Category Archives: War Losses

Vessels lot due to war

S.T. Velia (2) FD49

Technical
Official Number: 136896
Yard Number: 606
Completed: 1914
Gross Tonnage: 290
Net Tonnage: 116
Length: 130.2 ft
Breadth: 23.5 ft
Depth: 12.7 ft
Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby
Engine: 84nhp T.3-cyl and boiler by C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull

History
27.6.1914: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.606) for J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood. as VELIA.
28.8.1914: Registered at Fleetwood (FD49). James A. Robertson designated manager.
8.9.1914: Completed.
12.1914: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-12pdr, 1-7.5” A/S Howitzer) Renamed SITVEL (Ad.No.197). Based Northern Patrol.
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Fleetwood and reverted to VELIA (FD49).
19.9.1927: Received wireless message from steam trawler NORINA (FD150) which had stranded in fog and drizzle on the Isle of Jura, about one hours steaming from the Rubha a Mhail (Rhuvaal) light whilst making for Islay Sound.
20.9.1927: Arrived on the scene and with SARBA (FD177) which had arrived earlier, connected but were unsuccessful in refloating.
21.9.1927: Stood by until Glasgow tug FLYING SPRAY (217grt/1917 – 823ihp) (Mr Roger Owen) arrived, connected and after three quarters of an hour succeeded in refloating NORINA.
17.6.1930: Outward for fishing grounds in Fleetwood Channel. Steam trawler SULBY (FD87) also outwards had carbide drum fall into engine crankpit smashing engine, gas generated exploded causing considerable damage; no casualties. Connected and beached SULBY at Fleetwood.
21.12.1932: In squally weather with a strong SSE wind, stranded at about 10.30 pm. two miles S of Point of Ayre, IoM, stripping propeller. Steam trawler CHORLEY (FD26) stood by and attempted to pass warps but sea too rough.
22.12.1932: At 5.45 pm, with Glasgow tug FLYING FOAM (217grt/1917) in attendance, refloated. Delivered Fleetwood, repaired and returned to service. 26.1.1938: Arrived Fleetwood with damaged propeller sustained by striking a floating object when fishing on the west of Scotland grounds. Slow progress home due to vibration and continual gales (see RIVER CLYDE also affected by this weather).
Pre 4.1940: Employed on Fishery Protection (WA/Fort William/Fleetwood) (1-12pdr, 4 Lewis guns).
26.5.1940: At 6.57pm. ‘Operation Dynamo’ (Dunkirk evacuation) put into effect.
27.5.1940: Requisitioned for war service (Hire rate £77.6.8d/month) (Ty/Sk. John Clarkson RNR).
27.5.1940: Fleetwood Flotilla sailed North End, Fleetwood for English Channel in company with GAVA (FD380) as Leader (Ty/Sk. F. Day RNR. Senior Officer Fleetwood Flotilla, P/Ty/Lieut. Francis Joseph Jordan RNR), and DHOON (FD438), EDWINA (FD205) (Ty/Sk. Percy Bedford RNR), EVELYN ROSE (GY9) (Ty/Sk. Arthur John Lewis RNR), JACINTA (FD235) (Ty/Sk. Jim Bettess RNR – mate).
30.5.1940: Arrived Dover.
31.5.1940: At 0730 sailed for Ramsgate, entering harbour at 0910. At 2030 moved to anchor outside.
1.6.1940: At 0725 sailed Ramsgate for Dunkirk. Attacked by enemy aircraft all the way; returned fire. At Dunkirk did not embark any troops. Sailed with Fleetwood Flotilla for Ramsgate. At 1400 concentrated enemy air attack. Aircraft returned at 1430. At 1530, Belgian vessel signalled for assistance; 1546 ordered by GAVA to take damaged Belgian T.26 in tow. Connected and proceeded to Dover. Rejoined Fleetwood Flotilla and resumed patrol at 2315.
4.6.1940; Ordered to Harwich. Weekend leave and on return crew signed a three month contract under T.124 articles as civilians employed to serve alongside the Royal Navy in Naval uniform as members of Naval Auxiliary Personnel subject to Naval discipline. Commenced 3 day patrols (P.No.NI) in the English Channel/Thames Estuary as part of ‘invasion’ defence.
19.10.1940: Mined 8 miles SE of South Ship Head, Shipwash, Thames Estuary (Prob. Ty/Lieut. J. G. Shoobridge RNR). Approx position 51.48N 01.44E. All crew picked up by HM Trawlers HEKLA (P.No.FY.1650) (GY118) and STELLA CARINA (P.No.FY.352) (H327).
11.1940: Fleetwood registry closed.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Velia FD49

S.T. Velia FD49
Picture courtesy of The Fred Baker Collection

S.T. Velia FD49

S.T. Velia FD49
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
17/01/2009: Page published. 11 updates since then.
12/06/2022: Restored damaged page.

S.T. Thomas Deas M253

Additional information courtesy of Barry Johnson Milford Trawlers
Technical

Admiralty Number: 3506
Official Number: 143858
Yard Number: 667
Completed: 1917
Gross Tonnage: 275
Net Tonnage: 107
Length: 125.5 ft
Breadth: 23.4 ft
Depth: 12.8 ft
Built: Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough
Engine: 480ihp T.3-cyl by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough
Boiler: Palmer’s Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd, Hebburn on Tyne

History

17.10.1916: Laid down. Requisitioned by The Admiralty on the stocks; no instalment monies paid.
08.2.1917: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank, Middlesbrough (Yd.No.667) and requisitioned by The Admiralty (non-standard “Castle” class) as JAMES JOHNSON.
13.4.1917: Completed.
8.4.1918: At midnight 2 miles S. by W. from Daunt Lightship in collision with armed trawler LORD HARDINGE (Ad.No.2993) (GY1013) which foundered. All crew picked up.
19.8.1919: Landed at Milford.
21.11.1919: Registered by The Admiralty at London (Part I) as THOMAS DEAS O.N.143858. Engaged in commercial trawling.
3.2.1920: Registered by The Admiralty at London (Part IV) (LO294).
Between 18.5.1920 – 18.6.1920: Allocated to Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries, London. Fishing out of Swansea.
1920: Allocated to the Minesweepers’ Cooperative Trawling Society, London.
13.8.1920: Minesweepers’ Cooperative Trawling Society Ltd, London registered.
29.11.1920: Landed at Milford and laid up.
1.1922: Scheme abandoned, the necessary working capital of £100,000 having not been subscribed.
9.1922: At HM Dockyard, Pembroke completed fitting out for fishing under Special Survey of Lloyd’s Register and classed 100A1 Stm Trawler at Milford.
10.1922: Sold to Henry James Shooter, Exeter; Sk. Henry William Salter, Milford Haven & Sk. Thomas Salter, Hakin.
9.10.1922: London registry closed.
10.10.1922: Registered at Milford (M253).
22.10.1923: Shares re-allocated to James Henry Shooter, Exeter & Sk. Thomas Salter, Hakin.
11.6.1926: In the Channel had a narrow escape when a mail boat crossed the bows, quick thinking by the helmsman averted collision.
23.12.1926: Sold to Mrs Elizabeth Ann Heck Pettit, Milford Haven. David Pettit designated manager.
27.1.1931: Outward from Milford for the fishing grounds on the afternoon tide in darkness, misty light rain stranded in Gellyswick Bay. Refloated under own power with no damage.
1932: David Pettit (66) died.
1933: Transferred Mrs Elizabeth Ann Heck Owens, Hakin. Mrs Elizabeth Ann Heck Owens designated managing owner.
28.7.1933: Arrived Limerick, Co. Limerick with broken steam pipe having been aground in river.
11.11.1936: Sailed Milford for West of Ireland grounds at 4.15 p.m. (Sk. Robert W. C. Kettle). Anchored off to await crew member. Picked up and proceeded down Haven, At 7.15 p.m. in collision with steam tanker SAN DARIO (1136grt/1936) alleged to be at anchor unlit. Stood by and checked damage before returning to Milford.
23.3.1937: Sailed Milford for West coast of Ireland grounds (Sk. Robert W. C. Kettle).
31.3.1937: Spoke THOMAS LEEDS (M70) stopped with condenser door blown off. THOMAS LEEDS effected repair but requested tow to Milford.
1.4.1937: Connected.
3.4.1937: Delivered THOMAS LEEDS to Milford.
24.9.1939: Last landing at Milford.
30.9.1939: Sold to J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood for £5750. Geoffrey Edwards Marr, Cleveleys designated manager.
21.1.1941: Homeward in an easterly gale and rough seas, ran ashore near Port Askaig, Islay. At 10.10pm Kilchoman coastguard telephoned the Port Askaig Lifeboat Station that a trawler was ashore in the Sound of Islay. The motor lifeboat CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH was launched at 10.50pm and at 11.30pm found the trawler aground with a crew of fourteen and carrying a catch worth about £2,000.
22.1.1941: Another trawler arrived and the lifeboat succeeded in passing a tow line to her but in the severe weather it parted. It was decided that in view of the weather the other trawler would continue on passage. At day-break the lifeboat assisted the trawler to layout out a kedge anchor and at high water refloated herself. The lifeboat returned to station at 12.05pm. The Fleetwood Steam Trawlers Mutual Insurance Association sent £50 to the lifeboat crew in gratitude for them helping to refloat the trawler. The crew gave £4 of the gratuity to the Institution.
16.2.1941: Lost after explosion approximately 4 miles off Spurn Point, believed to have been mined; Crew of thirteen lost.
20.3.1941: Milford registry closed “Vessel sunk by enemy mine”.

(Lost – Sk. W. Scott (44), 24 Knowsley Gate, Fleetwood; John Henry Raywell (25), 79 Rosamond Street, Hull, 2nd Hand; George Robert Dodson (43), 70 Shakespeare Road, Fleetwood, 3rd Hand; Thomas George Hudson (48), 3 Coniston Avenue, Fleetwood, Ch Eng,; Richard Neill (39), 63 Warrenhurst Road, Fleetwood, 2nd Eng.; George Robert Bush (19), 308 Radcliffe Road, Fleetwood, Charles Henry Powdrell (57), 174 St. Georges Road, Hull, Harold Powdrell (51) 9 Esther’s Avenue, Eastbourne Street, Hull, Walter Semper (29), 4 York Terrace, Marmaduke Street, Hull & Robert Wilson (23), 141 Chilcorn Street, Hull, Deckhands; William Gordan Phillips (40), 10 Darbyshire Road, Fleetwood & Thomas Patrick Power (41), C/O Seaman’s Mission, Dock Street, Fleetwood, Fireman/Trimmers and Thomas Madden (36), 1 St. Andres Terrace, Panott Street, Hull, Cook.

(John (aka James) Johnson, OS (volunteer), age 24, b. Newport, Rhode Island, America – VICTORY (SB110)

(Record of Death of Merchant Seaman, recorded May 1941. Lost at sea, River Humber: presumed killed: vessel sunk by enemy mine – Sk. W. Scott (44), 24 Knowsley Gate, Fleetwood; John Henry Raywell (25), 79 Rosamond Street, Hull, 2nd Hand; George Robert Dodson (43), 70 Shakespeare Road, Fleetwood, 3rd Hand; Thomas George Hudson (48), 3 Coniston Avenue, Fleetwood, Ch Eng,; Richard Neill (39), 63 Warrenhurst Road, Fleetwood, 2nd Eng.; George Robert Bush (19), 308 Radcliffe Road, Fleetwood; Charles Henry Powdrell (57), 174 St. Georges Road, Hull; Harold Powdrell (51) 9 Esther’s Avenue, Eastbourne Street, Hull; Walter Semper (29), 4 York Terrace, Marmaduke Street, Hull & Robert Wilson (23), 141 Chiltern Street, Hull, Deckhands; William Gordon Phillips (40), 10 Darbyshire Road, Fleetwood & Thomas Patrick Power (41), c/o Seaman’s Mission, Dock Street, Fleetwood, Fireman/Trimmers and Thomas Madden (36), 1 St. Andrews Terrace, Panott Street, Hull, Cook.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Thomas Deas M253

S.T. Thomas Deas M253
Picture courtesy of David Slinger

Changelog
17/01/2009: Page published. 5 updates since then.
19/02/2015: Information added.
03/11/2016: Information updated.
25/04/2022: Information updated.
10/11/2022: Added Record of Death

S.T. Phyllis Rosalie FD24

Technical

Official Number: 162068
Yard Number: 964
Completed: 1934
Gross Tonnage: 433
Net Tonnage: 162
Length: 157.2 ft
Breadth: 26.4 ft
Depth: 12.3 ft
Built: Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough
Engine: T.3-cyl by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough

History

15.1.1934: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough (Yd.No.964) for Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood as PHYLLIS ROSALIE.
31.1.1934: Registered at Fleetwood (FD24).
2.1934: Completed (Basil A. Parkes, Cleveleys, manager).
1934: Port’s best single trip, 1,611 boxes.
15.7.1935: Represented Fleetwood at the King George V Silver Jubilee Review at Spithead. Her Skipper, Walter Holmes DSC was presented to H.M. King George.
1935: Port’s best single trip, 1769 boxes.
9.1935: As a result of the Abyssinian crisis and failure of British diplomacy, the Government authorised The Admiralty to procure twenty modern trawlers for conversion to minor war vessels.
11.1935: Following successful trials sold to The Admiralty.
21.11.1935: Fleetwood registry closed. Fitted out as a “Gem” class anti-submarine trawler. Renamed HMTrawler AMETHYST (P.No.T12).
24.11.1940: Mined in Barrow Deep, Thames estuary. All crew landed safely at Southend (Ty/Lieut the Hon W. K. Rous RNVR).

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S.T. Phyllis Rosalie FD24

S.T. Phyllis Rosalie FD24

HMT Amethyst

HMT Amethyst
Picture courtesy of Mark Stopper

S.T. Phyllis Rosalie FD24

S.T. Phyllis Rosalie FD24
Picture courtesy of The Osta Collection

Changelog
16/01/2009: Page published. 5 revisions since then.
14/04/2014: Picture added.
02/12/2014: Picture added.

S.T. King Erik GY474

Trawler/Liner

Additional information courtesy of David Lewis, Birgir Þórisson and Bill Blow

Technical

Official Number: 110879
Yard Number: 233
Completed: 1899
Gross Tonnage: 227
Net Tonnage: 90
Length: 114 ft
Breadth: 21.6 ft
Depth: 12 ft
Engine: 420ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by Charles D. Holmes & Co, Hull
Built: Cochrane & Cooper Ltd, Selby

History

29.3.1899: Launched by Cochrane & Cooper Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.233) as a liner for Viking Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby as KING ERIK.
28.4.1899: Registered at Grimsby (GY10). John E. Rushworth designated manager.
28.4.1899: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Arthur Henry Leslie Melville & Eustace Abel Smith, Lincoln (joint mortgagees) (A).
29.4.1899: Completed.
9.1899: Converted to side fishing.
30.9.1899: Mortgage (A) discharged.
30.9.1899: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to The York City & County Banking Co Ltd (B).
29/30.1.1901: In North Sea with steam trawler DERBY (GY153), came upon German steamer MARTHA SAUBER (1463grt/1888), running short of coals whilst towing German steamer ETHEL (1036grt/), disabled with broken tailshaft on a voyage from Hamburg to Tyne. Cast off tow and both trawlers connected to ETHEL in position 54.5N 1.37E; towage to the Tyne was resumed at about 11.00am.
31.1.1901: Delivered Tyne at 11.30am.
19.4.1901: The Admiralty Division Court awarded each trawler £250 (Owners-£175; skipper-£25; mate-£15; engineer-£12 and crew £1 each).
6.11.1902: Sold by order of the mortgagee under mortgage (B) to Frank Barrett (64/64), Grimsby.
8.11.1902: Frank Barrett designated manager.
6.11.1902: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to The Stamford, Spalding and Boston Banking Co Ltd, Gt. Grimsby (C).
3.8.1904: Mortgage (C) discharged.
16.9.1904: Sold to Ole Gogstad, Sandefjord, Norway registered owner Aktieselsk “KING ERIK”.
29.9.1904: Grimsby registry closed.
10.1904: Registered at Sandefjord (SD33).
31.1.1907: At the Sheriff Court at Elgin, Sk. Hans Christian Andersen was found guilty of trawling within forbidden limits in the Moray Firth and fined £100 or sixty days imprisonment. Fine not paid and imprisoned at Inverness. Released following representation by the Norwegian Government.
1911: Sold to Gustav Emil Forum, Esbjerg. Sandefjord registry closed. Registered at Esbjerg (E169).
10.1911: New boiler by Palmer’s Shipbuilding & Iron Co, Hebburn-on-Tyne.
25.5.1914: Out of Grimsby for Moray Firth fishing grounds, blowing strong SW near gale. At 8.00 am when off Spurn Light, condenser burst. Set course for Grimsby but when off the Bull had to anchor to attend to ingress of water from condenser sea cock and pipework. Ingress not arrested and proceeded Clee Ness, beached and sea cock temporarily sealed, engine room pumped out. At about 2.00 pm summoned tugs, refloated and brought into Grimsby for repair.
1915: Sold to Frank Barrett (64/64), Grimsby.
3.1915: Sandefjord registry closed.
1915: Re measured 228g 90n.
31.3.1915: Registered at Grimsby (GY474).
31.3.1915: Frank Barrett designated manager.
11.4.1915: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-3pdr) (Ad.No.1368). Based Egypt.
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Grimsby.
1.1.1920: Sold to William Frank Gower (64/64), Grimsby.
12.4.1920: William Frank Gower designated managing owner.
1.4.1920: Sold to Direct Fish Supplies Ltd (64/64) London.
19.4.1920: George William Payne Margarson, Grimsby designated manager.
23.3.1922: Company in voluntary liquidation.
10.8.1922: Placed in compulsory liquidation.
9.10.1922: Sold by the liquidator George Digby Pepys, to Thomas William Baskcomb (64/64), Grimsby.
8.12.1922: Thomas William Baskcomb designated manager.
27.7.1923: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to The Grimsby Trawler Owners Direct Supply Co Ltd, Grimsby (D).
20.6.1924: Mortgage (A) transferred to Harry Allen Baskcomb, Grimsby.
31.3.1925: Mortgage (D) discharged.
1.4.1925: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Harry Allen Baskcomb, Grimsby (E).
1.4.1925: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to The Grimsby Trawler Owners Direct Supply Co Ltd, Grimsby (F).
1929: New boiler.
13.11.1937: Mortgage (F) discharged.
24.4.1940: Mortgage (E) discharged.
2.5.1940: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood.
9.5.1940: Basil A. Parkes, Thornton-le-Fylde designated manager.
3.9.1941: Sailed Fleetwood for Icelandic grounds (Sk. Francis H. Davidson); fifteen crew all told.
5.9.1941: Sailed Tobermory for Iceland after repair.
6.9.1941: When some 120 miles WSW of Faroe Islands, at 2330 torpedoed by U-boat (U.141) without warning, ship hit and exploded; all crew lost*.
27.10.1941: Loss reported to families.
7.5.1942: Grimsby registry closed “Ship missing since 5/9/41, presumed lost”.

*Lost – Sk. Francis Henry Davidson (40), Cleethorpes; John Bradford Brewer (32), 2nd Hand; Frederick Durbin (38), 3rd Hand, Hull; George Aisthorpe (56). Ch Eng; William Arthur Watson (37) 2nd Eng, Fleetwood; Eddie Christopher Bowles (54), John James Grundy (20), Fleetwood, Walter Austin Helme (18), Fleetwood, Arthur Leach (44), Hull, Thomas Wall (28), George Wilkins (50), Hessle and Joseph Wroe (37), Hull, Deckhands; George Cyril Bond (25) and William Matthew Lewis (38), Grimsby, Firemen/Trimmers; James Garton (52), Cook..
Note: U 141 (Schuler) hit two trawlers with torpedoes on consecutive days. One was JARLINN and the other KING ERIK. Both vessels exploded

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S.T. King Erik SD33

S.T. King Erik GY474 at Grimsby
Picture from the Internet

S.T. King Erik GY474

S.T. King Erik GY474
Picture courtesy of The Steve Farrow Collection

Changelog
16/01/2009: Page published. 5 revisions since then.
02/12/2014: Information updated.
29/12/2018: Removed FMHT watermark and updated information.
04/12/2020: Updated history.

S.T. Noreen Mary FD4

Additional information courtesy of Andy Hall
Technical

Official Number: 139783
Yard Number: 710
Completed: 1916
Gross Tonnage: 207
Net Tonnage: 79
Length: 117.7 ft
Breadth: 22.2 ft
Depth: 12.3 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl by J. Abernethy & Co Ltd, Aberdeen
Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby

History

5.2.1916: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.710) for Richard Watson Lewis, Aberdeen as KATE LEWIS.
7.8.1916: Completed. Richard Watson Lewis designated manager.
8.1916: Sold to The Admiralty and fitted out as a minesweeper and later a minelayer (Ad.No.2975).
17.10.1916: Registered at Aberdeen (A620).
20.2.1919: Laid in upper dock at Aberdeen awaiting restoration as a fishing vessel.
28.1.1920: Aberdeen registry closed.
1.4.1920: Recommissioned at Sheerness for duties with Actaeon Torpedo School at Sheerness part of the torpedo school HMS VERNON.
1920: Attached to HMS VERNON employed as a tender on minelaying trials.
4.8.1920: Arrived Harwich.
17.3.1921: Sailed Chatham for Guernsey.
19.3.1921: Arrived Guernsey.
4.11.1921: At Dover participated in trials with HMS THRUSTER (P.No.F76) tender to Actaeon Torpedo School at Sheerness.
18.1.1922: Employed in mining work directed by to Actaeon Torpedo School at Sheerness. Paid off into C&M at Sheerness pending decision of The Admiralty to mine training. Remains attached to Actaeon ready to complete full complement if required.
8.6.1922: 8.6.1922: To be towed to Portsmouth at first opportunity. To be attached to HMS VERNON employed as a tender on minelaying trials but not manned, crew as required to be drawn from other tenders or services.
1935: Transferred to Mediterranean Station.
1.9.1936: Arrived Portsmouth from Alexandria.
8.9.1936: Paid off to reserve.
30.10.1936: The Lords Commissioners of The Admiralty in a memo to the Privy Council stated that the accommodation in the trawlers VERNON and KATE LEWIS at all times falls below the recognised naval standard to the discomfort of the personnel on board. Recommended that hard-lying money at half rates should be paid to the officers and ratings on board those trawlers. The Privy Council approved the recommendation.
26.1.1939: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood. Basil Arthur Parkes, Cleveleys designated manager.
2.1939: Arrived Fleetwood from Portsmouth.
10.2.1939: Arrived Glasson Dock.
4.1939: After dry docking by Nicholsons (Glasson Dock) Ltd, completed refit by James Robertson & Sons Ltd, Fleetwood and reclassified as a steam trawler at Fleetwood.
2. – 4.1939: Converted to a fishing vessel by James Robertson & Sons Ltd, Fleetwood.
24.4.1939: Registered at Fleetwood as NOREEN MARY (FD4).
25.4.1939: Sailed Fleetwood for fishing grounds (Sk. J. Reader). During trip put into Douglas, IoM with winch problems. Superintendent Engineer, W. Lewis flew over to IoM to oversee repairs. After fishing was resumed a further breakdown necessitated repairs at Peel and when a third problem arose the trip was aborted and returned to Fleetwood.
4.5.1939: First landing at Fleetwood, 158 boxes grossed £260. Harry Blackburn Jnr, President of the Fleetwood Fish Merchants Association, bought the first box of fish and as was customary was awarded a new hat.
8.1939: Sold to Carnie & Gibb, Newhaven.
25.8.1939: Fleetwood registry closed.
8.1939: Registered at Granton (GN17). William Carnie Jnr, Glasgow designated manager. Fishing from Ayr (Granton Harbour closed.
1943 HMS LOCHINVAR relocated to Granton from Port Edgar).
1.7.1944: Sailed Ayr via Oban for Butt of Lewis ground (Sk. John Flockhart); ten crew all told.
5.7.1944: At 21.50 shelled by U-boat (U.247) while fishing 20 miles W of Cape Wrath and sunk; eight crew killed*.
6.7.1944: At 04.25 two injured survivors (2nd Engineer – William Pryde & deckhand – James MacAllister) both with shrapnel wounds taken aboard HM Trawler LADY MADELEINE (P.No.FY.283)(H243).

(*Killed or MPK: Sk. John Flockhart (54), Portobello; Mate, Alex Barnet (58), Leith; 2nd Fish, Alex Mackenzie (44), Cockenzie; Ch. Eng. William Jackson (53), Eyemouth; Wilfred Allen (41), Scarborough, deckhand; George Gordon (39), fireman, Wallyford; Charles Lindsay (52), cook, Edinburgh and James F. Coates (18), apprentice, Glasgow).

14.01.1946: At the Nuremburg Trials an affidavit on the incident was given by James MacAllister, of Adelphi Place, Portobello, a deck hand on the “Noreen Mary”, which was sunk by gunfire from the U.247 while fishing off the West Coast of Scotland on July 5th, 1944. Macalister is now a rigger at Granton. The affidavit formed part of the evidence submitted by Col. H. W. Phillimore. of the British prosecuting staff, in the case against Karl Doenitz, the 55-year-old engineer’s son, who rose to command the Germany Navy and ultimately became ” Fuhrer of Flensburg.” The diary of Oberleutenant zur See Matschulst, the U-boat commander, said: “The sinking by flak of a fishing vessel in this area testifies to great offensive spirit and nerve.” Of the crew of ten, six were killed, including John Flockhart, skipper; Alexander Barnett. mate; Alexander Mackenzie, fisherman; George Gordon, fireman; Charles Lindsay, cook; and unnamed deck hand. The chief engineer, William Jackson, was thrown clear of the ship, but never seen again. In his affidavit MacAllister said two torpedoes missed the vessel. Then the U-boat surfaced and killed several men with its first machine-gun burst. It circled the helpless ship before using its heavier gun, which sank the ship. ” I swam around and managed to scramble on to the overturned bow our lifeboat. Even now the submarine did not submerge, but deliberately steamed in my direction, and when only 60 or 70 yards away fired directly at me with a short burst from the machine-gun.” MacAllister slipped down into the water until the submarine submerged. Afterwards he pulled the second engineer, William Pryde, on the wreckage with him. They were rescued at daylight by a trawler. Pryde had 48 shrapnel wounds and MacAllister 14.

Note: – James MacAllister Adelphi Place Portobello Edinburgh was later awarded the British Empire Medal (Civil Division) for exceptional gallantry and fortitude, although wounded by shrapnel he stood 8 hours until rescued allowing his more seriously wounded shipmate more room to rest.

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S.T. Kate Lewis

S.T. Kate Lewis
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Kate Lewis A620

S.T. Kate Lewis A620
Picture courtesy of The Dennis Allen Collection

S.T. Noreen Mary FD4

S.T. Noreen Mary FD4
Picture courtesy of The Dennis Allen Collection

Changelog
15/01/2009: Page published. 5 updates since then.
09/06/2015: Picture added.
28/12/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
15/05/2019: Updated history.