Category Archives: Steam Trawlers

S.T. Hondo H565

Technical

Official Number: 132132
Yard Number: 520
Completed: 1912
Gross Tonnage: 229
Net Tonnage: 118
Length: 119.2 ft
Breadth: 22 ft
Depth: 11.5 ft
Built: Cochrane & Son Ltd, Selby
Engine: 66HP T.3-cyl and boiler by Charles D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull

History

22.2.1912: Launched by Cochrane & Sons, Selby (Yd.No.520) for Henry L. Taylor Ltd, Grimsby (managing owner) as HONDO.
29.4.1912: Registered at Grimsby (GY701).
5.1912: Completed.
8.1914: Requisitioned for war service as an armed trawler (1-6pdr HA) (Ad.No.16).
1919: Returned.
10.1922: Sold to Diamonds Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Grimsby (H. L. Taylor) (Henry G. Hopwood, manager).
1935: New boiler fitted (made 1934).
1940: Directed to Fleetwood under wartime control (Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood, managers).
9.1941: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood.
9.3.1943: Dutch motor trawler ALIDA (SCH6) sailed Fleetwood for Irish Sea grounds.
20.3.1943: Homeward in dense fog, at 1030 am. to seaward of Morecambe Bay Light Vessel, struck ALIDA on starboard side 12ft in front of winch. Despite rigging tarpaulin ingress of water too great and connected for tow to Fleetwood. At 1.30 pm. ALIDA foundered and crew taken onboard, landing at Fleetwood at 5.45 pm. Owners admitted liability for collision.
1943: Working Icelandic grounds.
11.1943: Sold to Charleson-Smith Trawlers Ltd, Hull.
9.11.1943: Grimsby registry closed.
10.11.1943: Registered at Hull (H565). To continue fishing out of Fleetwood (Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood, managing agents).
7.5.1943: Typical landing from Iceland grounds. 856 kits – hake-8, cod/codling-800, haddock-122, plaice-21, flats-27.
16.11.1943: Sailed Fleetwood for West of Scotland grounds (Sk. John Nicholson); thirteen crew.
24.11.1943: Last contact after sighting off Barra Head.
2.12.1943: Body of Sk. Nicholson recovered and buried at Castlebay, Barra.
10.12.1943: Body of Joseph Croft recovered and buried at Fleetwood.
31.12.1943: Posted missing, believed lost by stress of weather off Barra Head; 14 crew lost*. Later body of Norman Leach, Mate recovered and buried also body of Frederick Mearns, deckhand. Believed buried at Coileg, Eriskay.
1944: Hull registry closed.

* Lost – Sk. John Nicholson (43); Norman Leach (39), Mate; Norman Stirzacker, Bosun; Herbert H. Scuffell, Ch.Eng; Sidney Beswick, 2nd Eng; Frederick Mearns (38): Joseph Croft (19); William Cameron; W. Harrison; S. Olsen & J. Braunberch, deckhands; Patrick Wilson (16), deckie learner; James Hill (60), fireman; Bertie Lees (43), cook.

Joseph Croft was 19 years old and was buried at Fleetwood after his body was recovered from the Scottish coast. The mate had sailed after leaving a sick bed with a bout of flu as he hadn’t wished to let his skipper down.

Patrick Wilson, at 16 years old, was the youngest person aboard.

James Hill was a survivor of other wrecks having been sunk three times. He was the only survivor of the Fleetwood vessel OONA HALL when she was run down off the Calf of Mann by a French armed merchant cruiser.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Hondo H565

S.T. Hondo H565

Changelog
22/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
14/01/2021: Updated history.

S.T. Yarmouth FD334

Additional information courtesy of Peter Bell and Andy Hall

Technical

Official Number: 117737
Yard Number: 357
Completed: 1907
Gross Tonnage: 235
Net Tonnage: 91
Length: 120.4 ft
Breadth: 21.6 ft
Depth: 11.6 ft
Built: Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, North Shields
Engine: T.3-cyl by W. V. V. Lidgerwood, Coatbridge

History

8.8.1907: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, North Shields (Yd.No.357) for The Western Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Bristol as YARMOUTH.
9.1907: Completed.
7.9.1907: Registered at Bristol (BL9). Sydney M. Price, Milford designated manager.
27.3.1911: Returned to Milford from a trip with damaged sustained in westerly gales during the previous week (Sk. J. W. Rumbold).
1.8.1914: Requisitioned for war service (Ad.No.128).
11.8.1914: Arrived Devonport for Special Trawler Reserve; when stored to sail for Lowestoft. Ad.No. cancelled.
13.11.1914: At Lowestoft as Ad.No.281, parent ship HALCYON.
1.1915: Arrived Devonport to fit out for Mediterranean as a minesweeper((1-3pdr, 1-7.5” A/S Howitzer) (Ad.No.281).
27.1.1915: Ordered to sail from Devonport to Mediterranean.
2.1915: Renamed YARMOUTH II.
1915: Dardanelles Campaign.
20.12.1915: Dardanelles (Gallipoli) evacuation completed. Redeployed.
4.1919: Returned to owner at Milford and reverted to YARMOUTH (BL9).
7.1919: Sold to The Saxon Steam Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood
7.1919: Bristol registry closed.
25.7.1919: Registered at Fleetwood (FD334). Joseph H. Taylor designated manager.
1924: William W. Brierley designated manager.
12.3.1929: On morning tide outward for fishing grounds ran into LILY MELLING (FD222) aground on west side of Wyre channel. Grounded on groyne, stripping propeller. Refloated evening tide with tug assistance.
24.1.1934: Arrived Oban leaking badly after striking sunken rock at about 1.30 am off Gunna Sound, Tiree Passage. Beached to check.
25.1.1934: Revealed keel badly twisted, garboard strake sprung. Temporary repair to enable single voyage to Fleetwood for permanent repair.
7.9.1938: On Co. Donegal grounds (Sk. Ronald Read) had rudder damaged in heavy seas. Hove to and in a heavy swell crew attempted to rig jury rudder from the boat but with increasing movement had to return onboard before task was completed. Skipper was lowered on a bosun’s chair to complete the work, but two sharks were observed and he was in danger of being bitten. Brought back onboard, he was re-lowered at intervals to complete the job.
7.9.1938: Arrived safely at Fleetwood.
11.2.1939: Homeward from the fishing grounds in a severe westerly gale, when off Dubh Attach Light, propeller shaft broke. Steam trawler SARBA (FD177), also homeward, responded to signal of distress and in very rough weather connected using chain cable and set course for home. On passage the chain cable parted twice, before the heavier cable from SARBA was transferred and secured.
13.2.1939: Delivered Fleetwood.
17.2.1939: Sold to The Clifton Steam Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood.
27.4.1943: Typical wartime landing – 318 kits – hake-150, cod/codling-7, whiting-2, flats-6, ling/coley-128, roker-3, dogs-22.
10.1948: Sold to Chantiers & Armement Seghers, Ostend. Ostend.
29.10.1948: Fleetwood registry closed.
1949: Sold to Charles & Victor Seghers, Ostend.
1949: Rebuilt by Chantiers & Armement Seghers, Ostend. Re-engined with 450bhp 8 cyl Uniporn oil engine by Porn & Dunwoody Ltd, London.
1949: Remeasured after conversion 242grt 97n.
10.10.1949: Registered at Ostend (O336).
4.12.1950: Homeward from an Icelandic trip (Sk.Arthur Verbeist), in heavy snow showers, stranded on Scroby Sands 3 – 4 miles off Gt. Yarmouth. Attended by Gorleston lifeboat and tug RICHARD LEE BARBER (122grt/1940).
5.12.1950: At high water 5.00 a.m. failed to refloat, crew taken off by Gorleston lifeboat. Further attempts to refloat, with tugs RICHARD LEE BARBER and GEORGE JEWSON (57grt/1908) in attendance, failed, despite having lightened her by removing the catch of 6,000st of fish, water and fuel.
1951: Attempts to refloat by the Hull tug KROOMAN (230grt/1938) also failed.
1951: Ostend registry closed.
1.1953: Engulfed by the sands in the “Great Storm”.

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S.T. Yarmouth FD334

S.T. Yarmouth FD334
Picture courtesy of the Barry Banham Photo Collection

S.T. Yarmouth FD334 in wartime

S.T. Yarmouth FD334 in wartime
Picture courtesy of the Barry Banham Photo Collection

S.T. Yarmouth FD334 stranded on Scroby Sands

M.T. Yarmouth O336. Picture courtesy of the Barry Banham Photo Collection.

Changelog
21/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
14/09/2105: Information updated.
23/11/2017: Information updated and removed FMHT watermarks from images.
17/08/2021: Updated history.

S.T. Normanby FD31

Additional information courtesy of Andy Hall

Technical

Admiralty Number: 3521
Official Number: 143903
Yard Number: 700
Completed: 1917
Gross Tonnage: 275
Net Tonnage: 112
Length: 125.5 ft
Breadth: 23.4 ft
Depth: 12.8 ft
Engine: 480ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by Hawthorn, Leslie & Co Ltd, Newcastle
Built: Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, Middlesbrough

History

5.3.1917: Laid down.
19.6.1917: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough (Yd.No.700) (“Castle” class) for The Admiralty as WILLIAM SPENCER (Ad.No.3521).
25.7.1917: Completed (1 – 12pdr and W/T).
1919: Registered by The Admiralty at London (Part I) O.N.143903.
1919: Allocated to Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries and engaged in commercial trawling.
1920: Allocated to the National Fishery Scheme for the setting up of the Minesweepers’ Cooperative Trawling Society Ltd, London.
1.1921: At Brightlingsea fitted out for fishing under Special Survey of Lloyd’s Register and classed 100A1 Stm Trawler at Brightlingsea.
1.1922. Scheme abandoned, the necessary working capital of £100,000 having not been subscribed. Laid up at Brightlingsea. Advertised for sale several times.
11.1924: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Boston (Fred Parkes, Wyberton, Boston, manager).
14.11.1924: London registry closed.
21.11.1924: Registered at Fleetwood as NORMANBY (FD31).
1926: Company registered office transferred to Fleetwood (Fred Parkes, Blackpool, manager).
19.9.1935: Completed some structural alterations to enable better look-out and sailed Fleetwood for Azores chartered by relatives to try and locate auxiliary yacht ALTAIR,(14grt/1909) (Lieutenant Colonel Noel Meredith Vibart DSO), four crew all told*, which had left Flores Island, Azores for Plymouth on 1 August and overdue. Apart from a message given by a Portuguese vessel that a craft which may have been the ALTAIR had been sighted south-east off the Azores on 29 August, there has been no further information concerning the yacht. Search was unsuccessful.
1.1936: Sold to Liston Carnie, William Carnie Jnr & Thomas Young Carnie, Glasgow. (William Carnie Jnr, Glasgow managing owner).
31.1.1936: Fleetwood registry closed.
2.1936: Registered at Granton as ASTROS (GN48).
18.12.1939: Attacked by German aircraft 115 miles E by N of May Island; superficial damage.
28.12.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a boom defence vessel (P.No.Z.130) (Hire rate £80.4.2d/month).
3.12.1943: Compulsorily acquired by M.O.W.T. Granton registry closed.
7.1945: Based at Portsmouth (Fraser & White Ltd, Portsmouth, agents).
11.1945: For disposal.
3.1946: Sold to Joseph Croan, Newhaven, Edinburgh.
1.1947: Registered at Granton (GN31).
11.9.1948: Sailed Granton for Faroe fishing grounds (Sk. Carnie Seaton).
21.9.1948: Arrived Aberdeen with storm damage sustained off the Faroes; funnel damaged, bent over and fractured. In gale, wind entering the damaged funnel had fanned the fires in the boiler room, and at one stage there was a danger of a flash back igniting the bunker coal. The skipper, foreseeing the danger, had turned the ship’s head into the wind until a tarpaulin could be thrown around the funnel. Finding it difficult to raise steam, the skipper radioed for the steam trawlers THOMAS L. DEVLIN (GN58) and META PATON (GW14) to standby. With difficulty the fireman managed to maintain enough steam to proceed at slow speed to Aberdeen, escorted by the META PATON. Met by the owner, Joe Croan, and arrangements made to send her catch of 450 boxes to Newhaven by road.
1960: Sold to BISCO (£2800) and allocated to Shipbreaking Industries Ltd, Charlestown, Fife for breaking up (Contract No.62E).
15.3.1960: Delivered Charlestown from Granton under own power.
26.5.1960: Breaking up commenced.

(William Spencer, Yeoman of the Powder Room (prest), age 28, b. Newcastle – VICTORY (SB392))

* Crew of yacht (cutter) ALTAIR – Lieutenant Colonel Noel Meredith Vibart DSO, London, owner; Ian Macdonald, Glasgow, Cambridge university undergraduate; Patrick Richardson, Long Ashton, Bristol, Oxford university undergraduate and Basil Jefferies (18), Talywain, Monmouthshire, ships boy.

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S.T. Normanby FD31

S.T. Normanby FD31
Picture courtesy of Fred Baker

Changelog
21/01/2009: Page published. 5 updates since then.
26/02/2016: Information updated

S.T. Wyre (2) FD132

Additional information courtesy of David Slinger

Technical

Official Number: 132402
Yard Number: 463
Completed: 1911
Gross Tonnage: 295
Net Tonnage: 115
Length: 130 ft
Breadth: 23 ft
Depth: 13.2 ft
Built: Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough
Engine: T.3-cyl by Shields Engineering Co Ltd, North Shields

History

14.2.1911: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough (Yd.No.463) for The “Wyre” Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood as WYRE.
20.3.1911: Registered at Fleetwood (FD132). Richard C. Ward & John N. Ward & Son, Fleetwood appointed managers.
3.1911: Completed.
4.4.1911: At Fleetwood landed from her first trip.
1912: John N. Ward appointed manager.
1912: Magnus B. J. Wedum appointed manager.
9.1.1915: Requisitioned for war service (Ad.No.962).
9.1.1915: Commissioned at Fleetwood.
14.1.1915: Arrived Devonport. Fitted with Hotchkiss 3pdr gun (No.252), modified sweep and W/T (Call sign XPB). (Ad.No.962). Fitted out as Sub-divisional Leader.
10.2.1915: Allocated Unit 63 – No.1 Patrol based Dartmouth (Sub Lieut J. H. Bartlett RNR).
30.3.1915: Re-appointed Unit 63 – Division C based Plymouth (Sub Lieut J. H. Bartlett RNR).
1.1916: Re-appointed Unit No.63 – Section C based Devonport (Lieut. H. Scott RNR)
10.1916: Re-appointed Unit 63 – Sections S, T, U based Devonport (Lieut. H. Scott RNR).
15.4.1917: Employed on Southern PatrolTemporary Div.II.
1919: Port for landing Stores, Armament and Moveable Fittings – Portland. Port for Demobilising Personnel – Fleetwood.
1919: Returned to owner at Fleetwood.
13.6.1940: Requisitioned for war service as a boom defence vessel (P.No. Z.198)(Hire rate £73.15.0d/month). Cost of conversion £14,099.
16.7.1943: Sold to Northern Trawlers Ltd, London (William A. Bennett, manager).
23.11.1943: Compulsorily acquired by M.O.W.T.
10.1.1944: Fleetwood registry closed.
1944: Based at Fort William (D. MacBrayne Ltd, Glasgow, agents).
1947: Estimated cost of re-conditioning £7,500.
5.1947: Sold to George Murray, Aberdeen.
19.5.1947: Registered at Aberdeen as EASTBURN (A351).
4.11.1947: Sold to Eastburn (Fishing) Ltd, Aberdeen (George Murray, manager).
5.11.1949: Fishing on Icelandic grounds in very heavy weather, Skipper and three crew members washed overboard.
1953: Sold for breaking up.
13.4.1953: Aberdeen registry closed “Vessel broken up”.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Wyre FD132

S.T. Wyre FD132
Picture courtesy of The John Clarkson Collection

Changelog
21/01/2009: Page published. 5 updates since then.
04/02/2016: Minor information update.
06/10/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
16/08/2021: Updated history.

S.T. Meuse FD107

Additional information courtesy of Bill Blow and Birgir Þórisson

Technical

Official Number: 118920
Yard Number: 42
Completed: 1904
Gross Tonnage: 216
Net Tonnage: 93
Length: 119.8 ft
Breadth: 21.5 ft
Depth: 11.2 ft
Engine: 430ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley

History

4.2.1904: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley (Yd.No.42) for Thomas Baskcomb (64/64), Grimsby as CARIAMA.
15.3.1904: Registered at Grimsby (GY4).
15.3.1904: Thomas Baskcombe designated managing owner.
3.1904: Completed
16.3.1904: Vessel mortgaged to George Jeffs, Grimsby for the sum of £2,500 with interest at 5% (A).
6.1904: On an Icelandic trip (Sk. Richard Baskcomb).
14.6.1904: Arrested by the local Sheriff (Sýslumaður) in Keflavik harbour for alleged illegal fishing (vessel first reported as CARRY ANNA). It was stated by Danish coastguard vessel HEKLA that the trawler had been operating some 2.5 miles inside the 3 mile limit for several days. Sk. Baskcombe fined £100, catch and gear confiscated. Escorted to Hafnarfjörður by HEKLA, request by Sheriff to place an armed guard onboard and/or disable the machinery refused by CO of HEKLA as he was sailing for Faroes. Ships papers taken ashore and four unarmed guards placed onboard. HMS BELLONA (Cdr. The Hon. Stanhope Hawke RN), on fishery protection duties, was in Reykjavik and became involved, the CO disputing the evidence, based on a long running belief that Icelandic witnesses were worthless. However, the deposition by the HEKLA officers could not be ignored.
18.6.1904: Sk. Baskcombe summoned to Reykjavik by CO of BELLONA. On the same day the mate went ashore, ostensibly to buy tobacco. After night-fall he returned in a small boat that he had stolen, had steam raised and the trawler cleared the harbour. The four unarmed guards were overpowered and once seaward, placed in the small boat and cast adrift. With the boat overloaded and only one oar they had difficulty in making the shore and raising the alarm. When informed the Sheriff went straight to Reykjavik, but Sk. Baskcomb had left the BELLONA the previous evening, embarked in another British trawler which had sailed immediately. As a result the CARIAMA and her skipper became wanted within Icelandic jurisdiction. The incident caused an uproar in Iceland, both directed at the Danes (the HEKLA) and the civil authorities. Policemen were few and unarmed and the demand was for skippers to be placed in jail until the fine was paid and for local police to have access to arms as British trawlermen had no respect for the law.
5.10.1905: Mortgage (A) discharged,
6.10.1905: Sold to John Joseph Reading, Anerly Park, Surrey, William Alfred Reading, Beckenham, Kent and Edward Dickinson, Swansea (64/64 joint owners). Edward Dickinson designated managing owner.
6.6.1906: Edward Dickinson died.
16.8.1906: Probate granted. John Joseph Reading, Anerly Park, Surrey, William Alfred Reading, Beckenham, Kent (64/64 joint owners).
15.1.1907: Grimsby registry closed.
16.1.1907: Registered at Swansea (SA41).
12.2.1908: Sold to The Hector Steam Trawling Co Ltd (64/64), Swansea. Alexander Keay designated manager.
1913: Fishing out of Fleetwood.
17.1.1914: Sold to John Joseph Reading, Anerly Park & William Alfred Reading, Beckenham (64/64 joint owners).
1.1.1915: Sold to The Mersey Steam Trawlers Co Ltd (64/64), London. Ernest Taylor, Thornton-le-Fylde designated manager.
4.1.1915: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to The Manchester & Liverpool District Bank Ltd, Manchester (B).
8.2.1915: Swansea registry closed.
9.2.1915: Registered at Fleetwood (FD107).
1915: Registered at Fleetwood as MEUSE (FD107).
29.5.1917: Requisitioned for Fishery Reserve.
1919: Released.
1922: Joseph A. & Harold Taylor designated managers.
1924: W. J. Morley designated manager.
22.4.1925: Company in voluntary Liquidation. William Ignatius Swarbrick, Chartered Accountant, Preston appointed Liquidator.
7.7.1925: Sold by the Liquidator to Walter Henry Utley Morley, Fleetwood. Walter Morley, designated manager.
16.7.1925: The Mersey Steam Trawlers Ltd wound-up.
13.11.1929: Sold to Arthur Sharp, Fleetwood. Walter H. U. Morley designated manager.
25.7.1930: Sold to Oceanic Trading Corporation (Fleetwood) Ltd, Fleetwood. Walter H. U. Morley designated manager.
30.10.1934: Sold to Mrs Cicely Blanche Morley, Fleetwood. Walter H. U. Morley designated manager.
1935: Sold to The Hewett Fishing Co Ltd, London. Robert S. Hewett designated manager.
1936: Sold for breaking up.
3.2.1937: Fleetwood registry closed, breaking up completed.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Cariama registration

S.T. Cariama registration
Picture courtesy of The Bill Blow Collection

S.T. Meuse FD107

S.T. Meuse FD107
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Meuse FD107

S.T. Meuse FD107
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
21/01/2009: Page published. 7 updates since then.
03/10/2918: Removed FMHT watermarks and updated the history.
05/10/2018: Added information.
30/10/2019: Updated information.