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Few people will have heard of the submarine base which existed on Teesside during WW1. It was taken down soon after the conflict ended. The vessels nearly had an early demise, not because of the Germans, but due to a barge coming loose on the Tees in a storm. An officer鈥檚 account at the time describes nearly freezing to death in an attempt to stop the submarines being smashed.

Life on board submarines during the war was incredibly difficult in what was a very new technology. One submariner from Stockton describes not being able to wash for weeks on end, sleeping on cold floors and the crew having to share a tiny oven. They were, however, better paid than other staff in the Navy, which caused some tensions.

Location: Tees Dock, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire TS6 6UD
Report presented by Jonathan Swingler