NIGHT HAWK GY15

 

John Stevenson Collection

Official No:  138942    Port and Year:  Grimsby, 1916 (GY822)

                                                                Aberdeen, 1941 (A ? )  

                                                                Grimsby, 1944 (GY15)   

Description: Steel side trawler; coal fired. Ketch rigged

Crew:

Built: by Cochrane & Sons, Selby, 1916.  (Yard no. 645)

Tonnage:   307 grt  150 net

Length / breadth / depth (feet): 132 / 24 / 12.8                                                         

Engine: T 3-Cyl; 89 rhp; by Charles D. Holmes

Owners:

 

As GY822

Jan 1916: Pioneer Steam Fishing Co., Grimsby

 

Feb 1916: Grimsby Steam Fishing Co., Grimsby

By 1930: Manager: Sir George E. J. Moody.

 

Jan 1939: Earl Steam Fishing Co., Grimsby

Manager: Sir Alec Black.

 

Dec 1940: Sir A. Black, Grimsby

 

As A ?

Sep 1941: North Star Steam Fishing Co., Aberdeen.

Manager: J. A. Harrow.

 

As GY15:

1944: Parkholme Trawlers, Grimsby.

Managers: Grimsby Industries (Trawler Managers)

 

1945: Milford Fisheries, Docks Milford

Manager: Owen Willie Limbrick, Pill Lane, Milford.

 

Landed at Milford: 11 Sep 1946 - 25 Feb 1959

Skippers: Arthur Harvey (1946-48); Syd Hearn (1952); Vaughan Davies (1954)

Notes: Mar 1916: Requisitioned by the Admiralty (No. 1986) and converted to a minesweeper.  1 x 6 pdr AA.

1919: Returned to owners.

Jun 1940: Requisitioned by the Admiralty and converted to a auxiliary patrol vessel (P.No.FY.1858).

1941:  Converted to a minesweeper.

Aug 1946: Returned to owners.

28 Feb 1959: Left Milford for the Continent to be broken up.

Accidents and Incidents

From the West Wales Guardian of Friday 3rd August 1946:

 

    Reading lights for each bed, spring and flock mattresses, clothes cupboard and locker for each man, bath and wash-basins with hot water and cold, upholstered settees, book racks, etc. 

    This reads like a hotel prospectus, whereas in fact it is a list of the improvements for crew comforts carried out by Milford Fisheries Ltd., on board their recently acquired super Castle class trawler Night Hawk, which leaves on Saturday on her maiden voyage from the port.

    Discomforts on trawlers have become the rule and the new Night Hawk is one of the few exceptions.  Her forecastle, shining in a varnish coat, is roomy, and the bath will be supplied with steam-heated fresh water.  There are three wash hand basins, and a flush lavatory.  In most trawlers the men eat and sleep in the same crowded forecastle, but in this Fisheries boat 8 men will sleep on spring beds (no more straw mattresses) with plenty of air space and a neat coal stove for warmth.  They will dine amidships in a room which sleeps 4 of the crew in similar comfort when off duty.  The captain's cabin (Skipper Arthur Harvey) is very well arranged and has an annexe with modern conveniences and hot and cold water laid on.  All the crew's quarters are well lit, and the Night Hawk has its own wireless operator in his special room behind the bridge.

    Mr. O. W. Limbrick, Managing Director of Milford Fisheries, told the Guardian that the experiment would be extended, the comfort of the crew was a first priority.

    Skipper Harvey declared, "It's high time something like this was done.  In my 15 years at sea conditions for the crew have not been what they should."

    Mr. J. H. Thomas, M.B.E., J.P., author of the "Fisherman's Charter", which demands better living accommodation on board trawlers, looked over the Night Hawk on Monday with Mr. T. C. Jobson (Deckhand Section Secretary).  He said afterwards, "The ship is fitted out very nicely.  With crew quarters like this we have little to complain about.  It does prove that these alterations are necessary if men are to be attracted to the industry.  The men of the Night Hawk will get some reward measured in comfort for their hard life at sea.  The Fisheries example should be followed throughout the fleet."

 

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From the West Wales Guardian of Friday 27th August 1948:

 

    The steam trawler Night Hawk, belonging to Milford Fisheries Ltd., and in command of Skipper Arthur Harvey, landed her catch at Fleetwood on Tuesday.  She had 1,350 boxes, mostly herrings, which realised £2,250.  The trip lasted 9 days.

 

   

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From the West Wales Guardian of Friday 18th January 1952:

 

FISHING "LEAGUE"

"DUKE" AT THE TOP AGAIN

 

    After two years as "runners-up", Skipper Albert Saunders and the "Milford Duke" are once again in top place in the Milford fishing "league".  In 1951 Skipper Saunders caught a greater value of fish than any other individual trawler captain in the port.

    Second in the league on last year's results is Skipper W. Burgoyne, who has moved up a place, closely followed by Skipper Steve Pembroke, who was sixth in the list of 1949 catches.  "Crack" Skipper for 1948 and 1949, Skipper Tom Donovan, D.S.C., is a close fifth in results while consistent Skipper James Jobson again occupies fourth position.

    Here are the leading positions, the ships being classed according to size.

.............

 

SUPER CASTLE

    In this class Skipper Sid Hearne is well out in front with Skippers Harvey and Seeling neck and neck behind him.

1.  Nighthawk (Sid Hearn), Milford Fisheries.

2.  Almandine (Arthur Harvey), Milford Fisheries.

3.  Hatano (Albert Seeling), Messrs. Jenkerson.

4.  Homeleigh (Clarence Riby), Goodleigh Fisheries.

 

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From the West Wales Guardian of Friday 4th June 1954:

 

    Following last week's bad news of cuts in Messrs. Yolland Brothers' trawling and engineering department in Milford, Mr. Owen Limbrick told the Guardian on Thursday: "The steam trawler Night Hawk is laid up, and others will probably follow, and whilst the latest increase in the price of coal for this port, the highest I understand in Great Britain, is the deciding factor, other costs and conditions, especially the 5 day week demanded by other sections in the industry, have all played their part in endeavouring to destroy that industry.  Anyway, the N.C.B. is to be congratulated in succeeding where others have so far failed.  This is their third increase in the last two years."

 

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L to R, back row: Deckhands K. Maher, J. Manson, P. Johns, D. Sanders (29 Dartmouth St, Milford), Cook Bob Stowe (2 St Lawrence Close, Hakin)

Front row: Fireman A. Stewart, Bosun M.J. McNeil (Meylor Crescent, Milford), 2nd Eng. J. Warlow (19 Charles Street, Neyland), Skipper Vaughan Davies, Mate W.J. Payne (90 Shakespeare Avenue, Milford), C.Eng. J. Rees (29 Langford Road, Johnston, and a survivor From the BASS ROCK when she was bombed & sunk),  Fireman W. Jackson (Waterloo Road, Hakin)

Taken for the West Wales Guardian of Friday 24th September 1954

John Stevenson Collection

 

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From the West Wales Guardian of Friday 29th June 1956:

 

    Two young men, electricians, were scalded by escaping steam when the boiler door joint blew out on the trawler Night Hawk in Milford Docks this morning (Friday).  The men who were working in the cabin are Tony Lawrence, age 20, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Lawrence, Waterloo Square,  Hakin, and Tony Wilson, 18 year old son of Skipper and Mrs. C. A. Wilson, Marble Hall Road.

    Mr. Lawrence is the more seriously injured.

 

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From the West Wales Guardian of Friday 27th February 1959:

 

    The Milford Fisheries trawler Night Hawk is due to leave the port on Saturday for the last time.  She is going to the Continent to be scrapped.

 

  

 

 

 

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