Landing Party from HMS Illustrious at Scartho Hall 1915.

A large, original 1915 photo mounted on a stiff album page. On the rear are photos of a ship’s guns in action (possibly taken on the River Humber).

At the time of the First World War, Scartho Hall was owned by Captain Frederick Mortimer Barwick OBE. He served in the Royal Indian Marine, which later became the Royal Indian Navy, and did a considerable amount of exploration of the rivers of the subcontinent, including the Irrawaddy. He later held the post of Marine Superintendent of the Great Central Railway. He was also Port Master of Grimsby Docks. Captain Frederick Mortimer Barwick OBE died on 24th July 1954 at the age of 97.

HMS Illustrious was built at the Chatham Dockyard, Kent and was launched in 1896. She was a Majestic-class pre-dreadnought battleship. HMS Illustrious was based at Grimsby from December 1914 until November 1915 and served on guard ship duty during this period. HMS Illustrious was then converted to a disarmed harbour ship and from March 1916 she served at Grimsby in her new role until August 1916 when she transferred to Chatham. Two of the 12-inch guns from HMS Illustrious were re-used in the Tyne Turrets. The battleship was scrapped in 1920.

Scartho Hall is an impressive, two-storey manor house of 1860 built of grey brick with stone dressings. The hall is believed to have been home to the solicitor William H. Daubney and later to George Hercock a banana importer, amongst others. Later the hall became an annexe to the nearby hospital. It is now used for student accommodation.