Robert Hart

A Third Hand with the trawler Willing Boys (Lowestoft), Robert died on 2nd October 1917 at the age of 40. 

Robert was born at Lowestoft in 1877, a son of Robert and Isabella Hart. In 1881 his family lived at Erskine Place, Factory Lane. In 1891 his parents lived at 26 Cathcart Street and by 1901 they were living at 18 Jacob's Street, and later at 1 Mill Cottages, Mill Road. 

 In 1891 Robert was 'under detention' at the Formidable Training Ship for Boys (Industrial School) at Portishead. In 1901 Robert was the Third Hand on the trawler Invincible, LT 281. 

On 13 June 1909 Robert married May Burley at Saint Margaret's Church, Lowestoft. Robert was a fisherman and they both lived at 4 Alma Street, Lowestoft. In 1911 their home was at 15 Clemence Street, Lowestoft. Robert and May separated in 1913 and later May lived at 15 Morton Road, Kirkley.  

During the First World War Robert continued in the fishing industry and he worked as the Third 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)

Robert's brother William died in 1947 in the loss of the trawler S.D.J., and his nephew, William Hart, died in 1942 while serving with the Royal Air Force.