The Bosun's Watch

Wartime visitor
© Mike Thompson for FMHT

Technical

Official Number: 149077
Yard Number: 461
Completed: 1926
Gross Tonnage: 352
Net Tonnage: 147
Length: 140.3 ft
Breadth: 24.0 ft
Draught: 12.9 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull
built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley

History

24.10.1925: The board of Kingston Steam Trawling Co Ltd decided to build two more distant water trawlers to the same design as the ANDALUSITE (Yd.No.461) built by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd. Contracts were signed with the shipyard to build the ships at a cost of £8,350 each and with C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd to make the engines and boilers at £6,175 each unit. Total cost £14,525 per vessel. Names chosen were SARDIUS and TOURMALINE.

20.4.1926: Registered at Hull (H290) (O.N. 149077).
28.4.1926: Completed trials and accepted (John W. Lown, manager).
1.5.1926: Sailed on first trip to Iceland.
20.5.1926: Landed 858 kits grossing £1,050.
16.3.1939: Sold to N.V. Motorvisscherij, Ostend for £3,650.
20.3.1939: Hull registry closed.
4.1939: May have been registered at Ostend as VANDERMEER (O296) for a short period.
4.1939: Re measured 336.45Brt 129.48n
4.1939: Registered at Ostend as VAN OOST (O296).
5.1940: Escaped to England.
21.5.1940: Arrived Fleetwood. Transferred to Belgian Economic Mission, London. Fishing from Fleetwood.
7.7.1940: Requisitioned for war service on miscellaneous Naval duties (P.N. FY.330). Based Reydarfjord, Iceland as Local defence trawler. Belgian crew.
13.11.1945: Returned to owner.
4.1946: Special Survey at Ghent. Re classed as a Steam Trawler.
1948: Re measured in accordance with British rules 352g 147n
1.1948: Sold to Government of Poland, Warsaw (Ministry of Industry & Commerce) (“Dalmor” Przedsiobiorstwo Polowow DalekomorskichSp.z.ogr.odp, Gdynia, managers).
16.1.1948: Ostend registry closed.
16.1.1948: Registered at Gdynia as MERKURY (GDY120).
4.1962: Sold to Polish shipbreakers. Gdynia registry closed.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Tourmaline H290
Picture courtesy The Mike Thompson Collection

Wartime visitor
© Mike Thompson for FMHT with additional material by Maurice Voss

Technical

Official Number: 149080
Yard Number: 483
Completed: 1926
Gross Tonnage: 352
Net Tonnage: 147
Length: 140.3 ft
Breadth: 24.0 ft
Draught: 12.9 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley

History

21.1.1926: The board of Kingston Steam Trawling Co Ltd decided to build two more distant water trawlers to the same design as the ANDALUSITE built by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd (Yd.No.461). Contracts were signed with the shipyard to build the ships at a cost of £8,450 each and with C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd to make the engines and boilers at £6,130 each unit. Total cost £14,625 per vessel. A decision was made to add the Kingston prefix to the existing nomenclature. The names chosen were, KINGSTON DIAMOND and KINGSTON PEARL . The short lived General Strike of May 1926 and continuing Miner’s Strike led to delays in the completion of both vessels.

31.3.1926: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.483) for Kingston Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Hull as KINGSTON DIAMOND. (O.N.149080)
18.5.1926: Registered at Hull (H294).
19.5.1926: Programmed to carry out basin trials but delayed through shortage of coal.
27.7.1926: Taken over from builder.
9.8.1926: Completed trials and accepted (John W. Lown, manager).
14.8.1926: Sailed on first trip to Iceland.
7.9.1926: Landed 807 kits grossing £1,059.
3.1929: Skipper taken ill and put ashore at Reykjavik.
3.1929: Took onboard Sk. Godmund and crew of KINGSTON JASPER (H494) stranded 17.2.1926 at Medalland, Iceland.
7.3.1929: Sailed for Hull with Sk. Godmund in command.
12.3.1929: Arrived Hull and grossed £793 for the 44 day trip.
1938: Laid up and offered for sale.
11.3.1939: Sold to N.V. Motorvisscherij, Ostend for £3,562 with Special Survey due and without fishing gear and fishroom boards.
16.3.1939: Hull registry closed.
4.1939: Re measured 336.45Brt 129.48n
4.1939: Registered at Ostend as VAN DYCK (O298).
5.1940: Escaped to England.
29.5.1940: Arrived Fleetwood. Transferred to Belgian Economic Mission, London. Fishing from Fleetwood.
21.9.1940: Homeward (to Fleetwood) from Icelandic grounds picked up seventeen crew and twelve passengers from boat, part of survivors from British steamer CITY of SIMLA (10,138grt/1921) (Capt Herbert Percival) (Convoy OB-216 London/Glasgow for Cape Town and Bombay) torpedoed by U.boat (U138) 52 miles NW of Rathlin Island (20.9.1940).
22.9.1940: As directed landed at Liverpool.
12.2.1941: Requisitioned for war service as an anti submarine trawler (P.No.FY.106). Based at Scapa Flow with A/S Group 12 (French crew ?).
7.11.1945: Returned to Belgium.
13.11.1945: Returned to owner. With surveys outstanding, Special Survey at Ghent. Re classed as a Steam Trawler.
20.3.1946: Completed.
4.1948: Re measured 43,59 (143.0) x 7,35 (24.1) metres (feet) – 341g 135n
9.10.1948: Sold to Eidis Trolarafelag, Eidi, Faroe Islands.
9.10.1948: Ostend registry closed.
10.1948: Registered at Eidi (Fuglefjord for Osterö Syssel)as EIDESKOLLUR (FD226).
17.10.1948: Sailed for Faroe Islands.
By 1952: Owned by P/f Eidis Trolarafelag A/S. 1952: Sold to P/f Nypan, Sandevaag. Registered at Sandevaag as VENUS (VA51).
1962: Sold to B. J. Nijkerk N.V, Ghent.
12.4.1962: Breaking commenced at Boom.

In Fleetwood ownership. Did not fish from Fleetwood

Technical

Official Number:
Yard Number: 767
Completed: 1946
Gross Tonnage: 536
Net Tonnage: 201
Length: 166.9 ft
Breadth: 27.7 ft
Draught: 14.4 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

History

17.4.1946: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.767) for N.V. Motorvisscherij, Ostend as RUBENS.
6.1946: Registered at Ostend (O297).
21.6.1946: Completed.
10.1955: Sold to St. Christopher Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood (B. A. Parkes, Hull, manager).
14.10.1955: Registered at Hull as St. CRISPIN (H86).
3.1956: On an Icelandic trip.
15.3.1956: Fouled propeller with fishing gear, disabled and in heavy seas driven ashore in the afternoon at high water on beach near Kudhaus, Medalland, south coast of Iceland. Two men injured. Lifeline connected within two hours but crew reluctant to leave. At 7.30 pm. five men had been taken off. Eventually all twenty crew rescued.
14.4.1956: Refloated and delivered Reykjavik. Temporary repairs for single voyage to Hull.
18.5.1956: Arrived Hull.
1965: Sold to Van Heygen Freres, Ghent for breaking up.
12.3.1965: Delivered Ghent. Hull registry closed.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. St. Crispin H86
Picture courtesy of Jonleif (shipsnostalgia)

In Marr ownership. Did not fish from Fleetwood

Technical

Official Number: 160113
Yard Number: 496
Completed: 1928
Gross Tonnage: 360
Net Tonnage: 142
Length: 140.4
Breadth: 24.0 ft
Draught: 13.2 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley

History

19.5.1928: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.496) for Jutland Amalgamated Trawlers Ltd, Hull as LADY ROSEMARY.
3.7.1928: Registered at Hull (H373).
7.7.1928: Completed (A. Cargill, manager).
4.3.1937: Sold to Great Grimsby & East Coast Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Grimsby (Albert William Butt, manager).
12.3.1937: Hull registry closed.
13.3.1937: Registered at Grimsby (GY374).
1.7.1937: Registered at Grimsby as DALMATIA (GY374).
6.1939: Sold to The Admiralty (£10000). Fitted out as a minesweeper (P.No.FY.844).
8.12.1939: Grimsby registry closed.
6.1940: Based Gt Yarmouth with M/S Group 29 (Sk. A. R. Lees RNR).
1.1941: Refitting at Southampton (Act Sk. A. E. Warburton RNR).
6.1941: Based Portsmouth with M/S Group 29 (Ty Sk. C. Evans RNR).
1.1944: Fitted out as a dhan layer and assigned to Operation Neptune – Normandy Landings. Attached to 9th Flotilla.
5.6.1944: Left Solent anchorage to sweep and mark Channel 7 for Force J1. On completion swept and marked anchorage for Force J ships.
7.6.1944: Marking area off landing beaches in Eastern Task Force area.
25.6.1944: Marked swept channel off Cherbourg.
29.6.1944: In support of minesweepers
3.7.1944: Operation Neptune ended. Deployed with minesweeping support off French Coast.
24.4.1946: Sold to Manor Steam Ship Co Ltd, Milford Haven (Reginald Llewellyn Hancock, Hakin, manager).
6.1946: At Milford, completed Special Survey. Re-classed as a Steam Trawler.
26.6.1946: Registered at Milford (M140).
11.1947: Sold to J. C. Llewellin (Trawlers) Ltd, Milford Haven (John Charles Llewellin, manager).
5.11.1947: Milford registry closed.
11.1947: Registered at Hull (H474). Fishing from Hull (Saint Andrew’s Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull, managing agents).
23.12.1948: Registered at Hull as WESTHAWK (H474).
27.6.1949: Sold to North Eastern Trawlers Ltd, London (William Stanley Shepherd MP) (Saint Andrew’s Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull, managing agents). Mortgaged to British Mutual Bank Ltd, London.
22.9.1950: Sold by mortgagee to J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood (Geoffrey Edwards Marr, Hull, manager) for £21,195.
8.1951: Docked for Special Survey (drilled) at Hull.
1952: Used for WFA lay up scheme and fishing quota.
27.11.1952: Sold to BISCO and allocated to J. J. King & Co Ltd, Gateshead for breaking up.
11.1952: Delivered River Tyne.
6.3.1953: Hull registry closed “Broken up”.

In Marr ownership. Did not fish from Fleetwood

Technical

Official Number: 160093
Yard Number: 490
Completed: 1928
Gross Tonnage: 359
Net Tonnage: 156
Length: 140.4 ft
Breadth: 24.0 ft
Draught: 13.2 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley

History

6.1927: The Board of Thomas Hamling & Co Ltd, Hull decided to build three distant water trawlers. Contracts were singed with Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd to build the ships at £9,440 each and C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd to make the engines and boilers at a price of £6,300 per unit. Total cost £15,740 per vessel. The names chosen were St. MELANTE, St. ALEXANDRA and St. DELPHINE.
10.12.1927: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.490) for Thomas Hamling & Co Ltd, Hull as St. ALEXANDRA.
9.1.1928: Registered at Hull (H373).
12.1.1928: Completed trials and accepted (Thomas Boyd, manager).
14.1.1928: Sailed Hull on first trip (Sk. Alfred Fletcher).
29.6.1936: Thomas Boyd resigned from board to form Boyd Line Ltd, Hull.
29.6.1936: Harold Watson Hall designated manager.
2.1939: Selected for procurement by The Admiralty.
28.2.1939: Sailed Hull for Liverpool following successful Admiralty trials (Skipper and nine crew – insured for £8,000). Delivered to Harland & Wolff Ltd, Bramleymoor Dock, Liverpoool for fitting out as a “Berberis” class minesweeping trawler (Batch 2).
11.3.1939: Sale to The Admiralty concluded (£7,000).
4.1939: On completion of conversion renamed HMS LARCH (P.No.T.96).
6.5.1939: Hull registry closed (On advice from The Admiraly ref. MF5342/1939 dated 3.5.1939).
8.1939: At Sheerness Dockyard armament fitted (1-12pdr AA, 2- MGs (2 x 1)).
6.1940: Based Sheerness with M/S Group 2 (Sk.J. T. White RNR).
1.1941: Remains based Sheerness (Act Sk. A. H. V. Winfield RNR).
6.1941: Based Scapa Flow with M/S Group 18 (Act Sk. A. H. V. Winfield RNR).
1.1942: Remains based Scapa Flow (Act Sk. A. H. V. Winfield RNR).
5.1946: Sold to Westholme Fishing Co Ltd, Milford Haven (Reginald Llewellyn Hancock, Hakin, manager).
31.5.1946: Registered at Milford as WESTHILL (M138).
6.1946: Special Survey at Milford.
10.1947: Sold to J. C. Llewellin (Trawlers) Ltd, Milford Haven John Charles Llewellin, manager).
5.11.1947: Milford registry closed.
11.1947: Registered at Hull (H470). Fishing from Hull (Saint Andrew’s Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull, managing agents).
27.6.1949: Sold to North Eastern Trawlers Ltd, London (William Stanley Shepherd MP) (Saint Andrew’s Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull, managing agents). Mortgaged to British Mutual Bank Ltd, London.
15.9.1950: Sold by mortgagee to J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood (Geoffrey Edwards Marr, Hull, manager) for £18,714. 2.1951: Slipped for Special Survey (drilled) at Fleetwood.
1952: Used for WFA lay up scheme and fishing quota.
6.10.1952: Sold to BISCO and allocated to Thomas Young & Sons Ltd, Sunderland for breaking up.
10.10.1952: Delivered at Sunderland.
6.3.1953Hull registry closed.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Westhill H470
Picture © Grimsby Reference Library

S.T. Westhill H470
Picture courtesy of The Mike Thompson Collection