Arthur William Dyke

A Deck Hand with H.M. Drifter Gleaner of the Sea. Arthur died on 26th of October 1916 at the age of 19.

Arthur was born at Lowestoft on 27 January 1897, a son of Abraham and Ellen Jane Dyke of 19 Lorne Road, Lowestoft.

Arthur joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 27 January 1915 and all of his service was with the 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. 

The 'Gleaner of the Sea' was sunk during the night of 26/27 October 1916. Arthur was initially reported missing believed killed and subsequently it was concluded that he had been killed in action when the 'Gleaner of the Sea' was sunk.  

The Gleaner of the Sea was one of a number of Lowestoft trawlers, in the Dover Patrol, that were attacked by German destroyers during the night of 26-27 October 1916. The Gleaner of the Sea was lost with 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)