Just look at how many British Fishing Vessels were lost at sea due to enemy action in August 1914 ! the numbers dwindled a little for the rest of the year ... but this was the start of the war ! ... most of the crews were made prisoners .... TUBAL CAIN, trawler, 227grt, 7 August 1914, 50 miles WNW from Stalberg, Iceland, captured by Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse, sunk by gunfire MARNAY, trawler, 153grt, 22 August 1914, 85 miles E by N from Spurn, captured by torpedo boat, sunk by bomb, crew made prisoners CAPRICORNIS, trawler, 194grt, 22 August 1914, 85 miles E by N from Spurn, captured by torpedo boat, fate listed as not known, crew made prisoners SKIRBECK, 171grt, 22 August 1914, North Sea, captured by cruiser, sunk by gunfire, crew made prisoners WIGTOFT, 155grt, 22 August 1914, North Sea, captured by cruiser, sunk by gunfire, crew made prisoners WALRUS, 159grt, 22 August 1914, North Sea, captured by cruiser, sunk by gunfire, crew made prisoners FLAVIAN, 186grt, 22 August 1914, North Sea, captured by torpedo boat, fate listed as not known, crew made prisoners JULIAN, 185grt, 22 August 1914, North Sea, captured by torpedo boat, fate listed as not known, crew made prisoners INDIAN, 185grt, 22 August 1914, North Sea, captured by torpedo boat, fate listed as not known, crew made prisoners PEGASUS, 155grt, 24 August 1914, North Sea, captured by torpedo boat, fate listed as not known, 24th -26th, crew made prisoners CHAMELEON, 132grt, 24 August 1914, North Sea, captured by torpedo boat, fate listed as not known, 24th -26th, crew made prisoners RIDEO, 230grt, 24 August 1914, North Sea, captured by torpedo boat, fate listed as not known, 24th -26th, crew made prisoners ARGONAUT, 225grt, 24 August 1914, North Sea, captured by torpedo boat, fate listed as not known, 24th -26th, crew made prisoners LOBELIA, 147grt, 24 August 1914, North Sea, captured by torpedo boat, fate listed as not known, 24th -26th, crew made prisoners HARRIER, 208grt, 24 August 1914, North Sea, captured by torpedo boat, fate listed as not known, 24th -26th, crew made prisoners POLLUX, 182grt, 24 August 1914, North Sea, captured by torpedo boat, fate listed as not known, 24th -26th, crew made prisoners PORPOISE, 159grt, 25 August 1914, 70 miles ENE from Inner Dowsing LV, captured by torpedo boat, sunk by bomb, crew made prisoners LINDSEY, 144grt, 25 August 1914, 70 miles ENE from Inner Dowsing LV, captured by torpedo boat, sunk by bomb, crew made prisoners KESTEVEN, 150grt, 25 August 1914, 69 miles E by N from Inner Dowsing LV, captured by torpedo boat, sunk by bomb, crew made prisoners RHINE, 117grt, 25 August 1914, North Sea, captured by torpedo boat, fate listed as not known, crew made prisoners ZENOBIA, 152grt, 25 August 1914, North Sea, captured by torpedo boat, fate listed as not known, crew made prisoners VALIANT, 198grt, 25 August 1914, off Whitby, captured by torpedo boat, fate listed as not known, crew made prisoners MERSEY, 196grt, 25 August 1914, North Sea, captured by torpedo boat, fate listed as not known, crew made prisoners SETI, 169grt, 26 August 1914, North Sea, captured by torpedo boat, fate listed as not known, crew made prisoners ST CUTHBERT, 189grt, 24 August 1914, 70 miles ENE from Spurn, captured by torpedo boat, fate listed as not known, 24th-26th, crew made prisoners BARLEY RIG, 70grt, 27 August 1914, off Tyne, mined and sunk, 5 lives lost http://www.worldwar1atsea.net/WW1LossesBrFV1914-16.htm
Heres another list ... hope it helps somebody ! U.S. Merchant Ships, Sailing Vessels, and Fishing Craft Lost from all Causes during World War I http://www.usmm.org/ww1merchant.html
This huge loss of British fishermen and their boats can be put down to simple geography. It was a very dangerous place to fish in during WW1. The North Sea lies directly between Britain and Germany and was the main battleground for the British and German Fleets - ultimately resulting in Jutland...
Were they really fishing ?? ..... I suppose at that time ... they had no fear did they ? .... the war had just started - and they didn't realise the consequences ! ..... I found this about the Barley Rig .... families were on this boat .... but can't find the sailors on CWGC .... where would they were commemorated do you think ? The Buckie drifter, Barley Rig, was blown up after striking a German mine 35 miles off Blyth, Northumberland, five men lost their lives with four others being saved. Those who died were - Wm. Smith 'Jeam', 35 of 9 Seafield Street, Portessie, William Smith 'Jeam' his son of 15 of the same address, Samuel Smith 'Bodie' 37, 2 King Street, Ianstown, Charles Urquhart, Engineer, 13 Braeheads, Fraserburgh James Gray, Stoker, Aberdeen. Those saved were Alex Clark , 28, John Clark, 23 and the only married man, Peter Clark, 21 and David Clark, 19. http://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&q=...nktD6x&sig=AFQjCNGJ_mJchSMmUPiBcXKWhOgVIr1Y8w
