Q-ships based at Granton:
Fishing Trawlers
Auk H755 Decoy No. 422. Armed steam trawler of 168 gross tons built in 1903. Hired from Kelsall Brothers & Beeching Ltd of Hull. She was given an armament of two 12pdr, two 6pdr, and one 7.5in howitzer. She operated with W.S. Bailey in October 1917 and was still with the special service at the end of the war. Her various aliases included Antic, Bennaris, Claymore, Girdler, Glen Afric, Hope, St Gothard, and Spica.
Commissioner GN18 Steam trawler of 161 gross tons built in 1905. Hired from Thomas L Devlin of Edinburgh, whose other vessels included Champion GN48 and Controller GN79. Armed with two 12pdr, one 6pdr and one 7.5in howitzer. Aliases Champion, Recorder, Roller. Still in use at the end of the war.
Coote H897 Steam trawler of 172 gross tons built in 1906. She was the partner vessel for submarine C.7 and was said to be “Based on Granton and fishes down to River Tyne.” Owned by Kelsall Brothers & Beeching. Armed with one 12pdr, one 6pdr and one 7.5in howitzer. Aliases Coot, Burmah, Dora, Kia Ora, and Lorne.
Defender Trawling smack.
Fizzer LH183 Steam drifter Violet of 90 gross tons, built in 1907. Armed with only one 6pdr, she saw service from 7th September 1916 to the Armistice. “Based Granton and fishes off East Coast, Scotland”. She ended the war inspecting nets on patrol.
Fort George GN77 Granton owned steam trawler of 180 gross tons built in 1902. Fitted with one 12pdr and one 6pdr guns and in service fishing on the Aberdeen Banks by April 1917. Alias Robina.
Izaak Walton SA47 Steam trawler of 252 gross tons built in 1907 and owned by the Izaak Walton Fishing Co of Swansea. Fitted with one 4in gun and probably one 12pdr gun.
Lothian GN5 Steam trawler of 131 gross tons built in 1904. Owned by general Steam Fishing Co of Edinburgh. In service 8th August 1917 to the end of the war.
Morning Star Steam drifter of 145gt built in 1900 and armed with one 6pdr when commissioned on 19th April 1915 to the end of the war. “based at Granton and fishes off East Coast of Scotland.” She ended the war on patrol at Fidra line of nets and returned to her Scarborough owners.
Ratapiko A446 Steam trawler of 247 gross tons owned by the Co-operative Fishing Society, Scarborough. Armed with one 12pdr and one 6pdt. 20th April 1918 to Armistice Day. She was the partner to submarine C.24. Aliases St George SN49, Armed Trawler 347. The trawler St George of North Shields, whose identity she assumed had been sunk by gunfire from a U-boat on 2nd May 1915 near Aberdeen and her crew made prisoners.
Rosskean GN14 Steam trawler of 196 gross tons built in 1907. Owned by J & W Lyle of Granton. Armed with one 12pdr, one 6pdr guns and one “C” type torpedo tube. Aliases Aldebaron, Bendigo II, Ethelwulf II, Hunter, New Comet, and Roskean.
Sea King H531 Steam trawler of 321 gross tons built in 1916. Fitted with one 4in gun and a 7.5in howitzer. Taken up for special service on 15th July 1918 and based at Granton. Served until 1919 as a minesweeper.
Strathallan GN76 Steam trawler of 175 gross tons built in 1900. Owned by J & W Lyle of Granton. Armed with one 12pdr and one 6pdr gun. Served from 16th May 1917 to the end of the war. In Granton Command. Alias Sunshine.
Strathearn GN40 Steam trawler of 152 gross tons built in 1898. Owned by J & W Lyle of Granton. One 12pdr and one 6pdr gun. Service from 16th may 1917 to the end of the war. Alias Wild Rose.
Walter S Bailey Steam trawler of 244 gross tons built in 1902. Owned by the Humber Steam Trawling Co, Hull. Armed with one 4in, one 12pdr 12cwt guns and a 3.5in bomb thrower. In Granton Command from October 1917 to the end of the war. Also served as a minesweeper. Aliases May Flower and W S Bailey.
Sailing Ships
Baron Rose The 524 gross ton American three-masted auxiliary schooner Samuel S Thorp built in 1881. She saw service from 9th April 1918 to 14th June 1919 and acted as tender to Gunner. She was fitted with one 4in and two 12pdr guns. Alias Sieux.
Cymric Iron barquentine of 226 gross tons built in 1893. Fitted with one 4in gun, two 12pdr, one 7.5in howitzer. Commissioned on 23rd February 1917 and released on 8th April 1919. On 15th October 1918 she sank the British submarine J.6. Alias Olive.
Dargle Brigantine of 176 tons built in 1902.. She had been a training ship for boys on the Mersey and was fitted out in Liverpool and commissioned on 23rd February 1917. High forecastle and yacht-like lines. Engaged at least one submarine. Decommissioned on 9th March 1920. Aliases Peggy and Billy.
Eleuthera The three-masted schooner Elizabeth was commissioned on 1st May 1918 and acted as a tender to Gunner. She was 156 gross tons and had been built in 1892. Armed with one 4in Mk IX, two 12pdr 12cwt, one 3pdr guns and one 7.5in howitzer.
Fresh Hope An American three-masted schooner of 574 tons net. Fitted with two 4in, two 12pdr, one 3pdr guns and one 7.5in howitzer. Served 8th November 1917 to well after the war. Aliases Edith S Cummins and Iroquois.
Imogene Barquentine of 189 gross tons built in 1882. She was armed with one 4in gun, two 12pdr guns, one 7.5in howitzer. Commissioned 24th February 1918 and served until 15th May 1919. Aliases Dorothy, Jeanette and Strathendrick.
Merops Q.28 Auxiliary barquentine of 324 gross tons built in 1892. Fitted with one 4in and two 12pdr guns in February 1917 at Granton. In July that year she caught fire and eight of the crew were badly gassed from fumes given off the ammunition. Aliases Bellmore, Imperieuse, Maracaibo, Steady and Toofa.
Rentoul Barquentine of 229 gross tons built in 1869. Armed with one 4in gun, two 12pdr guns, one 3pdr gun, one 7.5in howitzer. Commissioned 27th march 1918 and served until 14th March 1919. Aliases Resolute and Pamela.
Thyrza Q.30 Auxiliary brigantine of 179 gross tons built in 1865 and commissioned as HMS Ready for use on the Granton station. Armed with two 12pdr and two 6pdr guns. Aliases Elixir Probus, Ready and Thirza.
Viola Three-masted schooner of 1,016 gross tons built in 1872. She was fitted out with two 4.7in, one 4in, two 12pdr, two 3pdr and one 7.5in guns as well as a 7.5in howitzer. In Granton command. Aliases Vereker and Violetta.
Trawlers made to look like small Cargo Boats
Gunner Q.31 Admiralty trawler of military class, 276 gross tons built in 1915. Equipped with two 12pdr 12cwt, two 6pdr guns, one 7.5in howitzer and two 14in torpedo tubes. Disguised as a coastal vessel. Aliases No.31, Planudes.
Quickly Q.32 Steam trawler of 242 gross tons built in 1897. Owned by Kelsall brothers & Beeching Ltd of Hull. Armed with two 12pdr and one 6pdr AA guns. Aliases Carolina, Master, Sinton, and Swift.
Speedwell Q.33 Steam trawler of 273 gross tons built in 1899. owned by Great Northern Steam Fishing Co of Hull and requisitioned 27th July 1914. Armed with one 4in gun, two 12pdr guns, one 6pdr gun and two 14in torpedo tubes. Commissioned for special service 28 April 1917. Ran ashore on Stone Rock, Prussia Cove, Penzance, in a gale on 15th July 1918. Aliases Glendale, Vanda, H 481.
Coasters
Lothbury Store carrier of 661 gross tons built in 1906. Armed with one 4in, one 15pdr and two 12pdr guns. In service 23rd September 1917 to the end of the war. Appears in Granton command 16th February 1918 and was in Leith Roads at Armistice. Aliases Argo, Sarusan and Stead.
Tugs
Earl of Powis Steam tug of 116 gross tons built in 1882 and owned by the Nicholson Salvage & Towage Co, Leith. 11th May 1916 to 20th January 1917.
George L Munro Auxiliary ketch of 65 gross tons built in 1883. Built as mission smack Cholmondeley for RNMDF, converted for trading between Kirkwall and Firth of Forth. Not suitable for heavy weather. Armed with one 12pdr and one 6pdr. July 1917 to Armistice. Aliases George L Muir, GLM and Padre.
Falkirk Local History Society 