%20DANDARA.JPG)
DANDARA A122 / M279
As A671 (1951-55)
John Stevenson Collection
Official No: 129208 Port Number and Year: 51st in Hull, 1909 (H41)
14th in Aberdeen, 1925 (A122)
11th in Milford, 1938
- in Hull, 1941 (H?)
- in Grimsby, 1947 GY34
- in Aberdeen, 1951 (A671)
Description: Steel side trawler; steam screw, coal burning. Ketch rigged.
Crew: 9 men
Registered at Milford: 14 Jun 1938
Built: 1909 by Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley. (Yard no. 178)
Tonnage: 212.74 grt 84.38 net.
Length / breadth / depth (feet): 111.4 / 22.6 / 12.2
Engine: T 3-Cyl. 45 rhp. 10 kts. Engine and boiler - 1909, Amos & Smith, Albert Docks, Hull
Owners:
As LEONATO H41
1909: Hellyers Steam Fishing, St. Andrews Dock, Hull
Managers: C. Hellyers & Co.
Renamed NAVAL ESCORT H41
1922: Jutland Amalgamated Trawlers, Hull
Manager: E. Cargill
Renamed DANDARA A122.
1925: Unknown Aberdeen owners.
As A122
1927: Brand & Curzon, Docks, Milford.
As M279
4 Jun 1938: Milford Fisheries, Docks, Milford
Manager: Owen Willie Limbrick.
14 Mar 1941: Hellyer Bros., St. Andrew's Dock, Hull
Manager: Owen Stocks Hellyer
1944: Kingston Steam Trawlers, Hull
As GY34
Mar 1945: Standard Steam Fishing, Grimsby
As A671
Feb 1951: Nigg Fishing, 207, Union St., Aberdeen
Landed at Milford: 26 Jun 1927 - 3 Apr 1941
Skippers:
Notes: 1917: Requisitioned into the Fishery Reserve.
1919: Returned to owners.
Jan 1959: Broken up at Hamburg
Cert. Cancelled & Milford Registry Closed: 15 Mar 1941. Transferred to the port of Hull.
Accidents and Incidents
From an unknown local newspaper, in the week beginning 26th June 1927:
........
We notice ... that Messrs. Brand and Curzon, Ltd., have also introduced an additional vessel to their big fleet of trawlers, in the steam trawler "Dandara" from Aberdeen. This will help to replace some of the boats which recently left.
Back to Other Registrations A - H
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Transcription of a typed confidential report by the skipper of the DANDARA in the National Archive (ADM 199 / 2137), from photographs of the original kindly supplied by Roger Hollywood:
CONFIDENTIAL H
S.T. DANDARA - 213 GROSS TONS
REPORT OF AN INTERVIEW WITH THE MASTER, CAPTAIN J. MECKLENBURGH
SHIPPING CASUALTY SECTION
TRADE SECTION
26th June 1941
CAPTAIN MECKLENBURGH:
We were bound from Hull to the fishing grounds off Iceland and were armed with 2 strip Lewis guns. The confidential books are still on board. The number of crew, including myself, was 14, of whom 1 was injured.
We left Hull on on 19th May bound for the Iceland Fishing grounds, sailing under instructions received at Hull. We proceeded without incident until 1200 on 24th May, when in position 61.40 N. 14.35 W. heading N. W. by N 1 N we sighted a plane on our starboard bow about 4 or 5 miles off. I was not on the bridge when the 'plane was first sighted, but came up immediately it was reported to me. The sea at the time was rough with wind S.E. force 6 - 7. The weather was overcast and the visibility good. The 'plane flew straight towards us at a height of about 100 ft. and when he was about 1 mile distant he altered course athwartships and flew straight for us. As the 'plane approached he opened fire with his machine guns and seemed to be aiming below the water line. My two gunners did not open fire until the 'plane was very near us, and one of them told me afterwards that he wanted to be very sure of hitting the 'plane.
We were armed with 2 strip Lewis guns; H. Austin the 3rd Hand was on the bridge with one gun, and Petrini another member of my crew was on the after deck with the other gun, neither of them having any protection of any kind. When the 'plane was almost overhead they opened fire and said that they could see their bullets entering the 'plane. As soon as the 'plane passed over us we could see smoke and flames coming from the fuselage, and he did not open fire any more, and I think that the rear Gunner of the 'plane must have been killed. As the 'plane was going away the Pilot was obviously trying to gain height, but when about 2 - 3 miles away from the ship, the tail of the machine suddenly fell off and the 'plane dived into the water. We went to the spot where the 'plane crashed, but we could find nothing.
We therefore turned round and made for Iceland and arrived at Reykjavik where we landed on 25th May, without being attacked again. I had a bullet in my shoulder and was immediately taken to hospital, but 4 days after having the bullet removed I was at sea again, although I should have been in hospital for a fortnight.
My two gunners behaved very well indeed. I gave no orders to them at the time of the attack, but knew that I could entirely rely upon them. They stood unprotected on the ship until the enemy 'plane was almost upon us before they opened fire, so that they could be quite sure of hitting the machine, and then both opened fire together.
I do not know what type of aircraft it was that attacked us. At first we thought it was one of our Blenheims. It had two engines and a single tail cover [sic]. It was fitted with two masts and had a turret built in the tail of the machine. I do not think it was a bombing machine, but think that it may have been out on a meteorological survey.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From the West Wales Guardian of Friday 19th September 1941:
The gallantry of Mr Arthur Dyson, 11, Greville Road, mate of the steam trawler 'Dandara', who died at his gun when beating off an attack by enemy planes, has been recognised posthumously. "The bravest man I ever saw," said a shipmate of him. The widow has received the following certificate signed by the Prime Minister, Mr Winston Churchill: "By the King's orders the name of Arthur Dyson, steam trawler 'Dandara', was published in the London Gazette as commended for bravery in the fishing fleet. I am charged to record His Majesty's high appreciation for the services rendered."
[It would seem that this refers to a different attack than that recorded in the confidential report above.]
Back to Trawlers 1915-1939