I lived in London through most of the 1980s yet never visited the Tower Hill Monument to those employed by Trinity House who lost their lives during the World Wars; yesterday I got the opportunity to put that right as we went to honour William Henry Hopkins, a Cinque Ports Pilot employed by Trinity House to assist shipping in the Dover Strait. On 19th December 1940, William Hopkins was assigned to pilot the MV Arinia through the Dover Strait to the Isle of Grain in North Kent. Having successfully negotiated the Strait, whilst the ship was anchored off Southend awaiting clearance to enter the port through the sea lock gates, the ships 1st Officer ordered the engines to be cut, and thus shut down the ships anti-magnetic system which protected it from mines. The ship was struck by a mine and exploded with William Hopkins and all other 59 personnel aboard killed instantly. No bodies were ever recovered from the wreck and thus William Henry Hopkins is recorded on the Tower Hill Monument, one of some 24,000 names on there from the Merchant Navy & Trinity House personnel with no known grave. I have to say that the monument is looking a little grubby and could do with being cleaned. May William Henry Hopkins and all those merchantmen lost at sea rest in peace.
Posted on: Mon, 21 Jul 2014 11:49:29 +0000