What a tremendous few days I had in Belfast! Leaving aside the wonderful hospitality shown
to me over there, the research went exceedingly well. I spent the first day in
the Public Records Office Northern Ireland (PRONI) and most of the second in
the Library of the Belfast Harbour Commissioners.
At PRONI they
produced Masters’ Log Books – four massive volumes covering the time from when
Cormorant arrived in Blefast from Dublin (17 July 1943); took over from a small
motor vessel called ‘P.S. Edith Williames’ (Pilot Steamer) on 28 July 1943; up until 1956. The first volume is cloth covered
and titled “Log Book P.S. Edith Williams”
(incorrect spelling of Williames); in pen underneath is “and Cormorant”; but
Cormorant is scored out and “Lady Dixon” written in. (Photo – this is a photo
of the photocopies I had made of the books and the page where the takeover is
listed). Subsequent volumes are leather covered and properly inscribed with “P.L.V.
Lady Dixon” (Pilot Light Vessel).
A close-up of the page for July 1943 shows the actual entry
recording the arrival on station of Cormorant, the lighting of the light; and
the testing of the fog-horn (Photo). That would have been popular with the
neighbours at half-past midnight!
The page headings
usually showed the vessel’s name, but between 30 September 1943 and 8 October
1943 the headings are blank. I assume this is because, during this period, the
name change from Cormorant to Lady Dixon was being organised.
So I went through
13 years of daily reports by two Masters – J Owens and A.P. Kennedy – who each spent
one month aboard before being relieved by the other. Also listed were the names
of the pilots on duty and all the vessels which were ‘boarded’ and guided into and
out of the harbour. Each year Lady Dixon was relieved on station for a month,
presumably to undergo inspection and repairs.
Also at PRONI
there were some accounts and minutes of the Belfast Harbour Commissioners. The
accounts revealed that Lady Dixon was valued at £18,307 : 1s ; 9d in 1945. That
is over £550,000 in today’s money! The minutes proved rather difficult, being
loose papers gathered up with ribbons galore. It took longer to undo the old
ribbons than it did to read the various old papers! I ploughed on until closing
time.
The following day
proved even more fruitful. I had intended to return to PRONI for more accounts
and minutes, but a friend organised a visit to the HQ of the Belfast Harbour
Commissioners. There I was given the run of their handsome library, along with
coffee and secretarial assistance! They could not have been more helpful. Their
versions of minutes and accounts were properly printed and bound, year by year
(Photo – a photo of the photocopies they made for me, including the book
covers!).
What a treasure trove of information these proved to be. In June
1942, repairs to the boiler of the P.S. Edith Williams were deemed to be too
expensive in view of the age of the boiler – 42 years. It was suggested that a
lightship be procured and used as a combined lightship and pilot station.
Apparently Trinity House, London had nothing to sell, but the Commissioners of
Irish Lights in Dublin had two on offer. By 30 June the two ships had been
inspected and, subject to ‘an examination in graving dock’, the lightship
Cormorant was judged to be suitable. She was found to be ‘in very good
condition’ and the go ahead was given on 14 July at a price of £1,900 (£62,000
today). On 28 July approval was given
for the conversion costs of £12,500 (£411,000), work to be carried out by the
Liffey Dockyard in Dublin as local firms were unable to undertake the work at
that time. The conversion required was detailed in the blueprints, copies of
which I obtained back in November and which I reported in my posts at that
time.
In June 1943, almost
a year later, there is recorded ‘an agreement with Mr John Cooper, Tug Owner,
to tow the light vessel “Cormorant” from Dublin to Belfast’ and she duly
arrived on 17 July 1943, as I found in the Log Books.
More nuggets next
time.
David
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