The Bosun's Watch

Technical

Admiralty Number: 3713
Yard Number: 328
Official Number: 144276
Launched: October 10 1917
Gross Tonnage: 278
Net Tonnage: 77
Length: 125.6 ft
Breadth: 23.6 ft
Draught: 12.8 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl by Ailsa Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Troon
Built: Ailsa Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Troon

History

3.10.1917: Launched by Ailsa Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Troon (Yd.No.328) (“Castle” class) for The Admiralty as John Casewell.
8.11.1917: Completed as a minesweeper (1-12pdr, 1-3.5” bomb thrower).
4.5.1920: Sold by auction at Milford to H. Ford, Plymouth (J. Maxwell Jones, manager) for £8250.
8.1920: Registered at Plymouth (PH181).
8.1920: Converted to a fishing vessel.
1921: J. Nierinck, Fleetwood appointed manager.
22.10.1921: At 7.30 pm. entering Castletownbere, Co. Cork, stranded on Dog Rocks, eastern end of Bere Island. Crew left ship in own boats and landed Bere Island.
24.10.1921: Salvage lighter Adelaide (70grt/1876) despatched from Queenstown to assist.
25.10.1921: Surveyed. Rudder and stern frame broken, considerable bottom damge but little ingress of water.
26.10.1921: Salvage work progressing in fine weather.
27.10.1921: Ship stripped of all wood, entire bottom, keel and stern frame to renew, floors and engine bed plate fractured. Will require five 12” pumps and shallow draught vessel to go alongside. “Strongly recommend cutting loss as any south west wind will finish job off.”
2.1.1922: Report of Total loss.
(John Caswell, OS, age 21, b. Plymouth – VICTORY (SB837))