The steel steam trawler Brookfield was launched from the Ardossan Drydock Co Ltd yard (Yard no 207) on 27th June 1906. She measured 130.0′ x 22.6′ x 13.5′ and her tonnage was 240 gross tons, 71 net tons. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine by Renfrew Brothers of Irvine delivering 60 registered horse power. Ordered by Deep Sea Trawlers Ltd of Fleetwood she was registered FD76 in this port on 6th September 1906. Her official number was 122943. In March 1910 she was sold to J A Steenken of Deutsche Hochsee Fisherei of Bremerhaven who renamed her Friedrich Bolte.
Longtitudinal plan of trawler Brookfield
Months later, on 22nd October 1910, she was fishing off the Buchan coast with a crew of twelve men aboard. Just before midnight the crew discovered she had sprung a leak in the bunker area flooding the engine room. The pumps were started but quickly choked and, with water gaining rapidly, they were left with little option but to summon assistance. The flares they fired caught the attention of the Aberdeen trawler Ben Attow and skipper William Ives sped to the scene. When they reached the Friedrich Bolte she was low in the water but Ives believed there was still a chance to save her. Tow lines were attached and around 1am the tow began. In the dark night the men aboard Ben Attow could almost not see the stricken vessel under tow and, an hour later after a heavy lurch on the tow line, the Friedrich Bolte sank. Thankfully the German crew had safely abandoned ship in her boat before she went down and were picked up by Ben Attow after some anxious moments searching for the men in the dark and stormy sea.
Aberdeen Journal 24th October
The wreck believed to be Friedrich Bolte lies in position 57° 22.433’N, 01° 40.283’W. She sits in 66 metres with a least depth clearance of 63 metres oriented 030/210 degrees. Although nothing has been recovered from the wreck that absolutely confirms her identity the wreck configuration and location would strongly support that this is indeed Friedrich Bolte.
