Category Archives: War Losses

Vessels lot due to war

S.T. Willoughby GY161

Additional information courtesy of Birgir Þórisson

Technical

Admiralty Number: 3740
Official Number: 143918
Yard Number: 232
Completed: 1918
Gross Tonnage: 329.04
Net Tonnage: 126.67
Length: 138.9 ft
Breadth: 23.7 ft
Depth: 12.8 ft
Built; Ferguson Bros (Port Glasgow) Ltd, Port Glasgow
Engine: 650ihp T.3-cyl by Ferguson Bros (Port Glasgow) Ltd, Port Glasgow
Boiler: The Clyde Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Port Glasgow

History

11.3.1918: Launched by Ferguson Bros (Port Glasgow) Ltd, Port Glasgow (Yd.No.232) (“Mersey” class) for The Admiralty as NICHOLAS DEAN (Ad.No.3740).
27.4.1918: Completed as an A/S trawler (1-12pdr, hydrophone and W/T); sailed for Fleetwood.
4.12.1919: Registered by The Admiralty at London (Part I) as NICHOLAS DEAN O.N.143918.
01.1920: Engaged in commercial trawling.
1920: Fitted out for fishing under Special Survey of Lloyd’s Register and classed 100 A1 Stm Trawler.
03.02.1920: Registered by The Admiralty at London (Part IV) (LO297).
By 18.6.1920: Allocated to Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries, London.
13.08.1920: Minesweepers’ Cooperative Trawling Society Ltd, London registered.
1920: Allocated to the Minesweepers’ Cooperative Trawling Society Ltd, London.
1.1922: Scheme abandoned, the necessary working capital of £100,000 having not been subscribed. Laid up.
16.2.1922: Advertised for sale, along with JOHN YULE (LO305), laid up in St. Andrew’s Dock, Hull.
3.1922: Sold en bloc to Gourney-Delpierre & Co, Boulogne.
9.1922: Sold to Gournay-Delpierre & Cie, Boulogne sur Mer.
28.9.1922: London registry closed.
9.1922: Registered at Boulogne as NOTRE DAME de FRANCE (B939).
12.1924: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby.
2.1925: Boulogne registry closed.
6.2.1925: Registered at Grimsby as WILLOUGHBY (GY161) (BoT Minute M/RS.1040/1925).
6.2.1925: Fred Parkes, Wyberton, Boston designated manager. Fishing from Grimsby.
6.1926: Company registered office transferred to Fleetwood.
25.11.1926: Arrived Halifax, NS and to fish out of the port.
3.1927: Returned to Fleetwood and fishing out of that port.
2.1928: Sold to Fiskveidahlutafelagid Svidi (The “Svidi” Fishing Co Ltd), Hafnarfjördur, Iceland.
24.2.1928: Grimsby registry closed.
2.1928: Registered at Hafnarfjördur as SVIDI (GK7). Thorarinn Egilsson & Sf Akurgerdi designated managers.
Pre 1930: Thorarinn Egilssoni appointed manager.
6.2.1932: In Grimsby for dry-docking, sank alongside whilst coaling.
11.2.1932: Salved and bunkers discharged prior to slipping.
2.12.1941: Disappeared off Snaefellsnes, SW of Iceland probably because of weather and overloading, but some speculation that she was mined. Crew of twenty-five lost.

(Nicholas Dean, Private, Marine, age 26 b. Bucker, Honiton, Devon – VICTORY (ML86)

Changelog
08/01/2009: Page published. 5 revisions since then.
23/08/2014: Information added.
08/04/2015: Information updated.
16/08/2021: Updated history and technical details.

S.T. William Humphries LO533

Additional information courtesy of Gary Hicks Plymouth Merchant Ships, Christine Simm and David Buckley

Technical

Admiralty Number: 4205
Official Number: 144592
Yard Number: 447
Completed: 1918
As built: 360disp
Gross Tonnage: 276
Net Tonnage: 106
Length: 125.6 ft
Breadth: 23.4 ft
Depth: 12.6 ft
Built: J. Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co, Aberdeen
Engine: 480ihp T.3-cyl by Bellis & Morcom Ltd, Birmingham

History

10.1918: Launched by J. Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co, Aberdeen (Yd.No.447) (“Castle” class) for The Admiralty as WILLIAM HUMPHRIES (Ad.No.4205).
24.12.1918: Completed.
11.5.1920: Sold by auction at London (Baltic Exchange) to James Ritchie, Milford Haven.
8.6.1920: Registered at London (Part I) as WILLIAM HUMPHRIES O.N.1343592.
1921: Sold to Ivey Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Milford Haven. David G. Jones designated manager.
17.10.1921: Registered at London (Part IV) (LO533).
1923: Sold to James Ritchie, Milford Haven. James Ritchie designated managing owner.
7.4.1926: Sold to James Ritchie & William T. Davies, Hakin, Milford Haven. James Ritchie & William T. Davies designated managing owners.
21.8.1926: In collision with steam trawler CHARLES BOYES (LO334) whilst proceeding to lock out at Milford; sustained damage to stem.
12.10.1931: Outwards from Milford in dense fog, at about 6.00am. in collision with French crabber THEMSIS, 31grt; of Camaret anchored in the Haven about 400yds from the dock entrance; crabber foundered, all six crew picked up and returned to Milford.
15.1.1938: Returning from West Coast of Ireland grounds (Sk. James T. H. McDonald), in WNW gale and heavy seas, at about 12.45 a.m. in position 180 miles WSW from St. Ann’s Head lost propeller. Shipped very heavy seas and sent out distress, trawler WILLIAM DOWNES (LO530) responded but could not locate. Also in response to distress, at about 9.50 a.m. NEATH CASTLE (SA65) arrived and with difficulty, connected and set course for Milford.
17.1.1938: Delivered Milford Haven.
7.10.1938: Fishing in Dingle Bay (Sk. Albert Saunders) in squally weather with WNW winds and a heavy ground swell. At about 10.00am. responded to a request to stand by Milford trawler AVOLA (M249) disabled with rudder problem. Later asked to connect, two warps passed and tow commenced. Shortly after 10.00pm. informed that rudder was now working, warps recovered and stood by for nearly an hour as AVOLA skipper was satisfied all was well. Returned to grounds and continued to fish. Later awarded £525 salvage and £53.7.8d for damages.
27.5.1939: Reported disabled, picked up by Milford trawler MICHAEL GRIFFITH (LO529) and delivered Milford Haven.
4.8.1939: Sold to Saint Andrew’s Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull. Basil Arthur Parkes, Thornton-le-Fylde designated manager. Fishing from Fleetwood. 11.10.1939: In the early hours in very thick fog, inwards in the river Wyre (Sk. Charles Bridge), struck the loaded steam hopper LYTHAM (292grt/1894), berthed alongside the North Wall; backed off and proceeded to Wyre Dock. The LYTHAM, manned by watchman William Cass, who was unscathed, damaged and making water finally settled alongside the quay only to be struck again by another inbound trawler.
12.10.1929: Surveyed and no leakage found. LYTHAM discharged by crane and refloated.
14.11.1939: Sailed Fleetwood for West of Scotland grounds (Sk. Charles Horace Bridge); thirteen crew all told.
21.11.1939: Fishing 35m NW of Rathlin Island in company with steam trawlers CUIRASS (GY436) and SULBY (FD87). Between 8.30 – 9.30am. stopped by U-boat (U-33); crew abandoned in boat. Sunk by gunfire, five rounds from deck gun, in approx position 55.27N – 08.01W. Lifeboat believed last seen by a lifeboat from SULBY also sunk by U-33. Presumed boat foundered or men died of hyperthermia.
27.11.1939: Posted missing.
29.11.1939: Sk. Charles Bridge body washed up below Compass Hill, Canna. Buried on Canna.
1.12.1939: Body of William Jewell washed ashore at Loch Scavaig, near Portree, Skye and later that of Ernest Lee. Both buried in Cill Chriosd Churchyard, Broadford, Isle of Skye.
8.12.1939: Reported by steam trawler WESTLYN (FD8) fishing off the Western Isles that over two days they had recovered from the trawl two bodies and taken to Castlebay, Barra for identification. Bodies identified as those of James Gordon and William Wright, both buried in Cuier Parish Church Cemetery, Isle of Barra.
9.12.1938. Body of Daniel Sturman washed ashore near Portree, Skye. Buried in Portree Cemetery, Isle of Skye.
27.1.1940: London registry closed “Vessel sunk by enemy action”. The twelfth steam trawler out of Fleetwood to be lost by enemy action since the start of the war and the sixth owned by BDSF&I Co Ltd, Fleetwood.

Crew: All Fleetwood unless noted. Sk. Charles Horace Bridge (38), Westgate; John Nolan (29), Balmoral Terrace, 2nd hand; James Arthur
Kaye (26), Poulton Road, 3rd hand; Ernest Elijah Lee Thurling, served as Ernest Elijah Lee (38), 47 Borrowdale Avenue, Ch. Eng; William Arnold Jewell (48), 45 Hamlet Road, 2nd Eng; deckhands, Arthur Edward Hardingham (33), Addison Road; M. Kuberski (18) (Polish national), Seamen’s Mission; George Buller Spillings (27), Back Poulton Street; Thomas Henry Wilson (24), Ormerod Street, Thornton; Daniel Sturman (36), 4 Ash Street; firemen/trimmers, James Gordon (18) Cambridge Road; William Wright (23), 35 St. Hellier’s Road, Blackpool; cook, William George Thacker (34), Milton Street.

(William Humphries, Landsman (prest), age 21, b. Carnarvon, North Wales – VICTORY (SB783))

Click to enlarge images

HMT William Humphries

HMT William Humphries
Picture from the Internet

Gravestone on Canna

Gravestone on Canna
Picture from the Internet

William Jewell

William Jewell grave,
Cill Chriosd Churchyard, Broadford, Isle of Skye.

Ernest Lee

Ernest Lee
Cill Chriosd Churchyard, Broadford, Isle of Skye

Daniel Sturman

Daniel Sturman
Portree Cenetary

S.T. William Humphries LO533

S.T. William Humphries LO533
Picture courtesy of The David Buckley Collection

Changelog
08/01/2009: Page published. 5 updates since then.
04/09/2015: Information updated.
06/04/2020: Information updated.
04/08/2022: Added an image.
06/08/2022: Added an image.
07/08/2022: Updated history.
09/08/2022: Added images.

S.T. Wigmore GY469

Technical

Official Number: 146910
Yard Number: 498
Completed: 1928
Gross Tonnage: 345
Net Tonnage: 149
Length: 140.4 ft
Breadth: 24 ft
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley
Engine: T.3-cyl by C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull

History

5.7.1928: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Y.No.498) for Letten Bros Ltd, Grimsby as EMBASSY.
21.9.1928: Registered at Grimsby (GY469).
26.9.1928: Completed.
26.12.1929: Picked up crew of Norwegian motor vessel JUNIOR which had foundered in the North Sea 40 miles off Rattray Head (24.12.1929).
27.12.1929: Landed survivors at Peterhead.
1932: Sold to E. Cyril Grant, Grimsby.
8.1933: Registered at Grimsby as WIGMORE (GY469).
10.1935: Sold to The Clan Steam Fishing Co (Grimsby) Ltd, Grimsby (E. Cyril Grant, manager).
10.11.1939: Assisted LADY STANLEY (FD125) ashore at Swilke Point, Stroma. After refloating took in tow and after checks proceeded in company for Grimsby.
18.11.1939: In convoy for the Icelandic grounds (Sk Walter Bore) in company with SARPEDON (GY984) Convoy Officer, Lieut Reginald H. W. Jackson RNVR, ANDANES (GY923), SARONTA (GY1082), CONISBORO (GY244) and MURMANSK (GY26). 25 miles N by W of Rattray Head in approximate position 58°01.2N/01°57.5W attacked by U-boat (U.22) and sunk by torpedo; all sixteen crew lost*.
6.3.1940: Grimsby registry closed.
(* Lost: Sk. W. Bore, Grimsby; W.H. Lodge, Mate Cleethorpes; J. Foley, Third Hand, Cleethorpes; F. Moore, Ch Eng, Grimsby; A. Harwood, 2nd Eng, Grimsby; C.V.H. Bromfield, H. Clayton, H. Dumbleton, J. Fisher, W. Goodwin, J. Ottley, Deckhands, all Grimsby; G. Germaney and E.H. Newson, Trimmers, both Grimsby; R.W. Jackson, Wireless Operator, Grimsby; E.D. Winn, Cook, Grimsby).

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Wigmore GY469

S.T. Wigmore GY469
Picture from the Internet

Wigmore GY469

Wigmore GY469
Picture courtesy of Steve Farrow

Changelog
08/01/2009: Page published. 6 updates since then.
28/04/2014: Information updated.
19/10/2018: Added an image and removed FMHT watermark.

S.T. Whooper FD15

Technical

Official Number: 136891
Yard Number: 402
Completed: 1914
Gross Tonnage: 302
Length: 126.2 ft
Breadth: 23.3 ft
Depth: 13.2 ft
Built: J. Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co, Aberdeen
Engine: 61nhp T.3-cyl by J. Abernethy & Co, Aberdeen

History

23.5.1914: Launched by J. Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co, Aberdeen , Aberdeen (Yd.No.402) for Cygnet Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood as WHOOPER.
18.7.1914: Registered at Fleetwood (FD15).
7.1914: Completed (R. W. Mason, manager).
12.1914: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (Ad.No.668).
30.6.1916: Lost off Lowestoft by mine explosion; one officer and eight ratings lost *.
17.11.1916: Fleetwood registry closed “Lost on Admiralty service”.

(*Lost: Ty Skipper Thomas G. Phipps RNR; John W. Spooner, 2nd Hand; Harry E. Adams, Engineman; David S. Bird, POTel; Ernest Harrison & Richard E Stroud, Deckhands: Ernest Johnson & Joseph Nolloth, Trimmers; Aubrey Hinchliffe, Ord Tel.)

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

S.T. Whitby – FD147

Additional information courtesy of Bill Blow and Milford Trawlers

Technical

Official Number: 108499
Yard Number: 22
Completed: 1898
Gross Tonnage: 163.73
Net Tonnage: 51.07
Length: 104.2 ft
Breadth: 21.0 ft
Depth: 10.7 ft
Built: Irvine Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Irvine
Engine: 250ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by Muir & Houston Ltd, Glasgow

History

12.1.1898: Launched by Irvine Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Irvine (Yd.No.2) for Frederick Emil Hagerup and George Doughty MP, Grimsby (64/64 joint owners) as WHITBY.
2.1898: Completed.
7.3.1898: Registered at Grimsby (GY524).
7.3.1898: Frederick Emil Hagerup designated managing owner.
7.3.1898: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to The Lincoln and Lindsey Banking Co Ltd, Lincoln (A).
16.3.1898: Mortgage (A) transferred to The Law Guarantee & Trust Society Ltd, London.
24.6.1898: Sold to Hagerup, Doughty & Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby.
24.6.1898: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to The Law Guarantee & Trust Society Ltd, London (B).
27.6.1898: Frederick Emil Hagerup appointed manager.
1.3.1906: Sold to Consolidated Steam Fishing & Ice Co (Grimsby) Ltd (64/64), Grimsby (John D. Marsden, manager) on the formation of the company.
2.3.1906: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to The Law Guarantee Trust & Accident Society Ltd, London (C).
9.3.1906: John Denton Marsden appointed manager.
25.11.1907: Mortgagee re-styled to The Law Guarantee Trust & Accident Society Ltd, London.
1910: The Law Guarantee Trust & Accident Society Ltd, London in liquidation following takeover by Ocean Accident & Guarantee Corporation Ltd, London which in turn was taken over by Commercial Union Assurance Co Ltd, London.
11.8.1913: Mortgages (A) & (B) discharged.
1.1.1914: Tonnage altered to 63.64 net under provision of Merchant Shipping Act 1907.
12.1915: New boiler fitted.
20.1.1916: Mortgage (C) discharged.
29.5.1917: Requisitioned for Fishery Reserve.
13.10.1917: Fitted with 1-6pdr & W/T.
1919: Released.
7.10.1920: Transferred to Lowestoft.
27.1.1922: Stranded on Gunton Denes, North Beach. Crew taken off by Lowestoft Lifesaving Team. Lowestoft lifeboat JOHN and MARY MEIKLAM of GLADSWOOD (Cox. John T. S. Swan) launched and stood by. Subsequently refloated.
25.4.1922: Sold to Thomas Wright Mason & Thomas Cardwell, Fleetwood (64/64 joint owners).
10.5.1922: Sailed Lowestoft for Fleetwood. 12.5.1922: Thomas Wright Mason designated managing owner.
16.5.1922: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Liverpool & Manchester Banking Co Ltd, Manchester (D).
20.10.1926: Grimsby registry closed.
21.10.1926: Registered at Fleetwood (FD147).
23.10.1926: Sold to Mason Trawlers Ltd (64/64), Fleetwood. Thomas Wright Mason appointed manager.
1927: Thomas Cardwell appointed manager.
1928: Sold to Frank L. Youds, Milford Haven. Frank L. Youds designated managing owner.
26.1.1928: Fleetwood registry closed.
7.2.1928: Registered at Milford (M141).
17.7.1929: Sold to Pettit & Youds, Milford Haven. Frank L. Youds appointed manager.
14.8.1939: Sold to John C. Llewellin, Hakin; Joseph L. Yolland, Milford; John Yolland Jnr, Fleetwood & Thomas S. Yolland, Swansea. John C. Llewellin appointed manager.
4.4.1941: Outward from Milford for fishing grounds (Sk. W. Aldous) sunk by German aircraft 3 miles SSE of Blackwater Light Vessel; nine crew rescued by steam drifter JACKLYN (LT327) (Sk. Noel Bray) which also came under attack.
23.4.1941: Milford registry closed “Vessel lost by enemy action 4th April 1941”.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Whitby GY524

S.T. Whitby GY524
Picture courtesy of Tony Cowling

S.T. Whitby FD147

S.T. Whitby FD147
Picture courtesy of Bill Blow

Changelog
08/01/2009: Page published. 5 updates since then.
21/12/2015: Picture added.
23/03/2016: Significant information update.