Tag Archives: New Docks STC

S.T. Clara Bella FD138

Additional information courtesy of John Wilson and David Slinger

Technical

Official Number: 132407
Yard Number: 471
Completed: 1911
Gross Tonnage: 299.42
Net Tonnage: 121.49
Length: 130.5 ft
Breadth: 23.0 ft
Depth: 13.2 ft
Built: Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough
Engine: T.3-cyl by Shields Engineering Co Ltd, North Shields
Boiler: Richardsons, Westgarth & Co Ltd, Middlesbrough

History

11.5.1911: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough (Yd.No.471) for The New Docks Steam Trawling Co (Fleetwood) Ltd, Fleetwood as CLARA BELLA.
15.6.1911: Registered at Fleetwood (FD138).
6.1911: Completed at a cost of £7,881 and insured for £7,000. Ernest Tomlinson appointed manager.
29.6.1911: At Fleetwood landed from first trip.
26.1.1914: Sailed Fleetwood for Icelandic grounds (Sk. Harry Kluver); thirteen crew all told.
Early 2.1914: Reportedly seen by Grimsby trawler SWEEPER (GY853) (Sk. James Westerby), five or six miles SW of Reykjanes Peninsula, SW coast of Iceland.
14.2.1914: Seen anchored at the entrance to Onundafjord, west coast of Iceland by Sk. Henry Steel of steam trawler INAWILLIAM (GY872) which, with other trawlers, was sheltering from extreme weather. Later same day at about 5.00pm. when weather lifted she was not seen. Assumed that she had left to resume fishing though the weather closed immediately and continued with heavy easterly gales, continuous snow storms and icing for a further ten days.
1.3.1914: Missing from this date.
19.4.1914: Memorial service held at the Fielden Sailors Rest.
29.4.1914: At Lloyd’s “… put up for inquiry as very much overdue”.
6.5.1914: At Lloyd’s “… posted as missing”.
8.5.1914: Fleetwood registry closed.
15.5.1914: At the Preliminary Inquiry by the Board of Trade held at Fleetwood (No.175), the Inspector to the Board of Trade concluded that “There is no evidence as to the cause of the “Clara Bella” not having been heard of since she was last seen in Iceland by the skipper of the INAWILLIAM. I am of opinion, having regard to such evidence as was available, that she left the Onundafjord about 4 p.m. on February 10th, during a lull in the bad weather then prevailing there, and that she was overtaken by the easterly gale with thick snow which shortly afterwards came on. During this blizzard she probably collided with ice (quantities had been sighted off the fiord the same day), and foundered before the crew had time to adopt any means to save themselves.

(Lost – all Fleetwood unless stated – Sk. Harry Kluver, Hull; Thomas Newby (34), Mate; Robert Henry Gawne (20), Bosun; Martin Burnett, Kintore, Aberdeen, Ch Eng; Oliver Crosswell (Australian), 2nd Engineer; William Braham (19) and Richard Tomlinson (17) deckhands; James Patterson (25), Patrick Gregan Jnr (20), J. Blackwood, ??, spare hands; William Stone, (29) & James Maher, ??, firemen; Archibald McLean (66), cook).

Notes
The CLARA BELLA belonged to the New Dock Steam Fishing Company LTD and was three years old when she left Fleetwood on the 26th of January 1914 for her ill-fated trip. This was the first time this vessel had gone to Iceland and crew members included Robert Gawne, Thomas Newby, Wliiliam Braham, James Patterson, Patrick Gregan jnr, James Maker or Maher, Oliver Cranwell or Crosswell, J. Blackwood, William Stone, Archibald Mclean, Richard Tomlinson, (son of the New Docks Managing Director), Martin Burnett and Harry kluver. James Patterson (spare hand) was my grandfather. He was 25 yrs of age.

The last sightings of the CLARA BELLA were by the Grimsby trawlers (INAWILLIAM, the SWEEPER, and the CHALCEDONY). The INAWILLIAM put in for shelter in an Onunderfjord off the west coast of Iceland on February the 10th 1914. There were many trawlers sheltering there due to the extreme weather conditions at the time and most of the vessels were encased in ice.

The Skipper, Henry Steel, recalls seeing a Fleetwood vessel anchored near the entrance of the Fjord. He remembered it because at the time, he had thought it was a bit of a novelty to see a Fleetwood trawler at the Icelandic fishing grounds. Skipper Steel went on to say that two hours later there were slight breaks in the snow storms and that is when he noticed that the Fleetwood trawler had disappeared. He concluded that they had possibly ‘Slipped out to try for fish’. He told the Board of Trade enquiry, ‘The weather thickened again almost immediately and continued with heavy easterly gales and continuous snow storms for the next ten days’.

James Westerby, Skipper of the Grimsby trawler SWEEPER, said he saw the Fleetwood trawler in early February off Csar Bay, five or six miles South-West of Rykgaves on the South-West coast of Iceland. Why the CLARA BELLA had left was not known, but no trace of her had been found since, nor had any wreckage been found. The presumption was that either she had gone down in the blizzard or she might have struck a rock or floating ice.

Board of Trade Enquiry

The Secretary of the New Dock Steam Fishing Company – Joseph Allen Taylor, said he was satisfied that the vessel sighted by the Grimsby trawler SWEEPER must have been the CLARA BELLA. The conclusion he came to was that the skipper of the CLARA BELLA tried to resume his fishing during an interval in the rough weather and had probably struck a rock or some floating ice during the blizzard which had continued for sometime after he left.

In another write up of the Fleetwood Chronicle dated March 24th 1914, the President of Hull Fishing Vessel Owners Association states, ‘that the trawler CHALCEDONY saw a Fleetwood trawler in Fara Bay on Sunday, March 1st. Later the skipper of the steam trawler, SWEEPER, which arrived in Grimsby on the 9th of March, reported having seen a Fleetwood trawler. And his description of the vessel he saw corresponds with that of the CLARA BELLA seen on Saturday the 28th of February. If the CLARA BELLA was sighted on March 1st she would have been at sea for thirty four days at that point.

The CLARA BELLA came to Fleetwood brand new. She was built in 1911 so was only three years old when she went missing. She was built at Middlesborough at the cost of £7881 and was insured for £7000. Her gross tonnage was about 299, and her speed ten knots. The CLARA BELLA was of standard design. The only difference from other trawlers being that she had an extra fish room aft and an extra bulk head forward. Her bunkers would take from 165 to 170 tons of coal and her ice capacity was about 35 tons. Her capacity for fish would be about 100 tons maximum. Dead weight calculated on freeboard would be about 279 tons.

The Crew

Bosun – Herbert or Robert Henry Gawne – twenty years of age, resided in Addison Road, Fleetwood. He left a wife and one child ages four months old.
Mate – Thomas Newby – thirty four years of age, resided at 53 Carr Road, Fleetwood. He left a wife and one child aged seven years.
Deck Hand – William Braham – nineteen years old, single. He lived in Milton Street, Fleetwood.
Spare Hand – James Patterson- twenty five years, resided 55 Mount Street, Fleetwood. He left a wife and two children aged two years and one ten months.
Spare Hand – Patrick Gregan jnr – twenty years of age – single. Resided at Preston Street, Fleetwood.
Fireman – James Maher (or Maker) – age and address unknown.
Second Engineer – Oliver Cranwell (or Crosswell) single, a native of Melbourne Australia, lodging in Adelaide Street, Fleetwood.
Spare Hand – J. Blackwood – age and address unknown.
Fireman – William Stone – twenty nine years, single, resided at 5 Garfield Street, (off Victoria Street) Fleetwood.
Cook – Archibald Mclean – sixty six years, widower, and has a daughter in the Post Office at Birkenhead. He is a native of Glasgow and resided at the Imperial Cafe Fleetwood.
Deckhand – Richard Tomlinson – seventeen, single, the son of Captain Ernest Tomlinson, the Managing Director of the New Dock Trawling Company – resided Poulton Road, Fleetwood.
Chief Engineer – Martin Burnett, age and address unknown, from Kintore Aberdeen.
Skipper – Harry Kluver – married man. This was his first sailing out of Fleetwood.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Clara Bella FD138

S.T. Clara Bella FD138
Picture courtesy of The John Wilson Collection

Changelog
18/05/2012: Page published. 5 updates since then.
04/02/16: Minor information update.
13/10/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
17/12/2019: Updated information.

S.T. Bega FD233

Technical

Official Number: 132419
Yard Number: 398
Completed: 1914
Gross Tonnage: 318
Net Tonnage: 131
Length: 130.7 ft
Breadth: 23.6 ft
Depth: 13.3 ft
Built: J. Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co, Aberdeen
Engine: 69hp T.3-cyl by J. Abernethy & Co, Aberdeen

History

17.12.1913: Launched by J. Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co, Aberdeen (Yd.No.398) for The New Docks Steam Trawling Co (Fleetwood) Ltd, Fleetwood as BEGA.
1.1914: Completed (Ernest Tomlinson, manager).
6.2.1914: Registered at Fleetwood (FD233).
19.1.1914: Sailed Aberdeen for fishing grounds; to land at Fleetwood.
14.11.1914: Requisitioned for war service as an auxiliary patrol vessel (1-12pdr) (Ad.No.923).
1917: Joseph A. Taylor appointed manager.
18.6.1917: Torpedoed by U-boat (U58) 40 miles north of Muckle Flugga (61.36N 00.35W). Nine crew lost*.
29.1.1919: Fleetwood registry closed.

(*Lost – Thomas Wright, 2nd Hand; Laurence Thomson & Finlay Macleod, Seamen; Alfred Williamson & Harry Wittup, Deckhands; Patrick Cosello & George R. Harvey, Trimmers).

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Bega FD233

S.T. Bega FD233
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

Changelog
17/05/2012: Page published. 4 updates since then.
16/08/2019: Information updated.
30/09/2020: Added an image.

S.T. Gava FD380

Technical

Official Number: 141959
Yard Number: 579
Completed: 1920
Gross Tonnage: 257
Net Tonnage: 100
Length: 125.6 ft
Breadth: 23.1 ft
Depth: 12.6 ft
Built: A. Hall & Co Ltd, Aberdeen
Engine: T.3-cyl by A. Hall & Co Ltd, Aberdeen

History

17.8.1920: Launched by A. Hall & Co Ltd, Aberdeen (Yd.No.579) for The New Docks Steam Trawling Co (Fleetwood) Ltd, Fleetwood as GAVA.
12.10.1920: Registered at Fleetwood (Part I & Part IV) O.N.141959 (FD380).
10.1920: Completed. Joseph A. Taylor designated manager.
1924: William W. Brierley designated manager.
16.7.1932: Laid up for 36 hours NE by W of St. Kilda with leaking boiler tubes and water in the stokehold. Steam trawler SEA SWEEPER (FD171) in radio contact. Effected temporary repair and returned to Fleetwood.
20.10.1935: In a strong westerly breeze and moderate sea, returning from fishing grounds, struck submerged rock when entering Castlebay, Barra and came fast. With falling tide took a heavy list and in danger of falling over. At 11.30 pm following signals of distress the Barra lifeboat LLOYDS was launched and laid out an anchor. At high water, using anchor and engine came afloat, berthed Castlebay, not making any water.
17.2.1939: Sold the The Clifton Steam Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood.
27.11.1939: Requisitioned for war service and designated for boom defence duties.
30.11.1939: Returned to owner.
Pre 4.1940: Employed on Fishery Protection (WA/Fort William/Fleetwood) (1-12pdr, 4 Lewis guns).
26.5.1940: At 6.57pm. ‘Operation Dynamo’ (Dunkirk evacuation) put into effect.
27.5.1940: Requisitioned for war service (Hire rate £83.10.6d/month). Fleetwood Flotilla sailed North End, Fleetwood for English Channel as Leader (Ty/Sk. F. Day RNR. Senior Officer Fleetwood Flotilla, P/Ty/Lieut. Francis Joseph Jordan RNR), in company with DHOON (FD438), EDWINA (FD205)(Ty/Sk. Percy Bedford RNR), EVELYN ROSE (GY9) (Ty/Sk. Arthur John Lewis RNR), JACINTA (FD235) (Ty/Sk. Jim Bettess RNR – mate) and VELIA (FD49) (Ty/Sk. John Clarkson RNR).
30.5.1940: Arrived Dover.
31.5.1940: At 0730 sailed for Ramsgate, entering harbour at 0910. At 2030 moved to anchor outside.
1.6.1940: At 0725 sailed Ramsgate for Dunkirk. Attacked by enemy aircraft all the way; returned fire. Arrived Dunkirk at 1123 berthed alongside “train ferry”, embarked French troops. At 1224 left berth and with Fleetwood Flotilla, cleared harbour at 1230 bound Ramsgate. Shell hit port bow but did not explode, slight damage. At 1305 stopped ship, crewmen, A. Dunne, H. Gawne and J. Jones, entered the water to assist in the rescue of three wounded French sailors *. At 1400 concentrated enemy air attack. Aircraft returned at 1430 and cannoned ship; picked up 137 survivors from French destroyer FOUDROYANT (P.No.96) (Capitaine De Fregate Paul Louis Antoine Fontaine), crew assisted wounded aboard. At 1530 Belgian vessel signalled for assistance; 1546 ordered VELIA to take Belgian in tow. At 1855 came to anchor in Ramsgate Roads, launches ferried wounded ashore, followed by troops, all ashore by 2100. Total landed 365. Two hours shore leave in Ramsgate. Ordered to Harwich. Weekend leave and on return crew signed a three month contract under T.124 articles as civilians employed to serve alongside the Royal Navy in Naval uniform as members of Naval Auxiliary Personnel subject to Naval discipline. Commenced 3 day patrols (P.No.4.14) in the English Channel as part of ‘invasion’ defence.
2.1942: Fitted out as a minesweeper.
9.1942: Engaged in target towing.
6.1946: Reclassed at Liverpool and returned to owner.
24.8.1946: Re-measured 256g 99n.
22.2.1949: Took WILLIAM MANNELL (LO370) in tow after refloating from stranding at Glengad Head, Co. Donegal. WILLIAM MANNELL sank under tow 21/2 miles E of Dunmore Head off Portaleen, Co. Donegal; crew saved.
1.11.1950: Sold to Stroud’s Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Aberdeen.
29.3.1951: Fleetwood registry closed.
30.3.1951: Registered at Aberdeen (A676). George D. W. Stroud designated manager.
1954: Horace E. Stroud designated manager.
11.4.1955: In a moderate sea and moderate SW breeze and flood tide, at 10.30pm went ashore on Clettack Skerry, south eastern side of Pentland Skerries. Nine crew left in boat which capsized, picked up by motor fishing vessel ENTERPRISE (WK229). At 10.50. Longhope lifeboat THOMAS McCUNN launched and found the trawler with the ENTERPRISE still standing by. Went alongside the trawler and took off four crew, connected and when she came afloat, proceeded to Longhope.
12.4.1955: At 5.10am. arrived Longhope and then Lyness.
1959: Sold to B. J. Nijkerk S.A., Antwerp for breaking up.
31.12.1959: Delivered Boom.
18.3.1960: Aberdeen registry closed “Vessel sold to foreigners (Belgian subjects).”

* Following the rescue of the three French sailors W/O A Dunne, Deckhands H. Gawne and J Jones were awarded the BEM.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Gava FD380

S.T. Gava FD380
Picture courtesy of The Brian Reader Collection

S.T. Gava FD380 in Tobermory Bay

S.T. Gava FD380 in Tobermory Bay
Picture courtesy of The Brian Reader Collection

S.T. Gava FD380

S.T. Gava FD380
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection

S.T. Gava FD380

S.T. Gava FD380
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
26/01/2009: Page published. 3 updates since then.
02/06/2016: Minor information update.
09/07/2017: Removed FMHT watermarks from images.
28/10/2019: Updated information.
11/06/2020: Updated information.
23/08/2021: Added an image.

S.T. Erna FD158

Technical

Official Number: 136905
Yard Number: 415
Completed: 1915
Gross Tonnage: 330
Net Tonnage: 135
Length: 139.5 ft
Breadth: 23.2 ft
Depth: 12.9 ft
Built: J. Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co, Aberdeen
Engine: 94bhp T.3-cyl by J. A. Abernethy & Co Ltd, Aberdeen

History

18.3.1915: Launched by J. Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co, Aberdeen (Yd.No.415) for The New Docks Steam Trawling Co (Fleetwood) Ltd, Fleetwood. as ERNA.
17.5.1915: Registered at Fleetwood (FD158).
5.1915: Completed (Joseph A. Taylor & Ernest Tomlinson, managers). Requisitioned from the builder and fitted out as a minelayer and later a minesweeper (1-6pdr HA) (Ad.No.1586).
23.2.1916: Attached to Unit.104, Dover Patrol, picked up one crew member of steamer SEA SERPENT mined in Channel.
1.4.1916: Sweeping with PRINCE LEO (GY920)(Ad.No.1634), caught German submarine in sweep wire. Destroyer exploded depth charge over wire and trawlers freed, but could not determine if submarine was destroyed.
12.3.1919: Waiting instructions whether required for Post-War Service (SS).
1920: Returned to owner at Fleetwood.
1924: William W. Brierley appointed manager.
8.6.1930: In Wyre Channel, one of 23 trawlers inbound, attempted to pass grounded steam trawler NELLIE BRADDOCK (FD175) aground on Tiger’s Tail off lock pit, came fast and completely blocked channel. Refloated on next tide and entered Wyre Dock.
27.9.1930: Stripped propeller on way home from fishing grounds. Steam trawler THE ROMAN (FD151) connected and commenced tow to Fleetwood.
12.1938: Sold to The Clifton Steam Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood.
9.1.1940: Requisitioned for war service and appointed as a boom defence vessel.
17.1.1940: Returned to owner.
1.2.1940: Requisitioned for war service as a boom defence vessel (P.No. Z.112) (Hire rate £94.15.0d/month).
23.11.1943: Compulsorily acquired by M.O.W.T.
1944: Based at Portsmouth (Fraser & White Ltd, agents).
1948: Laid up pending survey.
1948: Sold to Salvedor Co Ltd, London (Philip Bauer, manager).
1951: Sold for breaking up.

Click on image to enlarge

S.T. Erna FD158

S.T. Erna FD158
Picture courtesy of The John Clarkson Collection

Changelog
23/01/2019: Page published. 5 updates since then.
30/05/2016: Information updated.
03/09/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
15/07/2020: Updated information.

S.T. Loughrigg FD148

Technical

Admiralty Number: 3839
Official Number: 148228
Yard Number: 846
Completed: 1918
Gross Tonnage: 324
Net Tonnage: 3839
Length: 148 ft
Breadth: 23.7 ft
Depth: 12.8 ft
Built: Cochrane & Sons, Selby
Engine: 600ihp T.3-cyl by C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull

History

1918: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.846) (“Mersey” class) for The Admiralty as SAMUEL JAMESON (Ad.No.3839).
20.9.1918: Completed (1-12pdr and W/T).
10.10.1918: Accepted.
9.1920: Re-commissioned as HMS ETTRICK (1-12pdr). Fishery Protection duties. Based Falmouth.
1926: Sold to Sam Robford & Co Ltd, London.
12.3.1927: Registered at Fleetwood as LOUGHRIGG (FD148) (Keith R. Hoare, London, manager).
27.2.1928: Sailed Fleetwood for St. Kilda with mails (11 bags). Could not locate island due to dense fog, eventually anchored in Village Bay and islanders came out. Very short of flour and other provisions.
8.3.1928: Returned Fleetwood, coaled and took on provisions.
9.3.1928: Sailed Fleetwood for St. Kilda.
1929: Sold to The Clifton Steam Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood (William W. Brierley, manager), managers).
21.8.1929: Registered at Fleetwood as PHYLLISIA (FD148).
27.3.1930: Sold to New Docks Steam Trawling Co (Fleetwood) Ltd, Fleetwood (William W. Brierley, manager).
27.1.1936: On an Icelandic trip, sustained damage to port side when in collision with Grimsby trawler ITONIAN (GY108).
17.7.1939: Sold to The Clifton Steam Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood.
7.4.1936: At Fleetwood landed 900 boxes from a three week White Sea trip.
12.11.1939: When homeward off St Kilda, at 4.42pm. closed by U-boat (U.41) which had onboard survivors from steam trawler CRESSWELL (M129) which she had shelled and sunk earlier in the day 18 miles NW by N of the Flannan Islands (approx 58.39N 07.36W). Took onboard survivors, seven in number.
14.11.1939: Landed at Fleetwood.
4.12.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a boom defence vessel (P.No. Z144) (Hire rate £97.4.0d/month). Cost of conversion £17,984. South Atlantic Command.
16.11.1942: Transferred to West Africa Command. Based at Freetown, Sierra Leone.
8.10.1943: On loan to Portugese Government (P.No.B1).
23.11.1943: Compulsorily acquired by M.O.W.T. Remaining on loan to Portugese Government.
17.1.1944: Fleetwood registry closed.
19.8.1945: Returned to M.O.W.T. Based at Plymouth (W. Tamlyn Ltd, Plymouth, agents).
6.1946: Surveyed and restored at Plymouth at estimated cost of £8,730.
7.1946: Sold to East Fisheries Ltd, Cape Town. Registered at Cape Town (CTA126).
7.9.1952: Sold to South African Navy. Stripped of all useable parts and non-ferrous metals and used as a target. Subsequently scuttled off Robin Island.

(Samuel Jameson, OS (prest), age 21, b. King’s Lynn, Norfolk – VICTORY (SB439)

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Loughrigg FD148

S.T. Loughrigg FD148
Picture courtesy of The Fred Baker Collection

S.T. Phyllisia FD148

S.T. Phyllisia FD148
Picture courtesy of The Fred Baker Collection

S.T. Phyllisia CTA121

S.T. Phyllisia CTA121
Picture courtesy of www.trawlerheritage.co.za

Changelog
22/01/2009: Page published. 6 updates since then.
29/08/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
10/05/2021: Updated history and technical details.