Category Archives: Steam Trawlers

S.T. Clotilde FD232

Additional material courtesy of Bill Blow Stephen Roberts and Birgir Þórisson

Technical

Official Number: 132418
Yard Number: 579
Completed: 1913
Gross Tonnage: 289
Net Tonnage: 114
Length: 130 ft
Breadth: 23.5 ft
Depth: 12.6 ft
Engine: 530ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by Charles D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull
Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby

History

4.9.1913: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.579) for J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood as CLOTILDE.
26.11.1913: Registered at Fleetwood (FD232). James Alexander Robertson designated manager.
2.12.1913: Completed. Contract price £7950.
14.11.1914: Requisitioned for war service (Ad.No.924) . Commissioned at Fleetwood (Sk. Harry Roberts RNR). At Devonport fitted with 1-6pdr.
5.12.1914: Sailed Plymouth for Clyde. Allocated Unit No. 44 based Ardrossan (Sk. Harry Roberts RNR).
6.1916: Fitted out with mine-sweep.
1917: Icelandic trawler-owners sold 10 trawlers to the French navy. Export licence was contingent upon replacing the ships as soon as possible after the war.
16.4.1918: Sk. Harry Roberts awarded DSC ‘in recognition of minesweeping operations between 1.4 – 31.12.1917’.
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Fleetwood.
1919: Icelandic trawler-owners ordered 11 new trawlers from Britain and 5 from Germany.
15.8.1919: Sold to The Active Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood (James A. Robertson, manager).
1920: Delivery of new Icelandic trawlers delayed, in case of England by strikes. Fearing to lose the main salting season (March-June), several owners resorted to leasing trawlers from Fleetwood.
3.1920: Hired by Icelandic owners for the salting season and based Reykjavik.
12.10.1924: James A. Robertson OBE died.
10.1924: Alan Marr designated manager.
1.12.1925: Alan Marr died.
6.2.1925: Joseph Arthur Marr designated manager.
1.4.1929: Joseph Arthur Marr retired from board to run the Dinas Company.
4.1929: Geoffrey Edwards Marr designated manager.
29.2.1940: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (P.No.FY.534) (Hire rate £74.13.2d/month).
25.11.1944: Sold to Wembley Steam Fishing Co (Grimsby) Ltd (64/64), Grimsby.
12.12.1944: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Barclays Bank Ltd, London (A).
12.1945: Returned to owner.
22.10.1946: Fleetwood registry closed.
29.10.1946: Registered at Grimsby (GY352). Arthur Gladstone Harmer designated manager.
31.1.1947: Alteration of tonnage to 112.89 net. Certificate of Survey dated Liverpool 23.11.1946.
8.11.1947: Mortgage (A) discharged.
10.11.1947: Sold to Dinas Steam Trawling Co Ltd (64/64), Fleetwood.
13.11.1947: Frank Marr appointed manager.
24.3.1952: Sold to Queen Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby.
1.4.1952: Charles Alford Osborne designated manager.
12.1956: Sold to Leon Engelen, Willebroek for breaking up.
3.12.1956: Breaking up commenced.
7.12.1956: Grimsby registry closed “…on sale of vessel to foreigners (Belgian Subjects)”.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Clotilde FD232

S.T. Clotilde FD232

HMT Clotilde

HMT Clotilde
Picture reproduced under IWM Non-Commercial Licence

S.T. Clotide GY352

S.T. Clotide GY352
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection

Changelog
16/01/2009: Page published. 9 updates since then.
31/05/2019: Updated the information.
`9/`1/10`9: Updated information.

S.T. Brabant FD239

Additional information courtesy of Bill Blow

Technical

Admiralty Number: 3717
Official Number: 144640
Yard Number: 333
Completed: 1918
As built: 360disp 125.6 x 23.5 x 12.8 feet
Gross Tonnage: 279
Net Tonnage: 106n
Length: 125.6 ft
Breadth: 23.5 ft
Depth: 12.8 ft
Built: Ailsa Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Ayr
Engine: 480ihp T.3-cyl by Ailsa Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Troon
Boiler: James Nielson & Son Ltd, Glasgow

History

25.4.1918: Launched by Ailsa Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Ayr (Yd.No.333) (“Castle” class) for The Admiralty as EMMANUEL CAMELAIRE (Ad.No.3717).
20.5.1918: Commissioned.
25.5.1918: Completed as a minesweeper (1-12pdr and W/T).
1.10.1918: At Penzance F.C.T. Escort (Lieut. RNR).
24.1.1921: Registered by The Admiralty as a fishing vessel at London (LO497). Official No.144640.
1922: Sold to Cie Belge Maritime du Congo, Antwerp and used as a tug. Registered at Antwerp as PRESIDENT FRANCQUI.
4.10.1923: London fishing registry closed.
1923: Registered at Matadi, Belgian Congo.
1936: Sold to Soc. Anon Pêcheries du Nord, Fécamp. Re-classed as a trawler. Registered at Fécamp.
11.1938: Sold to Rhondda Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby (Consolidated Fisheries Ltd).
10.11.1938: Registered at Grimsby as BRABANT (GY544).
10.11.1938: Sir John Denton Marsden, Bart appointed manager.
31.8.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (P.No.FY.586) (Hire rate £84.0.0d/month).
10.2.1940: Steam trawler THERESA BOYLE (GN4) (Sk. Oliver Bell) damaged by German air attack when fishing 115 miles ExN of Aberdeen. Took to boat and vessel foundered.
12.2.1940: At 4.30 p.m. RAF aircraft overflew boat, rocket fired. Aircraft communicated with HMTrawlers BRABANT and ALMANDINE (H415) (P.No.FY.645), ‘sweeping 10 miles away. After 50 hours in open boat survivors picked up by ALMANDINE and landed at ?? at 6.00 p.m. all crew suffering from exposure.
24.8.1941: Shot down a twin engined German bomber (Lieut. J. H. A. Winfield RNR).
15.1.1944: Sold to The Clifton Steam Trawlers Ltd (64/64), Fleetwood.
20.1.1944: Hulbert Murray Bird appointed manager.
12.1945: Returned to owner.
26.9.1946: Grimsby registry closed.
9.1946: Registered at Fleetwood (FD239).
6.1956: Company taken over by Boston Deep Sea Fisheries Ltd, Fleetwood. (Fred Parkes, Blackpool, manager).
4.3.1957: Sold to BISCO and allocated to Thos. W. Ward Ltd, Sheffield for breaking up at Milford Haven.
29.4.1957: Arrived Milford Haven.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Brabant FD239

S.T. Brabant FD239
Image from the Internet

S.T. Brabant FD239

S.T. Brabant FD239
Image from the Internet

HMT Emmanuel Camelaire

HMT Emmanuel Camelaire
Picture courtesy of The Imperial War Museum

S.T. Brabant FD239

S.T. Brabant FD239
Picture courtesy of The John Stevenson Collection

S. T. Brabant FD239

S. T. Brabant FD239
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
16/01/2009: Page published. 6 updates since then.
24/04/2017: Removed FMHT watermark and disputed image.
20/09/2019: Updated information.
07/08/2020: Added images.
10/04/2022: Added an image.

S.T. Daily Express FD286

Technical

Admiralty Number: 4404
Official Number: 144518
Yard Number: 420
As built: 360disp 125.6 x 23.5 x 12.8 feet
Gross Tonnage: 290
Net Tonnage: 109
Length: 125.5 ft
Breadth: 23.6 ft
Depth: 12.7 ft
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley
Engine: 480ihp T3-cyl by Amos & Smith Ltd, Hull
Speed: 10.5 knots

History

18.7.1919: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.420) (“Castle” class) for The Admiralty as THOMAS ALEXANDER (Ad.No.4404).
1.1920: Allocated to the National Fishery Scheme for the setting up of the Minesweepers’ Cooperative Trawling Society Ltd, London.
23.4.1920: Registered by The Admiralty at London (Part I & IV) as THOMAS ALEXANDER O.N.144518 (LO351).
4.6.1920: Completed as a fishing vessel under Special Survey of Lloyd’s Register and classed 100A1 Stm Trawler at Hull; ex fishing gear.
13.8.1920: Minesweepers’ Cooperative Trawling Society Ltd, London registered.
1921: Sold to Rémy & Huret, Boulogne.
9.8.1921: London registry closed.
8.1921: Registered at Boulogne as ETOILE POLAIRE II (B??)
1930: Sold to Fred Parkes, Blackpool.
2.1930: Boulogne registry closed.
21.2.1930: Registered at Fleetwood as DAILY EXPRESS (FD68). Fred Parkes, Blackpool designated as managing owner.
13.11.1933: Sold to Hellyer Brothers Ltd, Hull.
24.11.1933: Fleetwood registry closed.
25.11.1933: Registered at Hull (H523).
22.12.1933: Registered at Hull as TURCOMAN (H523). Frank O. Hellyer & Owen S. Hellyer designated joint managers.
21.9.1936: Sold to R. Irvin & Sons Ltd, Aberdeen.
30.9.1936: Hull registry closed.
1.10.1936: Registered at Aberdeen (A416). Sir John H. Irvin KBE designated manager.
23.10.1936: Registered at Aberdeen as BEN DEARG (A416).
29.8.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (P.No. FY.690) (Hire rate £91.0.0d/month).
6.3.1942: Sold to J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood for £8900 or £8625.
5.1946: Re-classed at Port Glasgow.
6.6.1946: Returned to owner.
29.10.1948: Aberdeen registry closed.
10.1948: Registered at Fleetwood (FD286). Geoffrey Edwards Marr, Cleveleys designated manager.
194?: In gale force conditions with poor visibility, stranded on rocks off Green Island, Sound of Mull. Attended by mail boat LOCHINVAR (216grt/1908) but crew remained on board and nine hours later refloated under own power.
1.7.1949: Sold to Anglo-Australian Fisheries (Pty) Ltd and Anglo-Australian Trawlers (Pty) Ltd, Perth, WA for £15000. Ian L. C. McNicol designated manager. 16.7.1949: Sailed Fleetwood for Fremantle, WA (Sk. James Dewhurst (39)/Capt E. Beeham); fourteen crew all volunteers to settle in Australia and sailed under Western Australian Government immigration scheme; families to follow.
16.9.1949: Arrived Fremantle, WA. To fish out of Albany.
1.1951: Had fire in coal bunker while alongside.
1958: Sold to Royal Australian Navy and sunk after use as a target.
(Thomas Alexander, OS, age 36, b. Roscommon, Co. Roscommon – ROYAL SOVEREIGN (SB279))

Click to enlarge images

HMT Ben Dearg

HMT Ben Dearg
Picture reproduced under IWM Non-Commercial Licence

S.T. Ben Dearg FD286 arrives in Australia

S.T. Ben Dearg FD286 arrives in Australia
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

Changelog
29/04/2015: Updated information.
20/04/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from images.
01/03/2020: Updated information.

S.T. Ben Bheula A422

Additional information courtesy of David Slinger

Technical

Admiralty Number: 3724
Official Number: 146616
Yard Number: 311
Completed: 1917
As built: 360disp 125.6 x 23.5 x 12.8 feet.
Gross Tonnage: 275
Net Tonnage: 108
Length: 125.6 ft
Breadth: 23.4 ft
Depth: 12.6 ft
Built: J. P. Rennoldson & Sons Ltd, North Shields
Engine: 480ihp T.3-cyl by Shields Engineering Co Ltd, North Shields

History

16.11.1917: Launched by J. P. Rennoldson & Sons Ltd, North Shields (Yd.No.311) (“Castle” class) for The Admiralty as THOMAS DOWDING (Ad.No.3724).
22.12.1917: Completed as a minesweeper (1-12pdr & W/T). Based Falmouth.
7.7.1918: At 1035, grounded at Basse de Respects, near Cape St. Matthew. Suffered minor bottom damage.
1.10.1918: At Penzance F.C.T. Escort
16.8.1922: Registered by The Admiralty as a fishing vessel at London (LO550).
11.1923: Sold to Hellyer Bros Ltd, Hull.
23.11.1923: London registry closed.
26.11.1923: Registered at Hull (H861).
12.1923: Registered at Hull as LEONATO (H861)
Pre-1927: Sold to Hull Northern Fishing Co Ltd, Hull (W. R. Nowell, manager).
Pre-1930: Hellyer Bros Ltd became managers.
10.1936: Sold to R. Irvin & Sons Ltd, Aberdeen.
8.10.1936: Hull registry closed.
9.10.1936: Registered at Aberdeen as BEN BHEULA (A422).
8.1939: Requisitioned for war service on examination service and as a minesweeper (P.No. FY.1681) (Hire rate £80.4.2d/month).
13.1.1942: Sold to J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood for £8200.
6.10.1945: Returned to owner and re-classed at Glasgow.
24.7.1946: Sold to Pegasus Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood for £20,000. William Stevenson, St. Anne’s-on-the-Sea appointed manager.
11.3.1949: On West of Scotland grounds (Sk. W. Cowell). Off Barra in heavy weather and hail storms, started to take in water in boiler room; pumps choked with ashes and unable to cope. In response to radio message, trawler CYELSE (FD67) (Sk. J. C. Smith) arrived on scene, connected and towed into Castlebay for shelter.
13.3.1949: With CYELSE still connected in hail and sleet, BEN BHEULA swept by high seas on to reef. Fourteen crew abandoned in boat and taken onboard, later taken by Barra lifeboat to Castlebay. Trawler CONCERTATOR (FD276) arrived from Fleetwood with pumps and salvage operation commenced with Mr H. T. Chapman insurance engineer in charge.
14.3.1949: Refloated and beached, temporary repairs carried out and refloated.
16.3.1949: Homeward in a heavy swell off Port Askaig, Islay, leak opened up again and with boiler room flooding, attended by Islay lifeboat (Cox Duncan McNeill) which connected and commenced tow to Port Askaig. After 5 miles decided to beach at Caolila, Sound of Islay. Attended by salvage tug METINDA III (593grt/1945), temporary repairs carried out and refloated.
22.3.1949: Delivered Fleetwood. Permanent repairs undertaken and returned to service.
1952: Managers became J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood.
16.5.1953: Last landing at Fleetwood. Laid up.
16.7.1953: Sold for breaking up.
9.1.1954: Aberdeen registry closed “Vessel broken up”.

(Thomas Dowding, Quartergunner (prest), age 38, b. Dorset – VICTORY (SB458))

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Ben Bheula A422

S.T. Ben Bheula A422
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Leonato H861

S.T. Leonato H861
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Thomas Dowding LO550

S.T. Thomas Dowding LO550
Picture from the Internet

HMT Ben Bheula

HMT Ben Bheula
Picture reproduced under IWM Non-Commercial Licence

Changelog
16/01/2009: Page published. 7 updates since then.
16/01/2017: Removed disputed image.
29/12/2017: Removed FMHT watermarks from images.
20/08/2019: Added an image and updated information.

S.T. Spurnella H414

Technical

Official Number: 165651
Yard Number: 1025
Completed: February 25 1937
Gross Tonnage: 455
Net Tonnage: 166
Length: 175.5 ft
Breadth: 27.1 ft
Depth: 14.3 ft
Built: Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough
Engine: 825ihp T.3-cyl by by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough

History

25.2.1937: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough (Yd.No.1025) for Devon Fishing Co Ltd, Hull as WOLBOROUGH.
4.1937: Completed (Mark Hellyer, manager). Registered at Hull (H414).
5.4.1937: Sailed Hull on first trip to Icelandic grounds (Sk. F. Whitley).
26.4.1937: At Hull landed 2314 kits grossed £1007.
11.1.1938: Stranded at Landöen, Batalden Island outside Florö on west coast of Norway. Salvage steamer ACHILLES (217grt/1893) attended.
13.1.1938: Refloated and delivered Florö for survey.
4.1949: Converted for burning oil fuel, F.P. above 150° F.
1939: Lengthened to 175.5 feet 459g 173n – 190.6 feet LOA.
6.6.1939: Insured value increased from £25,000 to £28,00 following lengthening of vessel.
23.7.1939: Responded to call for assistance from steam trawler GAUL (H292) which had been in collision with German steam trawler WESTERLAND of Wesermunde approximately 160 miles from Tees and leaking port side below the waterline. Pumps able to cope and escorted towards coast. At 11.30 pm. arrived river Tees.
25.7.1939: Insured value £28,700.
11.8.1939: Sailed Hull for Bear Island (Sk. W. Salmon).
30.8.1939: At Hull landed 2,086 kits grossed £1,531.
1939: To requisitioning, at Hull landed from Iceland/Bear Island/Norway Coast (Sks. J. T. Whisley, A. Salmon, R. Turner) 172 days 14,485 kits £11,857 gross.
26.9.1939: Requisitioned for war service as an anti-submarine trawler (P.No. FY.233)(Hire rate £309.16.6d/month).
1.1942: Transferred to Mediterranean Command.
1942: Sold to Pickering & Haldane’s Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Hull.
1944: Owners re-styled Lord Line Ltd, Hull (Thomas W. Boyd, manager).
4.1946: Registered at Hull as Lord Ancaster (H414).
8.1948: Sold to Hull Merchants Amalgamated Trawlers Ltd, Hull. Registered at Hull as MARATH (H414).
1953: Made one trip to Greenland fishery.
1955: Sold to Charleson-Smith Trawlers Ltd, Hull (Ross Group). Registered at Hull as STELLA PEGASI (H414).
24.9.1955: Sold to J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood (Geoffrey Marr, Hull, manager). Registered at Hull as SPURNELLA (H414).
22.7.1958: Sailed Hull for Iceland last trip before sale (Sk. W. Beamish).
9.8.1958: At Hull landed 1,223 kits grossed £4,677.
14.8.1958: Sold to Dinas Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood.
1.6.1959: Company taken over by J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood.
1.6.1959: Sold to Heward Trawlers Ltd, London & Fleetwood (R. S. Hewett & H. F. Hayward) (Robert S. Hewett, manager).
8.3.1960: Stranded outside dock when leaving Fleetwood for fishing grounds. Refloated without damage.
14.12.1962: Sold to Thos. W. Ward Ltd, Sheffield for breaking up.
20.12.1962: Delivered Barrow-in-Furness from Fleetwood under own power.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Marath H414

S.T. Marath H414
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection

S.T. Lord Ancaster H414

S.T. Lord Ancaster H414
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection

S.T. Spurnella H414

S.T. Spurnella H414
Picture courtesy of the Mark Stopper Collection

S.T. Spurnella H414

S.T. Spurnella H414
Picture courtesy of the JJ collection

S.T. Spurnella H414

S.T. Spurnella H414
Picture courtesy of The Osta Collection.

S.T. Spurnella H414

S.T. Spurnella H414
Picture courtesy of The Phillip Dell Collection

Changelog
16/01/2009: Page published. 7 updates since then.
23/04/201 Picture added.
10/06/2016: Information updated.
03/12/2017: Removed FMHT watermarks from images.
03/08/2019: Updated information and added an image.