HMS Sir Galahad (T226)
Encyclopedia
HMS Sir Galahad was a trawler
built for the British Royal Navy
in 1941. Post war it was sold into civilian service and was wrecked in 1957 after running aground off the Isle of Mull
.
of Aberdeen
to a 1936 design of the same company. Although the design was for a trawler the ship was commissioned as a minesweeper
(Pennant number
T226). Launched in December 1941 she was the second member of the Round Table
class. In March 1943 the Sir Galahad was one of the first ships to respond when the aircraft carrier sank in the River Clyde
. In 1944, having been converted to a danlayer
, Sir Galahad was attached to the 14th Minesweeping Flotilla, part of Force U. The 14th Minesweeping Flotilla took part in Operation Neptune
, the maritime part of the Normandy Landings.
who renamed the ship again as the Robert Limbrick
off Scotland. On Tuesday 5 February reports were received by Oban
radio that the ship was aground off Quinish Point, Mull (56°38′00"N 6°13′42"W) and that the crew had abandoned ship. Despite a search by other vessels in the area and the lifeboat
from Mallaig
, no survivors were found and only two bodies were recovered at the time. The bodies of the rest of the crew were washed ashore over the next weeks.
The ship's total loss was reported by the Salvage Association's surveyor on 7 February 1957 who reported:
A memorial service was held for the crew at St Katherine's church, Milford Haven on 27 February 1957.
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...
built for the British Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
in 1941. Post war it was sold into civilian service and was wrecked in 1957 after running aground off the Isle of Mull
Isle of Mull
The Isle of Mull or simply Mull is the second largest island of the Inner Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland in the council area of Argyll and Bute....
.
Construction and war service
The vessel was built by Hall, Russell & CompanyHall, Russell & Company
Hall, Russell & Company, Limited was a shipbuilder based in Aberdeen, Scotland, UK-History:Brothers James and William Hall, Thomas Russell, a Glasgow engineer, and James Cardno Couper founded the company in 1864 to build steam engines and boilers. In 1867 the company built its first ship, the Kwang...
of Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
to a 1936 design of the same company. Although the design was for a trawler the ship was commissioned as a minesweeper
Minesweeper (ship)
A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in advance of other naval operations.-History:...
(Pennant number
Pennant number
In the modern Royal Navy, and other navies of Europe and the Commonwealth, ships are identified by pennant numbers...
T226). Launched in December 1941 she was the second member of the Round Table
Round Table class trawler
The Round Table class was a small class of trawlers built for the British Royal Navy in 1941/2. The class were built by two Aberdeen shipbuilding firms Hall, Russell & Company and J. Lewis & Sons Ltd....
class. In March 1943 the Sir Galahad was one of the first ships to respond when the aircraft carrier sank in the River Clyde
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
. In 1944, having been converted to a danlayer
Danlayer
A danlayer was a type of vessel assigned to minesweeping flotillas during and immediately after World War II. They were usually small trawlers, fitted for the purpose of laying dans...
, Sir Galahad was attached to the 14th Minesweeping Flotilla, part of Force U. The 14th Minesweeping Flotilla took part in Operation Neptune
Operation Neptune
The Normandy landings, codenamed Operation Neptune, were the landing operations of the Allied invasion of Normandy, in Operation Overlord, during World War II. The landings commenced on Tuesday, 6 June 1944 , beginning at 6:30 AM British Double Summer Time...
, the maritime part of the Normandy Landings.
Post war
Decommissioned in February 1946, the ship was sold in April of the same year to the Walker Steam Trawling & Fishing Co Ltd of Aberdeen and renamed Star of Freedom, her merchant marine registration number being A283. Walker's sold the vessel onto Milford Fisheries Ltd of Milford HavenMilford Haven
Milford Haven is a town and community in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is situated on the north side of the Milford Haven Waterway, a natural harbour used as a port since the Middle Ages. The town was founded in 1790 on the north side of the Waterway, from which it takes its name...
who renamed the ship again as the Robert Limbrick
Loss
Less than a year after purchase by Milford Fisheries Ltd, the Robert Limbrick was lost at sea with the loss of all 12 of her crew. She had sailed from Milford on 2 February 1957 under skipper William Burgoyne to fish for hakeHake
The term hake refers to fish in either of:* family Phycidae of the northern oceans* family Merlucciidae of the southern oceans-Hake fish:...
off Scotland. On Tuesday 5 February reports were received by Oban
Oban
Oban Oban Oban ( is a resort town within the Argyll and Bute council area of Scotland. It has a total resident population of 8,120. Despite its small size, it is the largest town between Helensburgh and Fort William and during the tourist season the town can be crowded by up to 25,000 people. Oban...
radio that the ship was aground off Quinish Point, Mull (56°38′00"N 6°13′42"W) and that the crew had abandoned ship. Despite a search by other vessels in the area and the lifeboat
Lifeboat (rescue)
A rescue lifeboat is a boat rescue craft which is used to attend a vessel in distress, or its survivors, to rescue crewmen and passengers. It can be hand pulled, sail powered or powered by an engine...
from Mallaig
Mallaig
Mallaig ; is a port in Lochaber, on the west coast of the Highlands of Scotland. The local railway station, Mallaig, is the terminus of the West Highland railway line , completed in 1901, and the town is linked to Fort William by the A830 road – the "Road to the Isles".The village of Mallaig...
, no survivors were found and only two bodies were recovered at the time. The bodies of the rest of the crew were washed ashore over the next weeks.
The ship's total loss was reported by the Salvage Association's surveyor on 7 February 1957 who reported:
Trawler Robert Limbrick, ashore Quinish Point, Mull: Survey shows vessel lying on port side, which not visible but damage to this side suspected extensive. Starboard side so far as visible severely damaged from forecastle to stem. Shell plating fractured from bulwark to keel and badly holed in way of fish hold also abreast of bridge. Deck fractured abreast of fish hold, stern frame broken, rudder missing, suspect propeller and tailshaft badly damaged. Engine-room and hull flooded and lifeboat badly stove in. Forward portion of vessel flexing with action of sea where fractured, not possible to board. Consider salvage impracticable. Further SW gales will accelerate vessel breaking up.
A memorial service was held for the crew at St Katherine's church, Milford Haven on 27 February 1957.