HMS Kirkliston/Kilmorey

Brian · **Posted:** Sat Nov 14, 2009 2:30 am

Photo from Malachy Havern

Dated 1958 - Going by the numbers on the ship (and the date), this is HMS Kirkliston when she was named HMS Kilmorey

Quote:

HMS Kirkliston (M1157) was a Ton-class minesweeper of the Royal Navy, built by Harland and Wolff and launched on 18 February 1954. In a brief episode from 1956 to 1960 she was temporarily renamed HMS Kilmorey and was assigned to the Ulster division Royal Naval Reserve (RNR).

From 1962-1964 the Kirliston was converted to a minehunter, and in October 1964 became leader of the First Mine Countermeasures Squadron (MCM1). From 1969 she saw service in the Far East as part of the Sixth Squadron (MCM6). In 1972 she rejoined MCM1 where she remained until 1982. HMS Kirkliston was decommissioned on 2 December 1985 and was sold for scrap on 20 October 1991.

One of her sister ships, HMS Bronington, has been preserved and is berthed at Birkenhead, Merseyside, England, as part of the former Warship Preservation Trust.

Source Wikipedia.

StLouisGuy · **Joined:** Wed May 09, 2007 3:17 am **Posts:** 844

Great photo. I remember going through the minesweeper when she was visiting the Point. Tight spaces in that thing.

whitestar · **Posted:** Sat Nov 14, 2009 5:10 am

As it was a mine-sweeper do you know if it was a concrete-hulled ship ( like the sort built in the 'Point during the war ) ;--)

StLouisGuy · **Joined:** Wed May 09, 2007 3:17 am **Posts:** 844

Being built at H & W and a mine sweeper, I am pretty sure she was not concrete. I believe those built in the Point were all landing craft.

joanne · **Posted:** Sat Nov 14, 2009 11:09 am

Another great picture.......thanks to Malachy for sharing these pictures with us.
I know it's a bit of a long shot,but the boy second from the right in the group at the right of the photo resembles maurice Hourican ;--)

xpaddy · **Joined:** Wed May 14, 2008 2:48 pm **Posts:** 3106

I would have been 15 then and I don't
remember that.
Looks like Mrs. Barry walking in the
front, and Dessie Slevin at the left front.
Just a guess. ~x(

patMG07 · **Posted:** Sat Nov 14, 2009 10:25 pm

Interesting photo that. Despite the carnival atmosphere with the crowd it reminds me of some old black and white film....'The Cruel Sea' or something like that with the likes of Jack Hawkins (not sure if I have the right film..where is Jones's Hill when you need him !).

dukestreet · **Posted:** Tue Jan 12, 2010 9:48 pm

I think the man almost in the centre of photo, wearing dark suit, and white shirt walking up the Quay,( just across from the number on side of vessel) is the late Joe Corrigan, mentioned on this site many times.

I agree that young lad does resemble Maurice Hourican, and I think the other lad in the white shorts beside him with back to the camera, could be a young Kenny Moore. The tall lad on the left could possibly be Desmond O'Hanlon. The Clonallon Gardens bunch used to go about in packs.
The time frame would fit.

joanne · **Posted:** Tue Jan 12, 2010 9:59 pm

dukestreet wrote:

I think the man almost in the centre of photo, wearing dark suit, and white shirt walking up the Quay,( just across from the number on side of vessel) is the late Joe Corrigan, mentioned on this site many times.

I agree that young lad does resemble Maurice Hourican, and I think the other lad in the white shorts beside him with back to the camera, could be a young Kenny Moore. The tall lad on the left could possibly be Desmond O'Hanlon. The Clonallon Gardens bunch used to go about in packs.
The time frame would fit.

Duke St...........will have to ask Kenny.

xpaddy · **Joined:** Wed May 14, 2008 2:48 pm **Posts:** 3106

Dukestreet - that looks like Joe alright.
I should be able to identify the kids you
named, but afraid not.

StLouisGuy · **Joined:** Wed May 09, 2007 3:17 am **Posts:** 844

You have good eyes, Dukestreet. I agree with Xpaddy and you. That sure looks like Joe. Is that Brendan O'Loughlin in front of him?

Seadog · **Joined:** Sun Jan 24, 2010 5:16 pm **Posts:** 1

All the original TON class Minesweepers were made of wood with aluminum and bronze fittings

StLouisGuy · **Joined:** Wed May 09, 2007 3:17 am **Posts:** 844

Seadog wrote:

All the original TON class Minesweepers were made of wood with aluminum and bronze fittings

I think I bumped my head on some of that brass. Hard, the brass, not my head.

whitestar · **Posted:** Wed Jan 27, 2010 4:57 pm

Seadog wrote:

All the original TON class Minesweepers were made of wood with aluminum and bronze fittings

Interesting snippet of information there Seadog ( I had thought that concrete had been a primary material for minesweeper construction)..... that would be a very expensive may to construct a vessel nowadays !

maurice · **Joined:** Thu May 15, 2008 12:02 pm **Posts:** 6

I THINK THAT WAS ME, I DO VAGUELY REMEBER GOING ON BOARD WITH THE OTHERS AND ALL BEING GIVEN CHIPS IN THE SHIPS GALLEY.I WOULD HAVE BEEN 7 OR 8 AT THE TIME DEPENDING ON THE ACCURACY OF THE DATE.

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