Category Archives: Steamers (Picture)

S.T. Mary Wetherly GN3

Additional information courtesy of Christine Simm and Birgir Þórisson

Technical

Official Number: 123388
Yard Number: 434
Completed: 1907
Gross Tonnage: 221.33
Net Tonnage: 44.81
Length: 115.60 ft
Breadth: 22.65 ft
Depth: 13.50 ft
Built: Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen
Engine: 460ihp T.3.cyl by Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen

History

13.8.1907: Launched Mrs W. R. Wetherly at Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen (Yd.No.434) for Wetherly’s Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Aberdeen as MARY WETHERLY.
9.1907: Completed at a cost of £6,412 8s 9d.
6.9.1907: Registered at Aberdeen (A159). William R. Wetherly designated manager.
1907: Landing at Aberdeen (Messrs Smith, Jameson & Holmes, agents).
21.9.1907: Landed 120 boxes/1 score.
12.10.1907: Landed 180 boxes/51/2 tons.
19.10.1907; Landed 180 boxes/2 score.
9.11.1907: Landed 100 boxes/13 tons side fish.
27.12.1907: Landed 230 boxes/4 tons side fish.
1908: Landing at Aberdeen (Messrs Smith, Jameson & Holmes, agents).
25.2.1908: Landed 240 boxes/2 tons side fish.
6.5.1908: Landed 190 boxes/71/2 tons side fish.
9.10.1908: Landed 180 boxes /111/2 tons side fish.
1.1909: Fishing out of Fleetwood (Messrs Smith, Jameson & Holmes, agents).
18.1.1909: Rough weather on the fishing grounds, landed 80 boxes.
8.2.1909: Landed 100 boxes. 15.3.1909: Landed 240 boxes.
26.3.1909: Landed 250 boxes.
22.9.1909: Landed 250 boxes.
1.11.1909: Landed 220 boxes. To return to Aberdeen.
16.11.1909: At Aberdeen landed 101/2 tons.
30.4.1910: Landed 200 boxes.400 score.
1910: Fishing out of Fleetwood (Messrs Smith, Jameson & Holmes, agents).
26.4.1910: Landed 200 boxes.
16.6.1910: At Aberdeen landed 130 boxes/25 score.
17.6.1910: At Aberdeen landed 120 boxes/5 tons side fish.
12.8.1910: Landed 280 boxes.
24.8.1910: Landed 215 boxes.
19.9.1910: Landed 414 boxes including 200 boxes herring, made £256 gross.
10.1910: Returned to Aberdeen.
19.10.1910: Landed 171/2 tons.
9.11.1910: Landed 120 boxes/30score.
21.12.1910: Landed 160 boxes/12 score.
19.1.1911: Landed 50 boxes/14 score.
30.1.1911: Landed 100 boxes/15 tons side fish.
21.3.1911: Landed from an Iceland trip 260 boxes/89 tons long fish.
26.4.1911: Landed from an Iceland trip 93 tons.
6.1911: Again fishing out of Fleetwood (Messrs Smith, Jameson & Holmes, managing agents).
6.6.1911: Landed 305 boxes.
3.8.1911: Landed 123 boxes.
19.8.1911: Landed 210 boxes.
8.1911: Returned to Aberdeen.
4.10.1911: Landed 600 boxes of herring in very good condition which made 6s-9s/box.
25.12.1911: Landed at Aberdeen.
2.1.1912: Landed 190 boxes/25 score.
w/e 20.4.1912: Sailed Aberdeen in company with MARGARET WETHERLY (A344) and LOCH LEE (A325) to conduct operations in Iceland.
24.6.1912: At Aberdeen landed a good shot from Faroe grounds.
19.8.1912: At Fleetwood landed 210 boxes.
13.10.1912: At Fleetwood, shortly before 1.00 am, fire broke out in cabin, alarm raised by watchman and extinguished by two dock workers, Bagshaw and Rose, before fire brigade arrived. Only minor damage sustained.
11.1912: Returned to Aberdeen (Messrs Smith, Jameson & Holmes, agents).
22.11.1912: Landed 230 boxes/2 tons side fish.
26.12.1912: Landed 300 boxes/8 score.
4.1.1913: Landed 220 boxes/1 ton side fish.
27.1.1913: Landed 50 boxes/1 score.
30.4.1913: Landed 360 boxes/400 score.
3.7.1913: At Fleetwood landed 100 boxes – part landing.
4.7.1913: At Fleetwood landed 120 boxes – part landing.
12.8.1913: At Fleetwood landed 160 boxes.
12.8.1913: At Fleetwood magistrates court, Thomas Shaw, Warbrick Place was charged with stealing two hake, value 10s. After hearing the evidence of John Edward Singleton, shipbuilder, Shaw was fined £8 including costs or in default one month’s imprisonment (The severity of the fine was to deter others who had made a practise of stealing fish).
9.1913: Returned to Aberdeen (Messrs Smith, Jameson & Holmes, agents).
3.10.1913: Light landing supplemented with 40 crans of herring (42s-49s for large, 31s 6d for small).
5.11.1913: Homeward to Aberdeen from a nine day trip with 70 boxes (Sk. Kennard), in thick haze and a flat calm sea, but a stiff breeze. In the morning about 21/2 hours before high water went ashore at the Downies, near Portlethen, Kincardineshire. Villagers alerted by the ship’s siren, arrived on the scene and a boat was manned under Mr George Wood. The boat put out and found the crew comfortable and the trawler only superficially damaged. A rope was taken ashore and the vessel moored. About an hour later the Muchalls Life-Saving Brigade arrived and two men who wished to go ashore to notify the owners of the situation were taken off. Remainder, not being in any danger, elected to remain onboard. Subsequently refloated by Aberdeen Mutual Steamship & Trawlers Insurance Co salvage vessel OCEAN BRIDE (175grt/1894) and towed to Aberdeen. After landing placed on pontoon for inspection.
1.1.1914: Tonnage altered to 80.74 net under provision of Merchant Shipping Act 1907.
21.1.1914: Landed 300 boxes/16 score.
23.3.1914: Landed 150 boxes/11 score.
6.5.1914: Landed 390 boxes/75 score.
10.6.1914: Landed 160 boxes/52 score.
5.7.1914: At Fleetwood landed 345 boxes.
21.9.1914: At Fleetwood landed 167 boxes.
19.10.1914: At Fleetwood Police Court, Sk. John Bowman, Aberdeen was charged with embezzling portions of the catch. The trawler left Fleetwood on 1st October for the West of Scotand grounds with defendant as skipper; he was judged to be not perfectly sober, but fit to go to sea. During the trip, Bowman went ashore at Stornoway, Tobermory and Oban and took fish ashore, returning on one occasion with a bottle of liquor. Defendant was drunk repeatedly during the voyage which ended on 17th October. From Stornoway, George Thomas William Kennard, a director of the owners, received a communication and in response sent a telegram telling the agent to get the ship away in charge of the mate. On the 15th, in response to a message from the Ch. Eng, Archibald McIntosh, Kennard sent a further telegram to Oban derating the skipper and placing Facey, a deckhand who held a skippers ticket, in command. Facey brought the trawler from Oban back to Fleetwood. The trawler landed six baskets of fish from seven hauls. The Bench considered that the defendant had misused the confidence of the owners and they imposed a fine of £10 including costs or two months’ imprisonment.
1.4.1915: At Aberdeen landed from an Iceland trip 53 tons, £840 gross, a record for a local vessel since the start of the war.
8.3.1915: At Aberdeen landed 31 tons.
5.4.1915: Landed from an Iceland trip, made £860.
4.1915: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-6pdr) (Ad.No.1345).
1916: Based Malta with Unit 96 – patrol & escort duties.
16.7.1916: With trawler DRYPOOL (Ad.No.1753)(H375) escorting British steamer KHEPHREN (2774grt/1905), Liverpool for Alexandria. When some 178 miles E of Malta in position 36.08N 17.16E KHEPHREN was torpedoed and sunk by U-boat (U32) All crew picked by the two trawlers.
1919: Returned to owner.
25.1.1919: Sold to James Alexander McGlashan, Granton. James Alexander McGlashan designated managing owner.
6.2.1919: Sold to James Johnston, Newhaven, Edinburgh.
6.2.1919: Aberdeen registry closed.
14.2.1919: Registered at Granton (GN3). James Johnston designated managing owner.
26.1.1920: Sold to Maurice Wilkins & George Moreland, Manchester. Joseph A. Taylor, Fleetwood designated manager.
3.7.1920: Arrived Burntisland from Aberdeen to load bunker coal, on completion sailed for Shetland fishing grounds.
1.9.1920: At Aberdeen landed 140 crans herring (25s 6d to 51s 6d per cran).
1.1921: Continued fishing out of Aberdeen. Sam Isaacs (Aberdeen) Ltd designated managers. On charter to Bookless Brothers, Aberdeen/Sheffield to operate from Hafnarfjordur, Iceland, ‘salting’.
6.1921: Returned.
12.1921: Sold to Andrew Lewis, Aberdeen.
20.12.1921: Granton registry closed.
22.12.1921: Registered at Aberdeen (A818). Andrew Lewis designated managing owner.
1922: Sold to Andrew Lewis & J. Brodie, Aberdeen. Andrew Lewis designated manager.
17.7.1922: At Fleetwood land 170 boxes.
12.8.1922: Registered at Aberdeen as FORT JAMES (A818) (BoT Minute No. M/RG1342/1922 dated 7.8.1922). To work as a liner.
30.10.1922: At Fleetwood landed 60 boxes.
30.11.1922: Sheltering at Stromness Harbour, stress of weather.
1923: Fishing out of Aberdeen.
6.6.1923: Arrived Methil from Aberdeen to load bunker coal, on completion sailed for North Sea grounds.
9.7.1923: At Fleetwood landed 150 boxes – part landing.
10.7.1923: Landed 70 score roker and 40 score ling.
7.10.1923: Arrived Granton from Aberdeen to load bunker coal.
3.10.1923: Sailed for North Sea grounds.
6.12.1923: Arrived Granton from Aberdeen to load bunker coal subsequently sailed for North Sea grounds.
1.2.1924: Landed at Aberdeen.
4.12.1923: Arrived Granton from Aberdeen to load bunker coal.
5.2.1924: Sailed for North Sea grounds.
2.1924: Continued lining out of Aberdeen.
11.1924: Reverted to trawling.
14.6.1924: At Aberdeen landed a large King fish (White Trevally) which was caught off Orkney and fetched a fair price.
3.1926: Fitted out again for lining. Landing at Aberdeen.
27.5.1926: At Fleetwood landed 300 head of halibut.
15.6.1926: At Fleetwood land 170 boxes.
12.1926: Reverted to trawling. Landing at Aberdeen.
6.1927: Fitted out for lining. Landing at Aberdeen.
21.10.1927: With thirty trawlers and one steam liners landed an aggregate catch of 200 tons.
12.12.1927: With forty-three trawlers and two steam liners landed an aggregate catch of 410 tons. This included 45 tons of Iceland fish landed by a German trawler.
25.1.1928: With forty trawlers and two steam liners landed an aggregate catch of 220 tons. This included 16 tons of Iceland fish landed by a German trawler.
25.6.1928: With twenty-eight trawlers and one steam liners landed an aggregate catch of 275 tons.
11.12.1928: With forty-three trawlers and two steam liners landed an aggregate catch of 255 tons. This included 165 tons of White Sea fish landed by two German trawlers.
2.1929: Reverted to trawling. Landing at Aberdeen.
6.1929: Fitted out for lining. Landing at Aberdeen
23.7.1929: With thirty-six trawlers and two steam liners landed an aggregate catch of 440 tons.
2.9.1929: With forty-four trawlers and one steam liners landed an aggregate catch of 395 tons.
2.1930: Reverted to trawling. Landing at Aberdeen.
12.2.1930: With forty-nine trawlers and three steam liners landed an aggregate catch of 380 tons.
26.2.1930: Reported that a company had been formed in London (William Arthur Bennett, chairman, Thomas Thorburn Irvin, managing director) to exploit the fishing opportunities in the Davies Strait, Greenland, particularly halibut. The company was to use motor dories and steam liners to catch the fish and a refrigerated parent ship to freeze the catches. On return to UK, after four to five months, the fish would be defrosted as required to meet market demand.
9.4.1930: In the early hours the mail steamer St. SUNNIVA (864grt/1887)(Capt. Williamson), Leith for Lerwick, stranded in dense fog on the island of Mousa, 11 miles from Lerwick. With difficulty crew and passengers got away in the boats, leaving the steamer abandoned. In Stromness Harbour was FORT JAMES (Sk.Slater) and unaware that the passengers and crew were safe, the Stromness Life-Saving Company was embarked and proceeded to the casualty position, followed by the mail steamer EARL OF ZETLAND (232grt/1877) and the fishery vessel VAILA (28grt/1924). At the scene of the wreck no sign of life was visible and this was reported to the EARL OF ZETLAND which left to search Sandwick. The trawler anchored, at extreme risk, some 500 yds from the shore and put out her boat manned by volunteers. With a line attached they got to within 30 ft of the wreck and found empty boats and debris floating. At that point the EARL OF ZETLAND returned and reported that all had been saved. Returned to Stromness, landed the Life-saving Company and proceeded.
22.4.1930: Landed at Aberdeen.
5.1930: At North Shields, with steam trawlers, ETHEL IRVIN (A355), ELSWICK (A97), FORT WILLIAM (GY712), FLORENCE DOMBEY (A264), JENNY IRVIN (SN21), FLORA TAYLOR (PD444), SAXON (SN22), AUDREY (SN38), NELLIE WILSON (SN108) and drifter CONSOLATION (BK5), converted for lining and other modifications in preparation for a halibut line fishing expedition in Greenland waters. With ETHEL IRVIN to be manned by Aberdeen crews, the remainder by Norwegians with Tyneside engineers. The refrigerated steamer NORTHLAND, 5155grt/1903 (LO29) (Capt.Williams) will act as parent ship for the fleet and the catches will be transferred to her for preparation and refrigeration. NORTHLAND will also fish for cod, the livers to be processed and the fish filleted and salted, waste fish trimmings to be reduced to fish meal. Captain Thorsen of Brevik, Norway will act as leader of the expedition and direct the whole of the fishing operations.
17.5.1930: Sailed North Shields in company with eight other trawlers for Greenland fishing grounds; crew twelve men all told.
9.7.1930: Sold to Crater Steam Fishing Co Ltd, North Shields. Joseph D. Irvin, Monkseaton designated manager.
10.1930: Returned to Aberdeen.
6.5.1935: Sailed North Shields for the fishing grounds. While passing St. Mary’s Island, deckhand George Cole (19) was seen foundering in the water. Bert Jarman who was on watch in the wheelhouse at once altered course, threw a lifebelt towards Cole before jumping into the sea to help him. Another crewman lowered himself over the side and helped bring Cole back onboard. Returned to North Shields, Jarman and Cole taken to Tynemouth Infirmary suffering from shock.
15.4.1932: Landed at Aberdeen.
23.4.1932: Landed at Aberdeen.
17.2.1933: Landed at Aberdeen.
16.2.1936: Grounded in thick fog on the Black Middens rocks in the Tyne estuary. Later refloated and returned to service.
1937: Sold for breaking up.
7.5.1937: Aberdeen registry closed “Vessel broken up”.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Mary Wetherly

S.T. Mary Wetherly A159
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

Fort James Crew

Fort James Crew
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
27/12/2008: Page published. 3 revisions since then.
29/10/2014: Picture added.
06/04/2018: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
25/06/2020: Information updated.
23/08/2021: Added image of crew.
27/08/2021: Major update of history and technical details.

S.T. Margaret Rose GY355

Additional information courtesy of David Slinger and Bill Blow

Technical

Official Number: 161009
Yard Number: 1100
Completed: 1931
Gross Tonnage: 428.28
Net Tonnage: 172.48
Length: 145.7 ft
Breadth: 25.6 ft
Depth: 13.6 ft
Engine: 675ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by Amos & Smith Ltd, Hull

History

5.2.1931: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.1100) for Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd (64/64), Fleetwood as MARGARET ROSE.
10.3.1931: Registered at Grimsby (GY355).
12.3.1931: Completed.
12.3.1931: Basil Arthur Parkes, Blackpool appointed manager.
5.4.1931: Arrived Fleetwood (Sk. Walter Holmes).
6.4.1931: Landed 3760 stone, mostly hake.
7.4.1931: Sailed on her maiden from Fleetwood.
5.9.1932: Sailed from Fleetwood for East coast of USA (Georges Bank) (Sk Walter Holmes) on a trial trip to exploit the supposed hake grounds a few miles offshore, the trip to take from 24 – 32 days (340 tons bunker coal, 90 tons ice, 2 tons salt and one month’s provisions).
5.10.1932: Returned. Diverted to Grimsby to land 1400 boxes (mixed cod, haddock and flats); grossed £308 failed to cover a quarter of costs.
8.1933: Sold to Pêcheries de la Morinie, Boulogne (P. Ficheux, manager).
1933: Re measured 144.6 feet 409grt 149n.
15.8.1933: Grimsby registry closed.
8.1933: Registered at Boulogne as MARGUERITE ROSE.
8.1933: Stranded at Knott Spit Buoy when returning from trials.
18.8.1933: Sailed Fleetwood for Boulogne (with part Fleetwood crew).
10.1.1934: In North Sea, rendered assistance to Danish steamer Polly (798grt/) with rudder damage sustained on passage Baltic – Dundalk with coal. Connected and delivered Aberdeen.
8.1939: Requisitioned by Marine Francaise as an auxiliary minesweeper (P.No.AD23).
25.5.1940: At Dunkirk ‘Operation Dynamo’ (Commander Flachaire Roustan) attacked by German aircraft, two bombs exploded and vessel abandoned before sinking alongside French steamer Aïn El Turk (2508grt/1925).

Note: “The choice of the MARGARET ROSE to make the voyage to Georges Bank gave Mrs Holmes (wife of Skipper Walter Holmes named after herself MARY and daughter ROSE) great pleasure… Boston’s wasted no time in putting their project into operation and shortly afterwards the MARGARET ROSE lay in Wyre Dock looking more like a coal tip than a trawler.
Coal was piled everywhere – after the bunkers had been packed to capacity the decks were loaded high until the vessel&s scuppers were two inches below water and she was almost awash. At this point the Board of Trade stepped in and on their instructions a large quantity of coal was bagged and moved aft to lift the bows to a safer level. Even this adjustment left her alarmingly low in the water but she was given the all clear to sail.” With a crew of fifteen, she carried 400 tons coal, 100 tons ice, 2 tons salt and provisions for one month.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Margaret Rose GY355

S.T. Margaret Rose GY355
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

S.T. Margaret Rose GY355

S.T. Margaret Rose GY355
Picture courtesy of The Fred Baker Collection

S.T. Margaret Rose GY355

S.T. Margaret Rose GY355
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

September 1932

September 1932
Picture courtesy of David Slinger

September 5 1932

September 5 1932
Picture courtesy of David Slinger

S.T. Margaret Rose GY355

S.T. Margaret Rose GY355
Sunk during Operation Dynamo
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
27/12/2008: Page published. 5 revisions since then.
11/08/2014: Information updated.
13/01/2017: Removed FMHT watermarks from images.

S.T. Margaret FD92

Technical

Official Number: 124684
Yard Number: 91
Completed: 1907
Gross Tonnage: 297.32
Net Tonnage: 117.17
Length: 135.0 ft
Breadth: 23.0 ft
Depth: 12.0 ft
Built: Goole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co Ltd, Goole
Engine: 500ihp T.3-cyl by Crabtree & Co Ltd, Gt. Yarmouth
Boiler: J. T. Eltringham, South Shields

History

20.10.1906: Launched by Goole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co Ltd, Goole (Yd.No.91) for The Lancashire Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood as MARGARET.
19.12.1906: Registered at Fleetwood (FD92). James Alexander Robertson designated manager.
1.1907: Completed.
10.1.1907: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Williams Deacon’s Bank Ltd, London (A).
5.12.1907: Mortgage (A) discharged.
6.12.1907: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) for £6000 @ 5% interest to James Herbert Marr, Fleetwood (B).
27.2.1909: Mortgage (B) discharged.
27.2.1909: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) for £5000 @ 5% to James Herbert Marr, Fleetwood (C).
29.10.1910: Mortgage (C) discharged.
30.11.1910: Off Lune Buoy connected to steam trawler CYRANO (GY 80) which had been run down by steamer SHAMROCK (865grt/1879) bound Heysham and badly damaged on starboard quarter; three men injured. Delivered Fleetwood.
29.7.1911: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) for £4000 @ 5% to James Herbert Marr, Fleetwood (D).
22.6.1913: Mortgage (D) discharged.
1913: Sold to NV Nederlandsche Stoomvaartmats, IJmuiden (L. Groen, manager).
27.6.1913: Fleetwood registry closed.
7.1913: Registered at IJmuiden as TRES FRATRES (IJM194).
23.3.1917: Fishing in the North Sea NW of the Jutland peninsula, stopped by U.boat (U62) and crew ordered into boat. Trawler sunk by explosive charges in position 57.30N 6.10E. Crew pulled away and after 30 hours in the open boat made landfall on the Danish coast. After recovery returned to the Netherlands.
1918: Deleted from Netherlands register.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Margaret FD92

S.T. Margaret FD92
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

Changelog
27/12/2008: Page published. 4 updates since then.
25/09/2020: Updated history.
30/09/2020: Added an image.
16/10/2020: Updated history.

S.T. Maretta (1) FD45

Technical

Official Number: 148232
Yard Number: 1046
Gross Tonnage: 349.90
Net Tonnage: 136.16
Length: 135.4 ft
Breadth: 25.0 ft
Depth: 13.4 ft
Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby
Engine: 600ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by Amos & Smith Ltd, Hull

History

14.3.1929: Launched by Miss Evelyn Marr the only daughter of Mrs James H. Marr at Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.1046) for J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood as MARETTA.
4.6.1929: Registered at Fleetwood (FD45).
8.6.1929: Completed at a cost of £15,009. Geoffrey Edwards Marr designated manager.
12.6.1929: Sailed Hull for Fleetwood via West of Scotland grounds (Sk. John Clarkson).
26.6.1929: Arrived Fleetwood. Landed 300 boxes
19.2.1930: Arrived Fleetwood from Rockall with mate Charles Walters bandaged on lower part of face and neck. Walters had been struck by a swirling otter board when the vessel took a heavy role sustaining injury to his jaw and neck. During medical attention Walters had the neck wound stitched.
8.6.1930: In Wyre Channel, one of 23 trawlers inbound, when a few hundred yards from lock pit found channel blocked by trawlers NELLIE BRADOCK (FD175) and ERNA (FD158) aground on Tiger’s Tail. Swept by tide and also took the ground. Refloated on next tide and entered Wyre Dock.
20.7.1930: When off the Flannen Islands, Mr O. Sagar, Headmaster of Trawden School, Pendle, a regular passenger interested in tides and currents, cast adrift two bottles with notes inside. One addressed to himself and the other to Sk. Clarkson’s youngest son, also onboard.
23.8.1930: The first bottle with Mr Sagar’s address, picked up on the beach near Torness Point, Melsetta, Orkney by Mr William Stout, shepherd.
22.9.1930: The second bottle with young Clarkson’s address was picked up by school children at Copinsay, Orkney and was given to Mr John Groat who made contact.
9.12.1930: In heavy fog in the Wyre Channel, one of three trawlers inwards on the night tide. Along with the steam trawler DAILY CHRONICLE (FD69) stranded in the vicinity of the pier. Only the PRINCESS MELTON (FD326) reached Wyre Dock safely. Refloated with tug assistance on the next tide.
9.2.1931: At Fleetwood landed an exceptionally large halibut, about 20 stone, bought by a Blackpool fish merchant for £9 15s. Also landed was a 5ft sturgeon which was purchased for export to the Continent.
10.8.1931: Reported that Sk. J. Higgs DSC, currently relief skipper, has been selected to sail with the hydrographic survey vessel HMS CHALLENGER in an advisory role for a fishery research project in the Arctic Circle.
23.1.1933: In the early hours, engaged in trawling without lights and with name and number covered or obscured, about one mile NEbyN from the lighthouse on South Rona in the Inner Sound; arrested by fishery cruiser MINNA (281grt/1900).
27.5.1933: Reported that at Portree Sheriff Court, Sk. James Arthur Mewse, 52 Sherbourn Road, Fleetwood was charged with illegal trawling on 23rd January. The hearing lasted three days with evidence from Sk. F. West of the Fraserburgh drifter TROUPHEAD (FR559) who accused the trawler of being among his lines and two officers from the fishery cruiser MINNA. The defence started that the trawler was never nearer than five miles from South Rona Light, however, with clear evidence and a number of previous convictions, Sk Mewse was found guilty on all counts and fined £195.
26.4.1934: The City Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull bought by J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood.
10.3.1934: Landed at Fleetwood from Home Waters trip, 220 boxes.
27.3.1934: Landed at Fleetwood from Home Waters trip, 254 boxes.
14.5.1934: Landed at Fleetwood from Home Waters trip, 125 boxes.
From 6.1934: Landing into Hull as required (Fred Crawforth manager and fish salesman at Hull).
15.5.1935: At Hull Police Court, Sidney Thomas Attwood (39), mate, Pleasant Place, Goodwin Street, Hull and Ernest Edward Davis (28), also of Pleasant Place were charged with offences under the Customs Act. Attwood was charged with concealing 14ozs of cigarettes and a bottle of rum with intent to avoid payment of duty. He pleaded guilty and was fined double value – £2 3s 4d. Davis, a neighbour of Attwood who was out of work and visiting the trawler, pleaded not guilty to carrying three quarters of a pound of cigarettes with intent to evade payment of duty. Davis was seen to place something in his pockets and when searched, the cigarettes were discovered. Davis admitted that he had been given the cigarettes by the mate, Attwood admitting that they were his property. A fine of single value – 13s 11d was imposed. 1935: Landed at Hull from Iceland (Sk. H. Jones), 334 days 13,718 kits £12,293 gross.
1937: Insured value £8,500.
18.1.1937: Landed at Fleetwood from a Home Waters trip, 70 boxes.
28.1.1937: J. Marr & Son Ltd announced that trawlers CORDELA (FD120), CLEVELA (FD94) and MARETTA would be transferred to Hull. An official stated that they felt that this class of ship would do better out of Hull than Fleetwood. They will be engaged in fishing in the Far North. Crewed and operated by The City Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull. Leslie J. Marr, Thornton-le-Fylde designated manager.
16.6.1937: At Hull Police Court, George Harrison, trimmer, Kimberley Street, Hull, was charged with disobeying a lawful command. When the trawler docked on June 7 Harrison was told to be onboard at 4.00pm the next day. As he did not turn up a car was sent to for him but he was out and the trawler sailed three hours late. In his defence Harrison said that he gone out to get someone to look after his wife who was confined. The case was dismissed.
25.7.1939: Insured value £13,300.
1.8.1939: Sailed Hull for Iceland (Sk. H. Jones).
17.8.1939: Last landing at Hull – 16 days 911 kits £1,206 gross.
1939: To requisitioning, landed at Hull from Iceland (Sk. H Jones), 204 days 10,018 kits £9,754 gross.
18.8.1939: Sailed Hull for Iceland (Sk.H. Jones).
2.9.1939: At Fleetwood landed 800 boxes.
2.9.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (P.No.FY.665) (Hire rate £164.15.10d/month). 1.11.1939: Ch. Sk. Arthur Mayhew RNR appointed CO.
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) (FD44), BOTANIC (P.No.FY.707) (H463), BROCK (P.No.FY621) (FD47), CALVI (GY269), FYLDEA (P.No.666) (FD72), POLLY JOHNSON (H322) and drifters PLAYMATES (P.No.FY.738) (YH141) and WILLING BOYS (P.No.FY.947) (LT737) with several river launches in tow.
26.5.1940: At 1.40am. arrived off the French coast. No evacuation order was given. Sailed for Dover but damaged by air attack en route.
26.5.1940: At 6.57pm. ‘Operation Dynamo’ (Dunkirk evacuation) put into effect.
26.5.1940: Damaged by German bombing near miss. Steam trawler INGSTON GALENA (P.No.FY.145) (H31) connected and delivered Dover.
9.7.1940: Sk. James Thomson appointed CO.
30.7.1940: Sk. Christopher Chamberlain RNR appointed CO.
4.4.1941: Ty/Lieut. Charles William Pickering RNVR appointed CO.
10.11.1944: Sold to Iago Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood for £18,500. (A/Capt) Cdr. Edward D. W. Lawford DSO designated manager.
24.1.1945: Ty/Lieut. Denis Patrick Parson RNVR appointed CO.
10.1945: Surveyed and restored at Port Glasgow.
11.1945: Returned to owner.
4.4.1946: Sold to Pair Fishing Co Ltd, Milford Haven (M. Laboa & H. J. Horwood).
22.6.1946: Hauling 50 miles SW of St. Ann’s Head had mine in trawl. Sk. High left bridge and chopped away the gear.
5.7.1946: At Fleetwood Magistrates Court, John Quinn, fireman, Dock Street, Fleetwood was fined 20s and ordered to pay a guinea advocate’s fee. Quinn signed on the trawler and was told to be onboard at 12.30pm on July 1 but he failed to turn up and the sailing was delayed for 12 hours. Quinn pleaded guilty and had nothing to say; he was given a fortnight to pay.
17.5.1947: Sailed Milford on experimental Icelandic trip (Sk. Harry Hayworth, Fleetwood and Sk. Charles Hyatt, Milford); seventeen crew.
7.6.1947: Returned to Milford, 23 days 1,000 kits, mostly cod – £3,420 gross, plus 300 gallons of cod liver oil. Trip considered a success but after one further trip switched to Rockall.
4.2.1948: Sold to United Trawlers Ltd, Milford Haven. Henry J. Horwood designated manager.
8.3.1948: On West of Scotland grounds, Thady Cooney (31), trimmer, Bicanaskill, Co. Mayo, fell overboard while hauling ashes and was drowned.
29.8.1948: On Torry Island ground, connected to MILFORD PRINCESS (M228) disabled with warp round propeller and towed her to Londonderry.
1953: United Trawlers Ltd in liquidation.
19.10.1953: Sold to The Dinas Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood. Frank Marr designated manager.
25.4.1954: At Fleetwood Magistrates Court, Alan Gordon Brown (23), Pharos Street, Fleetwood was fined £20 and ordered to pay costs and damages totalling £53 4s, for doing damage aboard the trawler by putting a bolt in the winch. Brown said he was the one who found the bolt and that from sailing he had been victimised. The trawler sailed from Fleetwood (Sk. Charles Walter) on April 5 but due to an inefficient fireman she had to put into Oban for a replacement. Brown asked the skipper for a 10s sub but was refused, he responded by saying that he would see the crew did not sail; the trawler sailed the next day. Two days later the winch failed with a bent piston rod on the port side. This was repaired, but when Bernard Birley, the mate, examined the winch he found a shackle pin jammed near the piston rod on the starboard side. The trawler lost three days fishing awaiting spares and repair. Brown was logged. In the summing up it was stated that Brown had a number of previous convictions including assault on the police, office breaking and larceny.
19.11.1955: At Fleetwood Magistrates Court, Ignacy Wasiak (35), deckhand, St. Anne’s Road, Blackpool was fined £1 with £1 1s advocate’s fee for disobedience. The court was told that Wasiak came by taxi to the docks just before midnight on November 1, but shortly afterwards he was seen with his seabag leaving the ship. Wasiek’s wife arrived at the Dock gate twenty minutes after he had arrived and this probably had some bearing on his actions. The trawler was delayed for 24 hours.
24.4.1957: Ready for sea (Sk. Jack McMillan) with crew not yet arrived, although asleep in forecastle was Joseph Pace (50) a fireman. At about 2.00 am. fire broke out at the after end which severely damaged the cabin and galley, charred the lifeboat and split the mizzen mast before being extinguished by the fire brigade. An overheated stove in the cabin was believed to have caused the blaze and damage was estimated at £1,500.
15.1.1958: Thick fog disrupted Fleetwood fish market when five trawlers destined for the second market failed to arrive. The result was that about 10,000 stone of fish was not available, with only four boats landing light catches. Attempting to enter the port on the morning tide, despite the fog, the steam trawler ACHROITE (Sk. Fred Thomson) managed to make his way up the channel but struck the mussel bank and came fast on Knott Spit Bank, almost opposite the Lifeboat house. MARETTA was following closely behind and she also grounded further along the bank; she had 365 kits onboard.
7.2.1958: At Fleetwood Magistrates Court, John Tyson (26), deckhand, 4a Gerard’s Close, Liverpool was charged with being a disobedient seaman. It was stated that the trawler had to wait for eight hours at the Wyre Light while a substitute was found. Tyson pleaded guilty and told the court he had missed his train in Liverpool. He was fined 20s with one guinea advocate’s fee.
1959: Sold to BISCO and allocated to C. & J. Davies, Fleetwood for breaking up. Part stripped at Fleetwood.
8.4.1959: Sailed Fleetwood for Glasson Dock.
17.8.1959: Fleetwood registry closed. “ Vessel broken up. Advice received from beneficial owner.”
Click to enlarge images

S.T. Maretta FD45

S.T. Maretta FD45
Picture courtesy of Fred Baker

S.T. Maretta FD45

HMT Maretta
Picture courtesy of The Imperial War Museum

S.T. Maretta FD45

S.T. Maretta FD45
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection

Changelog
26/12/2008: Page published. 5 updates since then.
30/05/2016: Information updated.
25/04/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from images.
13/06/2023: Updated history and technical details.

S.T. Manor FD174

Technical

Official Number: 132414
Yard Number: 384
Completed: 1913
Gross Tonnage: 314
Net Tonnage: 128
Length: 130.0 ft
Breadth: 23.6 ft
Depth: 13.3 ft
Built: J Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co Aberdeen
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by J. Abernethy & Co, Aberdeen

History

6.2.1913: Launched by J. Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co, Aberdeen (Yd.No.384) for The Clifton Steam Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood as MANOR.
4.3.1913: Registered at Fleetwood (FD174).
3.1913: Completed (Joseph A. Taylor & Ernest Tomlinson Ltd, managers).
8.1914: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-12pdr) (Ad.No.299).
11.8.1914: Sailed Fleetwood for base port. Based Kirkwall.
Post 12.3.1919: Returned.to owner at Fleetwood.
1924: Sold to H. Veron & Cie, La Rochelle.
9.5.1924: Fleetwood registry closed.
5.1924: Registered at La Rochelle as VERDUNOIS (LR2728).
2.1938: Sold to Reginald L. Hancock, Milford Haven (managing owner).
2.1938: La Rochelle registry closed.
21.2.1938: Registered at Milford as MANOR (M238).
13.9.1938: Sold to Hancock’s Ship Building Co Ltd, Pembroke Dock (Reginald L. Hancock, manager).
21.4.1939: Sold to Reginald L. Hancock, Hakin; Frederick L. Hancock, Alan Hancock & Wilfred L. Hancock, Milford Haven (Reginald L. Hancock, manager).
29.8.1939 Requisitioned for war service and employed on miscellaneous duties. Later fitted out as an anti-submarine trawler (P.No.FY.333) (Hire rate £81.2.4d/month).
5.1940: Operating on West coast of Ireland as decoy trawler towing/and in company with HMS/M H43.
15-25.6.1940: Operation Ariel *.
19.6.1940: Reported had onboard 67 naval ratings, 2 army officers, 25 other ranks and one civilian.
20.6.1940: Arrived Plymouth.
1.5.1941: Sold to J. Bennett (Wholesale) Ltd, London (William A. Bennett, manager).
9.7.1942: Under command of Sk. Benjamin Pile RNR, lost by E-boat torpedo attack in Lyme Bay when escorting convoy WP.183. Wreck lies in position 50.19N 03.01W in 60m; twenty-nine crew MPK, one survivor, 2nd Hand Cyril Foale picked up from water by HMS RUBY (P.No.T24) (Ty Lieut. Nicolas Leadley Brown RNR) and landed at Yarmouth, IoW.
8.10.1943: Milford registry closed “Vessel totally lost”.

* Operation Ariel – withdrawal of remaining troops of the British Expeditionary Force from France plus other nationals, civil and military.

(Crew MPK – Sk. John Wood RNR; Ty/Sk. Joseph Jacques RNR; Timothy S. Beesley, James Gray & Sydney Thomas, Engiemen; Walter M. Emmitt, Ldg Sea; Raymond F. Bryant, Frederick R. Bunting, David A. Evans, Laurence V. Harrison, Edward Harvey, Nino W. Marven, Francis J. Reddy, Arthur F. Riches & Charles W.G. Taylor, Seamen; Charles Gulliford, Act/AB; Albert J. Bowles & Kenneth W. Rout, O/S; Cyril C. Wren, Tel; Lewis G. Evans, Alfred Greenhadge & Roland Davidson, O/Tel; Frederick C. Forman, O/Sig; Albert Lines, John Morton & Andrew R. Walker, Stokers; Peter Harley, Cook; William A. Cato, Ast/Cook.)

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Manor FD174

S.T. Manor FD174
Picture courtesy of The Alan Hirst Collection

S.T. Manor FD174

S.T. Manor FD174
Picture courtesy of The George Westwood Collection

S.T. Verdunois LR272?

S.T. Verdunois LR272
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
26/12/2008: Page published. 4 updates since then.
09/09/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image, repaired damaged link.
05/06/2021: Updated information.