Fight for submariner's sea grave

The crew left Blyth's quayside in autumn 1916

Efforts are underway to ensure that a recently discovered World War I submarine is treated as a war grave.

HMS E16 disappeared after leaving Blyth in Northumberland in September 1916, carrying a crew of 31 men.

It was identified when German divers reached it in July 2001, 85 years later.

The Mayor of Blyth Valley, Councillor Joe Newman, wants to prevent the crew's remains being disturbed.

He told BBC News Online: "I am still trying to turn it into a war grave.

No-one knew what had happened to it

Jim Jaques, submariner

"These German divers are still diving the wreck, off Heligoland in the Denmark straights.

"The Submarine Museum has sent me the names and addresses of relatives of the crew, and I have written to express Blyth's condolences."

"I have written to the War Graves Commission and the Flag Officer Submarines in Gosport.

"The divers should not be disturbing this submarine."

'Big hole'

Jim Jacques, Secretary of the Blyth and Wansbeck Old Submariners' Club told BBC News Online: "We respect their [the Germans'] subs which are lost off our coast, so I think they will reciprocate.

"The sad thing about the E16 was that it just disappeared and no-one knew what had happened to it.

"There was a great big hole in it when it was found, which would indicate that it was sunk by a mine, as the majority of submarines during the war were."

Cllr Newman, the Mayor of Blyth Valley, has been awarded a Submariner's Association badge for his efforts to honour the crew of the submarine.

I had to put the badge into a glass of rum, drink it in one go and catch the dolphins in my teeth

Cllr Joe Newman

The Dolphin's Badge displays two dolphins and a naval crown, and is an identification normally reserved for submariners themselves.

Cllr Newman said: "I had to put the badge into a glass of rum, drink it in one go and catch the dolphins in my teeth... it is the only way they allowed me to gain it.

"I will wear it on the armistice day ceremonial parade," he added.

The E16 was 200 feet (60.96 metres) long, and one of the largest WWI submarines in service.

Anniversary Challenge

There is a memorial to the submarine service in Blyth market place, but nothing to commemorate HMS Elfin, the name which was given to the town's submarine base.

Cllr Newman told BBC News Online: "I am trying to get a plaque put onto the new quayside buildings."

On 2 November a service at Westminster Abbey will celebrate 100 years since the submarine service started.

A Submariners' parade takes place in Blyth on 4 November, and the minehunter HMS Blyth arrives at the town's quayside on 9 November.