Bertie Edward Hurren

A Deck Hand with H.M. Drifter Gleaner of the Sea, Bertie died on 26th of October 1916 at the age of 25. 

Bertie was born at Chediston, Suffolk, on 14 August 1891, a son of James and Anna Maria Hurren. In 1901 his family lived at Blackheath Cottages, Wenhaston. By 1911 his mother had died and his family lived near the Fox Inn, Willingham Saint Mary’s, Suffolk, and Bertie was a farm labourer. By 1915 they were living at Cliff Cottage, High Road, Kessingland.

Bertie 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)