Current Information:

Age-26

During the war many trawlers from the fishing fleet were used as auxiliary patrol vessels. These were manned by the fishermen who had volunteered for the Royal Naval Reserve and had a some naval crewmen as well. The ships performed a number of tasks including convoy duties and U Boat detection. HM Trawler Columbia was an auxiliary patrol vessel and on 1st May 1915 was involved in an action known as the Battle off Noordhinder Bank in Dutch waters and was one of four British trawlers who engaged two German torpedo boats, both of whom were sunk when a force of destroyers from the Harwich Force arrived on the scene. However before the arrival of the destroyers HM Trawler Columbia was sunk by a torpedo and only one member of the crew of 17 survived. 3 were drowned aboard one of the German torpedo boats, when it in turn was sunk. George Port was one of those who lost his life in this incident.