Anyone know of a WW2 Trawler by the name "Mary Herd"

[Nathan Strachan]

Hello,

I've been looking in to my grandfathers history (JOHN 'JOCK' ROY) and discovered a letter he sent home from Iceland in the 40's saying that he was to board the "MARY HERD" in a few days. It was a repurposed trawler used as a water carrier during the Arctic Convoys, but I've found little else about the vessel.

I wonder if anyone here remembers it or perhaps were aboard?

Ship no: 139891
Steam Trawler
Formerly known as SNOFLAKE

[Graham Shaw]

Nathan,I can only find some basic build details on Miramar Ship Index (NZ) site :

SNOWFLAKE,Naval Trawler 96 gross registered tons.Launched 5/1919,completed 12/1919 by Webster & Bickerton of Goole for RN.

No further owners or history are given re 'Mary Herd'

[Nathan Strachan]

I have discovered that it was a steel ship built for World War 1 and it sailed under the name Mary Herd during world war 2.

"SNOWFLAKE, Admiralty steel drifter, Adty No, 3953. Delivered 2.12.19, Webster & Bickerton. 94grt/199 tons (deep), 93(oa), 86x18x9. TE 270 ihp, 9kts. Completed as fishing vessel. To Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries 28.8.20, renamed C. S. D. 1920. Served as MARY HERD in WW2."

Do you know if theres anyway to track it down via the Admiralty number?

Thanks so much for your findings!

[Nathan Strachan]

I've also discovered the pennant number is FY501

[Bill Morrison]

Olsen's Fisherman's nautical Almanack 1949
Mary Herd. O.N. 139891 Port & Fishing No. A 570 Steel construction. Net tons 37 HP.34 Built 1919 Goole Owner Walker Steam Trawler Fishing Co. Ltd. Aberdeen.
Bill.

[Doc Vernon]

Mary Herd

May 1940

Water carrier, returned Oct 1945

Just something on her but i know there is a lot more already Posted
Cheers

[George Lill]

Good morning Nathan, I have a mate who has a large collection of photographs and information on over 3000 Grimsby trawlers and I have asked if he has any information on the ship.
My father who was a deep water skipper in world war 2 and sailed in converted trawlers mine sweeping. so if I can find information I will add to the post.

regards George Lill

[George Lill]

Good morning, just a little more info with regards to your grandfathers ship.MARY HERD Official number 139891
built 1919 as the Mary Herd registered FR 24, steel construction nett tonnage 37 ton
built at Goole for owner John Herd & others of Fraserburgh,

requisitioned by the navy as HMT MARY HERD in May 1940 - Water Carrier, returned to owner October 1945.

As far as my records go she remained under the name that she was built. I can't find anything in my records that she was called SNOFLAKE. Hope this info is useful. It seems strange that a trawler as small as this (37t was operating at Iceland).

75 foot long in the winter in Iceland when light ship must have been a nightmare, tough old sea dogs in them days.

[Nathan Strachan]

Wonderful, thank you so much!

[Nathan Strachan]

From what I've heard from relatives he only mentioned his time in iceland once and that it was harrowing. It is very unusual for it to be a wee boat. Strangely enough my grandfather (and myself) are from Fraserburgh where the boat was built.

Do you have any idea of what it means that it was a "water carrier" I've tried to find some contextual examples of it online and came up short.

Thanks