Technical

Official Number: 124685
Yard Number: 273
Completed: 1907
Gross Tonnage: 236.16
Net Tonnage: 64.24
Length: 126.8 ft
Breadth: 22 ft
Depth: 12.7 ft
Built: J. Duthie, Sons & Co Ltd, Aberdeen
Engine: T.3-cyl by W. V. V. Lidgerwood, Coatbridge
Boiler: A. & W. Dalglish, Pollockshaws, Glasgow

History

24.12.1906: Launched by J. Duthie, Sons & Co Ltd, Aberdeen (Yd.No.273) for Walter Henry Dickenson, Fleetwood & others (James Ormesher, Manchester (32/64); Mary H. Ormesher, Manchester (8/64); Joseph Dixon, South Shore, Blackpool (10/64); Margaret Rosetta Dixon, South Shore, Blackpool (7/64) and Walter Henry Dickenson, Fleetwood (7/64)) (trading as The Rossall Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood) as ROSETTA.
18.2.1907: All five shareholders mortgaged their shares to Williams Deacon’s Bank Ltd, London (A), (B), (C), (D), (E).
21.2.1907: Registered at Fleetwood (FD100), Walter H. Dickensen, manager.
2.1907: Completed (Walter H. Dickenson, manager).
11.7.1908: John D. Gibson appointed Ship’s Husband.
30.10.1908: Registered owner Joseph Dixon, South Shore, Blackpool & Others (James Ormesher, Manchester (32/64); Mary H. Ormesher, Manchester (8/64); Joseph Dixon, South Shore, Blackpool (10/64); Margaret Rosetta Dixon, South Shore, Blackpool (7/64) and Walter Henry Dickenson, Fleetwood (7/64)) (trading as The Rossall Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood).
10.11.1908: Seven shares sold by Walter H. Dickensen to James Ormesher (4) and Mary H. Ormesher (3).
10.11.1908: Two mortgages for four & three shares to Williams Deacon’s Bank Ltd, London (F) & (G).
19.11.1908: Walter H. Dickensen mortgage (E) discharged.
9.1.1912: Assisted steamer GLENESK (3524grt/1891) towing her to Moville, Co. Donegal. Crew received £825 salvage money.
14.1.1909: Mortgages (A), (B), (C), (D), (F) & (G) discharged.
10.8.1911: John D. Gibson appointed manager.
1.1.1914: Tonnage altered to 94.69net under provision of Merchant Shipping Act 1907.
4.1915: Requisitioned for war service as a net carrier (1-6pdr) (Ad.No.2340). Based Falmouth (Sk. George Arthur Novo RNR).
1917: On Special Service (“In view of enemy submarine activity in Trevose Head area, disguised and sent to fish in that vicinity, the 6pdr gun concealed aft, inside a collapsible boat built for the purpose”).
31.1.1917: Sailed Falmouth for patrol around Lizard Head.
1.2.1917: Having steamed NNE and seen nothing, altered to NE and sighted four smacks and a steam trawler and commenced fishing with them.
2.2.1917: In the early hours trawling some 26 miles NbyW from Trevose Head. At 4.00 am. hailed by steam trawler to cut gear as a submarine was 3/4 mile away having sunk the Lowestoft smack INVERLYON (LT687) and he had crew onboard. Continued with tow for 15 minutes before hauling, with last 20 fathoms trawl came fast. Reversed winch and freed at which time Mate, John Watterson, sighted a submarine surfacing 100 yards on starboard quarter. Downed the boat, manned the gun and commenced firing. First three rounds hit the submarine, the fourth caused an explosion and flames and a further four rounds were fired before the submarine pulled away and disappeared in the dark.
4.2.1917: After continuing search/trawling, left the area and came to Wolf Rock.
7.2.1917: Returned to Falmouth to land.
19.2.1917: Recommended that Sk. Novo and Mate, Watterson be awarded DSC and DSM respectively for their prompt engagement of the enemy submarine and a monetary award of £200 for crew.
25.2.1917: “The King has been pleased to award the Distinguished Service Cross to Skipper Novo, and the Distinguished Service Medal to Mr J. Watterson, Secondhand, Mate of the “ROSETTA”. It is further approved to award the sum of £200 to the “ROSETTA” …”. (Sk. G. A. Novo RNR, of Fleetwood, commissioned the ship in Fleetwood and served in her until her return).
1919: Returned to owner.
5.8.1919: Sold to Gerald W. Kelton, Dunsfold, Surrey.
8.8.1919: Fleetwood registry closed.
15.1.1920: Registered at Aberdeen (A266).
1924: Transferred to Grimsby (William F. Goodwin, manager).
9.6.1925: Off Newsand Buoy, Humber estuary, in thick fog collided with steam trawler CONQUEROR (GY1111) which subsequently foundered. Blamed for excessive speed.
1927: Re-measured 125.7 ft BP 246g 71n.
1927: Sold to J. Prentout & Cie, Fécamp (Société de Léché et Cie, manager).
11.2.1927: Aberdeen registry closed.
2.1927: Registered at Fécamp.
Pre 1930: Sold to Société de Léché et Cie, Fécamp.
Pre 1940: Sold to Société Les Boulonnais, Boulogne-sur-Mer. Registered at Boulogne.
1952: Sold for breaking up.

(Note: The only U-boat in the vicinity was U55 (Wilhelm Werner); there is no mention of this incident in U55’s KTB (War Diary). Could it be that ROSETTA snagged on wreckage from one of the smacks sunk by U55 on 30.1.1917 and 1.2.1917 in the vicinity, EUONYMUS (132764) (LT161); HELENA & SAMUEL (106434) (LT4); MERIT (109301) (BM28); TREVONE (128648) (LT453); W.A.H. (136610) (LT539); WETHERILL (127591) (LT98) and ADA (117369) (R184); INVERLYON (117495) (LT687), hauled the part submerged wreck to the surface and opened fire? Bearing in mind that the incident occurred at approx 4.30 am. on a dark February morning.)

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Rosetta FD100
Picture courtesy of The Alan Hirst Collection

Changelog
22/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
22/06/2015: Updated information.
22/09/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
24/07/2021: Upadted technical information.