Admiralty Armed Trawler No. 134 hired as a Minesweeper in 1914. Hit mine and sank drowning one officer and nine naval ratings. – (LARN) Lost off St Alban’s Head. ADM.APV.1919 & SRN: Vol. 2, p28.
Hit mine when she was sweeping with the trawler VERA GRACE.
Ref. ADM.APV 1919 & SRN Vol. 2 p28.
MINUTES OF COURT OF INQUIRY INVESTIGATING THE CIRCUMSTANCES ATTENDING THB SINKING, BY ENEMY MINE, OF H.M.TRAWLER 134 “ARFON” AT 9.45 A.M. 30 TH APRIL 1917.
The Court consisted of Commander S.F.S. Rotch, R.N. And Commander F.W.Chaine, R.N.
Lieutenant E. McKeown , Royal Naval Reserve, Commanding officer of H.M. Armed Trawler Sweeper 135 “Vera Grace” called and cautioned.
Q. Are you Lieutenant E. McKeown, Royal Naval Reserve ?.
A. Yes.
Lieutenant McKeown’s report read to the Court.
Q. Do you wish to make any alteration or correction in your report ?.
A I Would like to add that after the explosion two of the survivors were sent on board Trinity House Vessel “Warden” who was on the way into Weymouth. The other survivor I brought into Lulworth and whilst signalling there he was transferred to a Motor Launch for transport to Hospital.
Q. When you heard the first mine being fired at what was your relative position ?.
A. The mine was fired on my Starboard quarter.
Q. Who was sinking the first mine ?
A. Trawler “Alaska”, a Portsmouth Auxiliary Patrol Vessel who was escorting the Trinity Vessel “Warden”.
Q. When you had passed the sweep, what was your relative position to “Arfon ”
A. We were sweeping ENE and “Arfon” was on my Starboard beam i.e. to seaward of me.
Q. When “Arfon ” was blown up did you see the smoke before you heard the explosion ?
A. Yes.
Q. How many explosions did you hear ?
A. Two, first under the fore foot of the “Arfon “, and the second when the boiler exploded.
Q. Do you think the magazine exploded ?.
A. No, the second explosion was only smoke, no fire.
Q. Could you see what men she had on look-out ?.
A. Three men, 2nd hand, a leading seaman and a deck hand were all right forward on forecastle.
Q. What was the state of the sea ?.
A. Flat calm and water clear, but the reflected light on the water made it impossible to see below the surface.
Q. What speed was ships going ?.
A. Against the tide, about 6 knots over the land.
Q. Did “Arfon ” sink quickly ?.
A. Yes, in about two minutes.
Q. How do you account for only three survivors being picked up
A. I think they were stunned by the explosion.
Q. Where are the crew generally stationed ?
A. Skipper J.Abrams and W.Babstock, Deck Hand, in wheel house. 2nd Hand E.J.Young, Leading Seaman M.McIntyre and one Deck Hand (William Gray) on forecastle. Two enginemen (T.C.T.Cox and A.J.Smith ), Three Trimmers (W.H.Grayson, C.H.Stevenson and J.H.Billam) in Engine Room which is part of the boiler room. Signalman G.White and Deck Hand W.Gleeson was attending the tail slip. Cook (James Doy) the galley.
Q. Had all your men got their life belts on ?.
A. Yes.
Walter John Gleeson, Deck Hand, H.M. Armed Trawler 134 “Arfon” called and cautioned.
Q. Are you Walter John Gleeson, Deck Hand, H.M. Armed Trawler 134 “Arfon “.
A. Yes.
Q You are one of the three survivors of the “Arfon” ?.
A. Yes.
Q. Where were you when the mine exploded ?.
A. Abreast the wheel house. had just knocked off the tail slip and was walking forward the port side. The explosion took place under the starboard gallows and knocked me down. I got up and jumped over the starb0ard quarter and was sucked under. I was afterwards picked up by the “Alaska’s” boat and taken to the Trinity Vessel “Warden” and thence to Portland Hospital.
Q. Did you see any of the crew Jump overboard ?.
A Yes. Cook, James Doy came out or the galley and jumped overboard. He had no lifebelt on as the galley door was too narrow, but he grabbed a lifebelt off the side of the vessel before he jumped. I did not see him afterward. I als0 saw another man jump over the stern and he was caught by the propeller which was still going round, I could not distinguish which man it was.
Q. Was there more than one explosion ?.
A. I don’t know. I was not fully conscious after I was in the water.
George B. White, Acting Signalman, H.M. Armed Trawler 134 “Arfon” called and cautioned.
Q. Are you George E. White, Acting Signalman, H.M. Armed Trawler 134 “Arfon “. ?.
A. Yes.
Q. Where were you when the explosion happened ?.
A. On the wheelhouse steps.
Q. Who was in the wheelhouse. ?.
A. Skipper J. Abrams and W. Babstock, Deck Hand at the wheel.
Q. What happened to you ?.
A. After the explosion I went aft and got a lifebelt but had no time to put it on, as the ship sank. After I was in the water I lost consciousness and was picked up so. Before I was in the water, however, I remember seeing J.F.Billams, Trimmer, aft.
Q. Why were you not wearing a lifebelt ?.
A. I had just come out of the wheelhouse and could not have got out if I had had one on.
By the Court. The third survivor M. McIntyre, Leading Seaman, is still in Hospital.
We find :-
- That H.M. Armed Trawler No. 134 “Arfon ” was sunk by an enemy mine about 1 1/2 miles S b W 3/4 W of St. Albans Head, Dorset, about 9.45 a. m. on 30th April 1917, the mine exploding under starboard foremost gallows.
- That “Arfon” was Sweeping with Armed Trawler 135 “Vera Gr ace”
- That proper look-out men were stationed on the forecastle.
- That blame is attributable to no one. The Court were or opinion that the number of survivors being small was caused by the ship sink1ng so rapidly. The Skipper, helmsman, enginemen, trimmers and cook work under cover and are unable to wear lifebelts. With reference to Admiralty Weekly Order 1669 no question of material arises as vessel sank entirely through the explosion of mine.
Day of Loss: 30
Month of Loss: 4
Year of Loss: 1917
Longitude:
Latitude:
Approximate Depth: