Skegness Magazine

Capture of a German Schooner off Skegness Pier

On Sunday about 4pm the German schooner Gerhard, of Geestemunde, a Prussian seaport, was chased and captured by two British gunboats within five miles of Skegness Pier.
The vessel, which was iron-built, was taking a cargo of timber from Sweden to France. She left port before the outbreak of war.
Eye-witnesses of this capture of a “prize of war” affirm that on Sunday about 4 o’clock a large schooner was seen heading north from the direction of Boston. Suddenly two gunboats appeared on the horizon, and rapidly pursued the schooner, which was then about five miles off the Pier Head.
Signals were displayed by one of the gunboats, but apparently the former vessel opaid no heed, and just later those watching were startled by hearing the loud boom of a big gun – causing many of them to make themselves scarce!

The schooner, it is stated, then slowed down, and the gunboats came up and accompanied her away.

The affair naturally caused great excitement among the crowds on the Pier and beach. The sound of the gun was distinctly heard in the Lumley Road.

The “prize” was towed by one of the gunboats to Boston on Monday, and a large crowd assembled near the dock entrance to see her brought in. Her crew are at present in the custody of the Boston borough police, who, with the Customs collector, Mr G E Hall, took over the vessel at the river mouth from the Admiralty officials.

Source:  Skegness, Mablethorpe and Alford News 19th August, 1915.