THE NORMAN  M231 / CF30

NORMAN GG56 (ex THE NORMAN) on the right, in Gothenburg.

Thanks to Christer Olausson, Maritime Museum of Gothenburg.

Official No:  128742     Port Number and Year: 11th in Milford, 1908                                                                                    -    in Cardiff, 1910 (CF30)                                                                                    -    in Fleetwood, 1919 (FD145)                                                                                    -    in Göteborg, 1926 (GG56 )

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

Crew: 9 men (1908)

Registered at Milford: 16 Dec 1908

Built: 1908, Smith's Dock Co., North Shields.  (Yard no. 391)

Tonnage: 224.67 grt  86.09 net

Length / breadth / depth (feet): 120.5 / 21.6 / 11.65

Engine: T-3Cyl, 57 nhp; 10kts.  Engine and boiler by MacColl & Pollack, Sunderland.

Owners:   As M231 16 Dec 1908:  Wilfred Neale, 4 Boverton St., Cardiff  (Fish salesman) Howard Kingsley Neale, 14 Salisbury Ave., Penarth (Clerk) Joshua Symonds Neale, (Fish salesman)   )                                                    Morley Havelock Neale (Fish salesman)  )  Lynwood Park Rd., Penarth       Douglas Emery Neale (Ice salesman)       )                                                    Manager: James Thomas, 'Tredegar House', Great North Rd., Milford.   As CF30 15 Dec 1910: Neale & West, Hope St., Cardiff Managers: Wilfred Neale, Morley H. Neale & Joshua S. Neale.   1917: The Hesketh Steam Trawlers, London St., Fleetwood. 14 Apr 1919: As FD145 Manager: Ernest Taylor.                 Joseph A. Taylor & Harold Taylor, Orient Buildings, Station Rd., Fleetwood. (1921)                 Magnus B. J. Wedum  (1924)   30 Dec 1924: Frederick Swann, 9 Seafield Rd., Lytham, Lancs. (Seafield Trawling Co, Fleetwood) Manager: William J. Morley   As NORMAN  GG56 11 Jun 1926: Elfgrimernas Trål AB, Göteborg. Manager: Lambert Häller   1944: A/B Doggersbankar, Göteborg. Manager: Carl G. Edquist   1945: AB Göteborgs Torskmjölsfabrik, Göteborg. Manager: Axel Häller.

Landed at Milford:  23 Dec 1908 - 25 Jul 1911; 13 Nov 1914 - 10 May 1915

Skippers: James MacDonald cert. 7989, age 24, born Hull; residing Hubberston Green; signed on 11 Dec 1908; 19 Jan, 12 Jul 1909 Fred Hardisty 1891, 40, Barton; 20 Greville Rd., Milford; 24 Jan 1910 A. Petherbridge 8776, 25, Hull; 11 Mar 1910.

Notes:  19 May 1915: Arrived Devonport. Requisitioned by Admiralty and converted to a mine layer (Admy no. 1762) 24 mines; 1x6 pdr  AA. 1917: Converted to a minesweeper; 1x 6 pdr AA, 1 x 7.5" bomb thrower. Based in Dover. 12 Mar 1919: Returned to owners 1963: Broken up in Gothenburg. [Thanks to Christer Olausson, Maritime Museum of Gothenburg, and to the Bosun's Watch website.]

Cert. Cancelled & Milford Registry Closed: 15 Dec 1910. Transferred to the port of Cardiff.

 

Accidents and Incidents

 

From The Pembrokeshire Herald and General Advertiser of Friday 12th November 1909:

 

MILFORD HAVEN

..........

NEW STEAM TRAWLER

On Sunday last the new Steam Trawler "The Roman" arrived in port.  Her cargo of fish was sold on the following Monday and realised £100, which was quite up to the average realised by other boats.  The new vessel is a sister-ship to the Steam Trawler "The Norman" and was built by Messrs. Smiths Docks, North Shields, to the order of Messrs Neale of Cardiff.  The arrival of this and other new boats tends to speak to the prosperity of the fish trade.

 

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From The Pembrokeshire Herald and General Advertiser of Friday 3rd December 1909:

 

MILFORD SESSIONS

.......

STEALING FISH

    James Hyatt, Pier Hotel, fisherman, and Thomas Sayers, Old Dockyard, were summoned for stealing ten pairs of soles from the Milford Docks on the 18th ult.  The  fish belonged to Messrs. Neale and West, for whom Mr. James was local agent.  Mr. H. Williams, solicitor, Haverfordwest, appeared for the prosecutor, and the defendant Sayers was represented by Mr. R. D. Gilbertson.

    Mr. Williams said that on the 18th ult., the steam trawler Norman [sic, passim] was being unloaded in the dock at 6.30 in the morning, and the two defendants were seen loitering about.  Afterwards Hyatt was seen with a quantity of fish in his possession, and accompanying him was the other defendant.  The practise of stealing fish, added Mr. Williams, was very prevalent on the market.

    The first witness was Mr. James Thomas, who said he was the local manager for Messrs. Neale and West, the owners of the Norman.  He valued the soles at 27s. 

    Dock Constable John Davies testified that he was on duty on the docks on the morning in question.  He saw the defendants there by the fish market.  When he met them Hyatt was carrying a bundle of fish on his back, the other defendant being with him.  Sayers ran away, and Hyatt tried to conceal the fish in some empty fish boxes.  When accosted by the witness Hyatt said he had some whiteing.  The witness, however, found that the defendant had ten pairs of soles.  The defendant Hyatt then said, "I am assisting Reynolds (meaning Sayers) to take them away."  He afterwards stated when charged, "I am helping Reynolds and Fred Hill."

    In reply to Mr. Gilbertson, the witness said he saw Hyatt hide the fish. 

    Dock-sergeant Heber Evans stated he saw Hyatt in the custody of P.C. Davies.  The witness charged him and in reply he said, "I was only doing it for Reynolds and Fred Hill.  It was not I that took them from the Norman.  It was Reynolds.  I only assisted him.  Reynolds took them out in two kits to the back of the market."  He afterwards pointed the two kits out to the witness.  Later on he arrested Reynolds, who said in reply to the charge, "I am very sorry.  It is the first thing I have done.  I should not have done it only I had the tip to do so by Fred Hill, who was packing fish on the quay from the Norman."

    Replying to Mr. Gilbertson, the witness said he had known Sayers for nine years, and he had nothing against him.  He always had borne a good character. 

    Both defendants elected to be dealt with summarily, and pleaded guilty.

    Mr. Gilbertson having addressed the Court on behalf of Sayers, the Bench sentenced Hyatt to a month's imprisonment with hard labour, and Sayers was fined £1 and costs, or in default one month's imprisonment. 

    

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From The Pembrokeshire Herald and General Advertiser of Friday 16th December 1910:

 

MILFORD HAVEN

.......................

A LOSS TO THE PORT.

        We hear that Messrs. Neale and West, of Cardiff, have decided upon taking their three vessels, Norman, Roman, and Saxon, from this port in order to trade out of Cardiff. This is a great loss to the trade as it means a decrease in the supply of fish and as each ship is manned by a crew of nine, it means that these men will either have to leave the town or lose their employment, whilst those landsmen who receive casual employment when the vessels come in will also experience a loss.

 

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From the Haverfordwest & Milford Haven Telegraph of Wednesday 13th May 1914:

 

MORE TRAWLER CHANGES.

    During the past week the steam trawler Dinas has changed owners, having been acquired by Mr. G. H. D. Birt from Messrs. Hancock & Harries. Her sister ship, the Solva, has now left for Fleetwood and satisfaction is expressed that the Dinas is to remain at this port. Mr Birt is also about purchasing the steam trawler Norman from Messrs. Neale of Cardiff. This vessel formerly sailed from Milford Haven and her return will be welcome. Mr Brand is at present away for the launch of his firm's latest trawler at Aberdeen and this vessel will therefore be round in the course of a few weeks. All this is good news for the port.  

 

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