Category Archives: War Losses

Vessels lot due to war

S.T. Cloughton Wyke FD46

Technical

Admiralty Number: 3832
Official Number: 143856
Yard Number: 839
Completed: 1918
Gross Tonnage: 338
Net Tonnage: 134
Length: 138.5 ft
Breadth: 23.5 ft
Depth: 13.0 ft
Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby
Engine: 600ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by Charles D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull

History

17.1.1918: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.839) (“Mersey” class) for The Admiralty as JOHN JOHNSON (Ad.No.3832).
4.4.1918: Completed (1-12pdr, hydrophone and W/T).
19.4.1918: Accepted.
20.11.1919: Registered by The Admiralty at London (Part I) as JOHN JOHNSON O.N.143856. Engaged in commercial trawling.
03.02.1920: Registered at London (Part IV) (LO291).
1920: Allocated to the National Fishery Scheme for the setting up of the Minesweepers’ Cooperative Trawling Society Ltd, London.
13.08.1920: Minesweepers’ Cooperative Trawling Society Ltd, London registered.
07.1921: At HM Dockyard, Pembroke fitted out for fishing under Special Survey of Lloyd’s Register and classed 100 A1 Stm Trawler at Milford.
01.1922: Scheme abandoned, the necessary working capital of £100,000 having not been subscribed. Laid up.
1922: Sold to Ernest Wilfred Robins & William John Robbins, Hull. Ernest Wilfred Robins & William John Robbins designated joint managing owners.
5.10.1922: London registry closed.
18.10.1922: Registered at Hull as CLOUGHTON WYKE (H705).
25.1.1923: Sold to West Dock Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull. Ernest W. Robins appointed manager.
25.1.1923: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to The National Provincial & Union Bank of England, London (A).
6.2.1924: Mortgagee re-styled National Provincial Bank Ltd.
29.5.1929: Mortgage (A) discharged.
31.5.1929: Sold to Dinas Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood
3.6.1929: Hull registry closed.
4.6.1929: Registered at Fleetwood (FD46). Joseph Arthur Marr appointed manager.
1.1931: Stranded on Grey Island, Sound of Mull. Refloated and returned to service.
13.6.1932: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to William Deacons Bank Ltd, London (B).
21.10.1935: Delivered disabled Norwegian steamer STAR (1332grt/1922) to tug off Cumbrae Heads, Firth of Clyde.
Pre 4.1940: Employed on Fishery Protection (WA/Fort William/Fleetwood).
26.5.1940: At 6.57pm. ‘Operation Dynamo’ (Dunkirk evacuation) put into effect.
1-4.6.1940: At Dunkirk evacuation.
4.6.1940: Requisitioned for war service as an auxiliary patrol vessel (Hire rate £97.4.0d/month).
15-25.6.1940: Operation Ariel *.
15.6.1940: Left French coast.
20.6.1940: At Plymouth.
9.1941: Fitted out as a minesweeper.
2.2.1942: Sunk by German aircraft in Humber estuary in position 52.59N 01.18.30E (Ty/Sk. C.S. Larter OBE DSC RNR) (four crew MPK, Sk. Larter wounded) along with CAPE SPARTEL (H23) (Lt. J.R. Grundy RNR).
22.10.1942: Fleetwood registry closed.

*Operation Ariel – withdrawal of remaining troops of the British Expeditionary Force from France plus other nationals, civil and military.

(MPK – Alexander G. Sutherland, A/Ldg Seaman; Arthur J. Baker, AB; Ernest Pellow, seaman; John H. Jackson, O/signalm

Notes 1 CLOUGHTON WYKE has a great interest for me. It was the vessel that brought my father off the beaches north of Dunkirk. The only time he would ever mentioned the war was to relate how himself and Lawrence Horsley “commandeered” a motorcycle and ran north to La Panne. When they got there the place was in flames but there was a Fleetwood trawler tied up alongside a burning jetty. On the foc’sle head was a group of deckies, oblivious to the shot and shell whistling all around them, betting cigarettes as to who could hit the church bell with the .303 Lee Enfield the trawler was armed with. As they pulled up, the wheelhouse window dropped and the skipper (I wish I knew who it was) leaned out and shouted “Hello Jim, need a lift home?” It was an acquaintance of his and he came straight back to Fleetwood from the Hell that was Dunkirk.

Notes 2 CLOUGHTON WYKE was converted into a minesweeper and was sunk in the Humber estuary after being attacked by German aircraft. The following quote indicates the severity of attacks at that time.
“That February was indeed the Luftwaffe’s swan song over the shipping routes, for it carried out more attacks in Nore Command waters that month (fifty) than since the previous May. All but one were in the Humber and Yarmouth Sub-Commands. The 2nd and the 5th were the worst days. On the former the Grimsby and Yarmouth M/S and patrol trawlers were attacked on station by at least twenty planes, and Grimsby’s CAPE SPARTEL and Yarmouth’s CLOUGHTON WYKE were sunk. On the latter a convoy as well as scattered warships were targets. The Harwich A/S trawler KINGSTON OLIVINE was strafed near 54G Buoy, without damage or casualties.

S.T. Cloughton Wyke FD46

S.T. Cloughton Wyke FD46
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

S.T. Cloughton Wyke FD46

S.T. Cloughton Wyke FD46
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

S.T. Cloughton Wyke FD46

S.T. Cloughton Wyke FD46
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
14/01/2009: Page published. 3 updates since then.
06/12/2016: Information added.
22/12/2019: Information updated.
02/12/2020: Images added.

S.T. Arley FD44

Technical

Official Number: 136893
Yard Number: 582
Completed: 1914
Gross Tonnage: 304
Net Tonnage: 122
Length: 130.4 ft
Breadth: 24.0 ft
Depth: 13.4 ft
Built: Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, Middlesborough
Engine: 69rhp T.3-cyl by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, Middlesbrough
Speed 10.5 knots

History

10.6.1914: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough (Yd.No.582) for The “Wyre” Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood (Magnus B. J. Wedum, manager) as ARLEY.
18.7.1914: Registered at Fleetwood (FD44).
7.1914: Completed.
10.1914: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-12pdr, 1-6pdr, 1-7.5” A/S Howitzer) (Ad.No.591). Based Malta.
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Fleetwood.
7.3.1921: In thick fog in the Western Approaches, approx 80 miles off Lands End, steam trawler SWAN (FD116) was run down by Seattle registered steamer EDGEMONT (6865grt/1919), struck amidships and foundered. Six men lost and five picked up by ARLEY and returned to Fleetwood.
10.1928: Fitted with W/T.
26.11.1936: Sailed Fleetwood for Iceland after fitting out as a fish carrier for Icelandic vessels bringing catches back to Fleetwood.
31.8.1939: Requisitioned for war service and fitted out for minesweeping duties (P.No.FY.620) (Hire rate £81.1.4d/month).
20-26.5.1940: Evacuation from Boulogne, Calais & Dunkirk.
25.5.1940: Sailed Dover for Calais in company with the trawlers BOTANIC (P.No.FY.707) (H463), BROCK (P.No.FY621) (FD47), CALVI (GY269), FYLDEA (P.No.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 1.40am. arrived off the French coast. No evacuation order was given, but Belgian river launch SEMOIS embarked wounded and transferred to ARLEY; sailed for Folkestone with 110 French soldiers.
26.5.1940: At 6.57pm. ‘Operation Dynamo’ (Dunkirk evacuation) put into effect.
29.5.1940: At 1330 entered Dunkirk harbour in company with FYLDEA to pull the fully laden passenger steamer LOCHGARRY (1280grt/1898) away from the east pier; occupied the vacant berth. BROCK, CALVI, JOHN CATTLING and POLLY JOHNSON berthed, triple banked. At 1530 attacked by German aircraft (Junkers Ju87, Stuka dive bombers), CALVI sunk alongside and POLLY JOHNSON badly damaged. Having embarked troops on leaving, POLLY JOHNSON started to founder. Ordered to take off her troops and sink her by gunfire.
30.5.1940: Returned to Dover at 0730. landed 45 troops.
4.6.1940: ‘Operation Dynamo’ terminated.
1944: Sold to Milford Fisheries Ltd, Milford Haven (Owen W. Limbrick, manager).
3.2.1945: Mined in the North Sea and foundered when under tow (Sk. W. Limb DSC RNR). Engineman David Petrie was the only casualty.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Arley FD44

S.T. Arley FD44
Picture courtesy of The James Cullen Collection

S.T. Arley FD44

S.T. Arley FD44
Picture courtesy of The Fred Baker Collection

S.T. Arley FD44

S.T. Arley FD44
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
14/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
26/05/2017: Removed FMHT watermarks from images.
14/05/2015: Updated history for this vessel.
10/07/2019: Updated information.
29/08/2022: Added an image.

S.T. Sulby FD87

Pictures and documents courtesy of Bob Dawson

Download witness statements in pdf format
Reg King’s Statement
Bernard Nolan’s Statement pt.1
Bernard Nolan’s Statement pt.2
Harold Blackburn’s Statement
Newspaper Report

Letter from Alexander Keay to Mrs. Dawson
Part 1 (PDF format)
Part 2 (PDF format)

Technical

Official Number: 127573
Yard Number: 401
Completed: 1909
Gross Tonnage: 287
Net Tonnage: 111
Length: 130.3 ft
Breadth: 23 ft
Depth: 12.7 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl by Shields Engineering Co Ltd, North Shields
Built: Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, North Shields, 1909

History

3.2.1909: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, North Shields (Yd.No.401) for The “Wyre” Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood as SULBY.
9.3.1909: Registered at Fleetwood (FD87).
3.1909: Completed. Richard C. Ward & John N. Ward designated joint managers.
1910: John N. Ward designated manager.
7.2.1912: Stranded 3 miles N of Ramsey (Sk. Fairclough); ten crew.
19.2.1912: Attempts to refloat with tugs unsuccessful.
7.4.1912: Arrived Fleetwood in tow after successfully being refloated.
7.4.1912: Reported that John N. Ward who had gone over to the Isle of Man in connection with the salvage of SULBY, had died on the island.
4.1912: Magnus B. J. Wedum designated manager.
8.1914: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-6pdr) (Ad.No.131).
1914: Based Portsmouth.
1918: Based Kirkwall.
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Fleetwood.
13.3.1926: Sold to George Hindle, Wilpshire, Lancs. Joseph A. Taylor, Albert V. Thompson & Harold Taylor, designated joint managers.
17.6.1930: Outward for fishing grounds in Fleetwood Channel. Carbide drum fell into engine crankpit smashing engine, gas generated exploded causing considerable damage; no casualties. Steam trawler VELIA (FD49) connected and beached vessel at Fleetwood.
18.6.1930: Not making any water, refloated by tugs and entered Wyre Dock for survey and repair.
16.2.1931: Sold to Islay Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood. Henry Melling designated manager.
10.3.1931: Sold to Cape Fisheries Ltd, London. Albert V. Thompson, Fleetwood designated manager.
5.7.1932: Sold to Alexander Keay, Fleetwood & Andrew Wilson, Buckie. Alexander Keay designated managing owner.
18.3.1933: Sold to Alexander Keay, Fleetwood. Alexander Keay designated managing owner.
25.4.1933: Homeward from West of Scotland grounds, stranded at Strongarve, 4 miles N of Mull of Kintyre. Glasgow steamer LOCHIEL (318g/1906) and Southend lifeboat standing by. At 3.00 pm. refloated and after checks, proceeded to Fleetwood.
15.11.1939: At Fleetwood landed 7,400 stone of herring, £438 gross, the seasons best landing.
5.8.1939: At Fleetwood landed first herring catch of the season – 330 boxes.
21.11.1939: On fishing grounds 35 miles NW of Rathlin Island (Sk. Clarence Hector Hudson), eleven crew, in company with CUIRASS (GY436) and WILLIAM HUMPHRIES (LO533). At 8.00 a.m. stopped by by U-boat (U.33) with warning shot, crew abandoned in two boats, but shelled while lowering port boat. Sunk by gunfire, five rounds from deck gun, in approx position 55.27N 08.01W. In gale force winds, boat with Skipper and four crew* never seen again.
23.11.1939: After 38 1/2 hours in open boat ** (H. Blackburn, bosun) made a landfall at Tobermory and picked up by Tobermory lifeboat.

*Lost presumed drowned – Sk.Clarence H. Hudson; J. Dawson, Mate; James Wood; R. A. Fisher and R. J. Randles

**Survivors – H. Blackburn, Bosun; J. Geddes; H.G. Hay; A. Lewis; J. Threlfall, S. Melhuish and F. Brunt.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Sulby FD87

S.T. Sulby FD87
Picture courtesy of The Bob Dawson Collection

S.T. Sulby FD85

S.T. Sulby FD85
Picture courtesy of The Bob Dawson Collection

S.T. Sulby FD87

S.T. Sulby FD87
Picture courtesy of The Brian Dodd Collection

S.T. Sulby FD87

S.T. Sulby FD87
Picture courtesy of The Brian Dodd Collection

S.T. Sulby FD87

S.T. Sulby FD87
Stranded at Strongarve
Image courtesy of David Buckley

Note incorrect spelling of the name of the lighthouse. This should be “Rubha nan Gall”

News Cutting Sulby Survivors

News Cutting Sulby Survivors

Changelog
14/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
14/03/2014: Information updated, documents and image added.
29/08/2022: Added images.
21/12/2023: Added an image.

S.T. Crystal SH58

Additional material courtesy of Mike Thompson

Technical

Official Number: 105079
Yard Number: 151
Completed: 1895
Gross Tonnage: 149
Net Tonnage: 57
Length: 100.0 ft
Breadth: 20.8 ft
Depth: 11.0 ft
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Hull
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull

History

20.11.1895: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Hull (Yd.No.151) for Kingston Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Hull as CRYSTAL.
16.12.1895: Registered at Hull (H303).
16.12.1895: Completed trials and accepted (Lawrence Spring, manager).
1913: New boiler fitted.
1.1.1914: Tonnage altered to 62 net under provision of Merchant Shipping Act 1907.
28.1.1916: Fitted with new propeller.
29.5.1917: Requisitioned for Fishery Reserve.
10.10.1917: Arthur Taylor appointed manager.
7.7.1918: Skipper had to resort to chopping gear to escape from a German submarine. Claim for £105.14s. made under War Risk Insurance Policy.
5.11.1918: In River Humber off Grimsby in collision with steam trawler LYRIC (GY434). Sustained slight damage, LYRIC suffered damage to stem and bow plating.
12.11.1918: Arrived at Hull to land and repair.
1919: Released.
6.3.1919: Sold to George Altoft & William Boyd Hull for £9,250 including fishing gear (through W. A. Massey & Sons Ltd, Hull, shipbrokers commission £150).
21.3.1919: Sold to The Trident Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull (George A. Ledger, manager).
16.11.1929: Sold to George Henry Gibson & Charles Henry Mumby, Hull (George H. Gibson, manager).
31.1.1934: Sold to Joseph Catchpole & John Sheriff Ellis, Scarborough (Joseph Catchpole, manager).
30.1.1935: Sold to John S. Ellis & Co Ltd, Scarborough (Joseph Catchpole manager).
28.5.1935: Sold to Crystal Fishing Co Ltd Scarborough (Bob Robson & Fred Welch)(Joseph Catchpole manager).
31.5.1935: Hull registry closed.
13.6.1935: Registered at Scarborough (SH58).
22.7.1937: Sold to The Filey United Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Scarborough (Richard F. Cammish, manager).
22.2.1940: Fishing in North Sea (Sk.Thomas ‘Mickey” Scales), in company with AUCUBA (GY117), CARDEW (H157) and EMULATORr (SH83) attacked by German aircraft. Group returned fire and aircraft withdrew; no casualties.
14.10.1942: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood (Basil A. Parkes, manager).
26.6.1943: On a North Sea trip (Hull crew). Foundered off Yorkshire Coast after detonating a German laid mine (position not confirmed at present*).
27.6.1943: Destroyer HMS VIVACIOUS (P.No. D36) on East Coast patrol and escort duties picked up all 10 crew and landed them at Immingham.
16.9.1943: Scarborough registry closed “destroyed by mine explosion”.

(* 27.6.1943: Message from HMS Vivacious. Reported lost 0.25°, 12miles from 18A buoy in position 54.1439N 00.0918W.
Minesweeping Summary No.193 – Reported lost in position 54.2330N 00.0030E
Trade Division List of Losses 1943 – Reported lost 12miles off Scarborough)
Click to enlarge image

S.T. Crystal H303

S.T. Crystal H303>br />Picture from the Internet

S.T. Crystal SH58

S.T. Crystal SH58
Picture from The Barry Banham Maritime Photo Collection courtesy of The George Scales Collection

Changelog
12/01/2009: Page published. 2 revisions since then.
19/07/2014: Picture added.
06/10/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
13/02/2020: Updated information.

S.T. Wyoming GY483

Technical

Official Number: 137027
Yard Number: 628
Completed: 1915
Gross Tonnage: 302
Net Tonnage: 157
Length: 135 ft
Breadth: 23.5 ft
Depth: 12.3 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by C.D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull
Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby

History

1915: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.628) for The Atlas Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Grimsby (Letten Bros, managers) as VERESIS.
14.4.1915: Registered at Grimsby (GY483).
4.1915: Completed (George S. Letten, manager). Requisitioned from the builders for war service (1-6pdr) (Ad.No.1616).
11.1915: Registered at Grimsby (GY483).
1920: Returned to owner at Grimsby.
8.6.1931: Stood by steam trawler GAMBRI (GY99) 100 miles NW of Hoy Head with bunkers on fire and proceeding to Stromness.
16.1.1932: Left Icelandic grounds for Grimsby.
16.1.1932: In hurricane swept clean by seas and lost wheelhouse and two compasses.
19.1.1932: Made radio contact and monitored by MERISIA (FD153) requested any vessel to give bearing and supply a compass,. Dodging for 36 hours, believed in vicinity of Faroe Islands and then steering by wind.
20.1.1932: Contact made with LUNE (FD59) which supplied bearing and confirmed crew safe and no assistance required.
20.1.1932: Arrived Scrabster at 1.20 pm. Took compass and food and sailed 4.10pm. for Grimsby.
22.1.1932: Arrived Grimsby.
22.11.1933: Reported stranded at Hoholmen, south Sandnessjoeen, Norway. Salvage steamer PARAT (135g/1905) in attendance.
25.11.1933: Refloated with assistance of PARAT. Checked, tight and proceeded.
9.1936: Sold to Earl Steam Fishing Co, Grimsby (Sir Alec Black Bart, manager).
20.4.1937: Registered at Grimsby as WYOMING (GY483).
Pre 4.1940: Employed on Fishery Protection.
2.6.1940: Requisitioned for war service and employed on auxiliary patrol duties (Hire rate £83.1.0d/month). Based North Shields (Ty/Sk. P. Coull RNR).
12.1940: Sold to Sir Alec Black Bart, Grimsby.
6.1941: Fitted out for minesweeping duties (P.No.FY.1862).
22.4.1942: Sold to Active Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood (Geoffrey Edwards Marr, manager) for £8100.
20.5.1944: Mined near 54 Buoy, 20 miles ENE of Harwich. Five crew MPK.

(MPK – Alexander Mitchell, 2nd Hand; Bernard McQue Humble, Engineman; John Jordan, stoker; George Sutherland, Ldg Cook; Joseph S. Tester, seaman)

Changelog

08/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.