IBIS V  O-75

Official No:                          Port and Year:  Ostend, 1908

Description: Steel side trawler; steam, coal burning.

Crew:

Built: by Goole Shipbuilding.  (Yard no. 122)

Tonnage: 196 grt  - net

Length / breadth / depth (feet): - / - / -

Engine: T 3-Cyl;  400 hp; by the Goole Engineering Co.

Owners:   Aug 1908: Société Coopérative L'Ibis, Ostend

Landed at Milford: 16 Oct 1914 - 20 Aug 1919

Skippers:

Notes: 1914 - 19: Fishery Trawler. 1 Jan 1922: Picked up a boat from the Spanish steamer MAR CASPIO of Bilbao, six miles off Ostend.  One seaman aboard, showing signs of life, but died shortly afterwards. [The Times, 2nd January 1922.]   Owners also known as "Société anonyme à responsabilité limitée pour le perfectionnement de la pêche."  [Information kindly supplied by Maurice Voss]

 

Accidents and Incidents

 

    From the Haverfordwest and Milford Haven Telegraph of Wednesday,  21 October 1914:

 

    The Belgian Invasion" of Milford Haven.

    HUNDREDS OF REFUGEES HOUSED AND FED.

    At Milford Haven the "Invasion" by Belgian refugees continues and the capacity of the town to accommodate the daily arrivals has been taxed to the utmost. Last Friday was a day that will not soon be forgotten, the sight of little children wandering about crying, worn and tired, moved many of the inhabitants to compassionate tears and brought out all that is best in the hearts of English, Welsh, Scotch and Irish, for Milford Haven is a cosmopolitan place. .........   Several refugees arrived by the midnight train Thursday, and scores of families poured in by the morning mail train. Mr David Pettit, the steam trawler owner who is managing the twenty-five Ostend trawlers at Milford Haven, and the owners and representatives of the firms did not get much rest that night, and at an early hour Mr Hugh Phelps, caretaker of the Masonic Hall, was knocked up. .........  They had all come in the rush to Folkestone, and the journey down to West Wales took a couple of days. .............. Most of the people of course came to Milford Haven because of their connection with the fishermen on the trawlers, but there were others who simply managed to come in the crowd. The address "Pettit, Milford," got them all through to the far away port in Flemish Wales.

    The chief work of the morning was to secure homes and accommodation for the homeless, and Mr G. S. Kelway, the Belgian Consul, and the Relief Committee, Mr W. C. Whittow, chairman of the Urban District Council, and others, lost no time in scouring the town for help. ............. A few moments later the Dock head-flag signalled "gates open" and slowly two strange, light-coloured steamers came in, they new the Belgian flag, and appeared to be large trawlers. The numbers 0.75 and 0.76 caused a quick reference to the fishing vessels' guide book, they are "Ibis V." and "Ibis VI",  King Albert's trawlers. The first came along the quay by the Victoria Road entrance and its human freight was discharged, and uniformed officers led on to the dockside twenty little boys in brown dungaree suits. These were orphans taken off the Belgian Government training ship in Ostend harbour. The little fellows looked pleased and as they marched up the road hand-in-hand, watched by hundreds of people, another touching episode was recorded. The boys were taken to the Bethel, where they were given tea, and will be housed for an indefinite period. The other trawler went to the Hakin side of the dock. 

 

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