BORN HULL 1895. SON OF THE LATE FARGUS MEARS AND MARIA (WELBURN), 13 GERTRUDES TERRACE, ETON STREET, HULL. HE HAD SIX SISTERS AND A BROTHER CALLED FARGUS. EMPLOYED AS FISH WORKER. HE WAS SERVING AS A THIRD HAND ON THE PATROL BOAT, ‘EGRET’. THE SHIP WAS TORPEDOED WITHOUT WARNING, ON 01/06/1918, OFF SPURN POINT. ELEVEN CREW WERE LOST INCLUDING THE MASTER, ALL FROM HESSLE ROAD, KILLED ON THE SAME DAY..
HMT Egret. launch Date 30/09/1898; Originally a Hull registered trawler (H.21) and owned by Great Northern Steamship Fishing Co., Hull; Requisitioned by the Admiralty in 1918; Vessel torpedoed and sunk without warning, 2 miles E x N of Spurn Light vessel; 11 lives lost including the Master.
CREW LOST ON EGRET (H21), enemy action 2 miles E. x N. Humber Lt Vl, 1st June, 1918.
CROWE, E (41), 53 Glasgow St, Hull. Cook
FISHER, George (54), 3 Laura-grove, Tyne St, Hull. 2nd/Hand
FRANCIS, Septimus (23), 9 Granville-ave, West Dock St, Hull. Deckhand
McFEE, William (54), 75 Ena St, Boulevard, Hull. Skipper
MEARS, Alfred (22), 3 Fern-grove, Harrow St, Hull. 3rd/Hand
RIDSDILL, William (27), 6 Cedar-grove, Eastbourne St, Hull. Chief Engineer
ROBERTS, Clarence (21), 5 Louisa-ter, St. George’s Road, Hull. Trimmer
SANDERSON, William (60), 8 Naburn St, Hull. 2nd/Engineer
SMITH, William (43), 8 Langdale-crescent, Flinton St, Hull. Bosun
TUTCHER, John (50), 2 Chiltern-villas, Division Road, Hull. Sparehand
