OSBOURNE STROUD

Shipbuildervessel built by Alexander HALL & Co. (Footdee, Aberdeen)

DateMarch 1912

Object NameFISHING VESSEL

MediumSTEEL

ClassificationsShip

Dimensionslength 115' 3/12 x breadth 22' 5/12 x depth 13'
Gross Tonnage: 209 ton

Object numberABDSHIP001360

Keywords

Aberdeen Built Ships

About MeYard: Alexander Hall & Co.
Yard Number: 474.
Official Number (IMO): 129377.
Subsequent Name: BEATHWOOD (1920)

Fate: Bombed and sunk 11 September 1940.

Propulsion: Steam
Description: Steel screw trawler.

Owners:
1912: Stroud Steam Fishing Co. Ltd.
07/1914: Purchased by the Admiralty for conversion to minesweeper.
1920: Sold by the mercantile, bought by J. R. McBeath and others.
12/1939: Requisitioned in December 1939 and designated as an armed patrol vessel.
1940: Returned to owners.

General History:
On the night of 11 September 1940, the BEATHWOOD was 1 mile east of Montrose Coastguard lookout, on the east coast of Scotland. As one newspaper report described it, 'she was lying at anchor, completely blacked out, when at about 10 o'clock a German aircraft spotted it by the light of the moon. Most of the crew were below deck. when the BEATHWOOD was bombed and sunk.
Some reports indicated that there were nine crew and two survivors, so there may still be one further crew member, yet to be identified, who also survived the attack.
The only man known to have survived is the Mate, Alexander Gardiner Mair, who lived to the age of 70.
Over 3 weeks after the attack, the body of Alexander Pirie was discovered at Usan, near Montrose, and buried at Hillhead Cemetery, Portknockie. No others were recovered.
The crew were:

George Wood, skipper of Aberdeen (formerly of Cullen)
William Findlay, fisherman
William George Findlay, cook of Cullen, Banffshire
Alexander Gardiner Mair, mate of Aberdeen (formerly of Cullen)
Alexander Gardiner Mair (Jnr), deckhand of Aberdeen (formerly of Portsoy)
John Milne, second engineer of Aberdeen
Alexander Pirie, deckhand of Portknockie, Banffshire
James Nichol Ruddiman, chief engineer of Cullen, Banffshire

Notes: Triple expansion engines with 11½", 20" and 33" cylinders, 23" stroke. Boiler 12'6" diameter, 10'3" length, 180 lb. pressure (Builder's List in the Lloyd's Library of the Aberdeen Maritime Museum)