11th February 1916

[Julian Dawson]

On this day 90 years ago H.M.S. Arethusa was mined off the east coast.

[ian turner]

Julian,

Bit late, but I remember a casualty from my (one time) local memorial at Burham in Kent - Petty Officer Stoker Leonard Sleeth. Believe the Arethusa was a Chatham ship, and not that old either? Didn't the mine-laying u-boat, believed responsible, itself become a victim of mines some time later?

Ian

[Julian Dawson]

Julian,

Bit late, but I remember a casualty from my (one time) local memorial at Burham in Kent - Petty Officer Stoker Leonard Sleeth. Believe the Arethusa was a Chatham ship, and not that old either? Didn't the mine-laying u-boat, believed responsible, itself become a victim of mines some time later?

Ian

The mine that sunk the Arethusa was laid by UC-7. This mine-laying submarine met its end on July 5th 1916, under the command of Lt Georg Haag. Officially it was mined off Zeebrugge, but it was also claimed to have been depth charged by HMMB Salmon a day later off Lowestoft!

[ian turner]

Julian,

Thanks

Ian

[Michael Lowrey]

UC 7 was definitely mined off Zeebrugge -- she was sighted by UB 12 while homebound west of the Bligh Bank, coming from the Noord Hinder LV area. The bodies of four of her crewmembers, including her commanding officer, were later recovered either at sea off the Belgian/Dutch coast or washed by on the Dutch coast.

The wreck of what is believed to be UC 7 has been located by Belgian divers as well.

Best wishes,

Michael