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It was about November 20th during the fore noon that an enemy seaplane was observed by the lookout on the Bull Fort to land on the water. Once to the south east of the fort and again on the north north east about one and a half miles from the fort, in what is known as Hawk Roads.
It was assumed that it was laying mines and this information was promulgated by general signal. After completing his mission the pilot flew up river towards Grimsby roads, then turned and flew out to sea. The plane passed over the Bull Fort, giving it a burst of small arms fire, wounding a Bombardier Durham. He was landed by our launch ‘Ferryman’ and conveyed to the base hospital.
On November, 24th at daylight the Brocklebank steamer ‘Mangalore’ sailed from Hull and proceeded to convoy anchorage and whilst preparing to anchor detonated a mine. She sank in a position west north west, one and a half miles from Spurn lighthouse.
The pilot cutter, W Massey, rescued most of the crew. The launch ‘Ferryman’ attended. All were landed at Grimsby. There were some minor casualties amongst her Asian crew.
From this time onward the enemy kept up their mine laying activities around the Humber estuary and in the river. On 28th December a large oil tanker the ‘San Delfino’ entered the river, bound for Hull. She anchored on the north side of the river, about two and a quarter miles north by west of Grimsby Tower. A few hours after anchoring she detonated a magnetic mine. She was, however, successfully beached on the sand and eventually salvaged and repaired.
My colleagues and I had established ourselves in Grimsby. The towns-people did all they could to entertain service personnel, especially over the Christmas season. Those of us who fate decreed that we should spend four years at the Naval Base learned to know many Grimsby and Cleethorpes families and appreciate their liberal hospitality.
The minesweeping force was increased considerably under the command of Captain Barnwell. R.N. In addition vessels did not detonate the magnetic mines, having a negligible magnetic field. Sweeping operations were intensified over the whole river from Hull right out to sea as far as the north/south convoy route.
The enemy persisted with their mine laying, many being dropped by parachute as were the land mines.
The next ship to succumb to a mine was the mine layer ‘Princes Victoria’, she sank in the entrance to the river on 18th May. At this time rumours were current that our troops would have to be evacuated from France and Belgium. This major undertaking was to take place from the beach at Dunkirk. Every available craft that could be spared from the bases round the coast were being briefed in readiness to sail to the scene of the evacuation at a given signal. This included a number of the Humber Patrol vessels.
Towards the end of May the small fleet of ships left Grimsby in single line ahead and as they passed out of the Royal Dock were given a rousting cheer of encouragement.
Lt. Holmes volunteered for general service and upon leaving the examination service was appointed to the Harwich patrol. There he commanded a yacht for about a year. His next appointment was Navigating Officer of the decoy ship ‘City of Durban’, a requisitioned Ellerman liner. His qualifications were those of a navigating specialist.
Sub. Lt. Shepherdson, a time expired Humber Pilot, apprentice joined our service in place of Lt. Holmes.
On 16th August the steamer ‘City of Birmingham’ detonated a mine and sank in the approached to the river in a position south east by east five and a half miles from Spurn lighthouse. She was deeply loaded with a valuable cargo which contained a large consignment of copper.
This remained on the bottom until after the war, when much of the copper was salvaged by deep sea divers.
The Admiralty now decided to put the examination vessels under the White Ensign and gave them service crews and armed them.
The accommodation was greatly increased by turning part of the fish hold into a mess deck and the aft part into officers’ quarters. They were made to comply with Admiralty specifications. Fitted with two Lewis Guns, one on each wing of the bridge and a very antiquated three pounder breach loading gun that had no recoil cylinders These guns had to be fitted onto a specially constructed umbrella mounting, so named because it resembled the frame of an open umbrella with a gun mounted on the apex.
The theory being that when the gun was fired the twelve radical steel strips would spring, thereby absorbing the shock of the recoil. If my memory serves me rightly, these guns bore the date 1880! They were for defence only. The gun platform was fitted aft above the gallery.
The ‘Arlett’ was the first to be commissioned and was commanded by Sub. Lt. Shepherdson, R.N.R.
The Pilot Cutters, ‘J. H. Fisher’ and ‘W. A. Massey’ were also fitted with Lowis guns for defensive purposes.
9th September two mine sweeping trawlers were blown up. ‘The Derwisher’ at the mouth of the river and the ‘Sea King’ as she approached Grimsby Roads.
The pilot cutter’ J. H. Fisher’ was in the vicinity when the ‘Sea King’ blew up. By promptly lowering her motor boat, manned by apprentices and a pilot, four lives were saved, including the commanding officer. A moderate south westerly gale was blowing at the time, which hampered the rescue operations.
On 12th September the merchant ship ‘Gothic’ of Hull was blown up by a mine in a position south east, three and a half miles from Spurn lighthouse. Another total loss. Again on 24th October, the London Trinity House tender ‘Reculver’ detonated a mine close to her. This did not disable her instantly. Though leaking badly, she managed to struggle about a mile and a half to Spurn. She sank close to Spurn Point. About this time it was discovered that the enemy were laying another kind of mine known as the acoustic.
Air raids in Hull had commenced in earnest and it was becoming a very dangerous place to reside. With this in view, I made a number of enquires for a furnished house to let. I obtained a nice spot in Cleethorpes, situated in a very pleasant part at the eastern extremity of the town, there I promptly settled in with my wife and daughter. We spent the 2nd Christmas of the war there.

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