WILFRED M125
Official No: 121606 Port Number and Year: 1st in Milford, 1906
Description: Wooden sailing smack; trawling and lines. Dandy rigged: jib, fore, main, topsail, mizzen.
Crew: 3 men, 1 boy
Registered: 28 Feb 1906
Built: 1906, by Hancock's Yard, Castle Pill, Milford
Tonnage: 42.57 grt 31.13 net.
Length / breadth / depth (feet): 61.9 / 18.6 / 8.15
Engine: -
Owners:
28 Feb 1906: Sarah Isabel Hancock, 'Springfields', Wellington Rd., Hakin.
Landed at Milford: 27 Jan 1906 - 18 Dec 1915; 15 sep 1916 - 10 Oct 1918
Skippers: John P. James cert. 4271, age 31, born Brixham; signed on 5 Mar, 7 Jul 1906
J. Luscombe 1903, 40, Brixham; 1 Oct 1906
T. J. Keland 4260, 34, Exeter; 16 Jan 1907
William Summers 6697, 52, Brixham; 19 Jul 1907; 4 Jan 1908; 15 Jan, 7 Sep 1909; 1 Jan 1910; 23 Jan, 1 Jul 1911; 1 Jan 1912
F. J. Allen 2730, 42, London; 26 May 1912
E. Crocker 6189, 48, Beesands; 27 Jul 1912
H. Pook 5219, 36, Brixham; residing 41 John St., Neyland; 27 Sep 1912
I. Braddick 3067, 41, Plymouth; 30 Oct 1912
R. G. Yabsley 3403, 42, Salcombe; Point St., Hakin; 11 Aug 1913
F. Riby 0812, 61, Scarborough; 1 Nov 1913
Notes:
Cert. Cancelled & Registry Closed: 6 May 1918. Vessel sold to Belgian owners.
Accidents and Incidents
From the Haverfordwest & Milford Haven Telegraph of Wednesday 31st January 1906:
What used to be a familiar sight in bygone days, when the ship building industry was in full swing in Milford Haven, but which now is somewhat of a rarity, took place shortly after 8 o'clock on Saturday, when a prettily designed smack was launched from the yard of Mr. Peter Llewellyn Hancock, adjoining the new slip, in the presence of a large crowd of people. The ceremony of christening the vessel was performed by the Rev. John Harris, of Rehobeth, Hakin, residing at Rehobeth Manse. The name given to the vessel was "Wilfred", and she left the ways to the accompaniment of lusty cheers from the onlookers. The vessel is intended for a fishing smack.
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Log book entries:
28.01.1910.
20 miles NW from Tuskar.
Mainsail busted leach - gale of winds.
W. R. Summers. (Skipper)
[ Dec. 1910]
Apprentices and sea fishing boys on board.
James Smedley. 21.7.10 - remains.
F. Winson. 21.7.10 - left 2.8.10.
W. R. Summers. (Skipper).
01. 11.1910.
Broken gaff - heavy squall. Vessel carrying away gaff, no other damage to vessel.
W. R. Summers. (Skipper).
Apprentices and sea fishing boys on board.
James Smedley, agreed 20.7.10, joined 16.8.10. Cook, absconded 30.12.10 [?]
25.06.1911.
12 miles, Tusker bearing ten north-west.
Foremast carried away - cause - struck by a heavy sea.
W. Summers. (Skipper).
19.09.1911.
"Wilfred" towed "Pet" of Padstow, from 4.30 p.m., until 11.45 p.m., when the vessel sunk 3 miles W 1 N from Strumble Head..
W. Summers. (Skipper).
05.11.1911
4 a.m. off the Town of Milford Haven. Collided with the Carnarvon Bay Lightship anchored in Milford Haven. Cause - stress of weather.
W.Summers. (Skipper).
02.01. 1914.
Report on damage sustained by "Wilfred" at sea on January 2nd, 1914.
Whilst fishing about 36 miles SW by S from St. Ann's on Friday January 2nd, 1914, I attempted to change tacks with fishing gear. In so doing my vessel jibed over and carried her main mast away below the hounds of the rigging. All spars, ropes, sails and rigging fell overboard and were drawm in under our ship's bottom rendering her unmanageable. l made every effort to recover this gear but without success. Consequently I was compelled to chop away.
Our plight was observed by a number of sailing trawlers, who offered us assistance. The Brixham fishing smack "Sunny Isle" took us in tow about six o'clock that evening, and we arrived in Milford Harbour at eleven o' clock the following morning. We used our tow rope the whole time and could have been towed in by several other vessels.
Francis Riby. (Skipper).
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From The Pembrokeshire Herald and General Advertiser of Friday 29th April 1910:
MILFORD HAVEN
.......
AN ACCIDENT
An accident of a serious nature befell a fisherman named J. Davies, of the Drang Hill, Hakin, who was engaged as cook on the Milford smack "Wilfred". He was performing his duties in the cabin on Tuesday last when they were fishing in Cardigan Bay. A heavy sea struck the vessel which caused her to roll violently, and he was thrown upon the engine boiler, and sustained severe injuries to his face and head. He was landed at Fishguard from whence, after receiving attention, he arrived home last Wednesday morning.
From The Pembrokeshire Herald and General Advertiser of Friday 4th November 1910:
MILFORD HAVEN
THE STORM.
Several of the fishing craft trading out of Milford Haven were caught in a violent storm which arose early on Sunday morning. Up to the present few casualties have been reported amongst the shipping, though, owing to the fierceness of the gale, the tale has undoubtedly yet to be told. News was received at Milford Haven on Tuesday evening that the fishing smack "Diamond Cross" had put into Tenby Roads after having had her main mast carried away. The smacks "Wilfred" and "Triumph" put into Dock on Tuesday evening both having carried away their main gaff, whilst on the way across from Rosslare. A large number of sailing vessels were obliged to return to port being quite unable to withstand the ferocity of the gale.
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