A tragedy ensured on May 3, 1917 when two Northbound escort destroyers, Ouse and Bat, fired on the Tyne defence submarine HMS C10 (Lt. Carson) off Newbiggin in the belief she was a U-boat. The two destroyers were bringing up the rear of a convoy when they spotted the submarine. Despite C10 displaying the correct recognition signals in the appropriate order, one shell hit the submarine abaft the conning tower. The captain of C10 ordered that the reply signal be hoisted continuously up and down and when that did not stop the firing, to wave a white tablecloth. This finally persuaded the destroyers to cease firing.  Stoker George State died of wounds following the incident and is buried in Blyth Links Cemetery.