HMT Alvis
HM Trawler "Alvis" was a British trawler that was taken up from trade and used by the Royal Navy during the Second World War. She was returned to the fishing industry at the end of hostilities in 1945. Pre-War Career. 6 Nov 1918: Launched by Ailsa Shipbuilding Company at Ayr, for The Admiralty as "Peter Hall". 1919: Registered by The Admiralty in the Registry of British Ships at London. 24 Aug 1920: Registered by The Admiralty as a fishing vessel at London. Nov 1924: Sold to Société Anonyme Armement Ostendais, Ostend. 29 Nov 1924: Registered at Ostend  as "Transport Union". 27 Dec 1935: Rescued crew of fourteen of Dutch trawler "Cornelia Maria" (SCH135) which was sinking. 1939: Sold to Saint Andrew's Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull. 1 Mar 1939: Registered at Hull as "Alvis" (H52). Fishing from Fleetwood. Early World War II. On the 18 Sept 1939, just after the start of WW2, the "Alvis" was fishing in the vicinity of St Kilda. At about 1.20pm a shot was heard and a large spout of water erupted close to the Alvis. The skipper and crew then spotted a German submarine. The skipper, Albert Thomason, was signalled  from the U Boat and instructed to abandon his vessel. The small lifeboat was launched and the crew left the "Alvis". The lifeboat pulled alongside the submarine, the U-35, and the commander, Werner Lott, asked for the captain of the "Alvis". Thomason went aboard the submarine and, on the conning tower, Lott extended his hand in welcome. He then said, "" I am sorry but I will have to sink your ship"" and asked Skipper Thomason if there were anymore crew aboard the "Alvis". The crew and Lott, all speaking very good English, handed cigarettes to the "Alvis" crew, and then  ordered them back to their vessel. Lott sent a working party over to Alvis under the command of a Lieutenant. On their arrival, they threw the wireless overboard and then chopped away the fishing gear and smashed the dynamo in the engine room. The Lieutenant asked Thomason if he could take a lifebelt as a souvenir, which he did. However, Lott gave Thomason a bottle of gin in return with his compliments. No provisions or the fish caught were taken from the "Alvis" by the Germans. The reason the U-Boat commander did not sink the "Alvis" was that, in  his opinion, the 13-man crew would never make it back to shore in their lifeboat. The "Alvis" returned unharmed to her homeport of Fleetwood, but that same day the U-Boat commander found 3 other Fleetwood vessels. They were the "Arlita", the "Lord Minto", and the "Nancy Hague". After removing the crews from the "Arlita" and "Lord Minto" onto the "Nancy Hague", the U-35 sank the two empty ships. The three crews returned to Fleetwood aboard the "Nancy Hague". The "Alvis" was subsequently requisitioned in 1940 by the Admiralty. Werner Lott was taken prisoner of war aboard HMS "Kingston , with all of his crew, after he scuttled his U-boat on 29 November 1939. U-35's Account of Events. The fishing trawler Alvis" was the first British ship U-35 encountered in the North Atlantic. She allowed "Alvis" to pass unharmed on 18 September 1939, after realising that the thirteen man crew could never have reached land in the available lifeboat. In return, the British captain warned U-35 that the Royal Navy aircraft carrier "Ark Royal" was in the general area. The following details were extracted from U-35's war diary: ""The steamer is of enemy origin. He should be  destroyed, because confiscation is not possible. His operation area was far away from the coast and because of that he could not be considered a "coastal fishery vessel". The fish catching equipment and the radio were thrown overboard. The crew of 13 which had already embarked into the rescue boat was advised to get back onto the ship, because the freeboard of it was already very narrow and was not considered seaworthy. The steamer was dismissed. There were no attempts to escape or other resistance."" Crew on 18 Sep 1939. Name, Initial, Age and Job Title Naval Service. "Alvis" was  requisitioned for war service as an anti submarine trawler, on 30 Apr 1940. She was given the pennant number 4118 and the Admiralty paid a hire rate of £84.0.0d per month. "Alvis" was given one 12pdr gun as her main armament and assigned to the Royal Naval Patrol Service. "Alvis" was fitted out as a minesweeper in May 1941, and from January 1942 she was based at Hartlepool with M/S Group 148. She took part in the minesweeping operations that were vital to the success and safety of the Allied landings in Normandy in 1944: Fate. "Alvis" was  returned to civilian service just before the end of the war in Europe in Mar 1945. She was then owned by a number of companies including: Ocean Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Milford Fisheries Ltd, Boston Deep Sea Fisheries Ltd, and Argosy Trawling Co Ltd of Fleetwood. "Alvis" was eventually scrapped at Barrow-in-Furness in 1954.