Additional information courtesy of Andy Hall, David Slinger and Birgir Þórisson
Technical
Official Number: 136249
Yard Number: 636
Completed: 1915
Gross Tonnage: 323
Net Tonnage: 129
Length: 131 ft
Breadth: 23.5 ft
Depth: 12.9 ft
Engine: 87rhp T.3-cyl by C. D. Holmes Ltd, Hull with a single ended Scotch boiler.
Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby
History
4.3.1915: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.636) for Cargill Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Hull as ARMAGEDDON.
6.5.1915: Registered at Hull (H319). Arthur Cargill designated manager.
13.5.1915: Completed (Arthur Cargill, manager).
9.1915: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-6pdr) (Ad.No.1748). Based Stornoway.
1917: Icelandic trawler-owners sold 10 trawlers to the French navy. Export licence was contingent upon replacing the ships as soon as possible after the war.
13.12.1918: Sold to The “Wyre” Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood. Magnus B. J. Wedum designated manager.
1919: Icelandic trawler-owners ordered 11 new trawlers from Britain and 5 from Germany.
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Fleetwood.
17.9.1919: Hull registry closed.
22.9.1919: Registered at Fleetwood (FD348).
1920: Delivery of new Icelandic trawlers delayed, in case of England by strikes. Fearing to lose the main salting season (March-June), several owners resorted to leasing trawlers from Fleetwood.
3.1920: Hired by Icelandic owners for the salting season and based Hafnarfjörður.
26.8.1920: At Fleetwood landed 400 boxes mainly hake.
30.9.1921: Registered at Fleetwood as DHOON (FD348).
1927: Fishing from Hull.
6.3.1928: Transferred to Hull (Hudson Bros Ltd, Hull, managing agents).
15.3.1928: Fleetwood registry closed.
16.3.1928: Registered at Hull (H396).
7.1929: Transferred to Fleetwood.
9.7.1929: Hull registry closed.
10.7.1929: Registered at Fleetwood (FD54) Magnus B. J. Wedum designated manager.
14.2.1931: In gale force winds and driving snow, at 3.00am. responded to distress call to Malin Head Radio by Finnish steamer MALVE (1488grt/1917) (Capt Boxberg) stranded on Tiree whilst on passage Tallin to Manchester with wood pulp and timber. With steam trawlers CALDEW (FD347) and RIVER CLYDE (FD418) stood by to render assistance. Vessel refloated on flood after pumping out ballast and moving 40 tons of cargo from No.3 to No.4 hold, and went to anchor in Balephetrish Bay, Tiree. Wind freshened and started to drag, with insufficient steam, drove ashore among rocks, held fast and making water. Crew abandoned and landed on Tiree. Vessel was a total loss.
18.10.1935: Homeward from an Iceland trip (Sk. James Harper *) with about 500 kits. In the evening when west of St. Kilda a gale sprung up, speed was reduced and at about 10.15pm. with the skipper and mate, William Croft in the skipper’s cabin, the ship was struck by heavy seas and a huge wave broke over the deck amidships smashing the wheelhouse and damaged funnel. The bo’sun and three deckhands were in the wheelhouse and only one, George Stables escaped injury. The skipper and mate trapped in the cabin below had to wait while the wreckage was cleared to free them. Continuous heavy seas did further damage and carried away lifeboat; disabled and without radio they were driven before the wind and sea.
19.10.1935: At dawn the weather showed no sign of abating and the crew attempted to set up temporary steering but all efforts failed. Four anchors were let go but none held and through the day they continued to drift with no land in sight. At dusk the lights of another vessel was seen and immediately rockets were fired and flares lighted. The vessel, which turned out to be the Fleetwood trawler EDWARD WALMSLEY (FD412) (Sk. George Abraham), responded and steamed to casualty. With both vessel being swept by heavy seas, pistol rockets were fired by both trawlers in an attempt to secure a line but all failed.
20.10.1935: In desperation, Sk. Harper decided to pour the barrels of oil boiled from the cod livers to calm the sea and finally, at 7.00am., a rope secured to a barrel was successfully floated across and a tow line connected. The DHOON had drifted about 100 miles since being disabled and the pair now proceeded to Fleetwood.
22.10.1935: At 4.20am. arrived Fleetwood berthed at the North End after a very difficult 48 hour tow. Met by an ambulance and Alexander Paton (46), Radcliffe Street – fractured right leg and left ankle, and Charles Eade (26), Willow Street – head and neck injuries, were taken to Fleetwood Hospital. A third injured man, Bryan was able to walk to the hospital for treatment. Later moved to Fish Dock and landed 524 kits – 330 boxes 20 baskets, £875 gross.
Pre 4.1940: Employed on Fishery Protection (WA/Fort William/Fleetwood) (1-12pdr, 4 Lewis guns).
26.5.1940: At 1857 ‘Operation Dynamo’ (Dunkirk evacuation) put into effect.
27.5.1940: Requisitioned for war service (Hire rate £83.16.6d/month).
27.5.1940: Fleetwood Flotilla sailed North End, Fleetwood for English Channel with GAVA (FD380) as leader (Ty/Sk. F. Day RNR. Senior Officer Fleetwood Flotilla, P/Ty/Lieut. Francis Joseph Jordan RNR), in company with EDWINA (FD205)(Ty/Sk. Percy Bedford RNR), EVELYN ROSE (GY9) (Ty/Sk. Arthur John Lewis RNR), JACINTA (FD235) (Ty/Sk. Jim Bettess RNR – mate) and VELIA (FD49) (Ty/Sk. John Clarkson RNR).
30.5.1940: Arrived Dover.
31.5.1940: At 0730 sailed for Ramsgate, entering harbour at 0910. At 2030 moved to anchor outside.
1.6.1940: At 0725 sailed Ramsgate for Dunkirk. Attacked by enemy aircraft all the way; returned fire. Arrived Dunkirk at 1125. Embarked 130 troops and Fleetwood Flotilla sailed 1230 for Ramsgate. Landed troops at Ramsgate. Two hours shore leave in Ramsgate. At 2315 resumed patrol.
4.6.1940: At 1423 ‘Operation Dynamo’ ended. Ordered to Harwich. Weekend leave and on return crew signed a three month contract under T.124 articles as civilians employed to serve alongside the Royal Navy in Naval uniform as members of Naval Auxiliary Personnel subject to Naval discipline. Commenced 3 day patrols (P.No.4.131) in the English Channel as part of ‘invasion’ defence.
4.1941: Fitted out for minesweeping duties.
1943: Renamed DHOON GLEN. Based Yarmouth with M/S Group 83 and Patrol Group.
11.1945: Returned to owner and reverted to DHOON (FD54).
6.12.1947: Sailed Fleetwood for Icelandic grounds (Sk.Fred Kirby); fourteen crew.
12.12.1947: In heavy swell and fog stranded under the Látrabjarg, west coast of Iceland.
13.12.1947: Farmers from Hvallátur and neighbouring farms descended down cliffs 850ft to an outcrop called Flaugarnef, 200ft above the shore. Party of four lowered to beach at low water and walked 550 yds to wreck. Shot a line to wreck and with the help of Albert Head, Bosun, recovered twelve survivors+. Unable to get the whole group up to Flaugarnef before the tide flooded, a shelter was found under the cliffs for the seven crewmen remaining. 14.12.1947: Rest of group recovered by chair up the cliff and brought to Hvallátur.
15.12.1947: Last members of the party arrived at Hvallátur; three crew members including skipper and mate were lost**.
19.12.1947: Survivors arrived Reykjavik in the Icelandic trawler GIER (RE 241) for flight to Prestwick.
8.3.1948: Fleetwood registry closed.
Notes
* 28.2.1936: Sk. J. Harper and crew members received awards from the Mayor of Fleetwood (Ald C. Saer) for their heroic efforts in bringing the ship back to Fleetwood after being disabled.
Lost** Sk. Fred Kirby (48); Harry Ellison (45), Mate & Fred Wolfenden (46), deckhand.
Saved+ – Albert Head, Bosun; G. H. Knight; T. Grundy; A. Anderton; W. Hague; J. Wright; A Spencer; A.S. Dawkins: F. Patterson; A Stirzaker; R. Snasdell and A. Wallbank)
Click to enlarge images
S.T. Dhoon FD54
Picture © John Clarkson
S.T. Dhoon FD54
Picture courtesy of the JJ collection
Dhoon News Clipping
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection
S.T. Dhoon’s Crew
Picture courtesy of The Osta Collection
S.T. Dhoon FD54 Picture courtesy of Birgir Þórisson
Changelog
15/01/2009: Page published. 3 updates since then.
29/01/2016: Significant information update.
03/06/2016: Minor information update.
15/07/2016: Updated information.
04/06/2017: Removed FMHT logo from images.
30/05/2019: Updated the information.
31/05/2019: Added an image.
15/07/2019: Updated information.
14/12/2019: Added an image.
12/06/2020: Updated information.
24/07/2021: Updated information and added an image.
