on 8 Sep 2013 Joe McMillan wrote I have a photograph of the Admiralty tug St.Fergus built 1919 by Fleming & Ferguson at Paisley,Scotland The CLYDESITE database states that the tug was launched as St Fergus but completed as St.Boniface,the Starke/Schell registers and Miramar database say the same yet i have a very clear photograph of the tug under way and the name St.Fergus is plainly visible on her bow. Can anyone explain this anomaly please. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Suspect that it is "completed" that is causing the confusion. My understanding was that she entered service with the Admiralty as ST BONIFACE. So if this is a pre-delivery trials photo it would still make sense. However, if this is an in-service photo, that would change things. There's no obvious reason to me why they made the name change. The navy didn't have another vessel with a name like "Fergus". It might have been to do with her registration - most of the Saint class were entered on the British register - as there was a ST FERGUS already (the Orkney/Shetland ferry of 1913), though that would not be a bar at that time, it might have been discouraged, especially if the tug might be working in northern waters. But I'm just speculating! She was certainly registered from new as ST BONIFACE. I would be interested to see a scan of the photo if you could send direct. David Asprey

Hi David, Thank`s for your explanation on St.Fergus/St.Boniface. You are most probably correct in stating that the photo i have was taken during her trials before the name change and before it was handed over to the Admiralty. I have sent you a scan of the photo off site. Kindest regards, Joe. -----Original Message----- From: asprey david Sent: Monday, September 09, 2013 8:13 PM To: [email protected] Cc: Dave Sowdon Subject: Re: [MAR] St.Fergus on 8 Sep 2013 Joe McMillan wrote I have a photograph of the Admiralty tug St.Fergus built 1919 by Fleming & Ferguson at Paisley,Scotland The CLYDESITE database states that the tug was launched as St Fergus but completed as St.Boniface,the Starke/Schell registers and Miramar database say the same yet i have a very clear photograph of the tug under way and the name St.Fergus is plainly visible on her bow. Can anyone explain this anomaly please. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Suspect that it is "completed" that is causing the confusion. My understanding was that she entered service with the Admiralty as ST BONIFACE. So if this is a pre-delivery trials photo it would still make sense. However, if this is an in-service photo, that would change things. There's no obvious reason to me why they made the name change. The navy didn't have another vessel with a name like "Fergus". It might have been to do with her registration - most of the Saint class were entered on the British register - as there was a ST FERGUS already (the Orkney/Shetland ferry of 1913), though that would not be a bar at that time, it might have been discouraged, especially if the tug might be working in northern waters. But I'm just speculating! She was certainly registered from new as ST BONIFACE. I would be interested to see a scan of the photo if you could send direct. David Asprey ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message