Official Number: 65801
Completed: 1871
Gross Tonnage: 63
Net Tonnage: 47
Length: 71.4 ft
Breadth: 19.1
Depth: 9.55 ft
Rig: Ketch
Built: F. R. Pain, Sandwich

History

1871: Completed by F. R. Pain, Sandwich for George Chamberlain, Hainton Villa, Hainton Street, Weelsby, Grimsby as GEORGE & MARIA.
4.1971: Registered at Grimsby (GY303).
10.1888: Sold to William G. S. Letten, Grimsby.
11.1888: Sold to George Miller, 33 Church Street, Fleetwood (managing owner).
11.1888: Grimsby registry closed. Registered at Fleetwood.
By 1891: owned by Mrs Anne Holden, Ainsdale (Thomas Smith, 18 Aughton Street, Fleetwood, manager).
1892: Sold to Alexander Hull, 68 Gt. Patrick Street Belfast (managing owner).
1908: Fleetwood registry closed.

Technical

Official Number: 135073
Completed: 1914
Gross Tonnage: 79
Net Tonnage: 40
Length: 82.0 ft
Breadth: 18.2 ft
Depth: 9.2 ft
Engine: C.2-cyl and boiler by Elliot & Garrood Ltd, Beccles
Built: John Chambers & Co Ltd, Oulton Broad, Lowestoft

History

Wooden Drifter

1914: Launched by John Chambers & Co Ltd, Oulton Broad, Lowestoft (Yd.No.447) for James Pitchers Jnr (32/64), Gt. Yarmouth & Ernest Bultitude Powley (32/64), Caister-on-Sea as DORIS MAUD.
4.1914: Completed.
15.4.1914: Registered at Yarmouth (YH702).
21.9.1914: Sold to James Pitchers Jnr (64/64), Gt. Yarmouth (managing owner).
9.8.1915: Sold to Alexander Keay (64/64), Fleetwood (managing owner).
10.1915: Requisitioned for war service as an A/S net drifter (1-57mm) (Ad.No.2715). Based Greece.
Post 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Fleetwood (Alexander Keay & Co).
1920: Sold to Greek principals.
17.12.1920: Yarmouth registry closed. “Sold to foreigners (Greece)”. FATE.

Technical

Official Number: 127357
Completed: 1912
Yard Number: 377
Gross Tonnage: 98
Net Tonnage: 41
Length: 86.0 ft
Breadth: 18.45 ft
Depth: 9.0 feet
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by James Abernethy & Co, Aberdeen
Built: John Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co, Aberdeen

History

1912: Launched by John Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co, Aberdeen (Yd.No.377) for for George Addison, Cullen & others as THREE KINGS.
1912: Completed (George Addison managing owner). Registered at Banff (BF495).
5.1915: Requisitioned for war service as an A/S net drifter (1-6pdr) (Ad.No.2419). Based at Larne.
1916: Sold to Alexander Mair, Buckie & others (Alexander Mair managing owner).
1919: Returned to owner at Buckie (Jas. Archibold, Buckie).
29.5.1920: Sold to John Victor Breach (64/64), Lowestoft. John Victor Breach designated managing owner.
29.5.1920: Sold to Jack Breach Ltd (64/64), Lowestoft. John Victor Breach designated manager.
29.5.1920: Registered at Lowestoft (LT517).
1.6.1920: Banff registry closed.
9.6.1923: Stranded at Lerwick. Steam drifters EILEEN EMMA (LT342) and JUST REWARD (LT726) connected, refloated and returned to Lerwick.
26.7.1925: With steam drifters TWO BOYS (LT1157) and UNITED FRIENDS (LT55) suceeded in refloating the Norwegian steamer GEZINA (1828grt/1917), which had stranded on Dennis Head, North Ronaldsay in dense fog.
12.6.1926: At Lerwick sustained damage in collision with steam drifter CLOVERDALE (BF170).
18.7.1928: At Stronsay, Orkney with broken propeller.
1930s: Seasonal white fish trawling from Fleetwood (Alex Keay managing agent).
13.8.1930: At Fraserburgh with broken propeller.
31.8.1934: At Workington (Sk. H. Stone) with broken propeller.
5.5.1936: With Sk. A. Catchpole, sustained damage in collision with steam drifter CLARA SUTTON (HL88).
15.11.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeping drifter (1-MG) (P.No.FY918) (Hire rate £27.0.0d/month).
1.1.1942: At Harwich LL sweep drifter (Hire rate increased to £27.013.6d/month).
1.1944: John Victor Breach died.
9.4.1944: Ronald H. Self appointed manager.
9.1944: Employed on miscellaneous Naval duties.
1945: Returned to owner. Laid up.
19.4.1945: Charles William Dance appointed manager.
26.7.1946: Jack Breach Ltd reconstituted as The Shoals Fishing Co Ltd, Lowestoft (Charles W. Dance, manager).
29.11.1946: Lowestoft fishing registry closed “No longer used for fishing”.
7.1947: Sold to Belgian principals for breaking up (Sanctioned by MOT letter No. GSP 6477 dated 9.7.1948).
14.6.1950: Lowestoft registry closed “Vessel broken up”.

Technical

Official Number: 181351
Yard Number: 759
Completed: 1948
Gross Tonnage: 689
Net Tonnage: 249
Length: 181.7 ft
Breadth: 30.6 ft
Depth: 15.1 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull
Fitted for burning oil fuel, F.P. above 150 ° F
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley, 1948

History

24.5.1948: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.795) for Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood as BOSTON SEAFIRE.
6.10.1948: Registered at Hull (H584).
27.10.1948: Completed. Basil A. Parkes designated manager.
19.1.1952: Sold to Hudson Brothers Trawlers Ltd, Hull (Thomas Hudson, manager). Registered at Hull as CAPE TARIFA (H584).
5.2.1960: Company and assets taken over by Ross Group, Grimsby.
26.11.1961: Registered at Hull as ROSS TARIFA (H584).
27.6.1967: Transferred to Grimsby.
968: Sold to Van Heyghen Freres S.A., Ghent for breaking up.
6.3.1968: In tandem tow with ROSS DUNER (H85) by London motor tug MOORCOCK (272grt/1959 – 1600bhp) Humber for Zeebruges, lost ROSS DUNER off the South Falls Buoy. Stranded near Dunkirk but subsequently refloated and delivered to Zeebruges.
7.3.1968: Broke away from tug and stranded on Goodwin Sands 11/4 miles from East Goodwin Light Vessel. Settled and lost to sands.
3.1968: Hull registry closed.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Boston Seafire H584
Picture by Donald Innes courtesy of The Mark Stopper Collection

S.T. Boston Seafire H584
Picture courtesy of The Mark Stopper Collection

S.T. Boston Seafire H584
Picture by Mike Thompson courtesy of The Mark Stopper Collection

S.T. Ross Tarifa H584
Picture courtesy of JanH

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

Details

1909: Launched by Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Dundee (Yd.No.201) for George H. Hansell, Gt. Yarmouth as King Herring.
10.1909: Completed. George H. Hansell designated 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.

Technical

Official Number: 136622
Yard Number: 32
Completed: 1916
Gross Tonnage: 101
Net Tonnage: 39
Length: 87.5 ft
Breadth: 18.5 ft
Depth: 9.0 ft
Engine: C.2-cyl by Charlton & Co Ltd, Grimsby
Boiler: Riley Brothers (Boilermakers) Ltd, Stockton on Tees
Built: Charlton & Co Ltd, Grimsby

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.
1919: Returned to owner at Lowestoft (George T. Hume).
17.1.1926: At Brixham delivered steam drifter EVENING PRIMROSE (LT1117) which had been disabled with a fouled propeller.
3.2.1926: Sold to The Hollingshurst Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Lowestoft. George Breach designated manager.
21.9.1926: George Breach died. Share ownership transferred to executors, Louisa Breach, George Alan Breach & Wm. Hutchings (George Alan Breach managing owner).
1930/31: Seasonal white fish trawling from Fleetwood.
3.3.1933: Sold to Peacock & Co (Lowestoft) Ltd (64/64), Lowestoft (Arthur Gouldby, Kessingland, manager).
22.9.1934: At Lowestoft (Sk. William J. Durrant) delivered steam drifter ACCUMULATOR (LT655) disabled with broken propeller.
7.1939: Sold for breaking up.
18.1.1940: Lowestoft registry closed “Vessel broken up”.

The Clifton Steam Trawlers Ltd had their own rail wagons and used them to advertise with the slogan “Fleetwood Fish” and when BDSF&I Co moved to the port it was not long before they too had their own railway wagons transporting coal mined by the Earl Fitzwilliam’s Collieries at their Elsecar Main pit at Barnsley.

The Great Grimsby Coal Salt & Tanning Co Ltd also had their own private user wagons and supplied bunker coal at all the major fishing ports.

The firing of the boiler in a steam trawler, demanded physical strength and stamina from the firemen and there was no room for poor quality coal, although this sometimes had to be taken when fishing Iceland or the Faeroe Islands in the early days, when insufficient coal could be carried for the trip. Firemen became familiar with the quality of coal from particular collieries, although, like railway locomotives, it was not unusual for sister ships to have widely varied coal consumption and steaming characteristics.

In all steam plants a certain amount of water is lost on each cycle, raising steam, driving the engine and returning to the boiler via the condenser, due in the main to steam leaks. Many older trawlers used sea water in the boiler as make up feed water and this was acceptable so long as the boilers were regularly blown down and scaled. When water tube boilers were introduced however, this lead to corrosion and the tankage of make-up feed water was increased. The bunker capacity, feed water, potable (drinking) water and ice storage for the three Admiralty trawler types, typical of the vessels built pre and post WW1 was:-

Click to enlarge image

Typical coal wagon

Technical

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

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 (LT1157). 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 designated 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).
28.9.1936: Henry George Prior designated 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 designated 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). 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 designated 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)

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 Catchpole, 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).
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.
5.1974: W. H. Kerr (Ship Chandlers) Ltd and fleet taken over by Boston Deep Sea Fisheries Ltd, Hull (William H. Kerr remained manager).
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 image

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

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

Technical

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

History

wooden drifter

1916: Launched by George Smith Jnr, Buckpool, Buckie (Yd.No.) on speculation as GREEN PASTURES.
5.1917: Completed. Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-6pdr) (Ad.No.3108). Based at Peterhead.
1919: Returned to owner at Findochty (R. Tindall & Son, Buckie, agents).
1919: Sold to Joseph Wood, Portknockie & others.
1919: Registered at Buckie (BCK237).
22.11.1919: Sold to Lancelot Charles Harvey (32/64) and Robert Thomas Moore (32/64), Lowestoft (Robert Thomas Moore managing owner).
20.1.1920: Sold to John Victor Breach (22/64), George F. Spashett (21/64) & Ernest Edward Soloman (21/64), Lowestoft (John Victor Breach, managing owner).
1.1920: Buckie registry closed.
12.1.1920: Registered at Lowestoft (LT740).
15.2.1922: 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).
6.1941: Based Dover as an armed patrol drifter (Ty Sk. W. C. Barnaby RNR).
9.1941: Employed on miscellaneous Naval duties.
1.1944: John Victor Breach died.
9.4.1945: R. H. Self designated manager.
22.61945: 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).
12.10.1949: Sold to Frederick William Braithwaite, Grange-over-Sands (managing owner).
1952: Sold Lacmots Ltd, Glasson Dock for breaking up.
1952: Lowestoft registry closed.

Note: Named after Gervais Rentoul MP for Lowestoft in 1920s.