NIXON, WILLIAM HENRY

Born 1917 in Grimsby

Died 01/06/1940, age 22

Buried 06/06/1940

Deck Hand, Fishing Fleet, Steam Trawler Slasher (GY1167)

Son of Joseph Nixon and Dorothy Gaiger, married Grimsby in 1914

Brother of Nora (b 1915) and Lucy (b 1920)

Address at time of death: 7 Ward Street, Cleethorpes

The Slasher, a steam trawler, was bombed and sunk by the Luftwaffe, with William Nixon the only fatality. The trawler was lost 70 miles NE, one half mile east of the Spurn light vessel.

William Henry Nixon was mentioned in a report in the Hull Daily Mail on 05/06/1940:

“GRIMSBY FISHERMEN KILLED

GERMAN ATTACKS ON TRAWLERS

Two fishermen have been killed and 10 wounded in attacks by Nazi airmen on Grimsby trawlers in the North Sea.

The men killed are Skipper George Smith of the trawler Greynight, and a deckhand, William Henry Nixon, 22, of another trawler. Four of the Greynight’s crew – Allen Smith, brother of the skipper, George Earle, James Cooke and Fred Bligh – are in hospital wounded, as also are Skipper J. Hayes, J.T. Jennings, S. Cunningham, and A.D. Thompson.

Other injured men are H. Griffin and Charles Knight of other Grimsby trawlers.”

 Grave ref: Section AA, Grave F18 (also has a second gravestone)