Poole Naval Base & Scottish Trawlers

[morten]

Hello. I'm researching servicemen born or with connections to the Poole/Bournemouth Area of Dorset. I haven't been able to find out any information about Poole Naval Base in WW1, either at Poole Local History Centre or Country Records Office. There were only a couple of brief references in the local paper, no doubt due to secrecy. One book on local history does, however, mention that trawlers from Scotland arrived at Poole and were crewed by local men for minesweeping duties. If someone knows where I can find any more details about the trawlers involved, crew lists etc. then I would be most grateful. Thanks. Regards Morten

[Clio]

Well they had an eventful war. The answer really depends how deeply you want to delve and whether your interest is A/S, convoy duties, mine sweeping, or all of these.

As primary sources go, the best single source is probably the Auxiliary Patrol Red Book in the Library of the Maritime Museum, Greenwich. The Library holds several Staff Technical monographs which may prove rewarding.

In terms of secondary sources there are quite a few books on the Auxiliary Patrol in the public domain eg 'Swept Channels' which may well be helpful. Keble-Chatterton reproduces the sector charts deriving from the Red Book, in his two U-boat books.

If I was a self-serving heel, I would point you in the direction of my own books but I am not, so I won't.

[sotonmate]

Morten

I am sure that if you PM the bashful Clio you will get some titles !

Kew has Poole Auxiliary Patrol Reports for 1915 in it's piece ADM137/160.There may be others lurking in the system too.

I recently read one for Buncrana N.Ireland,and they are illuminating.

Sotonmate

[sadsac]

MORTEN, find here awards for services at POOLE ;

Never mind what CLIO says - bags you get book by CLIO / RON !!!

RICHARDSON John P.A N/E Lt. RNVR 84S042 N/E

C-in-C Portsmouth 27.06.17 Gazetted

Auxiliary Patrols to 31.12.16 Mentioned in Despatches

For services in Auxiliary Patrols, Naval Base, Poole, for the period ending 31st December, 1916.

MASTUS Albert S N/E Lt. RNR 84S042 N/E

C-in-C Portsmouth 27.06.17 Gazetted Auxiliary Patrols to 31.12.16 Mentioned in Despatches

For services in Auxiliary Patrols, Naval Base, Poole, for the period ending 31st December, 1916.

WILLIAMSON Albert R N/E Lt. RNR 84S117 White Oak

C-in-C Portsmouth (Poole) 20.09.18 Gazetted

Minesweeping operations 01.01.18 - 30.06.18 DSC

He is in charge of E.C. Mine Net Flotilla of Drifters at Poole laying E.C. Mine Nets in waters in which submarines are active. Under his command the flotilla has reached a high state of efficiency.

Sadsac

[wightspirit]

Hi Morten

As Sotonmate says, there are records at the National Archives on the Auxiliary Patrol. Poole was, I think, a sub-station of Portsmouth Area XII. Having researched all shipping losses in the east Dorset and west Wight areas, I have all the survivors reports of the merchant vessels sunk, and the Auxiliary Patrol features in those reports as they were involved in escorting duties and rescuing of survivors etc. The Weekly Reports of the Auxiliary Patrol are fairly mundane, but they will enable you to obtain a complete and accurate account of which vessels were attached to Poole. Additional reports from the Senior Naval Officer at Poole may also be found in the individual records for the merchant ships which were lost. There are separate reports for most of the Auxiliary Patrol vessels which were themselves lost - the trawlers Arfon, Albion II and Michael Clements, and the drifters New Dawn, Waterlily, John Mitchell, Fame and Plantin. I also have copies of the reports of their losses which names the men lost.

Names such as White Oak, Bluebell, Unity, Tessie, WPG, Vera Grace, Arthur Cavanagh as well as many others are familiar as they are named in the reports, but I'd need to go through my files to give a more complete list. It is not always clear, however, that these Auxiliary Patrol vessels were attached to Poole, as there was much crossover work done between Portland, Poole, Yarmouth and Portsmouth. The information is in the records if you ant to be certain.

Dave W

[morten]

Well they had an eventful war. The answer really depends how deeply you want to delve and whether your interest is A/S, convoy duties, mine sweeping, or all of these.

As primary sources go, the best single source is probably the Auxiliary Patrol Red Book in the Library of the Maritime Museum, Greenwich. The Library holds several Staff Technical monographs which may prove rewarding.

In terms of secondary sources there are quite a few books on the Auxiliary Patrol in the public domain eg 'Swept Channels' which may well be helpful. Keble-Chatterton reproduces the sector charts deriving from the Red Book, in his two U-boat books.

If I was a self-serving heel, I would point you in the direction of my own books but I am not, so I won't.

Many thanks for your reply. I'm interested in everything so you can point me in any way that you see fit. My research can always benefit from some direction.

Morten

I am sure that if you PM the bashful Clio you will get some titles !

Kew has Poole Auxiliary Patrol Reports for 1915 in it's piece ADM137/160.There may be others lurking in the system too.

I recently read one for Buncrana N.Ireland,and they are illuminating.

Sotonmate

Thanks for the help. Most appreciated. Regards. Morten

[morten]

MORTEN, find here awards for services at POOLE ;

Never mind what CLIO says - bags you get book by CLIO / RON !!!

RICHARDSON John P.A N/E Lt. RNVR 84S042 N/E

C-in-C Portsmouth 27.06.17 Gazetted

Auxiliary Patrols to 31.12.16 Mentioned in Despatches

For services in Auxiliary Patrols, Naval Base, Poole, for the period ending 31st December, 1916.

MASTUS Albert S N/E Lt. RNR 84S042 N/E

C-in-C Portsmouth 27.06.17 Gazetted Auxiliary Patrols to 31.12.16 Mentioned in Despatches

For services in Auxiliary Patrols, Naval Base, Poole, for the period ending 31st December, 1916.

WILLIAMSON Albert R N/E Lt. RNR 84S117 White Oak

C-in-C Portsmouth (Poole) 20.09.18 Gazetted

Minesweeping operations 01.01.18 - 30.06.18 DSC

He is in charge of E.C. Mine Net Flotilla of Drifters at Poole laying E.C. Mine Nets in waters in which submarines are active. Under his command the flotilla has reached a high state of efficiency.

Sadsac

Many thanks for this information. Much appreciated. Regards. Morten

[morten]

Hi Morten

As Sotonmate says, there are records at the National Archives on the Auxiliary Patrol. Poole was, I think, a sub-station of Portsmouth Area XII. Having researched all shipping losses in the east Dorset and west Wight areas, I have all the survivors reports of the merchant vessels sunk, and the Auxiliary Patrol features in those reports as they were involved in escorting duties and rescuing of survivors etc. The Weekly Reports of the Auxiliary Patrol are fairly mundane, but they will enable you to obtain a complete and accurate account of which vessels were attached to Poole. Additional reports from the Senior Naval Officer at Poole may also be found in the individual records for the merchant ships which were lost. There are separate reports for most of the Auxiliary Patrol vessels which were themselves lost - the trawlers Arfon, Albion II and Michael Clements, and the drifters New Dawn, Waterlily, John Mitchell, Fame and Plantin. I also have copies of the reports of their losses which names the men lost.

Names such as White Oak, Bluebell, Unity, Tessie, WPG, Vera Grace, Arthur Cavanagh as well as many others are familiar as they are named in the reports, but I'd need to go through my files to give a more complete list. It is not always clear, however, that these Auxiliary Patrol vessels were attached to Poole, as there was much crossover work done between Portland, Poole, Yarmouth and Portsmouth. The information is in the records if you ant to be certain.

Dave W

Thanks for your help Dave. I will bear in mind what you say, re- the crossover work. Do the reports of losses give any other information apart from listing names? Regards. Morten

[wightspirit]

Hi Morten

The reports included in the merchant ship loss survivor's reports gives a fairly full account of what they (the Auxiliary Patrol) did, though of course this varies according to how much the Senior Naval Officer thought was relevant when compiling his report. For the losses of the Auxiliary Patrol vessels themselves, a much fuller report is usually available, though some enquiry reports appear not to have survived. This is particularly so where there was no loss of life. For example, in relation to the losses of the Fame, Michael Clements, John Mitchell and Waterlily, no official report has been found by me, but I have been able to piece together the events of what took place from other sources. Where there was loss of life, such as in the case of New Dawn and Plantin, much more survives in the records. If there's anything in particular that you're looking for, or if you need any further help, please feel free to send me a PM.

Dave W

[sadsac]

MORTEN, two awards to WHITE OAK crew for services ;

DAVE W - presume by your `intro name' you `ghosted in' from the WIGHT ISLAND - is that so ??

DUKE Douglas St. J N/E Lt. RNVR 84S117 White Oak

C-in-C Portsmouth (Poole) 20.09.18 Gazetted

Minesweeping operations 01.01.18 - 30.06.18 Mentioned in Despatches

He has been Senior Officer in charge of the Motor Launch Flotilla at Poole for a period of 8 months, patrolling and hydrophoning in waters in which submarines are active.

MASTERS Albert F N/E Lt. RNR 84S184 White Oak

C-in-C Portsmouth 24.05.19 Gazetted Auxiliary Patrol - 01.07.18 - 11.11.18 OBE(M)

Arduous and specially meritorious service afloat in laying moored indicator nets in waters where submarines were active in 1915, as Senior Executive Officer of Poole Naval base from August, 1915, to December, 1918.

Sadsac

[morten]

Hi Morten

The reports included in the merchant ship loss survivor's reports gives a fairly full account of what they (the Auxiliary Patrol) did, though of course this varies according to how much the Senior Naval Officer thought was relevant when compiling his report. For the losses of the Auxiliary Patrol vessels themselves, a much fuller report is usually available, though some enquiry reports appear not to have survived. This is particularly so where there was no loss of life. For example, in relation to the losses of the Fame, Michael Clements, John Mitchell and Waterlily, no official report has been found by me, but I have been able to piece together the events of what took place from other sources. Where there was loss of life, such as in the case of New Dawn and Plantin, much more survives in the records. If there's anything in particular that you're looking for, or if you need any further help, please feel free to send me a PM.

Dave W

Thanks Dave. I will be in touch when I have been through my notes. I am re-organising then at present!

Morten

[morten]

MORTEN, two awards to WHITE OAK crew for services ;

DAVE W - presume by your `intro name' you `ghosted in' from the WIGHT ISLAND - is that so ??

DUKE Douglas St. J N/E Lt. RNVR 84S117 White Oak

C-in-C Portsmouth (Poole) 20.09.18 Gazetted

Minesweeping operations 01.01.18 - 30.06.18 Mentioned in Despatches

He has been Senior Officer in charge of the Motor Launch Flotilla at Poole for a period of 8 months, patrolling and hydrophoning in waters in which submarines are active.

MASTERS Albert F N/E Lt. RNR 84S184 White Oak

C-in-C Portsmouth 24.05.19 Gazetted Auxiliary Patrol - 01.07.18 - 11.11.18 OBE(M)

Arduous and specially meritorious service afloat in laying moored indicator nets in waters where submarines were active in 1915, as Senior Executive Officer of Poole Naval base from August, 1915, to December, 1918.

Sadsac

Thanks very much for the information. Most appreciated. Regards. Morten