HMS X-138
X Type Motor Lighter Photo: David Mallard (www.xlighter.org)
HMS X-138 . 28/02/1918
Displacement: 160 grt.
Length: 32.2 m. Beam: 6.4 m. Draught: 2.2 m.
Propulsion: 1 x Bolinder 2cyl, ‘hot bulb’ oil engine, single shaft, 1 screw.
Complement: 6
Men Lost: 6
Armament:
Displacement: 160 grt.
Length: 32.2 m. Beam: 6.4 m. Draught: 2.2 m.
Propulsion: 1 x Bolinder 2cyl, ‘hot bulb’ oil engine, single shaft, 1 screw.
Complement: 6
Men Lost: 6
Armament:
Built by Clelands Graving Dock & Slipway Co., Wallsend in 1915 as Yard No.24. Lighter designed as a landing craft.
ROYAL NAVY SHIPS RECEIVING NAVAL SALVAGE and PRIZE BOUNTY MONEY
from the London Gazette - August 1914 to December 1920
Motor Lighter X138, salvage of SS Valacia, 3 to 5 Nov 1917 (32025)
The Loss
HM X-138, with a 6 man watch party onboard, left Grimsby 9.00 a.m. on the 26th February 1918 for Inverness under the tow of the tugs 'Racia' & 'Robert Forest' The weather forecast was considered favourable for the tow.
When 8 miles north of the Humber Light the 'Robert Forest' left the tow ''by her own accord''.
When 8 miles north of the Humber Light the 'Robert Forest' left the tow ''by her own accord''.
Tug Boat ''Racia''
At about 4.30 a.m. on the 28th February, around 5 miles NE of Rattray Head the wind shifted to the north east and increased to a gale with heavy seas running.
Shortly before 6.00 a.m. the master of the 'Racia' altered course southward as the vessel could not weather the gale. During the turn the tow parted but the first indication that anything was wrong is when distress signals were observed astern of the tug.
The weather was too bad to have taken the lighter back under tow, the wireless gear was rendered useless by the weather and visual signalling was not an option with no one onboard competent to carry it out. HM X-138 was lost with the entire crew.
An enquiry found that the change of weather was too sudden for the master of the 'Racia' to take shelter and that there was no harbour the tug could have entered, in the NE gale, with the lighter in tow.
The enquiry also found that despite the weather being too bad to get another tow aboard the lighter some attempt should have been made, by the master o the 'Racia' to stand by the lighter and to that extent the master was held to blame.
Shortly before 6.00 a.m. the master of the 'Racia' altered course southward as the vessel could not weather the gale. During the turn the tow parted but the first indication that anything was wrong is when distress signals were observed astern of the tug.
The weather was too bad to have taken the lighter back under tow, the wireless gear was rendered useless by the weather and visual signalling was not an option with no one onboard competent to carry it out. HM X-138 was lost with the entire crew.
An enquiry found that the change of weather was too sudden for the master of the 'Racia' to take shelter and that there was no harbour the tug could have entered, in the NE gale, with the lighter in tow.
The enquiry also found that despite the weather being too bad to get another tow aboard the lighter some attempt should have been made, by the master o the 'Racia' to stand by the lighter and to that extent the master was held to blame.
Rattray head (UKHO)
On the 26/10/20 offers were received to purchase wreck.
Crew Lost †28/02/1918
(research ongoing)
(research ongoing)
CLEMENTS, FREDERICK SPENCER (20), Able Seaman (no. J/27349(Ch), RN, Son of William and Caroline Clements, of 41, King Edward's Rd., Ponders End, Memorial: Enfield (Hertford Road) Cemetery
Hertford Road Cemetery Enfield, London Photo: darealjolo/findmygrave
DIX, CHARLES, Stoker (no. 4337S), RNR , Remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial
FOX, HARRY, Able Seaman (no. J/63176), RN. Remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial
GILLIGAN, JOHN, Petty Officer (no. 3124/B), RNR. Memorial: Peterhead Old Churchyard
Peterhead Old Churchyard Photos: GariochGraver/Findagrave
ROBERTS, WILLIAM JAMES (25), Ordinary Seaman (no. T/75607), RN Son of William James and Selina Jane Roberts, of 17, Waterloo St., St. Luke's, London, Remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial
THOMPSON, GEORGE THOMAS, Petty Officer Stoker (no. 297595), Royal Fleet Reserve, (Served as G.T. DICKERSON). Service: RFR/CH/B/9753, Memorial: Peterhead Old Churchyard
Peterhead Old Churchyard Photos: GariochGraver/findagrave
