Name: Western Lady III Certificate number: 307	Status: Designated Vessel Function: Fighting Vessel Sub Functional Area: Type: Fairmile B Motor Launch Location: Poole, Dorset, England Current use: Pleasure craft Length Overall: 34.14 metres (111.93 feet) Gross Tonnage: 107.77 Draught: 1.40 metres (4.59 feet) Maximum Breadth: 5.58 metres (18.30 feet)

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Web address

Builder

• 1941, Southampton Steam Joinery Ltd, Southampton

History

Built in 1941 and commissioned in July 1942, this Fairmile B Motor launch was stationed with 62nd ML Flotillas at Portland between 1942 and 1944. She was then transferred to Kirkwall in January 1944 on anti-submarine target towing duties until August when she sent to Appledore. She join the 69th Flotilla based at Felixstowe until eventually being sold off at Itchenor in 1947 and entering service with the Western Lady Ferry Service in that same year. WESTERN LADY III is still in commercial use ,based at Swanage and running pleasure cruises along the Dorset coast and to the Isle of Wight . She is one of only five surviving of the 650 that were built during the war.

These brief histories are compiled from details supplied by vessel owners and enthusiasts and from various reference works. National Historic Ships would be grateful for any corrections of facts or additional information for inclusion. Please contact ron.ellis@nationalhistoricships.org.uk

Subsequent developments

None notified, please let us know if you have any additional information.

Previous names

• 1941 - 1947, RML 497

Bibliography

• Tripp, G W, 1948, Some Interesting Ship Conversions, The Engineer, December, pp. 664
• Fricker, David, 1988, Fairmile MLs - some survivors still seagoing, Warship World, Winter, pp. 15, 18
• Taylor, Mike, 1993, Model Boats, Motor Boat and Yachting, October, pp. 63-5
• Armstrong, S A, 1993, The Western Ladies of Torbay, Ships Monthly, August, pp. 16-18
• Armstrong, S A, 1993, The Fair (Few) Miles: The History of the Western Lady Ferry Service, Western Lady Ferry Service
• Hamer, Geoffrey, 1995, Trip Out 1995/6 - A Guide to the Passenger Boat Services of the British Isles, pp. 50, G P Hamer
• Hobbs, John, 1995, Western Ladies, Old Glory, May, pp. 14-`8
• World Ship Society British Armed Forces Small Craft Historical Society, 1998, Survivors Register, pp. A 3.2.2

National Maritime Museum

Copyright in these images rests with National Historic Ships and the vessels' owners. Pictures must not be reproduced without the permission of National Historic Ships or of the owners.

Royal Observatory Greenwich