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
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.