HMT Kingston Alalite
The Kingston Alalite was a fishing trawler built in November 1933 by Cook, Welton & Gemmell (Yard no. 583) in Hull for the Kingston Steam Trawling Co. Ltd., Kingston-upon-Hull, registered as H538 and with official Number 163172(1). She was 412 tons gross and 166 tons net with a 111 hp triple expansion steam engine driving a single screw(1).
The ship was requisitioned by the Admiralty as an anti-submarine vessel in August 1939(4) as FY 136 and joined the 9th anti-submarine group based at Devonport(1).
The Kingston Alalite was sunk by a mine on 10th November 1940 when her commanding officer was R. A. Read, RNR (1). Six people died including Ernest Sparkes (52) from Grimsby who was the mate on board(6, 7) and Buchan John Mair, a seaman in the Royal Naval Patrol Service(8), seaman S. Collins R.N.R., telegraphist R. H. Cutler, Ordinary seaman J. C. Eastland, Leading Seaman A. J. Rogerson R.N.R., while ten others were wounded(9).
The position of the sinking is cited as 242 degrees 5.7 cables (1056m) from the Breakwater light which is at the western end of the Breakwater(2). Salvage operations on the wreck were completed in February 1946(3). This wreck is reported to be at the same location as the site known as the ‘Two Trawlers’, described in 1979 as 'the remains of one or two trawlers, mostly wood, standing 12-15ft high and covered with nets with cork floats'(3).
If you have any more information about this ship then please contact us.
Images
 |
References
(1) Toghill, G., 2004, Royal Navy Trawlers, Part Two – Requisitioned Trawlers. Maritime Books, Liskeard, ISBN: 1-90445902-1, p237
(2) Larn R. & Larn B., 1995, Shipwreck Index of the British Isles Vol. 1, Lloyds Register of Shipping, ISBN 0 900528 88 5
(3) UK Hydrographic Office, Wreck report #17643
(4) Colledge J., 1970, Ships of the Royal Navy, An Historical Index Volume 2, David & Charles Ltd., p198
(5) Mitchell P., 1986, The Wreckers Guide to South West Devon Vol. 1, Sound Diving Publications
(6) Sidewinder, Lost Fishermen, http://homepage.ntlworld.com/grimsby.trawlers/lostk.htm, accessed Aug 11
(7) WarSailors.com, http://warsailors.com/forum/read.php?1,24914,24917#msg-24917, accessed Aug 11
(8) Inmemories.com, http://www.inmemories.com/Cemeteries/crielsurmer.htm, accessed Aug 11
(9) World Naval Ships Forums, http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5721&page=6, accessed Aug 11
(10) WreckSite - Kingston Alalite, http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?77417, accessed August 2011
(11) PastScape - Kingston Alalite, http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=1479238 and http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=919775, accessed August 2011
(12) uboat.net, Kingston Alalite, http://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/6363.html, accessed Aug 11
(13) Miramar Ship Index #1163172, http://miramarshipindex.org.nz, accessed Aug 11
