The X Victualling Yard water lighters (2)

I was very interested to read about the WWI X-Lighter X127 (The Sunday Times, November 16) as I had coincidentally been making enquiries through a colleague in Malta as to her identity when this was published and he forwarded me copies of the articles.

If I may add a few more details, X127 was built by Goole Shipbuilding, Goole (hull 189), in 1915. Also, X127 is not the only one of the 225 X-Lighters built to survive. I am a Coastal Forces and Military Small Craft historian in my spare time and keep a register of surviving craft built for the British armed forces. This contains vessels from 18 to 180 feet and numbers some 2,500 entries at present.

Other X-Lighter survivors include the water barge St Joseph in Malta (X40?), also Brandram X67, Spithead X44, Liftmoor X45, JJ Prior X57, Aqueduct X62, Nichola G X81 and Rhino II X76 in the UK, Margaret G X105 in the Gambia, Agios Georgios, Anastasios and Kaptain Xenophon (numbers unknown) in the Piraeus area. And the Arreton X211, being broken up very slowly in a field near Gloucester in the UK.

I am pleased to hear that steps may be taken to look after this wreck, as even though I don't normally include sunken vessels as survivors, this readily accessible vessel is in such complete condition that I am making an exception.