Category Archives: War Losses

Vessels lot due to war

S.T. Dhoon (1) FD244

Technical

Official Number: 139213
Yard Number: 636
Completed: 1916
Gross Tonnage: 275
Net Tonnage: 108
Length: 125.4 ft
Breadth: 23.4 ft
Depth: 12.8 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, Middlesbrough

History

19.4.1916: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough (Yd.No.636) for The “Wyre” Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood as DHOON.
24.5.1916: Registered at Fleetwood (FD244).
5.1916: Completed (Magnus B. J. Wedum, manager).
9.1916: Requisitioned for war service from the builders and fitted out as a minesweeper (1-3pdr) (Ad.No.2959).
24.11.1916: Mined near Newarp Light Vessel.
19.12.1916: Fleetwood registry closed.

(Lost – Ty/Sk. Allan McB. Ramsay; Edward Casey, 2nd Hand; George Sharkey & William Stonebanks, Enginemen; Hugh McAngus, seaman; James F. B. Main, Malcolm McLeod, Isaac S. Stone & George M. Tait, deckhands; Donald Finlayson & Arthur G. Gardner, trimmers; John G. Lawrie, signalman)

S.T. Delphine A126

Technical

Official Number: 135979
Yard Number: 569
Completed: 1914
Gross Tonnage: 250
Net Tonnage: 97
Length: 125.0 ft
Breadth: 23.5 ft
Depth: 12.4 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough
Built: Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough

History

25.11.1913: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough (Yd.No.569) for Consolidated Steam Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Grimsby as DELPHINE.
5.1.1914: Registered at Grimsby (GY958).
1.1914: Completed at a cost of £8773 13s 0d (John D. Marsden, manager).
5.1915: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-6pdr HA) (Ad.No.1619).
1919: Returned to owner.
9.1927: Owners restyled Consolidated Fisheries Ltd (Sir John D Marsden, Bart, manager).
28.9.1929: Grimsby registry closed “To transfer to Nova Scotia”.
7.7.1930: Grimsby registry re-opened (GY958).
9.1934: Sold to North Star Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Aberdeen (John Alexander Harrow, manager).
19.9.1934: Grimsby registry closed.
20.9.1934: Registered at Aberdeen (A126).
10.1939: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood (Basil A. Parkes, Cleveleys, manager).
20.11.1939: On fishing grounds 18 miles N by E of Tory Island, Co. Donegal (Sk.C. J. Coxall); thirteen crew. At 3.30 p.m. observed 4 miles WSW a cloud of steam from a sinking trawler (THOMAS HANKINS (LO333)). Surmised U-boat in vicinity, hauled gear and made off, sent W/T distress message. At 4.00 pm. stopped by U-boat (U.33), abandoned to boat, sunk by gunfire. Boat damaged in launching, Ch.Eng put his foot in hole and packed with tallow. After twenty two hours and 38 miles, landed on Tory Island.
30.11.1939: Aberdeen registry closed.

Changelog
19/05/2012: page published. 5 updates since then.

S.T. City of Dundee FD4

Technical

Official Number: 136887
Yard Number: 576
Completed: 1914
Gross Tonnage: 269
Net Tonnage: 107
Length: 125.3 ft
Breadth: 23.5 ft
Depth: 12.8 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

27.4.1914: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough (Yd.No.576) for Fred Kelsall & Co Ltd, Fleetwood (Thomas F. Kelsall, manager) as CITY OF DUNDEE.
22.5.1914: Registered at Fleetwood (FD4).
5.1914: Completed.
1.6.1914: Landed at Fleetwood from maiden trip.
11.1914: Requisitioned for war service as an auxiliary patrol vessel (Ad.No.678). Based Dover.
15.9.1915: At 7.10 pm. foundered after collision with steamer PATROCLUS (5509grt/?) at the Folkestone Gate. Officer in Command Lieut. Albert J. Coles RNR and seven men saved, six by PATROCLUS and two by steamer MISTLEY (135grt/?) . Remainder of crew, Warrant Officer Telegraphist, RNR and six men, lost*.
28.9.1915: Fleetwood registry closed.

(Lost* – Ty/Warrant Telegraphist Ernest A. Sutton; Charles E. Freeman, 2nd Hand; Arthur Howe, 2nd Engineman; Thomas Baker & Thomas May, deckhands; William E. Hill, trimmer.)

(Note: “Lieut. A. J. Coles RNR and Lieut. A. Bean RNR “SEAWARD HO” rendered good Service on Folkestone Gate, when traffic route had to be diverted at a moment’s notice”.)

Click to enlarge image

S.T. City of Dundee FD4

S.T. City of Dundee FD4
Picture courtesy of The Bill Blow Collection

Changelog
18/05/2012: Page published. 5 revisions since then.
09/08/2014: Picture added.
03/11/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
05/12/2019: Updated information.

S.T. Bracklyn FD2

Technical

Official Number: 136888
Yard Number: 401
Completed: 1914
Gross Tonnage: 303
Net Tonnage: 122
Length: 125.8 ft
Breadth: 23.4 ft
Depth: 13.2 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl by J. Abernethy & Co, Aberdeen
Built: J. Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co, Aberdeen

History

22.4.1914: Launched by J. Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co, Aberdeen (Yd.No.401) for The Brooklyn Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood as BRACKLYN.
5.1914: Completed (Richard W. Mason, manager).
28.5.1914: Registered at Fleetwood (FD2).
12.1914: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (Ad.No.667).
28.3.1916: Bad weather, with other vessels ran ashore on Corton Beach, Gt. Yarmouth. Weather eased and towed off by tug LOWESTOFT (172grt/1898) assisted by Lowestoft lifeboat KENTWELL (Cox George Ayres).
1917: Thomas Cardwell appointed manager.
11.5.1917: Mined off Great Yarmouth.
21.5.1917: Fleetwood registry closed.

(MPK – Lieut Arthur E.L. Rudd; Ty/Sk. Archibald Radmore; Robert Bailey, 2nd Hand: John N. Saunders & Robert W. Mitchinson, Enginemen; William Colby, deck hand; Magnus Adamson & John T. Alden, trimmers; Percy M. Stace, trimmer/cook.)

Notes: On 28 March 1916 two sailing ships, two steamers and the minesweeper BRACKLYN went on Corton Beach, off Great Yarmouth, in bad weather. The Lowestoft lifeboat, KENTWELL, was launched but the weather was so bad that no crews could be found and it is doubtful if they could have been taken off because of the weather.
When the weather eased the KENTWELL was towed down to one of the schooners. When they arrived they found that the coastguards with their rocket apparatus had rescued all the crews with the exception of that from the ship nearest Hopton. The Gorleston lifeboat, MARK LANE, had got them. When they returned, George Ayers the 2nd Coxswain who was in charge, was asked to go out to the minesweeper. They went out and helped the tug LOWESTOFT to get her off the beach. Later in the year an award of £40 for salvage was received.
Having survived this it seems ironic that BRACKLYN was subsequently lost to a mine.

Changelog
18/05/2012: Page published. 5 updates since then.

S.T. Aurea FD300

Additional information courtesy of Granton Trawlers
Technical

Official Number: 141946
Yard Number: 279
Completed: 1917
Gross Tonnage: 270
Net Tonnage: 105
Length: 128.8 ft
Breadth: 23.0 ft
Depth: 12.6 ft
Built: Dundee Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Dundee
Engine: T.3-cyl by W. Beardmore & Co Ltd, Glasgow

History

1917: Launched by Dundee Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Dundee (Yd.No.279) for the The Brooklyn Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood as AUREA.
25.9.1917: Registered at Fleetwood (FD300). Thomas Cardwell, designated manager.
9.1917: Completed. Requisitioned from the builders for war service and fitted out for anti submarine duties (1-12pdr, 1-3.5” A/S Howitzer and Hydrophone) (Ad.No.3066). Based Aegean Sea.
12.3.1919: Waiting instructions whether required for Post-War Service (SS).
1920: Returned to owner at Fleetwood.
22.01.1922: Arrived Killybegs, Co. Donegal with steam trawler ASHLYN (FD1) picked up disabled whilst fishing the Donegal Bay grounds.
11.1928: Fishing the St. Kilda grounds (Sk. Ashton). In heavy weather, whilst the crew was preparing the gear, the skipper saw a huge wave approaching and shouted from the wheelhouse to the men below, ‘Look out lads, hang on”. The wave struck the ship which lurched and deckhand Robert Simms (50) who was running aft for shelter was struck by the wave and carried overboard. In spite of the sea conditions Sk. Ashton turned the trawler in the direction of Simms, who twice shouted for help and with the aid of a boat hook a hold on Simms was obtained. The skipper clambered down the side and with assistance pulled the man back on deck. The manoeuvre had taken about seven minutes and immediately artificial respiration was commenced and continued in relays for three hours but the efforts failed.
27.11.1928: At Fleetwood and inquest was held into the death of Robert Simms and a verdict of accidental death was recorded.
1934: Sold to T. L. Devlin & Sons, Granton.
20.4.1934: Fleetwood registry closed.
4.1934: Registered at Granton as COMPAGNUS (GN2). Thomas L. Devlin designated manager.
29.12.1934: Mate, Gilbert Menzies, badly injured when blocking up. Taken to Leith Hospital.
13.12.1935: About 140 miles off Aberdeen connected to trawler NAPIER (A244), disabled with engine problems and delivered Aberdeen.
1.11.1938: Sailed Granton for the fishing grounds. Called at Aberdeen about midnight and the skipper reported one of crew missing. The skipper was under the impression that he had left Granton with a full crew but when inquiries were made at Granton it was discovered that the “missing” man had gone ashore unknown to the skipper just before sailing.
17.12.1939: Foundered in the North Sea, 150 miles E by N of May Island, Firth of Forth after being bombed and damaged by German air attack; one deckhand, James Swanney killed by machine gun fire, Ch Eng Joseph Sim and Deckhand Arthur Orr both injured. Survivors taken onboard steam trawler COLLEAGUE (GN53).
12.1939: Granton registry closed.
25.05.1940: The Scotsman; Deck-hand James Swanney (deceased), trawler COMPAGNUS (Thomas L. Devlin & Sons, Edinburgh) is commended for gallantry. During an enemy aircraft, attack upon the trawler, Swanney went on deck to try to cut away the fishing gear and was killed by machine-gun fire. He did his best to save his shipmates without thinking of his safety.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Aurea FD300

S.T. Aurea FD300
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
17/05/2012: Page published. 4 updates since then.
24/06/2015: Picture added.
26/09/2016: Minor correction made.
05/03/2017: Information added.
22/07/2019: Updated information.