NOGI LO49

 

Aground at Straw island in Galway Bay in 1938. [See newspaper articles below.]

Original photograph taken by Fr. Browne, from his book "Images of Aran".

Copy kindly supplied by Michael Muldoon

 

Official No:  145722    Port and Year:  Cardiff, 1922 (CF7)

                                                                  London, 1931 (LO49)             

Description: Steel side trawler; coal fired. Ketch rigged

Crew: 12 men (1931).

Built: by Smith's Docks Co., South Bank, Middlesborough; in 1923.  (Yard no. 775)

Tonnage:   298.71 grt  114 net

Length / breadth / depth (feet): 130.3 / 24.0 / 12.9                                                         

Engine: T 3-Cyl; 99 rhp; by builders.

Owners:

 

As CF7

Feb 1923:  Neale & West, Hope St., Cardiff.

Managers: Wilfred Neale, Morley H. Neale, Joshua S. Neale.  [Same address.]

 

As LO49

3 Feb 1931: Jenkerson & Jones, The Docks, Milford.

Manager: Thomas Jenkerson, 'Fermoy', Milford. (1931)

                  Leslie J. Jenkerson, 'Homeland', Marble Hall Rd., Milford (1938)

 

Landed at Milford: 25 Jan 1931 - 29 Aug 1939

Skippers: Thomas Donovan (1931); Lewis Albert Tucker (1935)

Notes: 

21 May 1927:  At 1330, in position 52.15N, 12.5W, reported sighting the aircraft piloted by Charles Lindbergh on first trans-Atlantic flight, course ESE. [The Times, Monday 23rd May 1927.]

17 Aug 1938: Aground on Straw Is., Aran; refloated after two weeks.  (See newspaper reports below.)

Aug 1939: Requisitioned by the Admiralty and converted to a minesweeper.

23 Jun 1941: Bombed and sunk off the Norfolk coast.

Accidents and Incidents

From an unknown newspaper, possibly the Western Mail, of Thursday 29th January 1931:

 

    It is pleasing to record that still another addition has been made to the Milford Haven fleet of steam trawlers. The majority of the new arrivals have been of the Crabber type, or vessels that are classed as around one hundred and ten feet, but the latest is a fine steam trawler one hundred and thirty feet long, the vessel "Nogi", purchased by the local trawler owners and managers, Messrs Jenkerson  and Jones.

    The "Nogi"  was purchased from the well known Cardiff firm, Neale and West Ltd.  It is a fully equipped modern trawler in full working order. 

    The "Nogi" arrived during this weekend, and leaves on  her first fishing voyage from the port of Milford on  Wednesday in the command of Skipper Thomas Donovan, one of the most successful fishermen in the port.

    This brings the fishing fleet owned by T. J. Jenkerson  and Jones to thirteen.

 

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Statement by Lewis Albert Tucker of Edward Street, Milford Haven, 27th June  1932:

 

    I have held a Skipper's certificate for twelve years.  I am Skipper of the steam trawler "Nogi" of London .  I  have been Skipper of her for the last twelve months.  We carry a crew of twelve hands all told.

    We left Milford Docks on May 3rd 1932 bound for the fishing grounds, coaled, iced and provision ed for a voyage of fourteen days.  We commenced fishing on  Thursday May 5th.  We were steaming for Milford on Sunday morning May 15th, and when in position  with the Smalls bearing North-North-West about six miles, about three a.m. our Bosun (Fred Blockwell) reported to me that he had observed signals of distress.

    I  went on  the Bridge and saw flares being burnt and two red lights showing.  I altered course and proceeded to him at once and found the vessel in distress to be the steam trawler "Bardolph" of Milford (Skipper Jennings) and he told me that his ship was in a bad state with boiler trouble, and he asked me to tow him to Milford.    

    The "Bardolph" was anchored in a bad position  with a strong tide running to the Northward and heavy ground swell. The wind was light and variable, the  visibility was hazy.  We had to exercise every possible care in manoeuvring our vessel owing to the heavy swell but we got our heaving lines to him and eventually got our warp to him and made fast.  He could not get his anchor up owing to having no steam, and he had therefore to chop away his warp and lose his anchor.

    We towed him with the warp from our winch (starboard side) through gallows sheaves and towing block.  We took every possible care to make all fast and commenced towing about four a.m. We arrived off Milford Docks at eight a.m.

    We made the "Bardolph" fast to us alongside and we came to an anchor waiting for the dock gates to open. The Dock gates opened about two p.m.,

and we proceeded into dock with the "Bardolph" made fast alongside of us, and we moored him safely. He told me that he had been anchored six hours, and had been burning flares for four hours, and that ten ships had passed him without taking notice previous to our coming up to him. There was no other vessel to be seen during the time we were standing by and making fast to him, but after we had been towing some time we saw several vessels. The "Bardolph" tubes were leaking

so badly that they could not get any steam at all.

 

Sgd. Skipper L.A.Tucker.

 

Received the sum of one hundred and twenty five pounds (£125) in full settlement and discharge of claim in the action  by the owners, Master and Crew of the steam trawler "Nogi" against the owners of the steam trawler "Bardolph" on  May  15th,  1932.

 

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From the Western Guardian of Friday 30th September 1932:

 

    Skipper Tucker of the s.t. "Nogi" was landed from his trawler on  Wednesday morning's tide with two broken ribs.  Like the hardy old salt he is, he walked from the docks to his home in Edward Street.

    It seems that on  Monday, while they were fishing two days out to the westward fishing grounds, he came off the bridge to lend a hand in the hauling in of

the nets.  Whilst hauling on  a rope, the trawler gave a sudden lurch which threw the skipper with some force against the galley, fracturing two of his ribs.  The vessel was turned round as soon  as possible and headed back to port, but it took the better part of two days steaming to reach port, and put him ashore. 

 

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 From an unknown newspaper, possibly the Western Mail, of Thursday 23rd May 1935:

 

    There was a large crowd present at the Milford Dock gates, Victoria Road, on  Wednesday afternoon to witness the presentation of the Kings Jubilee Medal to Skipper Albert Tucker, Master of the Milford steam trawler "Nogi".

    Before making the presentation,  Lt. Commander L. Hugh Milne, of Swansea, explained that it was the wish of the King to honour the fishing fleet and worthy representatives of the seafaring side of the fishing industry had been selected as recipients of the medal, which is of solid silver, hanging from red, white and blue ribbon.  Skipper Lewis Albert Tucker was selected to represent Milford Haven.

    Skipper Tucker, in a brief speech, found words difficult to express his appreciation.  He did not know why he had been selected for the honour of the medal, but said he will "accept it, respect it and honour it", with which words the Skipper stood at the salute amid the cheers of the crowd.

    A former Milford Skipper, Thomas Marshall Pickering of Swansea, was accorded a similar honour at that Port as representing the fishermen of Swansea. Skipper Pickering at on e time lived in Priory House, Priory Road.

 

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 From The Irish Times of 18th August 1938, p.8:

 

MAN'S LUCKY ESCAPE OFF ARAN ISLANDS

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

                                                                                GALWAY, Wednesday

    When the crew of the Milford Haven fishing trawler Nogi, which ran ashore in a heavy swell at Straw Island, Aran, last night, were rescued by the lifeboat from Kilronan, Aran, it was found that one man was missing. The lifeboat put out again on a heavy sea this morning, and found the missing man on Straw Island.

    The accident to the trawler occurred at 10.5 last night as she was running for shelter to Kilronan. Her row boats were lost, and the crew of fourteen were in danger until taken off by the lifeboat, which brought them to another trawler standing by.

    The lifeboat left Kilronan again at 6.40 this morning in search of the missing man, who evidently was swept ashore and took shelter in the lighthouse.

    The Galway Bay ship Dun Aengus left Galway this morning, and may attempt to refloat the Nogi, owned by Messrs. Jenkenson and Jones, Milford Haven.

 

 

From an unknown newspaper of c. 8th September 1938:

 

    The "Nogi" was successfully refloated after being got off the rocks at Straw Island, Aran, Galway Bay, after lying in a precarious position for about a fortnight.  The vessel was taken round the coast to the port of Limerick for inspection ,and later skipper Tucker left Milford to return to the vessel.

    Many people were rather surprised on  Thursday to see the familiar lines of the "Nogi" as the vessel came slowly up the Haven, and after waiting for the gates to open, glide majestically into the docks.  She was afterwards berthed in the Dry Dock where the vessel is under going a complete survey.

  

The Times, Tuesday 4th October, 1938; pg. 11; Issue 48116; col A

RESCUE THAT TOOK OVER 14 HOURS

AWARDS TO LIFEBOATMEN

    The Royal National Life-boat institution has awarded its bronze medal for gallantry to Coxswain John Gin, of its motor lifeboat at Galway Bay, on the west coast of Ireland, to the motor mechanic, Joseph Doyle, and to five members of the crew, and its thanks inscribed on vellum to the other four members of the crew, for the rescue of 16 lives from the trawlers Nogi and Hatano, registered in London and owned at Milford Haven, on the night of August 16. It has also made increased money awards amounting to £3 175. 6d. to each man.

    The Nogi went ashore in a very heavy sea. A boat from the Hatano with four men went to her rescue and at once got into difficulties. The lifeboat went first to the small boat, the rowlock of which caught in the fender of the lifeboat, and there was danger of a serious accident. The motor mechanic jumped aboard the boat and smashed the rowlock with a hatchet. The four men were rescued and their boat towed away.

    It was impossible for the lifeboat to get alongside the Nogi  but five of her crew manned the small boat; it was lowered by a rope down to the Nogi and in two journeys rescued the 11 men on board her. A member of the Nogi's crew had been swept away in the trawler's boat when she struck. His boots were found on an island, but it was only after eight hours' search that the man was found dazed and exhausted. The whole rescue had taken over 14 hours.

 

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