SWANSEA BAY M23
HOMELEIGH M23
RUDILAIS M23
RUDILAIS M23 alongside the Fish Market in Milford
Official No: 136904 Port Number and Year: 6th in Fleetwood, 1915 (FD115)
3rd in Swansea, 1947 (SA37)
2nd in Milford, 1949
Description: Steel side trawler; steam screw, coal burning. Ketch rigged: mainsail and mizzen.
Crew: 13 men
Registered at Milford: 3 Mar 1949
Built: by Cochrane & Son, Selby, in 1915. (Yard no. 652). Mar 1947: P. K. Harris & Sons, Appledore, completed refit; removal of whaleback forecastle and other modifications probably carried out then.
Tonnage: 292.94 gross 116.23 net
Length / breadth / depth (feet): 133.6 / 23.6 / 10.7
Engine: T 3-Cyl. 84 nhp. 10.5 kts. Engine and boiler: Charles D. Holmes & Co., Hull
Owners:
As COLLENA FD115
24 Apr 1915: J. Marr & Son, 228 Dock St., Fleetwood
Manager: James A. Robertson, OBE. (Died 12 Oct 1924.)
Oct 1924: Alan Marr, Melrose Esplanade, Fleetwood. (Died 1 Dec 1925.)
6 Feb 1925: Joseph Arthur Marr, 26 Esplanade, Fleetwood. (1 Apr 1929: Retired from Board to run the Dinas Company.
Apr 1929: Geoffrey E. Marr, Melrose Esplanade, Fleetwood.
1942: Aldred Fishing Co. Ltd., Grimsby.
Manager: H. Markham Cook.
1942: Sold to the Admiralty, and Fleetwood registry closed.
June 1946: Swansea Trawlers Ltd., Mumbles, Swansea
Manager: K. H. Reynolds, DFC
1947: As SWANSEA BAY SA37
As SWANSEA BAY M23
3 Mar 1949: Goodleigh Fisheries Ltd., Docks, Milford
Manager: Henry John Richards, 'Goodleigh House', Bulford Rd., Johnston
12 May 1950: As HOMELEIGH M23
Mar 1952: Ribble Trawlers Ltd., Fleetwood
Managers: Merchants (Fleetwood)
Jun 1953: Herman Westenborg, Milford.
26 Sep 1953: As RUDILAIS M23
5 Oct 1953: Westward Trawlers Ltd., Docks, Milford
Manager: Edgar Erel Carter, The Rath, Milford.
Landed at Milford: As SWANSEA BAY: 15 Mar 1949
As HOMELEIGH: 18 Jun 1950 - 23 Mar 1952; 10 Jun 1953.
As RUDILAIS: 20 Oct 1953 - 5 Jun 1960
Skippers: Clarence Riby (1952); Jock Mair (1955).
Notes:
May 1915: Requisitioned from the builders and converted for minesweeping duties (Ad.No.1585). (1-6pdr HA) (Ad.No.1585). Based at Dover (Sub Lieut. F. G. Heath RNR).
17 Sep 1915: At 10.0 pm. “ rendered good service by rescuing the crew of S.S. AFRICA mined in the Downs, 23 in number, who were all in one boat which was on the point of sinking”. Based Lerwick.
Post 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Fleetwood.20 Feb 1929: COLLENA standing by trawler KUMU; pumps unable to cope; later crew taken aboard HARRY MELLING. [The Times, Thursday 21st Feb 1929.]
10 Oct 1929: John Edward Fernley, boatswain of COLLENA, lost overboard. [The Times, Saturday 12th Oct 1929.]
28 Jul 1937: COLLENA damage to funnel, wheelhouse and rail after collision with trawler NORTHERN CHIEF. [The Times, Friday, 30th July 1937.]
Jan 1940: Requisitioned by the Admiralty and converted for boom defence duties (P.No.Z.151).
23 Nov 1943: Compulsorily acquired by Ministry of War Transport.
Nov 1943: Fleetwood registry closed.Jul 1945: Sold to mercantile.
Feb 1949: Swansea registry closed.
1952: Goodleigh Fisheries went into liquidation.
1953: Laid up at Fleetwood.
22 Jun 1960: Delivered to Haulbowline Industries, for breaking up at Passage West, Cork.
Cert. Cancelled & Milford Registry Closed: 10 Aug 1960.
[Mayes G. & Thomas M. (2014): Cochrane Shipbuilders Vol.2: 1915 - 1939.]
As COLLENA FD115 (1915-47)
Courtesy of Fleetwood Maritime Heritage Trust and The Bosun's Watch
Accidents and Incidents
From the West Wales Guardian of Friday 24th December 1948:
"It shows that we don't think that Milford is finished," was the comment of a director of the Goodleigh Trawling Company yesterday, when telling the Guardian about a new purchase. The vessel is the 133 foot Swansea Bay, now in Hull, and she will be brought to Milford soon after Christmas, to fish in north-western Scottish waters. The managing Director of the Company is Mr. H. J. Richards.
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From the West Wales Guardian of Friday 8th April 1949:
A 26 year old deckhand-trimmer, Francis Loughlin, of 24 Newsons Meadow, Lowestoft, died from suffocation, and another fisherman, Raymond Cleveland, is in hospital suffering from burns as a result of a fire which broke out on board the steam trawler Swansea Bay in Milford Docks in the early hours of today (Friday).
When the outbreak was discovered, Cleveland, suffering from burns, came off the ship to go for help, Loughlin stayed behind to fight the flames, but apparently was overcome and, instead of going through the door of the sleeping quarters to the accommodation ladder, opened an inspection door and fell through into the bulkhead.
The Swansea Bay is owned by Goodleigh Fisheries, and has just completed her first Icelandic trip out of Milford, having landed her catch on Tuesday morning. The prompt work of police and firemen prevented any extensive damage to the vessel.
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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.
.............
SUPER CASTLE
In this class Skipper Sid Hearne is well out in front with Skippers Harvey and Seeling neck and neck behind him.
1. Nighthawk (Sid Hearn), Milford Fisheries.
2. Almandine (Arthur Harvey), Milford Fisheries.
3. Hatano (Albert Seeling), Messrs. Jenkerson.
4. Homeleigh (Clarence Riby), Goodleigh Fisheries.
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From the West Wales Guardian of Friday 12th June 1953:
The trawler Deeside (Mr. W. Kerr), which left Milford in 1946 to fish out of Lowestoft, is returning to the port and is now fishing a trip round. At one time the Deeside, a crabber class boat, was paired with the Bellerophon.
Another trawler returning to Milford next week is the Hosanna (Mr. W. Wilcox), which has been fishing out of Fleetwood for some months. A third trawler, the Homeleigh, (Mr. H. Westenborg) is being brought back from Fleetwood by a scratch crew, but it is understood she will be going to the breakers' yard.
Two more small Milford trawlers left this week for the breakers' yard at Pill Point. They are the Rig and Loyal Star, which formerly belonged to Messrs. H. H. Rees and Co.
L to R, back row: Deckhand Morris High, 3rd Hand Fred Mitchell, Bosun Jim Goldsmith, Deckhand Michael Dzuiba
Front row: Deckhand Pat Graham, Mate Eddie Thomas, Fireman Frank Barton, Fireman Cecil Anthony, Skipper Jock Mair, Ch.Eng. Berry Beamish, 2nd Eng. Wm. J. Bowen, Cook Josef Moszoro
Taken for the West Wales Guardian of 4th February 1955
John Stevenson Collection
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