Type of Vessel: Steam Fishing Trawler.
Pennant: FY 1800
Fishing Number: GY 938
Year Constructed: 1913
Built by: Cook, Welton and Gemmell, Beverley.
Engine: 67 hp
Gross Tons; 202.
Armament: 1 x 6 pounder gun. (WW1)
Fate: Survived WW2 and returned to owner.
1915. Requisitioned by Admiralty and converted to Minesweeper.
1919. Returned to Owners.
1939. Requisitioned; converted to Auxiliary Patrol Vessel.
1940. Converted into an Esso; Used for target towing. (Although this would appear to have been later in the war as she was part of minesweeping groups in 1940, 1941 and 1942.)
30 Nov 40. Sidney C, BALDWIN, Seaman, RNPS, LT/JX 165994, died.
15th September 1940, Nore Command, Yarmouth.
M/S Group 114, Abronia (sunk but salvage being attempted). Elsie Cam, Lybian (Not spelt Libyan) and Valesca.
28 Dec 1940, Destroyer HMS Valorous collided with the Libyan.
January 1941, ROYAL NAVY SHIPS, Yarmouth.
Minesweeping Group 114 - minesweeping trawlers ELSIE CAM (Sk D E Coleman R.N.R), LYBIAN (Not spelt Libyan) (no CO listed), both at Sheerness, VALESCA (Ty Lt C W S Barnes R.N.V.R) at Yarmouth.
January 1942. ROYAL NAVY SHIPS, Nore Command, Sheerness. (Wildfire III, Queenborough)
Minesweeping Group 122 - minesweeping trawlers ELSIE CAM at Thames, LIBERIA at Harwich, LYBIAN, (Not spelt Libyan) MALACOLITE, both at Sheerness.
1945. Returned to owner.
Watch these short minesweeping videos.
Minesweepers: https://youtu.be/aTsYiZFzv5M
A Bad Day in December 1940: https://youtu.be/Lw2pW31qH4s
Lieut. R.N.V.R., Christopher Wingfield Ellerby, R.N.V.R Born 8 June 1912. Died 2 Nov 1985. Service Record includes;
24 June 42, HMS St Tudno (Queenborough)
12 Aug 42, Arctic Hunter (Based at Wildfire III, Queenborough)
19 Jan 43, HMS St Tudno (Queenborough)
26 Jan 43, HMT Libyan, (Based at Wildfire III, Queenborough)
16 Oct 43, MMS 28 (Motor Minesweeper) (Malta)
To find out more of the HMT Libyan's movements go to DRIFTERS AND TRAWLERS.
MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES. Two MID’s were awarded to Temp. Acting Skipper James Edward Roberts.
First MID 17.03.1942 for minesweeping North Sea. HMS Garola.
Second MID 07.12.1943, Operation Antidote (minesweeping Galita to Sousse, Tunisia 05.43) HMS Filey Bay.
Officer on Libyan July 1945.
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS and MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES awarded to Temp Skipper Lieut., John Harries James.
MID, 02.06.1943, HM's birthday 43, HMS Mount Keen (minesweeping trawler).
DSC, 01.01.1945, New Year 45, HMS Mount Keen (minesweeping trawler).
Officer on Libyan 1940/41
OFFICER ON NAVY LIST Dec, 39
Not on List.
OFFICER ON NAVY LIST July 40
On list, no Officers.
OFFICER ON NAVY LIST June 41
Temp. Lieut., R.N.V.R., J. Kennedy, 1 Jan 41
Skipper R.N.R., J. H. James, 16 Oct 40.
Temp. Skipper, R.N.R., H. Reader, 13 Aug 40
OFFICER ON NAVY LIST June 42
Temp Lieut. R.N.V.R., J. W. S. Allison, 22 Dec 41
OFFICER ON NAVY LIST June 43
Temp Lieut. R.N.V.R., C. W. Ellerby, 26 Jan 43
OFFICER ON NAVY LIST June 44
Temp. Skipper R.N.R., W Ross, In Command. 17 March 44.
OFFICER ON NAVY LIST June 45
Not on List.
If you, your father or your grandfather have any additional information about this ship, crew lists, stories, photographs, please send copies of them to be added to our records and this website.
Thank you.
Contact: johntenthousand@yahoo.co.uk
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HMT LIBYAN
Minesweeping Trawler and Auxiliary Patrol Vessel.
Wildfire III, Queenborough.
Requisitioned by Admiralty in 1915 and again in 1939 HMT Libyan was typical of the hard working converted fishing vessels whose crews risked their lived daily to keep the sea lanes on the East Coast of England open.
On the 28 Dec 1940 the Destroyer Valorous collided with minesweeping trawler HMT Libyan in Sheerness Harbour in the Thames Estuary, England. HMS Valorous was under repaired at Chatham, England until 11 Jan 1941.
HMT Libyan, Minesweeper and Auxiliary Patrol Vessel.