Author Archives: Bill Johnson

S.D/T. Sarah Hide – LT1157

Additional material by Roy Breach and Barry Banham

Technical

Official Number: 140025
Yard Number: 457
Completed: 1921
Gross Tonnage: 162
Net Tonnage: 68
Length: 103.9 ft
Breadth: 20.6 ft
Depth: 10.9 ft
Built: J. Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co, Aberdeen
Engine: T.3-cyl by Wm. Beardmore & Co Ltd, Coatbridge
Boiler: A. & W. Dalglish, Pollockshaws, Glasgow

History

23.12.1920: Launched by J. Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co, Aberdeen (Yd.No.457) for Arthur Gouldby (64/64), Kessingland as ARTHUR GOULDBY.
2.1921: Completed.
21.2.1921: Registered at Lowestoft (LT1215). Arthur Gouldby designated manager.
22.6.1922 (Registered): Shares (48/64) sold to Frank Clement Burton (14/64), Lowestoft; William George Garrood (14/64), Oulton Broad; Walter Albert Wood Greaves (14/64), Pakefield; Henry Blunderfield Garrood (4/64), Oulton Broad and Mariames Theresa Lawrence (2/64), Lowestoft. Arthur Gouldby appointed manager.
22.4.1930: Frank Clement Burton died.
2.9.1930 (Registered): In accordance with Will dated 10.4.1930, shares (14/64) transferred to Edith Clara Burton, Lowestoft; Clement Ernest Brunswick Burton, Oulton Broad & Arthur Gouldby (jointly held), Lowestoft (Arthur Gouldby manager).
24.6.1933: Arthur Gouldby (16/64) shares mortgaged to National Provincial Bank Ltd, London (A).
17.4.1934: Sold to Arthur Gouldby, Lowestoft (14/64) shares held jointly by Edith Clara Burton; Clement Ernest Brunswick Burton and Arthur Gouldby. 18.4.1934: Arthur Gouldby (14/64) shares mortgaged to National Provincial Bank Ltd, London (B).
1935: Seasonal white fish trawling from Fleetwood. (Lowestoft Fish Selling Co Ltd, Lowestoft managing agents).
28.9.1936: Henry George Prior appointed manager.
28.2.1937: Marianne Theresa Lawrence died.
28.8.1937: (Registered): In accordance with Will dated 1.5.1935, shares (2/64) transferred to Barclays Bank Ltd, London.
31.8.1937: (Registered): Sold to Kittiwake Ltd (64/64), Lowestoft (30/64 shares sold by National Provincial Bank Ltd, London under mortgages (A) & (B)). John Victor Breach appointed manager.
11.9.1937: Mortgaged to Small & Co (Lowestoft) Ltd, Lowestoft (C) at 6% interest.
7.9.1937: Registered at Lowestoft as SARAH HIDE (LT1157) (BoT minute M/RG 1561/1937 dated 4.9.1937).
8.10.1937: At Yarmouth landed 147 crans of herring.
16.11.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1- MG) (P.No.FY.968) (Hire rate £54.13.6d/month).
20.2.1940: Based Dover (Ty/Sk. H. G. Meen RNR). Picked up two survivors of Whitehaven steam coaster RYDAL FORCE (1101grt/1924) mined 400yards south of Gull Light Vessel, Thames Estuary (Mines laid by German aircraft 21.4.1940).
1.6.1940: Operation Dynamo – Dunkirk evacuation, landed 90 troops at Ramsgate.
7.1941: Based Ipswich as armed patrol drifter.
26.5.1943: Ty/Sk. J. Mulligan RNR appointed CO.
16.1.1944: Sk. L. Haigh RNR appointed CO.
1.1944: John Victor Breach died.
9.4.1945: Ronald Henry Self appointed manager.
31.12.1945: Returned to owner.
5.1.1946: Taken off hire.
4.10.1947: At Lowestoft landed 160 crans.
5.11.1947: In collision with steam drifter STRIVE (LT133) and sustained damage.
17.11.1949: Grounded between piers at Lowestoft.
1950s: Seasonal white fish trawling from Fleetwood.
3.4.1950: At Fleetwood landed 176 boxes of white fish grossed £795.
26.5.1952: Last landing at Fleetwood.
6.10.1952: At Lowestoft landed 243 crans.
27.10.1952: At Lowestoft landed 235 crans.
8.11.1952: At Lowestoft landed 225 crans.
25.7.1953: Mortgage (C) discharged.
1.1955: Sold to Belgian shipbreakers (MoT GSP.1/1/01578 dated 14.1.1955).
31.1.1955: Sailed Lowestoft for Antwerp.
7.2.1955: Lowestoft registry closed.

(Note: Named after John Victor Breach’s mother)

Click to enlarge image

S.D/T. Sarah Hide LT1157

S.D/T. Sarah Hide LT1157
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
15/05/2011: Page published.
02/07/2016: Picture added.
16/07/2019: Updated information.

S.D/T. Willing Boys LT737 (Seasonal)

Additional material by Barry Banham and Milford Trawlers site

Technical

Official Number: 149229
Yard Number: 579
Completed: 1929
Gross Tonnage: 138
Net Tonnage: 59
Length: 98.0 ft
Breadth: 20.6 ft
Depth: 10.4 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl by Crabtree & Co Ltd, Gt. Yarmouth
Built: John Chambers Ltd, Oulton Broad, Lowestoft

History

1929: Launched by John Chambers Ltd, Oulton Broad, Lowestoft (Yd.No.579) for Edward Catchpole, Kessingland & Baxter & Co, Lowestoft as WILLING BOYS.
3.1930: Completed (Edward Catchpole, Kessingland, manager).
21.3.1930: Registered at Lowestoft (LT737).
1930s: Seasonal white fish trawling from Padstow, Milford and Fleetwood.
1.7.1937: Fishing near the Glass Norman bank off the Wicklow coast (Sk. Russell James Gower); arrested by Irish Free State fishery cruiser MUIRCHÚ after shots were fired.
2.7.1937: Sk. Gower of Lowestoft was charged in Dublin Police Court with illegally fishing off the Wicklow coast. Fined £100 and gear and catch forfeited.
15.11.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeping drifter (P.No.FY.947) (Hire rate £77.15.11d/month).
6.1940: Based Dover (Ty/Sk. R. McLean RNR).
20-26.5.1940: Evacuation from Boulogne, Calais & Dunkirk.
25.5.1940: Sailed Dover for Calais in company with the trawlers ARLEY (P.No.FY.620) (FD41), BOTANIC (P.No.FY.707) (H463), BROCK (P.No.FY621) (FD47), CALVI (GY269), FYLDEA (P.No.666) (FD72), MARETTA (P.No.FY.665) (FD45), POLLY JOHNSON (H322) and drifter PLAYMATES (P.No.FY.738) (YH141) with several river launches in tow.
26.5.1940: At 1.40am. arrived off the French coast. No evacuation order was given.
1941: Fitted out as a LL drifter.
1.1942: Based Dover as a LL drifter (Sk. C. E. Coble RNR).
6.1943: Employed on miscellaneous Naval duties.
1945: Sold to Pevensey Castle Ltd, Lowestoft (R. H. Self, manager).
8.1946: Returned to owner.
1949-1950: Seasonal white fish trawling from Fleetwood.
17.5.1949: At Fleetwood landed 209 boxes grossed £835.
17.8.1949: Last landing at Fleetwood, 218 boxes grossed £793.
14.3.1950: At Fleetwood landed 181 boxes grossed £847.
13.5.1950: Last landing at Fleetwood, 135 boxes grossed £416.
1953: Sold to W. H. Kerr (Ship Chandlers) Ltd, Milford Haven (William H. Kerr, manager).
5.1957: Sailed Milford for Lowestoft for conversion to diesel propulsion (Sk.Sid Durrant).
9.1957: Converted at Lowestoft. Re-engined with a 2stroke 6-cyl 280bhp oil engine by Crossley Bros. Ltd, Manchester.
1.9.1957: On completion of successful trials sailed Lowestoft to fish round to Milford (Sk. Sid Durrant).
6.8.1959: Sailed Milford for Lowestoft and to fish from that port (Sk. Joe Utting).
5.1.1961: Returned to Milford from Lowestoft, but damaged in collision with drifter trawler FEACO (LT207) also returning from Lowestoft.
5.1970: Laid up at Milford.
2.1973: When trawling off the Devon Coast (Sk. Frank Reynolds) hauled a torpedo warhead. Landed at Milford and attended by Plymouth RN Bomb & Mine Disposal Team and found to contain 500lbs of TNT. Safely exploded on Castlemartin Range.
15.2.1973: Escorted into Dunmore by LÉ DIEDRE (P.No.P20) having been arrested for alleged poaching in Irish Republican waters.
16.2.1973: At Court in Dublin Sk. Reynolds fined £210 for fishing in Irsh Republic territorial waters off the Wexford coast and gear and catch (60 boxes of whiting) valued at £1,500 confiscated.
23.7.1973: Sailed Milford for Briton Ferry towing DEELITE (YH29) sold for breaking up.
5.1973: W. H. Kerr (Ship Chandlers) Ltd and fleet taken over by Boston Deep Sea Fisheries Ltd, Hull (William H. Kerr remained manager) (BDSF were already majority shareholders).
1974: Sold to Brig Trawling Co Ltd, Milford Haven.
12.1975: Last landing at Milford. Laid up.
3.1976: Sold to Thomas W. Ward Ltd, Sheffield for breaking up at Briton Ferry.
23.3.1976: Sailed Milford for Briton Ferry. Lowestoft registry closed.

Click to enlarge images

S.D/T. Willing Boys LT737

S.D/T. Willing Boys LT737
Picture from the Internet

S.D/T. Willing Boys LT737

S.D/T. Willing Boys LT737
Picture from the Internet

S.D/T. Willing Boys LT737

S.D/T. Willing Boys LT737
Picture courtesy of The John Stevenson Collection

S.D/T. Willing Boys LT737

S.D/T. Willing Boys LT737
Picture © The Mike Crutchley Collection

Changelog
07/08/2011: Page published. 11 updates since then.
11/08/2016: Added picture.
01/01/2019: Removed FMHT watermark from images.
15/08/101`: Updated history.

S.D. Gervais Rentoul LT740

Additional material courtesy of Roy Breach and Barry Banham

Technical
Official Number: 132180
Completed: 1916
Gross Tonnage: 99
Net Tonnage: 42
Length: 87.2 ft
Breadth: 19.1 ft
Depth: 9.6 ft
Built: George Smith Jnr, Buckpool, Buckie
Engine: T.3-cyl by Wm. Beardmore & Co Ltd,
Coatbridge
Boiler: A. & W. Dalglish, Pollockshaws, Glasgow
Wooden built drifter

History

1916: Launched by George Smith Jnr, Buckie (Yd.No.) on speculation as GREEN PASTURE.
5.1917: Completed. Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeping drifter(1-6pdr) (Ad.No.3108). Based at Peterhead.
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Findochty (R. Tindall & Son, Buckie, agents).
1919: Sold to Joseph Wood, Portknockie & others.
29.1.1919: Registered at Buckie (BCK237).
22.11.1919: Sold to Lancelot Charles Harvey (32/64), Fritton and Robert Thomas Moore (32/64), Lowestoft (Robert Thomas Moore managing owner).
14.1.1920: Sold to John Victor Breach (22/64), George F. Spashett (21/64) & Ernest Edward Soloman (21/64), Lowestoft (John Victor Breach, managing owner).
24.1.1920: Buckie registry closed.
12(20).1.1920: Registered at Lowestoft (LT740).
13.2.1922: Sold to John Victor Breach (32/64) & G. F. Spashett (32/64), Lowestoft.
25.1.1923: Registered at Lowestoft as GERVAIS RENTOUL (LT740) (BOT Minute 1656/1922 dated 13.1.1923).
25.4.1925: Sold to Explorator Ltd (64/64), Lowestoft (John Victor Breach, manager).
8.11.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a patrol drifter (Hire rate £26.0.0d/month).
26.5.1940: At 6.57pm. ‘Operation Dynamo’ (Dunkirk evacuation) put into effect.
28.5.1940: At Dunkirk embarked troops. At Dover 5.00pm landed 57 soldiers.
29.5.1940: Returned to Dunkirk embarked troops.
30.5.1940: At Dover 8.45pm. landed 130 troops. Employed as a flare burning drifter.
1941: Based Dover as an armed patrol drifter (Ty/Sk. W. C. Barnaby RNR).
31.5.1940: Involved with patrol drifter EILEEN EMMA (LT342) in a collision with destroyer HMS SCIMITAR (P.No.H21); both drifters returned to Dover with damage.
9.1941: Employed on miscellaneous Naval duties.
1.1944: John Victor Breach died.
9.4.1945: R. H. Self appointed manager.
22.6.1945: Sold to The Don Fishing Co Ltd, Aberdeen (Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood).
5.1946: Returned to owner. Laid up.
29.6.1949: Sold to Margaret Sellons, Fleetwood (managing owner). Not employed as a fishing vessel.
12.10.1949: Sold to Frederick William Braithwaite, Grange-over-Sands (managing owner). Not employed as a fishing vessel.
1952: Sold Lacmots Ltd, Glasson Dock for breaking up.
1952: Lowestoft registry closed.

(Named after Gervais Rentoul MP for Lowestoft in 1924)

Changelog
01/08/2011: Page published. 5 updates since then.
07/11/2020: Updated history.

S.T. Flandre GY598

Additional information courtesy of Bill Blow

Technical

Official Number: 130733
Yard Number: 323
Completed: 1915
Gross Tonnage: 226
Net Tonnage: 109
Length: 117.0 ft
Breadth: 22.0 ft
Depth: 12.7 ft
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley
Engine: 450ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by Amos & Smith Ltd, Hull

History

30.4.1915: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.323) for The Reunion Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby as FLANDRE.
17.5.1915: Builder’s Certificate issued.
13.8.1915: Alick Black appointed manager.
13.8.1915: Registered at Grimsby (GY598).
9.1915: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (Ad.No.853).
28.2.1916: Vessel mortgaged to George Jeffs, Grimsby for the sum of £5000 with interest at 6% (A). 3.9.1916: George Jeffs died.
28.10.1916: Probate granted to Sarah Ann Jeffs, Fred Birch Jeffs & Alice Madeline Jeffs all of Grimsby (joint mortgagees).
19.6.1917: Sold to The North Western Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby.
19.6.1917: Alick Black appointed manager.
23.2.1918: Mortgage (A) discharged.
27.2.1918: Sold to The Rushworth Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Grimsby.
27.2.1918: John Edward Rushworth appointed manager.
5.3.1918: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Barclays Bank Ltd, London (B).
16.6.1918: Mortgage (B) discharged.
12.1918: Returned to owner.
2.6.1919: John Edward Rushworth appointed manager.
26.6.1919: Sold to The Yarborough Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Grimsby.
26.6.1919: John Edward Rushworth appointed manager.
30.6.1919: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to John Edward Rushworth, Grimsby for the sum of £8,000 with interest at 5% (C).
30.7.1924: Mortgage (C) discharged.
31.7.1924: Sold to South Western Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby.
1.8.1924: Sir Alec Black, Bart appointed manager.
2.11.1925: Sold to Earl Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby.
7.11.1925: Sir Alec Black, Bart appointed manager.
6.6.1940: Requisitioned for war service as an auxiliary patrol vessel (Hire rate £62.3.0d/month). 10.12.1940: Sold to Sir Alec Black, Bart (64/64), Grimsby.
12.12.1940: Sir Alec Black, Bart designated managing owner.
By 6.1941: At Ipswich (Pbty Ty/Sk. A . Darwood RNR)
11.1941: Fitted out as a minesweeper (P. No. FY.1715).
28.6.1942: Sir Alec Black, Bart died.
16.1.1943: Probate granted to The Public Trustee, London and John Edgar Harrison, Grimsby (64/64 joint owners).
3.2.1943: John Edgar Harrison appointed manager.
8.2.1943: Sold to Shire Trawlers Ltd (64/64), London.
10.2.1943: William Alfred Bennett, Sanderstead appointed manager.
6.12.1944: Sold to Parkholme Trawlers Ltd (64/64), Fleetwood.
6.12.1944: Harvey Wilfred Wilson, Grimsby appointed manager.
12.12.1944: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to National Provincial Bank Ltd, London (D).
30.12.1944: Mortgage (D) discharged.
13.3.1945: Returned to owner.
30.7.1949: Sold to Trawlers Grimsby Ltd (64/64), Grimsby.
30.7.1949: Harvey Wilfred Wilson appointed manager.
10.4.1953: Sold to Derwent Trawlers Ltd (64/64), Grimsby.
11.4.1953: Harvey Wilfred Wilson appointed manager.
9.2.1955: John Carl Ross appointed manager.
1958: Sold to Atlantic-Rhederei F. & W. Joch, Hamburg (MoT & CA letter GSP 1/1/02778 dated 25.3.1958).
11.4.1958: Arrived Hamburg for breaking up.
15.4.1958: Grimsby registry closed “… on sale to foreigners German subjects”.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Flandre GY598

S.T. Flandre GY598
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
27/07/2011: Page published. 7 updates since then.
02/05/2016: Picture added.
31/08/2020: Updated history.

The Breach Family

Pictures and text courtesy of Mr. Roy Breach.

Death of Mr J.V.Breach.

Lowestoft’s Biggest Boat Owner.

Lowestoft’s largest boat owner, Mr J.V.Breach, who was well known at all the fishing ports around the coasts of the British Isles as at his home port died yesterday at 57 Kirkley Cliff, where he had made his home since his illness.
His whole interest was centred in the boat owning business in which he succeeded his father and which under his control reached a remarkable stage of development, in spite of the ups and downs with which the industry was faced from time to time.
He was Managing Director of Jack Breach Ltd, a Director of the local Fishing boat insurance clubs, and a member of the committee of the local Fisherman’s Widows & Orphans Fund.
Mr Breach lived for many years at Hastings House, Whapload Road, Lowestoft and after the outbreak of war went to Fleetwood to supervise the working of those of his boats which had not been taken for Admiralty service.
Last July he came home, and after an operation in Norwich in August remained in a nursing home until October. He never recovered sufficiently enough to return to Fleetwood.

An extract from the E.D.P. of 6.1.1944.


JACK BREACH

“Though virtually in the prime of life (he was 56) the late
Mr.John Breach had been one of the leading figures on the catching side of the herring industry for the last 25 years. This position was his because of the large number of drifters owned by companies of which he was Managing Director – at one time amounting to something like one-eighth of the Lowestoft fleet – and also because of his great practical knowledge, business enterprise, and organising ability.
He was the youngest member of the third generation of his family to be Lowestoft boat-owners. His Grandfather came to the East Coast from Hastings and built up a considerable business with sailing drifters. This was developed and enlarged by his father, who died during he last war, leaving his boat-owning interests to his son John

It was a time of high hopes and when the war was over businesses were expanded and new companies were formed by the dozen. The boom period was unhappily very brief and the Breach companies, being larger than most, suffered proportionally in the bad years. They kept the flag flying, however, and Breach boats right down to the present war were to be seen in the proper season at practically every herring port in the British Isles. And Mr John Breach too, was a familiar figure in most of these ports, which he visited from time to time, keeping a careful manager’s eye on his boats. Thus he acquired an experience of the conditions and practice of herring fishing which was unrivalled in the trade. He was almost as well known in the Scottish ports as in Lowestoft and Yarmouth. The English Herring Catchers Association, of which he was a prominent member, can ill afford to lose a man of his quality”.

Extract from Lowestoft Journal of 7.1.1944.

DEATH OF MR.JOHN BREACH, Jnr.

One of the youngest “admirals” of the Lowestoft drifter fleet and a member of one of the oldest firms of fishing-boat owners, Mr. John Breach, jnr., died at the Lowestoft and North Suffolk Hospital on Tuesday night.
Only 27 years of age, he assisted his father, Mr.JohnV.Breach, who is at
present seriously ill with pneumonia in a Lowestoft nursing home, in controlling one of the largest fleets of steam drifters operating from this
port.
His attractive personality made him greatly liked and respected not only in Lowestoft but at herring ports all over the British Isles.
The announcement of his death was a blow to the local trade and all flags on the fish market and in the vicinity were lowered to half mast as a token of respect.
Drifters fishing from the port went out with their flags at half-mast and those remaining in port also struck theirs.
Mr. Breach was unmarried. He was educated at Framlingham College.

John Breach Jnr.

John Breach Jnr.


John Alfred was by all accounts one of those individuals who possessed the qualities and character which made his friendship attractive to others.

John Breach Jnr

John Breach Jnr


The extract above is taken from the local Lowestoft newspaper

Family Group

Family Group

Family Names: Golden Wedding

Family Names: Golden Wedding

Golden Wedding Cake

Golden Wedding Cake