ROLLO M203
Courtesy of Vera Jones
Official No: 110907 Port Number and Year: 55th in Grimsby, 1899 (GY647)
6th in Milford, 1928
Description: Iron side trawler; steam screw, coal burning. Ketch rigged: mizzen. Wheelhouse aft.
Crew: 9 men (1899).
Registered: 10 Jul 1928
Built: 1899 by Cochrane & Cooper, Beverley. (Yard no. 251)
Tonnage: 166.88 grt 49 net (1914: 65.72 net.)
Length / breadth / depth (feet): 101.0 / 21.0 / 11.0
Engine: T 3-Cyl. 55 rhp.10 kts. Engine and boiler by Charles D. Holmes & Co., Hull
Owners:
As GY647
1 Sep 1899: George F. Sleight, Weelsby Hall, Grimsby.
Managing owner.
Jun 1926: Raymond Lawrence Humphrey, Healing, Grimsby.
Manager owner.
As M203
10 Jul 1928: Robert G. Yabsley, 49 Charles St., Milford. 32/64.
Managing owner: Andrew Hannaford Ward Clark, 5 Charles St., Milford. 32/64.
25 Jul 1928: Andrew Hannaford Ward Clark, 5 Charles St., Milford. 64/64.
Managing owner.
14 Dec 1934: Miss Elizabeth Ann Heck Owens, 'Westcliffe', Wellington Rd., Hakin.
Managing owner.
Landed at Milford: 23 Jun 1926 - 20 Dec 1935.
Skippers: Walter Smyth (1934)
Notes:
29 May 1917: Requisitioned for the Fishery Reserve.
1919: Released.
30 Jul 1915: Rescued two survivors from the trawler TORS (HL59), mined 43 miles E. from Spurn, with eight crew members killed. (The Times, Monday 2 Aug 1915.)
21 Jun 1928: Grimsby registry closed.
3 Jan - 22 Feb 1936: Laid up, until broken up at Ward's Yard, Castle Pill.
[Lofthouse T., Mayes G., Newton D., & Thompson M. (2012): Cochrane Shipbuilders Vol.1: 1884 - 1914.]
Cert. Cancelled & Registry Closed: 30 Aug 1936.
Accidents and Incidents
From The Irish Times of 16th May 1934, p.7:
BRITISH TRAWLER ARRESTED
BROUGHT TO CASTLETOWNBERE
From our Correspondent
BANTRY, Tuesday
The British steam trawler Rollo, Milford Haven, was arrested by Sergeant McCabe, Castletownbere, Cork, and brought into Castletownbere under armed escort. It appears that the sergeant and several men were hiding aboard a local trawler owned by Mr. McFarland. Mr. McFarland brought his boat alongside the British trawler and got into conversation with the captain. While this was going on the Guards jumped out of their hiding place and the skipper was covered by an armed detective. The captain surrendered.
A special court will be held at Bantry, where the captain and crew, who are being brought from Castletownbere, will be brought up.
From The Irish Times of 18th May 1934, p.13
ILLEGAL TRAWLING
ENGLISH SKIPPER FINED AT BANTRY
Walter Smyth, skipper of the British steam trawler Rollo, Milford Haven, was convicted, at a special court in Bantry yesterday, on a charge of illegal trawling by fishing within the exclusive fishing limits of Saorstat Eireann. This was the first charge of the kind under the Fishery Act, 1933, and much local interest was taken in the case.
Alexander McFarland, owner of a local trawling boat, gave evidence in detail of many occasions when he saw the trawler Rollo illegally fishing within the limits.
Sergeant McCabe described how he, with other Guards, hid in McFarland's boat and go alongside the Rollo. When McFarland got into conversation with the skipper they got on board the Rollo and placed the crew under arrest. The skipper said: "You have got me all right this time. Perhaps it would simplify matters if I said I was poaching."
Mr. Hegarty, solicitor for defendant, said that Smyth was old, and his time for captaining fishing vessels had nearly run, and would run much faster if a heavy penalty were imposed. The owners expected him to give a certain amount of value, so as to be kept in the job. Having been fishing a considerable time with very poor results, he was tempted to come within the Free State limits.
Mr. Healy, solicitor for the Minister for Lands and Fisheries, said that the piracy of these vessels did incalculable damage to the local fishing industry.
The Justice imposed a fine of £50, and ordered the gear and fish to be forfeited.
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