Category Archives: War Losses

Vessels lot due to war

S.T. Sweeper GY853

In Parkes (Fleetwood) ownership. Did not fish from Fleetwood
Additional information courtesy of Bill Blow & Göran Olsson

Technical

Official Number: 134771
Yard Number: 262
Completed: 1913
Gross Tonnage: 394.80
Net Tonnage: 235.25
Length: 150.1 ft
Breadth: 25.0 ft
Depth: 13.5 ft
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley
Engine: 550ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by Amos & Smith Ltd, Hull

History

24.2.1913: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.262) for Alick Black (64/64), Grimsby as SWEEPER.
8.5.1913: Registered at Grimsby (GY853).
8.5.1913: Aick Black designated managing owner.
8.5.1913: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to George Jeffs, Grimsby for the sum of £5,000 with interest at 51/2% (A).
5.1913: Completed.
8.1914: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (!-6pdr, 1-6pdr HA & 1-7.5” A/S Howitzer) (Ad.No.1224).
14.10.1914: Sold to The South Western Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Grimsby & Fleetwood.
15.10.1914: Alick Black appointed manager.
7.10.1915: Mortgage (A) discharged.
11.10.1915: Sold to Thomas William Baskcomb, Grimsby.
11.10.1915: Thomas William Baskcomb designated managing owner.
12.10.1915: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Barclay & Co Ltd, London (B).
22.2.1917: Mortgagee restyled Barclays Bank Ltd, London.
1919: Returned to owner.
22.10.1935: Sold by mortgagee under mortgage (B) to Fred Parkes (64/64), Fleetwood & Blackpool.
29.10.1935: Basil Arthur Parkes, Cleveleys appointed manager.
25.11.1935: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd (64/64), Fleetwood.
4.12.1935: Basil Arthur Parkes, Cleveleys appointed manager.
3.1936: Sold to A/S Nordhavet, Kristiansund, Norway (Jan L. Backer, manager).
2.3.1936: Grimsby registry closed.
6.1936: Rebuilt aT Trondheim by Trondhiem Mek. Versted.
1939: Registered at Kristiansund as NORDHAV 2 (M-169-K).
12.6.1936: Arrived Kristiansund.
7.10.1939: Requisitioned by the Norwegian Government, Oslo.
17.10.1939: Completed fit out for guard duties by Harstad Mekaniske Verksted, Harstad and commissioned into Den Kongelige Norske Marine (Royal Norwegian Navy). At Ramsund fitted with gun (1-76mm).
4.1940: With German invasion of Norway escaped to UK.
18.6.1940: Arrived Rosyth.
6.5.1942: Converted to a minesweeper (1-20mm, 4-Hotchkiss MGs) (P.No.FY.1906). Based at Dundee M/S Group 71, 1st M/S Div.
10.3.1945: CO. Lieut A. Olsen RNoN. Dispersed from convoy FS-1753, torpedoed by U.boat (U714) off Arbroath. Seventeen survivors picked up by HnoMS SYRIAN and landed at Dundee. Six Crew MPK.
(MPK – Lt A. Olsen RnoN, John Taylor, Signalman plus four Norwegians)

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Sweeper GY853

S.T. Sweeper GY853
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection

S.T. Sweeper GY853

S.T. Sweeper GY853
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection

Changelog

19/06/2010: Page published. 8 updates since then.
20/08/2018: Removed FMHT watermark from images.

S.T. Robinia GY1147

In Parkes (Fleetwood) ownership. Did not sail from Fleetwood
Additional information courtesy of Bill Blow

Technical

Official Number: 110944
Yard Number: 18
Completed: 1900
Gross Tonnage: 207.53
Net Tonnage: 97
Length: 116.3 ft
Breadth: 21.5 ft
Depth: 11.2 ft
Built: Schofield, Hagerup & Doughty Ltd, Grimsby
Engine: 430ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by C. D. Holmes & Co, Hull

History

1900: Launched by Schofield, Hagerup & Doughty Ltd, Grimsby (Yd.No.18) for The North Eastern Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby as ROBINIA.
28.2.1900: Builder’s Certificate issued.
2.3.1900: Registered at Grimsby (GY1147).
2.3.1900: George Doughty, Waltham Hall appointed manager.
3.1900: Completed.
20.12.1900: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to The Law Guarantee & Trust Society Ltd, London (A).
31.12.1908: Mortgage (A) discharged.
31.12.1908: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to The Law Guarantee, Trust Society & Accident Soviety Ltd, London (B).
26.1.1914: Mortgage (B) discharged.
29.5.1917: Requisitioned for Fishery Reserve.
1919: Released.
1919: New boiler fitted.
29.11.1919: Sold to Thomas William Baskcomb, Grimsby.
11.1919: Thomas William Baskcomb designated managing owner.
1.12.1919: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Barclays Bank Ltd, London (C).
22.10.1935: Sold by mortgagee under mortgage (C) to Fred Parkes, Blackpool and Fleetwood.
24.10.1935: Sold to T. C. & F. Moss Ltd, Grimsby.
10.1935: William T. Moss appointed managing owner.
11.12.1940: Outwards for Icelandic grounds. Mined in British defensive Northern Mine Barrage (laid in Operation ‘SN’) in position 62.20N 12.40W. All crew saved.
28.3.1941: Grimsby registry closed “Vessel sunk off coast of Iceland on 10 December 1940 through striking a mine”.

Click to enlarge images

Robinia Builders Certificate

Robinia Builders Certificate

S.T. Robinia GY1147

S.T. Robinia GY1147
Picture courtesy of The Grimsby Telegraph

Changelog
17/06/2010: Page published. 4 revisions since then.
09/08/2014: Information updated and picture added.
20/08/2014: Picture added.
18/08/2018: Removed FMHT watermark from image.

S.T. Moravia GY1018

Technical

Official Number: 139931
Yard Number: 350
Completed: 1916
Gross Tonnage: 307
Net Tonnage: 121
Length: 130.2 ft
Breadth: 23.0 ft
Depth: 12.2 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by Amos & Smith Ltd, Hull
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley

History

28.10.1916: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No350) for The Great Grimsby & East Coast Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Grimsby as MORAVIA.
13.1.1917: Registered at Grimsby (GY1018).
2.1917: Completed (Walter W. Butt, manager).
6.1917: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-12pdr) (Ad.No.1272).
1919: Returned to owner.
9.1.1932: On an Icelandic trip sustained heavy weather damage to wheelhouse, funnel, boat and mizzen swept away. Skipper and one hand washed overboard and lost. After thirty-six hours drifting found by Hull trawler CAPE GRISNEZ (H84), connected and towed approx 900 miles to Grimsby.
6.6.1940: Requisitioned for war service as an auxiliary patrol vessel (Hire rate £89.5.0d/month).
4.1941: Fitted out as a minesweeper (P.No.FY.1819).
14.1.1942: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood (Basil A. Parkes, Cleveleys, manager).
14.3.1943: Mined in the North Sea in approx position 52 15N 01 48E (Ty/Sk. Lieut. H. R. Pook RNR). One crewman MPK.
1943: Grimsby registry closed.

(MPK – Edward D. Alexander, Seaman)

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Moravia GY1018

S.T. Moravia GY1018
Picture courtesy of Jeffrey Pullen

Changelog
16/06/2010: Page published. 4 updates since then.
05/03/2015: Picture added.
17/08/2018: Removed FMHT watermark.

S.T. Bois des Buttes ??

In Parkes ownership. Did not fish from Fleetwood

Technical

Official Number (USA): 227162
Yard Number: 12
Completed: 1919
Gross Tonnage: 362
Net Tonnage: 108
Length: 140.8 ft
Breadth: 25.2 ft
Depth: 13.6 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl by Goldie & McCulloch Co Ltd, Galt, Ontario
Built: Foundation Co, Savannah, Ga

History

1919: Launched by Foundation Co, Savannah, Ga (Yd.No.12) for Government of France, Paris as HONDSHOOTE.
1919: Completed as a minesweeper for the Marine Francaise.
1920: Sold to Pêcheries de L’Ouest S.A., Fécamp. Renamed BOIS des BUTTES.
1925: Re-possessed by bank and laid up at Fécamp.
1925: Sold to Fred Parkes, Blackpool (en bloc with BOIS des CAURES and MAGENTA for c£5,000). Not registered in UK (B. A. Parkes, Grimsby, manager).
1926: Sailing under French flag as a ‘tug’ during General/Miner’s Strike shipping coal to UK.
1928: Sold to Bay State Fishing Co, East Boston, Mass. Fécamp registry closed. Registered at Boston, Mass as BREEZE. (US.O.N.227162).
1928: Re measured 384g 261n.
1938: Sold to Seaboard Navigation Co, Boston, Mass. Renamed KENNEBEC.
1938: Converted to cargo. Re measured 400g 232n.
1940: Sold to Government of France, Paris (Marine Francais) and fitted out as a minesweeper. Boston, Mass registry closed. Renamed La QUIMPEROISE.
22.6.1940: French government signed surrender. ‘Demobilised and disarmed’ under German control. Commissioned into the Kriegsmarine (P.No.M.4000). Re-numbered (P.No.M.4009).
12.2.1945: Scuttled in River Loire.

Changelog

11/06/2010: Page published. 3 updates since then.

S.T. Bromelia GY113

In Parkes ownership. Did not fish from Fleetwood

Technical

Official Number: 122718
Yard Number: 358
Completed: 1905
Gross Tonnage: 242
Net Tonnage: 121
Length: 126.2 ft
Breadth: 22.0 ft
Depth: 11.4 ft
Built: Cochrane & Sons, Selby
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull

History

14.14.1905: Launched by Cochrane & Sons, Selby (Yd.No.358) for The North Eastern Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Grimsby as BROMELIA.
13.2.1906: Registered at Grimsby (GY113).
1.1909: Converted for lining.
7.1909: Converted back for trawling.
6.1915: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-12pdr & Hydrophone) (Ad.No.3203). Northern Patrol.
11.1919: Returned to owner at Grimsby.
12.1919: Sold to Thomas W Baskcomb, Grimsby (managing owner).
22.10.1935: Fleet of Thomas W Baskcomb sold to Fred Parkes, Fleetwood.
11.1935: Sold to United Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Grimsby (William T. Moss, manager).
22.6.1942: Sailed Grimsby for Icelandic grounds in company with other trawlers (Sk. William Edward Webb): thirteen hands all told.
22.6.1942: Ceased fishing off East Coast of Iceland and set course for home; seen and spoke with other trawlers in approximate position 63.50N 14.40W.
29.6.1942: Posted missing. Possibly foundered following an explosion (mine or internal explosion?) Witnessed by German U-boat – in area U88, U173, U376 but no report of trawler sinking. All crew lost.
07.1942: The body of John Henry Nicholls was washed up at Vágur, a small town on the island of Suðuroy, Faroes. Due to lack of identification papers, the body was only identified in 2019. Resident Tina Tausen, 90, had tended the unknown grave for 78 years.
19.10.1942: Grimsby registry closed “Ship missing since 22/6/1942”.

Lost: Skipper William Edward Webb; Charles Frederick Bore, 2nd hand; John Henry Nicholls, 3rd hand; Thomas Rogers, Ch Eng; Leo Corcoran, 2nd Eng; Edward Abraham Edwards; William Ellis; William Osgothorpe; Frederick Arthur Perrin; Ralph Herbert Clark, deck hands; Rolf James & James Hitchman, trimmers; Sidney Victor Cuthbert, cook.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Bromelia GY113

S.T. Bromelia GY113
Picture courtesy of The Steve Farrow Collection

Changelog
10/06/2010: Page published. 4 updates since then.
22/06/2015: Crew list added.
11/08/2018: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
11/10/2019: Updated information.
21/05/2020: Updated information.