The sinking of the Ardrossan steam trawler Ethel Crawford sparked a three month search covering 1,000 square miles of the Clyde estuary in April 1945. The trawler had been fishing 5 miles south west of Ailsa Craig on the 20 April when she was blown in half by a German magnetic mine, killing all ten crew.
Less than a month later, Victory in Europe was declared on the 8 May 1945. Four days later U218 surrendered at Bergen in Norway, and during his de-brief Kapitanleutnant Rupprecht Stock reported that he had entered the Clyde on 18 April and laid a total of 15 magnetic mines. Following the loss of the trawler, crews aboard a fleet of minesweepers scoured the Clyde with minesweeping gear and accounted for a total of 12 of the mines. This new information meant they were 3 short, and sweeping continued, it is not clear if all were accounted for in 1945.
You can read about the loss of the Ethel Crawford by following this Link to Ethel Crawford. She lies in around 50 metres and is in two main sections. When I last dived this wreck, the stern section was intact and upright on the seabed from the bulkhead between fish hold and boiler room to the rudder. The break is clean, almost surgical, it was possible to see the boiler end on with ship hull either side and deck above. The hold area lies flattened before reaching the bow section, which has a fishing net draped over it.
Has anyone dived the Ethel Crawford recently, I would love to hear what condition the wreck is in. I must get back out and see for myself.
my Grandad was on the ethel crawford when it hit the mine my mum would have been 5 years old when he was killed
his name was Robert Ewing