FAAAEd Posted 18 May , 2006 Share Posted 18 May , 2006 This work by David Hepper has the potential to be a useful work of reference for those interested in such things. Don't be misled by the time period covered as a good three quarters of the book covers the period of interest to forum members. I have only just received this book but a glance through it has impressed so far. Most of the photographs I have not seen publsihed elsewhere which is another plus point. BTW I was convinced that I had selected the Book reviews section and didn't look at the forum path display area thus this has appeared elsewhere in the forum by mistake. I have an MS mouse which sometimes causes the pointer to move off target or stick. Sorry about that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
historydavid Posted 18 May , 2006 Share Posted 18 May , 2006 I am interested to know if the book details the circumstances of individual losses, and the minimum size of ship/boat included. Best wishes David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FAAAEd Posted 19 May , 2006 Author Share Posted 19 May , 2006 I am interested to know if the book details the circumstances of individual losses, and the minimum size of ship/boat included. Best wishes David Down to small vessels such as sloops, trawlers and small torpedo boats. The amount of information varies according to the size of the ship and amount of detail available but generally includes dimensions, tonnage, date and place of build, armament where applicable, commanders name, and that of the master if involved. The ships are organised by date of sinking/wreck/burning. If you would like you could give me a few ship names and I'll reply with the most important info'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevem Posted 19 May , 2006 Share Posted 19 May , 2006 Hello PetrolPigeon Please would see if there is any additional information on the trawler Kirkland. This is the information I have so far: KIRKLAND, trawler, lost 1917, August 20, British Isles. Thanks very much Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FAAAEd Posted 19 May , 2006 Author Share Posted 19 May , 2006 Hello PetrolPigeon Please would see if there is any additional information on the trawler Kirkland. This is the information I have so far: KIRKLAND, trawler, lost 1917, August 20, British Isles. Thanks very much Steve Kirkland, Admiralty Trawler No. 360, former London registered trawler hired in 1914. 224 tons, 120ft x 21½ft. Skipper Charles Arthur Garnish RNR. She was escorting the oiler Kremlin as part of a group from the Swarbacks Minn anchorage to the Shetlands when she struck a mine and sank whilst between the Ve Skerries and Papa Stour with only one survivor. The mine probably being laid by U.80. That's about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevem Posted 19 May , 2006 Share Posted 19 May , 2006 Thanks very much, the additional information is very interesting. Regards Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
historydavid Posted 19 May , 2006 Share Posted 19 May , 2006 Petrol. Thankyou for your kind offer of look-ups, but I have a large number of outstanding fishing boats as well as a few merchants, so I think it would be better if I aquired the book. Best wishes David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terence Munson Posted 20 May , 2006 Share Posted 20 May , 2006 Hello PetrolPigeon Please would you check if there is any additional information on the trawler ’Lindsey’ subject in this previous post: Can anyone help with additional information about Steam Trawler ’Lindsey’? I presume she was a victim of an enemy mine. I’ve been looking for a George Grant for a New Zealand researcher who requested help via my website. This one seems to fit although the date was thought to be late 1918 and a trawler sailing out of Grimsby: GRANT Initials: G Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Steward Regiment: Mercantile Marine Unit Text: Steam Trawler "Lindsey" (Boston) Age: 43 Date of Death: 10/09/1920 Additional information: Husband of Rose Grant, of Tooley St., Boston. Born at Grimsby. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Memorial: TOWER HILL MEMORIAL Any info. would be appreciated. Cheers: Terry A reply to this post gave the following info. on another trawler named ’Lindsey’, 144grt, 25 August 1914, 70 miles ENE from Inner Dowsing LV, captured by torpedo boat, sunk by bomb, crew made prisoners. Any extra info. on either would be appreciated - sounds like another must have book for my shelves! Cheers: Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FAAAEd Posted 20 May , 2006 Author Share Posted 20 May , 2006 Petrol. Thankyou for your kind offer of look-ups, I had not intended it to be a prolonged look-up request situation but to accept and respond on a few requests so as to test the completeness of the records within this book. but I have a large number of outstanding fishing boats as well as a few merchants, so I think it would be better if I aquired the book. Best wishes David A reasonable man. It would have been unfair on the author and publisher to carry out extensive look-ups on request and I am aware that doing so may incur the wrath of those interested parties. However I intend to let it run for a couple of days, depending on number of requests, but please do not provide me with long lists of vessels as this would be against the spirit of accepted conduct. IYSWIM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FAAAEd Posted 20 May , 2006 Author Share Posted 20 May , 2006 Hello PetrolPigeon Please would you check if there is any additional information on the trawler ’Lindsey’ subject in this previous post: A reply to this post gave the following info. on another trawler named ’Lindsey’, 144grt, 25 August 1914, 70 miles ENE from Inner Dowsing LV, captured by torpedo boat, sunk by bomb, crew made prisoners. Any extra info. on either would be appreciated - sounds like another must have book for my shelves! Cheers: Terry THere is no information on any trawler by this name. Presumably because the 1914 incident did not result in a sinking/wreck as such and the date of your man's death is outside of the range of the book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terence Munson Posted 20 May , 2006 Share Posted 20 May , 2006 THere is no information on any trawler by this name. Presumably because the 1914 incident did not result in a sinking/wreck as such and the date of your man's death is outside of the range of the book. Many thanks - With hindsight I realise your post was not in the documents lookup section. Cheers: Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
historydavid Posted 20 May , 2006 Share Posted 20 May , 2006 Terry, Amongst my post Armistice sinkings I have: 10th September 1920 Lindsey (Boston) StT. No cause given, but on another recent thread I believe a mine was said to be responsible. Best wishes David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terence Munson Posted 21 May , 2006 Share Posted 21 May , 2006 David Thanks for that - I thought there was a slim chance I might just find a scrap more about ’Lindsey’. Cheers: Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
historydavid Posted 23 May , 2006 Share Posted 23 May , 2006 Received my copy of the book today. Seems to be a very comprehensive coverage of Naval and Auxiliary casualties. Best wishes David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FAAAEd Posted 29 May , 2006 Author Share Posted 29 May , 2006 Received my copy of the book today. Seems to be a very comprehensive coverage of Naval and Auxiliary casualties. Best wishes David What strikes me is the large number of small vessels such as trawlers and drifters lost, crewed by largely unnoticed, let alone unsung, personnel. This book informs that naval losses, although never on the scale of those on the Western Front for example, were none-the-less severe and that the navy did a good job of protecting the troop ships to and from France and of blockading Germany - this latter of often under-appreciated significance - at considerable cost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
historydavid Posted 30 May , 2006 Share Posted 30 May , 2006 "What strikes me is the large number of small vessels such as trawlers and drifters lost, crewed by largely unnoticed, let alone unsung, personnel." The Admiralty used trawlers and drifters mainly as minesweepers, but also in a number of other roles, eg Q ships, merchant escorts, either singly or in convoy (eg the coal runs to France), manning blockades (eg Otranto). As far as I can recall, all the boats acting as minesweepers were sunk by mines. The crews must have had nerves of steel to carry on day after day, knowing that they were dicing with death. Best wishes David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Lowrey Posted 30 May , 2006 Share Posted 30 May , 2006 The Admiralty used trawlers and drifters mainly as minesweepers, but also in a number of other roles, eg Q ships, merchant escorts, either singly or in convoy (eg the coal runs to France), manning blockades (eg Otranto). As far as I can recall, all the boats acting as minesweepers were sunk by mines. The crews must have had nerves of steel to carry on day after day, knowing that they were dicing with death. Or to categorize it a bit differently, trawlers and drifters played a very important role in the U-boat war, engaging in ASW patrols (a lot of effort for little success), serving as convoy escorts, manning blockades (mainly intended to prevent German and Austrian submarines from getting to the open sea), and sweeping mines, most (but not all) of which were laid by U-boats. (About 10 percent of the tonnage sunk by submarine came through mines.) Best wishes, Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FAAAEd Posted 30 May , 2006 Author Share Posted 30 May , 2006 As far as I can recall, all the boats acting as minesweepers were sunk by mines. The crews must have had nerves of steel to carry on day after day, knowing that they were dicing with death. Best wishes David Indeed, and this is why I have brought this point up, a fact which which becomes un-missable whilst reading through this most informative and useful book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FAAAEd Posted 30 May , 2006 Author Share Posted 30 May , 2006 Or to categorize it a bit differently, trawlers and drifters played a very important role in the U-boat war, engaging in ASW patrols (a lot of effort for little success), serving as convoy escorts, manning blockades (mainly intended to prevent German and Austrian submarines from getting to the open sea), and sweeping mines, most (but not all) of which were laid by U-boats. (About 10 percent of the tonnage sunk by submarine came through mines.) Best wishes, Michael Absolutely, all part of the campaign to keep the sea lines open and help keep some lid on the ravages from the German mining sorties and help ensure the safety of trooping ships to and from the continent. The importance of their role is often overlooked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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