HM Tug Char

HM Tug Char was built by JP Rennoldson & Sons at South Shields as the tug Stranton for the North Eastern Railway (NER) for use at West Hartlepool Docks. It was launched on the 12th June 1899 and was completed in the August of that year.[1] It had a two-cylinder engine of 98rhp.

On 8 July 1913, Stranton ran aground off of Middleton Sands whilst assisting the Sweadish Barque Meda.[2] During the assistance, Stranton collided with a submerged object, damaging her propellors, Stranton was left adrift. It took two attempted rescues by the RNLI at Hartlepool but on the second, the Stranton's Captain, J.P. Whale, elected to stay behind.[2] Stranton was eventually refloated and taken to Newcastle for repair and soon after returned to West Hartlepool Dock for work.

In November 1914, Stranton was requistioned by the Admiralty for use during the First World War.

On 17 November 1914, Stranton was requistioned for war service by the Admiralty.[2] Stranton was to work as a unarmed boardimg vessle, as part of the North Downs Flotilla based in Ramsgate.[3]

The crew of Stranton requested that they stay with Stranton, now HM Tug Char, during its war service. Most of the crew joined the Mercantile Marine Reserve, with the Captain joining the Royal Naval Reserve.[4] The NER crew where supplemented by a further seven members of the Royal Navy or the Royal Naval Reserve and two members of the Royal Marine Light Infantry.[3]

Char's crew were part of HMS Pembroke, the ships name for HMNB Chatham.[5]

On 16 January 1915, Char was inspecting the steamship Frivan in high seas when a collition occurred to Char below the waterline, causing Char to take on water. The crew of Char coule be heard screeming for help as it driffed into the storm.[3] The captain of Frivan sent out a distress beacon which was ansered by the Deal Lifeboat, which undertook a search for the Char and its crew but nothing was found. Later that day, the crew of Char was posted as Lost at Sea.

The crew consisted of:[3][6]

NER: Fireman Edward Booth, First Engineer William Booth (father to Edward), Mate Ralph Fergus, Deck Hand Matthew Hastings, Fireman William Hatch, Fireman John E. Hunter, Second Engineer George Nossiter, Lieutenant (RN) John Peacock Whale.

Royal Navy: Private Alfred Percy Darch, Wireless Telegraph Operator John Dodd, Seaman Camille Alfred Duchemin, Lieutenant (RN) Robert Percy Melsome, Stoker James Park, Officer's Steward 3rd Class Clement Arthur Powell, Corporal William Henry Robinson, Wireless Telegraph Operator Charles Wesley Stephens, Seaman Gordon Thomson.

To date, the location of HM Tug Char is unknown.