Additional information courtesy of Andy Hall and George Westwood
Technical
Official Number: 98747
Yard Number: 56
Completed: 1891
Gross Tonnage: 153
Net Tonnage: 60
Length: 101 ft
Breadth: 20.5 ft
Depth: 11 ft
Built: Cochrane Cooper & Schofield, Beverley
Engine: C.2-cyl and boiler by Charles D. Holmes & Co, Hull
History
12.5.1891: Launched by Cochrane, Cooper & Schofield, Beverley (Yd.No.56) for Pickering & Haldane’s Steam Trawling Co Ltd (64/64), Hull as KITTIWAKE.
8.7.1891: Registered at Hull (H149).
8.7.1891: Henry Alfred Lees Russell appointed manager.
11.7.1891: Completed.
20.12.1892: Waiting the tide at anchor off St. Andrew’s Dock, Hull, when bringing the anchor onboard, wire slipped and knocked overboard the mate, Albert Edward Batty. He held on to wire and was brought back on deck but discovered that deckhand, Joseph Farrer of Beverley who was assisting was missing, presumed knocked overboard at the same time. A search was made in the water but there was no sign of him. On docking Batty was taken home suffering from hip contusion and bruised back.
20.10.1898: On a North Sea trip (Sk. S. Manthorpe) in heavy seas and gale force winds off Aberdeenshire coast, fell in with German steamer ESTLAND (1169grt/1883), Blyth for Hantsholm, Denmark, cargo coals, which had sprung a leak. Master requested that crew be taken off and the KITTIWAKE mate, G. Spofford and third hand, J. Wells made three boat journeys to the ship to take off all sixteen crew before vessel foundered.
22.10.1898: Landed survivors at Hull *.
31.1.1901: Arrived Grimsby with steam trawler VENETIA (GY1127) picked up in North Sea disabled with engine problems and rudder broken.
11.9.1902: Arrived Hull (Sk. Bentley), reported having been in collision in North Sea with an unknown vessel sustaining damage to bow and rail.
18.2.1907: Sold to Deep Sea Trawlers Ltd (64/64), Fleetwood (Smith & Crosby, Fleetwood). Arthur Thomas Liver, appointed manager.
9.2.1907: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to London City & Midland Bank Ltd, London (A).
5.3.1907: Hull registry closed.
6.3.1907: Registered at Fleetwood (FD146).
29.2.1908: Mortgage (A) discharged.
11.3.1908: Sold to Charles Finlay Paton (64/64), Glasgow.
13.3.1908: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to George Milne, Glasgow for a sum with interest at 6% (B).
14.3.1908: Charles Finley Paton appointed managing owner.
10.4.1908: Fleetwood registry closed.
4.1908: Registered at Glasgow (GW24).
1912: Sold to John Baxter, William Baxter, Junr, Robert Baxter & Arthur Baxter, Aberdeen.
6.1912: Glasgow registry closed.
18.6.1912: Registered at Aberdeen (A469). William Baxter, Jnr designated managing owner.
1.1.1914: Tonnage altered to 62.75 net under provision of Merchant Shipping Act 1907.
29.5.1917: Requisitioned for Fishery Reserve.
29.9.1917: Sold to James Johnson, Scarborough (trading as Johnson’s Trawlers). James Johnson designated managing owner.
22.3.1918: Johnson’s Trawlers Ltd, Scarborough registered as a private company with a capital of £10,000 in £1 shares to take over the business of Johnson’s Trawlers including the steam trawler KITTIWAKE. Directors are R. W.Parker, G. H. Wardell, J. Johnson, D. Chew and R. W. Crawford, all Scarborough.
1919: Released.
1919: Sold to Wallace L. Mullender, Lowestoft & others.
5.3.1919: Registered at Lowestoft (LT378). Wallace Mullender designated managing owner.
10.3.1919: Aberdeen registry closed.
1923: Sold to Arthur B. Cullen, Lowestoft & others. Wallace L. Mullender, appointed manager.
1926: Sold to Colis Durrant, Lowestoft & others for £1850. Colis Durrant designated managing owner. Seasonal fishing out of Fleetwood.
30.6.1928: In Cardigan Bay (Sk. Harry Reeve) in gale force winds and rough seas, and with great difficulty, rescued the four crew of a Southampton flying boat (No.1125) which ditched 22 miles west of Bardsey Island with engine problems after taking off from Pembroke Dock for Piel, Walney Island. Called Point Lynas to inform authorities and proceeded to Fleetwood to land survivors **.
15.11.1928: In collision with steam trawler DOVER (LT93), causing damage.
1.1.1929: Harry Reeve former skipper of the Lowestoft Trawler Kittiwake (LT378) was presented with a silver cup by the Mayor, Alderman C. H. Cartwright of Bournmouth Borough Council. The award was given on “behalf of the Air Council in acknowledgement of the able seamanship and skill displayed by him.” on rescuing the crew of the Southampton Flying Boat in Cardigan Bay on 30th June last. Mr Reeve is now in business at Boscombe, Bournmouth.
5.1930: Sold to Edward J. Hellings (64/64), Milford Haven.
7.5.1930: Lowestoft registry closed.
12.6.1930: Registered at Milford (M87). Edward J. Hellings designated managing owner.
5.7.1933: Sold to James Henry Gough (64/64), Milford Haven. James Henry Gough designated managing owner.
1933: Sold to Thos. W. Ward Ltd, Sheffield for breaking up at Castle Pill, Milford Haven.
14.11.1933: Milford registry closed “broken up”.
Notes
* – 8.12.1898: At a presentation in Hull Town Hall, the German Society for the Saving of Shipwrecked Mariners awarded the skipper, S. Manthorpe a diploma and gold medal; the mate G. Spofford a diploma and silver medal, and a 100 mark note; and the boatswain and third hand Nils Rasmussen and James Wells each received a 100 mark note.
** – 8.11.1928: The Air Council have awarded a piece of plate to Harry Reeve and a sum of money to the mate, chief engineer, and six other members of the crew in recognition of their services in effecting the rescue of the officers and airmen of Southampton flying boat No 1125, which came down in Cardigan Bay on 30th June. Crew rescued. Ft Lt. A. Stevens, Fl Lt.(Nav) C. A. Turner, Air Mech. Long and W/T Op. Geddes.
Click to enlarge image
S.T. Kittiwake GW24
Picture courtesy of The Bill Blow Collection
Changelog
24/12/2008: Page published. 2 updates since then.
10/01/2016: Picture added.
18/01/2016: Information updated.
20/01/2016: Information added.
21/01/2016: Information added.
25/03/2021: Updated history.