麻豆社

In 1917, Newquay lad Campbell Docking witnessed an explosive skirmish between a German U-boat and an allied convoy. Campbell, who was just 12-years-old at the time, had been pulling crab pots from a small sail boat.

鈥淲hile we were out there a convoy went up about 25-30 ships and just heaving up one crab pot and there was one hell of a bang and the whole boat rattled. She took a hit right in the middle. A second or two later further up the line there was another. Old Jo said 鈥榳e better go over and see what鈥檚 happening,鈥� recalled Campbell Docking.

The Newquay lad described how the U-boat itself came under fire from allied gun boats and was sunk.

Shipwreck expert Richard Larn says maritime records suggest the German U-boat that Campbell saw was probably UC-66.

The Cornish crab fishermen helped pull horrifically injured men from the water.

Newquay families benefitted from cargo salvaged from ships wrecked during World War One but had to present the goods to officials before receiving cash for the salvage.

Location: Newquay Harbour, Cornwall TR7 1HR
Image: Surviving WW1 U-boats, courtesy of IWM

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