Lost trawlermen honoured by families who ‘will never forget’ their sacrifice

The Lady Jeanette was preparing to anchor off St Andrew’s Quay, in March 1939, when her cable parted and the vessel was swept onto a sandbank and overturned.

Albert Malton and Sheila Glew were at yesterday’s annual Lost Trawlermen’s Day service to lay a wreath in memory of their uncle Thomas Smith and the other lost crew. The service commemorates the estimated 6,000 fishermen who died sailing out of the Hull since the mid 19th century.

Mr Malton, 72, who spent 20 years fishing, was born after the tragedy. He said: “She turned over half a mile from where we are today. We all used to do the same procedure at sea. It’s like a car on ice, you just go like a sledge.”

Mr Smith, a strong swimmer, got hold of a lifebelt and was making his way to shore when he saw a young galley boy in trouble. Mr Malton said: “He threw his lifebelt and the galley boy got saved. My uncle hit his head on the jetty beams. They found his body at Paull; he was a hero.”

The service, attended by about 350 people, included prayers, readings and hymns. The Rev Tony Cotson told them: “The years may pass, the memories may dim, but we will never forget them.”