Category Archives: War Losses

Vessels lot due to war

S.T. English Rose FD34

Additional information courtesy of Birgir Þórisson

Technical

Admiralty Number: 4467
Official Number: 145200
Yard Number: 248
Completed: 1920
Gross Tonnage: 341
Net Tonnage: 123
Length: 138.5 ft
Breadth: 23.7 ft
Depth: 12.8 ft
Built: Goole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co Ltd, Goole
Engine: 600ihp T.3-cyl by Richardsons, Westgarth & Co Ltd, Middlesbrough.

History

01.1921: Allocated to the National Fishery Scheme for the setting up of the Minesweepers’ Cooperative Trawling Society Ltd, London.
1.1921: On completion not to proceed to Chatham as previously ordered but to be laid up at Hull pending further instructions.
24.3.1921: Completed as a fishing vessel under Lloyd’s Survey.
14.5.1921: Registered by The Admiralty at London (Part I & IV) as WILLIAM CHATWOOD O.N.145200 (LO513). Laid up at Hull.
1.1922: Sold to Bouclet Fils, Zunnequin, Canu & Cie, Boulogne sur Mer.
10.1.1922: London registry closed.
1.1922: Registered at Boulogne as Blanc Nez (B-869).
Pre 1930: Sold to Zunnequin & Cie, Boulogne sur Mer.
1931: Sold to Société Boulonnaise d’Armement à la Pêche, Boulogne sur Mer. Zunnequin, Bouclet et Cie, managers.
1934: Sold to Soc. Anon. des Pêcheries St. Pierre, Boulogne sur Mer. P. Ficheux, manager.
1934: Registered at Boulogne as SAINT-MATHIAS (B869).
1934: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood.
9.8.1934: Registered at Fleetwood as ENGLISH ROSE (FD34). Basil Arthur Parkes, Cleveleys designated manager.
6.1935: Sold to Pêcheries de la Morinie, Boulogne sur Mer. P. Ficheux, manager.
17.6.1935: Fleetwood registry closed.
6.1935: Registered at Boulogne as St. DOMINIQUE (B-1707).
1939: Requisitioned for war service in the Marine Francais (P.No.AD72).
22.6.1940: French government signed surrender. At Rochefort ‘demobilised and disarmed’ under German control. Commissioned into the Kriegsmarine (P.No.HS.03).
5.1942: Re allocated P.No.V.72.
4.6.1944: Mined off Brest.

Note: It would appear that the Parkes were involved with this vessel from her sale in 1922 until the onset of WW2.

(William Chatwood, AB, age 41, b. Deptford, Kent – ROYAL SOVEREIGN (SB720))

Changelog
19/12/2008: Page published. 3 updates since then.
07/07/2020: Updated information.

S.T. Elise FD164

Additional information courtesy of Ron Young (Shipwrecks of the North East Coast) and the late Bill Butland

Technical

Official Number: 124697
Yard Number: 272
Completed: 1907
Gross Tonnage: 238.91
Net Tonnage: 72.40
Length: 126.5 ft
Breadth: 22.0 ft
Depth: 11.6 ft
Built: J Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co, Aberdeen
Engine: 400ihp T.3-cyl by W V Lidgerwood, Coatbridge
Boiler: Wallsend Slipway & Engineering Co Ltd, Wallsend-on-Tyne

History

9.11.1907: Launched by John Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co, Aberdeen (Yd.No.272) for John Millington Jackson, St. Anne’s-on-the-Sea & Walter Henry Dickenson, Fleetwood (64/64 joint owners) as ELISE.
23.12.1907: Registered at Fleetwood (FD164).
23.12.1907: Walter Henry Dickenson designated managing owner.
23.12.1907: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to The London City & Midland Bank Ltd, London (A).
12.1907: Completed.
30.4.1909: Mortgage (A) discharged.
31.5.1909: Sold to John Millington Jackson, St. Anne’s-on-the-Sea.
2.6.1909: Mortgaged to The London City & Midland Bank Ltd, London (B).
3.6.1907: Thomas Frederick Kelsall, designated manager.
31.5.1912: Mortgaged to William Deacons Bank Ltd, London (C).
3.6.1912: Mortgage (B) discharged.
14.2.1913: Sold to J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood.
18.2.1913: James H. Marr designated manager.
18.2.1913: Mortgage (C) transferred to J. Marr & Son Ltd.
1.1.1914: Tonnage altered to 98.73 net under provision of Merchant Shipping Act 1907.
6.1915: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-6pdr) (Ad.No.1622).
11.11.1916: James A. Robertson designated manager.
16.10.1917: In the afternoon, left Marsten, Norway escorting a west bound coal convoy to Lerwick, with destroyer MARY ROSE (P.No.J360) (Lt Cdr Fox RN convoy commander) and later joined by destroyer STRONGBOW (P.No.G44) (Lt Cdr Edward Brooke RN), armed trawler P. FANNON (Ad.No.1816) (A349) and twelve merchant ships, two British, one Belgian, one Danish, five Norwegians and three Swedish.
17.10.1917: In early morning when some 65 miles east of Lerwick met up with German minelaying light cruisers SMS BRUMMER and SMS BREMSE disguised as RN warships. In poor visibility, STRONGBOW at rear of convoy sighted and challenged the cruisers several times before realising that they were German and going to action stations. BRUMMER opened fire and STRONGBOW was hit and main steam pipe fractured, immobilised she was hit again and at 7.30am. the order to abandon ship was given and destroyer foundered at 9.30am. The convoy was attacked again and nine Scandinavian vessels sunk. ELISE engaged enemy with 6pdr whilst manoeuvring to pick up STRONGBOW survivors which including the wounded Lt Cdr Brooke, but forced to withdraw out of range when shelled by both cruisers. In the meantime MARY ROSE having gone ahead to meet the east bound convoy turned back to engage and when some 2,00yds from the cruisers the German gunners got the range and she was hit and heavily damaged. Abandoned and foundered quickly with heavy loss of life. Cruised for four hours looking for survivors and picked up a further twenty-nine Norwegians and Danes and brought into harbour. Only three steamers, two British and one Belgian, escorted by the P. FANNON survived. MARY ROSE survivors in a raft with Sub Lieut. Freeman managed to reach the the Norwegian coast near Bergen.
22.9.1918: On patrol NE Coast, ‘…blown up 2 miles North east Saint Mary’s Lighthouse at 1722’. ‘… presumed torpedoed. No survivors one body found’. ‘Approx position 55.6.30N 1.26W’. (Possible. Struck mine laid by enemy submarine 2 miles off St. Mary’s Lighthouse, Whitley Bay. Sank immediately. OR torpedoed by U-boat as above (not authenticated, no claims made).
22.9.1918: Ceased to be on Admiralty Charter.
9.10.1918: Fleetwood registry closed “ Vessel lost whilst on Admiralty service 22nd September 1918 “.

(Lost – Ty/Skipper Henry James RNR; Charles W. Clarke, 2nd Hand; James Low & Harry Painter, Enginemen; Septimus Bagshaw, Ldg Deckhand; William Smith, AB; Cecil R. Sharman, Seaman; Frederick Barnes, James W. Burnett, William Hearing, Stephen Sheriff & William Simpson, Deckhands; David Armitage & Myles Fitzpatrick, Trimmers.)

Notes: Today, the wreck lies on hard sand and stone at a depth of 24m. The engine room has collapsed in on itself although the bow section is still intact, minus its gun. The winch lies some 50m away and there is wreckage scattered around.

Changelog
19/12/2008: Page published. 4 revisions since then.
17/12/2014: Information updated.
23/06/2016: Information updated.
07/06/2020: Updated information.

S.T. Edward Cattelly FD204

Technical

Admiralty Number: 4459
Official Number: 141947
Yard Number: 350
Completed:1919
As built: 360disp 125.6 x 23.5 x 12.8 feet
Gross Tonnage: 278
Net Tonnage: 121
Length: 125.4 ft
Breadth: 23.4 ft
Depth: 12.6 ft
Built: Ailsa Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Ayr
Engine: 480ihp T.3-cyl by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, Middlesbrough

History

17.3.1919: Launched by Ailsa Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Ayr (Yd.No.350) (“Castle” class) for The Admiralty as EDWARD CATTELLY (Ad.No.4459).
5.2.1919: Forms for tender to purchase received by the Admiralty.
3.1919: Sold to Henry Blackburn, Fleetwood.
20.5.1919: Completed as a fishing vessel
1.7.1919: Registered at Fleetwood (FD204).
11.9.1919: Sold to Henry Blackburn & Henry M. Robertson, Fleetwood. Henry Blackburn designated managing owner.
2.10.1919: Sold to Blackburn Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood (Henry Blackburn, manager).
16.12.1928: Stood by steam trawler BUSH (FD60) ashore on rocks off Mull of Cantire, entrance to Islay Sound. Trawler VERA GRACE (FD211) had line onboard and on evening tide they attempted unsuccessfully to refloat.
6.4.1932: In heavy weather off the Mull of Kintyre RIVER KENT (FD75) having rudder damaged, jury rudder smashed and drifting unmanageable, requested assistance as she feared being carried ashore.
7.4.1932: At 9.59am. arrived on scene some 6 miles W of Sanda Island and after 36 hours drifting and with LOWTHER (FD48) standing by, connected and delivered Belfast for temporary repairs.
7.1932: Sold to Hudson Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull.
7.7.1932: Fleetwood registry closed.
11.7.1932: Registered at Hull (H432). Archibald Hudson, Hessle designated manager.
18.7.1932: Registered at Hull as SIR JOHN HOTHAM (H432).
1935: Sold to The Empire Steam Fishing Co of Aberdeen Ltd. Malcolm Smith designated manager.
4.11.1935: Registered at Hull as LOCH NAVER (H432).
1935: Harry Wight Ltd appointed manager.
5.1939: Company liquidated, share capital ‘converted’ into Malcolm Smith Ltd, Aberdeen. Malcolm Smith designated manager.
1.6.1939: Hull registry closed.
2.6.1939: Registered at Aberdeen (A41).
8.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (Hire rate £86.17.6d/month).
6.5.1940: M/S Group 22 (Sk. G. R. Burnwood RNR). Foundered off Hartlepool after being in collision with unknown vessel. All crew picked up by MoWT steam yacht BREDA (1431g/1912).
27.9.1940: Aberdeen registry closed.
(Edward Cattelly, OS, age 29, b. Wicklow, Co. Wicklow – ROYAL SOVEREIGN (SB652))

Changelog
19/12/2008: Page published. 5 updates since then.
22/07/2016: Information updated.
27/05/2020: Updated information.
03/07/2020: Updated information.

S.T. Donna Nook FD237

Technical

Official Number: 139209
Yard Number: 646
Completed: 1914
Gross Tonnage: 307
Net Tonnage: 150
Length: 132 ft
Breadth: 24 ft
Depth: 12.8 ft
Built: Cochrane & Son Ltd, Selby
Engine: 89hp T.3-cyl and boiler by Charles D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull

History

14.8.1915: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.646) for The Mount Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood as DONNA NOOK.
27.1.1916: Completed. George E. J. Moody, Grimsby designated manager.
4.2.1916: Registered at Fleetwood (FD237).
2.1916: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-12pdr, 1-3pdr HA & 1-7.5” A/S Howitzer) (Ad.No.1981).
26.9.1916: Re-registered at Fleetwood (FD237). Based Yarmouth.
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Fleetwood.
04.11.1920: Picked up sixteen crew members of the Scarborough steam trawler MARY A. JOHNSON (SH91) which had been abandoned four days previously having struck a reef close to ‘Geirfuglasker’ rock, SE of Reykanes, Iceland.
05.11.1920: Landed survivors at Reykjavik.
1921: Top port landings – 701 tons.
1927: Sir George E. J. Moody, Grimsby designated manager.
22.6.1928: Typical landing at Fleetwood, Home Waters, 228 boxes.
193?: W. M. Kelly, Fleetwood designated manager.
Pre 4.1940: Employed on Fishery Protection (WA/Fort William/Fleetwood).
3.6.1940: Requisitioned for war service as an auxiliary patrol vessel (P.No.4.132) (Hire rate £86.19.8d/month). Based North Shields (Ty/Sk. J. Carter RNR).
8.1941: Fitted out as a minesweeper (P.No.FY.1559). Based Ipswich with M/S & Patrol Group 78.
25.9.1943: Under attack by E-boats off Shipwash, 12 miles east of Harwich (Acting Lt Cdr L. R. Green RNR). Foundered following collision with H.M.T. STELLA RIGEL (P.No.FY.657) (418g/1936) when manoeuvring to pick up survivors from H.M.T. FRANC TIREUR (P.No.FY.1560) (GY1041) torpedoed by E-boat (S.96); crew picked up by STELLA RIGEL. Fleetwood registry closed.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Donna Nook FD237

S.T. Donna Nook FD237
Picture courtesy of The Jan Harteveld Collection

Changelog
19/12/2008: Page published. 6 revisions since then.
17/04/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
05/09/2021: Updated history and technical details.

S.T. Dinorah GY1107

Additional material courtesy of Bill Blow

Technical

Official Number: 118304
Yard Number: 698
Completed: 1903
Gross Tonnage: 192
Net Tonnage: 37
Length: 110 ft
Breadth: 21 ft
Depth: 11.2 ft
Engine: 300ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by N.E. Marine Engineering Co Ltd, Sunderland
Built: Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, North Shields

History

6.1903: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, North Shields (Yd.No.698) for The Castle Steam Trawlers Ltd (64/64), London as PICTON CASTLE.
7.1903: Completed (George H. D. Birt, Milford Haven, manager).
18.7.1903: Registered at London (LO177).
23.7.1903: Sailed Milford for SW of Ireland grounds (Sk. Joseph Huddlestone).
30.7.1903: Returned Milford with boiler trouble.
31.7.1903: Leaking tube caulked.
1.8.1903: Sailed for fishing grounds.
3.8.1903: Boiler tube leaking again.
4.8.1903: At about 11.30 p.m. a boiler explosion occurred; Michael Kennedy, fireman killed and Nicholas Atkinson, Chief Engineer badly scalded (subsequently died in hospital). Put into Berehaven (Castletown), Co. Cork.
1.10.1903: BOT Inquiry at Milford found that the explosion was caused by the back of the combustion chamber being encrusted with salt and soot and not kept clear.
8.1906: London registry closed.
13.8.1906: Registered at Swansea (SA??).
13.8.1906: George H. D. Birt, Milford Haven appointed manager.
29.8.1906: Crawford Heron, Swansea appointed manager.
9.1906. Sold to Emprela Lisbonesa, Lisbon.
1.10.1906: Swansea registry closed.
10.1906: Registered at Lisbon as DINORAH (B459).
1913: Sold to William Hall Dodds, Aberdeen.
1.1913: Lisbon registry closed.
11.2.1913: Registered at Aberdeen (A505).
1.1.1914: Tonnage altered to 72.05 net under provision of Merchant Shipping Act 1907.
8.1914: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-3pdr) (Ad.No.288).
13.11.1914: At Lowestoft parent ship HALCYON.
1915: Dardanelles Campaign.
20.12.1915: Dardanelles (Gallipoli) evacuation completed. Redeployed.
11.1917: Sold to Overseas’ Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby. Walter Harold Beeley appointed manager.
9.11.1917: Aberdeen registry closed.
12.11.1917: Registered at Grimsby (GY1107).
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Grimsby.
28.7.1920: Sold to Bowering’s Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby.
02.09.1920: Walter Harold Beeley appointed manager.
5.6.1924: Vessel mortgaged to National Provincial Bank Ltd, London (A).
10.12.1932: Mortgage (A) discharged.
10.12.1932: Sold to George Leonard Taylor (5/64), John Phimister (7/64), William Sutherland (26/64) & John Buchan (26/64), all Aberdeen.
28.12.1932: John Buchan designated managing owner.
25.1.1933: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to The Clydesdale Bank Ltd, Glasgow (B), (C), (D), (E).
5.8.1933: In calm weather stranded 11/2 miles SW of Gourdon. Refloated next tide and proceeded.
8.5.1935: Mortgages (B), (C), (D), (E) discharged.
28.5.1935: William Sutherland shares (26/64) and John Buchan shares (26/64) sold to The Gorspen Steam Trawling Co Ltd (52/64), Aberdeen.
29.5.1935: George Leonard Taylor shares (5/64) sold to The Gorspen Steam Trawling Co Ltd (57/64), Aberdeen.
27.7.1935: John Phimister shares (7/64) sold to The Gorspen Steam Trawling Co Ltd (64/64), Aberdeen.
3.8.1935: Alexander James Spence appointed manager.
1.5.1936: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Alexander Aitken Davidson, Aberdeen for the sum of £12,000 with interest at 6% (F).
2.5.1936: Mortgage (F) transferred to The Clydesdale Bank Ltd, Glasgow.
27.5.1936: Benjamin Allenby appointed manager.
30.12.1936: Vessel mortgaged to Alexander Aitken Davidson, Aberdeen for the sum of £4000 and interest (G).
19.2.1937: Sold to Alexander Aitken Davidson Aberdeen (64/64).
27.2.1937: Mortgage (G) discharged.
4.3.1937: Alexander Aitken Davidson designated managing owner.
26.11.1940: Mortgage (F) discharged (11.12.1940. Discharge of mortgage (F) allowed without production of deed, under authority of Board’s Order 51148/40 dated 2.12.1940).
12.2.1940: Sold to J. Bennett (Wholesale) Ltd (64/64), London.
23.12.1940: William Alfred Bennett appointed manager. Fishing out of Fleetwood.
3.5.1943: Typical wartime landing, Home Waters. 90 kits – hake-9, cod/codling-9, haddock-35, whiting-3, plaice-12, flats-5, ling.coley-11, roker-1, gurnard-4, dogs-11.
25.10.1944: Sold to Thornton Trawlers Ltd (64/64), Fleetwood.
28.10.1944: Leslie James Marr appointed manager.
28.4.1945: Foundered off Bridlington, believed by mine contact. All crew lost*.
4.7.1945: Grimsby registry closed “Vessel mined and sunk on 28.4.1945”.

(Lost* – Sk. W.G. Dyble, A.E. Dyer, F. Rix, A.R. Quantrill, R.H. Lott, T. Balderson, C.F. Mortlock, J.T. Lamb, R.G. Rowbotham, E.G. Bacon, C. Kirk).

Changelog
19/12/2008: Page published. 6 updates since then.
23/04/2020: Information updated.