Yearly Archives: 2009

S.T. Daily Express FD286

Technical

Admiralty Number: 4404
Official Number: 144518
Yard Number: 420
As built: 360disp 125.6 x 23.5 x 12.8 feet
Gross Tonnage: 290
Net Tonnage: 109
Length: 125.5 ft
Breadth: 23.6 ft
Depth: 12.7 ft
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley
Engine: 480ihp T3-cyl by Amos & Smith Ltd, Hull
Speed: 10.5 knots

History

18.7.1919: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.420) (“Castle” class) for The Admiralty as THOMAS ALEXANDER (Ad.No.4404).
1.1920: Allocated to the National Fishery Scheme for the setting up of the Minesweepers’ Cooperative Trawling Society Ltd, London.
23.4.1920: Registered by The Admiralty at London (Part I & IV) as THOMAS ALEXANDER O.N.144518 (LO351).
4.6.1920: Completed as a fishing vessel under Special Survey of Lloyd’s Register and classed 100A1 Stm Trawler at Hull; ex fishing gear.
13.8.1920: Minesweepers’ Cooperative Trawling Society Ltd, London registered.
1921: Sold to Rémy & Huret, Boulogne.
9.8.1921: London registry closed.
8.1921: Registered at Boulogne as ETOILE POLAIRE II (B??)
1930: Sold to Fred Parkes, Blackpool.
2.1930: Boulogne registry closed.
21.2.1930: Registered at Fleetwood as DAILY EXPRESS (FD68). Fred Parkes, Blackpool designated as managing owner.
13.11.1933: Sold to Hellyer Brothers Ltd, Hull.
24.11.1933: Fleetwood registry closed.
25.11.1933: Registered at Hull (H523).
22.12.1933: Registered at Hull as TURCOMAN (H523). Frank O. Hellyer & Owen S. Hellyer designated joint managers.
21.9.1936: Sold to R. Irvin & Sons Ltd, Aberdeen.
30.9.1936: Hull registry closed.
1.10.1936: Registered at Aberdeen (A416). Sir John H. Irvin KBE designated manager.
23.10.1936: Registered at Aberdeen as BEN DEARG (A416).
29.8.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (P.No. FY.690) (Hire rate £91.0.0d/month).
6.3.1942: Sold to J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood for £8900 or £8625.
5.1946: Re-classed at Port Glasgow.
6.6.1946: Returned to owner.
29.10.1948: Aberdeen registry closed.
10.1948: Registered at Fleetwood (FD286). Geoffrey Edwards Marr, Cleveleys designated manager.
194?: In gale force conditions with poor visibility, stranded on rocks off Green Island, Sound of Mull. Attended by mail boat LOCHINVAR (216grt/1908) but crew remained on board and nine hours later refloated under own power.
1.7.1949: Sold to Anglo-Australian Fisheries (Pty) Ltd and Anglo-Australian Trawlers (Pty) Ltd, Perth, WA for £15000. Ian L. C. McNicol designated manager. 16.7.1949: Sailed Fleetwood for Fremantle, WA (Sk. James Dewhurst (39)/Capt E. Beeham); fourteen crew all volunteers to settle in Australia and sailed under Western Australian Government immigration scheme; families to follow.
16.9.1949: Arrived Fremantle, WA. To fish out of Albany.
1.1951: Had fire in coal bunker while alongside.
1958: Sold to Royal Australian Navy and sunk after use as a target.
(Thomas Alexander, OS, age 36, b. Roscommon, Co. Roscommon – ROYAL SOVEREIGN (SB279))

Click to enlarge images

HMT Ben Dearg

HMT Ben Dearg
Picture reproduced under IWM Non-Commercial Licence

S.T. Ben Dearg FD286 arrives in Australia

S.T. Ben Dearg FD286 arrives in Australia
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

Changelog
29/04/2015: Updated information.
20/04/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from images.
01/03/2020: Updated information.

S.T. Ben Bheula A422

Additional information courtesy of David Slinger

Technical

Admiralty Number: 3724
Official Number: 146616
Yard Number: 311
Completed: 1917
As built: 360disp 125.6 x 23.5 x 12.8 feet.
Gross Tonnage: 275
Net Tonnage: 108
Length: 125.6 ft
Breadth: 23.4 ft
Depth: 12.6 ft
Built: J. P. Rennoldson & Sons Ltd, North Shields
Engine: 480ihp T.3-cyl by Shields Engineering Co Ltd, North Shields

History

16.11.1917: Launched by J. P. Rennoldson & Sons Ltd, North Shields (Yd.No.311) (“Castle” class) for The Admiralty as THOMAS DOWDING (Ad.No.3724).
22.12.1917: Completed as a minesweeper (1-12pdr & W/T). Based Falmouth.
7.7.1918: At 1035, grounded at Basse de Respects, near Cape St. Matthew. Suffered minor bottom damage.
1.10.1918: At Penzance F.C.T. Escort
16.8.1922: Registered by The Admiralty as a fishing vessel at London (LO550).
11.1923: Sold to Hellyer Bros Ltd, Hull.
23.11.1923: London registry closed.
26.11.1923: Registered at Hull (H861).
12.1923: Registered at Hull as LEONATO (H861)
Pre-1927: Sold to Hull Northern Fishing Co Ltd, Hull (W. R. Nowell, manager).
Pre-1930: Hellyer Bros Ltd became managers.
10.1936: Sold to R. Irvin & Sons Ltd, Aberdeen.
8.10.1936: Hull registry closed.
9.10.1936: Registered at Aberdeen as BEN BHEULA (A422).
8.1939: Requisitioned for war service on examination service and as a minesweeper (P.No. FY.1681) (Hire rate £80.4.2d/month).
13.1.1942: Sold to J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood for £8200.
6.10.1945: Returned to owner and re-classed at Glasgow.
24.7.1946: Sold to Pegasus Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood for £20,000. William Stevenson, St. Anne’s-on-the-Sea appointed manager.
11.3.1949: On West of Scotland grounds (Sk. W. Cowell). Off Barra in heavy weather and hail storms, started to take in water in boiler room; pumps choked with ashes and unable to cope. In response to radio message, trawler CYELSE (FD67) (Sk. J. C. Smith) arrived on scene, connected and towed into Castlebay for shelter.
13.3.1949: With CYELSE still connected in hail and sleet, BEN BHEULA swept by high seas on to reef. Fourteen crew abandoned in boat and taken onboard, later taken by Barra lifeboat to Castlebay. Trawler CONCERTATOR (FD276) arrived from Fleetwood with pumps and salvage operation commenced with Mr H. T. Chapman insurance engineer in charge.
14.3.1949: Refloated and beached, temporary repairs carried out and refloated.
16.3.1949: Homeward in a heavy swell off Port Askaig, Islay, leak opened up again and with boiler room flooding, attended by Islay lifeboat (Cox Duncan McNeill) which connected and commenced tow to Port Askaig. After 5 miles decided to beach at Caolila, Sound of Islay. Attended by salvage tug METINDA III (593grt/1945), temporary repairs carried out and refloated.
22.3.1949: Delivered Fleetwood. Permanent repairs undertaken and returned to service.
1952: Managers became J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood.
16.5.1953: Last landing at Fleetwood. Laid up.
16.7.1953: Sold for breaking up.
9.1.1954: Aberdeen registry closed “Vessel broken up”.

(Thomas Dowding, Quartergunner (prest), age 38, b. Dorset – VICTORY (SB458))

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Ben Bheula A422

S.T. Ben Bheula A422
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Leonato H861

S.T. Leonato H861
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Thomas Dowding LO550

S.T. Thomas Dowding LO550
Picture from the Internet

HMT Ben Bheula

HMT Ben Bheula
Picture reproduced under IWM Non-Commercial Licence

Changelog
16/01/2009: Page published. 7 updates since then.
16/01/2017: Removed disputed image.
29/12/2017: Removed FMHT watermarks from images.
20/08/2019: Added an image and updated information.

S.T. Spurnella H414

Technical

Official Number: 165651
Yard Number: 1025
Completed: February 25 1937
Gross Tonnage: 455
Net Tonnage: 166
Length: 175.5 ft
Breadth: 27.1 ft
Depth: 14.3 ft
Built: Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough
Engine: 825ihp T.3-cyl by by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough

History

25.2.1937: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough (Yd.No.1025) for Devon Fishing Co Ltd, Hull as WOLBOROUGH.
4.1937: Completed (Mark Hellyer, manager). Registered at Hull (H414).
5.4.1937: Sailed Hull on first trip to Icelandic grounds (Sk. F. Whitley).
26.4.1937: At Hull landed 2314 kits grossed £1007.
11.1.1938: Stranded at Landöen, Batalden Island outside Florö on west coast of Norway. Salvage steamer ACHILLES (217grt/1893) attended.
13.1.1938: Refloated and delivered Florö for survey.
4.1949: Converted for burning oil fuel, F.P. above 150° F.
1939: Lengthened to 175.5 feet 459g 173n – 190.6 feet LOA.
6.6.1939: Insured value increased from £25,000 to £28,00 following lengthening of vessel.
23.7.1939: Responded to call for assistance from steam trawler GAUL (H292) which had been in collision with German steam trawler WESTERLAND of Wesermunde approximately 160 miles from Tees and leaking port side below the waterline. Pumps able to cope and escorted towards coast. At 11.30 pm. arrived river Tees.
25.7.1939: Insured value £28,700.
11.8.1939: Sailed Hull for Bear Island (Sk. W. Salmon).
30.8.1939: At Hull landed 2,086 kits grossed £1,531.
1939: To requisitioning, at Hull landed from Iceland/Bear Island/Norway Coast (Sks. J. T. Whisley, A. Salmon, R. Turner) 172 days 14,485 kits £11,857 gross.
26.9.1939: Requisitioned for war service as an anti-submarine trawler (P.No. FY.233)(Hire rate £309.16.6d/month).
1.1942: Transferred to Mediterranean Command.
1942: Sold to Pickering & Haldane’s Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Hull.
1944: Owners re-styled Lord Line Ltd, Hull (Thomas W. Boyd, manager).
4.1946: Registered at Hull as Lord Ancaster (H414).
8.1948: Sold to Hull Merchants Amalgamated Trawlers Ltd, Hull. Registered at Hull as MARATH (H414).
1953: Made one trip to Greenland fishery.
1955: Sold to Charleson-Smith Trawlers Ltd, Hull (Ross Group). Registered at Hull as STELLA PEGASI (H414).
24.9.1955: Sold to J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood (Geoffrey Marr, Hull, manager). Registered at Hull as SPURNELLA (H414).
22.7.1958: Sailed Hull for Iceland last trip before sale (Sk. W. Beamish).
9.8.1958: At Hull landed 1,223 kits grossed £4,677.
14.8.1958: Sold to Dinas Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood.
1.6.1959: Company taken over by J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood.
1.6.1959: Sold to Heward Trawlers Ltd, London & Fleetwood (R. S. Hewett & H. F. Hayward) (Robert S. Hewett, manager).
8.3.1960: Stranded outside dock when leaving Fleetwood for fishing grounds. Refloated without damage.
14.12.1962: Sold to Thos. W. Ward Ltd, Sheffield for breaking up.
20.12.1962: Delivered Barrow-in-Furness from Fleetwood under own power.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Marath H414

S.T. Marath H414
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection

S.T. Lord Ancaster H414

S.T. Lord Ancaster H414
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection

S.T. Spurnella H414

S.T. Spurnella H414
Picture courtesy of the Mark Stopper Collection

S.T. Spurnella H414

S.T. Spurnella H414
Picture courtesy of the JJ collection

S.T. Spurnella H414

S.T. Spurnella H414
Picture courtesy of The Osta Collection.

S.T. Spurnella H414

S.T. Spurnella H414
Picture courtesy of The Phillip Dell Collection

Changelog
16/01/2009: Page published. 7 updates since then.
23/04/201 Picture added.
10/06/2016: Information updated.
03/12/2017: Removed FMHT watermarks from images.
03/08/2019: Updated information and added an image.

S.T. Sea Monarch FD169

Technical

Official Number: 139277
Yard Number: 322
Completed: 1915
Gross Tonnage: 329
Net Tonnage: 138
Length: 136 ft
Breadth: 24 ft
Depth: 12.7 ft
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley
Engine: 70nhp T.3-cyl and boiler by Amos & Smith Ltd, Hull

History

31.5.1915: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.322) for Humber Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Hull as SEA MONARCH.
17.8.1915: Completed (Richard H. Hobbs, manager).
27.11.1915: Registered at Hull (H411).
2.1916: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-12pdr, 1-7.5” A/S Howitzer) (Ad.No.1983). Based Portland.
Post 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Hull.
16.12.1919: Sold to Fresh Fish Supplies Ltd, Hull (Thomas Nightingale, manager).
8.2.1922: Sold to Thomas Hamling & Co Ltd, Hull (Harold Hall, manager) along with SEA SWEEPER (H171) for £11,500 each.
6.1.1926: Thomas Boyd appointed manager.
4.5.1928: Sold to Dinas Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood (Joseph Arthur Marr Jnr, manager) along with SEA SWEEPER (H171) for £7,000 each.
10.5.1928: Hull registry closed.
18.6.1928: Registered at Fleetwood (FD169).
7.1928: Mortgaged to William Deacons Bank Ltd, London.
31.3.1936: Landed from an Iceland trip landed only 1,000 stone of fish, £494 gross.
30.1.1940: Requisitioned for war service as a boom defence vessel (Hire rate £90.9.6d/month).
3.1940: Fitting out at Rosyth at a cost of £17,545 (P.No.Z.115).
5.1940: At Lyness.
23.11.1943: Compulsorily acquired by M.O.W.T.
1.1.1944: Fleetwood registry closed.
1944: Based at Fort William (D. MacBrayne Ltd, Glasgow, agents).
6.1946: Laid up. Estimated cost of re-conditioning £8,750.
31.1.1947: Sold to James N. Connell, Glasgow for breaking up.
28.2.1947: Delivered Clyde.
9.1947: Breaking up completed.

Note: A very fast free running trawler, on Admiralty service in 1916 was capable of 11 knots.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Sea Monarch FD169

S.T. Sea Monarch FD169
Picture © John Clarkson

S.T. Sea Monarch FD169

S.T. Sea Monarch FD169 at Scapa Flow
Picture courtesy of Maggie Jamieson

Changelog
16/01/2009: Page published. 3 updates since then.
31/07/2021: Updated information.

S.T. Scorpion FD165

Additional information courtesy of Geoff Davidson

Technical

Official Number: 98764
Yard Number: 37
Completed: 1891
Gross Tonnage: 154.94
Net Tonnage: 56.57
Length: 100.5 ft
Breadth: 20.5 ft
Depth: 10.7 ft
Built: Mackie & Thomson, Glasgow
Engine: C.2-cyl by Muir & Houston, Glasgow

History

17.9.1891: Launched by Mackie & Thomson, Glasgow (Yd.No.37) for The British Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Hull as SCORPION.
6.10.1891: Registered at Hull (H166).
10.1891: Completed (William L. Robins, manager).
7.2.1893: On the North Sea fishing grounds, towing the starboard gear on a heading SbyW. Mate, Rowlands, in charge of watch with James Mathews, deckhand, as lookout; mate was asleep. Look out observed the Hull smack GARNETT BROTHERS (H1390) with gear down towing in a Northerly direction, he saw the smack’s light fall but did either alter course or rouse the mate. When a collision was inevitable Mathews woke the mate by shouting “Man overboard”. The mate ran to the wheel, but too late to alter course and rang the telegraph for full speed astern, but before stern way was on her she struck the smack. Severely damaged the GARNETT BROTHERS started to settle and crew was taken onboard before the smack foundered.
3.3.1893: At BOT formal inquiry held at Hull, the Court found that the collision was due to the SCORPION having failed to comply with article 17 of the Regulations for Preventing Collision at Sea and adjudged that the certificate of the mate, Rowlands, be suspended for twelve months and that of the deckhand, Mathews, be cancelled and to pay £10 towards the cost of the inquiry.
14.2.1899: Arrived Hull following severe storm and landed boatswain with leg broken.
4.7.1899: In the salvage action between the SCORPION and the Danish steamer N. G. PETERSON (1282grt/??) in which the trawler had offered towage services, which were afterwards declined. The master of the steamer had originally intended to employ the SCORPION to tow him to Sunderland, but another vessel took him in tow. The Judge, Mr Justice Bucknill gave judgement in favour of the SCORPION and awarded £150 and costs.
7.1.1905: Outward from Hull for Dogger Bank grounds; nine hands all told. At about 4.30pm. when some 90 miles ENE of Spurn Point, saw a steamer on the port bow. The weather was stormy and a heavy sea was running. At about 5.00pm. distress rockets were seen and the trawler closed the steamer which proved to be the London registered ANNANDALE (1526grt/1878). In response to a hail, the master replied that his rudder was broken and “ could you manage to steer me in”. The skipper of the SCORPION answered “yes” and was told to come in and make fast. After many attempts a line was secured. During the night the wind increased to a heavy gale.
8.1.1905: At 7.30am. Flamborough Head was sighted and they continued on their way with the Hull tug ORION (83grt/1900) assisting. At 9.00pm. the ANNANDALE was delivered to safe anchorage in the Humber.
22.3.1905: In the Admiralty Division of the High Court, London owners of the SCORPION sought salvage money for the incident. In giving judgement, Mr Justice Deane remarked that the ship was able to use her own engine and only required the trawler to steer her and thought the proper reward was £400 for salvage service, £75 for repairs and loss of fishing, making £475 in total.
4.11.1912: Sold to James Alexander Robertson, Fleetwood.
15.11.1912: Hull registry closed.
16.11.1912: Registered at Fleetwood (FD165).
7.12.1912: Sold to The Lancashire Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood (James A. Robertson, manager).
2.1913: Sold to Charles James Smith, Scarborough.
25.2.1913: Fleetwood registry closed.
26.2.1913: Registered at Scarborough (SH182). James Johnson appointed manager.
9.5.1913: Sold to Dogger Bank Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Scarborough. Richard W. Crawford appointed manager.
1.1.1914: Tonnage altered to 63.71 net under provision of Merchant Shipping Act 1907.
4.6.1917: Sold to Dixon Chew, Scarborough (trading as Scorpion Steam Trawling Co). Dixon Chew designated managing owner.
29.5.1917: Requisitioned for Fishery Reserve.
22.3.1918: Dyke Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Scarborough registered as a private company with a capital of £9,000 in £1 shares to take over the business of “Scorpion Steam Trawling Co” including the steam trawler SCORPION. Directors are H. Crowther, R. W. Crawford, J. Johnson and J. Scatchard, all Scarborough.
25.11.1918: Sold to George Henry Cambridge, Filey James Johnson, Scarborough appointed manager.
1919: Released.
1919: Fishing out of Lowestoft.
1921: Returned to Scarborough.
1927: Sold for breaking up.
1927: Scarborough registry closed.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Scorpion FD165

S.T. Scorpion FD165
Picture © John Clarkson

Changelog
16/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
20/01/2016: Information updated.
30/01/2016: Significant information update.
13/04/2018: Removed FMHT watermark from image.