Cresswell
British Steam trawler
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| Name | Cresswell | ||
| Type: | Steam trawler | ||
| Tonnage | 275 tons | ||
| Completed | 1917 - Smith´s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank, Middlesbrough | ||
| Owner | Boston Deep Sea Fishing Co, Fleetwood | ||
| Homeport | Milford | ||
| Date of attack | 12 Nov 1939 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-41 (Gustav-Adolf Mugler) | ||
| Position | 58° 32'N, 7° 55'W - Grid AM 3542 | ||
| Complement | 13 (6 dead and 7 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Fleetwood - Flannan Isles | ||
| Cargo | Fish | ||
| History | Completed in October 1917 as auxiliary patrol vessel HMS William Beatty (No. 3534) of the Castle Class for the Admiralty, armed with one 12pdr and one 7.5in bomb thrower. Sold to the fishing industry on 4 May 1920 and registered in London as William Beatty (LO359) for David Pettit, Milford. Later that year renamed Cresswell (M129) and registered in Milford. In October 1934 sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing Co (B.A. Parkes), Fleetwood. | ||
| Notes on event | At 07.00 hours on 12 November 1939 the unescorted and unarmed Cresswell was stopped by gunfire from U-41 while fishing 18 miles northwest by west of Flannan Isles, Outer Hebrides. The Germans ordered the crew to abandon ship and they then shelled and sunk the trawler from some distance, suspecting a Q-ship. Eight survivors were picked up by the U-boat, but one died of wounds and was buried at sea. Mugler planned to put them on another ship later on. At 09.55 hours, they witnessed the sinking of the Arne Kjøde and were transferred to the British trawler Phyllisia at 16.42 hours. The survivors were landed at Fleetwood on 14 November. | ||
| On board | We have details of 7 people who were on board. | ||
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