Fishing Vessels Lost in WW2 Recorded on the Memorial at Tower Hill: Corennie to Ethel Crawford

This page includes basic information about the ships and how they were lost, a photo of the relevant panel(s) of the Tower Hill Memorial and information about those that lost their lives extracted from the CWGC database. In the table I have included information about those who served on the ships but who had a normal burial as this seems appropriate to me. In some cases further family information about the individuals may be available on the CWGC website [7].

Corennie

She was a 203 GRT steam trawler that was sunk on or about 30 May 1940 in the North Sea. The cause of her loss is unknown.

Corennie

Casualties

Forenames Surname & Honours Age D.O.D Rank Service Country Cemetery/
Memorial
Grave Ref. Addl. Information
Alexander Smith Adam 56 31/05/1940 Chief Engineer Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 124. Age 56. Husband of Euphemia Adam of Aberdeen.
George Bruce 49 31/05/1940 Trimmer Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 124. Age 49
William Alexander Bruce 50 31/05/1940 Deck Hand Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 124. Age 50. Son of Alexander and Jane Bruce; husband of Catherine Bruce of Aberdeen.
Robert Chapman Buchan 53 31/05/1940 Cook Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 124. Age 53. Husband of Elizabeth Buchan of Aberdeen.
George Burnett 52 31/05/1940 Skipper Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 124. Age 52. Son of Thomas and Anna Burnett; husband of Isabella Jane Burnett of Torry Aberdeen.
James Wood Christie 36 31/05/1940 Second Engineer Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 124. Age 36
George Findlay 27 31/05/1940 Second Hand Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 124. Age 27. Son of James and Anne Findlay; husband of Doris May Findlay of Portknockie Banffshire.
William Greig 42 31/05/1940 Deck Hand Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 124. Age 42. Son of William and Margaret Greig; husband of Julia Hay Greig of Aberdeen.
James Lindsay 43 31/05/1940 Trimmer Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 124. Age 43. Husband of Jane Ann Lindsay of Torry Aberdeen.
Alexander John Reid 33 31/05/1940 Fisherman Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 124. Age 33

Craigewan

She was a 204 GRT steam trawler that went missing after last being seen on 12 October 1945 whilst fishing South of Ireland.

There were no survivors

Craigewan

Casualties

Forenames Surname & Honours Age D.O.D Rank Service Country Cemetery/
Memorial
Grave Ref. Addl. Information
William Thomas Ernest Carsey 39 12/10/1945 Fireman Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 124. Age 39. Son of William Thomas Carsey and Agnes Carsey; husband of Faith Alice May Carsey of Lowestoft Suffolk.
James Henry Forrest 60 12/10/1945 Second Engineer Officer Merchant Navy United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 124. Age 60. Husband of Martha Elizabeth Forrest of Milford Haven Pembrokeshire.
George Robert Hastings 57 12/10/1945 Skipper Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 124. Age 57. Husband of Elizabeth Hastings of Milford Haven Pembrokeshire.
William Edward Houghton 42 12/10/1945 Boatswain Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 124. Age 42. Son of William and Margaret Houghton; husband of L. G. Houghton of Barrow-in-Furness Lancashire.
Harry White Howlett 52 12/10/1945 Fireman Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 124. Age 52. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Howlett; husband of Edith Howlett (nee Gay) of Johannesburg Transvaal South Africa.
Charles Wilfred Humphries 37 12/10/1945 Cook Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 124. Age 37. Husband of Scyllia E. Humphries of Milford Haven Pembrokeshire.
Percival Parkinson 21 12/10/1945 Deck Hand Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 124. Age 21. Son of James and Agnes Parkinson; husband of Charlotte Parkinson of Haverfordwest Pembrokeshire.
William John Rice 54 12/10/1945 Mate Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 124. Age 54
William Reid Sandy 54 12/10/1945 Third Hand Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 124. Age 54. Husband of Sophia Annie Sandy of Milford Haven Pembrokeshire.
Samuel Young 50 12/10/1945 Deck Hand Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 124. Age 50. Son of Robert and Mary Young.

Cresswell

She was a 275 GRT steam trawler that was sunk on 12 November 1939 by gunfire from German submarine U-41 whilst fishing 18 miles North-West-by-West of Flannan Isles, Outer Hebrides.

Cresswell

Casualties

Forenames Surname & Honours Age D.O.D Rank Service Country Cemetery/
Memorial
Grave Ref. Addl. Information
George Thomas Andrews 37 12/11/1939 Third Hand Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 124. Age 37. Son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Andrews; husband of G. Andrews.
Thomas Gately 40 12/11/1939 Fireman and Trimmer Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 124. Age 40
Frederick Kirby 45 12/11/1939 Deck Hand Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 124. Age 45. Son of Matthew and Sarah Ellen Kirby; husband of Harriet Kirby of Hull.
James Larter 36 12/11/1939 Deck Hand Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 124. Age 36

Daneden

She was a 210 GRT steam trawler that was sunk on 19 December 1939 by aircraft bombing at a position 12 miles East-South-East of Fetlar, Shetlands.

Daneden

Casualties

Forenames Surname & Honours Age D.O.D Rank Service Country Cemetery/
Memorial
Grave Ref. Addl. Information
George Bowie 39 19/12/1939 Skipper Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 124. Age 39. Husband of Nellie Bowie of Aberdeen.
James Bowie 58 19/12/1939 Fisherman Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 124. Age 58
James Broadfoot 64 19/12/1939 Second Engineer Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 124. Age 64. Husband of J. Broadfoot of Aberdeen.
James Findlay Geddes 28 19/12/1939 Deck Hand Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 124. Age 28. Son of James and Jessie Ann Geddes; husband of Elizabeth Geddes of Glasgow.
James Morrison 55 19/12/1939 Chief Engineer Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 124. Age 55
William George Paterson 36 19/12/1939 Deck Hand Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 124. Age 36. Son of James and Georgina Paterson; husband of Isabella Paterson of Buckie Banffshire.
William Reid 29 19/12/1939 Cook Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 124. Age 29. Husband of Annie Mary Reid of Buckie Banffshire.
Thomas Reynolds 53 19/12/1939 Second Hand Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 124. Age 53
George Tait 23 19/12/1939 Trimmer Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 124. Age 23

Dinorah

She was a 192 GRT steam trawler that foundered 28 April 1945 off Bridlington. The cause of loss is unconfirmed but believed to have been a mine - possibly a British one.

There were no survivors

Dinorah Dinorah

Casualties

Forenames Surname & Honours Age D.O.D Rank Service Country Cemetery/
Memorial
Grave Ref. Addl. Information
Ernest George Bacon 41 28/04/1945 Cook Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 124. Age 41. Husband of Rose Mary Bacon of Grimsby Lincolnshire.
Tom Balderson 49 28/04/1945 Deck Hand Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 124. Age 49
William George Dyble 49 28/04/1945 Skipper Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 124. Age 49
Albert Ernest Dyer 36 28/04/1945 Second Hand Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 124. Age 36. Husband of Grace Dyer of Accrington Lancashire.
Cyril Kirk 16 28/04/1945 Deck Hand Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 124. Age 16
John Thomas Lamb 36 28/04/1945 Deck Hand Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 124. Age 36. Son of Robert and Ellen Lamb; husband of Elizabeth May Lamb of Grimsby Lincolnshire.
Robert Henry Lott 42 28/04/1945 Third Hand Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 42
Charles Frederick Mortlock 38 28/04/1945 Deck Hand Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 38
Arthur Robert Quantrill 55 28/04/1945 Second Engineer Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 55. Son of Edward and Mary Ann Quantrill.
Frederick Rix 60 28/04/1945 Chief Engineer Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 60
Robert George Rowbotham 35 28/04/1945 Trimmer Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 35. Son of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Rowbotham of Grimsby Lincolnshire; husband of D. Rowbotham of Woking Surrey.

Earl Essex

She was a 225 GRT steam trawler that sank on 24 April 1946 after hitting a mine in the North Sea.

Earl Essex

Casualties

Forenames Surname & Honours Age D.O.D Rank Service Country Cemetery/
Memorial
Grave Ref. Addl. Information
Stanley Bennett 45 24/04/1946 Second Engineer Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 45. Son of Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Bennett of Cleethorpes Lincolnshire.
Wilfred Dudley Bennett 38 24/04/1946 Spare Hand Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 38. Son of Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Bennett of Cleethorpes Lincolnshire. Fomerly R.N. Patrol Service.
Donald Robert George 25 24/04/1946 Trimmer Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 25. Son of Jeanne Marie George of Grimsby Lincolnshire.
John James Gordon 44 24/04/1946 Chief Engineer Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 44
Allen Reginald Jackson 41 24/04/1946 Deck Hand Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 41. Son of James William and Mary Ann Jackson of Grimsby Lincolnshire.
Cyril Henry Line 45 24/04/1946 Cook Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 45. Son of John William and Emma Line; husband of Beatrice Violet Line of Cleethorpes Lincolnshire.
Benjamin Thomas Nicholson Reynolds 31 24/04/1946 Second Hand Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 31. Son of John Francis and Hannah Elizabeth Reynolds; husband of Christine Reynolds of Cleethorpes Lincolnshire.
Joseph Wass Walker Tilling 38 24/04/1946 Third Hand Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 38. Son of William Frederick and Betsy Ann Tilling; husband of Lillian Tilling of Hull.
Albert Edward Treacher 50 24/04/1946 Skipper Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 50. Son of Mr. and Mrs. George Treacher; husband of L. Treacher of Cleethorpes Lincolnshire.
Arthur Watson 41 24/04/1946 Deck Hand Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 41. Son of Robert and Margaret Watson; husband of M. A. Watson of Shepherds Bush London.

Elmira

She was a 197 GRT steam trawler that was sunk on 23 March 1941 by aircraft bombing at position 59° 55’ N, 03° 40’ W.

Elmira

Casualties

Forenames Surname & Honours Age D.O.D Rank Service Country Cemetery/
Memorial
Grave Ref. Addl. Information
Charles Chellis 50 23/03/1941 Third Hand Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 50
James Edward Dann 42 23/03/1941 Deck Hand Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 42. Son of Edward and Jane Dann; husband of Lily Dann of Cleethorpes Lincolnshire.
Robert James Harper 41 23/03/1941 Skipper Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 41. Son of William and Florence Harper; husband of Stella Harper of Castle Horneck Cornwall.
Abe Davis Sampson 38 23/03/1941 Mate Merchant Navy United Kingdom Grimsby (Scartho Road) Cemetery 2nd South Reserved Border. Row A. Grave 169. Age 38. Son of Abraham John Davis Sampson and Alice Mary Sampson of Grimsby; husband of Ivy Sampson of Grimsby.
John Murdo Smith 43 23/03/1941 Chief Engineer Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 43. Husband of Primrose Violet Smith of Malton Yorkshire.
Walter St. Pierre 42 23/03/1941 Deck Hand Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 42. Husband of W. St. Pierre of Cleethorpes Lincolnshire.
William Heaton Thompson 43 23/03/1941 Deck Hand Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 43. Husband of Kate Thompson of Cleethorpes Lincolnshire.
William Findley Thomson 39 23/03/1941 Second Engineer Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 39. Son of James and Margaret Thomson; husband of E. C. M. Thomson of Grimsby Lincolnshire.
William Weir 52 23/03/1941 Steward Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 52. Husband of Jeanie Weir of Cleethorpes Lincolnshire.
Thomas Alfred Wilde 41 23/03/1941 Deck Hand Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 41

Emerald

Emerald was a 150 GRT steam trawler built by Cochrane & Cooper of Beverley, launched on 17 May 1894 and registered in Grimsby as GY613. She was damaged on 17 March 1940 by aircraft gunfire at a position 80 miles East-by-North of Spurn Lighthouse - however there appears to have been no loss of life as a result of this attack. From 1943 she was owned by Great Grimsby & East Coast Fishing Co. Ltd. and, on 17 January 1944, she left Grimsby for the North Sea fishing grounds off Hornsea. She was not seen again and was posted missing on 23 February 1944. It is likely that she struck a mine.

There were no survivors

Emerald

Casualties

Forenames Surname & Honours Age D.O.D Rank Service Country Cemetery/
Memorial
Grave Ref. Addl. Information
George Alexander Baker 18 17/01/1944 Trimmer Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 18. Son of Alfred and Clara R. Baker of Grimsby Lincolnshire.
John George William Bryan 39 17/01/1944 Mate Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 39
Henry Burrett 43 17/01/1944 Second Engineer Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 43. Husband of Gladys Emma Burrett of Grimsby Lincolnshire.
Walter Carlton 61 17/01/1944 Chief Engineer Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 61. Husband of Margaret Catherine Carlton of Cleethorpes Lincolnshire.
Alexander Henry Charlton 61 17/01/1944 Trimmer Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 61
Thomas Edward Harper 42 17/01/1944 Cook Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 42
Charles Albert Edward Howling 20 17/01/1944 Third Hand Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 20. Son of Charles Henry and Emma Howling of Grimsby Lincolnshire.
Clive Phillip Hildred Marshall 40 17/01/1944 Deck Hand Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 40. Husband of Annie Louisa Marshall of Grimsby Lincolnshire.
Henry Arthur Pratt 35 17/01/1944 Deck Hand Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 35. Husband of Florence May Pratt of Grimsby Lincolnshire.
Walter Riches 39 17/01/1944 Deck Hand Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 39. Son of John and Bella Riches husband of Florence May Riches of Cleethorpes Lincolnshire.
George Henry Westwood 55 17/01/1944 Skipper Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 55. Husband of Lucy Westwood of Cleethorpes Lincolnshire.

Encourage

She was a 45 GRT motor fishing vessel that sank on 25 October 1940 after hitting a mine at a position 6½ cables from Breakwater Fort, Plymouth on a bearing of 210°.

Encourage

Casualties

Forenames Surname & Honours Age D.O.D Rank Service Country Cemetery/
Memorial
Grave Ref. Addl. Information
Arthur Clarke 55 25/10/1940 Deck Hand Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 55. Son of Robert and Mary Ann Clarke; husband of Emily May Clarke of Lowestoft Suffolk.
Peter James Moxey 22 25/10/1940 Engineer Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 22. Son of Peter P. and Rose Beatrice Moxey of Ramsgate Kent.
George Pettitt 58 25/10/1940 Deck Hand Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 58
Hector Wellington 54 25/10/1940 Skipper Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 54. Husband of Florence Emma Wellington of Lowestoft Suffolk.

Ethel Crawford

She was a 200 GRT steam trawler that sank on 20 April 1945 after hitting a mine laid by German submarine U-218 at position 55° 13' N, 05° 14' W.

There were no survivors

Ethel Crawford Ethel Crawford

Casualties

Forenames Surname & Honours Age D.O.D Rank Service Country Cemetery/
Memorial
Grave Ref. Addl. Information
William Bowman 56 20/04/1945 Mate Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 56. Son of Charles and Christina Bowman of Pittenweem Fife; husband of Janet Bowman of Edinburgh.
Thomas Drysdale 57 20/04/1945 Second Engineer Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 57. Son of Robert and Helen Drysdale; husband of Margaret Drysdale of Leith Edinburgh.
Robert Ewing 52 20/04/1945 Cook Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 52. Son of John and Euphemia Ewing of Leith Edinburgh; husband of Mary Ewing of Ayr.
James Williamson Geddes 46 20/04/1945 Driver Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 46. Husband of Agnes Geddes of Edinburgh.
John Joseph Henry 27 20/04/1945 Trimmer Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 27
Thomas Taylor Ritchie 53 20/04/1945 Deck Hand Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 53. Son of John and Hannah Ritchie; husband of Lilias Ritchie of Edinburgh.
Arthur Middleton Scales 53 20/04/1945 Skipper Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 53
Thomas Shanley 44 20/04/1945 Seaman Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 44. Son of Bernard and Mary Waters Shanley; husband of Margaret Shanley of Edinburgh.
Alexander Stewart Shields 38 20/04/1945 Fireman Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 38. Son of John and Anne Harrison Shields; husband of Jean Shields of Newhaven. Edinburgh.
Robert Harvey Carnie Wright 27 20/04/1945 Fisherman Fishing Fleet United Kingdom Tower Hill Memorial Panel 125. Age 27


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