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Mystery Falmouth WW1 mine-sweeper wreck site found Mystery Falmouth WW1 mine-sweeper wreck site found
(about 13 hours later)
Divers have found a trawler that sank with the loss of 11 men while mine-sweeping off Cornwall in World War One. After a two-year search, divers have found a trawler that sank with the loss of 11 men while mine-sweeping off Cornwall in World War One.
The St Ives hit a mine and sank in Falmouth Bay in December 1916 but the site of the wreck had been a mystery.The St Ives hit a mine and sank in Falmouth Bay in December 1916 but the site of the wreck had been a mystery.
Diver Mark Milburn and historian Dave Gibbins scoured original telegrams and old government records to find the wreck.Diver Mark Milburn and historian Dave Gibbins scoured original telegrams and old government records to find the wreck.
And after a two-year search they found the wreck about two miles south west of St Anthony. They found the wreck about two miles south west of St Anthony.
Decades of tides, corrosion, silt and marine life have taken their toll on the site but the sighting of a steam boiler confirmed the discovery.Decades of tides, corrosion, silt and marine life have taken their toll on the site but the sighting of a steam boiler confirmed the discovery.
Tell-tale holes indicated it was the same boiler used on the St Ives.Tell-tale holes indicated it was the same boiler used on the St Ives.
The wreckage was particularly hard to find because it was buried under the remains of another vessel.
The Caroni River was an oil tanker that struck a mine during World War Two, 24 years later, and covered the St Ives on the sea bed.
Mr Milburn said: "It's important to me because it's a lost wreck and 11 people died in the service of their country.Mr Milburn said: "It's important to me because it's a lost wreck and 11 people died in the service of their country.
"This is one of the last World War One wrecks that were undiscovered in Falmouth and it's nice to have that complete."This is one of the last World War One wrecks that were undiscovered in Falmouth and it's nice to have that complete.
"I'm so glad we found it at last.""I'm so glad we found it at last."
The men who died in the St Ives explosion included Royal Navy Volunteer Reserves Joseph Denton and Horace Farey.
Enginemen Robert Scott and Arthur Storey also died, along with Trimmer Cook Albert Prout.
German U-Boats had laid mines around Falmouth, which was a vital deep water port and in a strategic position for ships navigating Atlantic trade routes.German U-Boats had laid mines around Falmouth, which was a vital deep water port and in a strategic position for ships navigating Atlantic trade routes.
The St Ives was one of about 400 trawlers used as minesweepers because their crews knew local waters.The St Ives was one of about 400 trawlers used as minesweepers because their crews knew local waters.
The crew would throw out a rope in a highly dangerous operation to catch the moorings holding the mine to the sea floor.The crew would throw out a rope in a highly dangerous operation to catch the moorings holding the mine to the sea floor.
The mine would usually be triggered safely from a distance by rifle fire.The mine would usually be triggered safely from a distance by rifle fire.
You can see more on this story on BBC Inside Out in the South West at 19:30 GMT on BBC One on Monday 5 November or via iPlayer afterwards.You can see more on this story on BBC Inside Out in the South West at 19:30 GMT on BBC One on Monday 5 November or via iPlayer afterwards.