Skipper Ives of Grimsby at Brandenburg P.O.W. Camp, Germany 1917-1918.

An original photographic postcard by Friedrich Schroeder, photographer, Brandenburg a. H.

The Province of Brandenburg surrounds Berlin. In the town of Brandenburg an der Havel was a camp for Naval and Merchant Marine personnel.

John Abraham Ives was born in New Clee, Grimsby in 1879. He was the son of Nathaniel Ives, a fisherman born in the City of London and Maria Apter Ives, née Christian, born in York. Nathaniel and Maria married in Grimsby in 1875. The family lived at 192 Victor Street, Grimsby (1881) and at 72 Weelsby Street, Grimsby (1891). Nathaniel died in 1891 and is buried at Cleethorpes. Maria became a shirtmaker (1901) and lived at 192 Victor Street and 186 Victor Street (1941). Maria died in 1941, aged 87, and is buried in Scartho Road Cemetery. John Abraham Ives had a number of siblings.

John Abraham Ives was a fisherman living with his mother and siblings in 1901. John Abraham Ives married Rose Hipkin from Skegness in 1903. They lived at 85 Legsby Avenue. They had three sons, John/Jack (1904), George (1906) and Harry (1908). John Abraham Ives was a skipper in 1911.

*** John Abraham Ives was the skipper of ‘Alexandra’ GY.60. ‘Alexandra’ was captured and sunk by time bombs on 28th January 1917 by the German submarine UC-31 (Otto von Schrader), 60 miles East of Longstone Lighthouse, Farne Islands. Skipper Ives was taken prisoner and sent to Brandenburg and der Havel camp. ***

John Abraham Ives was skipper of ‘Balmoral’ GY.1001 in 1921. John Abraham Ives still had a Fisherman Skipper’s (“Stripper’s”) Ticket in 1939. John Abraham Ives died in 1948. Rose died in 1952. Their home was still 85 Legsby Avenue. The couple are buried in Scartho Road Cemetery.

Note: John Ives became a medical practitioner.

Research by Grimsby & Cleethorpes Museum.