Technical

Admiralty Number: 3741
Official Number: 143937
Yard Number: 231
Completed: 1918
Gross Tonnage: 343
Net Tonnage: 159
Length: 138.9 ft
Breadth: 23.7 ft
Depth: 12.8 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl by Ferguson Bros (Port Glasgow) Ltd, Port Glasgow
Built: Ferguson Bros (Port Glasgow) Ltd, Port Glasgow

History

27.3.1918: Launched by Ferguson Bros (Port Glasgow) Ltd, Port Glasgow (Yd.No.231) (“Mersey” class) for The Admiralty as JOHN DUNN (Ad.No.3741).
25.5.1918: Completed (1-12pdr, Hydrophone and W/T).
9.12.1919: Registered by The Admiralty at London (Part I) as JOHN DUNN O.N.143937.
3.2.1920: Registered by The Admiralty at London (Part IV) (LO298). Laid up.
1.1923: Transferred to Irish Free State Government, Dublin.
18.1.1923: London registry closed.
1.1923: Registered at Dublin (D12).
4.5.1923: Commissioned in the Irish Free State Coastal & Marine Service, Dublin.
31.3.1924: Decommissioned. Transferred to Commissioners of Public Works in the Saorstat Eireann, Dublin. James J. Heely designated manager.
1926: For sale.
1926: Sold to New Docks Steam Trawling Co (Fleetwood) Ltd, Fleetwood.
8.1926: Dublin registry closed.
31.8.1926: Registered at Fleetwood (FD105). William W. Brieley designated manager.
30.9.1926: Renamed FLORENCE BRIERLEY (FD105).
2.4.1928: Reported in Hansard. In 1927, undertook an exploratory trip in the region of the 100 fm line from north west of Scotland towards the Norwegian coast, principally in search of hake. Trip sponsored by the Government Development Commission and Fleetwood Fishing Vessel Owners’ Association at a cost of £1,500. Voyage provided valuable information both positive and negative and in addition some valuable scientific data was obtained and a number of new soundings for the Admiralty. Landed £1,200 worth of fish.
21.12.1928: In the River Wyre, in thick fog, returning from Islay Sound with the catch, 2,000 stone of fish, ex steam trawler BUSH (FD60), stranded on rocks off Mull of Cantire, collided head-on with bucket dredger FLEETWOOD (479grt/1906) and later ran aground. The impact caused considerable damage to both vessels and extensive repairs required.
20.3.1929: Ramsey lifeboat, MATTHEW SIMPSON launched to standby but not required.
25.4.1932: Arrived Fleetwood from St Kilda ground with disabled steam trawler GLADYS (FD423) in tow having damaged propeller.
17.7.1938: Sold to The Clifton Steam Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood. Hulbert M.Bird designated manager.
1.1940: Requisitioned for war service as a boom defence vessel (P.No.Z.117) (Hire rate £99.0.0d/month).
23.11.1943: Compulsorily acquired by M.O.W.T.
17.1.1944: Fleetwood registry closed.
1944: Based at Fort William (D. MacBrayne Ltd, Glasgow, agents).
8.1946: Laid up pending sale.
1946: Sold to A.S.A. East, Glasgow.
9.1947: Re-built at Plymouth by Fox & Haggart Ltd, Sutton Harbour, Plymouth, and re-classed as a steam trawler. Registered at Glasgow (Part I).
9.1947: Sold to East Fisheries Ltd, Cape Town.
11.1947: Arrived Cape Town after a passage of 47 days crewed by 15 male immigrants to take up a variety of occupations in the Union. Glasgow registry closed. Registered at Cape Town.
20.1.1958: Having been stripped of all usable materials, used as a target and sunk by SAN off Robben Island. Cape Town registry closed.

(John Dunn, Private, Marine, age 35, b. Calder, Lanarkshire – VICTORY (ML94))

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Florence Brierley FD105
Picture courtesy of the JJ Collection

S.T. Florence Brierley FD105 off Cape Town
Picture courtesy of The Janet Hannah Collection

S.T. Florence Brierley FD105
Picture courtesy of The Harry Day Collection

S.T. Florence Brierley FD105
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

S.T. Florence Brierley FD105
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

S.T. Florence Brierley FD105
Picture courtesy of The Fred Baker Collection

S.T. Florence Brierley FD105
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

S.T. Florence Brierley FD105
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

Excerpt from Hansard 02 April 1928

An exploratory vessel was sent out from the port of Fleetwood to explore certain parts of the ocean, and at the time that vessel made the voyages I took particular notice of what happened, and the report which was issued dealing with it. I will give a few details in support of my argument that it would be a very good thing if the Government would carry this exploration work further.

The vessel was called the “FLORENCE BRIERLEY,” and the voyage was financed jointly by the Development Commission and the Fleetwood Fishing Vessel Owners’ Association.

The total cost of the voyage was £l,500, and the object of the voyage was to explore the regions in the neighbourhood of the hundred-fathom line from the North-West of Scotland towards the Coast of Norway, where it was believed that hake could be found, although no commercial fishing had actually taken place in that particular part of the ocean.

As a result of the voyages, valuable information, both positive and negative, was gained. New grounds were discovered where hake was found, while examination of other grounds showed that it was no use going there for hake because, owing to natural conditions, it was unlikely that fish of that kind would ever be found there.

In addition, valuable scientific data were obtained and a number of new soundings were furnished to the Admiralty. Although the “FLORENCE BRIERLEY” had not the catching of fish commercially as part of her object, she brought in £l,200 worth of fish.

Changelog
22/01/2009: Page published. 5 updates since then.
24/09/2017: Removed FMHT watermarks from images.
02/07/2020: Updated information.