Tag Archives: Mersey Class

S.T. Force FD100

Technical

Admiralty Number: 3565
Official Number: 143888
Yard Number: 825
Completed: 1917
Gross Tonnage: 327
Net Tonnage: 150
Length: 138.5 ft
Breadth: 23.7 ft
Depth: 12.8 ft
Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby
Engine: 600ihp T.3-cyl by Charles D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull

History

18.9.1917: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.825) (“Mersey“ class) for The Admiralty as JAMES BUCHANAN (Ad.No.3565).
13.12.1917: Completed as a minesweeper (1-12pdr HA and W/T).
15.12.1917: Accepted.
27.11.1919: Registered by The Admiralty at London (Part I) as JAMES BUCHANAN O.N.143888.
23.8.1920: Registered by The Admiralty at London (Part IV)(LO396).
2.1922: Sold to City Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull (John A. Laverock, manager).
24.8.1922: London registry closed.
14.9.1922: Registered at Hull as STONEFERRY (H676).
19.12.1930: Reported stranded near Saltfleet.
20.12.1930: Refloated.
1934: Sold to Hudson Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull (Archibald Hudson, Hessle, manager).
11.6.1934: Registered at Hull as CAPE TARIFA (H676).
7.1938: Sold to Towarzystwo Dalekomorskich Polowoe “Pomorze” Sp.z.o.o., Gdynia.
28.7.1938: Hull registry closed.
1938: Registered at Gdynia as FRANCISZKA (GDY119).
1939: Sold to Adam Steam Fishing Co Ltd, London (Basil A Parkes, Cleveleys, manager).
11.1939: Gdynia registry closed.
7.11.1939: Registered at Fleetwood as FORCE (FD100).
12.2.1940: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (P.No.FY.NI) (Hire rate £94.10.0d/month).
28.6.1941: At anchor six miles off Winterton Ness, Norfolk (Act/Ty Sk C E Smalley RNR), attacked by German aircraft, damaged and set on fire and in twenty minutes foundered in approximate position 52.48.55N 01.47.48E. Eleven crew lost*. Fleetwood registry closed.

(James Buchanan, Private, Marine, age 23, b. Carlisle, Cumberland – VICTORY (ML107))

Lost.*
BACKHOUSE, William A H, Ordinary Telegraphist, D/JX 165427, MPK
GIBBS, Thomas H, Stoker, RNPS, LT/KX 116205, MPK
HOWELL, George H, Stoker, RNPS, LT/KX 117060, MPK
KENDALL, Walter S, Engineman, RNPS, LT/KX 106131, MPK
MAYNARD, John, Stoker, RNPS, LT/KX 106811, MPK
MCEUNE, John F, Engineman, RNPS, LT/KX 107954, MPK
MORRISON, Alexander, Seaman, RNPS, LT/JX 217792, MPK
SAYERS, Oliver T B, 2nd Hand, RNR (PS), LT/X 302 SA, MPK
TEAGUE, Norman, Seaman, RNPS, LT/JX 180337, MPK
WILLIAMS, John, Ordinary Seaman Cook, RNPS, LT/JX 214264, MPK
WILSON, Arthur N, Stoker, RNPS, LT/KX 105619, MPK

Changelog
20/12/2008: Page published, 3 updates since then.
19/09/2020: Updated history.

S.T. Fairway FD140

Additional information courtesy of Bill Blow and Antony Wright

Technical

Admiralty Number: 3836
Official Number: 145062
Yard Number: 843
Completed: 1918
Gross Tonnage: 312
Net Tonnage: 130
Length: 138.5 ft
Breadth: 23.7 ft
Depth: 12.8 ft
Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby
Engine: 600ihp T.3-cyl by Charles D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull

History

6.8.1918: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.843) (“Mersey” class) for The Admiralty as RICHARD JEWELL (Ad.No.3836).
31.7.1918: Completed (1-6pdr and W/T) (yard drawings show provision for 2-12pdr HA, DC and W/T).
5.8.1918: Accepted.
1919: Allocated to the National Fishery Scheme for the setting up of the Minesweepers’ Cooperative Trawling Society Ltd, London.
13.08.1920: Minesweepers’ Cooperative Trawling Society Ltd, London registered.
18.10.1920: Registered by The Admiralty at London (Part I & IV) as RICHARD JEWELL O.N.145062 (LO476).
03.1921: At HM Dockyard, Devonport completed fitting out for fishing under Special Survey of Lloyd’s Register and classed 100A1 Stm Trawler at Plymouth.
01.1922: Scheme abandoned, the necessary working capital of £100,000 having not been subscribed.
1922: Sold to Pickering & Haldane’s Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Hull.
28.7.1922: London registry closed.
4.8.1922: Registered at Hull (H646).
21.8.1922: Registered at Hull as LORD KNARESBOROUGH (H646). John McCann & Edward Cartwright appointed managers.
20.12.1924: Homeward from Icelandic grounds (Sk. Jacob ‘Freezer’ Frost). Off Dunnet Head responded to distress flares from Norwegian steamer VARGE (1436grt/1905) (Capt Bjorndahl), Blyth for Reykjavik with coal, leaking having sprung starboard shell plating.
21.12.1924: At about 8.00am. with pumps unable to cope with ingress of water and vessel starting to settle, master ordered crew into lifeboats. One lifeboat with eight men located and survivors taken onboard. Trawler’s Mate and a spare hand manned the lifeboat and pulled back to the steamer which was being swept by seas and took off master and six crew. Stood by and within an hour steamer had foundered.
22.12.1924: Landed survivors at Hull *.
31.10.1928: Sold to Joseph George Little (64/64), Grimsby. Joseph George Little designated managing owner.
1.11.1928: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to National Provincial Bank Ltd, London (A).
9.11.1928: Hull registry closed.
10.11.1928: Registered at Grimsby (GY488).
3.12.1928: Registered at Grimsby as FAIRWAY (GY488) (BoT minute No.M/R.G.1432/1928 dated 20.11.19280.
7.5.1929: Mortgage A) discharged.
8.5.1929: Sold to Rinovia Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby.
8.5.1929: Joseph George Little designated manager.
8.5.1929: Vessel mortgaged to National Provincial Bank Ltd, London (B).
Pre 4.1940: Employed on Fishery Protection (Nore/Humber/Grimsby).
29.5.1940: Requisitioned for war service as an anti-submarine trawler (P.No.4.23) (Hire rate £93.12.0d/month).
5.1941: Fitted out as a minesweeper (P.No.FY1551). Based Ipswich with M/S and Patrol Group79.
13.1.1942: Mortgage (B) discharged.
22.1.1942: Sold to J. Marr & Son Ltd (64/64), Fleetwood for £9250.
3.2.1942: Geoffrey Edwards Marr, Cleveleys appointed manager.
1944: Fitted out for dan laying and assigned to Operation Neptune – Normandy landings.
23.5.1944: Attached to the 6th Minesweeping Flotilla as a dan layer.
5.6.1940: Sailed Solent for Gold beach ahead of Assault Convoy G1.
22.6.1944: Damaged by mine.
3.7.1944: Operation Neptune ended.
25.6.1945: Sold to K. Percival (Trawlers) Ltd (64/64), Hull.
28.6.1945: Kenneth Percival appointed manager.
28.6.1945: Grimsby registry closed.
2.7.1945: Registered at Hull (H130).
11.1945: Restored and surveyed at Londonderry.
18.3.1946: Returned to owner.
10.4.1946 Sailed Hull for Icelandic grounds on first trip (Sk. A. Halliwell); 14 crew all told.
2.5.1946: At Hull landed 1,303 kits £4,682 gross.
10.4.1946 – 23.12.1946: Nine Icelandic trips, 207 days at sea, 10,468 kits £30,994 gross.
19.5.1947: Sold to Hendersons Trawling Co Ltd, Hull (J. Marr & Son Ltd). Insured for £25,500. New manning agreement signed – 20 crew. William Stevenson designated manager.
10.2.1949: Sailed Hull for Icelandic grounds (Sk. Stanley Evison).
7.3.1949: At Hull landed 589 kits (204 of coley) £1692 gross. Transferred to fish out of Fleetwood (Sk. Henry Douglas Birch). Agreement amended to thirteen crew.
7.2.1951: Sold to Fern Leaf Co Ltd, Fleetwood. William Newton appointed manager.
18.4.1953: Hull registry closed.
19.4.1953: Registered at Fleetwood (FD140).
1955: Sold to Van Heyghen Freres, Ghent for breaking up.
4.10.1955: Fleetwood registry closed.
8.10.1955: Arrived Ghent from Fleetwood under own power.

Note * – 21 08 1926: Skipper Frost and his crew were presented with awards from the King of Norway for Gallantry at Sea. Skipper Frost received a vase bearing the crest of the King of Norway.

(Richard Jewell, OS (volunteer), age 24, b. London – VICTORY (SB251) killed in action 21 Oct 1805 at Trafalgar)

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Fairway H130

S.T. Fairway H130
Picture courtesy of Mark Stopper

S.T. Fairway GY488

S.T. Fairway GY488
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection

Changelog
11/04/2014: Picture added.
16/07/2016: Picture added.
27/11/2016: Information updated.
13/08/2020: Updated history.

S.T. Erith FD93

Technical

Admiralty Number: 3546
Official Number: 143797
Yard Number: 806
Completed: 1917
Gross Tonnage: 325
Net Tonnage: 154
Length: 138.5 ft
Breadth: 23.7 ft
Depth: 12.8 ft
Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby
Engine: 600ihp T.3-cyl by Cooper & Greig Ltd, Dundee

History

8.5.1917: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.806) (“Mersey” class) for The Admiralty as THOMAS ATKINSON (Ad.No.3546).
3.8.1917: Completed as a minesweeper (1-12pdr and W/T).
8.8.1917: Delivered.
4.11.1919: Registered by The Admiralty at London (Part I) as THOMAS ATKINSON O.N.143797.
1919: Allocated to Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries and engaged in commercial trawling.
13.8.1920: Minesweepers’ Cooperative Trawling Society Ltd, London registered.
1921: Allocated to the Minesweepers’ Cooperative Trawling Society Ltd, London.
11.5.1921: Registered by The Admiralty at London (Part IV) (LO509).
10.1921: At HM Dockyard, Pembroke completed fitting out for fishing under Special Survey of Lloyd’s Register and classed 100A1 Stm Trawler at Milford.
01.1922: Scheme abandoned, the necessary working capital of £100,000 having not been subscribed. Laid up.
12.1923: Sold to Hudson Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull.
8.12.1923: London registry closed.
10.12.1923: Registered at Hull (H909). Thomas Hudson designated manager.
18.12.1923: Registered at Hull as CAVENDISH (H909).
Pre 11.1935: Rendered assistance to steam trawler LORD ANCASTER (H662) disabled with a broken rudder stock 10 miles E of North Ronaldsay, Orkney Islands. Connected and commenced tow.
7.1938: Sold to Towarzystwo Dalekomorskich Polowoe “Pomorze” Sp.z.o.o., Gdynia.
28.7.1938: Hull registry closed.
1938: Renamed EUGENIUSZ (GDY118).
1939: Sold to Adam Steam Fishing Co. Ltd, London (Basil A. Parkes, Cleveleys, manager).
8.1939: Gdynia registry closed.
8.8.1939: Registered at Fleetwood as ERITH (FD93).
4.2.1940: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (P.No. FY.578) (Hire rate £94.15.10d/month).
1.1941: Based Grimsby with M/S Group 21 (Ty/Sk. H. J. May RNR).
31.5.1943: Sold to Winzenty Bartosiak, Gdynia, Poland.
31.5.1943: Sold to Winzenty Bartosiak, Gdynia, Poland (Baltycka Spolka Okretowa sp.z.o.o., Gdynia (Baltic Shipping Co Ltd)) (T. Olszowski, manager).
4.6.1943: Fleetwood registry closed.
6.1945: Returned to owner. Registered at Gdynia as POLESIE (GDY89).
5.1946: Special survey (ss) at Ghent.
23-24.6.1946: Arrived Gdynia (Sk. D. Plug (Dutch)) with good catch having sailed from Ghent on completion of surveys. Then fishing from IJmuiden with Dutch crews until end of year.
12.1946: Returned to Poland.
16.12.1949: By Order of the Ministry of Navigation the holding company and assets to be placed under control of the Polish People’s Republic. Zbigniew Kollesinskiego appointed manager.
1950: Company and assets transferred to “Dalmor” Przedsiobiorstwo Polowow Dalekomorskich Sp.z.ogr.odp, Gdynia (Polish Government).
1957: New boiler.
1957: Registered at Gdynia as FENIKS (GDY89).
12.1959: Sold to Polish shipbreakers and broken up.
1960: Gdynia registry closed.

(Thomas Atkinson, Master (Warrant 7 Apr 1803) responsible for the navigation of the ship, age 40, b. ?? – VICTORY (SB31))

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Cavendish H909

S.T. Cavendish H909
Picture courtesy of Grimsby Reference Library

Changelog
18/12/2008: Page published. 3 updates since then.
13/07/2020: Information updated.

S.T. English Rose FD34

Additional information courtesy of Birgir Þórisson

Technical

Admiralty Number: 4467
Official Number: 145200
Yard Number: 248
Completed: 1920
Gross Tonnage: 341
Net Tonnage: 123
Length: 138.5 ft
Breadth: 23.7 ft
Depth: 12.8 ft
Built: Goole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co Ltd, Goole
Engine: 600ihp T.3-cyl by Richardsons, Westgarth & Co Ltd, Middlesbrough.

History

01.1921: Allocated to the National Fishery Scheme for the setting up of the Minesweepers’ Cooperative Trawling Society Ltd, London.
1.1921: On completion not to proceed to Chatham as previously ordered but to be laid up at Hull pending further instructions.
24.3.1921: Completed as a fishing vessel under Lloyd’s Survey.
14.5.1921: Registered by The Admiralty at London (Part I & IV) as WILLIAM CHATWOOD O.N.145200 (LO513). Laid up at Hull.
1.1922: Sold to Bouclet Fils, Zunnequin, Canu & Cie, Boulogne sur Mer.
10.1.1922: London registry closed.
1.1922: Registered at Boulogne as Blanc Nez (B-869).
Pre 1930: Sold to Zunnequin & Cie, Boulogne sur Mer.
1931: Sold to Société Boulonnaise d’Armement à la Pêche, Boulogne sur Mer. Zunnequin, Bouclet et Cie, managers.
1934: Sold to Soc. Anon. des Pêcheries St. Pierre, Boulogne sur Mer. P. Ficheux, manager.
1934: Registered at Boulogne as SAINT-MATHIAS (B869).
1934: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood.
9.8.1934: Registered at Fleetwood as ENGLISH ROSE (FD34). Basil Arthur Parkes, Cleveleys designated manager.
6.1935: Sold to Pêcheries de la Morinie, Boulogne sur Mer. P. Ficheux, manager.
17.6.1935: Fleetwood registry closed.
6.1935: Registered at Boulogne as St. DOMINIQUE (B-1707).
1939: Requisitioned for war service in the Marine Francais (P.No.AD72).
22.6.1940: French government signed surrender. At Rochefort ‘demobilised and disarmed’ under German control. Commissioned into the Kriegsmarine (P.No.HS.03).
5.1942: Re allocated P.No.V.72.
4.6.1944: Mined off Brest.

Note: It would appear that the Parkes were involved with this vessel from her sale in 1922 until the onset of WW2.

(William Chatwood, AB, age 41, b. Deptford, Kent – ROYAL SOVEREIGN (SB720))

Changelog
19/12/2008: Page published. 3 updates since then.
07/07/2020: Updated information.

S.T. Duncan (2) FD92

Additional information courtesy of Christine Simm & Birgir Þórisson

Technical

Admiralty Number: 3564
Official Number: 145139
Yard Number: 824
Completed: 1917
Gross Tonnage: 324.43
Net Tonnage: 149.60
Length: 138.5 ft
Breadth: 23.7 ft
Depth: 12.8 ft
Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby
Engine: 600ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by Charles D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull

History

18.9.1917: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.824) (“Mersey” class) for The Admiralty as SAMUEL DOWDEN (Ad.No.3564).
7.12.1917: Completed as an armed trawler (1-12pdr, 1-3.5” A/S Howitzer, hydrophone and W/T).
11.2.1917: Delivered.
1920: Allocated to the National Fishery Scheme for the setting up of the Minesweepers’ Cooperative Trawling Society Ltd, London.
06.1920: At HM Dockyard, Queenstown (Cobh), Co Cork completed fitting out for fishing under Special Survey of Lloyd’s Register and classed 100A1 Stm Trawler at Queenstown. Laid up.
13.8.1920: Minesweepers’ Cooperative Trawling Society Ltd, London registered.
29.01.1921: Registered by The Admiralty at London (Part I & IV) as SAMUEL DOWDEN O.N.145139 (LO499).
1.1922: Scheme abandoned, the necessary working capital of £100,000 having not been subscribed.
9.1922: Sold to Jutland Amalgamated Trawlers Ltd, Hull.
18.9.1922: London registry closed.
26.9.1922: Registered at Hull as ROYAL REGIMENT (H683). A. Cargill designated manager.
10.10.1929: Albert Lazenby (27), deckhand, washed overboard during very heavy weather in the Icelandic seas.
18/19.10.1922: Over night ran aground near Kalmannstjörn, on the Reykjanes peninsula, Iceland. Salvage steamer proceeding. Got off with assistance of Svitzer salvage tug GEIR (319grt/1908) and delivered Reykjavik. Surveyed and found little damage.
22.10.1922: Sailed Reykjavik for Hull.
28.10.1922: Arrived Hull.
3.12.1922: Sailed Hull for Iceland.
13.1.1928: At Hull Police Court, Charles Townley, Goulston Street, Hull, 2nd Eng, was fined 10s 6d and costs and ordered to forfeit two days’ wages for disobedience to a lawful command. Gourley was engaged as 2nd Eng and ordered to be on board on Wednesday 11th but failed to turn up. He pleaded biliousness and did not want to go to sea. The trawler was delayed for some time while a replacement was sought.
5.11.1934: Sold to Hudson Brothers Trawlers Ltd, Hull.
5.1.1935: Registered at Hull as CAPE GRENVILLE (H683).
23.2.1936: Albert Soames (50), trimmer, lost overboard and drowned.
28.7.1938: Sold to Towarzystwo Dalekomorskich Polowoe “Pomorze” Sp.z.o.o., Gdynia.
21.8.1938: Hull registry closed.
1938: Registered at Gdynia as DOROTA (GDY117).
9.1939: Sold to Adam Steam Fishing Co Ltd, London.
9.1939: Gdynia registry closed.
3.11.1939: Registered at Fleetwood as DUNCAN (FD92). Basil Arthus Parkes, Cleveleys designated manager.
2.1940: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper and renamed SEA MIST (P.No.FY1640) (Hire rate £94.10.0d/month). Based Grimsby with M/S Group 21.
31.5.1943: Sold to Winzenty Bartosiak, Gdynia, Poland. (Baltycka Spolka Okretowa sp.z.o.o., Gdynia (Baltic Shipping Co Ltd). 1.6.1943: Fleetwood registry closed.
6.1943: Registered at Gdynia as POKUCIE (GDY98). T. Olszowski designated manager.
10.12.1945: Returned.
8.1946: Special survey (ss) at Ghent. Then fishing from IJmuiden with Dutch crews until end of year.
12.1946: Returned to Poland.
16.12.1949: By Order of the Ministry of Navigation the holding company and assets to be placed under control of the Polish People’s Republic. Zbigniew Kollesinskiego designated manager.
1950: Company and assets transferred to “Dalmor” Przedsiobiorstwo Polowow Dalekomorskich Sp.z.ogr.odp, Gdynia (Polish Government).
6.6.1955: Bunkering at Silesia wharf, Gdynia, at 5.56 am. sank alongside due to leaking valve. Salved but due to “the general wear and tear” declared beyond economical repair and sold for breaking up.
1956: Gdynia registry closed.

(Samuel Dowden, Sergeant, Marine, age 34, b. Co. Monaghan – VICTORY (ML3))

Click to enlarge image

Kalmannstjörn

Kalmannstjörn
Image courtesy of Birgir Þórisson

Changelog
19/12/2008: Page published. 4 updates since then.
19/01/2017: Information updated.
04/05/2020: Information updated.
14/01/2022: Added map and updated information.
15/01/2022: Further update.