BORN HULL 04/05/1869. WIFE ELIZABETH PINE LIVED 66 MIDDLE STREET, BRIXHAM, DEVON. NAVAL RECORDS ADDRESS.
HMT Sapper sank with all hands on a mine laid on December 24, 1917 by the German minelaying submarine UC-71. Per Admiralty records, the explosion was witnessed by both the Owers Light Vessel and the steamer Tewfikieh. Sapper though was posted as missing; the linking to UC 71’s minefield has become clear only in recent years. ref. used:www.uboat.net Allen Tony 26/06/2007 Armed trawler, sunk in 1917. Built in 1915. 276 tons Military Class Trawler. Powered by a triple expansion engine. Foundered off the Oers Light Vessel, English Channel. Read more at wrecksite: https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?79727
The trawler of 276 tons and built in 1915 at Smith’s Dock Company, Middlesbrough was lost with all 19 crew in the English Channel approximately 8 miles from the East Beach at Selsey, West Sussex. The cause of sinking is believed to be that the vessel struck a mine laid on December 24, 1917 by the German minelaying submarine UC 71, commandered by Ernst Steindorf (1891-1918) . According to Admiralty records, the explosion was witnessed by both the Owers Light Vessel and the steamer SS Tewfikieh. The wreck has been located by divers and is reported to be broken into three sections. The full list of the crew lost is: DRY, Tom, Engineman, RNR, ES 590 EVANS, John C, Able Seaman, RNCVR, VR 3626 FULCHER, Charles W, Deck Hand, RNR, DA 4284 HUGHES, Hugh, Trimmer, RNR, TS 5713 JONES, Henry, Lieutenant, RNR LACE, Thomas, Deck Hand, RNR, DA 10805 LARDNER, Joseph F, Deck Hand, RNR, DA 18165 LEGGETT, Alfred J, Able Seaman, RNVR, London Z 2062 LUCOCK, John J, Leading Seaman, C 3520 MOORE, Walter D, Deck Hand, RNR, DA 12107 O’NEILL, John O, Ordinary Telegraphist, RNVR, Mersey Z 3659 O’NEILL, Peter, Trimmer, RNR, ST 908 PINE, Thomas, 2nd Hand, RNR, SA 2038 SKINNER, William, Deck Hand, RNR, DA 16478 SUTTON, Thomas W, Ordinary Seaman, RNCVR, VR 3527 THOMSON, Charles, Ty/Skipper, RNR WARRELL, Frederick A, Telegraphist, RNVR, London Z 2577 WHINCUP, John W H, Engineman, RNR, ES 591 WILMOT, Alfred E, Deck Hand, RNR, DA 11029
