Category Archives: Steamers (Picture)

S.T. Leukos – D85

Additional information courtesy of Andy Hall

Technical

Official Number: 137154
Yard Number: 405
Completed: 1914
Gross Tonnage: 215.74
Net Tonnage: 83.07
Length: 115.0 ft
Breadth: 22.6 ft
Depth: 12.3 ft
Built: The John Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co, Aberdeen
Engine: T.3-cyl by W. V. V. Lidgerwood Ltd, Coatbridge, Glasgow

History

1914: Launched by The John Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co, Aberdeen (Yd.No.405) for The National Steam Fishing Co (Aberdeen) Ltd, Aberdeen as LEUKOS.
8.1914: Completed.
27.8.1914: Registered at Aberdeen (A102). James Scott Jnr appointed manager.
12.12.1914: Arrived Aberdeen (Sk. George Robertson) with body of a naval officer picked up at sea to the NE of Aberdeen. Body believed to be an officer belonging to HMS HAWKE (Capt. Hugh P. E. T. Williams RN) torpedoed off Peterhead by U-boat (U.9) on 15 10.1914.
6.1915: Requisitioned for war service as a boom defence trawler (Ad.No.N.I.). Based Scapa, Orkney.
Post 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Aberdeen.
27.1.1920: Sold to Arthur Reginald Tucker & James Cornelius Tippet, Cardiff. James Cornelius Tippet appointed manager.
2.4.1920: Sold to Tucker, Tippet & Co Ltd, Cardiff. James Cornelius Tippet appointed manager.
1922: Fishing from Milford. Harry E. East managing agent.
27.2.1927: Sailed Milford for the fishing grounds (Sk. Edward Major). Owing to weather outside came to anchor off Popton Point.
28.2.1927: At about 10.00am. observed trawler THOMAS BARTLETT (LO373) coming in from sea and anchored close by, the wind was south west to west blowing a strong gale. The bosun, Charles Richard Johnson was on anchor watch, and reported to the skipper that the THOMAS BARTLETT was dragging and when some 20 to 30 yards away it appeared she would drive across the bows. The whistle was sounded and the THOMAS BARTLETT eased her cable and started to come astern but did not clear, hitting the stem with the port side, the head coming round to starboard and the THOMAS BARTLETT dropped down along side on the starboard side. No damage to the stem was apparent.
28.2.1927: Sailed for the fishing grounds but found water ingress in way of the stem, temporary repair carried out by Ch Eng. and continued on voyage.
1.6.1927: Last landing at Milford.
18.6.1927: Sold to Dublin Trawling, Ice and Cold Storage Co Ltd, Dublin.
24.6.1927: Aberdeen registry closed.
6.1927: Registered at Dublin (D86). Patrick Fannon appointed manager. Occasional landings at Fleetwood.
Mid 2.1940: Last landing at Fleetwood.
29.2.1940: Sailed Dublin for the fishing grounds via Ayr to coal (Sk. James Potter Thomasson); eleven hands all told. The ship had the Irish tricolour painted on her hull clearly indicating a vessel from a neutral country; fitted with wireless.
1.3.1940: Sailed Ayr for the ‘The Bank’ off Tory Island.
9.3.1940: At 5.00am. spoke to two other trawlers of the same company in Donegal Bay, stated 420cwt of fish and ETA Dublin 12.3.1940.
9.3.1940: A group of Fleetwood trawlers fishing 12 miles NW of Tory Island, Co. Donegal, ALVIS (H52); FLYING ADMIRAL (H66); JOHN MORRICE (A786); PELAGOS (GN55) and SEDOCK (SN12) and reported with the Irish trawler LEUKOS (D86) also in the vicinity. At 2003 (Wilhelmshaven time) a U-boat (U.38) surfaced having observed through periscope and listening device the group of trawlers. On the surface noticed that all had their lights on and were apparently forming a guarding line on a N-S course. In his log the CO. Kptlt. Heinrich Liebe wrote “I decided to administer a warning to one of them with the gun.” At 2113, and within about 200 metres of the target, fired a single round at a ship, hitting her in the engine room; the U-boat withdrew staying on the surface about one hour until ship foundered. No attempt was made by the U-boat to identify the vessel or search for survivors. None of the five trawlers in the vicinity closed to investigate, if in fact they were aware of the incident. Although no conclusive evidence confirms, the ship probably was the LEUKOS; all eleven crew lost*.
16.3.1940: Owners expressed fears for the safety of the vessel.
21.3.1940: Lifeboat containing a lifebuoy bearing the name ‘S.T. LEUKOS’ washed up at Scarinish, Tiree, Inner Hebrides.
26.3.1940: Posted overdue.
10.4.1940: Posted missing.
4.1940: Dublin registry closed.

Lost* – Sk. James P. Thomasson (29) married, Milton Street, Fleetwood & 63 Lower Mount Street, Dublin; James Donnelly (42) married, North Albert Street, Fleetwood, Mate; P. J. O’Scanlon, 5 Douglas Road, Cleethorpes, Bosun; Alec McLeod (50) single, Wyre Street, Fleetwood and 53 Kenneth Street, Stornoway, Ch Eng; Bernard Smith (23), 10 Boyne Street, Dublin, 2nd Eng; Thomas Mulligan single, The Mission, Fleetwood & Catholic Seamens Institute, Dublin & Anthony Pill (18) single, The Mission, Fleetwood & Catholic Seamens Institute, Dublin, deckhands; Michael Cullen (17) single, 29 Boyne Street, Dublin, fireman; Patricio McCarthy (42) single, 40 Carlton Street, Marino, Dublin, cook; James Hawkins (17) single, 69 Park Road, Ringsend, Dublin & Fleetwood and Robert Sumler (16) single, 63 Lower Mount Street, Dublin & Milton Street, Fleetwood (brother-in-law of the skipper), apprentices.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Leukos D85

S.T. Leukos D85
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

Changelog
08/02/2016: Page published.
07/04/2021: Updated history.

S.T. Friesland – GY459

Additional information courtesy of David Slinger, Jan Harteveld and Birgir Þórisson

Technical

Official Number: 110904
Yard Number: 124
Completed: 1899
Gross Tonnage: 268
Net Tonnage: 121
Length: 125.0 ft
Breadth: 22.1 ft
Depth: 11.2 ft
Built: Dundee Shipbuilders’ Co Ltd, Dundee
Engine: T.3-cyl (540ihp) and boiler by Cooper & Greig, Dundee

History

1899: Launched by Dundee Shipbuilders’ Co Ltd, Dundee (Yd.No.124) for The Grimsby Castle Line Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Grimsby as BALMORAL CASTLE.
8.1899: Completed as a well vessel.
25.8.1899: Registered at Grimsby (GY530).
25.8.1899: Robert W. Windeatt designated manager.
11.1907: New boiler by Blair & Co Ltd, Stockton.
6.1908: Sold to Stoomvisscherij Mij Friesland, IJmuiden through Maatschappij tot Beheer van Steamtrawlers en Andere Vaartuigen.
23.6.1908: Registered at IJmuiden as FRIESLAND (IJM16). A. G. Meeuwenoord Jnr & A. de Vries designated managers.
29.6.1908: Grimsby registry closed.
9.2.1909: IJmuiden registration withdrawn by Lord Mayor of Velsen on legal grounds; owners informed but did not agree.
5.1909: Sold to Arthur Smith, Grimsby.
5.5.1909: Registered at Grimsby (GY459).
5.5.1909: Alick Black designated manager. Converted to a trawler. Well closed by rivets. Fishing from Fleetwood.
20.2.1911: Arrived Fleetwood with 600 boxes of hake caught off the Moroccan coast, £600 – £700 gross.
1914: Sold to Henry Burns and W. Burns, Grimsby for the sum of £4,000.
12.1914: Requisitioned for war service and converted to a boom defence vessel (1-12pdr).
1917: Sold to The Zaree Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Grimsby for the sum of £9,000. Henry Burns designated manager.
9.1919: Returned to owners without being reconditioned, the company being allowed £3,630 for the necessary reconditioning work.
10.10.1919: Sailed Grimsby on first trip after reconditioning.
6.1920: Dry-docked for inspection, cleaning and painting.
12.1920: Laid up in Alexandra Dock which was also the timber pound.
6.5.1921: Manager ordered vessel prepared for sea, intending to make one trip to avoid dock dues. Engineering Superintendent, Mr Waddingham, advised dry-docking to inspect bottom but this was not pursued by the manager.
7.5.1921: Steam raised.
11.5.1921: Insured with Lloyds for the sum of £10,000 for one month from this date. Book value £6,000.
12.5.1921: Sailed Grimsby at 9.30am. for North Sea grounds (Sk. Henry Ormonde); ten hands all told. Weather fine, sea calm and slight SE breeze. Shortly after noon, deckhand Anderson went into the engine room to see his friend the 2nd Eng and noticed water in the bilge and the engine connecting rod bottom ends were splashing in water as they revolved. The 2nd responded saying, “Yes, the ship is leaking”. The water ingress was not reported to the skipper. At dinner shortly after 1.00pm. the third hand asked the 2nd how the ship was going and he replied, she was “ leaking like a basket”. The third hand asked if it was a case of going back but the 2nd replied that he did not know. This conversation was confirmed by others present. The skipper was not informed. At 2.00pm. the trimmer, John Love, who had listened to the conversation after dinner went into the engine room to get a lamp and observed that the cranks were splashing around in the crank pit. At 3.45pm. the Ch Eng noticed a knocking in the high pressure crank bearing and asked the second hand who was on watch to stop the ship so he could inspect and tighten up. The nuts were tightened, and the engine restarted but after about twenty minutes the 2nd called for the Ch Eng. and on arriving in the engine room saw that water was rushing in. The ejector and the donkey pump was started but the water was quickly over the plates and the shipside valve for the ejector was under water and could not be opened up. In the stokehold the water had risen so much that the boiler could not be fired. The skipper was called and on seeing the amount of water, knee deep over the engine room plates, ran on deck and by steam whistle and flag signalled the steam trawler NAIRANA (H528) which had just overtaken them, to come to their assistance. The NAIRANA some three miles away immediately turned and came within hailing distance. The crew had set to work with the hand pump and buckets but were quite unable to deal with the ingress of water. The water rose and put out the fires and shortly after the engine stopped. The NAIRANA came alongside, connected and for about three-quarters of an hour towed towards the coast but the vessel started to settle and the skipper thought it advisable to let go the tow line and he and the crew got into the boat which they had previously turned out. At about 6.15pm. they all boarded the NAIRANA. At about this time the Hull trawler TANJORE (H759), homeward from the fishing grounds came on the scene. The three skippers and the mate and Ch Eng of the FRIESLAND went back onboard but it was evident that nothing could be done to save the ship. At about 7.30pm. the FRIESLAND foundered sinking stern first in position about 25 miles NE1/2E from Spurn lightship. The crew transferred to the TANJORE and proceeded to Hull, the FRIESLAND crew later transferring to the Grimsby trawler ELITE (GY100) which landed them safely at Grimsby with most of their belongings.
12.5.1921: Grimsby registry closed. “Vessel foundered”.
5.9.1921: Following the formal investigation held at Grimsby (S.346), the Court found that the FRIESLAND was lost by foundering in consequence of the inrush of water, the cause of which the Court is compelled to leave undetermined. The Court also considers Mr. Henry Burns to blame for not accepting Mr. Waddingham’s suggestion that she should be dry-docked and thoroughly examined before she went to sea and ordered him to pay £200 towards the costs of the Inquiry. The Chief and 2nd Engineers deserve severe censure for not having informed the skipper that the vessel was making water at a much earlier time than they did. Their default in this matter greatly reduced the chance of the vessel being turned round and regaining the land before foundering.

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S.T. Friesland GY459

S.T. Friesland GY459
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
24/01/2016: Page published.
28/01/2016: Picture added and information updated.
12/03/2018: Information updated.
14/10/2020: Updated history.

S.T. Earl Hereford – GY147

Additional information courtesy of Bill Blow, David Slinger, Birgir Þórisson and Finn Björn Guttesen

Technical

Official Number: 123569
Yard Number: 110
Completed: 1906
Gross Tonnage: 258.77
Net Tonnage: 110.69
Length: 128.4 ft
Breadth: 22.0 ft
Depth: 11.82 ft
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley
Engine: 465ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by Charles D. Holmes Ltd, Hull

History

10.4.1906: Launched by Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley (Yd.No.110) for The Earl Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby as EARL HEREFORD.
18.6.1906: Completed.
18.6.1906: Registered at Grimsby (GY147).
18.6.1906: Alick Black appointed manager.
Pre 1911: Fishing from Fleetwood.
14.1.1911: Inwards from fishing grounds grounded in Wyre Channel.
12.1912: Sold to Christian M. Evensen, Thorshavn, Faroe Islands.
21.12.12: Grimsby registry closed.
12.1912: Registered at Thorshavn (TN24).
2.1915: Sold to Sk. Halldor Kr. Thorsteinsson (1/2 share) and Hf. Eggert Ólafsson (1/2 share), Reykjavik for the sum of £5,700. Thorshavn registry closed. Registered at Reykjavik (RE157).
8.1917: Sold to Marine Francais for the sum of 400,000 Icelandic krónur along with nine other Icelandic trawlers (partly paid for in kind, by coal and salt, the lack of which had largely ground the Icelandic fishing industry to a halt). Employed as an auxiliary patrol vessel. Reykjavik registry closed. Renamed GUENON.
1919: Sold to F. Evan, Lorient. Registered at Lorient as PEN-er-VRO.
1925: Sold to L. Ballias & Cie, Lorient. Registered at Lorient as RAUZAN.
1936: Sold to G. Gautier, E. & A. Gautier Fils & Cia, Lorient.
1942: Requisitioned by Kriegsmarine as an auxiliary (P.No.V421).
4.6.1944: Lost during invasion of Europe.
1951: Salvaged and broken up.

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S.T. Earl Hereford GY147

S.T. Earl Hereford GY147
Picture courtesy of The Birgir Þórisson Collection

Changelog
24/01/2016: Page published.
28/01/2016: Picture added and information updated.
08/04/2016: Information updated.
10/02/2019: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
02/07/2021: Updated the Faroese PLN.

S.T. Mary Heeley LT308

Additional information courtesy of Barry Banham

Technical

Official Number: 165441
Yard Number: 324
Completed: 1937
Gross Tonnage: 162.14
Net Tonnage: 60
Length: 101.2 ft
Breadth: 21.2 ft
Depth: 10.3 ft
Built: Goole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co Ltd, Goole
Engine: 350ihp T.3-cyl by Crabtree (1931) Ltd, Southtown, Gt. Yarmouth
Boiler: Chemical Engineers & Riley Brothers (Boilermakers) Ltd, Stockton-on-Tees

History

12.02.1937: Launched by Goole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co Ltd, Goole (Yd.No.324) for The Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen, London as Sir EDWARD P. WILLS.
31.3.1937: Registered at London (LO197).
4.1937: Completed at a cost of £9,500. Herbert K. Archibald appointed manager.
23.4.1937: Vessel sponsored by W D H O Wills Ltd, Bristol (tobacco company) and dedicated at Brixham. First skipper H. W. Thorpe, Lowestoft.
2.9.1939: Requisitioned for war service and employed on examination service (Hire rate – free).
8.1943: Employed on miscellaneous naval duties.
28.8.1945: Returned to owner.
1947: Sold to Vigilant Fishing Co Ltd, Lowestoft for the sum of £10,000.
17.7.1947: Registered at Lowestoft (LT308).
20.8.1947: London registry closed.
21.8.1947: Registered at Lowestoft as MARY HEELEY (LT308) (BoT Minute dated 6.8.1947). David F. Cartwright, MBE MC appointed manager.
1949-1950: Seasonal white fish trawling from Fleetwood (Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd managing agents).
23.6.1949: Best landing – 73 boxes £823 gross.
24.4.1950: Last landing at Fleetwood – 125 boxes £719 gross.
26.4.1950: Sailed Fleetwood for Irish Sea grounds (Sk. “Bubbles“ Long): ten crew total.
29.4.1950: In thick fog arrived Douglas, IoM to seek medical attention for an injured man.
At 11.30pm. in improving visibility sailed Douglas to resume fishing, setting a course ENE. A little while later struck a rock and lost propeller fetching up on the rocks at Howstrake, Onchan. An SOS was sounded on the whistle and a local man pinpointed her position informing the Life Saving Corps and Douglas lifeboat.
30.4.1950: In the early hours crew taken off by Douglas lifeboat and landed at Douglas. In deteriorating weather started to break up and became a total loss.
11.5.1950: Lowestoft registry closed.

Click to enlarge image

Sir Edward P Wills LO197

Sir Edward P Wills LO197
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Sir Edward P Wills LO197

S.T. Sir Edward P Wills LO197
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Sir Edward P Wills LO197

S.T. Sir Edward P Wills LO197
Picture courtesy of The Greenday Collection

Changelog
20/11/2015: Page published.
10/02/2019: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
11/02/2019: Added an image.
15/02/2019: Added an image.

S.T. Kingsway – GY37

Additional information courtesy of Bill Blow

Technical

Official Number: 118940
Yard Number: 62
Completed: 1905
Gross Tonnage: 210.89
Net Tonnage: 76.26
Length: 115.4
Breadth: 21.6
Depth: 11.5 ft
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley
Engine: 480ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by Amos & Smith Ltd, Hull

History

9.11.1904: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.62) for Alick Black (32/64) and Walter Olney (32/64) both Grimsby as KINGSWAY.
11.1.1905: Builder’s Certificate issued.
13.1.1905: Completed.
13.1.1905: Registered at Grimsby (GY37).
13.1.1905: Alick Black designated managing owner.
25.2.1905: Alick Black shares (32/64) and Walter Olney shares (32/64) mortgaged to The Lincoln & Lindsey Banking Co Ltd, Lincoln. (A) & (B) respectively.
29.1.1907: Mortgage (A) discharged.
31.1.1907: Alick Black shares (32/64) mortgaged to The Union of London & Smith’s Bank Ltd, Grimsby (C).
9.9.1908: Mortgage (C) discharged.
9.9.1908: Alick Black shares (32/64) sold to Alfred William Baxter (32/64), Grimsby.
9.9.1908: Alfred William Baxter shares (32/64) mortgaged to The Union of London & Smith’s Bank Ltd, Grimsby (D).
11.8.1908: Alick Black appointed manager.
7.4.1909: Mortgage (B) discharged.
24.5.1909: Walter Olney shares (16/64) sold to Albert John Wright (16/64), Grimsby.
24.5.1909: Walter Olney shares (16/64) sold to John Lawrance Green (16/64), Grimsby.
8.6.1909: Albert John Wright shares (16/64) mortgaged to The Union of London & Smith’s Bank Ltd, Grimsby (E).
12.6.1909: Alick Black appointed manager.
18.5.1910: Mortgage (D) discharged.
18.5.1910: Alfred William Baxter shares (16/64) sold to John Edgar Harrison (16/64), Grimsby.
18.5.1910: John Edgar Harrison shares (16/64) mortgaged to The Union of London & Smith’s Bank Ltd, London (F).
1.6.1910: John Lawrance Green shares (16/64) mortgaged to Stamford, Spalding & Boston Banking Co Ltd, Stamford (G).
14.6.1910: Alfred William Baxter shares (16/64) mortgaged to The Union of London & Smith’s Bank Ltd, London (H).
10.11.1911: Mortgage (G) discharged (Stamford, Spalding & Boston Banking Co Ltd in liquidation).
10.11.1911: John Lawrance Green shares (16/64) sold to Alick Black (16/64), Grimsby.
5.12.1911: Alick Black shares (16/64) mortgaged to The Union of London & Smith’s Bank Ltd, London (I).
14.7.1912: Alick Black designated managing owner.
25.2.1913: Mortgage (H) discharged.
26.2.1913: Alfred William Baxter shares (16/64) sold to Alick Black (32/64), Grimsby.
27.2.1913: Mortgage (I) discharged.
28.2.1913: Alick Black shares (32/64) mortgaged to The Union of London & Smith’s Bank Ltd, London (J).
1.4.1914: Mortgages (E0, (F) & (J) discharged.
2.4.1914: John Edgar Harrison shares (16/64) and Alick Black shares (32/64) sold to The Strand Steam Fishing Co Ltd (48/64), Grimsby.
8.4.1914: Albert John Wright shares (16/64) sold to The Strand Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby.
8.4.1914: Henry Croft Baker appointed manager.
8.4.1914: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to The National Provincial Bank of England Ltd, London (K).
8.4.1914: Mortgagee (K) re-styled The National Provincial & Union Bank of England Ltd, London.
12.1914: Requisitioned for war service as a boom defence trawler (1-3pdr). Based Kirkwall.
Post 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Grimsby.
15.2.1924: Mortgagee (K) re-styled National Provincial Bank Ltd, London.
26.10.1929: Mortgage (K) discharged.
28.10.1929: Sold to Samuel Chapman Snr, Samuel Chapman Jnr, Fred Chapman and Benjamin Chapman all Grimsby (64/64 joint owners).
4.11.1929: Samuel Chapman Jnr designated managing owner.
20.4.1931: Sold to Charles Dobson (64/64), Grimsby.
28.9.1932: Charles Dobson designated managing owner.
29.9.1937: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Midland Bank Ltd, London (L).
27.11.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (Hire rate £52.15.0d/month).
5.2.1940: Returned to owner at Grimsby.
26.3.1941: When some 10 miles E of Bell Rock, bombed and damaged by German aircraft.
5.11.1941: Mortgage (L) discharged.
24.12.1941: Sold to The City Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Hull.
7.1.1942: Leslie James Marr, Thornton-le-Fylde appointed manager.
1942/3: Occasional landings at Fleetwood from Iceland grounds.
26.6.1943: Typical wartime landing. 790 boxes – cod/codling-50, haddock-550, flats-50, coley-100, cats-20, bream-20.
22.9.1943: Sold to Richard Cammish, Robert Cammish, Matthew Cammish all Filey and Sk. James Heritage, Scarborough (64/64 joint owners).
1.10.1943: Richard Cammish Jnr designated managing owner.
24.5.1945: James Heritage died.
7.12.1950: Richard Cammish, Robert Cammish and Matthew Cammish (64/64 joint owners).
17.1.1951: Richard Cammish, Scarborough appointed manager. Last skipper Jim “Batten’er down” Crawford.
5.1954: Sold to BISCO and allocated to J. J. King & Co Ltd, Gateshead for breaking up.
18.6.1954: Grimsby registry closed. “Vessel broken up, …”. See memo from BISCO (Salvage) Ltd dated 17.6.1954.

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S.T. Kingsway GY37

S.T. Kingsway GY37
Builders certificate courtesy of The Bill Blow Collection

S.T. Kingsway GY37

S.T. Kingsway GY37
Picture courtesy of The George Westwood Collection

S.T. Kingsway GY37

S.T. Kingsway GY37
Picture courtesy of The George Westwood Collection

S.T. Kingsway GY37

S.T. Kingsway GY37
Picture courtesy of The George Westwood Collection

S.T. Kingsway GY37

S.T. Kingsway GY37
Picture courtesy of The George Westwood Collection

S.T. kingsway GY37

S.T. kingsway GY37
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Kingsway GY37

S.T. Kingsway GY37
Scrap certificate courtesy of The Bill Blow Collection

Changelog
01/11/2015: Page published.
14/11/2015: Added two pictures.
16/11/2015: Added another picture.
07/04/2016: Significant information update. 2 certificate pictures added.
07/04/2016: Picture added.
19/10/2017: Removed FMHT watermarks.
22/03/2021: Updated history.