Terence Munson Posted 25 May , 2007 Share Posted 25 May , 2007 S.T. Fitzroy Request for any information Hello again, I’ve had a request via my website for any information about the Grimsby trawler Fitzroy. and her Skipper David Newbury. All I can find is: From the N.E. Lincs. Archives: Ref. No. 208/5/60/375b Date 1913. Vessel Fitzroy; owner Wm Ellis; skipper H Rook, certificate 4764 From Boswell’s Lost List - 29 Nov 1915 S.T. Fitzroy (132 tons). Missing since 29.11.1915, probably mined. Any more information would be appreciated. Cheers Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Lowrey Posted 25 May , 2007 Share Posted 25 May , 2007 Terry, German cruisers laid several minefields in the North Sea in 1914 and 1915 that are known to have accounted for a number of fishing vessels. In addition, some vessels simply disappeared. Looks like you're dealing with one of the missing vessels. Unfortunately, documentation is scarce in these cases. For example, they often aren't even listed in British Vessels Lost at Sea 1914-18 or Lloyd's War Losses: The First World War (and that's the case with Fitzroy). As good as this forum is, you need a trawler specialist. There are several that frequent the warsailors forum that might be able to help: http://warsailors.com/forum/list.php?1 Best wishes, Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terence Munson Posted 26 May , 2007 Author Share Posted 26 May , 2007 Michael - Thank you for the warsailors link I'm sure it will prove to be useful. Since I posted my request I've had a minor breakthrough having found crew names on this former trawlerman's site: Sidewinder Lost Fishermen. GY 375 Fitzroy Missing since 29th Nov 1915 H. Newbury : J. Frost : H. Smith : G. Daykin : G. Bass : G. Topple : E. Hill : C. Stratton Eventually I found that the some of the crew's initials are wrong and the skipper's name was Newburry and listed on the CWGC site as follows: Name: NEWBURRY, DAVID COLLINSON Initials: D C Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Skipper Regiment/Service: Mercantile Marine Unit Text: "Fitzroy." Age: 38 Date of Death: 11/10/1915 Additional information: Husband of Florence Newburry, of 77, Barcroft St., Cleethorpes. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Memorial: TOWER HILL MEMORIAL So a different date and name spelling added to the test but getting there! Cheers Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
historydavid Posted 27 May , 2007 Share Posted 27 May , 2007 Hello Tony, there are 9 names listed on THM for the Fitzroy. DAYKIN A ARTHUR Deck Hand NEWBURRY D C DAVID COLLINSON Skipper HILL E EDWARD Trimmer SMITH E C ERNEST CARLISLE Chief Engineer MUSETH F FRANCIS Second Engineer BASS G GEORGE Deck Hand STRATTON G GEORGE Third Hand FROST J JAMES Mate MORRISON W WILLIAM Cook I notice that the dates vary widely. You have 29/11/15 and THM has 11/10/15. Normally, when a ship is untraced dates quoted differ because some quote the departure date and others the date when it became overdue. If that applied in this case it would mean a period of 48 days! Even if it was 7 days overdue before being reported it would indicate that the vessel was fishing an awful long way away. Best wishes David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spithead Posted 27 May , 2007 Share Posted 27 May , 2007 From the TIMES Thursday 25 th November 1915 The Grimsby trawler FITZROY has been given up as lost with her crew of nine hands. Nothing has been heard of her since October 11, when she was last seen by the Grimsby trawler NARBERTH CASTLE. So presumably CWGC have taken the date of the last sighting, and the later dates refer to the dates of the loss being published. Regards John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terence Munson Posted 27 May , 2007 Author Share Posted 27 May , 2007 David - Thanks for the list - It highlights another couple of errors in the sidewinder site's crew list. G. Topple was in fact a casualty of another Grimsby trawler 'Rosedale' reported mined 17 Oct 1915, six days after CWGC's date for Fitzroy. I will see if I can find any references to Fitzroy's loss in the local library archives on my next visit. Cheers Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terence Munson Posted 27 May , 2007 Author Share Posted 27 May , 2007 (edited) From the TIMES Thursday 25 th November 1915 The Grimsby trawler FITZROY has been given up as lost with her crew of nine hands. Nothing has been heard of her since October 11, when she was last seen by the Grimsby trawler NARBERTH CASTLE. So presumably CWGC have taken the date of the last sighting, and the later dates refer to the dates of the loss being published. Regards John John - Thanks for this - missed it earlier, think you posted while I was typing my previous post. I looked up 'Rosedale', Times has a similar time-scale for their report on 15th Nov 1915, of her loss and the CWGC dates it 17 Oct. 1915, and just to illustrate what an even more hazardous profession fishing was in the time of war, (if needed!) Boswell records 'Narberth Castle' Sunk by U-boat 30 miles NNW of Dennis Head on 6 Apr. 1917. Cheers Terry Edited 27 May , 2007 by TcM59 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
historydavid Posted 27 May , 2007 Share Posted 27 May , 2007 John, thanks for clearing up the apparent mystery. Best wishes David Terry, do you know where the Fitzroy was likely to have been fishing? (would guess North Sea). Best wishes David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now