She was named after Nailsea Court in Somerset, England, which is an historic Elizabethan manor house.

[2] In 1936–37 Bartram & Sons built four sister ships for two companies linked to Evans and Reid of Cardiff.

The compound engine had two high- and two low-pressure cylinders and drove the propeller shaft by single-reduction gearing.

[3] The compound engine plus exhaust turbine gave Nailsea Court a speed of 10 knots (19 km/h).

[18] On 23 February 1943 Nailsea Court left New York City in Convoy SC 121 bound for Liverpool.

On 9 March escorts were reinforced by a US Navy destroyer, two US Coast Guard cutters and air cover from No.

At 0104 hrs on 10 March SC 121 was south of Iceland when German submarine U-229 fired a salvo of two torpedoes at the convoy.

As the crew tried to launch this boat its forward fall jammed, and as they tried to free it a seaman got his hand caught in the block.

Eventually the Second Officer, RA Johannesen, and some seamen managed to lift the boat and free the man's hand.

The last four men left aboard were the Master, Robert Lee, Second Officer Johannesen, the Second Engineer, HCC Bette, and one of the ship's apprentices.

Nailsea Court sank 12 minutes after she was hit, bow first and with her stern lifted clear of the water.

[9] Nailsea Court's lifeboat picked up Captain Lee, Mr Bette, and several survivors from Colmore, until the boat was carrying 37 men.

The Royal Canadian Navy corvette HMCS Dauphin tried to reach the lifeboat, but her steering gear failed forcing her to stop only 250 yards away.

He particularly praised Captain Lee and Mr Johannesen for their leadership in the abandonment of the ship, and Fourth Engineer Dryden, Greaser William Perkes and Fireman Percy Barnes for remaining at their posts in the engine room until they had made it safe to abandon ship.