Pilot Cutters identified

April 15th, 2005 by JCB
Posted in History | 3 Comments »

 

          

 

PHOTOS IDENTIFIED

On page 12 of the October 2004 issue of The Pilot there were two photographs for which information was sought.  Once again Harwich Haven pilot Andy Adams has provided the following fascinating and detailed information.

The Clyde Launch:

Prior to WW2 the Clyde pilots had a semi cruising cutter the Cumbrae. After 1941 they also had a proper cruising cutter, most probably the ex steam yacht Queen of Scots. In 1944 the need for the cruising cutter was reduced and she was withdrawn, being replaced by a small pilot boat the Gantock. Between 1944 and 06/1945 the Clyde pilots had the use of HMS Skylark, a small steam yacht which had been used as a barrage balloon vessel. The black caps in the photo suggest WW2 and this leads me to the view that this vessel was a replacement for Skylark. A review of the shipbuilding magazines and journals for the period would probably be the best source for further information.

The London pilot cutter:

The London No.1 cutter is Pioneer. The Dungeness cruising cutters were based at Dover hence the fact that she is anchored in Dover Harbour for the purpose of coaling and storing.  purpose built steam cruising pilot cutter in Britain. She served continuously at the Dungeness station rotating with No.2 Guide also built in 1891. She was manned by 5 officers and 8 crew and had accommodation for 24 pilots.

The sailing pilot ketches No.3 Wellington and No.4 Vigilant were employed as tenders to the steam cutters at Dungeness.  In 1906, the introduction of two new steam cutters at Dover led to the decision to establish a steam cutter at the Shipwash station and Pioneer was transferred to Harwich and renumbered No.7.  The Guide remained at Dover as tender and Wellington was sold whilst Vigilant transferred temporarily to the Isle of Wight District.

Whilst on duty at the Shipwash station the Pioneer was tendered by sailing cutters from Harwich. In 1912 the Shipwash station was closed and a single station in the North Channel established at the Sunk. Pioneer then transferred back to Dover and reverted to No.1.

The Guide and Pioneer then took turns as the Dungeness tender as well as taking rotational duty for the Sunk and Dungeness stations.

With the introduction of a third new cutter in 1914 Guide was sold to Canada and Pioneer was relegated solely to tender duty at Dungeness.

1924 she was renamed Preceder to make way for a new Pioneer.

1925 Sold to Pilotage du Gironde, renamed Chevalier.

1935. Broken up

No 1: Pioneer

Official Number 98971

Length 114’ 03”

Breadth 21’ 00”

Moulded Depth 11’ 04”

Compound 2 cylinders steam reciprocating machinery by M Paul of Dumbarton 82rhp

Signal Letters MHGF

Gross Tonnage 156

Net Tonnage24

PS There was speculation from another correspondent that the Guide and Pioneer were the same vessel but had removable name boards which were swapped over when the vessel changed operating stations. Further to this Andy revisited his archives and has confirmed that:

The Pioneer and Guide were two different vessels but were built together (456 & 457) as sister ships. The interchangeable name boards were the location boards DOVER and HARWICH used when the vessels changed cruising ground but Andy’s research indicates that these boards were only introduced in the 1920’s

No.2 The Guide:

1891 Built for the Dungeness station,

1914 replaced by Patrol and sold to J E Bernier of Levis Lauzon, Quebec.

1923 Sold to Cie Navigation de la Baie de Bras d’ Or.

1926 Sold to North Shore Trading Co. of Quebec.

1926 Sunk in St Lawrence.