Hi All,
The Minesweeper Trawlers where at the Gallipoli Campaign to sweep the mine fields clear, which they did at huge cost. Only one out of 23 I think it was survived. Skipper at that time Alfred Edward Berry (not my g/dad) was awarded the first of his DSO's. He even helped in the evacuation. The mine were cleared OK but the Battleships ours and our allies went down the wrong Channel. And about 7 got hammered by the Turkish gunners and mines. The important thing here is there was no such thing as Combined Operations then.I'm sure if you get in touch with Roy Swales at the Fleet Air Arm Museum,
Yeovilton, Somerset, he will be only to pleased to help. Tjats were the firist foul up was made. The second was the troops were landed on the wrong beach. The Minesweeper Trawlers went almost every where. Chief Skipper A.E.B. was on the Dover Patrol when awarded his 2nd DSO.. The Trawler escorted about 5 - 10 Fishing Smacks. If a U-Boat had been spotted from land or sea in the Channel. They would drop their nets and try to catch or snag the U-boat and the Trawler would use her 4 Pounder to sink the sub. Unfortunately A.E.B. was mid Channel and 6 German Destroyers had come out of somewhere and sank the lot. A.E.B. managed to get his small lifeboat launched and saved some of his crew and some from the Fishing Smacks. he managed to get to France. He was wounded and won his 2nd DSO. I had all his CV's, Papers and he was lauded by the Admiral. I sent the papers all to the Hull Museum but am waiting to hear from them as they haven't done a lot of research. maybe its not fair to say that but I want to follow it up.Have you Googled Grimsby Trawlers WW1,also the other Trawler Ports. Hope this helps a bit more. Best Regards Ken Berry
