HMT Agate (1933)

HM Trawler Agate was purchased by the Royal Navy in 1935. She was modified from a trawler to be used to carry out anti-submarine work. In 1941 she was with the maintenance reserve at Rosyth, but in August was part of the Royal Navy’s escort flotilla with convoy FS559 when she ran aground, becoming a total loss, on Haisborough Sands on the 6 August with a loss of all sixteen crewman.

History
HM Trawler Agate was built in 1934 at Smiths Dock in Middlesbrough, England. She had been ordered by the Boston Deep Sea Fishing and Ice Company (B. A. Parkes) of Fleetwood, Lancashire. The trawler was originally called Mavis Rose. She was and 157.25 ft long, with a beam of 26.5 ft.

Final voyage
On the 5 August Convoy FS 559 was proceeding down the East coast of Britain to London from Newcastle. The convoy was being escorted by two Royal Navy destroyers of the Rosyth escort-force. HMS Vimiera was an old ‘V’ class destroyer built in 1917, whilst HMS Wolsey was a Thorneycroft ‘W’ Class built a year later in 1918. Also helping with the escort duties were HM Trawler Agate and HM Trawler Arkwright. The night was drawing in as the convoy made its way down the coast and the weather was poor. There was a North-north west gale in full blow with rain. It was cold and visibility was poor. By the early hours and daylight of the 6 August the convoy was enveloped in a thick sea mist making visibility very poor. There are two accounts of what happened to HM Agate, but the most likely cause of event are as follows

Run aground
The convoy had been unable to see the Haisborough light vessel due to the bad visibility, and in any case, due to war time restrictions was only illuminated for ten minutes when a convoy was due in the area. It is thought that due to the combination of the bad weather conditions, the strong westerly drift, and the fact that the exact position of the convoy was unavailable, HM Agate just lead seven of the ships on to the sands were they ran aground. A further report from SS Oxshott describes HM Agate bearing down on her. The Oxshott had been the first of the seven to run aground. The other vessels were the SS Afon Towy, SS Deerwood, SS Betty Hindley, SS Aberhill, SS Gallois and the SS Taara. Although the lifeboats from Cromer and Great Yarmouth and Gorleston rescued 137 men from the wrecked ships, 37 men perished including all 16 men aboard HM Trawler Agate.

Position of the wreck of the HM Trawler Agate today

 * 52.88333°N, 1.71667°W at a depth of 10 m. on Haisborough Sands.

24.1 km North of Hemsby 24.2 km East-north east of North Walsham 27.9 km North of Caister on Sea 28.2 km East of Cromer