12/04/2026
MILFORD CROUCH
(1957 – 1963)
FLINDERS TRADER (1963-1989) PART TWO
*PHOTOS NOT IN ORDER* - last part of the Leillateah/Milford Crouch
Captain H. M. (Max) Simms
First memories not necessary in correct order.
Probably when I was about 4 years of age, Dad was building the Jillian Crouch at Birkenhead. He used to call it ‘Shag Wing” he did a water painting of what he thought she would look like. (In one of the old albums) At this time we were living at 13 Alsop St. Semaphore, next to Iris and Jack Ross. Iris is mum’s older sister.
I used to go over to the ship every Saturday morning, then to the Royal Arms Hotel, Port Adelaide from 12 noon till 1 pm. We had an old Vauxhall 38 black (photo of me on the front of it in the album).
I can also recall Kevin and me going with Dad on at least one occasion to the Ketch “John Lewis” to get the engines working so Dad could take a party down the river on a fundraising trip. It was to raise money for the “King and Queen Competition” at Ethelton Primary School. Dad did work on the “John Lewis” for a time but I can’t remember this. For the record, the “Jillian” was built for Mr. Reg Crouch by Dad, Mr. Stewart, Mr. Furnell and Mr. Dempster with others including McFarlane’s shipwrights. The “Jillian” is steel top and sides and Jarrah planking on the bottom. (Refer photos). At this point I should try to pinpoint Dads working history.
Born at the Tumby Bay Hospital in 1910, he lived and went to school in Port Victoria, not sure when the family shifted from Cowell to Port Victoria. But did hear Cowell had many fishermen including the Simms family, so some moved to Moonta Bay and George and “Skip” i.e.: Hector Roy, my grandfather (brothers) moved down to Port Victoria. Nan (Anne) my grandmother, played the piano at the Port Vic.
Institute for the silent movies. The sideboard in our hallway was a parting gift to her when they moved away from Port Victoria about 1924-25. Dad did his trade as a Boiler Maker welder with Simes & Martin, Port Adelaide (where the Police Station is now) I’m not sure if he was at sea before then or went to sea after completing his trade. I know he served on the “Leeta May” with Capt. Mick Butterfield later to become the “Mate” (refer Capt. Gillespie’s book).
At a very young age (mid 20’s) he was Master of the “Nelcebee” (refer logbook) and had her through the war up until he came ashore about 1945-46 to build the “Jillian Crouch”. During the time building the “Jillian” he did some relieving on Ketches such as “Capella” and “Active”. During this stage of life Nan and Skip, My Grandparents on Dads side had moved down to Hobart, 33 Faraday St. Hobart West. In the 50’s Dad and the ships were trading Melbourne to Hobart, Launceston, Burnie and Ulverstone.
Back to the “Jillian”. She was launched in 1947-48, I can remember doing an early trip on her to Port Vincent, also being on her in 1949 when she was carrying grain from Pt. Turton and other small Ports to the last 2 Wind Jammers-“Parmit“ and “Passatt” at Pt. Victoria (photos). In the early 1950’s she moved to interstate work, mainly Melbourne to Tasmania, about 1952 –1956/7.
We spent most holidays either on the ship with Dad in Hobart. This is when Skip joined the “Jillian” as mate. (Should be many photos in Albums at home). At this time too we had shifted home to 16 Percy St. Semaphore. Moving down to Lady Gowrie Drive in 1955. Mum and Dad had 256 built.
Dad came ashore in about 1956 to commence rebuilding the “Leillateah”, an old Ketch owned by the Heritage family (there is a book out by Mary Heritage about this Ketch). When she was lifted from the water she was found to be in bad shape, so the decision to rebuild her in steel was made. This turned out to be a long drawn out job. (refer books).
I worked every afternoon after school to earn pocket money painting the new steel plates as they were fastened. The building of the “Milford Crouch” was done with three men. Dad, Mr. Stewart and Mr. Furnell, with a casual welder “Jock”, a policeman. Firstly, she was sandblasted down which found the original planking to be in very bad condition to the point of being condemned. So new frames were bent around the original shape.
Then it was decided to increase her depth, so they lifted the deck line by about 2 –3 feet. When she was just about completed it was decided to lengthen her by about 10 –15 ft. (refer Photos). As this was going on it was also decided she should be constructed to do interstate work as well. This called for all cabin works to be of 7ft. height and above deck.
The end result was she was too long for her width, did not draw enough water and super structure too high. Of course, this was all too late for local shipping because Semi trailer road freight was just opening up in Australia. Things were changing.
The “Milford” was a problem to handle when “Light Ship” i.e. no cargo in her. She rolled badly and was difficult to steer because she was too long and narrow. No problem loaded though. She never went interstate, working mainly in Spencer Gulf. The trip before she capsized, she had a fire on board in the wool cargo. Dad had suffered burns to the face and hands. Well Andrew the rest you should be able to find in books, but if you want any further info let me know.
Leon Simms
EYRE PENINSULA TRIBUNE
Eyre Peninsular Tribune –Thursday 27 October 2001
SINKING OF THE MILFORD CROUCH IS FINALLY ACKNOWLEDGED
Over 200 people from many parts of South Australia were present at Port Gibbon on Friday for the commemoration service of when the Milford Crouch schooner sunk, and the Lillie Hawkins was beached.
In an emotional impromptu speech from Leon Simms, son of the captain of the ship who perished with all but one of the crew when the Milford Crouch sank, bought tears to the eyes of many present.
The Milford Crouch was built in 1957 at Birkenhead, South Australia, by R.M. Crouch of Port Adelaide who became the registered owner in May of 1958. Her dimensions were length 101.7’, breadth 19.3’, depth 11.5’.
The vessel traded for about 18 months between Port Adelaide and ports on the western coast of Spencer Gulf.
On October 27, 1959, she capsized and sank about 10 miles south of Franklin Harbour in a violent storm, described by many as one of the most horrific weather days in the area’s history.
The day claimed the lives of Captain H. M. (Max) Simms and the lives of five of the six sailors onboard. Only one sailor survived.
On the same day the Lillie Hawkins went aground at Port Gibbon because of the extreme weather and was wrecked.
The Port Gibbon Progress Association and the Franklin Harbour National Trust branch jointly initiated the idea of erecting permanent plaques at Port Gibbon in memory of the crew and the two vessels.
On Friday Scott Williams whose forebears were among the earliest grain growers in the district unveiled the memorial for Lillie Hawkins.
The plaque reads: “The ketch Lillie Hawkins went aground at Port Gibbon during a storm on April 6, 1957. The ketch was wrecked but all the crew survived.”
Leon Simms from Adelaide said Francie Beinke of the Franklin Harbour National Trust had contacted him and informed him about the permanent memento to the day of the storm and the lives of those people who died in it.
Mr Simms said he remembers well the day Mr Crouch had called them and said the Milford Crouch had capsized.
“The next day there were hoards of media on the door wanting to know the story” he said. “I never got over the tragedy of the ship going down and I don’t think I ever will. But I am delighted this community has taken the trouble now, so many years later, to make a memorial for those who died.”
The descendants of the sailors on the Milford Crouch jointly unveiled the plaque. They were Leon Simms, Yvonne Hickman, Ray Chandler, and Danny Leggate.
The plaque reads: In memory of Captain H.M. Simms, Michael Lee, Reg Chandler, Roland Hawkes and Andy Leggate who drowned October 27, 1959, when the schooner Milford Crouch overturned and sank in a fierce storm four miles south of Port Gibbon. Sole survivor Brian Hickman”
Both plaques are mounted on rocks near the parking area and the beach at Port Gibbon, procured from near the town at Elbow Hill.
Back in March/April whilst on Long Service Leave, Coral and I decided to drive around to Port Lincoln for a look see. On the way home I mentioned to Coral that I thought there had been a memorial placed in the Cowell Cemetery many years ago to commemorate the loss of the Milford Crouch.
We decided to stop and take a look. After walking up and down the rows of graves in the rain without any luck, we asked an old gentleman that was maintaining the grounds if he knew of any such memorial.
He could not help us but suggested we go to the Cowell Council Chambers to ask there. They knew nothing but informed us that there had been some talk of it for many years. That was it so we left and drove home.
Late on night in August, we had just gone to bed, the phone rang. Francis Beinke, a farmer from Cleve, a town on Eyre Peninsula was on the line. He had been given our address by Garth Rogers, a relation from the Simms side who we had caught up with at the Simms Reunion sat Moonta Bay some years ago.
Francis went on to tell me he had been a schoolboy near Port Gibbon at the time of the disaster and he and many others had watched from the cliffs that afternoon as the drama went on and of the attempt by the crew of the “Hawk” to try to rescue the crew of the “Milford”. He had been very interested in this for many years and when funds were made available for the Centenary of Federation to the people of Cowell, he decided to get as much history of the accident as possible as well as have a plaque erected on the spot where they watched from.
This location is on the cliff top where the jetty used to be and is about 4.5 miles from where the ship capsized. That day, by their accounts, they experienced the most violent storm they can ever remember.
Francis began gathering whatever information he could about this and as well about the other Crouch ships, “Jillian” and “Ian” as well as the “Nelcebee”. This was all displayed on pin boards at the ceremony location.
21-9-01 we left home at 5 am for the drive to Cowell then the extra 20km to Port Gibbon, arriving at 10.30. The ceremony was at 11.00am, it was a beautiful warm sunny day, so quiet and looking out to sea, so peaceful. The cliff top location, about 30ft. above the beach where the jetty once was, was set up with two plaques covered with Australian flags. One on the left for a vessel that was wrecked in the early 1900’s. The one on the right for the “Milford Crouch”.
About 100 –150 people had gathered for the occasion and lined up to view all the info Francis had coated. It was interesting to see articles about the” Nelcebee” and the “Jillian Crouch” too. All very heart wrenching stuff to remember as Dad was Master of the “Nelly” 1938 through 1945, about, and the “Jillian” 1948 through to about 1956/57 and had made many trips to Cowell and Port Gibbon over the years. Luckily I had read up again the logbook of the “Nelly that I have at home.
Well the ceremony got under way with opening speeches and then Great Grand Son of the Master of the other ship that was wrecked was introduced to the people. To my surprise he pulled out and delivered a two page speech.
After this, the descendants of the crew of the “Milford Crouch” were called to the front, including the sole survivor’s wife, Evonne Hickman. Brian died of cancer in 1999. The brothers of Andrew Leggett and Reg Chandler and myself went up. No-one could be located from Michael Lee’s family, and the daughter of Andrew Leggett who is living in Canada could not get a flight out due to the Twin Towers terrorist attack in New York.
Again some more speeches and then the response. I asked the two brothers if they wished to say anything. No was the response.
Evonne was very nervous and would not come out to the front. So, it was up to me to respond. I had nothing prepared; I was nervous and dry in the mouth. Having to come up with something quickly. I thought about Dad’s logbook of the “Nelcebee”, that I had read over just a few nights before. (I think I just about know it off by heart). I spoke of his early days of trading to Port Gibbon, about the non-stop work they did on the ketches in those days, and how little time he spent at home. I then went on to tell of the night it happened.
The phone call from Mr. Crouch at 10.30pm and how we as a family tried to cope with the situation for many years. I have to say I was close to tears recalling all of the events as were many of the people sitting in front of me. Well, it all came to an end and Coral, and I are so thankful that we went around for the day. I feel now the story has come to an end, and I am so pleased that at last there is something visible for all to see and remember the loss of the five lives (four never recovered) and one survivor.
Just to finish off, it could have had quite a different ending, for as we were coming back to Cowell along the dirt road, something happened to the back tyre, and we nearly rolled the car over. Thankfully no harm came to us.
*** It is my intention now to try to collate all the printed stories of the whole incident into a book like form, so as our children and generations on will be aware of our little bit of South Australian History. This should all start sometime next year when I retire from work. *** . . . . . Leon Simms.
Milford Crouch - Malcolm Howard
This vessel was originally a three masted auxiliary schooner named “Leillateah” of 42 tons built in 1891 in Tasmania. Until purchased in 1957 by R.M. Crouch. From 1921 until 1957 she had eight different owners, having been operated by the Heritage family for many of those years.
Following approval being received for alterations, R.M. Crouch experienced reluctance from Adelaide Steamship Co. Ltd. for the use of their slipway as they had been adverse to the ketch traders in the South Australian gulfs over many years. Eventually the slipway became available for a limited period and the wooden hulled “Leillateah” came off the slip as a steel schooner named
“Milford Crouch”, a little longer than the Steamship Company expected! The full cost of slipping and alterations were claimed for taxation purposes as Repairs & Maintenance which was originally rejected by the Taxation Department, but I subsequently was able to convince them that the replacement of steel in lieu of jarrah from W.A. was cheaper, and the keel, masts and remainder of the vessel was unaltered, the costs wee allowed.
During an unexpected storm on the 27th October 1959, the “Milford Crouch” capsized and her Captain, Max Simms and four crew members were lost despite heroic efforts from crew members of the “Hawk” which was nearby and witnessed the capsizing.
The surviving crew member was Brian Hickman, who swam from his submerged cabin and then toward a lifeboat that had been launched from the “Hawk”. Ray (Ocker) Jenkins and Ben Bracco were awarded Lloyds Medals for their efforts in the rescue attempt.
Rowland Hawkes, aged 17 joined the crew on the Monday and was lost on the Wednesday. Going to sea had been his life's ambition.
The “Milford” was salvaged early in 1960 by R.M. Crouch using the “Claire Crouch” and the “Hawk” by sealing the hull and pumping air in to re-float. She was first towed to Cowell and then to Port Adelaide, repaired and successfully resumed trading with Captain Eddie Paues.
Deck Hand Rowland Hawkes
The capsizing of the "Milford Crouch" on the 27th of October 1959 off Cowell in Spencer Gulf, S.A. resulted in the loss of five lives, the sole survivor being deck hand Brian Hickman. Whilst submerged, Brian was able to extricate himself, swim to the surface and swim in the turbulent waters to the rescue boat launched from the "Hawk", manned by Ray [Ocker] Jenkins and Ben Bracco. Rowland Hawkes, aged 17, had joined the crew for his first trip at sea on the Monday, only to be lost just two days later.
About twelve months prior to this tragedy, Mrs Hawkes brought Rowland into the office of M. B Crouch & Co. at 3 Divett Street, Port Adelaide, seeking employment for her son. She explained that Rowland's interest had been the sea and small ships.
After discussion it was decided that Rowland should complete that year at school and that if he was still then of the same intent to come again. That eventuated, and he was interviewed by Max Simms, the Master of the "Milford Crouch" and signed on. Rowland was impressive and would have done well
M. D. Howard
Eyre Peninsular Tribune -Thursday 27 October 2001
‘MILFORD CROUCH’ SAILS AGAIN.
The vessel “Milford Crouch”, which was built at Port Adelaide in 1958, and after trading for 17 months, capsized in a violent electrical storm on October 27th 1959, has now been refitted. It is anticipated that she will be ready for trading within the next few days.
Special precautions have been adopted for obviate danger from weather extremes such as she previously encountered.
Her rig is now different from that originally adopted, whereby she now has two masts in lieu of three. Her deadweight cargo carrying capacity has been reduced by virtue of 34 tons of concrete which has been installed in her bottom as ballast.
Prior to her re-entry into trading, the nautical authorities will satisfy themselves that the vessel conforms with their requirements in all aspects. Based in some measure upon an in a experiment which has been affected.
The vessel will make voyages in St. Vincent’s Gulf bringing grain to Port Adelaide, but in the near future she will enter a general cargo trade between Port Adelaide and the ports of Tumby Bay, Port
Neill, Arno Bay and Cowell, she and the vessel “Nelcebee” to thereafter maintain a weekly service between those ports.
The owners have voluntarily fitted some additional lifesaving equipment in the form of an R.F.D. life raft and a Car raft.
In the fatality in 1959 and the salvage of the vessel in early 1960, the hull of the vessel was undamaged, and the strength of the hull was demonstrated by the fact that the vessel was raised by means of compressed air, a method not customarily favoured in this country.
The Master of the vessel is Captain E.A. Paues, who for many years has been operating similar types of vessels.
The vessel was named after the founder of M.B. Crouch & Co. who died.
Wallaroo and Port Adelaide, at all times associated with the primary products of the State and with small coastal vessels.
He founded M.B. Crouch & Co. at Port Adelaide in 1921.
