Additional information courtesy of Andy Hall
Technical

Official Number: 138979
Yard Number: 658
Completed: 1916
Gross Tonnage: 250
Net Tonnage: 119
Length: 125.3 ft
Breadth: 22.5 ft
Depth: 12 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl by Amos & Smith Ltd, Hull
Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby

History

9.12.1915: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.658) for Henry L. Taylor & Staff, Grimsby as TRANSVAAL.
9.8.1916: Registered at Grimsby (GY953).
15.8.1916: Completed (Henry L. Taylor, manager). Requisitioned by The Admiralty from the builders and fitted out as mine sweeper (1-12pdr, 1-6pdr HA) (Ad.No.3307). Based Peterhead.
12.7.1917: Arrived on the fishing grounds (Lieut W.E. Dawson RNR), escorting the Fraserburgh fleet. At 6.00pm. heard gunfire and discovered a submarine attacking the sailing drifters SPIDER (BF279) and SURPRISE (BF2008). At 7.10pm. engaged with 12pdr and 6 pdr and pursued. Submarine dived and at 7.20pm. depth charges dropped. At 8.00 pm. joined by HM Drifter CLOVER (BF323) (Ad.No.4329) but submarine escaped.
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Grimsby (Henry L. Taylor, manager).
12.1919: Sold to Henry L. Taylor & H. G. Hopwood, Grimsby.
12.1919: Sold to Melville Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood. (Herbert M. Johns, manager).
26.10.1920: Grimsby registry closed.
27.10.1920: Registered at Fleetwood (FD381).
26.11.1923: Sold to The Transvaal Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood (Magnus B. J. Wedum, manager).
2.12.1935: Went to assistance of steam trawler CAVE (H643) which had run aground entering Stornoway harbour. Connected, refloated and assisted to berth.
1.12.1939: Requisitioned for war service and designated for minesweeping duties (magnetic)(Hire rate £70.16.8d/month).
20.1.1940: Returned.
9.6.1941: Sold to Basil A. Parkes, Fleetwood.
1.12.1941: Sold to The Don Fishing Co Ltd, Aberdeen.
11.8.1942: Requisitioned for war service and fitted out as a fuelling trawler(Esso) (33ton tank for refuelling diesel landing craft) (P.No.Y.7.45). Mediterranean Command.
6.1944: Operation Neptune-Normandy landings. Assigned as a fuelling trawler to Force O.
18.11.1944: Foundered in English Channel in severe weather conditions (Off hire 17.11.1944). All crew MPK.
14.12.1945: Fleetwood registry closed. (CHR has some anomalies in dates).

(MPK – Ty/Sk.Thomas Threlfall RNR; Herbert W. Cook, 2nd Hand; Dennis Reaney & Laurence J. Smith, Enginemen; William Hamblett, George T. King, James McCourt, John E. Pharaoh, Joseph C. Vorley, Eric Walker, Herbert D. Ward & James Watson, seamen; Jack Edwards, Alfred Lloyd & Joseph Skayman, stokers; Alexander Smith, Ldg Cook; Thomas P. Kelly, Signalman; James J.Rogers Ord. Telegraphist.)

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Transvaal FD381

Changelog
24/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
28/07/2016: Information added.
10/07/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.