I’ve run out of steam after putting four headstone photos on the Shared Tree. There are two or three leads to follow in the lives of the above people. I’ll catch up with them later – though that isn’t a promise.
Landscape 156 · Lebberston Cliff
Richard Haxby
‘Joan Margaret’
On this day in 1941, a German mine exploded in the Humber and sank the drifter Joan Margaret. Five Filey fishermen lost their lives and only Jimmy BRIGHT survived.
I wrote two posts about the tragedy for the old Looking at Filey and when I have tidied them up I will reprint them here. Heritage Gateway is worth a visit. The article suggests the fishing boat struck the mine but there is a different narrative. (Isn’t there always?)
The lost fishermen are remembered on family stones in St Oswald’s churchyard and at Tower Hill.
Mark of Man 87 · Reighton Sands Holiday Park
Birth, Marriage, Death, and Burial
Jenkinson, the last of the ten children born to Richard HAXBY and Hannah CAMMISH, arrived on this day, 1875. When he was 27, and four years married to Sarah Lizzie SCOTTER, he attended the wedding of older brother Robert and signed the register.
Robert was a 35-year-old bachelor when he married Eliza WATKINSON, (29, spinster). The couple would have three children, George William, born 1903, Richard (1905) and Elizabeth Watkinson (1907).
On the 23rd March 1911, Robert was drowned about eight miles north-east of Flamborough Head.
Though described in this report as a motor coble, I suspect Annie was perhaps a yawl – to have carried a small boat. In the Deaths at Sea Register (from whence the eight miles distance comes), Robert is listed as “2nd Hand”. I don’t know who the boy Cammish may have been and Captain Syd’s database doesn’t offer a likely candidate for Annie. It does, however, indicate that James DOUGLAS, born 1885, had taken ownership of Contest a week before this sad event. Perhaps the other Filey fisherman James, born 1860 and Sexton at St Oswald’s in his twilight years, was the owner named above.
The funeral of Robert’s son, Richard, lost from Joan Margaret (Tuesday’s post), took place on the 23rd March 1941. A small headstone also remembers his parents and William WATKINSON, an uncle I think.
In loving memory of RICHARD HAXBY, killed by enemy action, 20th March 1941, aged 36.
‘Love’s last gift’
Also of his parents, ROBERT, lost at sea, 23rd March 1911, aged 43.
ELIZA, died 29th July 1944, aged 72.
Also, WILLIAM WATKINSON, died 2nd Jan 1934, aged 85.
The loss of Robert is also recalled on a much grander stone.
The “Memory” to Robert on FST has the inscription.
Looking at Filey REDUX 