THE search is on to find Grimsby's lost ships of the First World War.
A new project aiming to uncover the secrets of trawlers sunk during the conflict has been launched – and it needs your help.
The Lost Grimsby Ships Of World War One will see divers attempt to locate the wrecks of vessels sunk in the North Sea.
Meanwhile, on land, a team of researchers will try to find out what they can about the boats and the people that were on them.
The four-year project, which is being funded by a National Lottery grant of £78,600, will culminate in a large exhibition.
The project is being run by the Shipwrecks Of The River Humber Area diving group in partnership with community interest company Synergy.
The group is seeking volunteers to join them on the dives and also people to help research any items brought back to shore.
Kevin Smith, chairman of the group, said around 200 ships from Grimsby are believed to have been lost during the Great War.
Of these, 25 have been recorded as being sunk in this region – and within sailing distance of Grimsby.
He said: "We got a lottery grant back in 2005-08 to do general shipwrecks and with this year marking the centenary of the First World War, we thought it was about time somebody did something about the trawlers that were lost.
"There are about 25 that we know were sunk in this region but the problem is, we don't know the exact locations.
"It will be a case of going out there and ideally finding the bell. We'll also be looking for the brass nameplate.
"We have bought a new sonar which we will tow behind the boat and that will give us an indication of where the wrecks are.
"For each boat we want to find out where it was built, what it did in its life, where it sank and the crew that were on board."
Ian added that the group aimed to train an extra eight people to become divers over the course of the four years.
Claire Wollington, from Synergy, said the land-based volunteers would be researching the history of the vessels and the background of the crews in order to produce a booklet.
She added that as well as the end-of-project exhibition, there would be an annual display showing the work carried out to date.
Among those to attend the launch of the project at the Skills Centre in Freeman Street Market was 62-year-old Susan Watkin, of Cleethorpes.
Her great-grandfather Harry Conder was skipper of the Fittonia, a trawler which hit a mine about 25 miles from the coast of Donna Nook on September 2, 1914.
She said: "I knew a bit about him from what my mother told me and as I'm interested in family history I started to research to find out more.
"He was born in Manchester in 1866 and I don't know when he moved to Grimsby but he married here in 1890.
"They had been out fishing and were on their way back to Grimsby with their catch when they hit a mine."
Commenting on the project, she said: "Part of me thinks it would be nice to leave the ship undisturbed but it will be good to find out a bit more about the boat."
Anyone interested in volunteering on the project can contact Synergy on 01472 483141 or e-mail claire@synergygrimsby.co.uk
Follow us on Facebook and TwitterVIEW PICTURE GALLERIES www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/pictures
