Formerly the Lord Dawson (H 140) this trawler was bought by the navy and specially adapted for used as a minesweeper, from Pickering and Haldane Co., Hull. She was sunk by air attack from a lone German plane at 2.30am while at anchor at Scrabster, with the loss of 12 of her crew.
On 17 November 1999 she was located during a magnetometer and DCS3 trial at 58 36.658N, 03 31.892W [OGB] using DGPS. When dived, her remains were found to be a single metal rib protruding from the sea bed by 4m. This was subsequently cut and laid on the seabed. At the south end of the wreckage area lies a section of gunwale 6-9m in length with a maximum of 1.5m in height. The main part of the wreckage, the boiler, stands near this 2.7m off the seabed and covers an area of 6m radius. Both these sections lie in an area of scour 1.2 - 1.5m deep. Thus the highest part of the boiler is about 1.5m high from the general seabed. Debris, including wires and other small metallic sections is strewn about the area. The bulk of the wreck is probably buried. The remainder is not thought to cause a hazard to shipping unless fouled. On 25 February 2004 [WGD] position revised to: 58 36.634N, 03 31.982W. NE 1462.
From 1 January 1940 to 14 April 1941 HMS Beech was commanded by W. McRuvie, RNR and from 14 April 1941 to 22 June 1941 by T/Lt. Arthur Patrick Cocks, RNVR.
Built in 1929 at Selby, she was 140.3 feet long, 23 feet wide and 540 gross tons. Official No. 160871.
The wreck is possibly owned by Mr C W Stewart of Thurso, who appears to have purchased the wreck on 1 March 1982.
On 17 November 1999 she was located during a magnetometer and DCS3 trial at 58 36.658N, 03 31.892W [OGB] using DGPS. When dived, her remains were found to be a single metal rib protruding from the sea bed by 4m. This was subsequently cut and laid on the seabed. At the south end of the wreckage area lies a section of gunwale 6-9m in length with a maximum of 1.5m in height. The main part of the wreckage, the boiler, stands near this 2.7m off the seabed and covers an area of 6m radius. Both these sections lie in an area of scour 1.2 - 1.5m deep. Thus the highest part of the boiler is about 1.5m high from the general seabed. Debris, including wires and other small metallic sections is strewn about the area. The bulk of the wreck is probably buried. The remainder is not thought to cause a hazard to shipping unless fouled. On 25 February 2004 [WGD] position revised to: 58 36.634N, 03 31.982W. NE 1462.
From 1 January 1940 to 14 April 1941 HMS Beech was commanded by W. McRuvie, RNR and from 14 April 1941 to 22 June 1941 by T/Lt. Arthur Patrick Cocks, RNVR.
Built in 1929 at Selby, she was 140.3 feet long, 23 feet wide and 540 gross tons. Official No. 160871.
The wreck is possibly owned by Mr C W Stewart of Thurso, who appears to have purchased the wreck on 1 March 1982.