HMD Laurel Crown
Image courtesy Orkney Heritage Society.
HMD Laurel Crown (No 2050) . 22/06/1916
Displacement: 81 grt.
Length: 26.9 m. Beam: 5.75 m Draught: 2.70 m.
Propulsion: Triple expansion engine, 1 boiler, 1 screw.
Complement: 9 officers and men.
Armament: Yes
Displacement: 81 grt.
Length: 26.9 m. Beam: 5.75 m Draught: 2.70 m.
Propulsion: Triple expansion engine, 1 boiler, 1 screw.
Complement: 9 officers and men.
Armament: Yes
The wooden drifter Laurel Crown was built by Scott & Yule , Fraserburgh in 1913 and registered in Fraserburgh as FR 506 by the West family.
The Loss
On the 22nd June 1916 while on minesweeping duties to the west of the Orkney mainland, HMD Laurel Crown struck a mine and quickly sank with the loss of her entire crew of nine men. It is thought that the mine she struck was part of the same minefield, laid by U 75, which caused the sinking of HMS Hampshire 17 days previously on 5th June 1916.
Dundee Courier - Wednesday 28 June 1916
NINE MEN LOSE THEIR LIVES WHEN FRASERBURGH DRIFTER IS SUNK. Intimation was received at Fraserburgh that the steam drifter Laurel Crown (FR. 506) had been lost in the North Sea. It is understood that the crew of nine men have lost their lives. The skipper was James Coull, Portgordon, and the vessel was manned by a Moray Firth crew.
ADM 171/197. Naval Medal and Award Rolls 1793-1972/WW1 Medals & Awards/Service lists of Naval Ships
The Wreck Today.
No surveys have yet located the remains on HMD Laurel Crown. In 2016 SULA Diving conducted a survey for Historic Environment Scotland. The aim of the survey was to try and locate HMD Laurel Crown for the 100th anniversary of the sinking.
Following a survey in 2008 two ''obstructions'' were added to Admiralty chart 2249. These contacts were investigated during the SULA Diving survey and proved to be large rocks.
The report can be seen here...............
| sula_laurel_crown_report_may2016_final_v03.pdf |
The Crew †22/06/1916, (Research ongoing.)
BAKER, THOMAS JAMES , Engine man (no. 739/ES), RNR Lyness Royal Naval Cemetery
BAKER, THOMAS JAMES , Engine man (no. 739/ES), RNR Lyness Royal Naval Cemetery
COULL, JOHN , Skipper, Remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial
Banffshire Advertiser - Thursday 29 June 1916
PORTGORDON SKIPPER LOST.—Through the sinking of H.M.D. Laurel Crown, of Fraserburgh, by mine on Thursday the skipper of the vessel — Mr John Coull, Portgordon—has been lost.
Aberdeen Weekly Journal - Friday 30 June 1916
Official information was received his relatives during the week that John Coull, skipper, East ’High Street, had been killed. Deceased leaves a widow and two of family. He was engaged by the Admiralty on patrol duty.
Banffshire Advertiser - Thursday 06 July 1916
As intimated in our columns last week, Skipper John Coull, Portgordon, has been lost with H.M.D. Laurel Crown, which was sunk by a mine in the North Sea. He was married, and resided at 14 Richmond Terrace, Portgordon. He was a son of James Coull, fisherman, who has other five sons on Admiralty service.
Banffshire Advertiser - Thursday 29 June 1916
PORTGORDON SKIPPER LOST.—Through the sinking of H.M.D. Laurel Crown, of Fraserburgh, by mine on Thursday the skipper of the vessel — Mr John Coull, Portgordon—has been lost.
Aberdeen Weekly Journal - Friday 30 June 1916
Official information was received his relatives during the week that John Coull, skipper, East ’High Street, had been killed. Deceased leaves a widow and two of family. He was engaged by the Admiralty on patrol duty.
Banffshire Advertiser - Thursday 06 July 1916
As intimated in our columns last week, Skipper John Coull, Portgordon, has been lost with H.M.D. Laurel Crown, which was sunk by a mine in the North Sea. He was married, and resided at 14 Richmond Terrace, Portgordon. He was a son of James Coull, fisherman, who has other five sons on Admiralty service.
DURRANT, CHARLES (17), Deckhand (no. 8421DA), Remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial
Aberdeen Press and Journal - Friday 30 June 1916
DURRANT —Drowned off H.M.S. "Laurel Crown.' ' on 22nd June, Charles Durrant, deckhand, aged 17 eldest son of Charles Durrant minesweeper, and Mrs Durrant 118 Victoria Road Torry — deeply mourned. God's will de done.
Aberdeen Press and Journal - Friday 30 June 1916
DURRANT —Drowned off H.M.S. "Laurel Crown.' ' on 22nd June, Charles Durrant, deckhand, aged 17 eldest son of Charles Durrant minesweeper, and Mrs Durrant 118 Victoria Road Torry — deeply mourned. God's will de done.
MITCHELL, ROBERT (26), Engine man (no. 1461ES), Remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial
Aberdeen Weekly Journal - Friday 30 June 1916
Peterhead Engineer Drowned, Mrs Mitchell. 11 Maiden Street, Peterhead, has received official information that her husband. Mr Robert Mitchell, had been drowned the 22nd June. Mitchell was chief engineer board the drifter Laurel Crown
Aberdeen Weekly Journal - Friday 30 June 1916
Peterhead Engineer Drowned, Mrs Mitchell. 11 Maiden Street, Peterhead, has received official information that her husband. Mr Robert Mitchell, had been drowned the 22nd June. Mitchell was chief engineer board the drifter Laurel Crown
MURPHY, ALFRED , Deckhand (no. 7018DA), Remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial
NICOLSON, MURDO (45), Deckhand (no. 7916DA), : Remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial
PETRIE, GEORGE (32), Deckhand (no. 11223DA), Remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial
SLATER, ROBERT (30), Second Hand (no. 4577DA), Remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial
Aberdeen Press and Journal - Wednesday 28 June 1916
PORIKNOCKIE MAN ON LOST DRIFTER. Robert Slater, youngest son of Mr Robert Slater, fisherman, Portknockie, was one the crew of the drifter Laurel Crown, whose loss was reported yesterday. He was unmarried, and resided with his parents.
Banffshire Advertiser - Thursday 03 August 1916
Robert Slater was the second son of Mr Robert Slater, 62 Portknockie. Formerly a fisherman, be enlisted in the R.N.R. (T.),and was mate of H.M.D. laurel Crown, of Fraserburgh. He met his death when that vessel was blown up by a mine in the North Sea on 22nd June. Deceased was 30 years of age and unmarried.
Aberdeen Press and Journal - Wednesday 28 June 1916
PORIKNOCKIE MAN ON LOST DRIFTER. Robert Slater, youngest son of Mr Robert Slater, fisherman, Portknockie, was one the crew of the drifter Laurel Crown, whose loss was reported yesterday. He was unmarried, and resided with his parents.
Banffshire Advertiser - Thursday 03 August 1916
Robert Slater was the second son of Mr Robert Slater, 62 Portknockie. Formerly a fisherman, be enlisted in the R.N.R. (T.),and was mate of H.M.D. laurel Crown, of Fraserburgh. He met his death when that vessel was blown up by a mine in the North Sea on 22nd June. Deceased was 30 years of age and unmarried.
STEPHENSON, CLARENCE PERCY (22), Trimmer (no. 3322TS), Remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial
