ELLIS, ALFRED DANIEL

Born 26/07/1894, Lincolnshire, baptized 24/08/1894 Clee, St John’s

Died 04/08/1940, age 46, Cromarty, Scotland

Buried 08/08/1940

Grave ref: Section AA, Grave G19

Skipper Lieutenant, Royal Naval Reserve, H.M. Trawler Marsona

Son of Alfred Henry Ellis and Letitia Norton, married 1893

Husband of Margaret Hartley, married in Grimsby in 1916

Father of Alfred Harry Ellis (b 1918)

1901 – living with parents at 19 Montague Street, Cleethorpes

Address: 220 Brereton Avenue, Cleethorpes

The Marsona was mined in the Moray Forth off Cromarty, with the loss of 12 crew men. Killed along with Alfred Ellis were:

 CORDINER, Thomas B, Engineman, RNR (PS), LT/X 10315 S, MPK

 DEAN, William J, Seaman, RNPS, LT/JX 193874, killed

 DELL, Thomas, Seaman, RNR (PS), LT/X 21103 A, killed

 LEWIS, Arthur, Act/Leading Seaman, RNR (PS), LT/X 19275 A, killed

 MAIR, William, 2nd Hand, RNPS, LT/JX 280080, MPK

 MALLIBAND, Frederick, Chief Engineman, RNR (PS), LT/332 EU, MPK

 NEWBY, Ernest M, Stoker 2c, RNPS, LT/KX 106016, MPK

 RITCHIE, John F, Seaman, RNPS, LT/JX 193967, MPK

 SHARPIN, Bernard, Seaman Steward, RNPS, LT/JX 174542, MPK

 THOMPSON, Thomas L, Ordinary Seaman, RNPS, LT/JX 160675, killed

 TREHEARNE, Ian S L, Sub Lieutenant, RNVR, MPK

http://www.fleetwood-trawlers.info/ gives detailed information about the history of the Marsona

S.T. Marsona FD21

Technical

Admiralty Number: 3715

Official Number: 143827

Yard Number: 306

Completed: 1918

Gross Tonnage: 276

Net Tonnage: 106

Length: 125.6 ft

Breadth: 23.5 ft

Depth: 13.5 ft

Engine: 87HP T.3-cyl by Hawthorn, Leslie & Co Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne

Built: J. P. Rennoldson & Sons Ltd, South Shields

History

14.1.1918: Launched by J. P. Rennoldson & Sons Ltd, South Shields (Yd.No.306) (“Castle” class) for The Admiralty as JAMES CHRISTOPHER (Ad.No.3715).

27.3.1918: Completed (Commissioned) (1 – 12pdr, hydrophone and W/T).

30.12.1919: Registered by The Admiralty as a fishing vessel at London (LO248).

1920: Sold to Skomer Steam Shipping Co Ltd, Cardiff (Lewis Bull, manager).

31.3.1920: In collision with NILE (M186) while manoeuvring in dock.

16.11.1923: Sold to Brand & Curzon Ltd, Milford Haven (Edward Brand & Charles Curzon, managers).

2.1929: Sold to J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood Geoffry Edwards Marr, manager).

22.2.1929: London registry closed.

26.2.1929: Registered at Fleetwood (FD21).

28.5.1929: Renamed MARSONA (FD21).

19.10.1933: Returned to Fleetwood from fishing grounds with badly damaged stem and bow plating reportedly due to striking submerged object.

30.8.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (P.No.FY.714) (Hire rate £82.16.0d/month).

6.1940: Based Invergordon with M/S Group 43 (Ch Sk. A . W. Ellis RNR).

4.8.1940: Off Cromarty tasked to sweep approach channel to Firth. At 0650 off Sutor Buoy, Cromarty Forth, received sweep wire for ‘M’ sweep from GEORGE COUSINS (LO66) (P.No. FY.627) (Ch Sk. E. J. Marshall RNR) and steaming ahead started to deploy magnets. At 0724 1/2 mile SSE of Whistle Buoy detonated a mine underneath and a second in the sweep; blew up. HM Drifter INDUSTRY (PD378) (P.No.FY.938 (Sub Lieut E. A. F. Weller RNR) proceeded to scene but found no survivors; five bodies recovered, seven crew members MPK.

14.12.1945: Fleetwood registry closed.