Thousands of British fishermen served on board of minesweepers in the Grand War according to the Dutch newspaper Algemeen Handelsblad dated 25 August 1920

An item dealing with the blessing by pastor Macnamara at Grimsby of the cooperative union for purchasing trawlers supporting fishermen mentioned the British debt of honour to the fishermen serving during the First World War in the naval reserve on board of minesweepers. More as sixty thousand fishermen served of which 4.000 were killed and almost 2.000 were decorated of which four with the Victoria Cross. Of the 3.000 vessels used for minesweeping sunk 460. The British Admiralty delivered the cooperative union 200 trawlers for fishermen who served during the war. Payment in annual terms was possible.