The Bosun's Watch

S.T. Dhoon (2) FD54

Technical

Official Number: 136249
Yard Number: 636
Completed: 1915
Gross Tonnage: 323
Net Tonnage: 129
Length: 131 ft
Breadth: 23.5 ft
Draught: 12.9 ft
Engine: 87 RHP 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).
13.5.1915: Completed.
9.1915: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-6pdr) (Ad.No.1748).
1916 or 13.12.1918: Sold to The “Wyre” Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood (Hudson Bros, Hull, managers).
1919: Returned (Magnus B.J. Wedum, managers).
17.9.1919: Hull registry closed.
22.9.1919: Registered at Fleetwood (FD348).
30.9.1921: Registered at Fleetwood as DHOON (FD348).
1927: Fishing from Hull.
6.3.1928: Transferred to Hull (Hudson Bros Ltd, Hull managers).
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).
1931: J. N. Ward & Son, Fleetwood designated managers.
18.10.1935: Fishing 50 miles W of St. Kilda, at about 10.15 p.m. struck by heavy seas and lost wheelhouse roof and damaged funnel. Heavy seas did further damage and carried away lifeboat injuring three crew members; disabled. Distress observed by EDWARD WALMSLEY (FD412) (Sk. George Abraham).
19.10.1935: Arrived on scene and after twelve hours and seven attempts, connected and proceeded for Fleetwood.
22.10.1935: At 4.20a.m. arrived Fleetwood.
Pre 4.1940: Employed on Fishery Protection (WA/Fort William/Fleetwood).
27.5.1940: Requisitioned for war service and employed on miscellaneous naval duties(P.No.4.131) (Hire rate £88.16.6d/month).
27.5 – 4.6.1940: At Dunkirk evacuation.
4.1941: Fitted out for minesweeping duties.
1943: Renamed DHOON GLEN.
11.1945: Returned and reverted to DHOON (FD54).
12.12.1947: In heavy swell and fog stranded under the Latrabjarg, west coast of Iceland.
13.12.1947: Farmers from Hvallatur 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 Hvallatur.
15.12.1947: Last members of the party arrived at Hvallatur; three crew members including skipper and mate were lost*.
19.12.1947: Survivors arrived Reykjavik in the GIER (RE.241) for flight to Prestwick.
8.3.1948: Fleetwood registry closed.

(Lost* – Sk. Harry Ellison; Fred Wolfenden, Mate & F. Kirby, 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