WW1 trawler sinking

[MeeToo]

My husband's great grandfather, William Gordon Ewing, resident of Aberdeen, died in August 1916 on HM trawler "John High". The vessel was on mine sweeping duties somewhere around the coast.  Has anyone any ideas where I would find information about the vessel and the incident.  I've checked back copies of Aberdeen Press & Journal, but can find no mention of it.

MeeToo

[Piglet01]

A quick Google brings up the following link   :O)

http://uboat.net/wwi/ships_hit/3179.html

Regards,   Steve   ...... 

and if you go to Google Books and enter John High sunk 1916 you get. 

" Ships of the Royal Navy‎ - Page 121
by J. J. Colledge - History - 1989 - 2 pages

JOHN HERD Dr 103/30. Hired on harbour service 194l-45. JOHN HIGH Tr 228/ Hired
1916. Sunk 7.8.16 by mine in the White Sea JOHN HIGHLAND Tr, 'Mersey' type. ...
Snippet view - About this book - Add to my shared library - More editions" 


You might be able to get the book from your local library?

?

[MeeToo]

Hi Steve

Many thanks for your prompt reply and link - brilliant!  Now to find out where exactly that is.

MeeToo

[walkerpete]

A few more details here

http://www.aberdeenships.com/single.asp?as_name=john+high&as_date_from=&as_date_to=&as_type=&as_const=&as_desc=&index=100427

[MeeToo]

Thanks too WalkerPete - I should have thought to look on that site - I've used it before - d'oh!!

MeeToo

[MeeToo]

I have just been given photograph of William that was printed in the Aberdeen War Memorial Supplement Supplement of the People's Journal 26th Sept 1925 from an ANESFHS acquaintance.  Fantastic! 

Does anyone know what a trimmer's job was?

MeeToo

[Piglet01]

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/hitch/gendocs/trades.html

The link above gives one interpretation.  Someone who re-arranges cargoes in ships holds.  Type old professions into your favourite search engine and up will come several sites

Regards,  Steve   :O)

[MeeToo]

Hi Steve

Thanks yet again for your assistance with this.  I did find somewhere (after I posted message) that a trimmer would supply the coal to the stokers/firemen, ensuring that the coal was used evenly from the hold.  Dirty job, but someone had to do it!

MeeToo

[ev]

CWGC has -
william gordon ewing royal naval reserve trimmer HM trawler
john high age 34 died 7th august 1916 service no. 5019TS
husband of margaret duncan(formerly ewing) of water lane aberdeen
memorial - portsmouth naval memorial

ev