‘Recto’ GY.16 off to the fishing grounds by Shaw c1910.

An original photographic postcard by the photographer Harry Shaw of Grant Thorold Studio, 54 Durban Road Grimsby.

‘Recto’ Gy.16 was a steam trawler built in 1904 by Cook, Welton & Gemmell of Beverley for George F. Sleight of Grimsby. Sir George Frederick Sleight gave all of his many trawlers names beginning with ‘R’ and ending in ‘O’.

In April 1917, ‘Recto’ was captured by a U-boat and sunk by time bombs 45 miles north east of Kinnaird Head.

The postcard was posted in Grimsby by D. K. on 17th January 1910. The recipient was Miss F. Kelly, 31 Tune Street, Barnsley. The message reads, “Dear F, Thanks for Post Card sorry I have not sent one before but we have been very busy. I hope you have had a good time this Xmas. I have not got over it yet. How are getting on at your place with the Election. Ours was yesterday. With kind regards from D. K. (or D. H.)”

Note: The wife of Harry Shaw, Florence Maud Shaw of 13 Wentworth Road Grimsby, died in 1951. To date, we have not been able to trace Harry after 1911. Did he die in WW1? Their daughter, Phyllis Shaw who died in 1976, is buried with her mother in Scartho Road Cemetery. Florence and Phyllis were living with Phyllis’ sister, Myra Woods, and husband in Grimsby in 1939.

Research by Grimsby & Cleethorpes Museum.