Yearly Archives: 2009

S.T. Sulby FD87

Pictures and documents courtesy of Bob Dawson

Download witness statements in pdf format
Reg King’s Statement
Bernard Nolan’s Statement pt.1
Bernard Nolan’s Statement pt.2
Harold Blackburn’s Statement
Newspaper Report

Letter from Alexander Keay to Mrs. Dawson
Part 1 (PDF format)
Part 2 (PDF format)

Technical

Official Number: 127573
Yard Number: 401
Completed: 1909
Gross Tonnage: 287
Net Tonnage: 111
Length: 130.3 ft
Breadth: 23 ft
Depth: 12.7 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl by Shields Engineering Co Ltd, North Shields
Built: Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, North Shields, 1909

History

3.2.1909: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, North Shields (Yd.No.401) for The “Wyre” Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood as SULBY.
9.3.1909: Registered at Fleetwood (FD87).
3.1909: Completed. Richard C. Ward & John N. Ward designated joint managers.
1910: John N. Ward designated manager.
7.2.1912: Stranded 3 miles N of Ramsey (Sk. Fairclough); ten crew.
19.2.1912: Attempts to refloat with tugs unsuccessful.
7.4.1912: Arrived Fleetwood in tow after successfully being refloated.
7.4.1912: Reported that John N. Ward who had gone over to the Isle of Man in connection with the salvage of SULBY, had died on the island.
4.1912: Magnus B. J. Wedum designated manager.
8.1914: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-6pdr) (Ad.No.131).
1914: Based Portsmouth.
1918: Based Kirkwall.
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Fleetwood.
13.3.1926: Sold to George Hindle, Wilpshire, Lancs. Joseph A. Taylor, Albert V. Thompson & Harold Taylor, designated joint managers.
17.6.1930: Outward for fishing grounds in Fleetwood Channel. Carbide drum fell into engine crankpit smashing engine, gas generated exploded causing considerable damage; no casualties. Steam trawler VELIA (FD49) connected and beached vessel at Fleetwood.
18.6.1930: Not making any water, refloated by tugs and entered Wyre Dock for survey and repair.
16.2.1931: Sold to Islay Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood. Henry Melling designated manager.
10.3.1931: Sold to Cape Fisheries Ltd, London. Albert V. Thompson, Fleetwood designated manager.
5.7.1932: Sold to Alexander Keay, Fleetwood & Andrew Wilson, Buckie. Alexander Keay designated managing owner.
18.3.1933: Sold to Alexander Keay, Fleetwood. Alexander Keay designated managing owner.
25.4.1933: Homeward from West of Scotland grounds, stranded at Strongarve, 4 miles N of Mull of Kintyre. Glasgow steamer LOCHIEL (318g/1906) and Southend lifeboat standing by. At 3.00 pm. refloated and after checks, proceeded to Fleetwood.
15.11.1939: At Fleetwood landed 7,400 stone of herring, £438 gross, the seasons best landing.
5.8.1939: At Fleetwood landed first herring catch of the season – 330 boxes.
21.11.1939: On fishing grounds 35 miles NW of Rathlin Island (Sk. Clarence Hector Hudson), eleven crew, in company with CUIRASS (GY436) and WILLIAM HUMPHRIES (LO533). At 8.00 a.m. stopped by by U-boat (U.33) with warning shot, crew abandoned in two boats, but shelled while lowering port boat. Sunk by gunfire, five rounds from deck gun, in approx position 55.27N 08.01W. In gale force winds, boat with Skipper and four crew* never seen again.
23.11.1939: After 38 1/2 hours in open boat ** (H. Blackburn, bosun) made a landfall at Tobermory and picked up by Tobermory lifeboat.

*Lost presumed drowned – Sk.Clarence H. Hudson; J. Dawson, Mate; James Wood; R. A. Fisher and R. J. Randles

**Survivors – H. Blackburn, Bosun; J. Geddes; H.G. Hay; A. Lewis; J. Threlfall, S. Melhuish and F. Brunt.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Sulby FD87
Picture courtesy of The Bob Dawson Collection

S.T. Sulby FD85
Picture courtesy of The Bob Dawson Collection

S.T. Sulby FD87
Picture courtesy of The Brian Dodd Collection

S.T. Sulby FD87
Stranded at Strongarve
Image courtesy of David Buckley

Note incorrect spelling of the name of the lighthouse. This should be “Rubha nan Gall”

News Cutting Sulby Survivors

Changelog
14/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
14/03/2014: Information updated, documents and image added.
29/08/2022: Added images.
21/12/2023: Added an image.

S.T. St. Just LO434

Technical

Official Number: 162200
Yard Number: 552
Completed: 1930
Gross Tonnage: 377
Net Tonnage: 158
Length: 145 ft
Breadth: 24.6 ft
Depth: 13.2 ft
Engine: 96nhp T.3-cyl and boiler by C D Holmes
Built: Cook Welton & Gemmell, Beverley
Speed: 11.2 knots

History

(In 1935 the Hull trawler LEONIDAS (162186) (H267) was lengthened by Smiths Dock Co. Ltd. The work involved creating an improved hull form with new bow and stern sections. The design was successful, not only providing increased fish room capacity, but also, as was expected, reducing coal consumption and giving a slightly higher free running speed. Other owners stemmed vessels at Middlesbrough for similar work to be undertaken)

23.8.1930: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.552) for Saint Andrew’s Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull as St. JUST.
19.9.1930: Registered at Hull (H320).
23.9.1930: Completed. Charles F. Foster designated manager.
1932: William H. Paterson designated manager.
24.8.1934: The Supreme Court in Oslo, upheld the fine of 5,000kr for illegal fishing inside the four mile limit off the Norwegian coast.
1936: Saint Andrew’s Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull and ships sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood. Basil A. Parkes, Thornton-le-Fylde designated manager.
29.8.1938: Completed lengthening by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, Middlesbrough to 158.2 feet (including fitting new bow and stern sections). Re measured 394g 176n.
25.7.1939: Insured value £18,000.
14.8.1939: Sailed Hull for Bear Island (Sk. A. Lewis).
30.8.1939: At Hull landed 993 kits grossed £808.
1939: To requisitioning, at Hull landed from Bear Island/Iceland/Norway Coast (Sks. T. Kane, H. Fletcher, Arthur Lewis), 219 days 15,255 kits £11,375 gross.
9.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (P.No.FY.673) (Hire rate £215.4.1d/month). Renamed FIREFLY. Based Leith.
3.2.1940: Sailed Leith to recover and de-activate loose British moored mines in Firth of Forth (Lieut. David B. Johnstone RNR). With a mine alongside attended by boat party, a passing destroyer set the boat in motion and one of the oars touched and detonated the mine. Thirteen crewmen* were killed including the CO and a similar number wounded. Badly damaged but remained afloat and taken in tow by HM Trawler WARDOUR (GY523) (P.No.FY581) for Leith. Repaired and returned to service. Based Yarmouth (Ty Sk. J. W. Gibbs RNR) with M/S Group 30.
15.9.1940: Based Sheerness with M/S Group 30.
1.1941: At Sheerness (Ty Sk. E. A. Runnquist RNR).
1943: Based Harwich with M/S Group 30.
31.8.1943: Sold to Heward Trawlers Ltd, London (R. S. Hewett & H. F. Hayward). Robert S. Hewett, London designated manager.
10.1945: Restored and surveyed at Port Glasgow and reverted to St. JUST (H320).
29.10.1945: Returned.
1946: Hull registry closed.
1946: Registered at London (LO434). Fishing out of Fleetwood.
15.8.1949: At anchor 3 miles off Fleetwood in Lune Deeps. Steam trawler TORONTO (LO196) (Sk. W. Randles) weighed and proceed but fouled anchor cable of St. JUST which wound itself round propeller. Cable fractured and proceeded to Wyre Dock.
1961: Sold to Haulbowline Industries Ltd, Passage West, Cork for breaking up.
27.2.1960: Sailed Fleetwood for Cork.
1.3.1961: Delivered Passage West.
1961: London registry closed.

Lost*: – Ty. Lt. David B Johnstone RNVR; Ty.S/Lt. Carl Dobson RNVR; Ty.S/Lt. Norman F. Peat RNVR; Ty.S/Lt. Geoffrey W. Vaughan RNVR; CPO Charles E. Baldwin; Benjamin R. Barker, Engineman; Henry E. Beavers, John R. Clay, Peter Reid, Alexander Stewart, James Stewart, Seamen; Walter E. Johnson, Seaman cook.
5.2.1940: Edward Barker, 2nd Hand, died of wounds.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. St. Just LO434
Picture courtesy of Robert Hewett

S.T. St. Just LO434
Picture from the Internet

S.T. St Just LO434
Picture from the Internet

S.T. St. Just LO434
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
14/01/2009: Page published. 7 updates since then.
16/02/2017: Removed disputed images.
17/08/2017: Added an image.
17/11/2018: Updated information.
13/12/2018: Added an image.

S.T. Lord Stanhope H199

Technical

Official Number: 163990
Yard Number: 1139
Completed: 1935
Gross Tonnage: 448
Net Tonnage: 190
Length: 157.3 ft
Breadth: 26.1 ft
Depth: 14.1 ft
Built: Cochrane & Son Ltd, Selby
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull

History

18.4.1935: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.1139) for Pickering & Haldane’s Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Hull as LORD STANHOPE.
3.6.1935: Registered at Hull (H199).
12.6.1935: Completed at a cost of £19,525 (Albert Turgoose & James Clark, joint managers).
17.6.1935: Sailed Hull for first trip to Iceland (Sk. C. Smith).
6.7.1935: At Hull landed 795 kits grossd £996.
5.1937: In collision with Norwegian fishing boat HILDUR near Baasfjord, northern Norway; boat cut in two and sank. Skipper and one man picked up but four lost.
25.7.1939: Insured value £21.800.
4.8.1939: Sailed Hull for White Sea (Sk. C. Smith).
25.8.1939: At Hull landed 1,881 kits £1,482 gross.
1939: To requisitioning, at Hull landed from White Sea/Iceland (Sks. C. Smith, G. Smith) 223 days 14,409 kits £14,586 gross.
25.8.1939: Requisitioned for war service as an anti-submarine trawler (1-4”, AA weapons) (P.No.FY.163) (Hire rate £280.0.0d/month). Based Plymouth with 20th A/S Group.
5.1944: Assigned to Operation Neptune – Normandy landings.
23.5.1944: Convoy escort duties in British waters and across the Channel in support of landings.
3.7.1944: Operation Neptune ended.
12.1944: Pickering & Haldane bought by J Bennett, London.
20.6.1945: Company restyled as Lord Line Ltd, Hull (Thomas W. Boyd, manager).
10.1945: Surveyed and restored at Hartlepool.
7.11.1945: Returned to owners.
30.11.1945: Insured value £40,000; for 1946 proposed £44,000.
10.1947: Converted for burning oil fuel, F.P. above 150° F.
17.4.1950: Sold to Associated Fisheries Trawling Co Ltd, Hull for £22,000 (Lord Line in liquidation)
22.07.1953: Company restyled Lord Line Ltd, Hull.
12.10.1962: Sailed Hull for Iceland, last trip from port (Sk. Niels M. Pederson).
1.11.1962: At Hull landed 613 kits grossed £4,105.
8.3.1963: Sold to Wyre Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood for £28,358 (Leslie Wheildon, manager).
9.4.1963: First landing at Fleetwood.
26.10.1963: Sailed Fleetwood for Icelandic grounds (Sk. George Harrison); sixteen crew.
27.10.1963: Landed sick Bosun in Belfast.
5.11.1963: On west of Iceland grounds, in view of heavy weather, decided to change to east of Iceland grounds.
7.11.1963: At about 0220 in heavy swell, E by N Force 7 and moderate visibility stranded on the south coast of Iceland, 4 miles West of Ingolfshofdi Light, in position 63°48N/ 16°40W; all eighteen crew (including two Norwegian gutters) ferried ashore in liferaft with shore assistance. Fleetwood trawler KINGSTON DIAMOND (FD84) stoodby. Later declared a total loss.
6.1.1964: Hull registry closed. “Transferred to Port of Fleetwood”.
15/16.9.1964: BOT Inquiry (S.469) found Sk. George Harrison partly to blame and suspended his ticket for twelve months; acting Bosun John J. Larkin censured.

Note: Allocated FD50 but never used the PLN

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Lord Stanhope H199
Picture courtesy of The Mark Stopper Collection

S.T. Lord Stanhope H199
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Lord Stanhope H199
Picture courtesy of the JJ collection

S.T. Lord Stanhope H199
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection

S.T. Lord Stanhope H199
Picture courtesy of The Fred Baker Collection

Changelog
14/01/2009: Page published. 2 updates since then.
02/12/2017: Removed disputed image and FMHT watermarks.
04/11/2019: Added an image.
02/05/2021: Updated history.

S.T. Sisapon FD92

Additional material courtesy of Bill Blow

Technical

Admiralty Number: T395
Official Number: 166653
Yard Number: 734
Completed: 1944
Gross Tonnage: 568
Net Tonnage: 224
Length: 178.1 ft
Breadth: 30.0 ft
Depth: 15.2 ft
Built: Cook Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley
Engine: 1000ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull
Speed: 11 knots

History

20.3.1943: Ordered.
30.3.1944: Laid down.
20.7.1944: Launched by Cook. Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.734) (“Military” class) for The Admiralty as ROYAL MARINE (P.No.T395).
30.10.1944: Completed as an A/S trawler (1-4” HA/LA, 4-MG, 4-20mm, ASDIC, DC).
1944: Armament 1-4” HA/LA, 6-20mm, ASDIC, DC.
1946: Laid up at Milford Haven on Disposal List (SORF, Pembroke Dock).
10.4.1946: Sold to The Standard Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby.
25.11.1946: Registered at Grimsby as SISAPON O.N.166653 (GY381).
25.11.1946: Albert Wright Butt appointed manager.
10.1947: Converted for burning oil fuel, F.P. above 150° F.
20.12.1948: Alteration of tonnage to 581.21g 212.42 net. Certificate of Survey dated Grimsby 19.1.1948.
1953: Made two trips to Greenland fishery, including one to Newfoundland.
24.2.1960: John Arthur Butt appointed manager.
1963: Company became part of Associated Fisheries Ltd.
24.3.1965: Sold to Wyre Trawlers Ltd (64/64), Fleetwood.
14.4.1965: Arrived Fleetwood.
26.4.1965: Grimsby registry closed.
26.4.1965: Leslie Wheildon appointed manager.
27.4.1965: Registered at Fleetwood (FD92).
01.1967: Outwards for Icelandic grounds in thick fog (Sk.Tony Barkworth), took the ground alongside Wyre Light. Refloated on next tide, sound and proceeded on voyage.
8.3.1967: At Fleetwood (Sk. Alan Bedford) landed from 20 day Icelandic trip, 870 kits grossed £7,308.
12.5.1967: Sold to Belgian shipbreakers for breaking up.
12.6.1967: Sailed Fleetwood for Antwerp.
15.6.1967: Breaking commenced.
20.6.1967: Fleetwood registry closed “Vessel sold to foreigners for breaking up.”

click to enlarge images

S.T. Sisapon FD92
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Sisapon FD92
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection

S.T. Sisapon FD92
Picture courtesy of The John Worthington Collection

S.T. Sisapon GY381
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection

Changelog
14/01/2009: Page published. 7 updates since then.
28/12/2016: Information updated and image added.
16/08/2017: Removed disputed image and FMHT watermarks.
01/01/2018: Added an image.

S.T. Sethon FD166

Additional information courtesy of Bill Blow

Technical

Official Number: 138974
Yard Number: 345
Completed: 1916
Gross Tonnage: 295
Net Tonnage: 114
Length: 130.2 ft
Breadth: 23 ft
Depth: 12.2 ft
Built: Cook Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley
Engine: 540ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by Amos & Smith Ltd, Hull
Speed: 9.5 knots

History

22.4.1916: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.345) for The Standard Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby as SETHON.
28.6.1916: Registered at Grimsby (GY928).
28.6.1916: Walter William Butt appointed manager.
16.10.1916: Completed. Walter W. Butt appointed manager.
10.1916: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-6pdr HA, 1-7.5” A/S Howitzer) (Ad.No.3310). Northern Patrol.
Post 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Grimsby.
8.3.1920: Off the Faeroe Islands damaged in collision with steam trawler FAVORITA (GY1039) which sustained damage shell plates at port bow and also stem.
26.8.1926: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Midland Bank Ltd, London (A).
8.4.1938: Bill Butt appointed manager.
28.6.1938: Albert Wright Butt appointed manager.
5.6.1940: Requisitioned for war service as an auxiliary patrol vessel (Hire rate £83.11.8d/month).
5.1941: Fitted out as a minesweeper (P.No.FY.883).
1.12.1941: Mortgage (A) discharged.
14.1.1942: Sold to Saint Andrew’s Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Hull (temporary address, 231 Dock St, Fleetwood).
22.1.1942: Basil Arthur Parkes, Cleveleys appointed manager).
9.1945: Restored and surveyed at Glasgow.
2.10.1945: Returned to owner.
30.11.1945: Insured value £17,000; for 1946 proposed same.
3.12.1945: Sold to Mason Trawlers Ltd (64/64), Fleetwood.
10.12.1945: Robert Houseman Bagshaw appointed manager.
18.1.1946: Grimsby registry closed.
1.1946: Registered at Fleetwood (FD166).
1.3.1957: Sailed Fleetwood for West of Scotland grounds (Sk. J.E. Mitchinson); thirteen crew.
2.3.1957: In the early morning in transit through the Sound of Islay with hazy conditions and a strong tide running, stranded on Black Rock. Crew taken off by Port Askaig lifeboat and landed at Port Askaig. Attended by FLANDERS (FD165)(Sk. T.W. Kirby MBE), connected but tow parted.
3.3.1957: Further attempt to refloat failed.
5.3.1957: Commenced lightening, removing ice and coal.
16.3.1957: Refloated under own power.
18.3.1957: Returned to Fleetwood.
19.3.1957: Slipped. Bottom plating set up and leaking. Repairs could not be effected due to strike at Robertson’s.
4.1957: Repaired and returned to service.
5.1958: Grounded on wreck of HMS Drake in Church Bay, Rathlin Island. Came off with Portrush lifeboat standing by.
1959: Sold to Scrappingco S.r.l, Antwerp for breaking up.
16.7.1959: Sailed Fleetwood for Boom.
7.1959: Fleetwood registry closed.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Sethon FD166
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Sethon FD166
Picture courtesy of The Osta Collection

Big Cod
Picture courtesy of The David Parkinson Collection

Joe Parkinson and John Shaw
Picture courtesy of The David Parkinson Collection

Fishing
Picture courtesy of The David Parkinson Collection

A good bag
Picture courtesy of The David Parkinson Collection

Into the pounds
Picture courtesy of The David Parkinson Collection

Changelog
14/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
03/08/2021: Information updated.

The Bosun's Watch

Fleetwood Steam and Sailing Trawlers

Yearly Archives: 2009

S.T. Sulby FD87

S.T. St. Just LO434

S.T. Lord Stanhope H199

S.T. Sisapon FD92

S.T. Sethon FD166