S.T. Thomas Altoft H132 : The Bosun's Watch

S.T. Thomas Altoft H132

Technical

Admiralty Number: 4300
Official Number: 144027
Yard Number: 416
Completed: 1920
Gross Tonnage: 290
Net Tonnage: 126
Length: 125.5 ft
Breadth: 23.6 ft
Depth: 13.5 ft
Engine: 86 NHP T.3-cyl by Amos & Smith Ltd, Hull
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley

History

2.6.1919: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.416) (“Castle” class) for The Admiralty as THOMAS ALTOFT.
1919: Sold to Iago Steam Trawlers Ltd, Milford Haven (Edward W. D. Lawford, manager).
12.1919: Completed.
7.1.1920: Delivered.
9.1.1920: Registered at Hull (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 Admialty Court (FLYING FOAM awarded £100).
28.11.1922: Sold to Albion Steam Fishing Co, Hull (George H. Brown, manager).
1937: W. Holroyd designated manager.
7.2.1939: Sold to Mills Steam Ship Co Ltd, London (Brand & Curzon Ltd, Milford Haven, managers).
30.8.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (P.No.FY.552)(Hire rate £94.5.0d/month). Based Aberdeen with 41st MS Group.
15.1.1942: Sold to J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood for £8625.
22.4.1946: Returned to owner.
6.11.1947: Sailed Fleetwood for West of Scotland grounds (Sk. Charles Walter); fifteen 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 visibilty, with the intention of fishing at Butt of Lewis grounds. At approx 10.20 p.m. stranded on rocks off Eilean Glas, Harris.
9.11.1947: FLANDERS (FD165)(Sk. T.W. Kirby MBE*) responded to wireless calls and at approx 3.00 a.m. took off all fifteen crew.
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.