S.T. Angle FD57

Technical

Official Number: 127417
Yard Number: 383
Completed: 1908
Gross Tonnage: 222
Net Tonnage: 86
Length: 120.5 ft
Breadth: 21.5 ft
Depth: 11.6 ft
Built: Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, North Shields
Engine: 68rhp T.3-cyl by W. V. V. Lidgerwood, Coatbridge
Boiler: David Rowan & Co, Glasgow
Armament 1 x 12 pdr
Pennant : FY1367

History

25.8.1908: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, North Shields (Yd.No.383) for Neyland Steam Trawling & Fishing Co Ltd, Neyland (Alexander Scott, Llanstadwell, manager) as ANGLE.
9.1908: Completed.
6.10.1908: Registered at Milford (M225).
20.12.1910: When 160 miles from Queenstown sighted the schooner KATHLEEN, which had been on passage Rio Grande to Liverpool, dismasted and in distress. Connected with difficulty and commenced tow to Queenstown.
23.12.1910: Delivered Queenstown.
4.1915: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1- 12pdr) (Ad.No.1367).
2.5.1915: Some 45 miles NW of Skelligs picked up nine survivors of steam collier FULGENT (2008grt/1910) (Admiralty hire) on passage Cardiff – Scapa Flow with coal and torpedoed by U.boat (U21) on 30.4.1915. Landed at Kilrush, Co. Kerry including body of Master C. W. Brown.
1919: Returned to owner.
24.2.1919: Sold to The Croston Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood (Joseph A. Taylor, manager).
4.3.1919: Milford registry closed.
8.3.1919: Registered at Fleetwood (FD57).
7.1.1924: Sailed Fleetwood (Sk. William Glyn); eleven crew. Clear of Wyre Light, streamed log, severe south-east gale and snow storm off Isle of Man. Distance travelled underestimated due to gale and ran on the Bahama Bank, Isle of Man. Investigation concluded that disaster might have been averted if Bahama Bank lightvessel had not been removed; eleven crew lost plus two pleasure trippers*.
4.2.1924: Fleetwood registry closed “Lost”.

(Lost* – Sk.William Glynn; James Flaxman, Mate; Harry Gill, Bosun; Ernest Lord, Ch Eng; John Kay, 2nd Eng; James Casey, Ben Hickford, James Dennis, Deckhands; John Lord, & William Smith, Firemen; Charles Wilkinson, Cook; J Perkins & F Barrar, pleasure trippers.

Notes: By the end of January the owners were getting extremely worried and despatched Lieutenant Roger Owen, of the Fleetwood Steam Trawler Owners’ Mutual Insurance Association to investigate a wreck that had been reported on the Bahama Bank, off the Isle of Man.

Conditions enabled the divers on the chartered half-decker MOIRREY to dive on the wreck. The divers found the vessel open fore and aft and “Flattened like a fluke” and the greatest difficulty was experienced in finding any identifying marks. The letters “ANG..” was eventually found with the whole word “Fleetwood” underneath it.

No bodies were ever found. A clock found by the wreck was stopped at 12:30 and the ship’s boat was located at one side of the vessel. Lieutenant Owen’s opinion was that the cause of the ANGLE’s loss was that the vessel was running before a south-east gale and ran into heavy snow on the 7th of January. Distance travelled was reckoned using a patent log which underestimated the distance when running before a gale. As a result the trawler overran her distance and ran onto the Bahamas Bank. Owen concluded that the disaster might not have occurred if the Bahama Bank Lightship had not been removed.

The crew were…..

W.Glynn Skipper Fleetwood
J.Flaxman Mate Fleetwood
H.Gill Bosun Manchester
J.Casey Donkeyman Blackpool
J.Dennis Deckie Fleetwood
B.Hickford Deckie Fleetwood
C.Wilkinson Cook Address unknown
E.Lord Chief Engineer Fleetwood
J.Hay Second Engineer Blackburn
W.Smith Fireman Lowestoft
J.lord Fireman Fleetwood
J.Perkins Pleasure Tripper Manchester
F.Barrar Pleasure Tripper Blackburn

It is highly probable that the two people with the surname ‘Lord’ were from the same family thus making the tragedy a double one for them.

Changelog
14/05/2012: Page published. 8 updates since then.
04/07/2019: Updated information.

S.D/T. Boys’ Friend LT151 (Seasonal)

Seasonal visitor

Technical

Official Number: 149233
Yard Number: 979
Completed: 1915
Gross Tonnage: 120
Net Tonnage: 36
Length:90.88 ft
Breadth: 21.65 ft
Depth: 9.84 ft
Built: Gebrs Boot Schps “de Hoop”, Leiderdorp
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by Arnhemsche Stoomsleephelling Maatschappij, Arnhem

History

1.1915: Ordered.
8.1915: Completed by Gebrs Boot Schps “de Hoop”, Leiderdorp (Yd.No.979) for N.V. Maatschappij De Oceaan Ster, IJmuiden (J. van der Made, manager) as OCEAANSTER I. At a cost of fl.51000 (guilders). Registered at IJmuiden (IJM232).
18.1.1919: Sold to Maatschappij Scheveningen (W. den Dulk Wzn, manager). Registered at Scheveningen as MARTINI (SCH135).
1921: Re-possessed by Veenkolen Bank Sappermeer, IJmuiden.
1921: Sold to N.V. Visscherij Onderneming – De VEM, IJmuiden. Registered at IJmuiden (IJM8).
4.10.1923: Sold to N.V. s’Gravenhaagsche Visscherij & Handels Maatschappijs, IJmuiden. Registered at IJmuiden as ANNIE (IJM8).
12.1929: Sold to Colls Durrant, Lowestoft (C. W. Dance, manager).
1930: Ijmuiden registry closed.
1930: Re measured 52n 94.1 x 20.0 x 9.4 feet.
22.5.1930: Registered at Lowestoft as BOYS’ FRIEND (LT151).
1930s: Seasonal white fish trawling from Fleetwood.
1935: Sold to Vigilant Fishing Co Ltd, Lowestoft (R. H. Self, manager).
Pre 1943 -1945: Seasonal white fish trawling from Fleetwood.
24.7.1943: Typical landing. 116 kits – hake-12, cod/codling-9, whiting-18, flats-14, ling/coley-1, roker-52. gurnard-3, sole & prime-7.
1946-1950s: Seasonal white fish trawling from Fleetwood.
9.1955: Sold to Belgium for breaking up.
26.9.1955: Sailed Lowestoft for Antwerp in tow of Margaret Hide (LT746) also for breaking up.
1955: Lowestoft registry closed.

Click to enlarge images

S.D/T. Martini SCH135

S.D/T. Martini SCH135
Picture courtesy of The Jan Harteveld Collection

S.D/T. Boys’ Friend LT151

S.D/T. Boys’ Friend LT151
Picture courtesy of The Robert Durrant Collection

S.D/T. Boys Friend LT151

S.D/T. Boys Friend LT151
Picture courtesy of The James Cullen Collection

S.D/T. Boys' Friend LT151

S.D/T. Boys’ Friend LT151
Picture from the Internet

Changelog

14/05/2012: Page published. 8 updates since then.
14/10/2018: Removed FMHT watermarks from images.
19/09/2019: Updated information.

S.T. Barbara Robertson FD50

Technical

Admiralty Number: 4244
Official Number: 139350
Yard Number: 887
Completed: 1919
Gross Tonnage: 324
Net Tonnage: 148
Length: 138.3 ft
Breadth: 23.7 ft
Depth: 12.7 ft
Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby
Engine: 600ihp T.3-cyl by Charles D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull

History

20.12.1918: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.887) (“Mersey” class) for The Admiralty as JAMES McDONALD (Ad.No.4244).
5.2.1919: Forms for tender to purchase received by the Admiralty.
3.1919: Sold to Jutland Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Hull (Edward Cargill, manager).
9.9.1919: Completed as a fishing vessel.
16.9.1919: Registered at Hull (H80). Official No.139350.
20.10.1919: Registered at Hull as GRAND FLEET (H80).
29.5.1920: Sold to Jutland Amalgamated Trawlers Ltd, Hull (Edward Cargill, manager).
30.3.1929: Sold to The Crampin Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby.
5.4.1929: Hull registry closed.
6.4.1929: Registered at Grimsby (GY44).
6.4.1929: Herbert George Crampin, Cleethorpes appointed manager. Fitted for lining to pursue the Greenland halibut fishery.
3.1938: Sold to C. R. Mauritzen, Newbridge, Midlothian.
28.4.1938: Grimsby registry closed. Transferred to Danish flag.
5.10.1938: Arrived Leith from Spitsbergen having fished the summer season in Arctic waters. Landed salt fish.
21.10.1938: Registered at Leith (LH216).
29.3.1939: Registered at Leith as BARBARA ROBERTSON (LH216) (BoT Minute M/RG1114/39).
26.8.1939: Leith registry closed.
8.9.1939: Registered at Fleetwood (FD50).
17.9.1939: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood.
8.1939: Armed trawler under T124 Articles fitted with 12pdr gun.
9.12.1939: Sailed Hull for Icelandic grounds (Sk. A. E. Hall); eighteen crew. Outward in convoy with ADAM (FD65), CHILTERN (H660) and FORCE (FD100).
12.1939: In Seydia Fjord, Gunner Goodison put ashore ill.
28.12.1939: Homeward to Hull from Icelandic grounds. At about 2.10 am when 35 miles NW of the Butt of Lewis on a S by E heading, shelled by U-boat (U.30); abandoned vessel in boat but one man left behind (George E. Clark). At about 4.00 am trawler sunk by gunfire in position 58.54N 6.30W and after 14 hours in boat, sixteen survivors picked up by HMS ISIS (P.No.D87) directed to area by a Gladiator bi-plane; one man MPK. Survivors landed at North Scottish port. (Less than an hour after the sinking, U.30 had stopped the Swedish steamer HISPANIA (1337grt/1912) and asked them to pick up the survivors).
13.1.1940: Fleetwood registry closed “Vessel sunk by enemy action”.

(MPK – George Edward H. H. Clark (28), deckhand).

(James McDonald, AB (volunteer), age 24, b. Edmonton, London – VICTORY (SB105))

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Grand Fleet GY44

S.T. Grand Fleet GY44
Picture courtesy of The Jeffrey Pullen Collection

Changelog
13/05/2012: Page published. 5 updates since then.
04/05/2015: Picture added.
08/08/2019: Updated information.

S.T. Creswell M129

Technical

Completed: 1917
As Built: 360disp 125.6 x 23.5 x 12.8 feet
Gross Tonnage: 275
Net Tonnage: 107
Length: 125.5 ft
Breadth: 23.4 ft
Depth: 12.8 ft
Built: Smith’s Dock Co, Southbank-on-Tees
Engine: 480ihp T.3-cyl by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough

History

12.6.1917: Laid down.
17.9.1917: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough (Yd.No.713) (“Castle” class) for The Admiralty as WILLIAM BEATTY (Ad.No.3534).
13.10.1917: Completed (1 – 12pdr, 1 – 7.5” A/S Howitzer and W/T).
4.5.1920: Sold by auction at Milford Haven to David Pettit, Hakin for £8000.
25.5.1920: Registered at London (LO359).
28.7.1920: Registered at London as CRESSWELL (LO359).
31.7.1920: London registry closed.
9.8.1920: Registered at Milford (M129).
1920: Transferred to D. Pettit Ltd, Milford Haven (David Pettitt, manager).
30.10.1928: Fishing the Porcupine Bank in bad weather. Trawler CAWDOR (M249) fishing forty miles away sprung a leak and despite crew efforts, ingress could not be stemmed.
31.10.1928: Sent SOS. In very heavy seas CRESSWELL (Sk. M. A. Smith) responded and stood by but after an hour it was decided to abandon the CAWDOR and the crew transferred to CRESSWELL in their own boat.
1.11.1928: CAWDOR foundered. Sk. Smith awarded a piece of plate by the BOT in recognition of his service.
16.11.1928: Damaged in storm.
8.1934: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood (Basil A. Parkes, Cleveleys, manager).
11.1939: On a trip to West of Scotland grounds (Sk. George Bull); thirteen crew (total).
12.11.1939: At 7.00am. stopped by shell fire from U-boat (U.41) while trawling 18 miles NW by N of Flannan Islands. Crew abandoned vessel on liferaft (10), smashed boat (2) and lifebelt (1) and later vessel sunk by gunfire (approx 58.39N 07.36W) (at least 20 rounds). After two hours submarine returned and took survivors, eight in number onboard but one man subsequently died; six men lost*. In late afternoon off St. Kilda, closed steam trawler PHYLLISIA (FD148) returning to Fleetwood and at 4.42pm. transferred the seven men ^.
14.11.1939: Survivors landed at Fleetwood.
13.12.1939: Milford registry closed “Sunk by enemy action”.
(*Lost – George Thomas Andrews (37), Third Hand; Phillip Killey, Ch Eng; Frederick Kirby (45) and James Larter (36), Deckhands; Thomas Gately (40) and Stanley Lazenby, Firemen/Trimmers.
^Survivors – Sk. George Bull; William Faussett, Mate; Frederick Lee (16) Deck Boy; plus four more)
(William Beatty, Surgeon, age 32, b. St. Andrews, Scotland – VICTORY (SB908))

Changelog
13/05/2012: Page published. 5 updates since then.
06/02/2020: Updated information.

S.T. Alvis FD46

Technical

Admiralty Number: 3795
Official Number: 143948
Yard Number: 344
Completed: 1918
As built: 360disp 125.6 x 23.5 x 12.8 feet
Gross Tonnage: 279
Net Tonnage: 109
Length: 125.5 ft
Breadth: 23.5 ft
Depth: 12.8 feet
Built: Ailsa Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Ayr
Engine: 480ihp T.3-cyl by Fawcett Preston & Co Ltd, Liverpool
Armament : 1 x 12 pdr
Built: Ailsa Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Ayr

History

6.11.1918: Launched by Ailsa Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Ayr (Yd.No.344) (“Castle” class) for The Admiralty as PETER HALL (Ad.No.3795).
30.12.1918: Completed as an armed trawler (1-12pdr).
12.12.1919: Registered by The Admiralty at London (Part I) as PETER HALL O.N.143948. Engaged in commercial trawling.
1920: Allocated to the National Fishery Scheme for the setting up of the Minesweepers’ Cooperative Trawling Society Ltd, London.
13.08.1920: Minesweepers’ Cooperative Trawling Society Ltd, London registered.
23.08.1920: Registered at London (Part IV) (LO437).
10.1920: At HM Dockyard, Devonport completed fitting out for fishing under Special Survey of Lloyd’s Register and classed 100 A1 Stm Trawler at Plymouth.
01.1922: Scheme abandoned, the necessary working capital of £100,000 having not been subscribed. Laid up.
08.1924: Completed Special Survey at Plymouth prior to sale.
11.1924: Sold to Société Anonyme Armement Ostendais, Ostend.
27.11.1924: London registry closed.
29.11.1924: Registered at Ostend as TRANSPORT UNION (O161).
27.12.1935: In bad weather some 7 miles NE of Noordhinder Light Vessel (Sk.Frederick Vanderwal) rescued crew of fourteen of Dutch trawler CORNELIA MARIA (SCH135) which was sinking. Steam trawler RIVER KELVIN (GY272) connected and successfully delivered Grimsby.
19.6.1928: At Fleetwood landed from Iceland 600 boxes of cod, haddock and colefish 1.
3.1939: Sold to Saint Andrew’s Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull. Ostend registry closed.
1.3.1939: Registered at Hull as ALVIS (H52). Basil Arthur Parkes, Cleveleys designated manager. Fishing out of Fleetwood.
15.3.1939: At Fleetwood landed first catch of 200 boxes. Seized by Customs because she had fished illegally in Scottish waters when under Belgium flag.
18.9.1939: Fishing 22 miles north of St. Kilda (Sk A. E. Thomasson). In position 58°10N/9°17W approached at 1319 by U-boat (U.35) which fired a single shot and ordered skipper to heave to and launch boat; there was no attempt to escape. Because of poor state of boat, Germans boarded trawler and after destroying radio and fishing gear allowed her return to St Kilda and home.
9.3.1940: Fishing 12 miles NW of Tory Island, Co. Donegal in company with FLYING ADMIRAL (H66); JOHN MORRICE (A786); PELAGOS (GN55) and SEDOCK (SN12) and reported with the Irish trawler LEUKOS (D86) also in the vicinity. Group approached by U-boat (U.38) which fired a single round at a trawler, hitting her in the engine room and she subsequently foundered. Although no conclusive evidence confirms, the trawler probably was the LEUKOS; all eleven crew lost*.
Pre 4.1940: Employed on Fishery Protection (WA/Fort William/Fleetwood).
30.4.1940: Requisitioned for war service as an anti submarine trawler (1-12pdr) (P.No. 4.118) (Hire rate £84.0.0d/month).
1.1942: Based Hartlepool with M/S Group 148.
5.1941: Fitted out as a minesweeper.
1944: Sold to Ocean Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Hull. William Leslie Barkworth designated manager.
3.1945: Returned to owner.
9.2.1946: Sold to Milford Fisheries Ltd, Milford Haven. Owen W. Limbrick designated manager.
2.5.1947: Sold to Henderson’s Trawling Co Ltd, Hull. Geoffrey Edwards Marr designated manager.
1948: Sold to Argosy Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood. William Stevenson, St. Anne’s-on-the-Sea designated manager.
1951: Sold to Alvis Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood. Hull registry closed. Registered at Fleetwood (FD46). Sun Steam Trawling Co Ltd, managers.
1954: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fisheries Ltd, Fleetwood. Basil Arthur Parkes, North Ferriby designated manager.
4.1.1954: Landed broken trip – machinery problems, 24 boxes 10 baskets £214 gross.
1.2.1954: Last landing at Fleetwood, 156 boxes 20 baskets £1,063 gross. Laid up.
5.1954: Sold to BISCO and allocated to Thos W. Ward Ltd, Sheffield for breaking up at Barrow.
15.5.1954: Arrived Barrow.
5.1954: Fleetwood registry closed.

(Lost* – Sk. James P. Thomasson (28), Fleetwood & Dublin; William Donnelly, Blackpool, Mate; P. J. Scanlon, Cleethorpes, Bosun; Alexander McLeod, Stornoway, Ch Eng; Bernard Smith (23), Dublin, 2nd Eng; Thomas Mulligan, Fleetwood & Dublin & Anthony Pill, Fleetwood & Dublin, deckhands; Michael Cullen (17), Dublin, fireman; Patricio McCarthy (42) Dublin, cook; James Hawkins (17) Fleetwood & Dublin & Robert Sumler (16), Fleetwood & Dublin, apprentices)

(Peter Hall, Landsman (prest), age 23, b.London – VICTORY (SB52))

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Transport Union O161

S.T. Transport Union O161
Picture courtesy of The Emiel Rycx Collection

S.T. Alvis FD46

S.T. Alvis FD46
Picture from the Internet

HMT Alvis

HMT Alvis
Picture reproduced under IWM Non-Commercial Licence

Changelog
13/05/2012: Page published. 8 updates since then.
31/01/2016: Picture added.
19/12/2016: Significant information update.
23/12/2016: Further information update.
25/06/2019: Information updated.
20/08/2021: Updated technical information.