By: Laura Mills7th Mar 2021 11:30AMGAEL. Built in 1904 By Charles Bailey Jr of Auckland for the McGregor Steamship Co, originally built as a steamer, later sold to the Settlers Co in 1905, and was then taken over by the Northern Steamship Co, and was owned by them until 1931, when she was taken over by the South Westland Shipping Co, and was later converted to a motor ship. In 1948 she was sold to the Southern Cross Shipping Co and while on a voyage from Motueka to Wellington,she struck the South Eastern Reef off the Beef Barrel Rocks, on the 18th of April 1952, becoming a total loss. On the 28th of January 1941 the GAEL was taken over over by the NZ Navy and served as an examination vessel based in Wellington, and was released from service on the 26th of April 1941. She didn,t serve as a mine sweeper, that was another GALE (Note the spelling) owned by the Canterbury Steamship Co who ships were registered at Lyttelton.