Fishing Vessels Lost in WW2 Recorded on the Memorial at Tower Hill: Sylvia to Westfield
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].
Sylvia
She was a 213 grt steam trawler that was sunk on 7 April 1941 by aircraft bombing at position 61° 27' N, 05° 48' W.
Casualties
| Forenames | Surname & Honours | Age | D.O.D | Rank | Service | Country | Cemetery/ Memorial |
Grave Ref. | Addl. Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walter Albert | Templeman | 31 | 07/04/1941 | Chief Engineer | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 31. Son of Charles and Martha Templeman; husband of Helen Elizabeth Templeman of Grimsby Lincolnshire. |
The Tetrarch
She was a 225 grt steam trawler that sank on 30 November 1941 following a collision with Koolga off 20T Buoy, Coquet Island.
Casualties
| Forenames | Surname & Honours | Age | D.O.D | Rank | Service | Country | Cemetery/ Memorial |
Grave Ref. | Addl. Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James | Carle | 43 | 30/11/1941 | First Engineman | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 43 |
| Edward Thomas Symonds | Love | 38 | 30/11/1941 | Trimmer | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 38. Adopted son of Emma Love of Grimsby Lincolnshire. |
| Thomas William | Norris | 43 | 30/11/1941 | Skipper | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 43. Son of Thomas and Jane Norris; husband of Mary E. Norris of Grimsby Lincolnshire. |
| Jack | Pearson | 35 | 30/11/1941 | Trimmer | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 35 |
| William | Rendall | 55 | 30/11/1941 | Second Engineman | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 55. Husband of Annie Rendall of Tetney Lincolnshire. |
| William | Revell, D S M and Bar | 43 | 30/11/1941 | Donkeyman | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 43. Husband of Emily Gertrude Revell of Grimsby Lincolnshire. |
| Frederick Ernest | Shulver | 46 | 30/11/1941 | Deck Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 46 |
| George Lancelot | Singleton | 34 | 30/11/1941 | Second Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 34 |
| George | Wareing | 40 | 30/11/1941 | Deck Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 40. Son of Thomas and Frances Elizabeth Wareing. |
Thomas Deas
She was a 276 grt steam trawler that sank on 16 February 1941 after at explosion believed to be caused by her hitting a mine at a position 4 miles from Spurn Point on a bearing of 273°.
There were no survivors
Casualties
| Forenames | Surname & Honours | Age | D.O.D | Rank | Service | Country | Cemetery/ Memorial |
Grave Ref. | Addl. Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Robert | Bush | 19 | 16/02/1941 | Deck Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 19 |
| George Robert | Dodson | 43 | 16/02/1941 | Third Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 43 |
| Thomas George | Hudson | 48 | 16/02/1941 | Chief Engineer | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 48 |
| Thomas | Madden | 36 | 16/02/1941 | Cook | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 36 |
| Richard | Neill | 39 | 16/02/1941 | Second Engineer | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 39. Son of James and Martha Neill; husband of Mary Neill of Fleetwood Lancashire. |
| William Gordon | Phillips | 40 | 16/02/1941 | Fireman and Trimmer | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 40 |
| Charles Henry | Powdrell | 57 | 16/02/1941 | Deck Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 57 |
| Harold | Powdrell | 51 | 16/02/1941 | Deck Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 51. Son of John and Dinah Powdrell; husband of Rose Emma Powdrell of Hull. |
| Thomas Patrick | Power | 41 | 16/02/1941 | Fireman and Trimmer | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 41. Son of Thomas and Mary Power; husband of E. Rewa Power of Tramore Co. Waterford Irish Republic. |
| John Henry | Raywell | 25 | 16/02/1941 | Second Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 25. Son of Joseph and Eliza E. Raywell; husband of Clara Raywell of Hull. |
| Walter | Scott | 44 | 16/02/1941 | Skipper | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 44. Son of Walter and Lilly Scott; husband of Jinnie Scott of Fleetwood Lancashire. |
| Walter | Semper | 29 | 16/02/1941 | Deck Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 29 |
| Robert | Wilson | 23 | 16/02/1941 | Deck Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 23. Son of Edward and Maud Wilson. |
Thrive
She was a Buckie steam drifter of unknown size that sank on 19 February 1946.
The following account of her less is described in the following extracts from The Glasgow Herald [86] of 20 February 1946 entitled "Two Perish when explosion wrecks Scots fishing boat".
Clinging to the mast of their wrecked yawl, three survivors of the crew of the seine-net fishing boat, Thrive, of Cockenzie, were rescued from the sea, 12 miles East of Bass Rock yesterday, after their vessel had been blown up by what is believed to have been a depth charge or mine. Two of the crew have been lost and the body of one has not yet been recovered. The Thrive, a 34ft yawl left harbour around 4.a.m yesterday for the fishing grounds and was operating twelve miles east of the Bass Rock.
About midday, the crew drew in their seine net and found a grey cylinder in the net.They hurried to release the net, but before they accomplished that, there was an explosion that blew in the bow of the yawl. Water poured in from the f'cst'sl into the hold. There was no hope of stemming the inrush and the crew immediately lowered the mast flush with the deck. As the Thrive sank they went down with her.
Almost 500 yards away, the crew of a St Monance fishing boat, the Girl Christian skippered by Thomas Gerrard, heard the explosion and saw the Thrive sink. They hastened to the spot and were in time to pick up the skipper, his son and Thomas Thomson who had come to the surface and succeeded in grasping the mast of the Thrive to keep themselves afloat.
The body of James Thomson was recovered but although the St Monance vessel cruised around for some time, the crew saw no trace of the body of William Ross Jnr.
The survivors suffering from exposure and shock, were taken to St Monance by their rescuers. Last night, they returned by train from St Monance to Edinburgh where friends met them and took them to their homes.
Casualties
| Forenames | Surname & Honours | Age | D.O.D | Rank | Service | Country | Cemetery/ Memorial |
Grave Ref. | Addl. Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| William | Ross | 32 | 19/02/1946 | Mate | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 32 |
| James Robert | Thomson | 57 | 19/02/1946 | Deck Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Prestonpans New Cemetery | Sec. B. Grave 98. | Age 57. Husband of Isabella Thomson of Cockenzie. |
Togimo
She was a 290 grt steam trawler that was sunk on 11 February 1940 by gunfire from German submarine U-37 at position 50° 40' N, 11° 02' W.
Casualties
| Forenames | Surname & Honours | Age | D.O.D | Rank | Service | Country | Cemetery/ Memorial |
Grave Ref. | Addl. Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John | Rice | 18 | 11/02/1940 | Fireman | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 18. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Rice of Monasterevan Co. Kildare Irish Republic. |
Trinity N. B.
She was a 203 grt steam trawler that was sunk on 17 December 1939 by aircraft bombing at position 57° 50' N, 01° 30' W.
Casualties
| Forenames | Surname & Honours | Age | D.O.D | Rank | Service | Country | Cemetery/ Memorial |
Grave Ref. | Addl. Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Scrymgeour | Murray | 48 | 18/12/1939 | Fireman | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 48. Husband of Mary Dunbar Murray of Edinburgh. |
| Robert | Wright | 58 | 18/12/1939 | Cook | Merchant Navy | Norway | Egersund (Or Ekersund) Churchyard | A. 2. 25. | Age 58 |
Trust
I have been unable to identify this ship but she appears to have been a trawler that was requisitioned for anti-submarine duties. According to the CWGC database, the Date of Death those named on the memorial was 26 March 1942 but I have not been able to discover any further information to date.
Casualties
| Forenames | Surname & Honours | Age | D.O.D | Rank | Service | Country | Cemetery/ Memorial |
Grave Ref. | Addl. Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John | Duthie | 45 | 26/03/1942 | Skipper | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 45. Husband of Elspet Jane Duthie of Peterhead Aberdeenshire. |
| William | Duthie | 38 | 26/03/1942 | Deck Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 38. Son of John and Helen Duthie; husband of Margaret F. Duthie of Peterhead Aberdeenshire. |
| John | Hepburn | 42 | 26/03/1943 | Deck Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 42. Husband of Sarah N. Hepburn of Peterhead Aberdeenshire. |
| John | Thain | 51 | 26/03/1942 | Engineer | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 51. Husband of Mary Ann Brand Thain of Peterhead Aberdeenshire. |
Volante
She was a 255 grt steam trawler that was sunk on 12 July 1940 by aircraft bombing at a position 10 miles East of Hvalbam, Iceland.
Casualties
| Forenames | Surname & Honours | Age | D.O.D | Rank | Service | Country | Cemetery/ Memorial |
Grave Ref. | Addl. Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alfred George | Coulam | 40 | 12/07/1940 | Skipper | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 40. Husband of Minnie Coulam of Grimsby Lincolnshire. |
Wellvale
She was a 275 grt steam trawler that was lost at or about 16 September 1939 off Mull. The cause of her loss is not known but there have been unconfirmed suggestions that she was sunk by German submarine U-30.
There were no survivors
Casualties
| Forenames | Surname & Honours | Age | D.O.D | Rank | Service | Country | Cemetery/ Memorial |
Grave Ref. | Addl. Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richard | Barcock | 31 | 16/09/1939 | Deck Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 31. Son of George and Ellen Barcock; husband of Jane Barcock of Fleetwood Lancashire. |
| James William | Eastham | 51 | 16/09/1939 | Chief Engineer | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 51. Husband of Annora Eastham of Fleetwood Lancashire. |
| Magnus James | Gordon | 26 | 16/09/1939 | Deck Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 26. Husband of Mary A. Gordon of Fleetwood Lancashire. |
| Thomas William | Grayson | 25 | 16/09/1939 | Fireman and Trimmer | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 25. Son of Elias and Elizabeth Grayson; husband of Nellie Grayson of Chorlton-cum-Hardy Manchester. |
| George G. | Grimley | 29 | 16/09/1939 | Second Engineer | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 29. Husband of N. Grimley of Layton Lancashire. |
| Robert Reginald | Gunn | 46 | 16/09/1939 | Deck Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 46. Husband of Margaret D. Gunn of Ligoniel Co. Antrim Northern Ireland. |
| Hugh | Parker | 63 | 16/09/1939 | Cook | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 63 |
| Frederick William | Slapp | 55 | 16/09/1939 | Skipper | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 55 |
| Patrick | Speariett | 20 | 16/09/1939 | Fireman and Trimmer | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 20. Son of Mr. and Mrs. James Speariett of Preston Lancashire. |
| George Redvers | Townsend | 38 | 16/09/1939 | Second Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 38 |
| Lawrence Patrick | Turner | 19 | 16/09/1939 | Deck Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 19 |
| Walter | Wright | 21 | 16/09/1939 | Third Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 21. Son of Fred and Myra Wright; adopted son of Thomas and Margaret Ann Brunt of Fleetwood Lancashire. His foster-father also fell. |
Westfield
She was a 140 grt steam trawler that went missing on 6 July 1941 and is assumed to have been sunk by aircraft at a position off St.Govan's Head.
There were no survivors
Casualties
| Forenames | Surname & Honours | Age | D.O.D | Rank | Service | Country | Cemetery/ Memorial |
Grave Ref. | Addl. Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| William | Dainty | 60 | 06/07/1941 | Cook | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 60 |
| William | Flowers | 52 | 06/07/1941 | Deck Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 52. Husband of L. D. Flowers of Oulton Broad Lowestoft Suffolk. |
| Bertie Edward | Hunt | 46 | 06/07/1941 | Mate | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 46. Son of Ephraim and Elizabeth Hunt; nephew of Violet Kathleen Hunt of Lowestoft Suffolk. |
| Martin | Kennedy | 52 | 06/07/1941 | Trimmer | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 52 |
| John Warford | Rushmore | 42 | 06/07/1941 | Boatswain | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 42. Son of Frederick and Elizebeth Rushmore; husband of Ruby A. Rushmore of Lowestoft Suffolk. |
| Percival James | Sandford | 46 | 06/07/1941 | Chief Engineer | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 46. Husband of E. H. Sandford of Milford Haven Pembrokeshire. |
| Thomas | Stephens | 06/07/1941 | Skipper | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | ||
| Benjamin Robert | Tobutt | 37 | 06/07/1941 | Deck Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 37. Son of Benjamin and Alice Tobutt of Hakin Milford Haven Pembrokeshire. |
| Stanley George | Watkins | 18 | 06/07/1941 | Deck Hand | Fishing Fleet | United Kingdom | Tower Hill Memorial | Panel 129. | Age 18. Son of Thomas Bertie Lloyd Watkins and Florence Martha Watkins of Milford Haven Pembrokeshire. |