Fishing Vessels Lost in WW2 Recorded on the Memorial at Tower Hill: Etruscan to Helpmate
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].
Etruscan
She was a 202 grt trawler of unknown method of propulsion that went missing after leaving fishing grounds for Grimsby on 28 November 1945.
There were no survivors
Casualties
| Forenames | Surname & Honours | Age | D.O.D | Rank | Service | Country | Cemetery/ Memorial |
Grave Ref. | Addl. Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sidney Ernest Aubrey | Chapman | 35 | 28/11/1945 | Trimmer | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 35 |
| Harold | Flear | 52 | 28/11/1945 | Second Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 52 |
| Jack | Govis | 50 | 28/11/1945 | Cook | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 50. Son of John and Mary Govis; husband of Ada Marion Govis of Cleethorpes Lincolnshire. |
| George | Madin | 28/11/1945 | Third Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | ||
| Alfred Charles | Mallett | 50 | 28/11/1945 | Deck Hand | Merchant Navy | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 50. Husband of Kate Ellen Mallett of Grimsby Lincolnshire. |
| William Ernest | Savage | 24 | 28/11/1945 | Trimmer | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 24. Son of Benjamin James Savage and Ellen Sarah Savage of Cleethorpes Lincolnshire. |
| James | Share | 37 | 28/11/1945 | Deck Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 37 |
| William John | Sinclair | 44 | 28/11/1945 | Skipper | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 44. Son of William and Ada Sinclair; husband of Mabel Ellen Sinclair of Cleethorpes Lincolnshire. |
| Henry Frederick | Stevenson | 49 | 28/11/1945 | Deck Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 49. Son of Frederick Thomas Stevenson and Ada Stevenson; husband of Daisy Stevenson of Cleethorpes Lincolnshire. |
| James William | Willett | 49 | 28/11/1945 | Second Engineer | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 49. Husband of Elsie May Willett of Grimsby Lincolnshire. |
| Richard | Willis | 63 | 28/11/1945 | First Engineer | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 63 |
I am grateful to Charles Anderson for the following cutting from the Hull Daily Mail [70] of 19 December 1945.
Exeter
She was a 165 grt steam trawler that was sunk on 29 March 1941 by aircraft bombing at a position 5 miles South-West of Ballycotton.
Casualties
| Forenames | Surname & Honours | Age | D.O.D | Rank | Service | Country | Cemetery/ Memorial |
Grave Ref. | Addl. Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| William George | Aldous | 46 | 29/03/1941 | Skipper | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 46 |
| Sydney | Beare | 60 | 29/03/1941 | Cook | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 60. Husband of Caroline Maud Beare of Neyland Pembrokeshire. |
| Walter Henry | Chaney | 60 | 29/03/1941 | Second Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 60. Son of Walter Henry and Martha Chaney of Great Yarmouth Norfolk. |
| John Henry | Chapman | 41 | 29/03/1941 | Boatswain | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 41. Son of John and Alice Chapman; husband of Hilda Chapman of Somerleyton Suffolk. |
| Thomas J. | Coverdale | 39 | 29/03/1941 | Deck Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 39. Husband of V. C. Coverdale of Hull. |
| David | Evans | 50 | 29/03/1941 | Third Engineer | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 50. Son of Will and Annie Evans; husband of Beatrice Evans of Pembroke Dock. |
| Benjamin | Griffiths | 50 | 29/03/1941 | Chief Engineer | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 50. Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Griffiths. |
| David George | Spindler | 43 | 29/03/1941 | Third Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 43. Husband of E. R. Spindler of Lowestoft Suffolk. |
| Henry | Sugden | 33 | 29/03/1941 | Second Engineer | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 33. Husband of E. Sugden of Hull. |
Falmouth
She was a 165 grt steam trawler that sank on 12 April 1945 after hitting a mine 6 miles East-North-East of No. 62F Buoy off the River Humber.
Casualties
| Forenames | Surname & Honours | Age | D.O.D | Rank | Service | Country | Cemetery/ Memorial |
Grave Ref. | Addl. Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roy Richard | Charlish | 49 | 12/04/1945 | Deck Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 49 |
| Michael Patrick | Connor | 60 | 12/04/1945 | Chief Engineer | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 60. Husband of Ada Connor of Grimsby Lincolnshire. |
| Arthur | Girling | 55 | 12/04/1945 | Skipper | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 55. Husband of Annie Girling of Cleethorpes Lincolnshire. |
| Albert | Leonard | 52 | 12/04/1945 | Mate | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 52. Son of Albert and Linda Leonard of Grimsby Lincolnshire. |
| John Rupert | Parkinson | 43 | 12/04/1945 | Deck Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 43. Son of Joseph Rupert and Fanny Parkinson; husband of Doris Mary Parkinson of Cleethorpes Lincolnshire. |
| Clifford Henry | Rawlins | 46 | 12/04/1945 | Deck Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 46. Husband of Francis Ann Rawlins of Grimsby Lincolnshire. |
| John Alfred | Rymell | 44 | 12/04/1945 | Third Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 44. Son of John and Alice Rymell; husband of L. H. Rymell of Grimsby Lincolnshire. |
| Matthew Albert | Stembridge | 48 | 12/04/1945 | Trimmer | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 48 |
| Albert Ernest William | Thrower | 59 | 12/04/1945 | Second Engineer | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 59 |
| Ernest | Wilson | 63 | 12/04/1945 | Cook | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 63. Husband of Mabel Wilson of West Halton Lincolnshire. |
Fernbank
She was a 211 grt steam trawler that was sunk on 16 November 1941 by aircraft bombing at a position 12 miles North-West of Myggenaes, Faeroes.
Casualties
| Forenames | Surname & Honours | Age | D.O.D | Rank | Service | Country | Cemetery/ Memorial |
Grave Ref. | Addl. Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Thomas | Pacey | 50 | 16/11/1941 | Cook | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 50. Son of James and Alice Pacey; husband of Margaret Pacey of Bodangora New South Wales Australia. |
| James | Petrie | 43 | 16/11/1941 | Fireman | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 43 |
| David | Runcie | 64 | 16/11/1941 | Fisherman | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 64 |
| William | Stevenson | 61 | 16/11/1941 | Fisherman | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 61. Husband of Betsy Stevenson of Kincorth Aberdeen. |
| James | Stewart | 56 | 17/11/1941 | Skipper | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Aberdeen (Allenvale) Cemetery | Sec. C. Grave 1015. | Age 56 |
Flavia
She was a 202 grt steam trawler that was damaged on 11 January 1940 by aircraft bombing at a poistion 90 miles North-East-by-East of Buchanness. She was sunk on 28 August 1940 in the North Sea. The cause of her loss is unknown.
There were no survivors
Casualties
| Forenames | Surname & Honours | Age | D.O.D | Rank | Service | Country | Cemetery/ Memorial |
Grave Ref. | Addl. Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John | Buchan | 17 | 28/08/1940 | Deck Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 17. Son of John and Maggie Helen Buchan of Aberdeen. |
| Alexander Murray | Gordon | 58 | 28/08/1940 | Engineman | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 58. Son of Ann Gordon and stepson of John Wood; husband of Christina Gordon of Aberdeen. |
| William | Kelly | 64 | 28/08/1940 | Cook | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 64 |
| Alexander John | Leiper | 34 | 28/08/1940 | Fisherman | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 34 |
| Robert Phillips | Leiper | 38 | 28/08/1940 | Skipper | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 38. Son of John and Christina Leiper of Aberdeen; husband of Catherine Leiper of Aberdeen. |
| James | Munro | 18 | 28/08/1940 | Trimmer | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 18. Son of Mr. and Mrs. James Munro of Aberdeen. |
| George | Murray | 34 | 28/08/1940 | Second Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 34. Husband of Agnes Murray of Torry Aberdeen. |
| Alfred | Mcintosh | 17 | 28/08/1940 | Deck Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 17. Son of Alfred and Margaret McBean McIntosh of Aberdeen. |
| James Alexander | Simpson | 27 | 28/08/1940 | Trimmer | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 27. Son of James and May Simpson; husband of Isabella Simpson of Aberdeen. |
| John | Wilson | 40 | 28/08/1940 | Second Engineman | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 40. Son of Alex and Isabell Wilson; husband of Amelia Wilson of Peterhead Aberdeenshire. |
Gadra
She was a 219 grt steam, trawler that sank on 6 January 1941 after hitting a mine at position 62° 21' N, 07° 07' W.
Casualties
| Forenames | Surname & Honours | Age | D.O.D | Rank | Service | Country | Cemetery/ Memorial |
Grave Ref. | Addl. Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frederick | Bulwer | 68 | 06/01/1941 | Cook | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 68 |
| Percy | Burrows | 50 | 06/01/1941 | Chief Engineer | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 50 |
| George | Chatwin | 62 | 06/01/1941 | Deck Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 62 |
| Albert Edward | Hammond | 48 | 06/01/1941 | Deck Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 48. Son of William and Emily Hammond. |
| Frederick | Harness | 43 | 06/01/1941 | Second Engineer | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 43. Husband of Annie Harness of Cleethorpes Lincolnshire. |
| Benjamin | Osborne | 56 | 06/01/1941 | Deck Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 56. Son of James F. and Eliza Osborne; husband of Jane Howe Osborne of Grimsby Lincolnshire. |
| Charles Henry | Roebuck | 50 | 06/01/1941 | Trimmer | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 50. Son of Henry Roebuck and of Catherine Roebuck of Bristol. |
Grenada
She was a 183 grt steam trawler that sank on 3 October 1945 at a position 30 miles South of the Old Head of Kinsale. There was just one survivor and it is believed that she was lost as a result of an explosion after bringing up a mine in her trawl.
Casualties
| Forenames | Surname & Honours | Age | D.O.D | Rank | Service | Country | Cemetery/ Memorial |
Grave Ref. | Addl. Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frederick | Bryan | 40 | 03/10/1945 | Mate | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 40. Son of William Henry and Martha Elizabeth Bryan; husband of Emily Bryan of Hull. |
| Walter Parkin | Harrison | 44 | 03/10/1945 | Boatswain | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 44 |
| Thomas | Hill | 25 | 30/10/1945 | Cook | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 25. Son of Fred and Ethel Hill; grandson of Mr. and Mrs. T. H. Langler of Hull. |
| Rene | Lusyne | 33 | 03/10/1945 | Third Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 33 |
| Sydney | Morgans | 51 | 03/10/1945 | Second Engineer | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 51. Son of John and Alice Morgans; husband of Martha Morgans of Marloes Pembrokeshire. |
| Charles Henry | Smith | 36 | 03/10/1945 | Chief Engineer | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 36. Son of John and Amy Smith of Haverford West Pembrokeshire; husband of Ivy Maud Smith of Milford Haven Pembrokeshire. |
| Maurice | Verhaeghe | 23 | 03/10/1945 | Deck Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 23 |
| Frederick | Wright | 53 | 03/10/1945 | Skipper | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 53 |
| Thomas | Young | 18 | 03/10/1945 | Deck Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 18 |
Greynight
She was a 96 grt steam trawler that was sunk on 2 June 1940 by aircraft bombing and gunfire at position 54° 40' N, 01° 30' E.
Casualties
| Forenames | Surname & Honours | Age | D.O.D | Rank | Service | Country | Cemetery/ Memorial |
Grave Ref. | Addl. Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| George | Smith | 52 | 02/06/1940 | Skipper | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 52 |
H. E. Stroud
She was a 214 grt steam trawler that was damaged on 26 May 1941 by aircraft bombing and gunfire at a position 10 miles from Lamb Head, Stromsay on a bearing of 135°.
Casualties
| Forenames | Surname & Honours | Age | D.O.D | Rank | Service | Country | Cemetery/ Memorial |
Grave Ref. | Addl. Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Spence | Henderson | 48 | 27/05/1941 | Cook | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 48 |
Helpmate
She was a 76 grt steam drifter that was sunk on 31 March 1941 off Newlyn in Cornwall. The cause of her loss is unknown.
There were no survivors
Casualties
| Forenames | Surname & Honours | Age | D.O.D | Rank | Service | Country | Cemetery/ Memorial |
Grave Ref. | Addl. Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Albert | Allen | 60 | 01/04/1941 | Younker | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 60. Husband of Edith Alice Allen of Cromer Norfolk. |
| Harry | Brooks | 52 | 01/04/1941 | Hawserman | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 52. Husband of Alice Maud Brooks of Great Yarmouth Norfolk. |
| Cecil John | Brown | 57 | 01/04/1941 | Mate | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 57. Husband of Ellen Sarah Elizabeth Brown of Caister-on-Sea Norfolk. |
| Henry Samuel | George | 59 | 01/04/1941 | Cook | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 59. Husband of Elsie Caroline George of Great Yarmouth Norfolk. |
| Leslie John | Leggett | 34 | 01/04/1941 | Skipper | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 34. Son of John and Rosa Leggett; husband of Hilda Eileen Leggett of Great Yarmouth Norfolk. |
| Jeffrey Lewis | Moll | 47 | 01/04/1941 | Younker | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 47. Son of Jeffrey and Mary Ann Moll; husband of Edith Anna Moll of Great Yarmouth Norfolk. |
| William | Shreeve, D S M and Bar | 54 | 01/04/1941 | Engineer | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 54. Son of Frederick and Naomi Shreeve; husband of Dora Alberta Shreeve of Fleggburgh Norfolk. |
| Charles Samuel | Smith | 56 | 01/04/1941 | Stoker | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 56. Son of George and Mary Ann Smith of Winterton Norfolk; husband of Emily Caroline Smith of Ormesby Norfolk. |
| Leonard Nathaniel | Sturman | 41 | 01/04/1941 | Netstower | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Gorleston Cemetery | Sec. U. Grave 311. | Age 41 |
| William Edward | Wacey | 57 | 01/04/1941 | Whalesman | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 125. | Age 57. Son of Edward and Thirza Wacey; husband of L. Wacey Great Ormesly Norfolk. |