GLOXINIA M126
Painting by Steve Farrow
Official No: 107044 Port Number and Year: 10th in Milford in 1896
Description: Steel side / beam trawler; steam screw; coal burner. Ketch rigged: foresail, mainsail and mizzen
Crew: 9 men
Registered at Milford: 7 Oct 1896
Built: Edwards Bros., North Shields, 1896. (Yard no. 525)
Tonnage: 144.88 gross 25.07 net
Length / breadth / depth (feet): 106 / 20.65 / 11
Engine:
Owners:
7 Oct 1896: Cornelius Cecil Morley, Co. Wexford
William Geoff Davies Goff, Co. Wexford.
9 Mar 1903: Southern Steam Trawlers Co., 127 Quay, Waterford
16 Dec 1911: Walter Fulton, 82 Gordon St., Glasgow
John Steward, 82 Gordon St., Glasgow
20 Dec 1911: John Colquhoun, 132 Bridge Gate, Glasgow.
Landed at Milford: 8 Oct 1896 - 12 Dec 1911
Skippers: Harry Glansford cert. no. 1660, age 29, born Hull; signed on 28 Sep 1896
George C. Nicholls 05538, 36, Stamford; 14 Dec 1896; 4 Jan 1897; 5 Jul, 5 Aug 1897; 11 Jan, 6 Jul 1898
W. E. Green 5429, 27, Hull; 9 Feb 1897
J. Richmond 1294, 36, London; 9 Oct 1898; 11 Jan 1899
George Leggett 4759, 27, Gorleston; residing Railway Villa, Haverfordwest; 28 Jun, 7 Jul 1899
A. Bush 4803, 23, Bristol; 28 Jul 1899
H. Pook 5219, 23, Brixham; -
C. Fears 2279, 38, Hull; 18 Apr 1900
H. J. Joyce 5562, 37, Manchester; 11 May 1900
Arthur Windlass 5381, 22, Brixham; 17 Aug 1900
G. T. Cobley 2021, 32, Hull; 2 Nov 1900; 1 Jan 1901
W. Castle 3612, 39, Norfolk; 8 Jul 1901; 6 Jan 1902
John Johnson 2459, 37, Nottingham; 1 Mar, 3 Jul 1902; 14 Jan, 6 Jul 1903; 8 Jan, 8 Jul 1904; 2 Jan 1905
B. Blockwell 2529, 40, Yarmouth; 7 Mar 1905
Walter Dayes 1734, 40, Hull; 3 May, 7 Jul 1905; 2 Jan, 2 Jul 1906
Arthur Lamswood 4931, 30, Brixham; 23 Dec 1905
R. Sanderson 2934, 54 Filey, 22 Dec 1906
A. Taylor 5681, 43, Hull; 4 Jan, 6 Jul 1908
Frank Whittermore 8638, 21, Liverpool; 1 Jan, 27 Aug 1909
J. Daldrey 3711, 37, Gorleston; 1 Jan 1910
John H. Pettit 7106, 27, Hull; 29 Sep 1910; 2 Jan 1911 [Died 8th April 1911 - see story below.]
C. Garnish 3728, 42, Essex; 10 Apr 1911.
Notes: Built at the same yard as FUCHSIA, with the next yard number.
1 Apr 1915: Sunk by U-10 (Kapitänleutnant Fritz Stuhr), 40 miles NE by E of the Tyne.. No loss of life. [See below.]
Cert. Cancelled & Milford Registry Closed: 1 Apr 1915
Accidents and Incidents:
From the Western Mail of Saturday 5th November 1898:
AFTER THE WEDDING
MILFORD SKIPPER'S CERTIFICATE SUSPENDED
A special meeting of the Local Marine Board was held at the Board of Trade Offices, Cardiff, on Friday afternoon. Mr. John Cory, J.P., presided, and there were also present Messrs. William Anning, H. Radcliffe, T. W. Lewis (stipendiary magistrate), and C. Baker, secretary. The skipper of a steam trawler, George Courtney Nicholls, was charged at the instance of the Board of Trade of having been drunk whilst in charge of the steam trawler Gloxinia, of Milford, on October 7, with being drunk, and with anchoring the vessel in an exposed position, and leaving her without taking due measures for her safety. Mr. G. Robertson appeared on behalf of the Board of Trade. Mr. J. David defended the accused, and Mr. J. P. Caffery watched the case on behalf of the owners. The evidence was briefly as follows:
― On the morning of October 7 the vessel left Milford for the fishing grounds. The boatswain having got married on the previous day, he brought a bottle of whisky aboard, and shortly after the vessel left the harbour the captain, mate, boatswain, and third hand assembled on the bridge, and commenced the whisky [sic]. The two engineers, William Jones and William Davies, refused to join in, but the other three hands had some. The skipper after a short time became drunk. He steered the vessel into the Jack Sound, and in passing through it a rock was struck, but no damage was done. He afterwards anchored the vessel off Broad Haven, but finding the water shallow, changed the anchorage to Little Haven, and afterwards to Goultrop. He went ashore shortly after three o'clock, and took the second hand with him. The chief engineer sent the second to Milford, to inform the owners, and another captain and second hand came aboard that night. The other captain and second hand did not return.
―For the defence, the chief boatman of the coastguard at Broad Haven, Albert Eli Griffiths, who saw the accused about an hour after he had left the vessel, stated that he was not drunk at that time, but had been drinking.
―William Jenkins, a fisherman of Broad Haven, also stated that the skipper was not drunk.
―Accused stated that he was quite sober enough to do his work. He said that the striking of the rock in the Jack Sound was the result of a mistake on his part. He had not taken any soundings, and did not verify his position by the chart. He went ashore in order to see a doctor. Early in the afternoon he had fallen down on deck, and hurt his arm badly on the elbow, and was afraid that he had broken it. He had to go to Milford to see the doctor, and was laid up for a fortnight. He admitted he had made a mistake in taking the second hand ashore with him.
― The Court found that the charge was proved, and suspended the skipper's certificate for one month. The charge against the second hand was withdrawn.
[Paragraphing added to original.]
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Log book entries:
29.12.1900.
40 miles SW by W of St Ann's Head.
Navigated the Steam Ship "Bore" of Christiania to Milford Haven.
G. T. Cobley. (Skipper).
04.04.1903.
Saturday. Passed derelict vessel, apparently a schooner, about 20 miles W of the Saints Light House. Reported same to Superintendent HM Customs on Wednesday, April 8th.
J. Johnson. (Skipper).
31. 07.1904.
At 5 p.m. on Sunday sighted steam trawler "Upton Castle" (LO 152) about 160 miles W by S of St. Ann's Head Lights with shaft broken. The skipper asked me to to tow him in. We sighted Smalls Light Monday evening. Then the skipper of the "Upton Castle" requested to be taken to Swansea, which we did, and safely docked her on Tuesday at half past ten a.m.
J. Johnson. (Skipper).
August 2nd 1904
09.09.1904.
125 miles W of St. Ann's Head.
Steam Trawler "Amroth Castle" (LO 161) - collision whilst heaving up our fishing gear, attempting to speak to us and struck our stern causing it to leak. "Amroth Castle's" bulwarks and gallows damaged, port side aft.
J. Johnson. (Skipper).
25.06.1905.
At Sea.
Walter Patten, age 22, Bosun; born England, Wilton, residing Milford.
Fainting, fell with his throat on main steam pipe of winch, causing serious burns.
Walter Dayes. (Skipper).
W. Potter. (Witness).
12.09.1906.
E. Stabb, Fourth Hand, wilfully shaking fish from the net over board, and wh
en I told him not to shake them out of the net, replied with obscene language, at 4 a.m., again at 11 a.m. The only one of twelve refusing to obey orders from myself by using the most profane and obscene language.Walter Dayes. (Skipper).
Allan Lamswood. (Witness).
21.02.1909
Small boat launched and found in perfect condition and sea worthy.F. Wittemore. (Skipper).
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From the West Wales Guardian of Friday 16th December 1910:
Stirring scenes at Milford haven .
................
During the morning the S.T. "Gloxinia" towed up five men from the s.s. "Fford", of Christiania, lying disabled near Dale Roads. Captain Morner, in broken English, told a tale of suffering. He and the other four members of the crew were injured and were taken to Dr Griffith's surgery where they were attended by Dr Walker. The crew of eighteen were Norwegians.
The vessel was caught in the gale off the Smalls. She had the wheelhouse carried away, one boat, davit and steering gear lost, and how the crew made for port is a marvel.
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From the Haverfordwest and Milford Haven Telegraph of Wednesday 12th April 1911:
On Saturday night Messrs Sellick, Morley & Price received a wire from Galway, Ireland, stating that skipper John Pettit, junior, of the steam trawler "Gloxinia", was dead. The news caused a painful sensation in the town, and as the cause of death could not be ascertained the anxiety of the relatives and friends was naturally great. Captain Charles Garnish was sent off by the 10.25 train to catch the boat train from Fishguard, en route for Galway, to bring the vessel home. Another wire was to hand on Sunday, but the facts did not come out till Monday morning, when the daily papers contained the painful news that skipper Pettit was drawn into the winch. When in the act of heaving in the trawl he became entangled therein, and was dragged round several times and killed before the machinery could be stopped. The body is being brought home in the trawler which was expected to arrive on Tuesday evening. A strange coincidence is that last trip it was reported that the headless body of a seaman was brought up in the trawl by the same vessel off the Irish Coast. Mr Pettit was one of the youngest skippers sailing out of the port and was only 29 years of age. He leaves a wife in delicate health, and three young children, and was the son of Mr John Pettit, Fish Merchant, and himself a former skipper. Mr and Mrs Pettit had another son drowned at sea some years ago.
From the Haverfordwest and Milford Haven Telegraph of Wednesday 19th April 1911:
SKIPPER'S TRAGIC FATE
SAD STORY TOLD AT MILFORD HAVEN
THE INQUEST
As reported in our last issue, John Pettit, aged 28 years, skipper of the Gloxinia, belonging to Messrs. Sellick, Morley & Price, met with his death under peculiarly sad and distressing circumstances while fishing off the Irish coast. The circumstances were investigated by Mr. Price, the county coroner, and a jury at the Sessions House, Milford Haven, on Wednesday afternoon. ....
Mr. W. J. Jones appeared for Messrs. Sellick, Morley & Price, the owners of the Gloxinia.
The Coroner said they were met to enquire into the cause of the accident which resulted in the death of John Pettit on board the Gloxinia. It appeared the body was taken to Ireland and the matter was reported to the Irish police; but the Coroner for the county of Galway for some reason, perhaps because the Irish laws were different from ours, decided that an inquest was not necessary. According to English law if a dead body was lying within the jurisdiction of an English coroner, death having resulted from an accident, the law compelled him to hold an inquest. That was the reason they were there that day. He thought they would find the facts very simple.
The first witness, John Pettit, residing at 32, Dartmouth-street, fish merchant, said the deceased was his son, and was 28 years of age last January. He was skipper of the steam trawler Gloxinia. Witness did not know anything about the accident.
A CRY OF DISTRESS
Bertie Hawkins, boatswain, in the employ of Messrs. Sellick, Morley & Price, said he was on board the Gloxinia on April 8th. About half-past ten on that day they were ten miles south-west of Allen Island, on the west coast of Ireland. Witness was ordered to start the steam winch to heave up the trawl, but as the winch stopped the skipper came to it. He heard the winch stop and jumping from the bridge came and asked what was the matter with the winch, and when he told him he told witness to get out of the way, and he would see to it. The skipper opened her out full, and witness went away. He was working with his back to the skipper, when he heard him cry out "Bert."
The Coroner: Was it a cry of distress?
Witness: He shouted "Bert" and then gave a cry. When i looked around I saw the skipper going round the winch, and jumped and stopped her, but before that the skipper had gone round the winch many times. I gave the winch a half reverse turn out and the body fell clear but the legs were still entangled. With the help of the crew we got the skipper out, and we tried to stop the flow of blood by tying a muffler around him. He opened his eyes and when i asked him did he feel better, he said "Yes", and he added, "Pull out my arm," meaning the one which had come away from him altogether. We made for Galway. The skipper died at 12.15 and we reached Galway about 3 o'clock. I asked him how he got into the winch, but he could not answer. He was wearing a loose jumper, and it was probable that the front of the jumper was caught when the skipper was stooping to see what was wrong with the winch.
By the Coroner: He could not say what was wrong with the winch. It stopped, as it had done before, but witness had not reported it.
The Coroner: If it had not stopped this would never have happened?
Witness: If it had not stopped the skipper would not have come to it.
By Mr. W. J. Jones: It was a pure accident.
By the foreman: They had been fishing six days when this happened and had been using the winch every day.
By a juryman: Witness had been on the vessel about two months. The winch had stopped on various occasions during the six days. By reversing it was set going again.
Dr. W. S. Griffith said he had examined the body, and found severe injuries as the result of the accident. In his opinion shock was the cause of death.
NO CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE
The Coroner said that was all the evidence to be brought before them, and having heard what the witness Hawkins had to say, the only verdict they could find was one of accidental death. Of course their duty was simply to enquire whether anybody had been guilty of criminal negligence, such as would make them answerable to the criminal law for the consequences of such negligence. In this case there might have been something wrong with the steam winch, but if it had been reported, and the person in charge knew there was something wrong with it he would not be guilty of such neglect as to be answerable in a criminal for it, but the remedy might be found in a civil court. He thought a verdict of accidental death was the only verdict the jury could bring in.
The jury brought in a verdict to this effect, the foreman giving expression to the sympathy with the relatives of the deceased.
The Coroner said he joined them in that expression; and Mr. W. J. Jones, on behalf of the owners, said they desired to express their sympathy and regret for what had happened.
On Wednesday all the trawlers in dock had their flags at half-mast for Capt. Pettit.
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The Times, Saturday, Apr 03, 1915; pg. 8; Issue 40819; col D
Tyne trawlers sunk by the U-10
Bombs and gunfire - Teuton hospitality
The trawlers Jason, Gloxinia and Nellie have been sunk in the North Sea by the German submarine U-10. Early yesterday morning the crews of the Jason and Gloxinia numbering 18 men were brought into the Tyne by the trawler Rhodesia, and a little later the trawler Girl Kathleen of Yarmouth landed the crew of the Nellie.On Thursday afternoon while the Jason was fishing about 40 miles north east of the Tyne a submarine appeared a short distance away and displayed signals and thinking that the submarine was British went on fishing, but shortly afterwards two shots were fired across the bows of the Jason by the submarine, which proved to be the U.10. Scrambling into their boat the crew pulled away and the submarine took them on board. The Germans then boarded the Jason and blew her up by means of bombs with time fuses. The submarine then went towards the Gloxinia, which was fishing close at hand, fired on her, and ordered the crew to leave. This they did and the Germans then attempted to destroy the Gloxinia by a bomb placed near the engine room. This proving faulty the submarine fired about a dozen rounds at the trawler on the water line, but again failed to sink her. The Germans went back and placed two more bombs in position and the Gloxinia then blew up. The boats containing the crews of the Jason and Gloxinia were then taken in tow by the submarine.
The trawlers Nellie and Rhodesia were afterwards sighted. Going alongside the Rhodesia the German commander sent the crews of the Jason and Gloxinia onboard at the same time telling the skipper of the Rhodesia that he had better stand by to pick up the crew of the Nellie. He then made for the Nellie and having sunk her - apparently by gunfire - returned to the Rhodesia and informed the skipper that the boat containing the crew of Nellie was on his starboard bow. The Rhodesia searched for two hours, but failed to find the Nellie's crew. She then went on to the Tyne. When later the crew of the Nellie were picked up by the Girl Kathleen they were in a very much exhausted condition and some were only partially dressed. They had been rowing for three hours.
Members of the crew of the Jason stated that while they were onboard the submarine they were treated with the utmost courtesy and were provided with coffee, bread and tobacco. They saw 15 Germans on board, many of whom spoke English and chatted freely with them. The commander of the U-10 when asked by the cook of the Jason when they had begun to sink fishing vessels, replied "We have orders to sink everything, it is war and you started it". Before the Rhodesia was sighted there was some doubt as to how the Jason's crew would get ashore and they asked the commander how he expected them to reach the Tyne, 40 miles away, without any compasses. The commander replied "If I don’t see another craft I will tow you to the coast, because I am going to pay the Tyne a visit. But look to yourselves and be ready to cast off because if I sight one of your patrols I am going to dive at once"
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