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It was a long, hard war for the Boston fishermen and their families. A number of steam trawlers sailing from Boston were sunk in the first month.

Crews that survived were captured and spent the whole war in prison camps. Among them was William Maltby; a deck hand on the S.T. Marnay. He was one of the lucky ones and was repatriated in 1918. More than 70 men were drowned. The North Sea is their grave. Divers have found a number of trawlers lying on the seabed.

A relief fund was organised in Boston and food parcels were provided for the prisoners of war (POWs). Boxes of food were sent to Ruhleben and Sennelager Camps. They included plum loaves, tins of tongue and OXO cubes. Letters home pleaded for a bit of tobacco or cigarettes.

Boston Dock was used for the repatriation of both German and British POWs.

The deep sea fishing industry collapsed in Boston between the wars. The trawlers moved away. Today, a small fleet of fishing boats is moored on the quay. Their catch is generally cockles and mussels.

Location: Port of Boston, Lincolnshire PE21 6BN
Image: Postcard of fishermen from Boston, Lincolnshire

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