Key facts
- Vessel
- John Cattling LO364, Castle Class, steel-sided, built in Paisley in 1918
- Dimensions
- 276 tons, 125 feet long
- Service at Milford
- May 1920–Feb 1921 and Jan 1922–March 1930
- 1918 collision
- Sank trawler Michael Clements off St Catherine's Point; no loss of life
- Missing crewman
- David Richards, 32, from Swansea, reported missing in August 1927
- Final fate
- Broken up in Hamburg in May 1957
Background
In a weekly memory column, the author shares details about the trawler John Cattling LO364, a Castle Class, steel-sided vessel built in Paisley in 1918. The ship weighed 276 tons and was 125 feet long. It landed at Milford from May 1920 to February 1921, and again from January 1922 to March 1930.
The vessel was owned locally by Iago Steam Trawler Co. Ltd. Its skippers included Charles Schock, Edward Day, William Hawkins, and E. C. Wales. In April 1918, the newly built ship was delivered to the Admiralty, equipped with listening hydrophones and armed with a 12-pounder gun and a 3.5-inch bomb thrower.
In August 1918, off St Catherine's Point, the John Cattling collided with and sank the trawler Michael Clements through ramming. Both trawlers were part of the Auxiliary Patrol Force, and the Michael Clements was also engaged in hydrophone listening duties. Fortunately, there was no loss of life.
Current situation
The column includes a news cutting from August 1927. At 1.45am on a Monday, the John Cattling returned to dock at Milford after departing the previous day. Skipper Charles Schock reported that one of the firemen, David Richards, aged 32, a native of Swansea, was missing. No crew member saw the man after 9am on Sunday.
Richards was fairly well known in the Milford area and had once worked on a farm near Newton Noyes. He had sailed on Messr Pettit's trawlers for some time but only joined the John Cattling on the Saturday before his disappearance.
In August 1939, as the Second World War loomed, the trawler was again requisitioned by the Admiralty, this time for minesweeping duties. In May 1957, she was broken up in Hamburg.
| Period | Event |
|---|---|
| April 1918 | Delivered to Admiralty, equipped with hydrophones and guns |
| August 1918 | Collided with and sank Michael Clements |
| May 1920–Feb 1921 | Landed at Milford |
| Jan 1922–March 1930 | Landed at Milford |
| August 1927 | Fireman David Richards reported missing |
| August 1939 | Requisitioned for minesweeping |
| May 1957 | Broken up in Hamburg |
Impacts
The author also recounts a family story about his maternal grandfather, Bill 'Pop' Edwards, a blaster by trade. Pop lived in Lower Priory before moving to 47 Robert Street, where the author was born in 1944. Pop was known for his storytelling and claimed to have certificates proving his skill as a blaster.
During hard times, Pop's wife took in a lodger named Peter, a fitter who had lost his job. Both men were required to visit the dole office daily. One day, the jobs man, Mr Thomas, offered two blasting jobs: one at Hakin Bridge and one at Black Bridge. Pop chose Hakin Bridge, but Peter, despite being a fitter, said he could do the other job.
Pop warned Peter that he was not a blaster, but Peter insisted he had watched Pop often enough to know what to do. Peter was hired and started the next day. He prepared the charges and set up three fuses in a triangle, lighting them in sequence. By the time he reached the third, the first was nearly ready to blow. He had hardly moved away when the blast went up, burying him under tons of flying rocks and boulders.
Future outlook
Scenario analysis: The possibilities below are not certain predictions.
The author notes that Peter survived the incident, though the exact extent of his injuries is not detailed. Pop faced criticism from his wife, who blamed him for letting Peter take the job. Pop maintained it was not his fault, as he had tried to stop Peter.
The column suggests that such dangerous working conditions were common in the early 20th century. If Peter had followed proper blasting procedures, the accident might have been avoided. The story serves as a cautionary tale about the risks of overconfidence and inadequate training.
The author concludes by mentioning that he inherited Pop's toolbox and still expects to find unused sticks of dynamite hidden at the bottom. The column ends with a quote from T.S. Eliot: 'I don't believe that one grows older. I think that what happens early on in life is that at a certain age, one stands still and stagnates.'
Source: milfordmercury.co.uk
