RIVER YTHAN M51

Official No:  118159   Port Number and Year:  5th in Granton, 1905 (GN19)

                                                                              -    in Aberdeen,  1932  (A188)

                                                                            9th in Milford, 1930.

Description: Steel side trawler; steam screw, coal burning. Ketch rigged: mizzen

Crew:  9 men

Registered at Milford: 15 Dec 1939

Built: 1905 by Hall, Russell & Co., Aberdeen. (Yard no. 388)

Tonnage: 161.39 grt  60.9 net.

Length / breadth / depth (feet): 112.25 / 21 / 12.98

Engine: T 3-Cyl. 66 hp.10 kts.  1905, by builders

Owners:

 

As CHAMBERLAIN GN19

1905Thomas L. Devlin,  Granton

 

1930 Adam Bros., Granton

 

Renamed RIVER YTHAN A188

1932: Alexander King & Benjamin Allenby,  Aberdeen

 

As  M51

15 Dec 1939:  John Charles Llewellin, 'Camelot', Wellington Rd., Hakin  (17/64)

Joseph Leslie Yolland, 'Hartland', Pill Lane, Milford.     (17/64)

John Yolland (jnr), Broadway, Fleetwood.   (17/64)

Thomas Steward Yolland, St. Ann's, Sketty Green, Swansea.  (13/64)

Manager: J. C. Llewellin

 

9 Mar 1941: Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co., Fleetwood

Managers:  Basil Arthur Parks, Holmleigh Ave., Cleeveley

 

26 Oct 1944: Loyal Steam Fishing Co.,Grimsby

Manager: Albert Wright Butt

 

Landed at Milford: 7 Dec 1939 - 10 Mar 1941  (Transferred to Fleetwood, remained M51)

Skippers:

Notes: Mar 1917:  Requisitioned (Admiralty No.3336) and converted to a minesweeper. 1 x 6 pdr AA.

1919: Returned to owners.

12 Aug 1940: Attacked and bombed by German aircraft.  [See story below.]

15 Dec 1944: Left Grimsby and posted as missing

Cert. Cancelled & Milford Registry Closed: 9 Mar 1945

Accidents and Incidents

From an unknown local newspaper of c.16th November 1939:

 

    It is good news for Milford that the trawler fleet, which has been so depleted since the outbreak of war, is to be augmented by three vessels which have been purchased from Aberdeen.

    Two, the River Ythan and the Sureaxe, are being added to the growing fleet of that enterprising firm of Yolland and Llewellin.  These vessels can be adapted for Spanish fishing, of course, but for the meanwhile will probably be put on mixed fishing.  They are 112 ft. and 115 ft. in length.

    The other purchase is by Mr. Herman Westenborg, another go-ahead owner. The vessel is the Craiganeran, and has been bought from Mr. George Craig of Aberdeen. 

    The trawlers are expected to arrive shortly, and will be a welcome addition to the local fleet.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

From an unknown local newspaper, dated c.15th August 1940:

 

    On Tuesday morning three more Milford trawlers arrived in port bearing visible marks of contact with Nazi planes at sea.  The vessels were fishing peacefully when the enemy appeared and dropped bombs, which fortunately missed their mark, though the effect of the explosions were felt.

    Chagrined by their lack of bombing skill, the Nazis resorted to their usual cowardly methods by attacking the helpless fishermen, and relentlessly machine-gunned them.  Evidence of this is to be seen on each side of the trawlers.  Worse still, at least three men were severely wounded. 

    Skipper Walter Perry, of 16, Greville Road, received a nasty flesh wound, whilst his boatswain, Fred McKay, 23, Prioryville, was badly wounded in both legs.  He was on watch in the wheelhouse at the time of the attack.  He had to be taken to hospital.  The other injured man was George Turrel, chief engineer on another trawler.  He was wounded in the legs and arms.

    The other trawler, belonging to the same firm, was the River Ythan.

 

From the West Wales Guardian of Friday 16th August 1940:

 

    For the third successive week, Milford trawlers have been attacked by Nazi bombers.  Their names, owners and skippers were: s.t. "Ermine" (H.E. Rees and Company), Skipper Walter Perry, Greville Road, Milford; s.t. "Kernevel" and s.t. "River Ythan" (Yolland and Llewellin); Skippers J. Cheyney, Point Street, Hakin, and W. Davies, Picton Road, Hakin, respectively.

    Only one of the bombs came dangerously close to a trawler ("River Ythan").  It hit and split the mizzen boom, then dropped onto the leading tackle rope and glanced off into the sea astern before exploding.  The bombing having failed, the Nazis machine gunned the defenceless fishermen, and when the three trawlers docked at Milford bullet holes could be seen all over them.

    The "Ermine" was bombed and machine gunned for twenty minutes, and the boatswain, Mr. Fred McKay, Prioryville, on watch on the bridge at the time, had a bullet through one knee, while the other leg was also injured.  He was taken to the County Hospital.

    Skipper Walter Perry and Mr. George Turrell, chief engineer on the "Kernevel", were also slightly wounded.

 

[ The three trawlers were all attacked by aircraft off the Smalls on 12th August.]

 

    

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