RESIDENTS of Hindpool Close, Otterpool and others on the "old" Central Estate will have no doubt known that their streets were named after ships registered in Hartlepool, built by Sir William Gray in Hartlepool, in the main for the Ropner Shipping Company.
Some like the Deerpool, which had tried after dark to enter the Humber without navigation lights, was declared a total loss, enemy U-boats being in the area at the time.
The Hindpool, The Otterpool, Rockpool and the Troutpool met a similar fate i
n war.
Of course for every vessel that fell victim to the U-boats, many lads from Hartlepool and West Hartlepool went down with their ships in the service of their country.
I would be interested to hear from any relations of crew members who sadly died and in particular the relations or family of Chief Officer William James Martin, whose family lived in Mulgrave Road, William Herbert Harland OBE, Master James Isaac Parkes, of West Hartlepool, or indeed anyone who lost loved ones serving in Ropner's Navy.
I have read Billy McGee's book Ropner's Navy which is a complete history of the ships.
But I am more interested in the men from our town who served their country with such distinction. They should not be forgotten.
I hope your readers can assist me in my research.
They can contact me by email: tenerifejohnriddle@yahoo.co.uk or in writing at 5 Teesdale Avenue, TS26 9QD.
John Riddle,
Hartlepool.
The full article contains 248 words and appears in Hartlepool Mail newspaper.
