Ernest Herbert Westoby

A Deck Hand with H.M. Drifter Gleaner of the Sea, Ernest died on 26th of October 1916 at the age of 27.

Ernest was born at Dunwich on 23 June 1889, a son of Joseph and Sarah Westoby. In 1891 his family lived at Coast Guard Buildings, Kessingland. By 1901 Ernest’s mother had died and he lived with his father at Beach Road, Kessingland. In 1911 they lived at 2 Church Road, Kessingland, and Ernest was a drifter fisherman. 

Ernest was enrolled in the Royal Naval Reserve on 11th January 1915 and he served on board the Drifter 'Gleaner of the Sea'. In 1915 the 'Gleaner of the Sea' was part of the Dover Patrol and the crew had the task of tending the anti-submarine nets. On 24th April 1916 a German submarine, the U-13, became tangled in the drifter's anchor chain. The Skipper, Robert Hurren, attacked the submarine with a 'lance bomb' which exploded and damaged the submarine which was subsequently sunk. 

On the night of 26-27 October 1916 the Gleaner of the Sea, along with several other Lowestoft trawlers in the Dover Patrol, was attacked by German destroyers and sank with the loss of all hands. 

For details of the attack on the Dover Barrage see: The German attack on the 'Dover Barrage' 26th/27th October 1916 (sussexhistoryforum.co.uk)