Tag Archives: Drifter/Trawler

S.D/T. Willing Boys LT737 (Seasonal)

Additional material by Barry Banham and Milford Trawlers site

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 Edward Catchpole, Kessingland & 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).
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) (FD41), BOTANIC (P.No.FY.707) (H463), BROCK (P.No.FY621) (FD47), CALVI (GY269), FYLDEA (P.No.666) (FD72), MARETTA (P.No.FY.665) (FD45), POLLY JOHNSON (H322) and drifter PLAYMATES (P.No.FY.738) (YH141) with several river launches in tow.
26.5.1940: At 1.40am. arrived off the French coast. No evacuation order was given.
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.
5.1973: W. H. Kerr (Ship Chandlers) Ltd and fleet taken over by Boston Deep Sea Fisheries Ltd, Hull (William H. Kerr remained manager) (BDSF were already majority shareholders).
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 images

S.D/T. Willing Boys LT737

S.D/T. Willing Boys LT737
Picture from the Internet

S.D/T. Willing Boys LT737

S.D/T. Willing Boys LT737
Picture from the Internet

S.D/T. Willing Boys LT737

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

S.D/T. Willing Boys LT737

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

Changelog
07/08/2011: Page published. 11 updates since then.
11/08/2016: Added picture.
01/01/2019: Removed FMHT watermark from images.
15/08/101`: Updated history.

S.D. Gervais Rentoul LT740

Additional material courtesy of Roy Breach and Barry Banham

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

History

1916: Launched by George Smith Jnr, Buckie (Yd.No.) on speculation as GREEN PASTURE.
5.1917: Completed. Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeping drifter(1-6pdr) (Ad.No.3108). Based at Peterhead.
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Findochty (R. Tindall & Son, Buckie, agents).
1919: Sold to Joseph Wood, Portknockie & others.
29.1.1919: Registered at Buckie (BCK237).
22.11.1919: Sold to Lancelot Charles Harvey (32/64), Fritton and Robert Thomas Moore (32/64), Lowestoft (Robert Thomas Moore managing owner).
14.1.1920: Sold to John Victor Breach (22/64), George F. Spashett (21/64) & Ernest Edward Soloman (21/64), Lowestoft (John Victor Breach, managing owner).
24.1.1920: Buckie registry closed.
12(20).1.1920: Registered at Lowestoft (LT740).
13.2.1922: 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).
26.5.1940: At 6.57pm. ‘Operation Dynamo’ (Dunkirk evacuation) put into effect.
28.5.1940: At Dunkirk embarked troops. At Dover 5.00pm landed 57 soldiers.
29.5.1940: Returned to Dunkirk embarked troops.
30.5.1940: At Dover 8.45pm. landed 130 troops. Employed as a flare burning drifter.
1941: Based Dover as an armed patrol drifter (Ty/Sk. W. C. Barnaby RNR).
31.5.1940: Involved with patrol drifter EILEEN EMMA (LT342) in a collision with destroyer HMS SCIMITAR (P.No.H21); both drifters returned to Dover with damage.
9.1941: Employed on miscellaneous Naval duties.
1.1944: John Victor Breach died.
9.4.1945: R. H. Self appointed manager.
22.6.1945: 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). Not employed as a fishing vessel.
12.10.1949: Sold to Frederick William Braithwaite, Grange-over-Sands (managing owner). Not employed as a fishing vessel.
1952: Sold Lacmots Ltd, Glasson Dock for breaking up.
1952: Lowestoft registry closed.

(Named after Gervais Rentoul MP for Lowestoft in 1924)

Changelog
01/08/2011: Page published. 5 updates since then.
07/11/2020: Updated history.

S.D/T. Twinkling Star KY347

Technical

Official Number: 140845
Yard Number: 1
Completed: 1919
Gross Tonnage: 95
Net Tonnage: 40
Length: 86.2 ft
Breadth: 18.5 ft
Depth: 9.2 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl by Pollit & Wigzell Ltd, Sowerby Bridge
Boiler: Clayton, Son & Co Ltd, Hunslett
Built: Brown’s Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co Ltd, Hull

History

1919: Launched by Brown’s Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co Ltd, Hull (Yd.No.1) (“Admiralty drifter”) for The Admiralty as CHIMERA (Ad.No.4146).
16.7.1920: Completed as a fishing vessel.
21.9.1920: Transferred to The Fishery Board for Scotland, Edinburgh for disposal.
1920: Sold to J. R. Mitchell, Peterhead. Registered at Peterhead as J. R. MITCHELL (PD443).
1920: Sold to Andrew Buchan Jnr, Peterhead & others (Andrew Buchan Jnr, managing owner). Registered at Peterhead as TWINKLING STAR (PD443).
1932: Sold to John Muir (Keay), Cellardyke & others (John T. Graham, Anstruther, manager). Peterhead registry closed. Registered at Kirkcaldy (KY347).
8.10.1937: In Yarmouth harbour in collision with steam drifter RENASCENT (LT288) and sustained damage.
1938: Sold to W. Wilson, North Shields & others.
12.9.1939: Requisitioned for war service on harbour defence patrol (Hire rate £32.0.0d/month).
1.1942: Employed on Examination service (Hire rate £26.0.0d/month).
1945: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood (B. A. Parkes, manager).
30.6.1945: Returned to owner (David F. Cartwright MBE MC, Gorleston, manager).
1946: Sold to The Adam Steam Steam Fishing Co Ltd, London (David F. Cartwright MBE MC, Gorleston, manager).
3.1949: Sold to Merchants (Milford Haven) Ltd, Milford Haven (Frederick Walter Goffin, Hakin, manager).
8.3.1949 – 27.5.1955: Seasonal white fish trawling from Milford Haven.
1955: Laid up at Milford.
5.1956: Kirkcaldy registry closed.
10.5.1956: Registered at Milford as MERCHANT VENTURER (M49).
19.4.1959: Last landing at Milford. Laid up.
1.1960: Sold to BISCO and allocated to John Cashmore Ltd, Newport, Monmouthshire for breaking up.
17.1.1960: Sailed Milford for Newport (Sk. Tom Bartlett).
23.2.1960: Milford registry closed.

(Seasonal at Milford as TWINKLING STAR – 8 Mar – 4 Nov 1949; 14 Mar – 4 Oct 1950; 8 Mar – 4 Jul 1951; 10 Mar – 26 Aug 1952; 22 Mar – 7 Dec 1953; 19 Mar – 10 Oct 1954; 6 Mar – 27 May 1955.
As MERCHANT VENTURER: 22 Jun 1956 – 19 Apr 1959

Click to enlarge image

S.D/T. Twinkling Star KY347

S.D/T. Twinkling Star KY347
Picture courtesy of The Peter Green Collection

Changelog

21/06/2011: Page published. 5 updates since then.
31/12/2018: Removed FMHT watermark from image.

S.D/T. Genius FR299

Technical

Admiralty Number: 4191
Official Number: 132190
Yard Number: 278
Completed: 1919
Gross Tonnage: 96
Net Tonnage: 42
Length: 86.2 ft
Breadth: 18.6 ft
Depth: 9.3 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl by W. Beardmore & Co Ltd, Coatbridge
Built: Scott & Sons Ltd, Bowling
Boiler: Lobnitz & Co Ltd, Renfrew

History

1919: Launched by Scott & Sons Ltd, Bowling (Yd.No.278) (“Admiralty drifter”) for The Admiralty as WAFT (Ad.No.4191).
11.9.1919: Completed as a fishing vessel.
9.1.1920: Transferred to The Fishery Board for Scotland, Edinburgh for disposal.
1921: Sold to John Murray, Portessie & others (John Murray, managing owner) under HM Treasury mortgage agreement (Disposal of Admiralty Drifters to Ex-service Fishermen).
12.4.1921: Registered at Buckie as GENIUS O.N.132190 (BCK358).
1924: Sold to George Farquhar, Buckie & others (George Farquhar, managing owner).
1928: Sold to John Buchan, St. Combs & others (John Buchan, managing owner).
1.1928: Buckie registry closed.
14.1.1928: Registered at Fraserburgh (FR299).
2.10.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeping drifter (P.No.FY.748) (Hire rate £32.0.0d/month).
1.1942: At Yarmouth ‘LL’ drifter.
11.1943: Employed on miscellaneous Naval duties.
4.1944: Re deployed on miscellaneous Naval duties.
1945: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood (B. A. Parkes, manager).
12.11.1945: Returned to owner (David F. Cartwright MBE MC, Gorleston, manager).
1946: Sold to Adam Steam Fishing Co Ltd, London (David F. Cartwright MBE MC, Gorleston, manager).
15.3.1948 – 30.6.1948: Seasonal white fish trawling from Milford Haven ((Arthur C. Mitchell, managing agent).
3.1949: Sold to Merchants (Milford Haven) Ltd, Milford Haven (Frederick Walter Goffin, Hakin, manager).
19.2.1949 – 9.5.1955: Seasonal white fish trawling from Milford Haven.
5.1956: Fraserburgh registry closed.
1955: Laid up at Milford.
2.5.1956: After refurbishment, registered at Milford as MERCHANT VANGUARD (M46).
6.1956: On a trip to the Irish grounds (Sk. Charles Wilson); nine crew.
15.6.1956: Off the Co. Waterford coast, caught by a sudden gale and with a heavy sea running sought shelter at the back of The Hook, opposite Dunmore East. In late evening, in heavy rain and nil visibility, stranded on the Hook Peninsula, Co. Waterford. With vessel listing to port and well over, Sk. Wilson ordered the boat to be swung out and all crew* abandoned.
16.6.1956: After two and a half hours with boat almost swamped sighted by Dunmore East lifeboat, picked up and landed at Dunmore East.
16.6.1956: Attempts by MERCHANT VENTURER (M49)(Sk. Ernie Smith), HOSANNA (LT167 ((Sk. A. Wiseman) and DEELUX (YH84)(Sk.Hubert Griffiths), to refloat the vessel failed.
24.6.1956: Attempt to refloat failed.
2.8.1956: Lightening, with removal of coal, stores, nets etc had succeeded in bringing the vessel upright, survey showed little damage.
8.1956: Further attempts to refloat on favourable tides failed. Subsequently declared a Total Constructive Loss and abandoned to Underwriters.
2.1.1957: Milford registry closed.

Crew* saved – All Milford unless noted. Sk. Charles A. Wilson; Leonard S. Gale, Mate; F. Osbourne, Bosun; T. Jones, Ch. Eng; W.Kelly, 2nd Eng, Pill; L. Curtis and G. Setterfield, Deckhands; T. Walsh, Deckhand/trimmer; G. A. Taylor, Cook.

(Seasonal at Milford as Genius – 15 Mar – 30 Jun 1948; 19 Feb – 25 Sep 1949; 11 Mar – 3 Sep 1950; 2 Mar – 2 Aug 1951; 18 Mar – 22 Jun 1952; 1 Mar – 19 Oct 1953; 7 Mar – 1 Dec 1954; 4 Mar – 9 May 1955; 17 Apr 1956).

Click to enlarge image

S.D/T. Genius FR299

S.D/T. Genius FR299
Picture from the Internet

Changelog

19/06/2011: Page published. 7 updates since then.
01/11/2020: Updated history.

S.D/T. Strive LT133 (Seasonal)

Additional material courtesy of Roy Breach

Technical

Official Number: 132378
Yard Number: 132
Completed: 1912
Gross tonnage: 102
Net Tonnage: 46
Length: 89.1 ft
Breadth: 19.1 ft
Depth: 8.8 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl by Crabtree & Co Ltd, Gt. Yarmouth
Boiler: Riley Bros (Boilermakers) Ltd, Stockton on Tees
Built: Crabtree & Co Ltd, Gt. Yarmouth

History

1911: Ordered by J. T. C. & F. J. Salmon, Gt Yarmouth.
1912: Completed by Crabtree & Co Ltd, Gt. Yarmouth (Yd.No.132) for John Thomas Cullen Salmon, Gt. Yarmouth as FRED SALMON.
20.7.1912: Registered at Yarmouth (YH665) (John Thomas Cullen Salmon managing owner).
9.1915: Requisitioned for war service as an A/S net drifter (1-3pdr) (Ad.No.1888).
1919: Returned to owner.
1.1921: Sold to John Windram, Berwick-on-Tweed (managing owner).
10.2.1921: Yarmouth registry closed.
2.1921: Registered at Berwick (BK417).
1923: Change of address to Eyemouth.
1923: Registered at Berwick as OCEAN PLOUGH (BK417).
1.1930: Sold to John Victor Breach (64/64), Lowestoft.
13.1.1930: Berwick registry closed.
14.1.1930: Registered at Lowestoft (LT133).
29.1.1930: Registered at Lowestoft as STRIVE (LT133) (BoT Minute RG1024/1930 dated 28.1.1930).
30.1.1930: Sold to John Victor Breach (43/21) & W. J. Powles (21/64), Lowestoft.
14.7.1930: At Lerwick in collision with steam drifter PLUMER (LT596).
1930s: Seasonal trawling from Padstow and Fleetwood.
23.7.1932: Off Fleetwood suffered broken tail shaft; steam drifter FEASIBLE (LT122) connected and delivered Fleetwood.
19.2.1933: On Small’s ground broke mainmast when hauling.
19.7.1933: At Castlebay with fractured propeller blade.
6.4.1934: Grounded in Caledonian Canal, tug connected and refloated.
20.3.1935: Sold to John Victor Breach (64/64). Lowestoft.
1.7.1935: At Lerwick with damage rudder caused by striking rock.
5.1.1936: Suffered heavy weather damage off St. Ann’s Head.
12.11.1936: In Lowestoft with damaged propeller.
9.2.1938: Sold to Explorator Ltd (64/64), Lowestoft (John Victor Breach, manager).
15.11.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeping drifter (2-MGs) (P.No.FY.922) (Hire rate £27.0.0d/month).
4.6.1940: At Dunkirk evacuation (Operation Dynamo) (Sk. W. A. Catchpole RNR).
1.1942: Based Harwich LL sweep drifter.
1.1944: John Victor Breach died.
9.1944: Employed on miscellaneous Naval duties.
9.4.1945: Robert Henry Self appointed manager.
23.5.1945: Sold to County Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Lowestoft (Robert Henry Self, manager).
21.12.1945: Returned to owner.
27.4.1947: Off Aberdeen suffered heavy weather damage.
5.11.1947: In collision with steam drifter SARAH HIDE (LT1157) and sustained damage.
9.4.1952: Leaving Aberdeen with heavy swell running lost man overboard and drowned.
4.11.1946: At Lowestoft landed 245 crans of herring. The Prunier Trophy winner was ROMANY ROSE (YH63) with a 2463/4 cran landing.
1953: Sold for breaking up.
28.5.1953: Lowestoft registry closed.

Click to enlarge images

S.D/T Strive LT133

S.D/T Strive LT133
Picture from the Internet

S.D/T. Ocean Plough BK417

S.D/T. Ocean Plough BK417
Picture courtesy of DaveD (Trawler Photo Forum)

Changelog
05/07/2011: Page published. 6 revisions since then.
22/09/2014: Picture added.
30/12/2018: Removed FMHT watermark from image.