Tag Archives: Alex Keay

S.T. Sulby FD87

Pictures and documents courtesy of Bob Dawson

Download witness statements in pdf format
Reg King’s Statement
Bernard Nolan’s Statement pt.1
Bernard Nolan’s Statement pt.2
Harold Blackburn’s Statement
Newspaper Report

Letter from Alexander Keay to Mrs. Dawson
Part 1 (PDF format)
Part 2 (PDF format)

Technical

Official Number: 127573
Yard Number: 401
Completed: 1909
Gross Tonnage: 287
Net Tonnage: 111
Length: 130.3 ft
Breadth: 23 ft
Depth: 12.7 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl by Shields Engineering Co Ltd, North Shields
Built: Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, North Shields, 1909

History

3.2.1909: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, North Shields (Yd.No.401) for The “Wyre” Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood as SULBY.
9.3.1909: Registered at Fleetwood (FD87).
3.1909: Completed. Richard C. Ward & John N. Ward designated joint managers.
1910: John N. Ward designated manager.
7.2.1912: Stranded 3 miles N of Ramsey (Sk. Fairclough); ten crew.
19.2.1912: Attempts to refloat with tugs unsuccessful.
7.4.1912: Arrived Fleetwood in tow after successfully being refloated.
7.4.1912: Reported that John N. Ward who had gone over to the Isle of Man in connection with the salvage of SULBY, had died on the island.
4.1912: Magnus B. J. Wedum designated manager.
8.1914: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-6pdr) (Ad.No.131).
1914: Based Portsmouth.
1918: Based Kirkwall.
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Fleetwood.
13.3.1926: Sold to George Hindle, Wilpshire, Lancs. Joseph A. Taylor, Albert V. Thompson & Harold Taylor, designated joint managers.
17.6.1930: Outward for fishing grounds in Fleetwood Channel. Carbide drum fell into engine crankpit smashing engine, gas generated exploded causing considerable damage; no casualties. Steam trawler VELIA (FD49) connected and beached vessel at Fleetwood.
18.6.1930: Not making any water, refloated by tugs and entered Wyre Dock for survey and repair.
16.2.1931: Sold to Islay Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood. Henry Melling designated manager.
10.3.1931: Sold to Cape Fisheries Ltd, London. Albert V. Thompson, Fleetwood designated manager.
5.7.1932: Sold to Alexander Keay, Fleetwood & Andrew Wilson, Buckie. Alexander Keay designated managing owner.
18.3.1933: Sold to Alexander Keay, Fleetwood. Alexander Keay designated managing owner.
25.4.1933: Homeward from West of Scotland grounds, stranded at Strongarve, 4 miles N of Mull of Kintyre. Glasgow steamer LOCHIEL (318g/1906) and Southend lifeboat standing by. At 3.00 pm. refloated and after checks, proceeded to Fleetwood.
15.11.1939: At Fleetwood landed 7,400 stone of herring, £438 gross, the seasons best landing.
5.8.1939: At Fleetwood landed first herring catch of the season – 330 boxes.
21.11.1939: On fishing grounds 35 miles NW of Rathlin Island (Sk. Clarence Hector Hudson), eleven crew, in company with CUIRASS (GY436) and WILLIAM HUMPHRIES (LO533). At 8.00 a.m. stopped by by U-boat (U.33) with warning shot, crew abandoned in two boats, but shelled while lowering port boat. Sunk by gunfire, five rounds from deck gun, in approx position 55.27N 08.01W. In gale force winds, boat with Skipper and four crew* never seen again.
23.11.1939: After 38 1/2 hours in open boat ** (H. Blackburn, bosun) made a landfall at Tobermory and picked up by Tobermory lifeboat.

*Lost presumed drowned – Sk.Clarence H. Hudson; J. Dawson, Mate; James Wood; R. A. Fisher and R. J. Randles

**Survivors – H. Blackburn, Bosun; J. Geddes; H.G. Hay; A. Lewis; J. Threlfall, S. Melhuish and F. Brunt.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Sulby FD87

S.T. Sulby FD87
Picture courtesy of The Bob Dawson Collection

S.T. Sulby FD85

S.T. Sulby FD85
Picture courtesy of The Bob Dawson Collection

S.T. Sulby FD87

S.T. Sulby FD87
Picture courtesy of The Brian Dodd Collection

S.T. Sulby FD87

S.T. Sulby FD87
Picture courtesy of The Brian Dodd Collection

S.T. Sulby FD87

S.T. Sulby FD87
Stranded at Strongarve
Image courtesy of David Buckley

Note incorrect spelling of the name of the lighthouse. This should be “Rubha nan Gall”

News Cutting Sulby Survivors

News Cutting Sulby Survivors

Changelog
14/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
14/03/2014: Information updated, documents and image added.
29/08/2022: Added images.
21/12/2023: Added an image.

S.T. Vale of Clyde – A192

Additional information courtesy of Douglas Paterson

Technical

Official Number: 127143
Yard Number: 446
Completed: 1908
Gross Tonnage: 223
Net Tonnage: 83
Length: 115.5 ft
Breadth: 22.6 ft
Depth: 12.1 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl by A. Hall & Co Ltd, Aberdeen
Built: A. Hall & Co Ltd, Aberdeen

History

19.12.1907: Launched by Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen (Yd.No.446) for The Vale of Leven Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Aberdeen as VALE of CLYDE.
1.1908: Completed.
28.1.1908: Registered at Aberdeen (A192). William Anderson designated manager.
1911: Harry A. Holmes designated manager.
1.1.1914: Tonnage altered to 82.92 net under provision of Merchant Shipping Act 1907.
9.1914: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-12pdr, 1-6pdr HA, WT) (Ad.No.515). Based Granton.
13.12.1914: Trimmer, John Stephen Thomson (26) went missing.
15.1.1915: Body recovered in West Harbour Granton by the crew of a ‘messenger’ boat.
18.1.1915: Buried at Seafield Cemetery.
20.12.1918: Sold to Horace Edward Stroud & Sidney Morris Cannon, Aberdeen.
Post 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Aberdeen.
6.3.1919: Sold to William Flockhart Snr, William Flockhart Jnr, John Flockhart, Jane Flockhart, Agnes Flockhart, Alexander Flockhart, Agnes Flockhart, Euphemia Flockhart & Robert Flockhart, Leith.
29.3.1919: Sold to Morris Wilkins & George Moreland, Manchester (c/o Joseph A. Taylor, Fleetwood, manager).
1.1921: Transferred to Aberdeen (Sam Isaacs (Aberdeen) Ltd, managers) on charter to Bookless Brothers, Aberdeen/Sheffield to operate from Hafnarfjordur, Iceland, ‘salting’.
6.1921: Returned to Aberdeen on completion of charter.
21.12.1921: Sold to George Main & Thomas Main, Aberdeen. George Main designated managing owner. Long-lining.
9.4.1935: Sold to George Main, Thomas Main & James Cale Main, Aberdeen. George Main designated managing owner.
10.7.1936: Landed Fleetwood (Alex Keay, agent).
10.12.1939: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood. Basil Arthur Parkes, Cleveleys designated manager.
6.1.1940: Sold to Alexander M. Morrice, George Dow Taylor, John Morrice & Mary Jane Morrice, Aberdeen. Alexander M. Morrice designated managing owner. 24.1.1941: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood Basil Arthur Parkes, Cleveleys designated manager.
31.8.1943: Sold to Morrice Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Aberdeen. Alexander M. Morrice designated manager.
27.3.1946: Sold to Elspeth Forest Clark, Aberdeen. Alexander M. Morrice designated manager.
24.12.1947: Sold to Elspeth Forest Clark, Aberdeen, Alexander Robertson Milne & Henrietta Elizabeth Milne, Newtonhill, Kincardineshire.
1952: Sold for breaking up.
10.1952: Arrived Bo’ness under own power from Aberdeen.
16.1.1953: Aberdeen registry closed.

Click to enlarge image

Vale of Clyde A192

Vale of Clyde A192
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
08/01/2009: Page published. 5 updates since then.
15/02/2016: Picture added.
26/11/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
14/07/2020: Updated information.

S.D/L. Trustful PD366

Information courtesy of Barry Banham

Technical

Official Number: 123626
Completed: 1906
Gross Tonnage: 87
Net Tonnage: 31
Length: 84 ft
Breadth: 18.9 ft
Depth: 9.6 ft
Engine: C.2-cyl by A. Hall & Co Ltd, Aberdeen
Built: Carnegie & Matthews, Peterhead

History

1906: Completed by Carnegie & Matthews, Peterhead (Yd.No.) for Alexander & George Mair Snr, Portknockie (George Mair Snr managing owner), as TRUSTFUL (BF369).
1915: Requisitioned for war service as a boom tender (Ad.No.2441). Based Longhope. Renamed TRUSTFUL II.
Post 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Buckie (George Mair, Portknockie). Reverted to TRUSTFUL (BF369).
1920: Sold to Richard Irvin & Sons Ltd, North Shields (Sir John H. Irvin, Aberdeen, manager). Banff registry closed. Registered at Peterhead (PD366).
1921: Fishing from Fleetwood as a liner (Alex Keay, managing agent).
1922: Sold to William H. Moorhouse, Thornton-le-Fylde (Harry Dingle, Thornton-le-Fylde, manager).
1923: Peterhead registry closed. Registered at Douglas (DO27).
29.12.1924: Fishing off Bray Head, Co. Wicklow, SW gale sprang up and vessel shipped heavy seas. Engine room flooded. About 5.00 pm anchored and let off flares. No response, took to boat and laid off as vessel started to settle, boiler exploded and vessel foundered. After several hours, picked up by Kingstown pilot boat, landed and taken to Dublin.
2.1.1925: Crew returned to Fleetwood. Douglas registry closed.

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

S.T. Trier LT158

Technical

Official Number: 149231
Launched: 1917
Gross Tonnage: 139
Net Tonnage: 47
Length: 99.6 ft
Breadth: 20.5 ft
Depth: 9.5 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl by Burgerhout’s Maschfb., Rotterdam
Built: Gebr. Boot, Leiderdorp, The Netherlands, 1917

History

1917: Completed by Gebr. Boot, Leiderdorp, The Netherlands (Yd.No.) for Witte Ster, IJmuiden as OCEANIC (IJM258).
1919: Sold to Union des Pêcheries Maritimes S. A., Brussels & Ostend. Renamed LISETTE-ADOLPHINE. Registered at Fécamp, France (F595).
2.10.1925: R. Pelteir, Fécamp, appointed manager.
1928: Sold to N.V. Zeevissch. Maats “Zeelandia”, IJmuiden. Renamed ZEELANDIA (IJM71).
1930: Sold to Sidney G. Allerton (32/64), Lowestoft & Frederick Spashett (32/64), Lowestoft.
12.4.1930: Renamed TRIER.
9.5.1930: Registered at Lowestoft (LT158).
1930: Sold to S. G. Allerton & F. Spashett, Lowestoft.
1930: Re-measured 100.2 x 20.4 x 9.6 feet – 136g 61n.
1932: Transferred to Fleetwood (Alex Keay, managing agent).
21.2.1935: Damaged to stem repaired at Milford.
1.10.1935: Collision damage repaired at Fleetwood.
12.2.1937: Sustained heavy weather damage off St. Ann’s Head.
23.1.1938: Damage to propeller and boat repaired at Fleetwood.
1939-1945: Fishing from Fleetwood.
1.8.1945: Sold to Frederick Spashett (32/64); David F. Cartwright, MBE MC (16/64); Gertrude M. Cartwright (16/64), all Lowestoft.
15.9.1945: Frederick Spashett died. Shares re-allocated. Henrietta Spashett, Lowestoft; William Frith, South Molton; David F. Cartwright: Ronald Self, Lowestoft (32/64 joint shares) & David F. Cartwright (16 shares) Gertrude M. Cartwright (16 shares), Lowestoft.
21.4.1947: Henrietta Spashett died. Shares re-allocated. David F. Cartwright (27 shares); Gertrude M. Cartwright (16 shares), Lowestoft; William Frith (11/64), South Molton; Ronald H. Self (10/64), Lowestoft.
1947: Sold to Trier Fishing Co Ltd, Lowestoft (David F. Cartwright, MBE MC, manager).
27.4.1947: Sold to David F. Cartwright (27/64); Gertrude M. Cartwright (16/64), E. M. Cartwright (11/64); M. H. Waddington (11/64): N. L. Palmer (10/64), Lowestoft.
4.6.1947: Sold to Trier Fishing Co Ltd, Lowestoft (David F. Cartwright, manager).
25.12.1953: Sold to Respondo Trawlers Ltd, Milford Haven.
26.1.1954: Sold to William James (Milford Haven) Ltd, Milford Haven.
4.1955: Sold to Belgian shipbreakers for breaking up.
24.4.1955: Sailed Milford for Belgium.
26.5.1955: Lowestoft registry closed.

Click to enlarge image

S.D/T. Trier LT158

S.D/T. Trier LT158
Picture courtesy The Barry Banham Maritime Photo Collection

S.D/T. Trier LT158

S.D/T. Trier LT158
Picture courtesy of Robert Durrant

Changelog
08/01/2009: Page published. 3 updates since then.
2105/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from images.

S.T. Tresco LT1293

Technical

Official Number: 110756
Yard Number: 247
Completed: 1899
Gross Tonnage: 159
Net Tonnage: 63
Length: 106.8 ft
Breadth: 21 ft
Depth: 11 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by Amos & Smith, Hull
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Hull

History

15.11.1899: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Hull (Yd.No.247) for The Hull Steam Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Hull as TOBAGO.
16.12.1899: Registered at Hull (H482).
12.1899: Completed (Henry Toozes, manager).
29.5.1917: Requisitioned for Fishery Reserve.
1919: Released (Joseph Vivian, manager).
22.12.1923: Sold to George G. Utting, Lowestoft (managing owner).
24.12.1923: Registered at Lowestoft (LT1293).
1926: Sold to Thomas A. Utting, Lowestoft (managing owner).
7.10.1929: Registered at Lowestoft as TRESCO (LT1293) (M/RG 1433/29).
1930s: Seasonal white fish trawling from Milford and Fleetwood (Alex Keay, managing agent).
29.8.1932: Fishing 18 miles WbyN of St. Ann’s Head, observed Belgian motor trawler NEPTUN in distress. Hauled and closed. Informed mechanical failure. At 8.00 a.m. connected and towed to Milford arriving at 12.00.
1943: Sold to Respondo Trawlers Ltd, Milford Haven (J. Yolland, manager).
1.1944: Fishing from Fleetwood.
4.8.1944: Last landing at Fleetwood.
30.8.1944: Landed at Milford.
1945: Sold to F. Uglow & Son, Milford Haven (W. D. Uglow, manager).
25.8.1950: Last landing at Milford. Laid up.
10.1951: Sold to BISCO and allocated to Thos W. Ward Ltd, Sheffield for breaking up.
22.9.1951: Arrived at Castle Pill, Milford Haven.
1952: Breaking up completed.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Tresco LT1239

S.T. Tresco LT1239
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
08/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
05/04/2016: Picture added.
27/04/2018: Removed FMHT watermark from image.