The untold story of Spider T's wartime missions

1 January 2026

David McKennaand

Gill Sennett,East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

News image — Spider T sailing under the Humber Bridge

Patrick Hill Spider T sailing under the Humber Bridge, It has red-coloured sails and rigging. There is a person in a canoe nearby. — Spider T sailing under the Humber Bridge

Events will take place to mark the centenary of a boat used to evacuate women and children from Hull during Luftwaffe bombing raids.

Spider T, which was primarily used to transport goods, was launched from the Warren Shipyard in New Holland, on the south bank of the Humber, in February 1926.

Owner Mal Nicholson, who restored the super sloop vessel, said it played a vital role in "getting people moved in a hurry out of harm's way" during World War Two, when there were more than 80 air raids on Hull.

As part of the commemorations, Mr Nicholson is appealing for evacuees, or their descendants, to share their stories. A weekend event is also planned for 18-19 April at Hull Marina.

"I think really this 100-year celebration will be a testimony to the craftsmanship and skills of the Warren Shipyard, but more importantly, to tie together all of these loose ends," he said.

The boat had helped to "change lives" by taking evacuees from Hull to Lincolnshire and South Yorkshire.

Mal Nicholson talks about Spider T's story and the role it played during the war

The heaviest bombing raids on Hull, in May 1941, saw more than 400 deaths. In all, 1,200 civilians were killed, 3,000 injured and more than 150,000 made homeless.

Mr Nicholson said the city was in a real mess at the time.

"The roads obviously would have had bomb holes and all the rest of it, and even the railway lines I would have thought at times would have been taking a hit.

"One thing that they could do was take people over the river in a boat."

The vessel had also likely played an important role in the war effort.

"As I can gather, she was bringing specialist steels out of Sheffield in the dead of night out of the sight of the Luftwaffe. It would be almost a clandestine way of moving the cargo out of the site of the enemy," he added.

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