Service record
​
Her duties around the coasts of Great Britain
1903-1939
Information prior to 1939 is limited; we currently need researchers to visit the National archives at Kew, and the London Metropolitan Archives, where records from Trinity House are held to explore what can be found on LV72.
We do know that she served on atleast three stations during this time.
1903 MORCAMBE BAY.first station to replace LV70
​
we next find LV no.72 in the Cambrian dry docks in Swansea in December 1916, another link found in her history and her time around the Welsh coast
​
SEVEN STONES. c1927 (from list of LV supplied with submarine fog bells)
SHIPWASH.- last prewar station being the
LV72 on the VARNE station 1949-1953
VARNE
The Varne Lightvessel marks the dangerous Varne bank, a five and three quarter mile long sand bank in the Dover Strait, lying nine miles southwest of Dover in Kent.
Lying almost in the middle of the international traffic separation scheme of the English Channel, the bank is a constant concern for shipping.
E.W. Grounds
The EW Grounds lightvessel station in the Bristol Channel marked a turn in the deepwater channel between Breaksea Lightvessel off Barry and the Black Nore Point at Portishead on the approaches to Bristol's docks, between the English and Welsh Grounds sandbanks. When manned lighvessels were withdrawn it was replaced by a light bouy, one of which is still there today.
Trinity House record of Lightvessel 72
Station or Harbour positions from 1939 onwards
(D.D&R = dry docking & repair)
SHIPWASH 1.9.1939 - 3.11.1939
Yarmouth 3.11.1939 - 18.12.1939
Harwich 18.12.1939 - 28.12.1939
SHIPWASH 28.12.1939 - 17.12.1940
Yarmouth 17.12.1940 - 14.2.1941 preparing for D.D&R
Yarmouth (Fellow & Sons) 14.2.1941 - 14.3.1942 D.D&R
Yarmouth 14.3.1942 - 14.3.1943
Harwich 14.3.1943 - 27.4.1943
Blackwall 27.4.1943- 29.4.1943
London Dock 29.4.1943 - 10.6.1944
Blackwall 10.6.1944 -13.6.1944
Cowes 13.6.1944 -17.6.1944
JUNO 17.6.1944 - 27.1.1945
Le HAVRE 27.1.1945 - 27.2.1945
SEINE 27.2.1945 - 3.3.1946
Harwich 3.3.1946 -3.4.1946 preparing for station
SMITHS KNOLL 3.4.1946 - 10.6.1947
Harwich 10.6.1947 - 15.8.1947 preparing for station
SHIPWASH 15.8.1947 - 24.2.1948
Harwich 24.2.1948 -3.9.1948
Lowestoft 3.9.1948 - 3.8.1949
Harwich 3.8.1949 - 9.8.1940 preparing for station
VARNE 9.8.1949 - 26.8.1952
Harwich 5.8.1952 - 16.11.1952 preparing for D.D&R
Inningham (Humber Graving Dock) 16.11.1952-11.9.1953 D.D&R
Swansea 11.9.1953 -1.10 .1953 preparing for station
E.W.GROUNDS 1.10.1953 - 30.11.1954
BROKE ADRIFT
Swansea 1.12.1954 -16.2.1955 preparing for station
E.W.GROUNDS 16.2.1955 -21.12.1956
Swansea 21.12.1956 - 11.1.1957 preparing for D.D&R
Lowestoft (Richards Ironworks) 11.1.1957 - 21.3.1957 D.D&R
E.W.GROUNDS 21.3.1957 - 12.9.1960
Swansea 12.9.1960 - 19.11.1960 preparing for D.D&R
Plymouth (Willoughby's) 19.11.1960 13.1.1961 D.D&R
Plymouth 13.1.1961 - 23.2.1961 preparing for station and awaiting tow
E.W.GROUNDS 23.2.1961- 8.3.1963
Swansea 8.3.1963 - 29.4.1963 preparing for D.D&R
Plymouth (Willoughby Ltd) 29.4.1963 -21.6.1963 D.D&R
Plymouth 21.6.1963 - 13.7.1963 preparing for E.W.GROUNDS
E.W.GROUNDS 13.7.1963 - 12.5.1966
Swansea 12.5.1966 - 16.6.1966 preparing for D.D&R
Cardiff (Mount Stuart's)16.6.1966 -15.7.1966 undergoing D.D&R
Mount Stuart Dry docks ltd 16.7.1966 -10.8.1966
E.W.GROUNDS 10.8.1966 - 10.2.1972
Swansea 10.2.1972 - 4.5.1973 to be sold out of service
SOLD TO STEEL SUPPLY CO. LTD MAY 1973
​
In the particulars and conditions of sale from Trinity House. LV nos. 71, 72, 82 and 87 were listed for sale