Monthly Archives: January 2009

s.v. Sunrise FD147

Technical

Official Number: 97926
Completed: 1891
Gross tonnage : 56
Net Tonnage: 56n
Length: 69.3 ft
Breadth: 18.7 ft
Depth: 9.05 ft
Rig: Ketch – trawling
Built: ??, Galhampton

History

1891: Completed by ??, Galhampton for Edward J. Wren, 77 Bevan St, Lowestoft, as SUNRISE.
16.9.1891: Registered at Lowestoft (LT432).
1911: Sold to Thomas Fairclough, 107 Mount Street, Fleetwood (The Sunrise Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood) (John N. Ward, manager).
5.5.1911: Lowestoft registry closed.
18.5.1911: Registered at Fleetwood (FD147).
1912: Magnus B.J. Wedum appointed manager.
3.10.1913: Tonnage altered to 24.46net. New Fishing Certificate issued.
10.3.1918: Fishing 18 miles SE from Maughold Head, stopped by U-boat (UC75) and sunk by bombs. Crew took to boat.
13.3.1918: Fleetwood registry closed.

Additional information courtesy of Adrian Corkill (Dictionary of Shipwrecks off the Isle of Man)

The Manx fishing smack Marguerite, under Skipper Tommy Lee, was bound from Bangor for Douglas. At 5 pm on 9th March 1918, she encountered a German submarine when she was about midway between Anglesey and the Isle of Man. On seeing Marguerite the submarine began shelling her, taking her to be a decoy, as at the time the smack had no registration number and was carrying all her sail. After a couple of shots Marguerite stayed and made towards the submarine, but still the shelling continued. One of the crewmen, Dicky Lee, held up a truce signal, but was dismayed to find that the German’s fired a bullet clean through it.
Tommy Lee, meanwhile, ordered all the canvas to be lowered, and as the submarine came closer, he held up his hand and the shelling stopped. When the submarine was alongside the smack two German officers boarded her and stripped off some of the sails taking it to the submarine. This was intended to be makeshift bedding for the prisoners. They then placed a bomb on the smack and took off her three crew. Marguerite foundered 25 miles N 1/4 E of Beaumaris.
The submarine submerged and lay on the seabed for several hours before cruising off in search of its next victim. The submarine commander then asked to see Tommy Lee and proceeded to conduct a lengthy interrogation through the use of an interpreter. When the commander discovered the smack was not being used for military purposes and was from the Isle of Man (home to many thousands of German prisoners of war), he was much more sympathetic to the crew.
When again the submarine surfaced the fishing smack Sunrise, of Fleetwood, was halted and went the same way as Marguerite, by use of a bomb 18 miles southeast of Maughold Head. This was twenty three hours after the Marguerite had been sunk. Together, the crews of Sunrise and Marguerite, seven in number, were bundled into Sunrise’s small boat, and were set off in the direction of St Bee’s Head, 14 miles distant. The Germans had given the seamen some food and a compass to ease the journey and the unfortunate seamen eventually landed at Whitehaven.

Changelog
07/01/2009: Page published. 3 updates since then.

S.T. Sturdee LT588

Technical

Official Number: 139345
Yard Number: 657
Completed: 1919
Gross Tonnage: 215
Net Tonnage: 88
Length: 115.4 ft
Breadth: 22.1 ft
Depth: 12.1 ft
Engine: 74hp T.3-cyl by Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen
Built: Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen

History

12.6.1919: Launched by Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen (Yd.No.657) (“Strath” class) for The Admiralty as MICHAEL BRION (Ad.No.4430).
9.7.1919: Completed as a fishing vessel for Leonard C. Cockrell, Wivenhoe as STURDEE.
21.7.1919: Registered at Hull (H72).
1919: On registration at Hull measured 202g.
17.9.1919: Hull registry closed.
22.9.1919: Registered at Lowestoft (LT588).
12.1919: Sold to Vanessa Fishing Co Ltd, Lowestoft (Leonard C. Cockrell, manager).
1923: Sold to Arthur S. Bowlby, Harlow (Edward D. W. Lawford, c/o Iago Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Milford Haven, manager).
7.5.1925: Arrested for trawling inside the limits in Bantry Bay, Co. Cork (Sk. Henry A. Edward).
27.8.1925: Appeared at Bantry District Court and fined.
1930: Transferred to Fleetwood when Edward D. W. Lawford moved his vessels to the port.
1932: Laid up at Fleetwood.
9.1932: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood (Basil A. Parkes, manager).
9.1932: Sold to John Gore, Aberdeen (managing owner).
5.11.1932: Lowestoft registry closed.
19.11.1932: Registered at Aberdeen (A219).
1933: Sold to Gorspen Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Aberdeen (Alexander J. Spence, manager).
1937: Sold to Alexander A. Davidson, Aberdeen (managing owner).
25.11.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper; employed on auxiliary patrol duties (Nore/Harwich)(Hire rate £63.2.6d/month).
31.1.1940: Returned.
1940: Sold to T. W. N. Davidson, Aberdeen (Alexander A. Davidson, manager).
1940: Directed to Fleetwood under wartime controls (Iago Steam Trawling Co Ltd, managers).
1944: Returned to Aberdeen.
1945: Sold to Looker Fishing Co Ltd, Aberdeen (Alexander A. Davidson, manager).
11.10.1956: Sailed Aberdeen on a North Sea trip (Sk.William Wilson); eleven crew.
19.10.1955: Arrived back off Aberdeen at 5.30 pm decided not to enter port but to drift in Aberdeen Bay until morning. Weather deteriorated in the evening, W to SW wind, moderate to heavy ground swell with poor visibility in passing rain showers. At about 9.30 pm. low water, stranded in a position to the northward of the Aberdeen North Breakwater . Crew of eleven* taken off by Aberdeen lifeboat HILTON BRIGGS (Cox. George Flett) and landed in Aberdeen.
20.10.1955: Catch landed.
10.1955: Declared a CTL and subsequently broken up in situ.
12/12.3.1956: At the Formal Investigation (S.435) held at Aberdeen, the Court found that the stranding and subsequent total loss was due to the fault of Sk Wilson and also of Reuben Rae, who had falsely claimed to hold a Second Hand’s Certificate. Sk. Wilson’s ticket was suspended for one year and Reuben Rae ordered to pay £15 towards the cost of the investigation.

(Crew* – All Aberdeen unless stated. Sk. William Wilson, Macduff; Reuben Rae, Mate; Charles Trowbridge, 2nd fisherman; John A. Reid, Buckie, Ch Eng; James Connell, 2nd Eng; Larry McEhatton, James Findlay, John Morrice, deckhands; Charles Shand, William Watt, firemen; Gordon Westland, cook.)

(Michael Brion, Landsman, age 25, b. Bandon, Co. Cork – ROYAL SOVEREIGN (SB728))

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Sturdee LT588

S.T. Sturdee A219
Picture courtesy of Billy Worrall

Changelog
07/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
25/06/2015: Picture added.
20/01/2018: Removed FMHT watermark from image.

S.T. Strathmartin A79

Technical

Official Number: 137151
Yard Number: 541
Completed: 1914
Gross Tonnage: 210
Net Tonnage: 90.41
Length: 115.50 ft
Breadth: 22.10 ft
Depth: 12.15 ft
Built: Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen
Engine: T.3-cyl by Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen

History

27.5.1914: Launched by Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen (Yd.No.541) for Aberdeen Steam Trawling & Fishing Co Ltd, Aberdeen as STRATHMARTIN.
7.1914: Completed. John Brown designated manager.
30.7.1914: Registered at Aberdeen (A79).
4.1915: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-6pdr HA) (Ad.No.1573). Based Larne.
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Aberdeen.
1938: W. Rhind appointed manager.
8.4.1940: Requisitioned for war service as a patrol duties (Hire rate £56.0.0d/month).
9.4.1940: Returned to owner.
17.12.1942: Sold to The Don Fishing Co Ltd, Aberdeen. Basil Arthur Parkes, Cleveleys designated manager. Fishing out of Fleetwood.
28.4.1943: Typical wartime landing, Home Waters. 403 kits – hake-20, cod/codling-18, ling/coley-359, roker-3, dogs-3.
29.3.1944: Requisitioned for war service as a smoke making trawler assigned to Operation Neptune – Normandy landings (Hire rate £56.0.0d/month).
9.6.1944: Arrived Mulberry A from Yarmouth with Group A1. Employed smoke making with replenishment at Portland.
3.7.1944: Operation Neptune ended. Fitted out as a fuel carrier (Esso).
30.9.1944: Returned to owner.
19.12.1944: Sold to David Wood, Aberdeen.
4.2.1946: Sold to David Wood (Aberdeen) Ltd, Aberdeen. David Wood designated manager.
21.3.1956: Sold to Alexander Flett, Alexander Bruce Jnr, George Craig, Gordon Peterson, Alexander Bruce Snr, Robert Carson Wilkie, David Wood, Rachel Grayson Knowles, Aberdeen & James Flett, Findochty.
18.7.1956: Sold to Bruce’s Stores (Aberdeen) Ltd.
7.12.1956: Sold to North Eastern Fisheries Ltd, Aberdeen. John A. Lewis, designated manager.
1960: Sold to BISCO (£2,415) and allocated to Shipbreaking Industries Ltd for breaking up at Charlestown, Fife (Contract No.92E).
17.12.1960: Delivered Charlestown from Aberdeen under own power.
17.2.1961: Breaking up commenced.
11.1.1962: Aberdeen registry closed “Vessel broken up.”Advice received from beneficial owner and shipbreaker.”

Changelog
07/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
06/08/2021: Updated history and technical details.

S.T. Strathlossie A952

Additional information courtesy of Vincent Stuart

Technical

Official Number: 129339
Yard Number: 472
Completed: 1910
Gross Tonnage: 192.81
Net Tonnage: 74.44
Length: 113.1 ft
Breadth: 21.9 ft
Depth: 11.7 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl by Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen
Built: Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen

History

21.6.1910: Launched by Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen (Yd.No.472) for The Aberdeen Steam Trawling & Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Aberdeen as STRATHLOSSIE.
10.8.1910: Registered at Aberdeen (A316). John Brown designated manager.
8.1910: Completed.
8.1914: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-6pdr) (Ad.No.92).
25.1.1915: Arrived Devonport to fit out for Mediterranean.
29.1.1915: Sailed (Sk.James Stewart (30), Lossiemouth). Dardanelles Campaign.
20.12.1915: Dardanelles (Gallipoli) evacuation completed. Redeployed.
Post 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Aberdeen.
1919: Sold to Resolute Fishing Co.(64/64) Lowestoft.
5.7.1919: Aberdeen registry closed.
8.7.1919: Registered at Lowestoft (LT511). George E. Hall designated manager.
1923: Sold to John Walker, Torry, Aberdeen. John Walker designated managing owner.
26.11.1923: Lowestoft registry closed.
10.12.1923: Registered at Aberdeen (A952).
7.1.1924: Sold to John Walker, John Murray & Robert Morrice (64/64 joint owners), Aberdeen. John Walker designated managing owner.
28.11.1932: Sold to John Murray & David Wood (64/64 joint owners), Aberdeen. David Wood designated managing owner.
24.4.1940: Sold to David Wood & Margaret Murray, (64/64 joint owners) Aberdeen. David Wood designated managing owner)
13.2.1941: Sold to The Dinas Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood. David Marr designated manager.
24.5.1943: Typical landing, Home Waters. 338 kits – hake-161, cod/codling-8, flats-9, ling/coley-154, roker-5, gurnard-1.
29.12.1944: Sold to Faithlee Fishing Co Ltd, Aberdeen. Alexander Hay designated manager)
Pre 1952: Alexander C. Bruce designated manager.
By 1956: Alexander Hay designated manager.
14.9.1965: Aberdeen registry closed “Vessel broken up. Advice received from beneficial owner and shipbreaker.”

Changelog
07/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
25/05/2018: Information updated.

S.T. Strathlethen A984

Technical

Official Number: 129347
Yard Number: 482
Completed: 1911
Gross Tonnage: 191.70
Net Tonnage: 73.75
Length: 112.75 ft
Breadth: 21.90 ft
Depth: 11.7 ft
Built: Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen
Engine: T.3-cyl by Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen

History

19.10.1910: Launched by Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen (Yd.No.482) for The Aberdeen Steam Trawling & Fishing Co Ltd, Aberdeen as STRATHELTHEN.
5.1.1911: Registered at Aberdeen (A340).
1.1911: Completed. John Brown designated manager.
6.1915: Requisitioned for war service and fitted out as an accommodation ship for boom working vessels (1-3pdr). Based Scapa.
Post 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Aberdeen.
1919: Sold to Wallace L. Mullender, Walter Shipp & William Hutchings, Lowestoft.
13.8.1919: Aberdeen registry closed.
15.8.1919: Registered at Lowestoft (LT493). Walter Shipp designated managing owner.
1923: Sold to John Craig, James Craig, George Craig & Joseph Craig, Aberdeen. John Craig designated managing owner.
12.10.1923: Lowestoft registry closed.
23.10.1923: Registered at Aberdeen (A948).
29.4.1932: In dense fog 6 miles off Aberdeen in collision with trawler BRACONASH (A728) which subsequently foundered. Crew picked up and landed Aberdeen.
29.12.1933: Entering Aberdeen in gale and heavy seas, carried away steering chains and struck north pier. Damaged and taken in tow by steam tug CHESTER (90grt/1900/25nhp ) and berthed safely.
7.11.1935: Sold to George Craig, Aberdeen. George Craig designated managing owner.
14.1.1937: Sold to River Ness Fishing Co Ltd, Aberdeen George Craig designated manager.
4.1.1939: Sold to Andrew Robertson Jnr & James Reid, Aberdeen. A. Robertson designated managing owner
1939: Sold to A. Robertson Jnr, Aberdeen. A. Robertson designated managing manager.
1940: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood. Basil Arthur Parkes, Cleveleys designated manager.
2.8.1941: Sold to Transvaal Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood. J. N. Ward & Son designated managers).
19.5.1943: Typical wartime landing. 249 kits – hake-175, flats-12, ling/coley-51, roker-7, gurnard-1, dogs-3.
5.4.1944: Sold to Brebner Fishing Co Ltd, Aberdeen. William Brebner designated manager.
1956: Sold to BISCO for breaking up.
1956: Sailed Bo’ness for breaking.
5.10.1956: Aberdeen registry closed “Vessel broken up”.

Changelog
07/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
10/03/2020: Information updated.