W. H. J. ALEXANDER LIMITED
SUN TUGS
W.H.J. Alexander Ltd began operating from Wapping as a lighterage company in 1883. 1899 saw the beginning of the use of the prefix 'Sun' on all their vessels. For many years they were based at St. Johns Wharf, Wapping, where 'WHJ' was reputed to often sleep on a camp bed. WHJ died in 1929 and the business was inherited by his six sons, all tug masters, and two daughters. The eldest son, George, then ran the business, and also skippered a tug at Dunkirk. 1938 saw them contributing four tugs and 150 barges to the Silvertown Services consortium and thereafter they concentrated on ship towing. On 27-1-1969 they joined with Ship Towage (London) Ltd to form London Tugs Ltd. Tugs not mentioned in these pages will be found under the London Tugs Ltd fleet list.
FLEET LIST
LITTLE ENGLAND - SUN XI
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LITTLE ENGLAND
Built 1884 by Castle Iron and Steam Works, Milford Haven. Steel screw tug. L73’. B14.7’. D8.2’. 50grt. 160ihp 2cyl compound engine by E. Burrell and Sons, Thetford. Acquired 1884. Disposed 1889. Scrapped 1929. Official No. 91857.
1884 Delivered to William Henry James Alexander, Wapping, London, named Little England. 1889 Sold to Robert Stoker, Paul and William Paul, Ipswich. 1891 Owner J. H. Heron, Liverpool. 1894 Owner W. T. Postlethwaite, Liverpool. 1895 Owners Liverpool Screw Towing and Lighterage co., Liverpool, renamed Sedgecock. 1905 Owner F Burns, Belfast. 1914 Owner James Strong, Belfast. 1929 Scrapped at Belfast.
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STOCKWELL
Photo Ray's Colln.
Built 1890 by Stewart and Latham Ltd., Blackwall. . L67.5’. B15.1’. D7.8’. 47grt. 45nhp 2cyl compound engine. Acquired 1890 Disposed 1938. ON98041.
1890 Delivered to George J Lucas Ltd, London. 3-1890 Owners W. H. J. Alexander Ltd, London, named Stockwell. 1899 Renamed Sunlit. 3-10-1938 Sold to Silvertown Services Ltd for £1000, renamed Silverlit. 23-11-1942 Sold to British Government [MoWT], for service in Africa, no further trace.
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SUN
Photo Ray's Colln.
Built 1906 by R. Cox & Sons, Appledore. YN119. L87.3'. B22.3'. D10.5'. 130grt. 550ihp 3cylTE 14"x21.5"x34.5"x24"s 170psi steam engine by J. Stewart, London. Acquired 1906. Disposed 1964. Scrapped 1964. ON120665. Call Sign HGFC later MCLE.
1906 Delivered to W.H.J. Alexander Ltd., London. 30-5-1940 Working off Dunkirk during evacuation. Then collected 20 ships lifeboats from Tilbury and towed to Ramsgate. 1-6-1940 Towed small craft to Dunkirk and returned with 173 troops and 28 RN ratings. Master H. Cole. Stationed on Thames throughout WW2. 15-4-1964 Scrapped by T.W. Ward Ltd., Grays.
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SUN II
Photo Ray's Colln.
Built 1909 by Earles Ltd., Hull. YN556. L100'. B25.6'. D11.3'. 197grt. 750ihp 3cylTE 15"x24"x40"x27"s 180psi steam engine by builder. Acquired 1909. Disposed 1956. Scrapped 1966. ON129010. Callsign HPDV later MCZB.
1909 Delivered to W.H.J. Alexander Ltd., London. 3-6-1914 Req for Admiralty service, Sheerness. 5-12-1917 returned to owner. 8-1939 Req by Admiralty. Based Southend under Naval control. 21-9-1945 Returned to owners. 14-11-1955 Picked up six crewmen, standing on wheelhouse roof of coaster Monica M, which had sunk in River Thames following a collision. 20-3-1956 Sold to J.H. Piggott Ltd., Grimsby, renamed Lady Thelma. 27-4-1966 Scrapped by P & W McLellan, Bo'ness.
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SUN III
Photo STL Colln.
Built 1909 by Earles & Co Ltd., Hull. YN557. L100'. B25.6'. D11.3'. 197grt. 750ihp 3cylTE 15"x24"x40"x27"s 180psi steam engine by builder. Acquired 1909. Disposed 1956. Scrapped 1967. ON129020. Callsign HPGW later MCZK.
1909 Delivered to W.H.J. Alexander Ltd., London. 3-8-1914 Req by Admiralty for service at Sheerness. 1915 Purchased by the Admiralty, renamed Succour. 1919 Returned to owners, re-renamed Sun III. 8-1939 Req by RN based Southend. 1-6-1940 Under Capt. F.W. Russell crossed to Dunkirk towing a barge. 1945 Returned to owners. 31-5-1956 Sold to J.H. Piggott Ltd., Grimsby, renamed Lady Sarah. 23-6-1967 Arrived Hughes Bolchow Ltd, Blythe, for scrapping.
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SUN IV
Photo Ray's Colln.
Built 1915 by Earles & Co., Hull. YN613. L105'. B25.5'. D12.4'. 200grt. 750ihp 3cylTE 15.5"x24"x40"x27"s 180psi steam engine by builder. Acquired 1915. Disposed 1966. Scrapped 1979. ON139075. Callsign JLQT later MFXR.
1915 Delivered to W.H.J. Alexander Ltd., London. 17-4-1919 Beached SS Emma Mincos at Swanscombe after steamer involved in collision. 5-11-1931 Towed fish carrier Vigilant 2, with defective engine, Gravesend to Billingsgate. 31-5-1940 Towed nine small boats to Dunkirk under Master G. C. Alexander. 1-6-1940 Working off Dunkirk beaches. Loaded 112 men and tugs engineer Wally Jones pulled his own brother, a soldier, from the sea. Towed Walton lifeboat back to Ramsgate. (See log on Tugs of War (1) page). 1-1958 Converted to oil firing. 1966 Sold to Societa Rimorchiatori Napoletani, Naples, renamed San Benigno. 1979 Scrapped at Naples.
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SUN V
Photo Ray's Colln.
Built 1915 by Earles & Co Ltd., Hull. YN612. L105'. B25.5'. D12.4'. 200grt. 750ihp 3cylTE 15.5"x24"x40"x27"s 180psi steam engine by builder. Acquired 1915. Disposed 1966. Scrapped 1979. ON139071. Callsign JLQB later MFXN.
1915 Delivered to W.H.J. Alexander Ltd., London. 1939 Req by RN. 28-5-1940 Towed cutters to Dunkirk under Capt W. Mastin. 29-5-1940 0015hrs Destroyer Montrose collided with tug and came off worst, having to be beached to prevent sinking. 1-6-1940 Working off Dunkirk. 1945 Returned to owners. 10-1968 Converted to oil fired boiler. 1966 Sold to Societe Rimorchiatori Napoletani, Naples, renamed Punta Alice. 1979 Broken up at Naples.
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SUN VI
Photo Ray's Colln.
Built 1902 by Allsup & Co Ltd., Preston. YN178. L90'. B19.6'. D10.1'. 139grt. 550ihp 2cyl compound 17"x35"x24"s 180psi steam engine by builder. Acquired 1915. Disposed 1960. Scrapped 1960. ON93654. Callsign TWPK later MDSC.
1902 Delivered to Kings Lynn Conservancy Board named Conservator. 1915 Acquired by W.H.J. Alexander Ltd., London, renamed Sun VI. 9-1939 Req by Admiralty. based Sheerness as Dockyard tug. 12-12-1945 Returned to owners. 20-12-1960 Scrapped by T.W. Ward Ltd., Grays.
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SUN VII
In wartime grey, 1940. Photo Ray's Colln.
Built 1917 by Rennie Forrest Ltd., Wivenhoe. YN1267. L105.2'. B25.5'. D12.2'. 202grt. 750ihp 3cylTE 15.5"x24"x40"x27"s 180psi steam engine by Earles Ltd., Hull. Acquired 1917. Lost 1941. ON 142325, Callsign MJBG.
12-1917 Delivered to W.H.J. Alexander Ltd, London. 23-3-1918 Req by Admiralty for service at Rosyth.
20-12-1919 Returned to owners. 26-1-1920 Flooding number one hold of SS Benoni on fire with cargo of Manila, Jute and Hemp off Gravesend. 11-1939 Req by Admiralty for Downs Patrol . 31-5-1940 Under Master G. Cawsey crossed to Dunkirk towing five tenders from RAF Calshot. 1-6-1940 Crossed again to Dunkirk. 6-3-1941 Mined and sunk, 1-2 miles 60 degress North Knob Buoy, Barrow Deep, Thames Estuary, five crew lost.
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SUN IX
Built 1920 by Cochrane and Sons, Selby. YN732. L100.3'. B25.6'. D11.8'. 196grt. 750ihp 3cylTE 15"x24"x40"x27"s 180psi steam engine by Earles Ltd., Hull. Acquired 1920. Lost 1940. ON144405. Callsign KDVW later MJWN.
1920 Delivered to W.H.J. Alexander Ltd., London. 1940 Req by RN for Southend Naval Control. 21-12-1940 Struck mine and sank, between 1 and 2 buoys, Yantlet Channel, Thames Estuary. Three hands lost. Salved but scrapped.
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SUN XI
Photo Rays Colln.
Built 1925 by Earles Ltd., Hull. YN651. L100'. B25.6'. D12'. 183grt. 750ihp 3cylTE 15.5"x24"x40"x27"s 180psi steam engine by builder. Acquired 1925. Disposed 1964. Scrapped 1985. ON148618. Callsign KSRG later MNGS.
6-1925 Delivered to W.H.J. Alexander Ltd., London. 31-5-1940 Under Capt. J.R. Lukes Crossed to Dunkirk, returning with 188 men. 1-6-1940 In Channel recovered lighter full of wounded troops, including survivors from HMS Keith and tug St. Abbs. 23-7-1940. Req by MOWT for port service. 2-11-1944 Returned to owners. 1964 Sold to Schelde Sleepvaartbedrijf NV, Antwerp, renamed Schelde X. 1965 Sold to Rimorchiatori Sardi SMA, Cagliari, renamed Andrea. 1985 Broken up by Co. Fermer, Cagliari at Porto Torres.
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