Grimsby’s tribute to members of its seafaring community who risked their lives sweeping the seas for mines has been refurbished by custodians Associated British Ports.
The freestanding memorial for both world wars was erected in 2001 by members of the Royal Naval Patrol Service Veterans led by the late Tom Walkley and supported by Associated British Ports (ABP) who allowed the memorial to be sited on our land and supported its creation.
Simon Bird, Regional Director of the Humber ports said: “Due to its location the memorial suffers the ravages of the weather and it’s fitting that we keep it maintained as a tribute to all those who served and gave their lives. We’re delighted that it has been restored to its former glory.
“Grimsby was a major centre for the minesweeping crews, mainly fishermen who joined up as they had the local knowledge of the Estuary and the North Sea. They earnt the nickname Harry Tate’s Navy, which was jargon for something amateurish after an old music hall entertainer who played a clumsy comic. They were anything but amateurs and became well respected by the Navy for their courage and resourcefulness. This is a fitting tribute to those men.”
Dale Wells from the Turntable Gallery said: “The Turntable Gallery was delighted to be awarded the incredible opportunity to preserve the memorial to the memories of those valiant minesweepers who lost their lives, clearing the estuary and beyond, of enemy mines.
“As part of the gallery’s ongoing commitment to preserving out material heritage, and restoring the artifacts of our shared past, this project was one we relished. The task required sympathetic cleaning, re-establishing the worn lettering, and replacing the lost badges. The latter involving extensive research and contact with specialists in the field. These new ceramic pieces have been sourced from Italian artisans, and now adorn the central stone. “
“To restore this important monument and preserve its legacy for future generations to remember these heroes by, has felt incredibly poignant, considering the hardships people face to this day, in the channel. Working on repainting the lettering of the faded names, and learning a little of the lives they lived, and left behind, has made their stories incredibly immediate. The least we can do is ensure the record of their passing is preserved.”
Work on the memorial has included recolouring the letters and having three new replacement badges made for the centrepiece.
Grimsby was a minesweeper base in both world wars and in 1908 provided two trawlers to the Admiralty for minesweeping tests. The memorial is to the memory of the 2,385 men who during World War Two have no grave but the sea.
The original plaque dedicated in 1939 to those who swept the seas is located on the western side of the Dock Tower after a campaign by Dorothy Clapham, who wrote the Lavendar Column in the local newspaper. It was paid for by Grimsby businessmen Mr J Doig and Mr A Phillips.
