From the West Wales Guardian of Friday 24th May 1946:

 

    Two weekend additions to the Milford fleet have left on their maiden voyages from the port.  Yesterday the Westcar, purchased by the Westward Trawling Co., from Messrs. F. & T. Ross, of Hull, left in charge of Skipper Frank Armitage.  She is a 135 footer, built in 1915, and has been on war service.

    Also on her way to the fishing grounds with Skipper Utting and Mate James Hastings is the steam trawler Rugby, which arrived in Milford last weekend from Grimsby for Messrs. Tillbrook Trawlers. 

    Great interest was taken in the arrival yesterday of the 140 feet super-Castle trawler Gunner, purchased by United Trawlers Ltd., from a Grimsby firm.  Built in 1927, the ship has been doing Iceland and Bear Island fishing.  She will probably sail on her maiden voyage from the port on Monday under Skipper Albert Riby.

 

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From the West Wales Guardian of Friday 8th August 1947:

 

    When the Milford trawler "Westcar" docked last Friday, Skipper G. McClelland reported that he had a German aerial torpedo in his catch.

    The missile, some six feet long by eighteen inches in diameter was picked up in the trawl on the south west Irish fishing grounds, and on Sunday, before the trawler left for another trip, the torpedo was transferred by crane and secured on the deck of the steam trawler "Kuroki", being converted for fishing for the same firm.

    On Wednesday night a Mine Disposal Team from Swansea arrived in Milford and set about rendering the torpedo harmless.  "It was covered with weed and barnacles," a member of the crew told us.

 

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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.

 

THE BIG SHIPS

1.  Milford Duke (A. Saunders), Milford Steam Trawling Co.

2.  Maretta (W. Burgoyne), United Trawlers.

3.  Westcar (Steve Pembroke), Westward Trawlers.

4.  Milford Duchess (J. Jobson); 5, David Ogilvie (T. Donovan, DSC); 6, Maythorne (H. Rich); 7, Cotswold (J. Clarke); 8, George Hastings (H. Ryan); 9, Lady Olwen (George Coe).

 

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From the West Wales Guardian of Friday 2nd July 1954:

 

  After seven years as skipper of the Milford Steam Trawling Company's diesel fishing vessels, Skipper Jimmy Jobson has reverted to steam.  He sailed on Tuesday in charge of the Westward Trawlers' Westcar, taking with him a number of members of the crew of his last boat, the Milford Duchess.  Mr. Walter Rackley is Mate with him. 

 

 

 

L to R, back row: Ch.Eng. Tom Hicks, Bosun Kenny Cockrell, Skipper Jim Jobson, Deckhand Grenville Jones, 3rd Hand Hughie Picton (with leg of pork), Deckhand Gene Kuzma

Front row: Mate Clarence Rackley, 2nd Eng. John Longdon, Firemen Fred Patten and Jock Perkins, Deckhand Tommy Donovan, Cook Johnny Gapski, Deckhand Walter Salaman.

Taken for the West Wales Guardian of Friday 11th March 1955

John Stevenson Collection

 

 

From the West Wales Guardian of Friday 13th May 1959:

 

    Popular fisherman Mr. Jack Braddick, 5 St. Lawrence Avenue, Hakin, Bosun on the the steam trawler Westcar (Westward Trawlers), damaged his ribs in a fall at sea last weekend.  Skipper George Spooner put the injured bosun ashore in Ireland, and he was admitted to hospital.

 

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From the West Wales Guardian of Friday 22nd July 1960:

 

    Mr. Carter confirmed that the 135ft. trawler Westcar is to be scrapped.  Less than two months ago another of the company's big ships, the Rudilais, was despatched to the breaker's yard.

    "As with the Rudilais," said Mr. Carter, "I have decided reluctantly to scrap the Westcar because it is impossible to run boats on the rubbish of coal that is being sent to us today.  As a result of this poor quality fuel, the ships are not doing their duty while they are at sea, and they are killing the men below in their efforts to keep them steaming."

    The scrapping of the Westcar, which was reconditioned in the last war, is another serious blow to Milford, whose fleet will thus be reduced to 28 trawlers, the lowest figure in the port's history.

 

 

   

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