoft registry closed.
19.11.1932: Registered at Aberdeen (A219).
1933: Sold to Gorspen Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Aberdeen (Alexander J. Spence, manager).
1937: Sold to Alexander A. Davidson, Aberdeen (managing owner).
25.11.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper; employed on auxiliary patrol duties (Nore/Harwich)(Hire rate £63.2.6d/month).
31.1.1940: Returned.
1940: Sold to T. W. N. Davidson, Aberdeen (Alexander A. Davidson, manager).
1940: Directed to Fleetwood under wartime controls (Iago Steam Trawling Co Ltd, managers).
1944: Returned to Aberdeen.
1945: Sold to Looker Fishing Co Ltd, Aberdeen (Alexander A. Davidson, manager).
11.10.1956: Sailed Aberdeen on a North Sea trip (Sk.William Wilson); eleven crew.
19.10.1955: Arrived back off Aberdeen at 5.30 pm decided not to enter port but to drift in Aberdeen Bay until morning. Weather deteriorated in the evening, W to SW wind, moderate to heavy ground swell with poor visibility in passing rain showers. At about 9.30 pm. low water, stranded in a position to the northward of the Aberdeen North Breakwater . Crew of eleven* taken off by Aberdeen lifeboat HILTON BRIGGS (Cox. George Flett) and landed in Aberdeen.
20.10.1955: Catch landed.
10.1955: Declared a CTL and subsequently broken up in situ.
12/12.3.1956: At the Formal Investigation (S.435) held at Aberdeen, the Court found that the stranding and subsequent total loss was due to the fault of Sk Wilson and also of Reuben Rae, who had falsely claimed to hold a Second Hand’s Certificate. Sk. Wilson’s ticket was suspended for one year and Reuben Rae ordered to pay £15 towards the cost of the investigation.

(Crew* – All Aberdeen unless stated. Sk. William Wilson, Macduff; Reuben Rae, Mate; Charles Trowbridge, 2nd fisherman; John A. Reid, Buckie, Ch Eng; James Connell, 2nd Eng; Larry McEhatton, James Findlay, John Morrice, deckhands; Charles Shand, William Watt, firemen; Gordon Westland, cook.)

(Michael Brion, Landsman, age 25, b. Bandon, Co. Cork – ROYAL SOVEREIGN (SB728))

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Sturdee LT588

S.T. Sturdee A219
Picture courtesy of Billy Worrall

Changelog
07/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
25/06/2015: Picture added.
20/01/2018: Removed FMHT watermark from image.

S.T. Strathgairn A251

Technical

Official Number: 137164
Yard Number: 565
Completed: 1915
Gross Tonnage: 211
Net Tonnage: 93
Length: 115.6 ft
Breadth: 22.1 ft
Depth: 12.1 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl by Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen
Built: Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen

History

1915: Launched by Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen (Yd.No.565) for Aberdeen Steam Trawling & Fishing Co Ltd, Aberdeen (John Brown, manager) as STRATHGAIRN.
3.1915: Completed. Requisitioned by The Admiralty from the builders.
23.3.1915: Commissioned as a minesweeper (1-6pdr HA) (Ad.No.1366).
24.3.1915: Registered at Aberdeen (A251). Based Dover.
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Aberdeen.
1938: W. Rhind appointed manager.
1940: Fishing from Fleetwood.
14.7.1941: Mined about 20 miles SW of Barra Head. Five crew MPK*. Six crew picked up and landed at Stornoway.
19.7.1941: Aberdeen registry closed “ Vessel sunk 14.7.1941”.

(MPK* – H. Ashton; H. J. Brown; E. W. Curtis; F. C. Dawkins; T. Reid)

Changelog

07/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.