Grimsby’s first female member of the naval service in the First World War received a medal for her war service.

Elsie Mary Dannatt, the daughter of a farmer, was born in 1890 in Gayton-le-Marsh. The family moved to Grimsby when she was five.

From 1914 she served as the secretary to the Mobilising Officer and oversaw the office of women clerks at HMS Pekin, the name given to the auxiliary patrol shore base, a cabin on Grimsby docks. It became the command centre for the minesweepers operating out of the port when war broke out.

In 1917 when the Women’s Royal Naval Service was established Elsie was the first in the country to apply. Her application was supported by references from her employer, Captain Pollen, and her previous employer, Mr A Knott, a local councillor.

She joined the WRNS in 1918 and began work as a decoder in Grimsby.

Elise lived with her family at 358 Heneage Road, two miles from the docks and during hostile air attacks she returned to the base during air attacks to ensure confidential papers were saved.

In 1919 she was awarded the MBE which she collected wearing her naval uniform. It was awarded for valuable services rendered in connection with the war. She had been recommended for the award by Captain Pollen.

In 1930 she married Arthur Leane in Grimsby. She died in 1967 in Sussex where she lived.