Requisitioned Auxiliary – Melcombe Regis

 

MELCOMBE REGIS 

 

Official Number:                      89706

Laid down:                              

Builder:                                  Workman, Clark & Co. Ltd., Belfast

Launched:                              2 September 1891

Pennant No:                           PP 1637

Into Service:                           1 December 1917

Out of service:                        1920

Fate:                                     1923 Broken up

 

Items of historic interest involving this ship: –

 

Background Data:  One of several ships requisitioned by the Admiralty for service during WW1 as Auxiliary Minesweepers to take advantage of their shallow draught, high speed and maneuverability.

 

Career Data:

 

1892 launched by Thomas B Seath & Co., Rutherglen as Yard Nr: 280 name LUNE for Lancashire & Yorkshire and London & North Western Railway Co’s combined fleets

June 1892 completed as a paddle steamer for owners’ Fleetwood – Heysham and Blackpool service

17 July 1904 at Fleetwood Harbour while alongside the steamer Duke of Lancaster Fireman William College went missing – discharged dead believed drowned

June 1913 purchased by Cosens & Co Ltd., Weymouth and renamed MELCOMBE REGIS. Used on ferry service between Weymouth and the naval ships at anchor

1 December 1917 requisitioned for Admiralty service as an Auxiliary Minesweeper and commissioned as HMS MELCOMBE REGIS. Was based at Larne

11 June 1918 3rd Engineer Officer F J Pitman MMR discharged dead. He is buried in Cobh Old Cemetery, Ireland in Grave B.22.38

3EO Pitman MMR

7 July 1918 Assistant Cook Arthur Frederick Coppins MMR discharged dead from Spanish Flu. He is buried in Larne New Cemetery, Section 4A Grave 1412

17 May 1919 operated on the Medway Ferry Service

31 May 1920 decommissioned and returned to her owners as MELCOMBE REGIS and was laid up at Weymouth in wartime grey

May 1923 arrived at Felixstowe for demolition