Grimsby's Lost Ships of WW1

Grimsby's Lost Ships of WW1 aims to show the sacrifices that trawlermen from Grimsby made during the First World War. Trawlers from the town, along with other ports around the UK, were given the task of clearing mines laid by the German navy from around the coast of Britain. Grimsby alone lost over 300 trawlers.

Grimsby's Lost Ships of WW1 is investigating at least 30 of Grimsby's trawler fleet that were lost in the North Sea.

The project is training volunteers how to scuba dive and to become basic marine archaeologists with underwater cameras, and is producing a book and film about each boat to leave a record for future generations.

Many in Grimsby have ancestors who were on these boats. The wreck of the Alberta was discovered in the North Sea as part of the search. Among those who perished when the boat sank in 1916 was Percy Horn from Grimsby, aged just 26. Now his family plan to lay a wreath on the wreck. His great grandson Mark Richardson says the project has helped his family come to terms with what happened:

"It's brought some closure to my own dad, Dennis Robinson, who is now 80. He always thought the Alberta sank much closer to the Humber; he was amazed to discover it was so far out in the North Sea. I really appreciate what the divers are doing, the whole project is fantastic."