Technical

Official Number: 136893
Yard Number: 583
Completed: 1914
Gross Tonnage: 304
Net Tonnage: 122
Length: 130.4 ft
Breadth: 24 ft
Depth: 13.4 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, Middlesbrough
Built: Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough

History

10.6.1914: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough (Yd.No.583) for The “Wyre” Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood as BROCK. 1.8.1914: Registered at Fleetwood (FD47). Magnus B. J. Wedum designated manager.
8.1914: Completed.
11.1914: Requisitioned for war service as an armed trawler (1-6pdr) (Ad.No.927). Fitting out at Devonport.
2.12.1914: Sailed for Queenstown, Co. Cork (Ch Sk. John Sandham RNR). Fitted out as an A/S trawler.
18.2.1915: Fitted with 1-12pdr. 18.4.1915: Fitted with Hydrophones.
7.5.1915: Passenger liner LUSITANIA (30,396grt/1907) on passage New York – Liverpool with 1,959 passengers. At about 2.00 pm. when about 15 miles S of Old Head of Kinsale torpedoed by U.boat (U20); sank in 18 minutes in position 51.24N 08.31W. Left Queenstown and arrived on scene just after 3.00 pm. picked up 65 survivors and assisted others in boats. Landed survivors at Queenstown. Total loss of life 1198 persons.
16.5.1916: Off Co. Cork with HMS LAVENDER (P.No.T23); HM Paddle Tug HELLESPONT (P.No.W86); HM Trawlers BLUEBELL III (Ad.No.479) (GW5) and MOROCOCALA (Ad.No.2656) (A238) assisted in salvage of Glasgow steamer KELVINBRAE. (4068grt/1907).
2.1917: Sk. J. W. Tilney RNR appointed (Ch Sk. John Sandham to HM Trawler Ristango (Ad.No.819) (GY946)). 5.1918: Sailed for Weymouth to join Southern Patrol (Sk. George M. May RNR).
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Fleetwood.
10.1928: Fitted with W/T.
4.8.1938: Put into Belfast with boiler trouble.
31.8.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-6pdr, 2-20mm AA) (P.No.FY.621) (Hire rate £81.1.4d/month).
20-26.5.1940: Evacuation from Boulogne, Calais & Dunkirk (Ty/Sub Lt. Henry Paddison Granlund RNVR).
25.5.1940: Sailed Dover for Calais in company with the HM trawlers ARLEY (P.No.FY.620) (FD44), BOTANIC (P.No.FY.707) (FD47), CALVI (GY269), FYLDEA (P.No.666) (FD72), MARETTA (P.No.FY.665) (FD45), POLLY JOHNSON (H322) and drifters PLAYMATES (P.No.FY.738) (YH141) and WILLING BOYS (P.No.FY.947) (LT737) with river launches, AMBLEVE, ESCAUT, SAMBRE, SEMOIS and YSER in tow.
26.5.1940: At 0140 arrived off the French coast. No evacuation order given, but Belgian river launch SEMOIS embarked wounded and transferred to ARLEY, which sailed for Folkestone with 110 French soldiers. Remainder returned to Dover.
26.5.1940: At 1857 ‘Operation Dynamo’ (Dunkirk evacuation) put into effect.
29.5.1940: Arrived off Dunkirk. At 1330 FYLDEA and ARLEY entered Dunkirk harbour and pulled the fully laden passenger steamer LOCHGARRY (1280grt/1898) away from the east pier. They occupied the vacant berth and berthed with CALVI, JOHN CATTLING and POLLY JOHNSON, triple banked. At 1530 attacked by German aircraft (Junkers Ju87, Stuka dive bombers), CALVI sunk alongside and POLLY JOHNSON badly damaged. Having embarked troops on leaving, POLLY JOHNSON started to founder. ARLEY ordered to take off her troops and sink her by gunfire.
30.5.1940: At 0830 arrived Dover with 6 troops.
4.6.1940: ‘Operation Dynamo’ terminated.
3.1.1941: Lt. Henry P. Granlund RNVR, awarded DSC for good service in HM Minesweeping Trawlers and Drifters
1945: Returned to owner.
1945: Sold to Shire Trawlers Ltd, London. William A. Bennett designated manager.
1949: Sold for breaking up. Fleetwood registry closed.

Click to enlarge images

S. T. Brock FD47
Picture courtesy of The John Stevenson Collection

S.T. Brock FD47
Picture from the Internet

HMT Brock
Picture from the Internet

Skipper John Sandham (2nd left)
Picture courtesy of The Gareth Walsh Collection

Changelog
15/01/2009: Page published.
22/06/2014: Picture 2 added.
26/05/2017: Removed FMHT watermarks from images.
14/05/2019: Updated the history for this vessel.
14/04/2020: Added an image.