HELEN MCRAE M17
MILFORD DUCHESS M 17
As DINAS FD268 (1948-54)
Courtesy of Fleetwood Maritime Heritage Trust and The Bosun's Watch
Official No: 141963 Port Number and Year: 24th in Fleetwood, 1922 (FD268)
6th in Milford, 1929
Description: Castle Class steel side trawler; steam screw, coal burning. Ketch rigged: mizzen sail
Crew: 14 men
Registered at Milford:18 Jun 1929
Built: 1919 by C. Rennoldson & Co, South Shields, for the Admiralty, as JAMES GILL. (Yard no. 202)
Tonnage: 275 grt 120 net.
Length / breadth / depth (feet): 125.4 / 23.4 / 12.6
Engine: T 3-Cyl. 46 rhp.10 kts. Engine and boiler by R. & W. Hawthorn, Leslie & Co., Newcastle on Tyne
Owners:
Renamed PIERRE FRANCOIS DESWARTE
Aug 1919: Société Anonyme "Delta", Ostend
Manager: J. Nierinck
Renamed OUR MONICA FD413.
5 Oct 1922: Killen Fishing Co, Fleetwood.
1923: Jules H. Nierinck, Fleetwood
1924: Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co., 232 Dock St., Fleetwood
Manager: Fred Parkes
Renamed HELEN MCRAE M17
8 Jun 1929: McRae Steam Trawling Co, Milford Haven
Manager: John McRae Knight
23 Nov 1936: George Knight, 27 Hamilton Tce., Milford (Marine Engineer)
James Yeandle, 29 Robert St., Milford (Engineer)
Ivor Jonathan Powell, Charles Ville Place, Neath (Accountant)
George Trevor Kelway, 'St. Annes', Point Fields, Milford
Manager: Harry Eastoe Rees, 'Mirador', The Rath, Milford
Renamed MILFORD DUCHESS M17
25 Nov 1936: Milford Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Milford Haven
Manager: Harry Eastoe Rees
9 Sep 1938: James Carpenter Ward
As DINAS FD268
16 Apr 1948: Dinas Steam Trawling Co., 210 Dock St., Fleetwood
Landed at Milford:
As HELEN MCRAE: 1 Aug 1929 - 20 Dec 1936
As MILFORD DUCHESS: 1 Jan 1937 - 28 Aug 1939; 27 Mar 1945 - 2 Apr 1948
Skippers: 'Nobby' Clark (pre-War); Nobby Clark, Harry Rich (post-War).
Notes: Aug 1939: Requisitioned for war service and converted for minesweeping duties (P.No. FY.613)
Dec 1944: Returned to owners.
Jun 1954: Broken up at Dublin.
Cert. Cancelled & Milford Registry Closed: 16 Apr 1948
Accidents and Incidents
From an unknown local newspaper of the week beginning 1st November 1936:
The four steam trawlers of the McRae Steam Trawling Company, which were recently purchased by the Milford Steam Trawling Company Limited, will be renamed shortly. We are informed by the new owners that the names will be Milford Duke, Milford Duchess, Milford Count and Milford Countess. It is evident that a royal and regal line is being followed.
It is rumoured in the port that a number of further additions to the port's fleet is contemplated. Three boats for Charles H. Brand and Company are being subjected to survey.
[ The DUNCAN MCRAE was renamed MILFORD EARL, not MILFORD COUNT.]
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From an unknown local newspaper of c. 29th March 1945:
Milford's fishing fleet is gradually building up its strength. The Pair Fishing Company have brought two new boats to the the port, the s.t. "Tanager", and the s.t. "Cosbeach" [ ? ]. Two other derequisitioned boats, the "Milford Duchess" and the "Lephreto", started fishing from the port last week.
The labour position, however, is still acute. Men are lacking to to man the sea-going trawlers, and also to unload the the returning fish-laden trawlers. In the circumstances there is a great possibility that Sunday work will once more become necessary on the fish market.
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From the West Wales Guardian of Friday 7th June 1946:
On Wednesday, five local trawlers, the Duchess, Lephreto, Avonstream, Ellesmere and Cotswold (the last named a 140 footer, recently arrived for A. J. Tilbrook) were held up owing to a shortage of deck crew, a state of affairs which has reached alarming proportions. The present dearth is chiefly due to the departure of many East Coast fishermen, who have opted to return to their home ports, chiefly Hull.
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