Tag Archives: Wyre

S.T. Woolton GY575

Additional material courtesy of Bill Blow

Technical

Official Number: 162899
Yard Number: 986
Completed: 1935
Gross Tonnage: 427
Net Tonnage: 160
Length: 160.3 ft
Breadth: 26.7 ft
Depth: 12.5 ft
Engine: 800ihp T. 3-cyl by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, Middlesbrough
Boiler: Richardsons Westgarth & Co Ltd, Hartlepool
Built: Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, Middlesbrough

History

7.3.1935: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough (Yd.No.986) for Shire Trawlers Ltd, London as WARWICKSHIRE.
3.1935: Completed for Warwickshire Fishing Co Ltd, Grimsby (William. A. Bennett, manager).
28.3.1935: Registered at Grimsby (GY133).
9.1935: As a result of the Abyssinian crisis and failure of British diplomacy, the Government authorised The Admiralty to procure twenty modern trawlers for conversion to minor war vessels.
12.1935: Following successful trials sold to The Admiralty.
23.12.1935: Grimsby registry closed. Fitted out as a “Gem” class anti-submarine trawler. Renamed HMS TURQUOISE (P.No.T.45).
19.2.1942: Escorting convoy on East Coast (Lieut. C. M. Newns RNVR), drove off E-boat attack; eighteen enemy survivors picked up.
10.1946: Sold to Saint Andrew’s Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull. Reclassed at Fleetwood and registered at Hull as St. OSWALD (H335) (MoT Minute R.G.No.11524/1946).
5.1948: Sold to Grimsby Merchants Amalgamated Trawling Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby. George Edward Peniston appointed manager
5.1948: Hull registry closed.
8.5.1948: Registered at Grimsby (GY575).
23.5.1948: While steaming 22 miles south west of Vardö, struck a mine which caused serious bow damage and killed three crew members. Norwegian minesweeper KNM Lomma P.No.M317) escorted to Vardö.
29.9.1948: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to National Provincial Bank Ltd, London (A).
5.5.1950: Registered at Grimsby as WOOLTON (GY575) (MoT Minute R.G.No.11027/50 dated 24.4.1950).
27.5.1952: Mortgage (A) discharged.
3.7.1952: John Wilcock Robinson, Fleetwood appointed manager.
20.6.1952: Sold to Wyre Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood.
30.6.1952: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Grimsby Merchants Amalgamated Trawling Co Ltd, Grimsby for the sum of £20,000 with interest at 5% (B).
4.8.1952: At Fleetwood. Landed 12,000 stone of cod and haddock from an eleven day Icelandic trip; grossed £5,004.
1.9.1953: Mortgage (B) discharged.
22.2.1954: Leslie Wheildon appointed manager.
21.8.1954: Company restyled Wyre Trawlers Ltd (Leslie Wheildon, manager) on purchase of Merchants (Fleetwood) Ltd by Associated Fisheries Group.
23.8.1954: Grimsby registry closed.
8.1954: Registered at Fleetwood (FD18).
10.1954: Registered at Fleetwood as WYRE WOOLTON (FD18).
15.4.1957: Sold to BISCO and allocated to Thos. W. Ward Ltd, Sheffield for breaking up at Preston.
16.4.1957: Sailed Fleetwood for Preston.
17.4.1957: Delivered.
1957: Fleetwood registry closed.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Warwickshire GY133

S.T. Warwickshire GY133
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection

S.T. St Oswald H335

S.T. St Oswald H335
Picture by Jonathan courtesy of The Mark Stopper Collection

HMT Turquoise

HMT Turquoise
Picture courtesy of The Peter Green Collection

HMT Turquoise

HMT Turquoise
Picture courtesy of The Peter Green Collection

S.T. Wyre Woolton FD18

S.T. Wyre Woolton FD18
Picture courtesy of The Fred Baker Collection

Changelog
08/01/2009: Page published. 6 updates since then.
05/11/2017: Removed FMHT watermarks from images.

S.T. Victoria (2) FD346

Additional information courtesy of Andy Hall

Technical

Official Number: 128759
Yard Number: 504
Completed: 1912
Gross Tonnage: 220.78
Net Tonnage: 86.56
Length: 120.0 ft
Breadth: 22.0 ft
Depth: 11.7 ft
Built: Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough
Engine: T.3-cyl by MacColl & Pollock Ltd, Sunderland

History

6.12.1911: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough (Yd.No.504) for James Thomas, Milford Haven as VICTORIA.
7.2.1912: Registered at Milford (M117). James Thomas designated managing owner.
2.1912: Completed.
4.1915: Requisitioned for war service.
14.4.1915: Commissioned.
17.4.1915: Arrived Devonport. Fitted out as a minesweeper (1-3pdr) (Ad.No.1752).
5.1915: Based at Killybegs, Co. Donegal (Sk. John Insole RNR).
6.1915: Renamed VICTORIA II.
16.10.1917: Sold to Wyre Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood. Magnus B. J. Wedum designated manager.
27.12.1917: Sailed Killybegs for Campbeltown.
28.12.1917: Joined Ardrossan group.
1.6.1918: Sk. Ellis Knight RNR appointed CO.
12.1918: At Ardrossan not listed after this date.
Post 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Fleetwood. Reverted to VICTORIA (M117).
10.9.1919: Milford registry closed.
11.9.1919: Registered at Fleetwood (FD346).
3.1920: Sold to The Stepney Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Scarborough. Abraham Moore designated manager.
07.03.1920: Arrived Scarborough, first trip and landed a large catch including 125 score of cod and 130 boxes of mixed fish.
26.3.1920: Fleetwood registry closed.
27.3.1920: Registered at Scarborough (SH268).
28.9.1922: Sold to The Co-operative Fishing Society Ltd (64/64), Scarborough.
1923: Charles A. Oxley designated manager.
1929: At Grimsby for survey, boiler condemned. Returned to Scarborough. Laid up.
22.1.1930: Sold to Robert Taylor & Sons Ltd (64/64), Dundee. William N. Taylor designated manager. Re-boilered and fitted out as a great liner.
1933: Chartered to the Sea Fisheries Association of Ireland and based at Waterford, Co. Waterford.
27.1.1933: While leaving Waterford for the fishing grounds in heavy weather, John Lane, fireman, was thrown against the machinery, dislocating his shoulder. Lane was landed at Passage East, Co. Waterford for medical attention.
3.10.1933: Whilst manoeuvring above the Market House, Waterford, caught by tide and collided with a large pontoon, causing denting to pontoons framework and breaking the concrete surface.
14.10.1933: Released after bonds of £900 were lodged with the court/bank.
10.10.1933: Arrived at Waterford and arrested under a writ served by the Waterford Harbour Commissioners, in connection with the collision with the pontoon. As the trawlers owners and underwriters are outside the jurisdiction of the Free State, the vessel was arrested to procure security of payment by bonds.
29.10.1934: Sold to Arthur Brown (64/64), Tynemouth. Arthur Brown designated managing owner. Reverted to trawling.
30.3.1937: Sold to William Henzell Rutherford (64/64), Tynemouth. William H. Rutherford designated managing owner.
02.1.1939: While lying at the Western Quay, North Shields, seen by a watchman to be sinking. The alarm was raised and the police launch used her pumps to get the water under control.
5.7.1939: Proceeding to sea from North Shields (Sk. J. Windrum), caught by the tide and grounded on the north side of the harbour; refloated later with no damage.
4.8.1939: At Tynemouth Borough Police Court, Sk. John Windrum, North Shields, and Mate/owner, William Rutherford, Tynemouth, appeared for offences under the Sea Fishing Industry (Immature Sea Fish) Order 1938. Windrum was fined £5 for landing haddocks of smaller size than prescribed by the order at North Shields Fish Quay on July 5th, and £5 for taking immature haddocks on board the trawler and not returning them to the sea on or about July 4th. Rutherford, was fined £5 for allowing immature haddocks to be taken board and not returned to the sea.
5.3.1940: Requisitioned for war service and designated for minesweeping duties (Hire rate £55.5.0d/month).
16.3.1940: Returned to owner.
12.1946: Returned to service after boiler repairs.
24.11.1947: At Tynemouth Magistrates Court, four men who had been engaged to serve in the trawler and were absent without leave were fined £2 each and costs. They were George William Fenwick (31), North Shields; John William Winspear (38), Alfred Ernest Norman (54), Hartlepool; and Alexander Duncan Sutherland (32), South Shields. All had pleaded not guilty. The trawler was due to sail on 19.11.1947. The men asked if they could have an extra night in port. This was granted, and it was settled to sail on 20.11.1947. On that morning the accused men asked for another night in because it was the Royal wedding day. The request was refused and they left the ship.
5.8.1948: Arrived in the Tyne with a mine onboard which had been hauled up some 35 miles off the Tyne. The explosive charge was extracted the next day by a Royal Navy Mine Disposal team.
29.11.1949: Owner change of address to 157 Yarmouth Rd, Lowestoft.
1950: Sold for breaking up.
6.7.1950: Sailed North Shields for Lowestoft.
8.7.1950: Laid up at Lowestoft.
31.1.1951: Scarborough registry closed (Folio 34) “Vessel broken up at Lowestoft”.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Victoria SH268

S.T. Victoria SH268
Painting by Tom Robson courtesy of the George Westwood Collection

S.T. Victoria SH268

S.T. Victoria SH268
Picture courtesy of George Westwood from George Scales Collection

S.T. Victoria SH268

S.T. Victoria SH268
Picture courtesy of The George Westwood Collection

S.T. Victoria SH268

S.T. Victoria SH268
Picture courtesy of the George Westwood Collection

Changelog
08/01/2009: Page published. 9 updates since then.
03/08/2015: Picture added.
05/11/2015: Picture added and information updated.
23/12/2015: Information updated.
29/05/2017: Removed FMHT watermarks from images.
09/07/2020: Updated information.

S.T. Soar FD155

Additional information courtesy of Ross Littlewood

Technical

Official Number: 136902
Yard Number: 609
Completed: 1915
Gross Tonnage: 219
Net Tonnage: 85
Length: 117 ft
Breadth: 22 ft
Depth: 11.9 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, Middlesbrough
Built: Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank on Tees, Middlesbrough

History

16.3.1915: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank on Tees, Middlesbrough (Yd.No.609) for The “Wyre” Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood as SOAR.
22.4.1915: Registered at Fleetwood (FD155) (Magnus B. J. Wedum, manager).
4.1915: Completed. Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-12pdr) (Ad.No.1620). Based Swansea.
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Fleetwood.
9.1919: In collision in dock channel with CITY OF LONDON (FD201) and both vessel took the ground. Refloated on next tide.
9.1923: Attended smack LOUIE RIGBY (FD127) dismasted and in distress in heavy seas. Connected and towed (18 hours) to Milford Haven.
1935: Sold to Andrew Robertson & James S. Kelman, Aberdeen (Andrew Robertson managing owner).
29.4.1935: Fleetwood registry closed.
1.5.1935: Registered at Aberdeen (A284).
18.3.1940: Returning from coaling in Methil in darkness (coastal lights extinguished) and heavy weather, ran on reef to east of Black Waugh rocks 1 mile south of Gourdon, Kincardineshire; six crew lost*. Declared a total loss.
26.11.1940: Aberdeen registry closed “Total loss”.

Note On a stormy night, the trawler SOAR of Aberdeen foundered on the outlying reefs to the East of the rocks known as the “Black Waughs”, half a mile south of Gourdon. Her crew of six all perished.
SOAR had been south for bunker coal and was on her way back to Aberdeen when disaster struck. It being wartime there were no coastal lights to help the skipper navigate and the strong South-Easterly wind must have forced his vessel too far in.

The first sign of the wreck was discovered by a villager “raking the beach”. Daylight was just breaking when he stumbled on a body. He quickly ran back to Gourdon and alerted the Coastguards and villagers. Just as the coastguards and fisherman reached the scene they saw the trawler’s small boat drifting shorewards. Coastguard John Penny & skipper John Stewart dashed into the water and with some difficulty managed to reach the boat – sadly – it was empty.

At the time there was no sign of the vessel itself, but at low water the ship’s boiler could be seen to the east of the “Black Waughs”. Most of the bodies were recovered during the day.
“The Wild & Rocky Coast” by Roy Soutar (Roy is a Gourdon resident, ex-fisherman & whose father was Cox of the Gourdon lifeboat).

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Soar FD155

S.T. Soar FD155
Picture courtesy of The Fred Baker Collection

Changelog
07/01/2009: Page published. 4 revisions since then.
30/09/2014: Added information.
29/05/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.

S.T. Shama M223

Additional information courtesy of David Slinger

Technical

Official Number: 139325
Yard Number: 183
Completed; 1918
Gross Tonnage: 191.05
Net Tonnage: 72.11
Length: 110.2 ft
Breadth: 21.6 ft
Depth: 12.0 ft
Built; Goole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co Ltd, Goole
Engine: 300ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by Earle’s Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Hull

History

1917: Launched by Goole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co Ltd, Goole (Yd.No.183) for Kelsall Bros. & Beeching Ltd (64/64), Hull as SHAMA.
3.4.1918: Registered at Hull (H641). John Slater, London designated manager.
4.1918: Completed.
19.4.1918: Requisitioned from the builders and fitted out as a minesweeper (1-12pdr) (Ad.No.3083) . Commissioned (Sk. Harry L. Lang RNR). Based Dover.
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Hull.
7.6.1919: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to The London County Westminster & Parr’s Bank Ltd, London (A). John Slater designated manager.
6.3.1923: Mortgagee re-styled as Westminster Bank Ltd, London.
14.10.1927: Mortgage (A) transferred to William Augustus Hayward, Eastbourne.
14.10.1927: Mortgage (A) transferred to Mercantile Marine Finance Corporation Ltd, London.
28.9.1928: Robert Burton designated manager.
16.9.1932: Charles Hugh Emerson designated manager.
10.1932: Mercantile Marine Finance Corporation Ltd in liquidation.
1.11.1932: Mortgage (A) transferred to Harold Frank Hayward, London; Maud Florence Katherine Rogers, Chelsea and Ernest Norton, London (64/64 joint mortgagees).
3.1936: Combined boxing and trawling fleet of Kelsall Bros. & Beeching Ltd and the Hull Steam Fishing & Ice Co Ltd consisting of 59 vessels laid up at Hull (declining catches, coal bill and increased maintenance costs had made the venture uneconomical).
6.3.1936: At Extraordinary General Meeting at Hull, Kelsall Brothers & Beeching Ltd placed in Creditors’ Voluntary Winding-up. Richard Field Helm of Messrs Hodgson Harris & Co, London appointed liquidators.
3.12.1936: By order of the mortgagees under mortgage (A) sold to Herman Westenborg; Mark Mansfield Robson; Edwin King & Constance Gwendoline Richards, Milford Haven (joint owners). Herman Westenborg appointed manager.
8.1.1937: Hull registry closed.
11.1.1937: Registered at Milford (M223).
7.4.1937: Sailed Milford (Sk. Bert Foster) in company with TRUMPETER (H1020) (Sk. J. King) to carry out trials with the Spanish Pareja pair trawling method.
15.4.1937: The pair landed 220kits grossed £550, mostly hake.
6.10.1938: At anchor in Dale Bay, struck by steam trawler RUDILAIS (M50) causing some damage.
5.10.1939: Sold to Herman Westenborg & Mark M. Robson, Milford Haven (joint owners) (Herman Westenborg, manager).
5.12.1940: Sold to Westenborg Trawlers Ltd (64/64), Milford Haven (Herman Westenborg, manager).
28.1.1941: Requisitioned for war service and employed on miscellaneous naval duties (Hire rate £57.6.0d/month).
5.1.1942: Returned to owner.
2.12.1942: Sold to Wyre Steam Trawling Co Ltd (64/64), Fleetwood. J. N. Ward & Son designated managers.
22.6.1943: Typical wartime landing – 186 kits – hake-48, cod/coley-16, whiting-13, flats-6, ling/coley-52, roker-12, gurnard-8, dogs-21.
4.4.1945: Sold to Pair Fishing Co Ltd, Milford Haven. Henry J. Richards designated manager.
5.12.1946: Sold to George Jappy, Alexander M. Morrice & William P. Clarke, Aberdeen (joint owners).
12.12.1946: Milford registry closed.
16.12.1946: Registered at Aberdeen (A246).
14.10.1948: Sold to George Jappy, William P. Clarke, Jane Allan Ritchie or Morrice & George Dinnir(?), Aberdeen.
2.2.1953: Sold to Malcolm Smith Ltd & George Jappy, Aberdeen. Malcolm Smith designated manager.
11.4.1955: Sold to Charles F. Graham, Aberdeen. Charles F. Graham designated managing owner.
26.5.1955: Registered at Aberdeen as DANESTON (A246) (MoT minute RSS2/1/3468 dated 6th May 1955).
1956: Sold for breaking up.
18.8.1956: Aberdeen registry closed.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Daneston A246

S.T. Daneston A246
Picture courtesy of Milford Trawlers

Changelog
04/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
26/08/2018: Information updated.
12/07/2020: Added an image and updated information.

S.T. Maun FD81

Technical

Official Number: 122947
Yard Number: 802
Completed 1906
Gross Tonnage: 271
Net Tonnage: 114
Length: 130.6 ft
Breadth: 22.1 ft
Depth: 12.2 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl by Shields Engineering Co Ltd, North Shields
Boiler: J. T. Eltringham & Co, South Shields
Built: Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, North Shields

History

4.9.1906: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, North Shields (Yd.No.802) for The “Wyre” Steam Trawling Co Ltd (64/64), Fleetwood as MAUN.
19.10.1906: Registered at Fleetwood (FD81). Richard C. Ward & John N. Ward designated joint managers.
10.1906: Completed.
24.12.1906: Vessel mortgage (64/64) to Lancaster Banking Co Ltd, Lancaster for account at 5% interest (A).
24.2.1909: John N. Ward appointed manager.
8.4.1909: Mortgage (A) discharged.
22.4.1909: Vessel mortgage (64/64) to The Manchester & Liverpool District Banking Co Ltd, Manchester for account at 5% interest (B).
10.4.1912: Magnus B. J. Wedum appointed manager.
16.1.1914: Mortgaged (B) discharged.
27.1.1914: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to The Manchester & Liverpool District Banking Co Ltd, Manchester (C).
8.1914: Requisitioned for war service. Commissioned at Fleetwood. as a minesweeper (1-6pdr) (Ad.No.122).
9.8.1914: Arrived Devonport for Special Trawler Reserve; when stored to sail for Lowestoft. Fitted with Hotchkiss Japanese 6pdr gun (No.154) and fitted out for minesweeping duties (Ad.No.122).
1914: Based Devonport with Unit 122 ‘Trawler ‘Sweepers‘.
1915: New boiler fitted.
29.6.1916: In strong SW wind, choppy sea and cloudy with rain patrolling in company with HM trawler BENTON CASTLE (Ad.No.1972) (SA1). When some 12 miles S of Eddystone sighted a boat awash containing two men. BENTON CASTLE lowered a boat and pulled towards the derelict but it was seen to capsize before they came alongside. One man picked up from the water but died almost immediately. Body landed at Plymouth. Boat salved and proved to be from the Guernsey registered cutter WATER LILY (38grt/1869).
13.12.1918: Mortgage (C) discharged.
10.1.1919: Sold to Noah Ashworth, Rowland Morris & Ernest Taylor (64/64 joint owners), Fleetwood. Joseph A. Taylor designated manager.
Post 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Fleetwood.
31.12.1919: Sold to The Neva Steam Trawlers Ltd (64/64), Fleetwood. Joseph A. Taylor designated manager).
1924: William W. Brierley designated manager.
1928: Sold to Erenst & Weimar, IJmuiden.
1928: Sold to N.V. Stoomviss Maats “En Avant”, IJmuiden.
18.8.1928: Fleetwood registry closed.
8.1928: Registered at IJmuiden as EN AVANT (IJM73). Erenst & Weimar designated managers.
1930: Sold to N. V. Vereenigde Exploitatie Maats, IJmuiden. Registered at IJmuiden as UTRECHT (IJM73).
Pre1935: Sold to Vereenigde Steenkolenhandel N.V., IJmuiden. W. H. Arends designated manager.
1939: Sold to N.V. Visscherij Maats Ver Steenkolenhandel XXXI, IJmuiden. De Vem N.V., designated managers.
1940s: Fishing from Fleetwood. Bloomfield’s Ltd, Fleetwood managing agents.
1948: Sold to N.V. Zeevisscherij Maats De Hoop, IJmuiden. Registered at IJmuiden as DD HOOP (IJM73).
1954: Sold for breaking up.

Annex A

8.1914: Commissioned at Fleetwood. At Devonport. Fitted with Hotchkiss Japanese 6pdr gun (No.154) and fitted out for minesweeping duties (Ad.No.122). Based Devonport.
By 10.1916: Based Devonport – Unit No.121 ‘Trawler Sweepers’ (Sk. W.H. Sawyers RNR).
1919: Port for landing Stores, Armament and Moveable Fittings – Devonport. Port for Demobilising Personnel – Fleetwood.
1919: Returned to owner at Fleetwood.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. De Hoop IJM73

S.T. De Hoop IJM73
Picture courtesy of JanH (ShipsNostalgia)

Changelog
27/12/2008: Page published. 4 updates since then.
30/12/2016: Information updated.