Robert Edgeley

A Fourth Hand with Trawler Willing Boys (Lowestoft), Robert died on 2nd of October 1917 at the age of 17. 

Robert was born at Pakefield in on 27 January 1900, a son of Robert and Alice Edgeley. In 1901 his family lived at 27 Saint George’s Road, Kirkley. Robert was baptised at Saint Peter’s Church, Kirkley, on 12 March 1902. By 1911 his family were living at 25 Saint George’s Road.

During the First World War Robert worked as the Fourth Hand on the trawler Willing Boys, LT 67.

On 2 October 1917 the Willing Boys was fishing near Smith’s Knoll Spar Buoy, bearing south, east.  About 4.10 a.m. the Skipper of the Gold Seal saw the Willing Boys about half a mile away. He knew it was the Willing Boys because of the trawler's fore topsail and his mizzen topsail which is a peculiar shape.
At 6.30 a.m. there was suddenly a heavy explosion. By this time the Willing Boys was about a mile away from the Golden Seal. The stern had been blown off the Willing Boys, by a mine, and the trawler was sinking by the stern. The trawler disappeared almost at once with the loss of her crew of five. Other trawlers were not able to help because they could not reach the Willing Boys because of the lack of wind.

See: World War One – History of Lowestoft's Fishing Industry (wordpress.com)