MILFORD KNIGHT M127

 

John Stevenson Collection

Official No:    183934    Port Number and Year:  1st in Milford, 1950

                                                                                     -   in Lowestoft, 1955 (LT210)

Description:  Steel side trawler; single screw motor vessel.  Cruiser stern.

Crew: 10 men (1950)

Registered at Milford: 12 Sep 1950

Built: by Cochrane & Sons, Selby, in 1950.  (Yard no. 1357)

Tonnage: 168.48 gross 62.9 net 

Length / breadth / depth (feet):  107.8   / 21.15 / 10.35

Engine: Diesel, vertical internal combustion, geared transmission.  4 stroke cycle, single acting.  6-Cyl. . 75 nhp.  10¼ kts.  Ruston & Hornsby, Lincoln

Owners:

 

12 Sep 1950: Milford Steam Trawling Co. Ltd., The Docks, Milford.

Manager: Daniel Charles Bruton.

 

10 Oct 1955: The Clan Steam Fishing Co. Ltd. (Grimsby), 8 Waveney Rd., Lowestoft.

Managing owner: Gordon David Claridge.

As TRINIDAD LT210

 

1957: Drifter Trawlers Ltd. (Colne Shipping Ltd.), 8 Waveney Road, Lowestoft.

Managing owner: Gordon David Claridge.

 

Landed at Milford: 20 Sep 1950 - 29 Oct 1955

Skippers: Harry ('Wompo') Thompson (c.1950-54); Jack ('Nobby') Clarke (c.1954-55)

Notes: 

27 May 1959: Skipper A.G. Gook and his son, Mate E.A. Gook, of the TRINIDAD were presented with the Emile Robin Award for rescuing 25 of the crew of the Danish of the s.s. TH. ADLER SVANHOLM in the North Sea, on 16th October 1958. 

[The Times, Thursday, 28th May 1959.]

Cert. Cancelled & Milford Registry Closed: 10 Oct 1955.  Transferred to the port of Lowestoft.

Accidents and Incidents

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.

.....

 

BIG CRABBERS

    This class has provided a real family struggle, with Skipper Tom Salter pipping his brother-in-law on the post and his brother finishing in third place!

    The first three boats are owned by the Westward Company (Mr. E. E. Carter).

1.  Cleopatra II. (Tom Salter), Westward.

2.  Caldy (Hubert Morgans), Westward.

3.  Slebech (Harry Salter), Westward.

4.  Avonstar (Jack Ryan); 5, Ocean Brine (Frank Gambold); 6, Milford Knight (Harry Thompson); 7, Hero (Lenny Brown); 8, Montano (George Kersey); 9, Milford Countess (Teddy Funge).

 

 

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From the West Wales Guardian of Friday 30th January 1953:

 

    In a thrilling close finish, Skipper Tom Salter, Stratford Road, headed the list of big crabber skippers at Milford in 1952, beating Skipper Hubert Morgan by a short head in the fishing league.  Only £94 divided their respective grossings for the 12 months.  Byan oversight, the big crabbers section was inadvertently omitted from our fishing league reported last week.

1.  Cleopatra II (Tom Salter), Westward Trawling Co.

2.  Caldy (Hubert Morgan), Westward Trawling Co.

3.  Iser (R. Hannaford), Don Trawling Co.

4.  Milford Knight (H. Thompson); 5.  Milford Countess (Ted Funge); 6.  P&Y (Jack Garnham).

 

 

L to R, back row: 3rd Hand Vincent Davies (75 Waterloo Road, Hakin), Bosun Billy Lawrence (87 Robert Street, Milford), Deckhand Victor Welham (60 Dewsland Street, Milford), Cook Bert Stratton (Ramsgate) 

Middle row: Deckhand Jimmy Jenkins (56 Harbour Way, Hakin), 3rd Eng. Eric Beckett (14 Milton Crescent, Milford) 

Front row: Mate Bernard Davies (Vaynor Road, Milford), Skipper Harry Thompson, MBE, Ch.Eng. W.J. Chick (North Road, Milford), 2nd Eng. Stanley Lloyd (46 Langford Close, Johnston)

Taken for the West Wales Guardian of  Friday 24th September 1954

John Stevenson Collection

 

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From the West Wales Guardian of  Friday 29th October 1954:

 

Two injured Milford fishermen have returned home after hospital treatment.  Mr Jimmy Jenkins, Hakin, (Milford Knight) was admitted to hospital on the Isle of Man in mid-August, with fractured ribs and an injured back sustained in an deck accident......

 

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From the West Wales Guardian of  Friday 10th December 1954:

 

    The only storm casualty in Milford's fishing fleet was the diesel trawler "Milford Knight", in charge of skipper Jack Clarke.  She sailed on Wednesday, after gales had delayed her for a few days.  On Saturday morning a radio telephone call from the ship informed the owners that she had blown ashore at Tobermory Bay, Argyllshire, Scotland, while sheltering during a severe gale on Friday night. Within a few hours the reassuring news was received that the Swansea trawler "Harlech Castle" had towed the "Knight" off, and that her crew were none the worse for the experience. The superintendent engineer of the owning company travelled to Scotland, and following a survey it was found at the trawler was undamaged.  She left Oban on Tuesday to resume her fishing trip.  With Skipper Clarke, the crew is:

Mate. Bernard Davies. Vaynor Road, Milford.

Bosun. Billy Lawrence. 87,Robert Street, Milford.

Thirdhand. Vincent Davies. 78, Waterloo Road, Hakin.

Deckhands. Jimmy Jenkins. 58, Harbour Way, Hakin.

                  Victor Welham. 60,Dewsland Street, Milford.

Cook.  Bert Stratton. Ramsgate.

Chief Engineer.  Billy Chick. Haven House, North Road, Milford.

2nd. Engineer. Stanley Lloyd. 40, Langford Close, Johnston.

3rd. Engineer. Eric Beckett. 14,Milton Crescent, Pill.

 

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From the West Wales Guardian of Friday 11th March 1955:

 

    Local anxiety over the future of Milford Haven's fishing industry has increased this week as the result of yet another blow to the port.  On Wednesday evening the Milford Steam Trawling Company's modern diesel crabber class trawler Milford Countess sailed from the port in charge of a Lowestoft skipper and crew on her way to her new owners, the Colne Fishing Company Ltd. of Lowestoft. 

    ...................

    Rumours that the Company's only remaining motor trawler, Milford Knight, sister ship of the Countess, is also being sold to Lowestoft were denied by the Managing Director of the Company, Lieut.-Col. D. C. Bruton, on Thursday.

    "The Knight is not affected," he stated.

 

   

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