Category Archives: Steam Trawlers

S.D/T. King Herring LT401 (Seasonal)

Technical

Official Number: 128543
Yard Number: 201
Completed: 1909
Gross Tonnage: 100
Net Tonnage: 37
Length: 87.2 ft
Breadth: 18.5 ft
Depth: 9.1 ft
Engine: C.2-cyl and boiler by Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Dundee
Built: Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Dundee

History

1909: Launched by Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Dundee (Yd.No.201for George H. Hansell, Gt. Yarmouth as KING HERRING.
10.1909: Completed. George H. Hansell appointed managing owner.
18.11.1909: Registered at Yarmouth (YH7).
10.1915: Requisitioned for war service as an A/S net drifter (1-3pdr HA) (Ad.No.1922). Based Aegean Sea.
1919: Returned to owner at Gt. Yarmouth (George H. Hansell & John Thomas Cullen Salmon, Gt. Yarmouth).
1919: Sold to Great Yarmouth Steam Trawlers Ltd, Gt. Yarmouth (George H. Hansell, manager).
1927: Sold to George H. Hansell, Gt. Yarmouth (managing owner).
1928: Sold to Sydney E. Catchpole, Pakefield (managing owner).
12.9.1928: Yarmouth registry closed.
13.9.1928: Registered at Lowestoft (LT401).
1930/31: Seasonal whitefish trawling from Fleetwood.
1938: Sold to to Dutch principals for breaking up.
3.11.1938: Lowestoft registry closed.

Changelog

09/09/2011: Page published. 8 updates since then.

S.D/T. Humorous LT691 (Seasonal)

Additional material courtesy of Roy Breach

Technical

Official Number: 136622
Yard Number: 32
Completed: 1916
Gross Tonnage: 101,35
Net Tonnage: 38.79
Length: 87.5 ft
Breadth: 18.5 ft
Depth: 9.0 ft
Built: Charlton & Co Ltd, Grimsby
Engine: 190ihp C.2-cyl by Charlton & Co Ltd, Grimsby
Boiler: Riley Brothers (Boilermakers) Ltd, Stockton on Tees

History

1.1916: Launched by Charlton & Co Ltd, Grimsby (Yd.No.32) for George Thomas Hume (64/64), Lowestoft as HUMOROUS.
5.1916: Completed.
20.5.1916: Registered at Lowestoft (LT691). Requisitioned from the builders for war service as an A/S net drifter (1-3pdr) (Ad.No.2744). Based in Aegean Sea.
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Lowestoft (George T. Hume, Lowestoft).
1921: White fish trawling from Scarborough (Sk. Harry “Whisper” Cammish and Jim “Batten’er down” Crawford). Richard Wardle Crawford managing agent. At Scarborough alongside pier, at low water heeled over and fell on starboard side causing damage. Richard Wardle Crawford sought compensation from Scarborough Harbour Commissioners citing the state of the harbour bottom as the cause.
16.6.1922: Case heard before the High Court of Justice, Admiralty Division.
17.1.1926: At Brixham delivered steam drifter EVENING PRIMROSE (LT1117) which had been picked up disabled with a fouled propeller.
30.1.1926: Sold to Hollingshurst Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Lowestoft. George Breach appointed manager.
21.9.1926: George Breach died. Share ownership transferred to executors, Louisa Breach, George Alan Breach & Wm. Hutchings all Lowstoft (64/64 joint owners). George Alan Breach designated managing owner.
1928: Seasonal white fish trawling out of Fleetwood.
19.6.1928: typical landing 55 boxes.
1930/31: Seasonal white fish trawling from Fleetwood.
25.1.1933: To be sold by Order of the High Court of Justice, Admiralty Division.
24.2.1933: Sold by Order of the Admiralty Marshal at Lowestoft to Peacock & Co (Lowestoft) Ltd (64/64), Lowestoft. Arthur Gouldby, Kessingland appointed manager.
13.10.1936: Frederick Ernest Beane appointed manager.
22.9.1934: At Lowestoft (Sk. W. Durrant) delivered steam drifter ACCUMULATOR (LT655) picked up disabled with broken propeller.
7.1939: Sold for breaking up.
18.1.1940: Lowestoft registry closed “Vessel broken up … ”.

Changelog
08/09/2011: Page published. 4 updates since then.
15/01/2021: Updated history and technical details.

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.