Category Archives: War Losses

Vessels lot due to war

S.T. Westella (1) H124

In Marr (Fleetwood) ownership. Did not fish from the port.

Technical

Official Number: 163956
Completed: 1934
Yard Number: 1129
Gross Tonnage: 413
Net Tonnage: 160
Length: 152.8 ft
Breadth: 25.6 ft
Engine: 106nhp T.3-cyl and boiler by Amos & Smith Ltd, Hull
Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby

History

25.9.1934: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.1129) for J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood as WESTELLA.
14.11.1934: Registered at Hull (H124).
22.11.1934: Completed (Geoffrey Edwards Marr, Cleveleys, manager). Crewed and operated by City Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull.
24.11.1934: Sailed Hull on first trip to White Sea (Sk.S. Greaves).
17.12.1934: At Hull landed 2,244 kits grossed £1,112.
26.7.1939: Sailed Hull for Bear Island (Sk. H. Parrott).
12.8.1939: At Hull landed 1,194 kits grossed £1,207.
31.8.1939: Sold to The Admiralty (£22,448). Fitted out as an anti submarine trawler (1-4”, AA weapons, ASDIC, DC) (P.No.FY.161).
15.11.1939: Hull registry closed.
1940: Based Dover with 10th A/S Group (Ch. Sk. A. Gove RNR).
26.5.1940: At 6.57pm. ‘Operation Dynamo’ (Dunkirk evacuation) put into effect.
28.5.1940: On patrol. 2.6.1940: On patrol off Dunkirk, at 4.00pm HMTrawler BLACKBURN ROVERS (P.No.FY.116) (GY102) was mined and blew up. On going to her aid and when closing to pick up survivors, damaged by explosions from BLACKBURN ROVERS depth charges; at 4.30pm also mined and disabled. All survivors picked up by HMTrawler SAON (P.No.FY159) (H487) which with HMTrawler GRIMSBY TOWN (P.No.FY125) set her depth charges ‘safe’ and sank her in position 51.19N 02.05E.
3.6.1940: Thomas M. Godfrey, Seaman died of wounds.

Changelog
24/06/2011: Page published. 8 updates since then.

S.T. Ocean Drift LH73

Additional information courtesy of Andy Hall

Technical

Official Number: 130214
Yard Number: 145
Completed: 1916
Gross Tonnage: 227
Net Tonnage: 98
Length: 117.2 ft
Breadth: 22.1 ft
Depth: 12.6 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl by Hawthorns & Co Ltd, Leith
Built: Hawthorns & Co Ltd, Leith

History

17.6.1916: Launched by Hawthorns & Co Ltd, Leith (Yd.No.145) for Peterhead Trawling Co Ltd, Peterhead & Aberdeen as PITFOUR.
19.10.1916: Registered at Peterhead (PD241). James Glennie Adam, Aberdeen designated manager.
10.1916: Completed. Requisitioned for war service as a minelayer (1-6pdr) (Ad.No.2976).
1917: Converted for minesweeping (1-6pdr, 1-7.5” Howitzer). Based Dover.
Post 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Aberdeen.
22.1.1925: At Aberdeen Sheriff Court , James Abbot, Aberdeen was charged with wilfully refusing or omitting to carry out his duties as cook on 14th, 15th, 16th October. He pleaded not guilty and in defence stated that he had fallen and struck his head on the pump and became sick, taking to his bunk. The skipper, William Rix, tried to combine his own duties with that of cooking but the crew complained and he had no option but to put back to port. The Sheriff found the charge proved and said that imprisonment was the proper penalty, however Abbot was given the opportunity to forfeit £1.18.11d, his pay for the four days at sea, with £2.16.1d for expenses or 14 days imprisonment.
9.(?).1927: Sold to James Glennie Adam, Aberdeen. James Glennie Adam designated managing owner.
1929: Sold to Alexander Flockhart, Leith, Edinburgh. Alexander Flockhart designated managing owner.
26.02.1931: While working onboard at West Pier, William Henry (47), Leith, engineer was struck on the head by falling derrick and fatally injured. Rushed to Leith hospital in an unconscious state but died later.
7.2.1935: Sold to Alexander & William Flockhart, Newhaven, Edinburgh.
13.2.1935: Peterhead registry closed.
5.3.1935: Registered at Leith as OCEAN DRIFT (LH73). Alexander Flockhart designated managing owner.
27.3.1939: Connected to OCEAN EDDY (LH62) disabled with machinery problems and delivered Lerwick after 30 mile tow.
20.7.1939: Off Peterhead in collision with steam drifter LANNER (LT1176) sustaining damage.
Pre 1939: Carnie & Gibb, Newhaven appointed managing agents.
7.1.1940: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood. Basil Arthur Parkes, Thornton-le-Fylde designated manager.
9.3.1940: Sold to William Carnie Jnr, Thomas Y. Carnie & Liston Carnie, Newhaven, Edinburgh. William Carnie Jnr, Glasgow designated manager.
17.3.1940: Foundered 50 miles NE of Kinnaird Head following collision with HMS INTREPID (P.No. D.10). Two crew missing* remainder including Sk. George Ratcliffe picked up by HMS INTREPID.
25.3.1940: Leith registry closed.

Crew picked up by INTREPID – Sk. George Ratcliffe; James Paterson, Eyemouth, mate; George Nisbet, Granton, 2nd fisherman; William Roxburgh, Edinburgh; J. B. Irvine, Cockenzie; M. Jolly, Leith; William McPhail, Leith and J. Mason, Ayr, cook.)

(Missing* – Ch.Eng A. Cunningham, Port Seton and Deckhand R. Liston, Newhaven.)Newhaven.)

Changelog

20/06/2011: Page published. 7 updates since then.
29/06/2019: Updated information.

S.T. Strathrye A597

Technical

Official Number: 137185
Yard Number: 577
Completed: 1915
Gross Tonnage: 212
Net Tonnage: 91
Length: 115.7 ft
Breadth: 22.3 ft
Depth: 12.1 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen
Built: Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen

History

1915: Launched by Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen (Yd.No.577) for Aberdeen Steam Trawling & Fishing Co Ltd, Aberdeen as STRATHRYE.
18.1.1916: Registered at Aberdeen (A597) (John Brown, manager).
1.1916: Completed and requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-12pdr) (Ad.No.3253). Based Peterhead.
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Aberdeen.
1938: W. Rhind appointed manager.
1940: Fishing out of Fleetwood.
12.1.1941: Mined 10 miles north of the Great Orme in position 53.30N 03.59W. Crew of eleven took to boat before vessel foundered. No loss of life. Registration Certificate lost with vessel. Aberdeen registry closed.

Changelog

25/03/2011: Page published.

S.T. Star of the Sea A538

Technical

Official Number: 115567
Yard Number: 394
Completed: 1902
Gross Tonnage: 197
Net Tonnage: 64
Length: 113.0 ft
Breadth: 21.6 ft
Depth: 11.8 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl by A. Hall & Co Ltd, Aberdeen
Built: A. Hall & Co Ltd, Aberdeen

History

24.5.1902: Launched by A. Hall & Co Ltd, Aberdeen (Yd.No.394) for The Walker Steam Trawl Fishing Co Ltd, Aberdeen as STAR OF THE SEA.
6.1902: Completed (Thomas Walker, manager).
14.6.1902: Registered at Aberdeen (A538).
1.1.1914: Tonnage altered to 76.12 net under provision of Merchant Shipping Act 1907.
9.5.1914: Sold to Andrew Walker, Aberdeen.
1916: Sold to The Croston Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood (Ernest Taylor, Thornton, managers).
21.1.1917: Stopped by U-boat (U.45) 43 miles NWxW1/2N of Inishtrahull Island, Co. Donegal and sunk by gunfire. Crew abandoned in boat.
30.1.1917: Aberdeen registry closed “Sunk by submarine”.

Changelog

22/03/2011: Page published. 3 updates since then.

S.D/T. Lord St. Vincent LT79 (Seasonal)

Technical

Official Number: 149220
Yard Number: 576
Completed: 1929
Gross Tonnage: 115
Net Tonnage: 48
Length: 92.0 ft
Breadth: 20.1 ft
Depth: 8.0 ft
Built: John Chambers Ltd, Lowestoft
Engine: T.3-cyl by Wm. Burrell, Gt. Yarmouth
Boiler: Riley Bros (Boilermakers) Ltd, Stockton on Tees

History

1929: Launched by John Chambers Ltd, Lowestoft (Yd.No.576) for Lowestoft Steam Herring Drifters Co Ltd, Lowestoft as LORD St. VINCENT.
7.1929: Completed (Harold Jackson, manager).
25.7.1929: Registered at Lowestoft (LT79) and insured for £4,500.
18.11.1929: At Lowestoft in collision with steam drifter NORFORD SUFFLING (LT685),
1930s: Seasonal trawling out of Padstow and Fleetwood (Lowestoft Fish Selling Co Ltd, Lowestoft, managing agents).
24.3.1932: At Newlyn with damaged propeller.
2.10.1933: Disabled off Lowestoft with piston rod failure. LNER tug LOWESTOFT (172grt/1898) connected and delivered Lowestoft.
9.8.1938: Off Milford Haven connected to disabled steam drifter LORD SUFFOLK (LT44) and delivered Milford.
4.9.1939: Requisitioned for war service on contraband control (Hire rate £61.13.4d/month).
26.5.1940: At 6.57pm. ‘Operation Dynamo’ (Dunkirk evacuation) put into effect.
28.5.1940: With Senior Officer (Cdr J. S. M. Glendinning RNR retd) in steam tug JAVA (128grt/1905-500ihp) (Capt W. Jones) left Ramsgate for Dunkirk at 3.00pm in company with steam drifters LORD RODNEY (LT390), LORD COLLINGWOOD (LT79) and LORD KEITH (LT181).
29.5.1940: At 4.30am. ferrying troops to ships. 10.00am. alongside Dunkirk Pier embarking troops. 5.00pm. left Dunkirk beaches for Ramsgate.
30.5.1940: At Ramsgate at 7.40am. landed 150 troops.
7.7.1941: Mined off North East Gunfleet Buoy in Thames Estuary (Sk. J. S. Alexander RNR). One casualty – James W. Utting, stoker, killed.
9.7.1941: Robert E. Cullingford, Engineman died of his wounds.
23.7.1941: Lowestoft registry closed “Vessel lost 7.7.41”.

Click to enlarge image

S.D/T. Lord St. Vincent LT79

S.D/T. Lord St. Vincent LT79
Picture courtesy of The Barry Banham Maritime Photo Collection

Changelog

31/12/2010: Page published. 8 updates since then.
06/11/2018: Removed FMHT watermark from image.