VALLETTA  M177

Official No:  137766   Port Number and Year:  1st in Milford, 1921

Description: Wooden smack.  Ketch rigged: foresail, jib, mainsail, topsail and mizzen

Crew:  4 men

Registered: 10 Feb 1921

Built: 1906, James Miller & Co., Anstruther, Fife.

Tonnage: 79.76 grt  57.63 net.

Length / breadth / depth (feet):  78  / 20 / 10.37

Engine: -

Owners:   1906-21: Belgian owners?   As M177 10 Feb 1921: Harold Wooding, 'Courtetreve', Whyteleafe Rd., Caterham, Surrey.  (Banker) Manager: L. C. Cockrell, Vanessa Steam Trawlers Co., Docks, Milford   20 Nov 1925: Mortimer Thompson, 30 Upper Hill St., Hakin. Managing owner and skipper.   30 Jun 1926: Elizabeth Johnson, Church St., Brixham.   14 Jul 1926: Edward James Hellings.  )  Docks, William Eliezer Johnson.                     ) Milford

Landed at Milford: 15 Jan 1921 - 21 Oct 1927

Skippers: Mortimer Thompson; William. E. Johnson.

Notes: 28 Oct 1927: Stranded off Rosslare, and became a total wreck. [See below.]

Cert. Cancelled & Registry Closed: 3 Dec 1927.

Accidents and Incidents

From The Irish Times of 1st November 1927:

 

.....

    The regular trading schooner, Clara, the property of Mr. J. Rochford, Kilmore Quay, was wrecked at her home port.  An English trawler broke her moorings in Rosslare Harbour, and was driven ashore.  The crew were saved by the life-saving apparatus.

 

 

From The Irish Times of 8th November 1927:

 

WRECK OF THE VALETTA

WELSH SKIPPER'S TRIBUTE TO WEXFORD RESCUERS

 

    Mr. W. E. Johnson, 14 Hill Street, Milford Haven, skipper of the fishing smack Valetta, which was wrecked in the recent storm on the Wexford coast, writes :―

    "I feel it my duty, on behalf of myself and crew, to beg of you just a small space in your valuable paper in which to make public our sincere thanks and appreciation for the great efforts and splendid bravery shown by the life-saving apparatus brigade of Rosslare and all those who helped them to save our lives when, during that awful storm on the night of the 28th October, our fishing smack, the Valetta, of Milford Haven, was wrecked upon the Strand, Rosslare.

    "It is an unforgettable experience, and I am sure, if those brave men had not shown such devotion to duty and imperilled their own lives, ours would most certainly have been forfeited.  I mention most especially Mr. Jack Kelly, of the Strand, Rosslare, who so courageously, in the face of tremendous danger to himself ran, time after time, into the boiling surf to throw us a line, which was the means of our salvation after the rockets had failed to reach us.

    "I also mention the kindness shown by the proprietor and staff of the Strand Hotel, Rosslare, to whom we are very grateful; also the Hon. Secretary, Shipwrecked Mariners' Society, Wexford, who, as soon as he was aware of our predicament, hastened to secure for us the clothing and comforts of which we were in need.

    "I am sure, should any poor sailor, irrespective of nationality, meet with a similar fate on Irish soil, he can be assured the same hospitality shown to us."

 

   

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