WWII mine explosion tragedy marked by sombre ceremonies
Saturday (April 11) was an emotional time for three families who made long journeys from across the country to gather in Bridlington and Grimsby to honour the 21 people who died on board the Yorkshire Belle and Othello.
85 years ago, on April 11, 1941, the two vessels were sunk in the river Humber with no survivors.
Requisitioned at the start of the Second World War, both vessels were sunk by a mine explosion.
Bridlington RNLI volunteers, local Sea Cadets of TS Pathfinder, the current crew of the second Yorkshire Belle, and other dignitaries also gathered at Bridlington Memorial Gardens to remember the tragedy.
A minute’s silence was observed in honour of those who never returned home.
Richard M Jones’ new book ‘Mined in the Humber’ tells the full story of the tragedy and highlights the people who were on board these ships taken up from civilian trade to serve their country.
The Yorkshire Belle was a Bridlington pleasure boat, only having been launched in 1938, and the Othello was a Grimsby trawler that had previously served in the First World War. Mr Jones said: “After a great turn out at Bridlington library to hear me talk about the book and give the history of the vessels, it was then on to the memorial garden to watch the relatives of Chief Petty Officer Ernest Edworthy and Acting Petty Officer Ernest Johnson lay wreathes at the Yorkshire Belle memorial as a minute’s silence was held.
“At the exact same time, the relatives of Assistant Cook Donald Blair were doing the same thing at the Grimsby dock memorial to the Othello.
“This anniversary saw a grand turn out. The services made people proud to know that those who died that day are not forgotten.”
Email [email protected] or go to www.facebook.com/shipwreck.data to buy the ‘Mined in the Humber’ book.