The steel steam trawler Loch Garry was launched from the Footdee yard of A Hall and Son Ltd (Yard No 400) on 3rd February 1903. She measured 106.1′ x 22.5′ x 12.2′ and her tonnage was 176 gross tons, 41 net tons. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine by A Hall delivering 60 registered horse power.
Extract Lloyd’s Register 1915
She was built for the Empire Steam Fishing Company of Aberdeen and registered there A882. In 1908 she was sold to J B Graham and Sons of Hartlepool changing her home port and fishing number to HL32.
Builders long section – Lloyd’s Register
With the outbreak of World War One she was requisitioned by the Admiralty in January 1916, converted to an armed auxiliary trawler and assigned boom defence patrol duties in Orkney. On the night of 13th September 1916 she was lying anchored close to the boom at Kirkwall. On board her skipper William Smith and his eight crew, including his son William junior, were asleep when she foundered in bad weather. The reasons for her loss are confused in the contemporary records with newspaper reports indicating that she was swamped after her anchor chain parted but official records indicating her loss was likely due a leak in or near the engine room caused by the strain of the weather. In either case all the men aboard, except William junior, were lost as she sank. William apparently floated safely to land and was picked up the following morning.
The wreck of the Loch Garry lies in position 59° 01.727’N, 002° 56.897’W in a charted depth of 19 metres with a least depth clearance of 10 metres. The wreck is reported as well broken lying on her starboard with the stern section the most in tact with propeller and rudder still in place. The triple expansion engine and boiler are also visible midships.
We would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the website – Lost in Waters Deep – in the preparation of this article. Link to website – www.lostinwatersdeep.co.uk
