| HMY Kethailes | |
|---|---|
| Career (UK) |  |
| Name: | Kethailes |
| Owner: | William Johnston |
| Builder: | Richardson, Duck & Co. |
| Laid down: | Thornaby-on-Tees, Durham, England - Yard Number #535 |
| Launched: | 11 April 1903 |
| Commissioned: | May 1903 |
| Status: | Sunk |
| Career (United Kingdom) |  |
| Name: | HMY Kethailes |
| Acquired: | 24 September 1914 |
| Out of service: | 11 October 1917 |
| Fate: | Sunk |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Yacht |
| Displacement: | 625 tons |
| Propulsion: | Steam |
HMY Kethailes was a ship of the British Royal Navy. It was designed by St Clare John Byrne and built in 1903 as a steam yacht for William Johnston of Liverpool by Richardson, Duck & Co., Thornaby-on-Tees in Durham, England. Johnston named the Yacht combining letters from the names of his four daughters; Kathleen, ETHel, AILeen, EStele. From 1903–1914 it was used as a pleasure craft.[citation needed]
With the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the Royal Navy suddenly found itself in need of additional ships. As a result, on 24 September 1914 Johnston voluntarily handed over the yacht (later receiving financial compensation) to the Royal Navy, for use as an Armed Naval Auxiliary. It became Admiralty Armed Yacht No#118032 in the Yacht Patrol. It patrolled in the North Sea, then transferred to the Irish Sea.[1]
On the 28th September 1917 it was first-on-scene and rendered aid to SS William Middleton, a cargo ship carrying hay from Dublin to Falmouth. It had hit a mine laid by UC-75. Two ratings were lost.[2] The Commanding Officer, Lt-Comdr Lane RNR and crew were commended for their work which prevented the ship from sinking.[3]
On 11 October 1917 Kethailes was sunk in the Irish Sea in a collision[4] with SS Leicestershire near the Blackwater Lightship,[5] off Wexford on the south-easternmost tip of Ireland. A total of 17 persons were killed.[6] Survivors, including the commanding officer were rescued by the patrol boat P44 and Leicestershire, and subsequently landed at Liverpool.[7][8] The casualties were lost at sea; several bodies were subsequently washed ashore on the Welsh coast and were buried in local churches.[9]
References[]
- ↑ (in English) Ship Kethailes , official number: 118032. When built: 1903. Registry closed: 1917.. The National Archives (United Kingdom). 1911-1920. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10333356.
- ↑ https://www.benjidog.co.uk/Tower%20Hill/WW1%20Whorlton%20to%20Wimmera.html
- ↑ https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/h/C4112342
- ↑ https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/dfc1de4a-5ce2-4eae-a853-df544fe7bd41
- ↑ http://www.sailcork.com/blog/full-story/lightships-off-the-irish-coast
- ↑ [1] Jan Lettens 28/07/2010 Wrecksite
- ↑ "Sidney Reginald Lane - The Dreadnought Project". http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/Sidney_Reginald_Lane.
- ↑ PATROL BOAT No. 44. The National Archives (United Kingdom). 1917. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C1520833.
- ↑ HMY Kethailes [+1917] Jan Lettens 28/07/2010 Wrecksite
The original article can be found at HMY Kethailes and the edit history here.