GRIMSBY TRAWLERS
WIGMORE
WIGMORE GY469
Built 1928 Cook,
Welton & Gemmell, Beverley
As the EMBASSY
For Letten Brothers.
In 1932 she was owned by F. C Grant
1933 Renamed WIGMORE.
1935 Acquired by the Clan Steam Fishing Company.
19th November 1939 Torpedoed and sunk by U-22
The second Grimsby trawler sunk in WWII.
The first was LYNX II
Grimsby Evening Telegraph Article
written by Steve Farrow
ON the 18th of November 1939, six Grimsby trawlers were
steaming in convoy off Rattray Head, North West Scotland, bound for the
Icelandic fishing grounds.
Ahead was the SARPEDON GY984, on the port side ANDANES
GY923, followed by SARONTA GY1082. To starboard was the CONSBORO GY244 followed
by WIGMORE GY469 with MURMANSK GY26 (ex-NIGHT WATCH) bringing up the rear.
The following report was written for the Admiralty by the
Convoy Officer, Reginald H W Jackson, Lieutenant RNVB on board the SARPEDON:
“At 11.20pm I was awakened by the third hand who told me
that there had been an explosion followed by a flash. In two minutes I was on
the bridge and saw that one of our convoy No 6 (WIGMORE) had been hit.
"The third hand was at the wheel. I ordered hard to
starboard from our course which was N by W ½ W Nil Northly. After this, the
skipper came up
"We were about one and a half miles away and saw
flashing lights in the water coming from lifebuoy lights. These we at once
headed for but could not see anything. We then circled round the convoy to the
position of No.6. In the meantime. No. 5 (SARONTA) had launched his lifeboat
and I would like to point out the great credit due to this skipper as, by this
time, only 12 minutes had elapsed since the accident.
"All that could he seen was the wreckage, that is to
say mattresses, drawers, wood and dead fish. We found out later that No. 5 had
picked up two lifebuoys belonging to No. 6.
"It is respectfully pointed out that during the voyage
the two ships No. 2 (CONSBORO) and No. 6 had maintained perfect station keeping
and that if, as I am sure, that was the case. No. 6 was in allotted station at
the time.The explosion was not from a mine or No. 2 would have been the unlucky
ship.
"From the position of the ships in the convoy, it
points to a direct case of torpedoing.
"Not being certain of the nature of the explosion I
sent no wireless message as per instruction No. 15.
"We remained stopped until daylight in the case of
mines being in the vicinity, and in the hope of gathering more evidence.
"All we were able to see. however, was dead fish and
pieces of wreckage.
The WIGMORE sank with all hands in about three minutes.
After a good look round the vicinity we proceeded to Wick to report to Naval
authorities.
"The position of the incident was approximately 57
degrees 59 minutes N, 2 degrees 11 minutes W."
Signed by Reginald H W Jackson
Lieutenant, RNVR
Convoy Officer
Signed by A. Donovan
Skipper S/T SARPEDON.
Until recently, the German submarine L'-18 had been
credited with the sinking of the Wigmore. but in-depth research by Roger
Griffiths and Jan-Olof Hending, found the true culprit to be U-22. Close
inspection of both Admiralty and U-Boat records leave no doubt as to this
conclusion.
At 23.06 on November is, 1939, U-22 fired two G7e torpedoes
at the second and third ships in the convoy and missed. Four minutes later the
U-boat fired another G7e at a ship and hit her. This vessel was the WIGMORE.
Sixteen crewmen perished in the WIGMORE, the second Grimsby
trawler to be lost in the Second World War (the first being the LYNX II on
October 28. 1939).
U-22 was lost with all hands some four months later. Such
is the irony of war.
Wigmore's crew
were ….
Skipper Walter Bore, 176 Welholme Road, Grimsby
Mate W H Lodge, 14 Tennyson Road, Cleethorpes
Third Hand J Foley, 43 Harrington Street, Cleethorpes
Chief Engineer F Moore, 123 Victor Street, Grimsby
Second engineer A Harwood, 107 Willingham Street, Grimsby
Cook E Winn, 25 Lovett Street, Cleethorpes
Trimmer G Germaney, 25 Tunnard Street, Grimsby
Trimmer EH Hewson. 70 Gilbey Road, Grimsby
Deckhand J Fisher, 151 Daubney Street, Cleethorpes
Deckhand H Dumbleton, 135 Castle Street, Grimsby
Deckhand F W Smythe, 186 Lord Street, Grimsby
Deckhand W Goodwin, 1 Ashtree Drive, Grimsby
Deckhand H Bromfield, 126 Park Street, Grimsby
Deckhand H Clayton, back of 22 Armstrong Street, Grimsby
Deckhand J Ottely, 27 Lawson Avenue, Grimsby
Wireless Operator R W Jackson, 371 Convamore Road, Grimsby.
Wigmore
Thanks to Steve Farrow
giving me permission to use
his fine painting of the WIGMORE
He has a website at
www.trawlerart.com
and he has posted his
paintings on
www.shipsnostalgia.com
Thanks to Steve Farrow and Roger Griffiths
Raymond Forward