SYRINGA

SYRINGA M21

Official No:  112469 Port Number and Year: 1st in Milford, 1905
                                                                              -   in Grimsby, 1927? (GY1309)

Description: Steel side / beam trawler; steam screw, coal burning. Ketch rigged: foresail, mainsail, mizzen

Crew: 9 men (10 in 1907)

Registered at Milford: 18 Jan 1905

Built: 1905, Smith's Docks Co., North Shields. (Yard no. 760)

Tonnage: 242.89 grt 76.49 net. (1 Jan 1914: Amended by BoT to 93.15 net.)

Length / breadth / depth (feet): 125.4 / 22.1 / 12.05

Engine: T-3Cyl; 58 rhp., by W. V. V. Lidgerwood, Glasgow.

Owners:

18 Jan 1905: Southern Steam Trawling Co., 127 Quay, Waterford.

Manager: Cornelius Cecil Morley, Docks, Milford

12 Aug 1919: Robert James Williams   )

Oliver Johnstone                                   ) Docks, Milford

George Herbert Russell                         )

9 Feb 1920: Direct Fish Supplies, London Wall Buildings, London.

Oct 1922: Charles Dobson, Fish Docks, Grimsby

Oct 1927: As GY1309

Landed at Milford: 7 Feb 1905 - 9 Aug 1914; 1 Jun 1919 - 7 Dec 1920

Skippers: James Kean cert. 5113, age 37, born London; signed on 18 Jan, 13 Jul 1905; 1 Jan, 6 Jul 1906; 1 Jan, 5 Jul 1907; 6 Jan, 10 Jul, 3 Aug 1908; 8 Jan, 2 Jul 1909; 12 Jan 1911

James MacDonald 7981, 44, Leeds; 4 Sep 1907; 10 Jul 1908

C. Bradnum 5693, 42, Upton; 6 May 1911

D. Smith 3549, 35, Lincoln; residing 13 St. Peter's Rd., Milford; 7 Jul, 8 Oct 1911

Thomas Salter 5349, 35, Exeter; 27 Jul 1911; 5 Jan 1912; 14 Jan 1913

E. Ash 5732, 33, Brixton; 2 Aug 1912;

Notes: Aug 1914: Requisitioned by the Admiralty and converted to a minesweeper. 1 x 13 pdr.
Mar 1917: Renamed SYRINGA II.
1919: Returned to owners.
Apr 1938: Broken up.

Cert. Cancelled & Milford Registry Closed: 14 Oct 1927. Vessel transferred to the port of Grimsby.

Accidents and Incidents:

From the Haverfordwest & Milford Haven Telegraph of Wednesday 22nd February 1905:

Two more of the fine steam trawlers recently built at Shields to the orders of Messrs. Sellick, Morley and Price are at the moment in Milford Docks. They arrived during the week. The steam trawler "Syringa", which is charge of Captain Keene, landed last week, whilst the steam trawler "Tacsonia", Captain M. Kingston, made a trip realising £350 at Monday's market. The vessels belong to a new class of trawlers specially adapted for long voyages, which the above enterprising firm are adding to their already large fleet. They are sister ships to the "Rosa", and alongside the ordinary steam trawler they are leviathans in comparison.

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From the Haverfordwest and Milford Haven Telegraph of Wednesday 19th February 1908:

Frederick J. Hancock, Point Street, Hakin, summoned John Stroud, Charles Street, master mariner, for piloting the steam trawler "Essex" out of the port of Milford without holding the necessary certificate. David J. Davies, of Great North Road, master of the steam trawler "Gillygate"; James Keen, Dewsland Street, master mariner of the steam trawler "Syringa"; and Thomas Leggett, Waterloo Road, master mariner of the steam trawler "St. Clear", were summoned for a like offence. It was mentioned that the cases had all been settled, and they were struck out.

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Log book entries:

When steaming about due west off Oxwich Head, the steam trawler 'Petunia', also on the same course, veered across our bows. We stopped our engines but she hit us before our way was gone.

From the Haverfordwest & Milford Haven Telegraph of Wednesday 11th September 1912:

The crisis in the Milford fish trade is the one topic of conversation in the town and port. The exodus has already commenced, and grave concern is being expressed as to what will be the end of it all. Of the intentions of Messrs. Sellick, Morley and Price, our readers are fully cognisant, yet there is hope that developments may take place which will be the means of preventing the loss of the entire fleet to Milford. Much of course depends upon the results of the trading to Fleetwood by the six trawlers which have been transferred.

The boats which have left for sea during the last few days, and which will run for the next three months to Fleetwood, are the steam trawlers "Teesmouth", "Tacsonia", "Sidmouth", "Uhdea", "Essex" and "Syringa". Messrs. F. B. Rees and A. rainbow, manager and salesman, have also left, together with Mr. W. Lewis as shoreman. The firm have taken offices at Fleetwood, and all arrangements have been completed for the transfer of the business.

From the Haverfordwest & Milford Haven Telegraph of Wednesday 18th June 1919:

Some excitement was manifested on the Milford Docks during last week when it became known that Messrs. Sellick, Morley and Price were disposing of their fleet of steam trawlers. For a considerable time negotiations had been proceeding with the Consolidation Company of Grimsby, but these recently fell through. It is gratifying to know that the greater portion of the fleet has been retained for the port, as will be seen from the following list. Several local gentlemen having come forward, the competition was very keen.

The Alnmouth, Weigelia, and Exmouth have been sold to Fleetwood firms, while the Charmouth, Macaw, Tacsonia, Rosa, Xylopia, Essex, Uhdea, Petunia, Lynmouth, Kalmia, Portsmouth, Weymouth, Syringa, Yarmouth and Magnolia have all found local buyers.

This opens out the question of the need for local trades people and others to invest in the staple industry of this fishing port, as has been done in competing fishing centres.