Mid-December 1959.

The week before Christmas and the whole of Fleetwood waited.

A trawler was overdue… and a silence descended on the port.

For days the sea around Skerryvore in the South Minch was scoured for the 449-ton Red Falcon and her crew of 19 in a massive sea and air search.

Families waited with mounting anxiety – eyes scanning the horizon in vain and hope. But the Red Falcon was lost – presumed to have been overwhelmed in heavy seas as she made for home.

Wreckage – including a rocket container box, pieces of wood believed to be floorboards on a lifeboat and two lifebuoys stamped – was washed up 25 miles north of the vessel’s last known position.

Lost with all hands – leaving 25 children fatherless and a town too stunned to celebrate Christmas.

The Red Falcon – built in 1936 – was the last coal burning trawler in the lago Steam Trawler Co. Ltd. Fleet. She was formerly named Cape Barfleur.

Her last voyage started on November 25th 1959 when she sailed for the Icelandic fishing grounds, leaving on the same tide as the Red Sabre.

The two vessels fished together at Iceland for most of the trip and turned for home at the same time.

Red Falcon was skippered by Alexander Hardy (45), of Broadway, Fleetwood. A most experienced skipper who undertook minesweeping duties during the war.

He was in contact with Sabre’s skipper (Tom McKernan) and the skipper of the Red Knight (John Mecklenburgh) during the voyage home. Both men later thought the Falcon had been engulfed by a tidal wave.

Skipper McKernan had been about 70 miles ahead of the Falcon and Skipper Mecklenburgh about 150 miles behind. Both reported severe gales – with winds gusting to 100mph. Skipper McKernan advised the Falcon to avoid the tidal race off Islay which Skipper Hardy acknowledged.

The area was known to be treacherous with swirling tides.

But relatives had received wires from the ship saying she would be docking Monday night.

As was the custom, many went to meet her in on that Monday – December 14th. It was not unusual for ships to be delayed by bad weather and families again went down to meet Falcon on the Tuesday.

The radio silence from the vessel was ominous and anxiety mounted.

“We fear the worst,” said Captain E.D.W. Lawford, DSO, RN, managing director of the owners.

And as the terrible news began to sink in, the “mission men” continued their task of comforting the bereaved. The Superintendent of the Fleetwood branch of the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen, Mr Duncan Brown, and the Port Missioner Mr.G. Wright, visited homes.

All but one of the crew – Fireman Joseph Mair of Portsmouth – lived in Fleetwood.

The crew list was given as:

Skipper Alexander Hardy (45), Broadway, Mate George Gloss (59), Gordon Road, Chief Engineer Jim Carter (39), Macbeth Road, Second engineer William Irvine (45), Bramley Avenue, Bosun Jim Gorst, (38), Wingrove Road, Deckhands Joseph Blackburn (21), Radcliffe Road, Jack McDaid (27) North Street, Jim Read (26), Willow Street, Edward Archer (31), Belmont Road, George Harlin (24), Chatsworth Avenue, Joseph Riches (26), Knowsley Gate, Jim Morley (27), Heathfield Road, William Deery (36), Bold Street, Jack Preston (16), Radcliffe Road, Wireless Operator William Cooper (46), Heathfield Road, Cook George McLoughlin (44) Witton Grove, Assistant Cook John Coultas (20), Abbotts Walk, Fireman John Smith (33), Whinfield Avenue.

Within days an appeal fund for dependants was set up by the Mayor of Fleetwood (Councillor Jim Shaw, JP). Owners, lago, started it with a £1,000 donation and the fund eventually topped £20,000, with cash pouring in from all over the country.

A cheque for £10.10s was received from the Church of Scotland on the island of Tiree, Inner Hebrides. An accompanying letter said the loss of the Falcon so near their shores had made a deep impression on the community. It was on the rocky shores of Tiree that wreckage from the Falcon was washed up. Another donation was from the isle of Mull and one from people in Oban.

Seven months after the loss an inquiry opened at Fleetwood Town Hall.

It was revealed that the last radio contact with the Falcon was at 7am on December 14th. The Sabre’s skipper called up the Falcon and reported the wind as force 10 between Skerryvore and Rathlin Island. He said he had had a very rough passage but was now under the lee of Rathlin. Falcon’s skipper said he was abeam of Skerryvore Light and he would avoid the tide race.

A few minutes later the Red Knight had also been in radio contact with the Falcon and heard she was in bad weather with a “confused” sea.

The Sabre and Knight continued their homeward journey and no real anxiety was felt until Knight – which had been astern of the Falcon – docked at midnight on Tuesday, December 15th. A 3-day search was launched.

Both skippers thought a tidal wave had swamped the Falcon.

The inquiry believed it was difficult to ascertain the cause of the loss but the most probable cause was that the ship was “overwhelmed”.

And its loss left a town overwhelmed with shock and grief.

First published in Life in Fleetwood issue 27, December 1992 / January 1993.

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Winter gales around the coasts have claimed many lives of local fishermen. A loss often described as “the price of fish”.

Today’s fishermen have to battle against Government policy, quotas and de-commissioning.

Fifty years ago the fishermen’s main adversary was the weather! And it was into an horrendous storm that the Fleetwood trawler Lois sailed to her doom in January 1947.

Her crew had spent a happy Christmas ashore and the Lois was back fishing after being released by the Admiralty from war duties as a minesweeper.

Skipper George Smith of Oxford Road, Fleetwood, had sailed in Lois since she resumed fishing 18 months previously.

But that New Year trip was Skipper Smith’s last. Although all his crew was rescued the skipper lost his life in the tragedy of Iceland.

It was on Sunday, January 5th that the 111-ton trawler – built in 1917 – struck a rock and foundered as she reached the fishing grounds off the South West coast of Iceland.

The crew were thrown around as the trawler struck the rocks a short distance from the shore.

Distress rockets were fired and within minutes help was on the way. A rocket-launching party fired a line which landed on the deck. The crew were brought safely to shore.

A crewman later said, “We had all got away by breeches buoy and the skipper, who had remained to the last, was clutching the rigging ready to get into the buoy.

“As we watched a huge wave smashed against the side of the trawler and he disappeared.

“None of us saw him after that.”

Survivors described a terrific blizzard with mountainous seas as the trawler hit the rocks.

It was believed the skipper either slipped from the rigging or the breeches buoy as he was being brought ashore.

Many of the 15-man crew didn’t realise at first that the skipper had drowned. His body was later washed ashore.

The body of Skipper Smith, who was 44, was brought back to Fleetwood aboard an Icelandic cargo ship.

Six of his crew acted as bearers at the funeral service conducted by Mr H Howes of the Fisherman’s Mission.

Persistent gales and high seas completely destroyed the Lois (owned by Fleetwood Steam Fishing Co) which was smashed to pieces on the rocks.

Lois’ crew was; Mate Harold Kaiser of Blackpool; Chief Engineer Micheal Hearty of Garfield Street; Second Engineer Christopher Bond, Lingfield Road; Bosun Mark Trott, Aughton Street; Deckhands Collin Hunter, Lowther Road; John Barratt (the skipper’s brother-in-law) of Arthur Street; George Harrison, Hatfield Avenue, R Reeve, Rutland Avenue, Joseph Brunt, Shakespeare Road, Phillip Whur, Beach Road, William Greaves of Preesall and Max Wilson of Blackpool.

The Cook was H Scott of Warrenhurst Road and Firemen James O’Dea, Blackpool and J Connolly, Kemp Street.

First published in Life in Fleetwood issue 44, spring 1997.

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“Abandon ship!”

A call to strike fear into the most hardened fisherman. And for the 18-man crew of a Fleetwood trawler the call came at midnight in heavy seas off the east coast of Iceland.

It was September 14th 1960 when the drama involving the 397-ton Lord Lloyd began to unfold.

Water began to enter the engine room when the coal-burning trawler reached the fishing grounds.

The vessel began to sink in a 45mph gale some 30 miles from shore.

The men took two rubber liferafts – lashed together. First over the side was the youngest member of the crew, 16 year old Cliff Martin of Blakiston Street. His first trip in Lord Lloyd was a galley boy but on this – his second voyage – he was sailing as a “brassie”.

As the liferafts tossed and turned a Belgian trawler moved in to the rescue and took the men aboard.

The crew was led by Skipper Bill Spearpoint whose son was mate. As daylight broke the crew saw the Lord Lloyd still afloat.

One said, “It seemed that the old lady just wouldn’t die.”

Soon on the scene was the Wyre Mariner Commanded by Skipper Percy Bedford. The rescued seamen were transferred to the Mariner – and the fight to save their ship continued.

She was taken in tow and Skipper Spearpoint and 3 others went back aboard for the trip to Seydisfjordur.

Fireman James Leader later described the state of the trawler.

“You could feel the water rushing under your feet when you stood in the galley. We counted the rungs on the engine room ladder to check the rise in the level.

“The engines were covered in water – 30 tons of coal had been washed into the stokehold and the fish room was flooded.

“But it was probably the fact that she was so well ballasted that kept her afloat.

“Luckily the gale died down during the night,” said Mr Leader.

The tow lasted 11 hours but the drama had not ended… for the British and Icelandic governments were still negotiating on fishing limits.

And as the Wyre Mariner reached Seydisfjordur Skipper Percy Bedford towing the crippled Lord Lloyd… was arrested.

Charged with illegal fishing inside Iceland’s self-imposed 12 mile limit some 2 months earlier he was fined £1,900.

Skipper Bedford pleaded not guilty and the Reuter News Agency reported Skipper Bedford as saying:

“If I had imagined anything like this I would have let that trawler sink to the bottom rather than tow it into Seydisfjordur.”

He told the court that he had no indications he was suspected of illegal fishing. He had obeyed orders to stay outside the limits since May.

It was alleged that on the day in question in July an aircraft had flown over the mariner for three and a half hours signalling it with rockets and flashing morse.

The coastguard plane took eight fixes showing the trawler was inside the limits. The vessel did not heed the signals.

Skipper Bedford said he hadn’t seen any aircraft.

Wyre Trawlers Ltd – owners of both the Lord Lloyd and Wyre Mariner – declined to comment about Iceland’s action.

A spokesman said, “The heroic service by Skipper Bedford and the crew of the Wyre Mariner to another trawler in distress – in the best tradition of the fellowship of the sea – still remains the main aspect of this matter.”

But there was little trouble over fishing limits when the rescued crew landed at the Icelandic port.

There was some booing from a crowd on shore as the trawlers were escorted in by the Icelandic gunboat Thor.

“They probably thought we’d been nabbed for illegal fishing,” said one deckhand.

But on the whole the crew got a friendly reception.

Skipper Bedford’s only comment on the court action when he reached Fleetwood was, “It was a shabby trick.

“I’d never have shown my face in Iceland if my conscience had not been clear.”

He said the Lord Lloyd had been on the verge of sinking when Mariner reached her.

Three weeks later the ship that refused to sink returned to Fleetwood.

With Skipper Spearpoint were half of his original crew who had remained to help with repairs after the rest were flown home.

The 42-year-old skipper of Hatfield Avenue said the crew had done a good job. Tons of coal had to be moved from the engine room a bucketful at a time.

Water was estimated at 10ft deep in places.

An Icelandic frogman sealed the leak below the waterline allowing the pumps to remove the water.

Skipper Spearpoint said the trouble had been caused by an underwater projector of the echo-sounder breaking away from the hull.

He added, “She may be ancient – 27 years old – but what a ship.”

First published in Life in Fleetwood issue 33, summer 1994.

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She went down stern first, her bow shot in the air and then came down with a sucking sound.

This dramatic description signalled the end of the Fleetwood trawler Ida Adams – but her 12 man crew (and a dog) were saved.

It was November 1930 that the vessel was on her way home from a successful fishing trip.

In thick fog and drizzling rain, the 125ft trawler was steaming home. It was 5.15am and the cook was preparing breakfast.

Suddenly the 125-ton Ida Adams hit the rocks and ran aground on Frenchman’s Rock in Sound of Islay on the west coast of Scotland.

There was a severe impact and the crew were thrown about in all directions. But there was no panic.

A blaze started in the galley as some fat from the fish on the stove was thrown into the fire. The cook put out the blaze and rushed on deck. But when he returned to collect his belongings he found himself wading thigh deep through murky seas.

Soon after striking the rocks the ship’s engineroom and bunkers filled with water and the lights went out.

With decks awash, the crew remained aboard for about an hour making desperate attempts to stem the flow of water. But the trawler was sinking and Skipper William Atkinson ordered his crew to grab what they could and take to the ship’s boat.

Difficulty was experienced with the boat which was being thrown against the trawler due to heavy swell.

The crew – and the skipper’s dog Bruce making his first voyage – got safely aboard.

As they watched, the Ida Adams rose and fell as the Atlantic rollers lifted and dropped her back on the jagged rocks.

Every bump tore open the iron hull plates and the ship eventually slipped into deeper water.

Returning home, the crew praised the people of Portna-haven for their hospitality. The fishermen had rowed four miles to reach land where they were taken into local cottages and given dry clothing and a hot meal.

Later they walked to the nearest village and were taken by car to Port Askraig where they were put up in a hotel before taking two steamer trips to reach Garnoch and complete their trip home by train.

The skipper stayed near his ship to help any salvage attempts but weather conditions prevented a rescue operation.

It was reported that the trawler which had sailed out of Fleetwood for several years, had sunk in 12 fathoms.

Ida Adams was owned by Messrs Noble Bros and was built in 1907.

First published in Life in Fleetwood issue 28, spring 1993.

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When winter’s gales lash the Fylde’s shores our lifeboatmen face anxious times – they must be alert and ready to put to sea in the most atrocious conditions if needed. Their commitment, dedication and courage is never in doubt.

So imagine how lifeboatmen on the Isle of Man felt over 50 years ago when a Fleetwood trawler foundered on their shores – and they were unable to help! Circumstances surrounding the tragedy conspired to create a night of heroism, death and disaster. And an ironic twist of fate that sent 12 brave fishermen to their deaths had earlier seen the men feted and honoured for their bravery.

But let’s go back to January 1940. The war was just a few months old and a new year was greeted with hope. At a special evening at the North Euston Hotel, the crew of the trawler Merisia were praised for saving Dutch seamen the previous October.

They sailed next day for the fishing grounds – and perished when all were washed from their sinking ship in Bulgham Bay, near Ramsey, Isle of Man.

A catalogue of circumstances faced the island’s lifeboatmen that night. Douglas lifeboat was out of commission due to an engine fault, Ramsey lifeboat was unable to launch because of the wind and sea conditions. Port St Mary’s boat did launch – but her lights failed and she carried out a fruitless search working in darkness.

It was left to the gallant Ramsey Rocket and Lifesaving Brigade to try and effect a rescue from the cliff top overlooking Bulgham Bay.

The Merisia had grounded on rocks and as the holed trawler filled with water the crew climbed into the rigging. Lines from the brigade failed to secure a lifeline and one by one the crew were washed into the icy waters. Some of the bodies were later recovered. A father, son and uncle were all lost.

The 291-ton Merisia was owned by the Cevic Steam Fishing Company and the whole port of Fleetwood was stunned by the tragedy. In October 1939 Merisia’s crew had saved five Dutchmen adrift in an open boat in the Atlantic. The seamen had been in a small boat from the tanker Sliedrecht. When spotted by the trawlermen the seamen had been drifting for 8 days. They were too weak to move and at first it appeared they were beyond help.

At the presentation evening Skipper Edgar Neave had received a pair of binoculars and a cheque from the owners of the tanker who also sent £100 to be divided among the crew. On board the Merisia when she sailed next day was Skipper Neave of Abercrombie Road; Mate George Neave, Elm Street; Bosun Thomas Harrison, Belmont Road; Deckhands Hector Neave, Elm Street, E Crellin, Radcliffe Road, C Mansell, Fishermens’ Mission, R Bennett, Beach Road; Cook J Fryer, Mowbray Road; Chief Engineer B Hearty, Shakespeare Road; Second Engineer J Millett, Church Street; Fireman J Montford, Fishermens’ Mission and W Hannon of Oswaldtwistle.

Graphic reports of the loss of the Merisia appeared in the Ramsey Courier and Northern Advertiser when the editorial comment headed “Perils of the Sea” extended the sympathy of the Manx people to the bereaved.

The writer went on: “Living as we do on an island girt by the sea, the horrors of shipwreck and the dangers of storm and tempest have a grim and terrible meaning for those whose daily lives bring them into such close contact with maritime life.

“There have been many shipwrecks on the coast of the Isle of Man but few have been surrounded with circumstances so poignant as this, because the men who perished were so near safety and yet could not be saved.

“The evidence given at the inquest showed that persons living in the vicinity had reached within 40 to 50 yards of the trawler and held conversations with the men who were facing death.

“Of these brave men, who only the day previous had been rewarded for gallantry at sea, it can in truth be said – ‘They saved others; themselves they could not save’.”

Referring to criticism that Ramsey Lifeboat had not launched, the editor said the coxswain had given his considered opinion that it would have been endangering the lives of his crew to have put to sea in the conditions existing in Ramsey Bay at the time, and the coroner considered the decision a proper one in the circumstances.

It was revealed at the inquest (on six bodies recovered) that on the fateful night the Douglas lifeboat was out of commission through engine failure and although the Port St Mary rescue-boat put to sea the crew were unable to locate the trawler. The coxswain said during the whole search the lifeboat had been in total darkness due to a lights failure. The weather had been very bad and the lifeboat was taking in a lot of water. They had been about half a mile from land as they searched the coastline.

Ramsey’s coxswain told the inquest that it had been impossible to launch his lifeboat at any time that night due to the heavy seas and the very low ebb caused by the high tide. He said even if it had been possible to get off the beach safely, from his experience of the coast with submerged rocks and the bad visibility and heavy seas, it would not have been possible to get near enough to the Merisia to render any assistance. He said he had continually watched the seastate and weather throughout that night.

At the inquest, Mr Alfred Hiscott told how he saw a vessel in distress after he alighted from the Manx Electric Railway near his home at Ballaragh. He went immediately to a nearby farm to raise the alarm. Accompanied by several men he then went to Bulgham Bay and on going down the cliffs onto the beach found the Merisia.

He was about 40 to 50 yards away from the trawler which was broadside to the rocks. Her stern was half way under water. There were 10 men in the bow and they shouted “Can’t you do anything to help us?” and “Has the lifeboat been sent for?”

Mr Hiscott said they shouted to the crew to float a rope to the shore but they didn’t do so. The tide was coming in and they, in consequence, had to leave the beach and climb up the rocks.

The trawlermen were still shouting for help and the men waited on the cliff top for the arrival of the Ramsey Rocket Brigade. The rescue corps then spent over 6 hours attempting a rescue in horrendous conditions with a gale blowing and thick fog hampering visibility.

Efforts to get a line to the trawler failed with the wind whipping the rope back to the cliffs. Men then clambered down the cliffs to continue their gallant attempts to reach the trawler. A coastguard working at the foot of the cliffs, was guided by voices from the trawler but all efforts to secure a rocket line failed.

Their fight continued and a rocket was fired in the early hours when a man was seen on the mast. The line crossed the vessel between the masts and funnel but when tested was not secured and the fierce seas washed it back to the shore. At 2.30am the man on the mast was heard again but as the coastguard was preparing another line, the man disappeared. The would-be rescuers searched the area but at that time no bodies were recovered.

In his summing up the coroner said everything possible in the circumstances had been done to effect a rescue of Merisia’s crew. He said men who went to sea followed a perilous calling and the hazards of war had added greatly to those perils.

“During the months since September last such men had constantly been in our minds.”

He added that on that Friday night the men faced a peril they had always faced – a raging gale – which had driven them onto the rocks. They were all sorry that 12 brave men had lost their lives in that way. The loss of the Merisia is also recalled in a history of the Ramsey Lifeboats (1829-1991) by Captain W N Seybold.

In his book he reveals that it was on January 26th, 1940, in blizzard conditions that Merisia went ashore four miles south of Maughold Lighthouse. He outlines the rescue attempts by the Lifesaving Association and adds, “It had been impossible to launch Ramsey Lifeboat and the only one to put to sea was Port St Mary’s boat.

“In terrible conditions the lifeboat came up the east coast and carried out a search for survivors.

“There were none. The ship became a total loss.”

Footnote:

It is interesting to record that the Ramsey Lifeboat at that time was the Lady Harrison which had been on station on the island since 1931.

She was the station’s first motorboat lifeboat. A self-righting type with a 36bhp engine, she was 35ft long.

To supplement her engine power she was fitted with a main mast and mizzen and accompanying sail outfit. She was of timber construction with a solid canopy over the engine sited amidships.

During her service until 1948 Lady Harrison launched 49 times, saving 93 lives.

Her log recalls assisting several Fleetwood trawlers including Pasages (her first casualty in 1931); Velia (1932); and yachts Jubilee and Fanstona from Fleetwood.

She also launched to give assistance in 1939 when the steamship Duke of Lancaster from Barrow was involved in a collision and also to help the Ulster Queen the following year which went aground with a crew of 53 and 93 passengers. Lady Harrison was accredited with saving some 60 lives on this rescue.

The heartbreaking story of the Merisia and other stories involving Ramsey lifeboats can be read in Captain Seybold’s book.

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The picture above is a very interesting postcard of a group assembled at the launching of the fishing smack Harriet. The Reverend Samuel Horton, Primitive Methodist Minister, is amongst a host of Leadbetters, the family which, along with the Wrights, in those days controlled fish sales. Smacks such as Harriet and Surprise were launched from Fleetwood beach, Harriet sideways on, making a tremendous splash.

Pioneer Richard Leadbetter came from Marshside to Fleetwood in 1840 in a pony and cart with his wife Margaret and children. He became a wealthy, respected townsman, later building Onward and Margaret. Harriet cost £1,200 in 1892. Surprise II was built near Fleetwood Pier in 1910 and cost £1,600. Richard became known as Fish Dick. He died in 1916. His daughter Harriet married a Manchester bank manager but finally returned to the town she loved.

The patriarchal figure with the stick, I feel sure, must be Richard, but does any Fleetwood resident know?

Image and text © Catherine Rothwell.

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In the aftermath of the 1939-45 war the fishing industry began to re-build the fleets around the coast.

Many trawlers had been lost in the conflict and the 1950s witnessed the arrival of replacement vessels including the modern diesels.

There were maiden voyages for several ships owned by the Boston firm including Boston Neptune, Pioneer, Seafoam and Typhoon.

Busier Times

Fleetwood was a bustling port – its trawlermen supported by hundreds of shore workers from the lumpers, chandlers, engineers, stores, braiders and many other ancillary trades.

Returning from trips to distant and home waters the trawlers presented a majestic sight as they “queued” at Wyre Light to await their turn to come into port. In the mid 1950s the port’s fishing industry employed some 4,500 people with a wage bill of £3,000,000. The fleet included some of the most modern trawlers in the country.

In 1958 the fleet totalled 95 vessels – 10 seine net; 62 home and middle water; and 23 distant water. Thirty two coal burning trawlers had been augmented with 13 oil fired and 50 diesel. Their never ending search took them into the Irish Sea, the west coast of Scotland, Faroe, Iceland and the Arctic Seas.

Fleetwood Fishing Vessel Owners Association announced that in 1957 fish landed at the port – 1,243,000cwt – included 430,000cwt from distant waters and 813cwt from home waters.

Also regularly sailing from the port were dozens of other ships including: Broadwater, Cevic, Corena, Daniel Clowden, Dean Swift, Dinas, Edwina, Ella and Robert Hewett, Evelyn Rose, Fleetwood Lady, Hawfinch, Hildina, Irvana, Jacinta, Josena, Lucida, the “loch” fleet of Loch Esk, Fleet, Lein and Torridon, Lord Montgomery.

Navena, Neils John, Nellie Melling, Ocean Brine, Patricia Hague, Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Royalist, Samuel Hewett, Sethon, Spurnella, SSAFA, Urka, Velia, Weatella, William Cale and Wooltan. And that’s just to mention a few!

Sadly the 50s brought their share of fishing tragedies.

In 1953 two trawlers sank with the loss of 19 lives – the Michael Griffiths in the Hebrides with a crew of 13 and Hildina (six lost, nine saved) off Northern Scotland.

The following year the Evelyn Rose crashed on the rocks off Scotland and sank. Ten men died, 2 survived.

But the fifties started on an optimistic note with the arrival of Red Rose and Red Hackle – the two biggest trawlers built for Fleetwood – in 1950.

In the same year the police warned that prosecution under by-laws would be enforced if trawlers continued their “cock-a-doodle-do” sirens as they left port.

An epic voyage – beset by problems – was completed in 1951 when the Wyre Monitor returned after 45 days. Her trip to the White Sea had been affected by crew sickness, engine trouble and a leak.

In 1952 Iceland extended her fishing limits to 4 miles and local lumpers staged a strike over holiday entitlements.

Coronation Year

In Coronation Year the Red Hackle and Princess Royal attended the Spithead Review by the Queen.

With modern diesel trawlers arriving the fish merchants called for a levy of one penny a stone to raise £60,000 a year for building new trawlers.

Half way through the decade it was reported that 17 new trawlers were on order. They would augment the 12 new boats and 11 second hand bought from the east coast ports! On the deficit side some 50 trawlers had gone to scrapyards, owners overseas or been lost during the previous 3 years.

In 1957 the entire crew of the trawler Bridesmaid appeared in court when it was alleged the 10 men had committed offences of breach of duty or disobedience which forced the ship to return to port.

Strange Happenings

Strange things happen at sea and perhaps one of the strangest ever was reported in 1957 by the skipper of Ella Hewett.

While on passage to Iceland – off Scotland – the white bridge of the 600-ton trawler turned pink.

Skipper Fred Sutton reported his crew had seen a blinding flash in the sky during the night.

At the same time from other coastal areas reports were made of a huge flaming object flashing across the sky and vanishing in an explosion over the Isle of Man.

Many theories were put forward – but the mystery remained.

The fifties decade ended on the saddest of events – the loss of a trawler.

The Red Falcon

And the tragedy surrounding the sinking of the Red Falcon remains one of the fishing industry’s most poignant disasters.

For it all happened in the week before Christmas. A silence descended as news that a trawler was overdue struck fear across the community.

The Red Falcon – owned by Iago Steam Trawler Company – was the last coal burning trawler in Iago’s fleet. She had left Fleetwood with a crew of 19 in late November under the command of Skipper Alexander Hardy.

The alarm was raised when she failed to dock on December 14th and her radio remained silent.

She disappeared during horrendous weather while steaming home off Scotland – her last known position being off the Skerrymore Lighthouse.

It was believed she had been overwhelmed by heavy seas with winds gusting to 100mph. Wreckage was later found.

The Red Falcon was lost with all hands – and 25 children were left fatherless. And a town too stunned to celebrate Christmas!

So the 1950s mirrored the fortunes and misfortunes of the industry on which the town was founded. An industry which provided livelihoods for thousands and which is a proud part of the town’s heritage.

First published in Life in Fleetwood issue 59, autumn/winter 2003.

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“For two hours Charles Bevan, second engineer of the Fleetwood trawler Benghazi, kept his hand in the bunghole of the lifeboat in which 12 of his shipmates made their escape when the ship crashed on a reef in the Firth of Lorne in a bitter north westerly gale.

“The men, most of whom were wearing only singlets and dungaree trousers finally got ashore in a lonely bay on the island of Luing, and huddled together behind a wall for four hours until dawn.

“Bevan became delirious and though his comrades tried to restore heat to his body by wrapping him in their scanty clothing, he died of exposure before dawn.”

This is how the tragedy of the Benghazi unfolded in the Scottish newspapers in April 1947. And as the news reached Fleetwood it was revealed that a second crewman had also been lost in the incident.

The Benghazi with a crew of 16 was managed by Boston Deep Sea Fishing and Ice Co Ltd and skippered by Mr John Anderton. His last radio message revealed that the fishing had been completed and she was returning to port with a big catch. The trawler then put into Oban for stores, leaving about midnight.

Just 10 miles south of Oban in a gale of blinding rain, the Benghazi struck a reef and keeled over. Water was pouring through the wheelhouse windows and a ship’s lifeboat was launched with great difficulty.

Twelve crew scrambled aboard but a bung was missing. Mr Bevan decided there was no time to look for the missing bung, and fearful the vessel was about to sink, he put his hand in the hole to stem the icy water.

It was decided to push off and for two hours they pulled for safety in atrocious conditions. All the time Mr Bevan kept his hands over the open bung hole and was lying in the water at the bottom of the boat.

The crew said later, “I doubt if we would have reached the shore if it had not been for Charlie. He never grumbled after we reached land and we tried to keep him warm with our clothing. But the ordeal had been too much and he died.”

The men had landed less than a mile from a village but were not aware of this until they staggered among the houses some four hours later.

Four men – Skipper Anderton, his brother Tom, the bosun, mate Charles Whiteside and deckhand Frank Duncan stayed aboard the trawler. But in the pitch black with the ship bumping about and being swept by heavy seas Mr Duncan disappeared. He was presumed drowned.

As the trawler lay buffeted on the reef she suddenly slipped and righted herself. An SOS was sent out and Tobermory Lifeboat began a five hour trip to the scene. Now drifting helplessly the Benghazi struck rocks a second time, this time stranding near Fladda Lighthouse. The remaining three men managed to make their way to the lighthouse.

At this time the weather was so bad that the lifeboat could not get close enough to effect a rescue and a breeches buoy operation looked likely.

However, the lifeboat – with considerable difficulty- managed to reach the three men.

Meanwhile, ashore, the crew, many on the point of collapse and battered and bruised, were being cared for by villagers.

High winds blew Benghazi off the rocks and into the sea where she broke up and sank.

Mr Bevan of Ribble Road, Fleetwood, was 34 years old and left a widow and five children. His father had been lost in a trawler accident off Scotland three years earlier. Mr Duncan was last seen aboard the trawler. He lived in Radcliffe Road.

Aboard Benghazi were; Skipper John Anderton, Whinfield Avenue; Mate C F Whiteside, Custom House Lane; Bosun T Anderton, Flag Street; Chief Engineer H Clark, Radcliffe Road; Second Engineer C H Bevan, Ribble Road; Fireman J Swingler of Hull and G S King, Liverpool. Deckhands L Barber, Poulton Road; W Gladwell, Pharos Street; H Hewitt, Radcliffe Road; F Duncan, Radcliffe Road; A Roberts, Gorton; R Rawlinson, Liverpool; H Bailey, Manchester; Cooks A Skeggs, Grimsby and Assistant Cook R Dunn, Liverpool.

Main picture shows (left to right) Charles Whiteside, John Anderton and James Anderton.

First published in Life in Fleetwood issue 43, winter 1996/7.

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