The famous, mysterious voyage of the ‘Girl Pat’ GY.176; an Illustrated London News photo 1936.

An original page from the Illustrated London News dated Saturday, 11th July 1936.

The story of ‘Girl Pat’ GY.176 is a remarkable one. Built at Oulton Broad in 1935, ‘Girl Pat’ was the property of the Marstrand Fishing Company of Grimsby. On 2nd April 1936, instead of heading for her usual fishing grounds, the skipper and a crew of three headed south and eventually reached Georgetown, Guyana before skipper George “Dod” Osborne and brother James were detained and arrested. No charges were made against the two other members of the crew.

The story of of the theft of the trawler and its transatlantic crossing become an international media sensation. The Osbornes became celebrities even though they ended up behind bars.

‘Girl Pat’ was brought back to England in 1937 and became a tourist attraction until 1939. In September 1939, she was requisitioned by the Admiralty for naval use. She survived the war. What happened to her then?

Here, the Illustrated London News illustrates the arrival of ‘Girl Pat’ in Georgetown harbour, British Guyana after she was arrested by the British Guyana Government’s coastal motor-vessel, ‘Pomeroon’.

The accompanying report states that the ‘Girl Pat’ had left Grimsby on 2nd April 1936 for the North Sea fishing grounds but instead began a mysterious 5,000 mile mystery voyage during which she was sighted at various places. This aroused worldwide curiosity. The ‘master’ and his brother were remanded in custody in British Guyana until they could be taken to London and committed for trial at the Old Bailey.

Note: ‘Girl Pat’ was damaged, as shown, whist being chased by her captor the ‘Pomeroon’.