HMT Xerxes
Trawler Xerxes
HMT Xerxes. (No 835) 15/11/1915
Displacement: 243 grt.
Length: 38.1 m. Beam: 6.7 m. Draught: m.
Propulsion: 1 x 3 cyl. triple expansion engine, single shaft, 1 screw
Complement: officers and men.
Crew Lost: 4
Armament: 1 x 6pdr deck gun
Displacement: 243 grt.
Length: 38.1 m. Beam: 6.7 m. Draught: m.
Propulsion: 1 x 3 cyl. triple expansion engine, single shaft, 1 screw
Complement: officers and men.
Crew Lost: 4
Armament: 1 x 6pdr deck gun
The trawler Xerxes was built by Cochrane & Sons Shipbuilders Ltd., Selby in 1908 for the Welsh company Hector Steam Fishing Co. Ltd. of Swansea and had the registration SA 55 The vessel was sold on to several Irish fishing companies but kept the registration..
Selby Times - Friday 06 March 1908
Messrs., Cochrane & Sons also launched yesterday & handsomely modelled steel screw trawler, the principal dimensions- being 125 ft. by 22ft. by 12ft. 10in. moulded. The vessel has been built to the order of the Hector Steam Trawling Co. Ltd., of Swansea, and will be fitted with powerful triple expansion engines by Messrs. C. D. Holmes and Co., of Hull, and is replete with all the latest improvements for fishing purposes. She was gracefully christened the '' Xerxes '’ by Mrs. Nesworthy, of Swansea.
Selby Times - Friday 06 March 1908
Messrs., Cochrane & Sons also launched yesterday & handsomely modelled steel screw trawler, the principal dimensions- being 125 ft. by 22ft. by 12ft. 10in. moulded. The vessel has been built to the order of the Hector Steam Trawling Co. Ltd., of Swansea, and will be fitted with powerful triple expansion engines by Messrs. C. D. Holmes and Co., of Hull, and is replete with all the latest improvements for fishing purposes. She was gracefully christened the '' Xerxes '’ by Mrs. Nesworthy, of Swansea.
The Loss
HMT Xerxes was ordered to escort the oiler RFA Burma from Aberdeen south. The oiler left at 20.40 hours and HMT Xerxes followed 20 minutes later and was forced to catch up. As the trawler caught up with the oiler in the dark there was some confusion as to the direction RFA Burma was steaming and in an attempt to overhaul the oiler, at 21.28, there was a collision.
The trawler was struck on the port side and was hung up on the bow of RFA Burma for a short time before falling away and sinking with the loss of four crew.
Both commanding officers were blamed equally for the collision. which happened in position 57 50.30N 01 59.30W.
The trawler was struck on the port side and was hung up on the bow of RFA Burma for a short time before falling away and sinking with the loss of four crew.
Both commanding officers were blamed equally for the collision. which happened in position 57 50.30N 01 59.30W.
RFA Burma
It is quite sad that as can be seen in the newspaper clips below the widow of James Stopper, Trimmer, believed her husband had been lost in the eastern Mediterranean when, in fact, he was lost just a few miles from home.
The Wreck
There is no UKHO Wreck Card for the trawler HMT Xerxes. To date the wreck has not been formally identified.
Crew Lost †15/11/1915
Name - Hutton, Percy Charles (27),
DOB - 24th January 1888
Place of Birth - Gorleston, Suffolk
Parents - Son of the late R. S. Hutton (Norfolk Regt.) and Ellen Eliza Hutton, of Gorleston-on-Sea,
Early History -
Rank - Seaman (no. 7069A), R.N.R.
Service History - Remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial. (Died of wounds)
DOB - 24th January 1888
Place of Birth - Gorleston, Suffolk
Parents - Son of the late R. S. Hutton (Norfolk Regt.) and Ellen Eliza Hutton, of Gorleston-on-Sea,
Early History -
Rank - Seaman (no. 7069A), R.N.R.
Service History - Remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial. (Died of wounds)
John Bull - Saturday 04 December 1915
Mrs. F. Graystone (Harcombe, Oulton Broad, Suffolk) would be glad of any news; of her brother, Percy Charles Hutton, recently serving on board H.M.S. Xerxes.
Mrs. F. Graystone (Harcombe, Oulton Broad, Suffolk) would be glad of any news; of her brother, Percy Charles Hutton, recently serving on board H.M.S. Xerxes.
Sources:
BT 377/7/7081
britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk
BT 377/7/7081
britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk
Name - King, Walter, (39),
DOB - 30th November 1875
Place of Birth - London
Parents - Son of Anne King; husband of Ethel Blanche King, of 32, Barnsbury St., Islington, London,
Early History -
Rank - Engineman (no. 1341ES), R.N.R.
Service History - Remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial
30 November 1875
DOB - 30th November 1875
Place of Birth - London
Parents - Son of Anne King; husband of Ethel Blanche King, of 32, Barnsbury St., Islington, London,
Early History -
Rank - Engineman (no. 1341ES), R.N.R.
Service History - Remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial
30 November 1875
Sources:
BT 377/7/130749
BT 377/7/130749
Name - Martin, William John, (46),
DOB - 15th April 1872
Place of Birth - Ardglass, Down
Parents - Son of Mary Martin, of Coney Island, Ardglass, Co. Down,
Early History -
Rank - Seaman (no. 1553C), R.N.R,
Service History - Remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial
Ardglass, Down
DOB - 15th April 1872
Place of Birth - Ardglass, Down
Parents - Son of Mary Martin, of Coney Island, Ardglass, Co. Down,
Early History -
Rank - Seaman (no. 1553C), R.N.R,
Service History - Remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial
Ardglass, Down
Belfast News-Letter - Wednesday 01 December 1915
OTHER VOLUNTEER CASUALTIES.
Mr. Wm. John Martin, R.N.R., who was drowned on 16th ult. in collision with a transport on which he was serving, was a brother of Mrs. King, 16, Southport Street, Belfast.
OTHER VOLUNTEER CASUALTIES.
Mr. Wm. John Martin, R.N.R., who was drowned on 16th ult. in collision with a transport on which he was serving, was a brother of Mrs. King, 16, Southport Street, Belfast.
Sources:
BT 377/7/33797
britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk
BT 377/7/33797
britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk
Name - Stopper, James Leiper, (35),
DOB - 19th July 1880
Place of Birth - Aberdeen
Parents - Son of Robert and Lily Leiper Stopper, of Aberdeen;
Early History -
Rank - Trimmer (no. 648TS), R.N.R.
Service History - Remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial
Aberdeen Evening Express - Friday 26 November 1915
Roll of Honour.
STOPPER. —Drowned off H.M. trawler Xerxes, the 16th November, 1913, James Stopper, beloved husband of Agnes Greenshields, 175 Constitution Street, aged 35 years—deeply mourned and loved by all.
Aberdeen Evening Express - Friday 26 November 1915
CITY SEAMAN DROWNED. Mrs Agnes Stopper, 175 Constitution Street, Aberdeen, has received official notification of the death of her husband Seaman James Leiper Stopper, who was attached to H.M. trawler Xerxes, which was sunk in a collision the Eastern Mediterranean. Before the war Seaman Stopper was employed at the harbour as a labourer.
The Scotsman - Saturday 27 November 1915
ABERDEEN SEAMAN DROWNED. Information has been received in Aberdeen of a death of a seaman James Leiper Stopper who was engaged on a trawler which was sunk in a collision.
Aberdeen Weekly Journal - Friday 03 December 1915
ROLL OF HONOUR
STOPPER.—Drowned off H.M. trawler Xerxes, on the November, 1915. James Stopper, beloved husband Agnes Greenshields, 175 Constitution Street, 35 years—deeply mourned and loved-by all.
DOB - 19th July 1880
Place of Birth - Aberdeen
Parents - Son of Robert and Lily Leiper Stopper, of Aberdeen;
Early History -
Rank - Trimmer (no. 648TS), R.N.R.
Service History - Remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial
Aberdeen Evening Express - Friday 26 November 1915
Roll of Honour.
STOPPER. —Drowned off H.M. trawler Xerxes, the 16th November, 1913, James Stopper, beloved husband of Agnes Greenshields, 175 Constitution Street, aged 35 years—deeply mourned and loved by all.
Aberdeen Evening Express - Friday 26 November 1915
CITY SEAMAN DROWNED. Mrs Agnes Stopper, 175 Constitution Street, Aberdeen, has received official notification of the death of her husband Seaman James Leiper Stopper, who was attached to H.M. trawler Xerxes, which was sunk in a collision the Eastern Mediterranean. Before the war Seaman Stopper was employed at the harbour as a labourer.
The Scotsman - Saturday 27 November 1915
ABERDEEN SEAMAN DROWNED. Information has been received in Aberdeen of a death of a seaman James Leiper Stopper who was engaged on a trawler which was sunk in a collision.
Aberdeen Weekly Journal - Friday 03 December 1915
ROLL OF HONOUR
STOPPER.—Drowned off H.M. trawler Xerxes, on the November, 1915. James Stopper, beloved husband Agnes Greenshields, 175 Constitution Street, 35 years—deeply mourned and loved-by all.
Sources:
BT 377/7/110569
britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk
BT 377/7/110569
britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk
