Category Archives: War Losses

Vessels lot due to war

S.T. Caldew FD347

Additional information courtesy of The Hull Trawler Website, Geoff Davidson and Patrick Conaghan.

Technical

Official Number: 128769
Yard Number: 1580
Completed: 1914
Gross Tonnage: 257
Net Tonnage: 115
Length: 129.7 ft
Breadth: 23.5 ft
Depth: 12.7
Engine: 97hp T.3-cyl by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, Middlesbrough.
Boiler: Blair & Co Ltd, Stockton-on-Tees
Built: Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, North Shields

History

5.10.1914: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, North Shields (Yd.No.580) for James Thomas, Milford Haven (managing owner) as MARISTO.
11.1914: Completed.
6.11.1914: Registered at Milford (M14).
9.6.1915: Landed 200 kits of hake for record £954.
12.1915: Requisitioned for war service as an armed trawler (1-12pdr) (Ad.No.1978).
1917: Based at Portland. In company with HMTrawler CALIPH (Ad.No.133)(M197) attacked a German submarine and claimed an unconfirmed kill.
16.10.1917: Sold to The “Wyre” Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood (Magnus B. J. Wedum, manager).
Post 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Fleetwood.
10.9.1919: Milford registry closed.
11.9.1919: Registered at Fleetwood (FD347).
30.9.1921: Registered at Fleetwood as CALDEW (FD347).
14.2.1931: In gale force winds and driving snow, at 3.00am. responded to distress call to Malin Head Radio by Finnish steamer MALVE (1488grt/1917) (Capt Boxberg) stranded on Tiree whilst on passage Tallin to Manchester with wood pulp and timber. With steam trawlers DHOON (FD54) and RIVER CLYDE (FD418) stood by to render assistance. Vessel refloated on flood after pumping out ballast and moving 40 tons of cargo from No.3 to No.4 hold, and went to anchor in Balephetrish Bay, Tiree. Wind freshened and started to drag, with insufficient steam, drove ashore among rocks, held fast and making water. Crew abandoned and landed on Tiree. Vessel was a total loss.
12.11.1931: At Fleetwood, Sk. James Crewdson was fined 20s by Magistrates for excessive use of the steam whistle in the Wyre Channel to the annoyance of the public.
16.3.1935: Fishing the St. Kilda grounds (Sk. Edward Harris). At 10.30am. when hauling SW of the islands and with the radio operator, Christopher Cramer (23)) on the winch, when he had completed his task he disappeared over the side. The crew dashed to the rail and as he came up for the second time a deckhand grabbed Cramer’s foot and hauled him safely onboard.
25.3.1935: Sailed Fleetwood for St. Kilda and Butt of Lewis grounds (Sk. Edward Harris); twelve crew.
6.4.1935: While trawling on grounds south of Gigha, at about 7.55 a.m. in collision with the OSPRAY II (FD129) (Sk. Robert Kelly) which suffered damage aft of wheelhouse on starboard side and shell plating holed in the bunker. Despite efforts to save her and attempt to beach, vessel filled rapidly and crew abandoned and lay to until vessel sank at about 8.35 am. Picked up by the CALDEW and returned to Fleetwood.
7.12.1935: BOT Formal Investigation (S.375) found Sk. Edward Harris and Sk. Robert Kelly both in default and suspended Sk. Harris’s ticket ticket for twelve months.
30.9.1937: Arrived Fleetwood with steam trawler LOWTHER (FD347) (Sk.T. Barcock) in tow having picked her up off the Flannan Islands, disabled with broken tail shaft. The trip of 400 miles was accomplished in 60 hours in moderate weather.
31.1.1938: On arrival at Fleetwood, Sk. John Wilson reported that he had heard Sk. Anderson of the steam trawler BOSTONIAN (FD41) calling the Boston control ship TEKOURA (FD12) on Friday 21st at 5-30pm. while he was off Eagle Island. BOSTONIAN was lost south of Barra in severe weather conditions; no survivors.
6.3.1938: On the grounds off the Donegal coast (Sk. William Wright). Trawl warp parted whipping across the deck and encircling two men. Realising that they were both severely injured Sk. Wright called Killybegs Radio Station and arranged for an ambulance to meet the ship. Made best speed for Killybegs, Co. Donegal.
7.3.1938: On arrival, driven across the county and deckhands Emmanuel Clarke (44) and William Carter admitted to hospital in Donegal. Clarke did not respond to treatment and died that night as a result of his injuries.
1938: Sold to Saint Andrew’s Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull (Basil A. Parkes, Cleveleys, manager).
22.2.1939: Off Mull of Galloway, stood by submarine L.21 which had broken away from tug in gale force winds while on passage from Portsmouth to Messers W. H. Arnott, Young’s yard at Dalmuir, for breaking. Unsuccessfully tried to connect, abandoned and proceeded. L.21 was subsequently recovered by the Glasgow tug CHIEFTAIN (196grt/1930 860ihp) and delivered Dalmuir.
16.9.1939: Sailed Fleetwood for Faroe Island grounds (Sk. Thomas Joseph Kane); twelve crew.
21.9.1939: At Faroe landed fireman D. Morris, Blackpool due to illness; transferred to hospital at Tveraa.
24.9.1939: Whilst fishing off the Faroe Islands stopped by U-boat (U.33), sunk by gunfire in position 60.47N 06.20W after crew ordered into boat. Crew picked up by Swedish steamer KRONPRINSESSAN MARGAETA (3765grt/1914).
27.9.1939: Steamer stopped by German destroyer FRIEDRICH IHN crew removed and interned in Germany. Five years and seven months first in Sandbostel and later Milag 8.
18.10.1939: Fleetwood registry closed “Sunk by enemy submarine”.

(Released 1945: Albert Cook, Mate; Thomas Payne, Chief Engineer; Charles Ellis, Bosun; deckhands, Harold Ashwell, George Triffett and Alec Mulholland; fireman, Hector Pearson. Skipper Thomas Kane; Fredrick Rowe, 2nd Engineer and deckhand George Brooks had been exchanged for German prisoners in Lisbon in June 1943. Cook, John Shutterlin had been repatriated via Gibraltar in January 1945. Source IWM BU4665)

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Caldew FD347

S.T. Caldew FD347

S.T. Caldew FD347

S.T. Caldew FD347
Picture courtesy of David Slinger

S.T. Caldew FD347

S.T. Caldew FD347
Picture courtesy of David Slinger

The crew of Caldew in the POW camp

The crew of Caldew in the POW camp

Changelog
21/01/2009: Page published. 7 updates since then.
12/12/2015: Added information.
15/06/2016: Updated information.

S.T. Moulmein H61

S.T. Moulmein FD132

Additional information courtesy of Bill Blow

Technical

Official Number: 104239
Yard Number: 503
Completed: 1895
Gross Tonnage: 151
Net Tonnage: 40
Length: 100.6 ft
Breadth: 20.6 ft
Depth: 11 ft
Engine: 320ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by N.E. Marine Engineering Co Ltd, Sunderland
Built: Edwards Bros, North Shields

History

25.5.1895: Launched by Edwards Bros, North Shields (Yd.No.503) for George Beeching, Fleetwood (managing owner) as MOULMEIN.
6.1895: Completed.
26.6.1895: Registered at Fleetwood (FD132).
1897: Sold to Kelsall Brothers & Beeching Ltd, Manchester (John E. A. Kelsall & George Beeching, Fleetwood, managers).
1899: Transferred to Hull.
30.3.1899: Registered at Hull (H61).
12.5.1899: Fleetwood registry closed.
22.10.1904: The Dogger Bank Incident. Shelled and damaged by Russian Navy Baltic Fleet while fishing on the Dogger Bank. Russians on passage to the Pacific in the darkness opened fire on the trawlers (approx 45 vessels) under the impression that they were about to be attacked.
8.9.1911: Registered office transferred to Hull (George Beeching, Hull & John E. A. Kelsall, London, managers).
21.5.1913: Sold to George Clarkson, Fleetwood.
23.5.1913: George Clarkson appointed managing owner.
23.5.1913: Mortgaged to James Herbert Marr, Fleetwood (A).
7.7.1913: Hull registry closed.
8.7.1913: Registered at Fleetwood (FD187).
6.8.1913: Sold to The Devon Steam Trawling Co, Fleetwood (George Clarkson, manager).
1.1.1914: Tonnage altered to 59.04 net under provision of Merchant Shipping Act 1907.
18.11.1916: Sold to Henry Carl Smethurst (64/64), Grimsby. Henry Carl Smethurst designated managing owner.
13.12.1916: Fleetwood registry closed.
18.12.1916: Registered at Grimsby (GY1007).
23.12.1916: Sold to Henry Carl Smethurst, John Wintringham Smethurst & William Winteringham Smethurst, all Grimsby (64/64 joint owners). John Wintringham Smethurst designated managing owner.
28.3.1917: Stopped by U-boat (UC77) with a shot across the bows whilst fishing 25 miles NE of Longstone Light and scuttled by opening seacocks and scuttles. Vessel position 56.00N 1.13W.
14.5.1917: Grimsby registry closed “Sunk by German submarine”.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Moulmein H61

S.T. Moulmein H61
Picture courtesy of The Mike Thompson Collection

S.T. Moulmein H61

S.T. Moulmein H61
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Moulmein FD132

S.T. Moulmein FD132
Picture from the Internet

Russians open fire

Russians open fire
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Mino H799

S.T. Mino H799
Picture courtesy of The Mike Thompson Collection

Changelog
19/01/2009: Page published. 9 updates since then.
18/09/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.

S.T. Lord Minto FD51

Technical

Official Number: 136192
Yard Number: 599
Completed: 1914
Gross Tonnage: 295
Net Tonnage: 123
Length: 136.7 ft
Breadth: 23.2 ft
Depth: 12.3 ft
Engine: 93nhp T.3-cyl and boiler by C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull
Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby

History

1.3.1914: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.599) for Yorkshire Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull as LORD MINTO.
28.5.1914: Registered at Hull (H105). John McCann & Edward Cartwright designated managers.
6.6.1914: Completed.
5.1915: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-12pdr) (Ad.No.1516). Based Dover.
Post 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Hull.
17.10.1921: Sold to Pickering & Haldane’s Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Hull. John McCann & Edward Cartwright designated joint managers.
14.3.1924: Sold to J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood. James A. Robertson designated manager.
12.10.1924: James A. Robertson died.
10.1924: Alan Marr designated manager.
12.1.1925: Sold to The Active Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood.
6.6.1925: Hull registry closed.
12.6.1925: Registered at Fleetwood (FD51). Alan Marr designated manager.
1.12.1925: Alan Marr died.
12.1925: Joseph Arthur Marr designated manager.
26.10.1936: In gale force winds and heavy weather off St. Kilda, Bosun, William Wilson Crewdson was washed overboard and drowned.
9.1939: On a trip to St. Kilda ground (Sk. Charles Pennington); eleven crew.
18.9.1939: Trawling 30 miles NW of St. Kilda. 7.00pm. stopped in position 58.09N 09.17W by U-boat (U.35); tried to escape and made radio message. Examined i.a.w. Prisenordnung (Prize Regulations) Art.54. Seized along with ARLITA (FD188) and NANCY HAGUE (FD133). As boats not considered safe for crew*, transferred along with crew of ARLITA to NANCY HAGUE which allowed to return to Fleetwood. Both vessels sunk by gunfire in position 57.51N 09.28W. At 8.47pm. H M destroyers SOMALI (P.No.F33) and MATABELE (P.No.F26) detached to assist.
27.9.1939: Fleetwood registry closed “Vessel sunk by German submarine”.

*Crew (all Fleetwood unless stated) – Sk. Charles Pennington; Arthur Dutton, Mate; J. R. Rogers, Bosun; T. Hudson Ch.Eng; R. Neill, 2nd Eng; G. Halliday; Bertram Lee; W. Sharples; J. Beadle, Liverpool, deckhands; W. Kneale, Knott End, fireman; Robert Pooley, cook; Herbert Coplin, wireless operator.

Note: U-boat (U35) was sunk 29.11.1939 in North Sea, in position 60.53N, 02.47E, by depth charges from HMShips KASHMIR (P.No.F12), KINGSTON (P.No.F64) and ICARUS (P.No.D03). All submariners survived.

Note: U-boat (U35) was sunk 29.11.1939 in North Sea, in position 60.53N, 02.47E, by depth charges from HMShips KASHMIR (P.No.F12), KINGSTON (P.No.F64) and ICARUS (P.No.D03). All submariners survived.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Lord Minto FD51

S.T. Lord Minto FD51
Picture from Internet

S.T. Lord Minto FD51

S.T. Lord Minto FD51
Picture courtesy of the Greenday Collection (Trawlerphotos)

Changelog
19/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
04/06/2017: Removed FMHT watermarks from images.
-1/05/2021: Updated history.

S.T. Alberia GY588

Additional information courtesy of Bill Blow and David Slinger

Technical

Official Number 132091
Yard Number 474
Completed: 1910
Gross Tonnage 286
Net Tonnage 112
Length 125 ft
Breadth 23.5 ft
Depth 12.3 ft
Engine 550ihp T.3-cyland boiler by Amos & Smith Ltd, Hull
Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby

History

7.9.1910: Launched by Cochrane & Sons, Selby (Yd.No.474) for Crown Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby as ALBERIA.
7.11.1910: Registered at Grimsby (GY588).
7.11.1910: Completed.
7.11.1910: George Edward James Moody designated manager.
20.12.1910: Vessel mortgage (64/64) to London City & Midland Bank Ltd, London (A).
1913: Fishing from Fleetwood.
12.1914: Requisitioned for war service (Ad.No.768). Fitted with 1-12pdr, W/T and mine-sweep. Based Falmouth.
7.7.1918: On patrol off Lizard, struck by shells from an unknown source causing considerable damage. Returned to Falmouth. (Possibly shelled by US Submarine Chasers in the vicinity).
19.8.1918: Repairs completed.
7.9.1918: Mortgage (A) discharged.
1.10.1918: At Falmouth General Patrol and Escort work (Lieut. RNR).
Post 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Fleetwood.
9.5.1921: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to London Joint City & Midland Bank Ltd, London (B).
27.11.1923: Mortgagee restyled Midland Bank Ltd, London.
20.6.1928: Used to test the new Side Slipping Patent Slipway outside the dock with a large crowd of dignitaries and workers present. Under the guidance of Mr. R. Leach, foreman carpenter of Messrs J. Robertson & Sons, worked into position by the tugs FYLDE (256grt/1904) (Capt Saer) and LANDY (51grt/1919) (Mr. J. Whiteside) and placed on the cradle. Hauling out was slow to test the facility, but once in position, transferred first to one side and then the other and back to the slipway to be scraped and cleaned by the men of Messrs H. M. Johns & Co, prior to painting. The trial was judged to be a success.
9.10.1928: On arrival at Fleetwood and berthing in the Fish Dock collided with the fish staging, causing damage to staging.
10.10.1920: Landed 459 boxes.
5.3.1934: Mortgage (B) discharged.
6.3.1934: Sold to George Edward James Moody, Harry Kelly & Will Bancroft Moody (64/64 joint owners), Grimsby.
6.3.1934: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Midland Bank Ltd, London (C).
12.3.1934: George Edward James Moody designated managing owner
23.4.1934: Mortgage (C) discharged.
24.4.1934: Sold to The Cevic Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Fleetwood.
3.5.1934: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Midland Bank Ltd, London (D).
14.5.1934: Charles Henry Friswell designated manager.
25.9.1934; Mortgage (D) discharged.
26.9.1934: Sold to The Alberic Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Fleetwood. Charles H. Friswell designated manager.
27.9.1934: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Midland Bank Ltd, London (E).
10.10.1934: Registered at Grimsby as ALBERIC (GY588) (BoT Minute M/R.G.No.1305/1934 dated 10.8.1934).
10.10.1934: Charles Henry Friswell designated manager.
25.4.1940: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (P.No.NA) (Hire rate £71.10.0d/month). Based North Shields with M/S Group 63.
2/3.5.1941: Sunk in an accidental collision with destroyer HMS St. ALBANS (P.No. I.15) in Pentland Firth (T/Lt R. M. Johnson RNVR); fourteen crew lost.
27.10.1942: Mortgage (E) discharged.
18.3.1947: Grimsby registry closed “Ship lost on Government service in May 1941”.

(MPK – Ty Sub Lieut. Charles S. Whitehead RNR; Edward G. Northing, 2nd Hand; Livingstone Izatt, Charles S. Merriman, Enginemen; Alexander Duncan, Ldg Seaman; Ralph Chesnutt, Michael Real, Charles R. Weston, Seamen; Cyril Jones, Seaman/Steward; John T. Taberham, Ord Seaman; Arthur Reay, Telegraphist; Albert W. H. Arthur, Ord Signalman; James C. Annand, Stoker; Thomas M. Murray, Stoker 2c.)

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Alberia GY588

S.T. Alberia GY588
Picture courtesy of The David slinger Collection.

S.T. Alberia GY588

S.T. Alberia GY588
Picture courtesy of The David slinger Collection.

S.T. Alberia GY588

S.T. Alberia GY588
Picture courtesy of The David slinger Collection.

S.T. Alberia GY588

S.T. Alberia GY588
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Alberia GY588

S.T. Alberia GY588
Picture courtesy of The Davis Slinger Collection

Changelog
18/01/2009: Page published. 5 updates since then.
26/12/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
25/01/2019: Updated information and added an image.
15/02/2019: Added an image.
15/06/2019: Updated information.
10/12/2002: Added images.

S.T. Magnus FD181

Technical

Official Number: 105367
Yard Number: 55
Completed: 1896
Gross Tonnage: 154
Net Tonnage: 45
Length: 105.5 ft
Breadth: 20.6 ft
Depth: 10.2 ft
Built: Hawthorns & Co Ltd, Leith
Engine: T.3-cyl by Hawthorns & Co Ltd, Leith

History

31.1.1896: Launched by Hawthorns & Co Ltd, Leith (Yd.No.55) for Liverpool Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Liverpool as MAGNUS.
2.1896: Completed (Robert Harley, manager). Registered at Liverpool (LL294).
1908: Sold to Harley & Miller Ltd, Liverpool (Robert Harley, manager).
3.1913: Sold to Magnus B. J. Wedum, Fleetwood (managing owner).
4.1913: Liverpool registry closed.
4.4.1913: Registered at Fleetwood (FD181).
8.4.1913: Sold to The Sunrise Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood (Magnus B. J. Wedum, manager).
1.1.1914: Tonnage altered to 61.32 net under provision of Merchant Shipping Act 1907.
8.1916: Sold to John Robert Ditchburn, Whitby & Charles Russell, Middlesbrough.
5.8.1916: Fleetwood registry closed.
8.1916: Registered at Whitby (WY??).
8.10.1916: Out of North Shields for fishing grounds, sunk by U-boat (UB27) 40 miles E.N.E.of Longstone Light.
16.10.1916: Whitby registry closed “Ship sunk by enemy action.”

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Magnus FD181

S.T. Magnus FD181
Picture courtesy of The Alan Hirst Collection

Changelog
18/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
16/09/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
26/05/2021: Updated history.