Davara
Encyclopedia
The Davara was a British steam trawler
during World War II that was sunk by the German submarine U-27. On 6 January 1912, the ship was launched from Selby
by the shipbuilding company Cochrane & Sons Ltd. The ship's owner, Mount Steam Fishing Co Ltd. christened her the Davara. By March 1912, the trawler was registered and completed and in 1914 she was requisitioned by the British Navy for service in World War I
and fitted out for mine sweeping activities. Having survived World War I, she was returned to her owners in 1919 and served as a trawler once more until 13 September 1939 when she was sunk by 35 rounds from U-27s main deck gun. The 12 man crew managed to escape the submarine in a lifeboat while the Davara later sunk at 2:55pm from the damage inflicted by U-27s gunfire. Her crew remained in the water "baling and rowing" for five hours before they were picked up by the steamer Willowpool and safely made landfall. The Davara was the first British trawler to be sunk by enemy action in World War II.
was just beginning. The Davara managed to survive the war unharmed and she was returned to Mount Steam Fishing Co Ltd. in 1919. The vessel returned to trawling duties soon after. On 7 August 1930, the trawler was grounded on "Tiger’s Tail" during an approach to Wyre Dock in Fleetwood. She was soon re-floated and safely proceeded into the dock.
. U-27 then began shelling the Davara. A total of 35 rounds were fired at the trawler and despite suffering damage, the Skipper of the trawler managed to get a lifeboat into the water and the entire crew of the ship abandoned ship.
The shelling of the crew-less Davara continued a further thirty minutes. The shelling stooped at 2:55 pm with the Davaras sinking. The crew of the trawler who had abandoned ship earlier remained in the lifeboat for a further five hours. They were eventually picked up by the West Hartlepool
steamer Willowpool and taken to the safety of the shore. The sinking of the Davara marked the first time that a British trawler was to be sunk in World War II by an enemy submarine. The Davara was the 17th ship sunk by a German submarine in World War II.
Naval trawler
A naval trawler is a vessel built along the lines of a fishing trawler but fitted out for naval purposes. Naval trawlers were widely used during the First and Second world wars. Fishing trawlers were particularly suited for many naval requirements because they were robust boats designed to work...
during World War II that was sunk by the German submarine U-27. On 6 January 1912, the ship was launched from Selby
Selby
Selby is a town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. Situated south of the city of York, along the course of the River Ouse, Selby is the largest and, with a population of 13,012, most populous settlement of the wider Selby local government district.Historically a part of the West Riding...
by the shipbuilding company Cochrane & Sons Ltd. The ship's owner, Mount Steam Fishing Co Ltd. christened her the Davara. By March 1912, the trawler was registered and completed and in 1914 she was requisitioned by the British Navy for service in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and fitted out for mine sweeping activities. Having survived World War I, she was returned to her owners in 1919 and served as a trawler once more until 13 September 1939 when she was sunk by 35 rounds from U-27s main deck gun. The 12 man crew managed to escape the submarine in a lifeboat while the Davara later sunk at 2:55pm from the damage inflicted by U-27s gunfire. Her crew remained in the water "baling and rowing" for five hours before they were picked up by the steamer Willowpool and safely made landfall. The Davara was the first British trawler to be sunk by enemy action in World War II.
Construction and design
The Davara was constructed in the city of Selby by the shipbuilder Cochrane & Sons Ltd. On 6 January 1912, the trawler was launched from yard number 517. Christened the Davara by the ship's owner Mount Steam Fishing Co Ltd. she was registered in the port of Fleetwood on 6 March 1912 and completed sometime later that same month. Her official number was 132409 and she had a net tonnage of 116 while her gross tonnage was 291. The trawler was 130 feet (39.6 m) from bow to stern and she had a draught of 12.5 feet (3.8 m) and a breadth of 23.5 feet (7.2 m). Her engine consisted of a T.3-cyl from the company C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd.Early service
Following completion and registration, the Davara began fishing off of the coast of Ireland and Great Britain. Her service as a trawler continued for about two years uninterrupted before she was requisitioned for war service by the British Navy and fitted out for mine sweeping duties In November 1914 as World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
was just beginning. The Davara managed to survive the war unharmed and she was returned to Mount Steam Fishing Co Ltd. in 1919. The vessel returned to trawling duties soon after. On 7 August 1930, the trawler was grounded on "Tiger’s Tail" during an approach to Wyre Dock in Fleetwood. She was soon re-floated and safely proceeded into the dock.
Sinking
On 12 September 1939, the Davara left Fleetwood for a routine fishing trip off of the west coast of Ireland under the command of Skipper William Boyles. A day later on 13 September, the German submarine U-27 spotted the trawler about 21 miles (33.8 km) North West by North of Tory Island near Donegal, IrelandDonegal
Donegal or Donegal Town is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. Its name, which was historically written in English as Dunnagall or Dunagall, translates from Irish as "stronghold of the foreigners" ....
. U-27 then began shelling the Davara. A total of 35 rounds were fired at the trawler and despite suffering damage, the Skipper of the trawler managed to get a lifeboat into the water and the entire crew of the ship abandoned ship.
The shelling of the crew-less Davara continued a further thirty minutes. The shelling stooped at 2:55 pm with the Davaras sinking. The crew of the trawler who had abandoned ship earlier remained in the lifeboat for a further five hours. They were eventually picked up by the West Hartlepool
West Hartlepool
This article refers to the place; for the Rugby Football Club see West Hartlepool R.F.C.West Hartlepool refers to the western part of the what has since the 1960s been known as the borough of Hartlepool in North East England...
steamer Willowpool and taken to the safety of the shore. The sinking of the Davara marked the first time that a British trawler was to be sunk in World War II by an enemy submarine. The Davara was the 17th ship sunk by a German submarine in World War II.