Category Archives: War Losses

Vessels lot due to war

S.T. Star of Freedom FD200

Technical

Official Number: 129356.
Yard Number: 487
Completed: 1911
Gross Tonnage: 258
Net Tonnage: 97
Length: 125.4 ft
Breadth: 23.1 ft
Depth: 12.9 ft
Built: Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen
Engine: T.3-cyl by Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen

History

18.2.1911: Launched by Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen (Yd.No.487) for The Walker Steam Trawl Fishing Co Ltd, Aberdeen as STAR OF FREEDOM.
2.1911: Completed (Thomas Walker, manager).
1.3.1911: Registered at Aberdeen (A361).
Pre 1913: Andrew Walker, manager.
16.7.1913: Sold to The Rossall Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood (John D. Gibson, manager).
11.8.1913: Aberdeen registry closed.
12.8.1913: Registered at Fleetwood (FD200).
12.1914: Requisitioned for war service (Ad.No.955). At Devonport fitted with 1-12pdr & W/T (Call sign YFP) and mine-sweep. Fitted as Leader.
26.12.1914: Commissioned.
1.1.1915: Arrived Devonport.
10.2.1915: Allocated Unit No.61 – No.3 Patrol based Penzance (Sub Lieut. C. Walter).
30.3.1915: Re-appointed Unit No.61 – Section A based Penzance (Lieut. J.J. Gillespie RNR).
24.7.1915: Refit at Penzance completed, fitted with ‘silent chamber’.
1.1916: Re-appointed Unit No.61-Section A based Penzance (Lieut. J. H. Bartlett RNR.
10.1916: Re-appointed Unit No.61 – Section A 1st Division based Penzance (Lieut. T. Kippins RNR).
19.4.1917: Mined off Trevose Head, Cornwall, while ‘sweeping (Lieut. T. Kippins RNR). Foundered with loss of ten of her crew*.
19.5.1917: Fleetwood registry closed “Lost on Admiralty service”.

Lost* Ty/Warrant Telegraphist Jack Wade; Joseph Dykins & Reginald N. James, Enginemen; George Lace, Ldg Seaman; Frederick Dutton, George Edwards, John Ivey & Edward Jewell, deckhands; Joseph Mills & Joseph C. Remphrey, trimmers.
Click to enlarge images

S.T. Star of Freedom FD200

S.T. Star of Freedom FD200
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

S.T. Star of Freedom A361

S.T. Star of Freedom A361
Picture courtesy of The James Cullen Collection

S.T. Star of Freedom A361

S.T. Star of Freedom A361
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
14/05/2009: Page published. 4 revisions since then.
27/10/2014: Picture added.
12/09/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
06/09/2019: Updated information and added an image.
05/08/2021: Updated history.

S.T. Botanic H463

Additional information courtesy of Mike Thompson and David Slinger

Technical

Official Number: 160804
Yard Number: 1023
Completed: 1928
Gross Tonnage: 348.03
Net Tonnage: 138.40
Length: 140.3 ft
Breadth: 24.0 ft
Depth: 13.3 ft
Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby
Engine: 600ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull

History

20.6.1928: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.1023) for City Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull as BOTANIC.
14.9.1928: Registered at Hull (H463).
14.9.1928: John Arthur Laverack designated manager.
18.9.1928: Completed.
29.3.1934: Sailed Hull for White Sea, last trip before sale (Sk. S. Greaves).
23.4.1934: At Hull landed 1,206 kits grossed £867.
27.9.1928: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to National Provincial Bank Ltd, London (A).
1.1.1932: Fred Crawforth designated manager.
26.4.1934: Mortgage (A) discharged.
26.4.1934: The City Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull bought by J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood along with the two vessels.
26.4.1934: Sold to J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood. Geoffrey Edwards Marr designated manager.
26.4.1934: Sailed Hull for White Sea, first trip under new owners (Sk. S. Greaves).
22.5.1934: At Hull landed 1,633 kits grossed £1,331.
19.7.1934: Sold to The City Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull. Leslie J. Marr, Thornton-le-Fylde designated manager (Fred Crawforth manager and fish salesman at Hull).
6.1.1938: Landed at Fleetwood, 716 boxes grossed £703.
25.7.1939: Insured value £10,500.
29.8.1939: Sold to The Admiralty (ref. M.F. 21516/39 dated September 1929). Fitted out as a minesweeper (P.No.FY.707).
5.10.1939: Sk. Ernest Wilfred Critten RNR appointed CO.
27.10.1939: Hull registry closed “Sold to The Admiralty”.
5.1940: Sk. Edgar Smith RNR appointed CO.
20-26.5.1940: Evacuation from Boulogne, Calais & Dunkirk.
25.5.1940: Sailed Dover for Calais in company with the trawlers ARLEY (P.No.FY.620) (FD44), BROCK (P.No.FY.621) (FD47), CALVI (GY269), FYLDEA (P.No.FY.666) (FD72), MARETTA (P.No.FY.665) (FD45), POLLY JOHNSON (H322) and drifters PLAYMATES (P.No.FY.738) (YH141) and WILLING BOYS (P.No.FY.947) (LT737) with several river launches in tow.
26.5.1940: At 0140 arrived off the French coast. No evacuation order was given, but Belgian river launch SEMOIS transferred ten British soldiers from north wall of harbour to BOTANIC. Sailed for Dover but damaged by air attack en route.
26.5.1940: At 1857 ‘Operation Dynamo’ (Dunkirk evacuation) put into effect.
4.6.1940: ‘Operation Dynamo’ terminated.
4.8.1940: Sk. Andrew Robertson Lees RNR appointed CO. Repaired and allocated M/S Group 50 based Grimsby.
14.10.1940: Ty Lieut. James Guy Badcock RCNVR appointed CO.
5.5.1941: Ty Lieut. James Calderwood Paterson RNVR appointed CO.
1942: Sk. Philip Kay DSC RNR appointed CO.
18.2.1942: Attacked by enemy aircraft off 62D Buoy, 16 miles NE of Spurn Point. James M Yetman, seaman, killed. Vessel badly damaged, FYLDEA (P.No.FY.666) (FD72) connected and commenced tow to Grimsby but en route started to settle and foundered.

Click to enlarge image

HMT Botanic

HMT Botanic
Picture courtesy of The Greenday Collection

Changelog

11/05/2009: Page published. 6 updates since then.
10/06/2018: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
01/09/2018: Updated information.
17/09/2019: Updated information.

S.T. Red Gauntlet (1) LO33

Technical

Oficial Number: 161463.
Yard Number: 928
Completed: 1930
Gross Tonnage: 388
Net Tonnage: 128
Length: 133.7 ft
Breadth: 25.0 ft
Depth: 13.6 ft
Built: Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, Middlesborough
Engine: T.3-cyl by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, Middlesbrough

History

11.6.1930: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, Stockton-on-Tees (Yd.No.928) for Iago Steam Trawler Co Ltd, Fleetwood as RED GAUNTLET.
7.1930: Completed.
17.7.1930: Registered at London (LO33). Edward D. W. Lawford designated manager.
8.1930: Fitted with radio telephone.
7.3.1932: Inbound Wyre Dock struck dock wall and sustained damage to stem and shell plates.
29.8.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-12pdr, AA armament)(P.No.FY.900)(Hire rate £167.11.10d/month).
23.3.1940: Ty/Sk. Edward Hutchinson RNR appointed CO.
3.2.1941: Lt Cdr. Ralph Maxwell Sandbach RN appointed CO.
13.10.1941: Lieut. Henry Elphinstone Jackson RN appointed CO.
22.6.1942: Ty/Lieut. Robert Duncombe Thorburn RNR appointed CO.
3.8.1942: Lieut. Montague Harris RN appointed CO.
23.1.1943: Ty/Lieut. James Noel Childs appointed CO.
26.1.1943: A/Capt Edward Douglas Wyndham Lawford RN awarded DSO for service in HMS POZARICA (P.No.4.261) A/A ship on Russian convoys.
5.8.1943: Off Felixstowe (Ty/Lieut. James Noel Childs RNVR) in company with HM Trawler HORNBEAM (P.No.T53) (Ty/Lieut. Walter James Parker RNR) Attacked by E-boats, hit by torpedo from E-boat (S-86) with consequent explosion and foundered; crew lost.
6.8.1943: One body picked up by RAF rescue launch.

(MPK – Ty/Lieut. J. N. Childs RNVR – CO; Walter Govis, 2nd Hand; Thomas William Davies, Thomas Richard Godfrey, Edward Horace Judd, Enginemen; John A. H. Heather, Telegraphist; Eric William Eames, Ldg Cook; Patrick Coleman, John Craig, Joseph Frankish, James Somerville Lees, Angus Maclean, Roderick McKinnon, Arthur Phillips, seamen; Alexander Gillies Bunyan, Arthur Livingston Lang, John Legg, Robert McLean, stokers; James Porteous, steward; Robert J. L. Roberts, Ord. Signalman.

Killed – Donald H. W. Hunnisett, (Ldg Sea)

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Red Gauntlet LO33

S.T. Red Gauntlet LO33
Picture courtesy of The Philip Dell Collection

S.T. Red Gauntlet LO33

S.T. Red Gauntlet LO33
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection

S.T. Red Gauntlet LO33

S.T. Red Gauntlet LO33
Picture courtesy of The James Cullen Collection

S.T. Red Gauntlet LO33

S.T. Red Gauntlet LO33
Picture courtesy of Stephen Myerscough

Changelog
30/04/2009: Page published. 8 Updates since then.
05/07/2020: Updated information and added an image.

S.T. Fortuna GY140

Additional information courtesy of Bill Blow

Technical

Official Number:123567
Yard Number: 108
Completed: 1906
Gross Tonnage: 258.77
Net Tonnage: 110.69
Length: 128.4 ft
Breadth: 22.0 ft
Depth: 11.8 ft
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd. Beverley
Engine: 465ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by C. D. Holmes & Co, Hull

History

14.3.1906: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd. Beverley (Yd.No.108) for Alick Black (64/64), Grimsby as FORTUNA.
5.1906: Completed.
8.5.1906: Registered at Grimsby (GY140).
8.5.1906: Alick Black designated managing owner.
15.8.1906: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Charles Denton Holmes, Hull for the sum of £3,00 with interest at 5% (A).
27.8.1908: Mortgage (A) discharged.
27.5.1908: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to The London City & Midland Bank Ltd, London (B).
16.6.1909: Mortgage (B) discharged.
16.6.1909: Sold to The South Western Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Fleetwood.
16.6.1909: Alick Black, Grimsby appointed manager.
18.6.1909: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to The London City & Midland Bank Ltd, London (C).
1.7.1912: Mortgage (C) discharged.
31.7.1912: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to George Jeffs, Grimsby for the sum of 3,000 with interest at 5%.(D).
31.7.1912: Registered office transferred to Grimsby.
5.5.1913: Mortgage (D) discharged.
5.5.1913: Sold to Thomas William Baskcomb (64/64), Grimsby.
6.5.1913: Thomas W. Baskcomb designated managing owner.
6.5.1913: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Barclays Bank Ltd, London (E).
27.9.1915: Sold to Spurn Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby.
1.10.1915: Mortgage (E) discharged.
5.10.1915: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Barclays Bank Ltd, London (F).
6.10.1915: Alfred Bannister appointed manager.
29.11.1916: Mortgage (F) discharged.
29.11.1916: Sold to George Frederick Sleight (64/64) Grimsby.
30.11.1916: George Frederick Sleight designated managing owner.
29.5.1917: Requisitioned for Fishery Reserve.
By 11.8.1917: Fitted 1-6pdr HA (in house aft) & W/T.
1.1.1918: George Frederick Sleight knighted.
1919: Released.
5.6.1920: Sir George Frederick Sleight created a baronet.
19.3.1921: Sir George Frederick Sleight, Bart died.
18.10.1922: Probate granted to Raymond Lawrence Humphrey, Healing as sole surviving executor. Ownership registered to Raymond Lawrence Humphrey (64/64), Healing.
1.10.1933: Sold to George Frederick Sleight, Grimsby and Raymond Lawrence Humphrey, Healing (64/64 joint owners).
17.11.1933: George Frederick Sleight designated managing owner.
28.11.1933: Sold to Dobson Ship Repairing Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby.
7.12.1933: Charles Dobson appointed manager.
11.6.1946: Requisitioned for war service as an auxiliary patrol vessel (Hire rate £64.15.0d/month).
2.4.1941: Attacked and sunk by German aircraft off St. Abbs Head. No survivors.
14.3.1947: Grimsby registry closed.

Lost – Ty/Skipper William T. M. Charlton; Samuel E. Foote, 2nd Hand; William E. Nicholson & Edward Robson, enginemen; Adam H. M. Bruce, Lawrence E Glyde, Henry Jones, William J. Smith, Gilbert J. Whyte, Stanley G. Winsor & Josiah V. Wright, seamen; Ernest E. Harris, O/S; Edward V. Feeney & Sidney Phillips, stokers.

Changelog

16/03/2009: Page published. 6 updates since then.
01/10/2020: Updated history.

S.T. Caliph M197

Technical

Official Number: 121610
Yard Number: 804
Completed:: 1906
Gross Tonnage: 226
Net Tonnage: 87
Length: 120.5 ft
Breadth: 21.6 ft
Depth: 11.7 ft
Built: Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, North Shields
Engine: T.3-cyl by W.V.V. Lidgerwood, Coatbridge

History

1906: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, North Shields (Yd.No.804) for David Pettit,Milford; Morgan W. Howells, Hakin & Joseph W. Johnson, Neyland as CALIPH.
8.1906: Completed.
27.8.1906: Registered at Milford (M197) (David Pettit, managing owner).
19.11.1907 Fishing 180 miles WNW of Isles of Scilly (Sk. Alfred J. Kersey), at 6.30 pm. George Lednor (19), caught in sheave and lost leg. Landed at Queenstown but subsequently died.
18.5.1908: When fishing some 300 miles west of Lundy (Sk. Thomas Leggett) in collision with Cardiff owned steam trawler EUPHRATES (H329) (Sk. Bush) which sustained heavy damage to port side shell plating at bow.
20.5.1908: EUPHRATES arrived Swansea.
27.7.1908: Sold to David Pettit & Joseph W. Johnson, Milford Haven.
7.3.1911: About 18 miles off St. Ann’s Head (Sk. Thomas Leggett) in collision with drifter VERA (SN353); damage to bow.
21.1.1912: Sold to David Pettit, Milford Haven (managing owner).
1.1.1914: Tonnage altered to 86.61 net under provision of Merchant Shipping Act 1907.
8.1914: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-6pdr HA, 1-3.5” A/S Howitzer and Hydrophone) (Ad.No.133).
1917: Based at Portland. In company with HMTrawler MARISTO (Ad.No.1987)(M14) attacked a German submarine and claimed an unconfirmed kill.
1919: Returned to owner.
1.1928: Stranded at Helvick Head, nr Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, sustaining damage to rudder and after peak.
27.1.1928: Refloated by Cork tug MORSECOCK (325grt/1877)
28.1.1928: Arrived Passage West, Co. Cork for repair.
3.1.1933: Left Valentia (Sk. Jack H. Ryan) to assist Norwegian steamer HEILO (989g/1921). Stood by.
5.1.1933: Connected but tow parted. 6/7/1.1933: Stood by HEILO.
8.1.1933: To Valentia and located tug. Returned and stood by.
9.1.1933: At 9.30 am. released and left for Milford.
25.10.1934: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood (Basil A. Parkes, Blackpool manager).
21.11.1934: Sold to Harley & Miller Ltd, Liverpool (Richard H. Jones, Wallasey, manager).
1934: Milford registry closed.
22.11.1934: Registered at Liverpool (LL46).
6.1937: Sold to Edgar E. Carter, Milford Haven (managing/owner).
10.7.1937: Liverpool registry closed.
12.7.1937: Registered at Milford (M234).
7.12.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (Hire rate £56.10.0d/month).
13.1.1940: Returned.
21.6.1940: In Western Approaches, picked up nine crew members of the Newcastle registered steam tanker SARANAC (12,049grt/1918) (Capt Vernon H. Alcock) Convoy QA172, which had foundered about 270 miles SW of Lands End having been torpedoed and hit by gunfire from U-boat (U51). Landed survivors at Berehaven, Co. Cork. Master and thirty survivors picked up by HMS HURRICANE (P.No.H06) (Lt Cdr H. C. Simms RN) and landed at Plymouth.
2. 11.1941: On Irish grounds (Sk. ??). About 12 miles south of Old Head of Kinsale foundered after being bombed by German aircraft. Crew picked up by SLEBECH (M199) and landed at Milford.
4.11.1941: Thomas Swingler, Bosun died in hospital of injuries sustained in attack.
17.11.1941: Milford registry closed.
6.1942: Sk. Thompson, Hakin, skipper of SLEBECH awarded MBE and Ch. Eng. George Henry Springer awarded BEM, for bravery in rescuing crew of CALIPH.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Caliph M197

S.T. Caliph M197
Picture courtesy of Milford Trawlers

Changelog
11/03/2009: Page published. 3 updates since then.
24/10/2019: Updated information and added an image.