HMT Thomas Stratton
Hull Daily Mail - Tuesday 12 May 1914
HMT Thomas Stratton. (Admiralty No.: 3000) 20/10/1917
Displacement: 309 grt.
Length: 41.7 m. Beam: 7.2 m. Draught: 3.7 m.
Propulsion: Steam, triple expansion engine, single boiler, single screw..
Complement: Officers and men.
Crew Lost: 8
Armament: 1 x 12pdr
Displacement: 309 grt.
Length: 41.7 m. Beam: 7.2 m. Draught: 3.7 m.
Propulsion: Steam, triple expansion engine, single boiler, single screw..
Complement: Officers and men.
Crew Lost: 8
Armament: 1 x 12pdr
The trawler built by Cochrane & Sons Shipbuilders Ltd., Selby in 1914 for Pickering & Haldane's Steam Trawling Co., Hull and registered H116.
The HMT Thomas Stratton was part of the 10th Cruiser Squadron and was tasked to patrol NW of the Butt of Lewis with two other trawlers, the HMT Lord Lansdowne & HMT Arley. On the night of the 19th October 1917 all three vessels sought shelter of the Butt of Lewis due to very rough weather. HMT Thomas Stratton lay with engines stopped with the Butt of Lewis lighthouse bearing S.E 1/2 S to S E x S distance 5 or 6 miles.
At 12 30 pm there was a large explosion forward on the port side. Most of the crew were in the mess deck and were killed in the explosion.
Lt A Bishop RNR was getting his meal in the chart room and instantly ran out onto the deck as far forward as the winch. He found the foremast had gone, the forward small boat damaged and the bulwark and rail was broken between the winch and the remains of the foremast.
Lt Bishop then sounded the ships steam whistle to summon help and then assisted launching the aft small boat. The survivors left HMT Thomas Stratton and when about 30 yards distant the trawler sank.
The survivors were taken onboard the Lord Lansdowne and after a search for any other survivors the remaining two trawlers headed for Stornoway on Lewis.
Sunk possibly by a mine from the German submarine U-71 NW of the Butt of Lewis (Walter Gude), or possibly by a magazine explosion.
Information kindly supplied by Ian Crawford (https://www.scottishshipwrecks.com/)
The HMT Thomas Stratton was part of the 10th Cruiser Squadron and was tasked to patrol NW of the Butt of Lewis with two other trawlers, the HMT Lord Lansdowne & HMT Arley. On the night of the 19th October 1917 all three vessels sought shelter of the Butt of Lewis due to very rough weather. HMT Thomas Stratton lay with engines stopped with the Butt of Lewis lighthouse bearing S.E 1/2 S to S E x S distance 5 or 6 miles.
At 12 30 pm there was a large explosion forward on the port side. Most of the crew were in the mess deck and were killed in the explosion.
Lt A Bishop RNR was getting his meal in the chart room and instantly ran out onto the deck as far forward as the winch. He found the foremast had gone, the forward small boat damaged and the bulwark and rail was broken between the winch and the remains of the foremast.
Lt Bishop then sounded the ships steam whistle to summon help and then assisted launching the aft small boat. The survivors left HMT Thomas Stratton and when about 30 yards distant the trawler sank.
The survivors were taken onboard the Lord Lansdowne and after a search for any other survivors the remaining two trawlers headed for Stornoway on Lewis.
Sunk possibly by a mine from the German submarine U-71 NW of the Butt of Lewis (Walter Gude), or possibly by a magazine explosion.
Information kindly supplied by Ian Crawford (https://www.scottishshipwrecks.com/)
Bi monthly minesweeping report
Bi monthly minesweeping reports 16th-31st October 1917 (129)
The Wreck.
HMT Thomas Stratten has Wreck Card No 767.
In 1919 the wreck was added to the chart as ''OBSOLETE WK SYMBOL (1917)(PA)''.
A survey in 1983 failed to locate the wreck. ''The site was not located during side scan sonar search of an area 4.2 miles (E/W) x 2.5 miles (N/S), centred on the reported position of the wreck. There is a slight possibility that the wreck remained undetected amongst numerous small rock pinnacles in the southern and eastern parts of the area searched, but it was thought unlikely as quality of sonar recording was excellent.''
In 1919 the wreck was added to the chart as ''OBSOLETE WK SYMBOL (1917)(PA)''.
A survey in 1983 failed to locate the wreck. ''The site was not located during side scan sonar search of an area 4.2 miles (E/W) x 2.5 miles (N/S), centred on the reported position of the wreck. There is a slight possibility that the wreck remained undetected amongst numerous small rock pinnacles in the southern and eastern parts of the area searched, but it was thought unlikely as quality of sonar recording was excellent.''
The Crew. †20/10/1917 (Crew research is ongoing)
BOWSER, Walter (18), Trimmer (no. 6310TS)
BROWN, Charles John (24), Deckhand (no. 5540DA)
COLLINSON, James (21), Deckhand (no. 3895SD)
PARRISH, Charles (20), Ordinary Telegraphist (no. Tyneside Z/10209)
PIRIE, James , Deckhand (no. 3948DA)
PLAYFORD, John (26), Deckhand (no. 10703DA)
POLLARD, Thomas Edward , Deckhand (no. 12923DA)
SCAMBLER, William, Trimmer Cook (no. 712/TC)
