VICTORIA M117
As SH268
John Stevenson Collection
Official No: 128759 Port Number and Year: 1st in Milford, 1912
- in Fleetwood, 1919 (FD346)
- in Scarborough (SH268).
Description: Steel side / beam trawler; steam screw, coal burning. Ketch rigged: foresail, mainsail and mizzen.
Crew: 9 men (1912)
Registered at Milford: 7 Feb 1912.
Built: 1912, Smith's Docks Co., Middlesborough. (Yard no. 504)
Tonnage: 220.78 grt 86.59 net.
Length / breadth / depth (feet): 120.0 / 22.0 / 11.75
Engine: T-3Cyl; 61 nhp., by MacColl & Pollock, Sunderland
Owners:
7 Feb 1912: James Thomas, 'Tredegar House', Great North Rd., Milford.
Managing owner.
16 Oct 1917: Wyre Steam Trawling Co., 114 Dock St., Fleetwood.
Manager: Magnus B. J. Wedum
11 Sep 1919: Registered as FD346
As SH268
26 Mar 1920: Stepney Steam Fishing Co., Scarborough.
Manager: Abraham Moore.
1922: Co-operative Fishing Society, Scarborough
Manager: Christopher Naylor.
Charles A. Oxley. (1923)
1930: Robert Taylor & Sons, Dundee.
Manager: William N. Taylor.
1934: Archibald G. Brown, Tynemouth.
Managing owner.
1937: William H. Rutherford, Tynemouth.
Managing owner.
Landed at Milford: 20 Feb 1912 - 5 Apr 1915.
Skippers:
William Aldridge cert. 5849, age 34, born Newcastle; residing 'Crediton House', Great North Rd., Milford; signed on 22 Feb, 4 Jul 1912; 7 Jan 1913
H. J. Hewer (1914)
Notes:
Apr 1915: Requisitioned and converted to a minesweeper (Admy. No.1752). 1x3 pdr.
Apr 1915: Based at Killybegs, Co. Donegal (Sk. John Insole).
27 Dec 1917: Sailed Killybegs for Campbeltown.
28 Dec 1917: Joined Ardrossan group.
1 Jun 1918: Sk. Ellis Knight appointed C/O.
Dec 1918: At Ardrossan not listed after this date.
1919: Returned to owner at Fleetwood.
1920: Returned to owners.
5 Mar 1940: Requisitioned for war service and designated for minesweeping duties.
16 Mar 1940: Returned to owner.
1950: Broken up.
[Thanks to Gil Mayes and Peter Bell for additional information and corrections.]
Cert. Cancelled & Milford Registry Closed: 10 Sep 1919. Vessel transferred to the port of Fleetwood
Accidents and Incidents:
From the Haverfordwest & Milford Haven Telegraph of Wednesday 28th February 1912:
It is indeed pleasing to announce the arrival of two new steam trawlers during the week. At intervals we have to record the departure of vessels which have been sold to foreign ports. These have invariable been of the older class, and doubtless there are others that will change hands. Now, however, that larger and more modern craft have been delivered, everybody is hoping that the fishing prospects will brighten. It has been a long and trying winter for owners, merchants, and all dependent upon the fishing trade, unparalleled for many years.
The first of the arrivals was the new steam trawler "Victoria", built for Mr. James Thomas by the British Dock Trust, North Shields. She is a fine vessel, on up-to-date lines. Her maiden catch realised £241 at the sales.
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From the Cambrian Daily Leader of Friday 11th September 1914:
Collision in the Docks.
A collision which might have resulted in the sinking of one or more vessels occurred in Milford Docks on Thursday. A number of fishing smacks bad been berthed at the Fish Market ready for landing, when the Grimsby steam trawler Limewood [sic] (Messrs. Brand and Co.) was being towed out of dock by the Milford steam trawler Victoria. The Limewood seemed to gather way suddenly, and headed straight for the bunch of smacks assembled at the market. Every effort was made to avoid the collision, but nevertheless the Limewood dashed right into the Brixham smack Ibex, catching her on the quarter, and, glancing off, dropped in upon the smacks Wilfred and Evangeline, doing damage to both and smashing the small boat belonging to the latter vessel. Had if not been for the prompt action of the crews of the smacks in manoeuvring heir vessels and putting out "fend-offs" quickly, it is very probable that at least one of them would have been sunk.
[Both LIMEWOLD and VICTORIA M117 landed on 9th September 1914.]
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From the Cambrian Daily Leader of Friday 18th September 1914:
MILFORD CREW'S EXPERIENCE.
The crew of the Milford steam trawler, Victoria, owned by Mr. James Thomas, which has arrived in port, reports a very trying experience at sea. It appears that the Victoria was trawling on the fishing grounds, about 150 miles to the westward, when she was caught in the gale on Monday night. Whilst engaged in hauling the fishing gear on board the crew were surprised by a tremendously heavy sea, which swept over the Victoria, flooding her decks fore and aft. All hands scrambled to safety, and fortunately no one was injured.
It so happened at this time that the trawling gear became fast in some obstacle at the bottom of the sea, and this caused the Victoria to heel over, partly submerging her on the port side, and everything portable on the deck was washed overboard. Luckily, one of the big wire warps parted at this moment, and thus relieved, the vessel quickly righted herself, and the crew were able to pump her free of wafer. So tremendous was the strain put on the Victoria at one time that an exceedingly powerful iron-gallows was crumpled up by the warp on the port side.
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