Ethel Crawford (Possibly): Firth Of Clyde

Quality of fix = HF6

Evidence = Echo sounder

Horizontal Datum = OGB

General water depth = 49

Orientation of keel/wreck = 140320

Circumstances of Loss Details

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The ETHEL CRAWFORD was mined

Surveying Details

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19 April 1967. A small wreck, with the least echosounder depth of 42.9 in a general depth of 48.4 metres, was reported. Decca - red e 14.89 purple f 58.51.

Report by HMS MERMAID, 1966.

17 January 1969. The site was located on a sonar sweep, but not further investigated in view of it having been dealt with by HMS MERMAID in 1966.

Report by HMS HYDRA, 1968.

25 April 1972. The site was located on side scan sonar, but not further investigated as it was not in our allocated survey area.

Report by HMS FOX.

20 July 1972. A position of 55 13 02N, 005 14 58W is given. The least depth is 44 in a general depth of 49 metres.

Report by HMS FOX.

12 September 1972. The least depth by echosounder was 44 metres in a general depth of 49 metres. The seabed is mud (clay), and no scouring was observed. The wreck appears rather broken up and is about 50 feet (15.2 metres) long. It is lying with its keel on an orientation of 075/255 degrees.

Report by HMS FOX.

11 May 1981. The site was examined on 12 November 1980 at 55 13 02.9N, 005 14 55.7W. The least echosounder depth was 43.4 in a general depth of 49 metres. The side scan sonar indicated a height of 5.4 metres. The wreck is broken up with one main section and 5 small pieces. The main section is lying with the keel orientated 140/320 degrees.

Report by HMS HERALD.

Hydrographic Office 1995.

(Classified as Steam Trawler: former name cited as John Langshaw, registration as A 36, and date of loss as 20 April 1945). Ethel Crawford: this vessel hit mines laid by U-218 off Loch Ryan.

Registration: Aberdeen. Built 1919. 200grt. Length: 15m.

(Location of loss cited as N55 13.07 W5 14.97).

I G Whittaker 1998.

The equation of the wreck cited by UKHO with the Ethel Crawford is tentatively accepted on account of the similarity of length. No more detailed description is apparently available.

Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 13 May 2009.

Whittaker ID : 825

Name : ETHEL CRAWFORD (A 36) (EX. ...)

Latitude : 551304

Longitude : 51458

Date Built : 1919

Registration : ABERDEEN

Type : STEAM TRAWLER

Tonnage : 200

Tonnage Code : G

Length : 15

Position : Exact Position

Loss Day : 20

Loss Month : 4

Loss Year : 1945

Comment : Hit mines laid by U-218 off Loch Ryan.

UKHO Identifier : 003854

Feature Class : Wreck

Wreck Category : Non-dangerous wreck

State : LIVE

Classification : Unclassified

Position (Lat/long) : 55.21747,-5.24881

Horizontal Datum : ORDNANCE SURVEY OF GREAT BRITAIN (1936)

WGS84 Position (Lat/long) : 55.21748,-5.24991

WGS84 Origin : 3-D Cartesian Shift (BW)

Previous Position : 55.21722,-5.24945

Position Method : HI-FIX 6 Parabolic

Position Quality : Surveyed

Position Accuracy : 25.0

Depth : 43.0

Depth Method : Found by echo-sounder

Depth Quality : Least depth known

Water Depth : 49

Water Level Effect : Always under water/submerged

Vertical Datum : Lowest Astronomical Tide

Name : ETHEL CRAWFORD

Type : S TRAWLER

Flag : BRITISH

Shadow Height : 5.4

Orientation : 140.0

Tonnage : 200

Tonnage Type : Gross

Date Sunk : 20/04/1945

Bottom Texture : Mud

Sonar Signal Strength : Moderate

Scour Depth : 0.0

Debris Field : CLOSE TO WK

Contact Description : Entire wreck

Original Sensor : Acoustic Sensor

Last Sensor : Acoustic Sensor

Original Detection Year : 1967

Last Detection Year : 1980

Original Source : Survey Vessel

The Ethel Crawford (formerly John Langshaw) was built in 1919 by Scott & Son, Bowling (Moir and Crawford 2004: 136). More information available from http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/viewship.asp?id=21252 [accessed 28 November 2014].

Information from Sally Evans (Cotswold Archaeology), 28/11/2014.

Name: Ethel Crawford

Position: 55.21748, -5.24991

Basis for Identification: Identification is based on historical documentation of loss position. The remains represent a trawler and there are no other trawlers known to have been lost in this area.

Shipbuilder: Scott and Son, Bowling

Build Date: 1919

Loss Date: 1945

Vessel type: Steam trawler

Surviving Features and Condition : UKHO (1953): Survey located a non- dangerous wreck (position approximate)

UKHO (1967): Small wreck with least e/s depth 141ft in gen depth 159 ft

Moir and Crawford (2004): Record the remains of a trawler in a number of sections at this position. Bow mostly intact. Lying on starboard side. Wreck rises c. 2-3m from seabed.

UKHO (1969-1972): Surveys during this period located the wreck remains but did not investigate them. Last 1972 survey reported the wreck was in a general depth of 49m (least ES depth 44m), on a seabed of mud/ clay. The survey also noted the wreck appeared to be broken up, and about 50ft long.

UKHO (1981): Investigated using HIFIX: depth 43.4 in gen depth 49mtrs. Side scan sonar showed height of wreck to be 5.4mtrs. Broken up with one main section & 5 small pieces. Main section lying 140/320degs.

Moir and Crawford (2004): Remains of a trawler in the area where Ethel Crawford was lost suggest that these remains may represent that vessel. The vessel lies in a number of sections. The bow is on its side and forms the most intact section. Remains extend between 2-3m above the level of the seabed.

Moir and Crawford (pers. comm 2015): PM notes that the wreck has a broken back and is badly damaged (consistent with having been mined). The engine and stern were noted. However, there is nothing to identify the remains securely to the Ethel Crawford. Wheel house not found.

Seabed and type and marine environment: Mud/ clay. The seabed is recorded at 49m depth by the UKHO.

Information from Sally Evans (Cotswold Archaeology), 28/11/2014.

The maritime archaeology of the Clyde has been identified as a focus for a major study of human interaction with the river through time by the RCAHMS following on from recommendations by the Scottish Archaeological Research Framework (ScARF). Source to

Sea has been developed as the long-term research programme, of which the research into human connections with the River Clyde forms part. This project has comprised a study of the surviving shipwreck heritage of Clyde-built vessels lost within the Clyde estuary and Firth of Clyde.

This project has collated information from a range of sources and has enhanced knowledge of Clyde-built wrecks within the Clyde. In particular information from recreational divers has proved invaluable and has been the source of detailed information about the current condition of many Clyde-built wrecks, useful for on-going management. A number of wrecks previously recorded as of unknown identity in the RCAHMS database were positively identified during the project and more accurate positional information was established for a number of other wrecks. Additionally, the project identified a potentially significant wreck (Margaret Niven) the remains of which were not previously recorded. This project has also identified a number of other potentially significant wrecks within the Clyde, which reflect both its unique contributions to world-wide shipbuilding and local connections. These wrecks include paddle steamers (Lapwing and Princess of Wales), Clyde Puffers (e.g. Margaret Niven), steam-yachts with military connections (HMS Breda), a dredger (Greenock) and an 18th-century West Indiaman (Lady Margaret). Numerous other wrecks have been identified by this project, and all display some degree of significance.

Information from Sally Evans (Cotswold Archaeology) April 2015