Tag Archives: Parkes

S.T. Creswell M129

Technical

Completed: 1917
As Built: 360disp 125.6 x 23.5 x 12.8 feet
Gross Tonnage: 275
Net Tonnage: 107
Length: 125.5 ft
Breadth: 23.4 ft
Depth: 12.8 ft
Built: Smith’s Dock Co, Southbank-on-Tees
Engine: 480ihp T.3-cyl by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough

History

12.6.1917: Laid down.
17.9.1917: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough (Yd.No.713) (“Castle” class) for The Admiralty as WILLIAM BEATTY (Ad.No.3534).
13.10.1917: Completed (1 – 12pdr, 1 – 7.5” A/S Howitzer and W/T).
4.5.1920: Sold by auction at Milford Haven to David Pettit, Hakin for £8000.
25.5.1920: Registered at London (LO359).
28.7.1920: Registered at London as CRESSWELL (LO359).
31.7.1920: London registry closed.
9.8.1920: Registered at Milford (M129).
1920: Transferred to D. Pettit Ltd, Milford Haven (David Pettitt, manager).
30.10.1928: Fishing the Porcupine Bank in bad weather. Trawler CAWDOR (M249) fishing forty miles away sprung a leak and despite crew efforts, ingress could not be stemmed.
31.10.1928: Sent SOS. In very heavy seas CRESSWELL (Sk. M. A. Smith) responded and stood by but after an hour it was decided to abandon the CAWDOR and the crew transferred to CRESSWELL in their own boat.
1.11.1928: CAWDOR foundered. Sk. Smith awarded a piece of plate by the BOT in recognition of his service.
16.11.1928: Damaged in storm.
8.1934: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood (Basil A. Parkes, Cleveleys, manager).
11.1939: On a trip to West of Scotland grounds (Sk. George Bull); thirteen crew (total).
12.11.1939: At 7.00am. stopped by shell fire from U-boat (U.41) while trawling 18 miles NW by N of Flannan Islands. Crew abandoned vessel on liferaft (10), smashed boat (2) and lifebelt (1) and later vessel sunk by gunfire (approx 58.39N 07.36W) (at least 20 rounds). After two hours submarine returned and took survivors, eight in number onboard but one man subsequently died; six men lost*. In late afternoon off St. Kilda, closed steam trawler PHYLLISIA (FD148) returning to Fleetwood and at 4.42pm. transferred the seven men ^.
14.11.1939: Survivors landed at Fleetwood.
13.12.1939: Milford registry closed “Sunk by enemy action”.
(*Lost – George Thomas Andrews (37), Third Hand; Phillip Killey, Ch Eng; Frederick Kirby (45) and James Larter (36), Deckhands; Thomas Gately (40) and Stanley Lazenby, Firemen/Trimmers.
^Survivors – Sk. George Bull; William Faussett, Mate; Frederick Lee (16) Deck Boy; plus four more)
(William Beatty, Surgeon, age 32, b. St. Andrews, Scotland – VICTORY (SB908))

Changelog
13/05/2012: Page published. 5 updates since then.
06/02/2020: Updated information.

S.T. Clyro M245

Technical

Admiralty Number: 3528
Official Number: 143849
Yard Number: 707
Completed: 1917
As built: 360disp 125.6 x 23.5 x 12.8 ft
Gross Tonnage: 275
Net Tonnage: 107
Length: 125.5 ft
Breadth: 23.4 ft
Depth: 12.8 ft
Built: Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough
Engine: 480ihp T.3-cyl by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, Middlesbrough
Boiler: Hawthorn, Leslie & Co Ltd, Hebburn

History

9.5.1917: Laid down.
20.7.1917: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough (Yd.No.707) (“Castle” class) for The Admiralty as THOMAS TWINEY (Ad.No.3528).
7.9.1917: Completed as a minesweeper (1-12pdr and W/T).
19.11.1919: Registered by The Admiralty at London (Part I) as THOMAS TWINEY O.N.143849.
1919: Allocated to Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries and engaged in commercial trawling.
1920: Allocated to the National Fishery Scheme for the setting up of the Minesweepers’ Cooperative Trawling Society Ltd, London.
19.2.1920: Registered by The Admiralty at London (Part IV) (LO332).
3.1920: At HM Dockyard, Pembroke completed fitting out for fishing under Special Survey of Lloyd’s Register and classed 100A1 Stm Trawler at Milford.
13.8.1920: Minesweepers’ Cooperative Trawling Society Ltd, London registered.
12.1921: Sold to David Pettit, Hakin.
1.1922: Scheme abandoned, the necessary working capital of £100,000 having not been subscribed.
2.1.1922: London registry closed.
4.1.1922: Registered at Milford (M245). David Pettit designated managing owner.
6.1.1922: Registered at Milford as CLYRO (M245).
8.1.1922: Landed at Milford.
1922: Transferred to D. Pettit Ltd, Milford Haven. David Pettit designated manager.
30.9.1932: Connected to steam trawler CAPSTONE (M423) disabled with damaged propeller. Delivered Milford.
7.11.1934: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood. Basil Arthur Parkes, Cleveleys designated manager.
8.1935: Dock strike at Fleetwood involving coaling labour.
11.8.1935: Sailed Fleetwood for Vandyke (Inishtrahull) grounds via Ayr to coal (Sk. A. Stean); thirteen crew all told.
13.8.1935: Sailed Ayr for fishing grounds.
14.8.1935: Stranded on Powder House Rock, Culzean Bay. Badly holed and making water, eight crew members abandoned to local fishing boat and Girvan lifeboat stood by from 00.30 am to 3.25 pm. Skipper and four crew members manned pumps but had to abandon when water level reached boiler room plates. Total Loss.
21.10.1935: Milford registry closed “Abandoned as a total loss”.

(Thomas Twiney, Quartermaster (prest), age 29, b. Carmarthen, Wales – VICTORY (SB646))

Note: Wreck subsequently thought to have been used as a target for a gunnery range and destroyed.

Changelog
13/05/2012: Page published. 6 updates since then.
26/01/2017: Information updated.
23/12/2019: Information updated.

S.T. Cheriton M118

Technical

Admiralty Number: 3531
Official: Number: 144537
Yard Number: 710
Completed: 1917
As built: 360disp 125.6 x 23.5 x 12.8 feet
Gross Tonnage: 275
Net Tonnage: 107
Length: 125.5 ft
Breadth: 23.4 ft
Depth: 12.8 ft
Built: Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough
Engine: 480ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, Middlesbrough
Armament 1 x 12pdr

History

25.5.1917: Laid down.
3.9.1917: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough (Yd.No.710) (“Castle” class) for The Admiralty as THOMAS ROBINS (Ad.No.3531).
28.9.1917: Completed (1 – 12pdr and W/T).
4.5.1920: Sold to David Pettit, Hakin at auction at Milford Haven. David Pettit designated managing owner.
25.5.1920: Registered at London (LO360).
31.6.1920: Registered at London as CHERITON (LO360).
6.7.1920: London registry closed.
26.7.1920: First landing at Milford.
27.7.1920: Registered at Milford (M118).
2.11.1934: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood. Basil A. Parkes, Cleveleys appointed manager.
27.1.1936: Arrived Fleetwood with trawler ESCALLONIA (GY631) in tow having been picked up off Rockall disabled with condenser cover fractured.
4.1938: Sold to Saint Andrew’s Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull.
13.4.1938: Milford registry closed.
16.4.1938: Registered at Hull (H519).
9.11.1938: Sailed Hull for Northern Isles grounds (Sk. Frank Stephen Gleeson).
18.11.1938: Fishing to the north-eastward of Sule Skerry at about 4.00pm. hove to on account of bad weather.
19.11.1938: At about 7.00am. her position was fixed by bearing taken by direction-finder and echometer as being 60.40N 4.30 W and shortly afterwards proceeded towards Westray Firth with a view to continuing fishing to the eastward of the Orkneys. There was a fresh gale from the WSW and a very heavy sea running. At noon land was sighted and at about 1.10pm. Noup Head was identified and came abeam at about 2.10pm.; at no time was any bearings taken although soundings were taken by echometer. Judging to be about 6 miles off Noup Head and without referring to charts to ascertain what had been his leeway or course made good, the skipper altered course to S.S.E. magnetic which course and full speed were held through Westray Firth. After passing Noup Head no attempt was made to notice whether it remained open of Inga Ness which, as stated in the sailing directions, would lead clear of Skea Skerries. At about 3.15pm. without any previous warning, stranded on the SW extremity of Skea Skerries. Coast watchers at Westray saw the vessel aground and contacted the coastguard at Kirkwall, Stromness lifeboat was launched and Wick Radio gave the vessel‘s position. American steamer SCANMAIL (5152grt/1919) and Grimsby trawler INDIAN STAR (463grt/1936) (GY324) responded. Steam drifter BETTY BRODIE (96grt/1918) (BCK400) on Fishery Protection duty, left Kirkwall with lifesaving equipment and Fishery cruiser FREYA (280grt/1904) left Fara Sound. At about 4.00pm. vessel was washed afloat with ingress of water in the engine room. At 4.45pm. Wick Radio received a message saying that vessel was filling with water and heeling over and the position was dangerous. At about 6.00pm. skipper radioed that vessel was drifting full of water, fires were drawn and requested the lifeboat. Meanwhile islanders in their boat had come alongside and with very little steam vessel was taken into Rousay Sound and beached at Ham Bay; crew taken off by local boat.
26.11.1938: Ten crew arrived Aberdeen aboard the Northern Isles steamer St. FERGUS (390g/1913).
27.11.1938: Salved and arrived Aberdeen in tow of Leith salvage tug BULLGER (270g/1907).
28.11.1938: Surveyed but beyond economical repair; declared CTL and sold for breaking up.
10.2.1939: Hull registry closed.
3.3.1939: At BOT Formal Investigation (No. S.397) held at Hull, the Court found that the stranding and constructive total loss was due to faulty navigation and over-confidence in local knowledge and was caused by the wrongful act and default of her skipper, Frank Gleeson. His ticket was suspended for three months.

Thomas Lowton Robins, Master’s Mate (Midshipman), age 18, b. Portsmouth, Hampshire – VICTORY (SB696))
Click to enlarge image

S.T. Cheriton H519

S.T. Cheriton H519
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection

Changelog
13/05/2012: Page published. 11 updates since then.
04/10/2015: Information updated.
24/12/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
4/11/2019: Updated information.

S.T. Boston Seafire H584

In Boston (Fleetwood) ownership. Did not fish from Fleetwood.

Technical

Official Number: 181351
Yard Number: 759
Completed: 1948
Gross Tonnage: 689
Net Tonnage: 249
Length: 181.7 ft
Breadth: 30.6 ft
Depth: 15.1 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull
Fitted for burning oil fuel, F.P. above 150 ° F
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley, 1948

History

24.5.1948: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.795) for Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood as BOSTON SEAFIRE.
6.10.1948: Registered at Hull (H584).
27.10.1948: Completed. Basil A. Parkes appointed manager.
19.1.1952: Sold to Hudson Brothers Trawlers Ltd, Hull (Thomas Hudson, manager). Registered at Hull as CAPE TARIFA (H584).
5.2.1960: Company and assets taken over by Ross Group, Grimsby.
26.11.1961: Registered at Hull as ROSS TARIFA (H584).
27.6.1967: Transferred to Grimsby.
1968: Sold to Van Heyghen Freres S.A., Ghent for breaking up.
6.3.1968: In tandem tow with ROSS DUNER (H85) by London motor tug MOORCOCK (272grt/1959 – 1600bhp) Humber for Zeebruges, lost ROSS DUNER off the South Falls Buoy. Stranded near Dunkirk but subsequently refloated and delivered to Zeebruges.
7.3.1968: Broke away from tug and stranded on Goodwin Sands 11/4 miles from East Goodwin Light Vessel. Settled and lost to sands.
3.1968: Hull registry closed.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Boston Seafire H584

S.T. Boston Seafire H584
Picture by Donald Innes courtesy of The Mark Stopper Collection

S.T. Boston Seafire H584

S.T. Boston Seafire H584
Picture courtesy of The Mark Stopper Collection

S.T. Boston Seafire H584

S.T. Boston Seafire H584
Picture by Mike Thompson courtesy of The Mark Stopper Collection

S.T. Cape Tarifa H584

S.T. Cape Tarifa H584
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection

S.T. Ross Tarifa H584

S.T. Ross Tarifa H584
Picture courtesy of The JanH Collection

Changelog

19/09/2011: Page published. 7 updates since then.
03/12/2019: Removed FMHT watermark from image.

S.D. Gervais Rentoul LT740

Additional material courtesy of Roy Breach and Barry Banham

Technical
Official Number: 132180
Completed: 1916
Gross Tonnage: 99
Net Tonnage: 42
Length: 87.2 ft
Breadth: 19.1 ft
Depth: 9.6 ft
Built: George Smith Jnr, Buckpool, Buckie
Engine: T.3-cyl by Wm. Beardmore & Co Ltd,
Coatbridge
Boiler: A. & W. Dalglish, Pollockshaws, Glasgow
Wooden built drifter

History

1916: Launched by George Smith Jnr, Buckie (Yd.No.) on speculation as GREEN PASTURE.
5.1917: Completed. Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeping drifter(1-6pdr) (Ad.No.3108). Based at Peterhead.
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Findochty (R. Tindall & Son, Buckie, agents).
1919: Sold to Joseph Wood, Portknockie & others.
29.1.1919: Registered at Buckie (BCK237).
22.11.1919: Sold to Lancelot Charles Harvey (32/64), Fritton and Robert Thomas Moore (32/64), Lowestoft (Robert Thomas Moore managing owner).
14.1.1920: Sold to John Victor Breach (22/64), George F. Spashett (21/64) & Ernest Edward Soloman (21/64), Lowestoft (John Victor Breach, managing owner).
24.1.1920: Buckie registry closed.
12(20).1.1920: Registered at Lowestoft (LT740).
13.2.1922: Sold to John Victor Breach (32/64) & G. F. Spashett (32/64), Lowestoft.
25.1.1923: Registered at Lowestoft as GERVAIS RENTOUL (LT740) (BOT Minute 1656/1922 dated 13.1.1923).
25.4.1925: Sold to Explorator Ltd (64/64), Lowestoft (John Victor Breach, manager).
8.11.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a patrol drifter (Hire rate £26.0.0d/month).
26.5.1940: At 6.57pm. ‘Operation Dynamo’ (Dunkirk evacuation) put into effect.
28.5.1940: At Dunkirk embarked troops. At Dover 5.00pm landed 57 soldiers.
29.5.1940: Returned to Dunkirk embarked troops.
30.5.1940: At Dover 8.45pm. landed 130 troops. Employed as a flare burning drifter.
1941: Based Dover as an armed patrol drifter (Ty/Sk. W. C. Barnaby RNR).
31.5.1940: Involved with patrol drifter EILEEN EMMA (LT342) in a collision with destroyer HMS SCIMITAR (P.No.H21); both drifters returned to Dover with damage.
9.1941: Employed on miscellaneous Naval duties.
1.1944: John Victor Breach died.
9.4.1945: R. H. Self appointed manager.
22.6.1945: Sold to The Don Fishing Co Ltd, Aberdeen (Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood).
5.1946: Returned to owner. Laid up.
29.6.1949: Sold to Margaret Sellons, Fleetwood (managing owner). Not employed as a fishing vessel.
12.10.1949: Sold to Frederick William Braithwaite, Grange-over-Sands (managing owner). Not employed as a fishing vessel.
1952: Sold Lacmots Ltd, Glasson Dock for breaking up.
1952: Lowestoft registry closed.

(Named after Gervais Rentoul MP for Lowestoft in 1924)

Changelog
01/08/2011: Page published. 5 updates since then.
07/11/2020: Updated history.