Monthly Archives: January 2009

S.T. Thomas Hankins LO372

Additional information courtesy of Gary Hicks Plymouth Merchant Ships

Technical

Admiralty Number: 3828
Official Number: 144570
Yard Number: 308
Completed: 1918
Gross Tonnage: 274
Net Tonnage: 108
Length: 125.6 ft
Breadth: 23.4 ft
Depth: 12.6 ft
Engine: 480ihp T.3-cyl by J. P. Rennoldson & Sons Ltd, South Shields
Built: J. P. Rennoldson & Sons Ltd, South Shields

History

10.5.1918: Launched by J. P. Rennoldson & Sons Ltd, South Shields (Yd.No.308) (“Castle” class) for The Admiralty as THOMAS HANKINS (Ad.No.3828).
19.6.1918: Completed as a minesweeper (1 – 12pdr).
11.5.1920: Sold by auction at London (Baltic Exchange) to Edward Brand & John Henry Dove, Milford Haven.
19.6.1920: Registered at London (LO372).
5.3.1923: Sold to John Henry Dove, Milford Haven (managing owner).
24.9.1925: While fishing 50 miles W by S1/2 S from St. Ann’s Head and working round a dahn, in collision with JAMES LAY (LO333), sustaining damage to stem and shell plates.
23.4.1933: Off Lands End shipped very heavy sea and badly damaged, returning to Milford.
1934: Sold to Mrs Gertrude E. Dove, Milford Haven (managing owner).
29.10.1936: While fishing off the West coast of Ireland, deckhand Charles L. Phillips, Hakin was washed overboard and drowned.
23.4.1937: Sold to P. Hancock & Sons Ltd, Milford Haven.
19.11.1937: Sold to Pembroke Hake Fishing Co Ltd, Milford Haven (Reginald L. Hancock later E. V. Pennington, manager).
15.9.1939: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood (Basil A. Parkes, Cleveleys, manager).
20.11.1939: On fishing grounds 14miles NW of Tory Island, Co. Donegal; twelve crew. At about 2.15 p.m. sighted U.boat (U.33) cut away trawl, warning shot, stopped and given 3 minutes to abandon, sunk by gunfire.
21.11.1939: After ten hours in open sea got to within 2 miles of Tory Island and picked up by steam trawler ESHER (LO193).
21.11.1939: At about 6.00 a.m. landed at Moville, Co. Donegal.
12.1939: London registry closed.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Thomas Hankins LO372

S.T. Thomas Hankins LO372
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Thomas Hankins LO372

S.T. Thomas Hankins LO372
Picture courtesy of John Stevenson

Changelog
08/01/2005: Page published. 5 updates since then.
04/09/2015: Information updated.
21/01/2018: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
15/12/2018: Added an image.

S.T. Thomas Crofton FD400

Additional information courtesy of Gary Hicks Plymouth Merchant Ships and David Slinger

Technical

Admiralty Number: 3661
Official Number: 143853
Yard Number: 341
Completed: 1917
Gross Tonnage: 276.29
Net Tonnage: 124.66
Length: 125.0 ft
Breadth: 23.3 ft
Depth: 13.5 ft
Built: Bow, McLachlan & Co Ltd, Paisley
Engine: 480ihp T.3-cyl by Fawcett, Preston & Co Ltd, Liverpool
Boiler: Dunsmuir & Jackson Ltd, Govan

History

18.6.1917: Launched by Bow, McLachlan & Co Ltd, Paisley (Yd.No.341) (“Castle” class) for The Admiralty as THOMAS CROFTON (Ad.No.3661).
12.7.1917: Completed (1 – 12pdr, hydrophone).
20.11.1919: Registered by The Admiralty at London (Part I) as THOMAS CROFTON O.N.143853.
4.5.1920: Sold by auction at Milford to Herbert Ford (64/64), Birmingham for £8,500.
7.1920: London registry closed.
15.7.1920: Registered at Plymouth (Part IV) (PH174).
23.7.1920: John Maxwell Jones, Plymouth designated manager.
20.1.1921: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Barclays Bank Ltd, London (A).
16.10.1921: Mortgage (A) discharged.
24.10.1921: Sold to Crofton Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Fleetwood.
16.12.1921: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Barclays Bank Ltd, London (B).
17.12.1921: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Herbert Ford, Birmingham for the sum of £5,000 with interest at 6% (C).
17.12.1921: Mortgage (C) transferred to Barclays Bank Ltd, London.
24.12.1921: Jules Henri Nierinck, Blackpool designated manager.
20.2.1922: Plymouth registry closed.
21.2.1922: Registered at Fleetwood (FD400).
1924: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Grimsby.
9.3.1925: Registered at Fleetwood as REVESBY (FD400). Fred Parkes, Boston designated manager. Fishing out of Fleetwood.
24.6.1928: Crewed by a Faroese skipper and pilot and a mixed Fleetwood/Faroese crew. Arrived Fleetwood from a thirty-two day Greenland halibut lining trip and landed forty head of mixed halibut and about a ton of salted cod caught on the Iceland grounds. First trip by a Fleetwood vessel to these grounds and suffered a financial loss.
26.6.1928: Despite a loss on the previous Greenland trip, coaled (230 tons) & iced in preparation for a another trip. Sailed on the evening tide on the 2,000 mile voyage. Included in the crew of sixteen are four Fleetwood men, Sk. George Carrol, flag skipper; Leo Malley, Ch Eng; Ernest Rogerson, 2nd Eng; and J. McSweeney, cook, the rest are Faroese.
25.7.1928: Arrived Fleetwood from Greenland and landed 1,800 head of halibut, 700 stone of cod and 3 tons of salt cod caught in only four days fishing.
1929: Sold to John McR Knight, Hakin; James C. Ward; George Knight & Morgan W. Howells, Milford Haven.
17.7.1929: Fleetwood registry closed.
18.7.1929: Registered at Milford (M28). John McR Knight, Hakin designated manager.
1931: Sold to Harry E. Rees, Milford Haven. Harry E. Rees designated managing owner.
20.10.1933: Sold to Morgan W. Howells, Milford Haven.
9.11.1933: Registered at Milford as GWMAHO (M28).
3.2.1936: Morgan W. Howells died.
23.10.1936: Sold to Gwenllian Howells & Charles E. Morris, Milford Haven.
4.11.1936: James Gwyther designated manager.
26.11.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a boom defence vessel (P.No.Z.135)(Hire rate £80.10.0d/month).
23.11.1943: Compulsorily acquired by M.O.W.T.
2.2.1946: Milford registry closed.
1951: Sold to BISCO and allocated to Thos. W. Ward Ltd, Sheffield for breaking up.
4.8.1951: Arrived at Briton Ferry.

(Thomas Crofton, Private, Marine, age 29, b. Dublin – VICTORY (ML19))

Changelog
08/01/2009: Page published. 5 updates since then.
11/01/2014: Information updated.
30/03/2019: Information updated.

S.T. Thomas Altoft H132

Technical

Admiralty Number: 4300
Official Number: 144027
Yard Number: 416
Completed: 1920
As built: 360disp 125.6 x 23.5 x 12.8 ft.
Gross Tonnage: 290
Net Tonnage: 126
Length: 125.5 ft
Breadth: 23.6 ft
Depth: 13.5 ft
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley
Engine: 480ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by Amos & Smith Ltd, Hull

History

2.6.1919: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.416) (“Castle” class) for The Admiralty as THOMAS ALTOFT (Ad.No.4300).
1919: Sold to Iago Steam Trawlers Ltd, Milford Haven (Edward W. D. Lawford, manager).
12.1919: Completed as a fishing vessel.
7.1.1920: Delivered.
9.1.1920: Registered at Hull (Part I & IV) as THOMAS ALTOFT O.N.144027 (H132).
12.3.1920: While off the Irish coast, with tug FLYING FOAM (217grt/1917), rendered assistance to French steamer La SALLE (2697grt/1919) disabled having lost rudder.
28.4.1921: Awarded £950 salvage money by the Admiralty Court (FLYING FOAM awarded £100).
28.11.1922: Sold to Albion Steam Fishing Co, Hull (George H. Brown, manager).
1937: W. Holroyd appointed manager.
7.2.1939: Sold to Mills Steam Ship Co Ltd, London (Brand & Curzon Ltd, Milford Haven, managers).
25.7.1939: Insured value £5,000.
30.8.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (P.No.FY.552)(Hire rate £94.5.0d/month). Based Aberdeen with 41st M/S Group.
15.1.1942: Sold to J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood for £8,625.
22.4.1946: Returned to owner.
6.11.1947: Sailed Fleetwood for West of Scotland grounds (Sk. Charles Walter); fourteen crew.
8.11.1947: After making two hauls off Barra Head left grounds at approx 11.00 a.m. because of SW gale and poor visibility, with the intention of fishing at Butt of Lewis ground. At approx 10.20 p.m. stranded on rocks off Eilean Glas, Harris.
9.11.1947: Steam trawler FLANDERS (FD165)(Sk. Thomas W. Kirby MBE*) responded to wireless calls and Sk. Kirby, with great seamanship, took his vessel in between the rocks to allow crewmen to jump from the forecastle head; this was repeated five times and by approx. 3.00 a.m. all fifteen men had been taken off.
1948: Declared a CTL.
25.8.1948: The BOT Formal Investigation (No.S.407) found that the stranding and subsequent loss was due to the failure of Sk. Walter to put navigation in charge of a certificated officer and to the ignorance of the deckhands left in charge. Sk. Walters ticket was suspended for nine months.
Note* In 1948, Skipper Kirby was awarded an inscribed silver bowl for his exceptional services in the rescue of the crew members).

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Thomas Altoft H132

S.T. Thomas Altoft H132
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
08/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
11/04/2021: Updated history and technical details.

S.T. Thistle FD226

Technical

Official Number: 119127
Yard Number: 410
Completed: 1904
Gross Tonnage: 179
Net Tonnage: 66
Length: 110.2 ft
Breadth: 21.1 ft
Depth: 11.3 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl by A. Hall & Co Ltd, Aberdeen
Built: A. Hall & Co Ltd, Aberdeen

History

13.4.1904: Launched by A. Hall & Co Ltd, Aberdeen (Yd.No.410) for John S. Boyle, Glasgow (managing owner) as THISTLE.
5.1904: Completed. Registered at Glasgow (GW2).
10.1915: Requisitioned for war service as a boom defence trawler (1-3pdr). Based Lerwick.
1918: Sold to Ernest Taylor, Noah Ashworth & Rowland Morris, Fleetwood (Joseph A. Taylor manager).
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Fleetwood.
7.1919: Glasgow registry closed.
16.7.1919: Registered at Fleetwood (FD226).
1.1920: Sold to Soc. Anon Pêcheries à Vapeur “Zeester”, Ostend (Auguste Brunet, manager).
21.1.1920: Fleetwood registry closed.
20.2.1920: Registered at Ostend as ROWLAND (O192).
1.10.1925: Placed on charter, towed, along with LISETTE-ADOLPHINE (O213) from Ostend to Fecamp by CONSY (LR2390).
1926: No owner recorded (Belgian).
1927(?): Sold to Union des Pêcheries Maritimes, Ostend.
16.3.1929: Union des Pêcheries Maritimes, Ostend in liquidation.
4.1929: Sold to Peter L. Hancock, Hakin.
4.1929: Ostend registry closed.
26.4.1929: Registered at Milford as RECENIA (M3).
28.5.1929: Sold to W. Llewellyn Hancock, Thomas Hughes & Elizabeth Hughes, Milford Haven.
4.3.1933: Sold to Reginald L. Hancock, Hakin.
1.4.1938: Sold to J. W. S. Barlow, Aberdeen (A. Buchan, manager).
1939: Sold to Parkholme Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood (Basil A. Parkes & Walter Holmes)(Basil A. Parkes, Cleveleys, manager).
26.1.1939: First landing at Fleetwood, 45 boxes grossed £89.
8.10.1941: Stranded on Barn Scar rocks between Ravenglass and Seascale, Cumberland in position 54°24.50N/03°32W. Subsequently declared a Total Loss.
16.6.1942: Milford registry closed. Reported to have been used by the Eskdale Gunnery Range as a target for training purposes. Some shell plates still visible.

Changelog
08/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.

S.T. Theresa Boyle FD338

Additional information courtesy of Geoff Davidson

Technical

Official Number: 137800
Yard Number: 570
Completed: 1915
Gross Tonnage: 224
Net Tonnage: 99
Length: 120.7 ft
Breadth: 22.7 ft
Depth: 12.2 ft
Engine: 83hp T.3-cyl by MacColl & Pollock Ltd, Sunderland
Built : Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen

History

12.7.1915: Launched by Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen (Yd.No.570) for John S. Boyle Ltd, Glasgow as THERESA BOYLE.
8.1915: Completed (John S. Boyle managing owner). Registered at Glasgow (GW3).
9.1915: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-3pdr) (Ad.No.1311). Based Moray Command.
1918: Sold to Port St. Mary Fishing & Curing Co Ltd, London (Joseph A. Taylor, manager).
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Fleetwood.
7.1919: Glasgow registry closed.
1.8.1919: Registered at Fleetwood (FD338).
4.1924: Sold to James Lyle, Newhaven, Edinburgh (managing owner).
2.5.1924: Fleetwood registry closed.
6.5.1924: Registered at Granton (GN4).
29.5.1927: Reported landing at Oban, a sturgeon over 7ft long and weighing 2 cwts caught while on the Dhu Heartach grounds.
10.2.1940: Fishing 115 miles E x N of Aberdeen (Sk. Oliver Bell). At midday attacked by Heinkel bomber with machine gun fire. Fire returned with Lewis gun, aircraft withdrew. Aircraft returned and dropped three bombs in water portside amidships. One violent explosion and water entered engineroom through strained plates, carbide container caught fire. At 2.45 p.m. abandoned to boat and stood off, returned at 3.45 p.m. but vessel sinking fast. In rising Easterly wind and bitter cold, sailed to Westward.
12 .2.1940: At 4.30 p.m. RAF aircraft overflew boat, rocket fired. Aircraft communicated with HMTrawlers BRABANT (GY544) (P.No.FY.690) and ALMANDINE (H415) (P.No.FY.645), ‘sweeping 10 miles away. After 50 hours in open boat picked up by ALMANDINE and landed at ?? at 6.00 p.m. all crew suffering from exposure.

Changelog
08/01/2009: Page published. 8 updates since then.
13/07/2017: Information added.