G’Day from Australia,
I am doing my family tree and I have come across my Grandfather Henry George Foord who was lost at sea.
My father never spoke of his family and I have to put the peices together.
I have traced the Trawler Margaret to the Rye Bay incident in 1916 or 17. Her captains name was W.J.Foord.
I would appreciate it if someone could give me the named of the crew of the trawler as I think that my Grandfather was on the ship as well.
Any help would be greatfully appreciated.
Regards
John Foord
One response to “Rye Bay Trawler Incident”
This was 6 years ago, so maybe you have the answer but if not …
The details I have are:
Trawler Margaret Colebrook, 54 grt, 17 December 1916, Between Hastings and Dungeness, mined and sunk, 6 lives lost including Skipper Foord, William John, Son of William John Foord; husband of Elizabeth S. Foord, of 25, Mann St., Hastings. On 17th December 1916 the steam trawler “Margaret Colebrooke” was blown up by a mine just off the Sussex coast. Six of the seven crew died in the sinking, they were J. Foord (Master), George Thomas Boreham, William Eldridge, John Hilder, James Hilder and Alfred Martin. Thomas Henry Apps, serving onboard as an apprentice, survived. A memorial cross at Rye Cemetery records this disaster, and was financed and erected by the masters and crew of Margaret’s fellow steam trawlers “Kent Colebrooke” and “Alfred Colebrooke”. All of the deceased from this tragedy are also remembered on the War Memorial at Rye Church. At the central entrance to the upper part of Rye cemetery, there is a memorial to the crew of the Margaret, it was erected to their memory by the masters and crew of the steam trawlers Kent Colebrook and Alfred Colebrook, the vessel was owned by Alderman William E Colebrooke.
George Thomas (Sinbad) was a Master Mariner, the nickname obviously refers to “Sinbad” the sailor and sadly another to be claimed by the sea.
1901 Census Master of the fishing Boat Daisy (O.N. 75407) RX90 with 3 crew. Richard Harvey, Mate 24, Henry Swaine, 3rd Hand, aged 35 and James F Buley, aged 54, 4th hand. George Thomas owned 32 shares of the Daisy RX90 and George William (his father) the other 32 shares. The boat was built by James Collins Hoad in 1881 and the registry closed in 1910 when the boat was broken up. 1901 living at 22 South Undercliff Rye Sussex. George married Edith and they had five children. In 1909 they were living at Bartletts Buildings Rye.
On 17th December 1916, the steam trawler “Margaret Colebrooke” was blown up by a mine. Lost J. Foord (Master), George Thomas Boreham, William Eldridge, James Hilder, John Hilder and Alfred Martin. Thomas Apps serving as a boy survived. A memorial cross erected by the masters and crew of the steam trawlers “Kent Colebrooke” and “Alfred Colebrooke” now stands in Rye Cemetery. All the crew lost are remembered on the War memorial to all those who gave their lives in the Great War 1914 -1918 at Rye Church.
The family gravestone in Rye Cemetery reads-
“George Thomas Boreham, Beloved husband E.A. Boreham who died 17th.December 1916 aged 51, also Albert Charles, their son died 28th April 1916 aged 15 years, also Catherine Beatrice, their daughter and beloved wife of PC Betteridge, who died 15th. July 1945 aged 47 years. Also in loving memory of our dear mother Edith Annie Boreham who passed. away 22nd September 1954 aged 88 years”
The Alfred Colebrook was lost in WW2. September 9 1940 – Drifter Alfred Colebrook (56t, 1912), sunk as blockship, Richborough Channel, SE England.
The CWGC doesn’t list any H Foord lost at sea, so doesn’t appear he was a war related casualty