As "A. Spence Macdonald"  auxiliary sails set

 © Reproduced from a photo of a painting by A.Harwood

             May Island  LH 194                 

Built 1911   Hall Russell & Co Ltd,  Aberdeen as "A.  Spence Macdonald"
   
Yard No 485
   
Owner at New Richard Irvin & Sons Ltd,  North Shields   (John Hannel Irvin, Aberdeen manager)
   
ID no 129354
   
Launch Date 31.01.1911
   
Completed 02.1911
 
Gross Tons 195
   
Nett Tons 76
   
Engine 78 hp  T.3-Cyl  by   Hall Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen    
   
Length 115.2ft
   
Breadth 22.1ft
 
Depth 13.2ft
 

 
Owners  
11.02.1911 Registered at Aberdeen A.357.
08.1914 Requisitioned and converted to minesweeper (Ad No.113) based at Cromarty.
25.08.1917 Manager becomes Sir John Hannel Irvin, Aberdeen.
1919 Returned to Owners.
1919 Owned by Gamecock Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Scarborough  (Albert F. G. McConkey manager).
24.09.1919 Aberdeen registry closed.
25.09.1919 Registered at Scarborough SH 146.
17.10.1924 Owned by Thomas  Harrison Scales, Newhaven Edinburgh (owner/manager).
13.01.1924 Owned by Thomas Harrison Scales Snr, Thomas Harrison Scales Jnr, Leith Edinburgh and John Horne, Cockenzie East Lothian (Thomas Harrison Scales Snr manager)..
16.08.1928 Scarborough registry closed.
17.08.1928 Renamed "MAY ISLAND ".
17.08.1928 Registered at Leith LH 194.
18.02.1936 Lost South side of Lamba Ness Norwick  Shetland with all hands.
   
   
 
Skipper     James Tarvit (31) 22 Fowler Street Cellardyke Fife
Mate  John Tarvit (39) 8 Fowler Street Cellardyke Fife
2nd Fisherman David Birrell (31) 42 West Forth Street Cellardyke Fife
Chief Engineer  James Herd   47 Albany Street Leith
2nd Engineer Graham Alexander (39) 12 Winton Park Cockenzie
Cook  R J Searle (42) 12 Perth Street Leith
Deckhand David Young (Jun) (27) Bracklinn Station Road St Monance Fife
Deckhand John Blaikie (28) ( Edinburgh Road Cockenzie
Fireman  Scott Herd (26) 5 Bowling Green Street Leith
Trimmer   D Auchenleck  (41) 29 Admiralty Street Leith
   
  Skipper & Mate were brothers.
  James & Scott Herd were brothers , James replaced his brother Alexander who was unable to sail because of illness. Only two bodies were recovered, they were buried in Shetland.