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Post by Administrator on Jan 20, 2007 17:51:25 GMT
Pwllheli man remembers
Nov 17 2005
by Sarah Marion Jones, North Wales Weekly Newspapers series
AS people across Britain stood in silence to remember the victims of war, one Pwllheli man has a permanent reminder of the ultimate sacrifice made.
Griff Roberts, originally from Cilan, is the proud owner of a commemorative bronze plaque given to his family after the death of his grandfather at sea during the First World War.
William Owen was first mate on the SS Daybreak, a submarine operating off the coat of Russia. The vessel was torpedoed and he died on December 24, 1917, aged 39. He was the son of the late Owen and Charlotte Owen and husband of Mariah Owen of Coed Hyfryd, Bethesda.
The plaque was given to the family by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The plaque was passed on to Mr Roberts when his mother died in 1994. "These plaques are given to relatives of sailors killed, where there is no known grave," he added.
Mr Roberts' friend, Neil Beaton, also a Naval man, found out the history of the plaque for him. Mr Beaton said: "I think its so important that people know the sacrifice made, so we can live like we do today."
news.desk@northwalesnews.co.uk
*** a submarine operating off the coat of Russia. is an error, will post more of the Daybreak soon.
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Post by Administrator on Jan 20, 2007 18:03:10 GMT
“Her name was “Daybreak”.
IN MEMORIAL : Thomas Greenway, of Kinsale.
AND William Owen, first mate on the SS Daybreak.
The late John Bailie of Newcastle townland was the boat contractor attending the South Rock Lightship for 42 years before retiring in 1955. Part of his contract was that if the crew were short-handed he would remain on board. He described the loss of the steamer Daybreak on 24 December 1917, one mile east of the lightship-
'I remember being on the South Rock as a temporary, 2s/6d a day and feed yourself. On Christmas Eve 1917 about midday the Daybreak loaded with maize was torpedoed and 21 were lost. Her nose was cut clean off. It happened so quick her propeller was going round in the air as she sank. You talk about explosions, boilers bursting one after another.'
SS.Daybreak
Vessel Type: Steamer Location: South Rock, Co. Down
Cause of Loss: Torpedoed Location: “Lough Swilly”, Co. Down ?
Date of Loss: 24th December 1917 Place: South Rock
Latitude (GPS): 54 25.293 North Longitude (GPS): 05 20.837 West
· Owned by Scarisbrick Steamship Co., she was built 1911 by W. Gray & Co.
· Powered by triple-expansion engines, generating 330nhp, giving a top speed of 10 knots.
· She measured 340 x 48.5 x 22.6ft., and grossed 3,238 tons.
· Had previously survived a surface attack by a U-boat in the Arctic Sea on 1st November 1916, beating it off with her own defence gun.
Twenty-one crew members, including the captain, died when she was finally sunk by torpedo from U-87 on Christmas Eve, 1917, one mile east of the South Rock Lightship.
BRITISH MERCHANT SHIP LOST AT “LOUGH SWILLY, Co. DOWN”, DUE TO ENEMY ACTION. CHRISTMAS EVE, 24th DECEMBER 1917.
The loss of the steamer Daybreak on 24 December 1917, ...
The SS. Daybreak, ( 3,238grt ). Was a Welsh Steamer, loaded with maize, she was owned by the Scarisbrick Steamship Co., Built in 1911 by W. Gray & Co. She was powered by triple-expansion engines, generating 330nhp, giving a top speed of 10 knots, She measured 340 x 48.5 x 22.6ft., and grossed 3,238 tons.
Although the Daybreak was a British Merchant ship, she was defensively-armed due to the state of hostilities, World War One, ( The Great War ). She was at sea near Strangford Lough shore, off the Ards Peninsula, in Co. Down and finally sank close to the South Rock. The South Rock is the largest of an extensive group of rocks 1 nautical mile North - East of Kearney Point. South - West of Belfast. (The Daybreak was earlier recorded as sinking at “Lough Swilly”, Co. Down”).
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MNA WALES BARRY BRANCH
Guest
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Post by MNA WALES BARRY BRANCH on Feb 8, 2007 0:12:33 GMT
The Campaign for War Grave Commemorations LINK www.cwgc.co.uk - 19k WW1 Bronze Memorial Plaques The Bronze Memorial Plaque, was issued to the Next of Kin of those who died during WW1 (or those who died later from causes attributable to service), All Plaques & medals were intended to be kept by the families & their descendants, in the words of the Memorial Scroll: "Let those who come after see to it that his name be not forgotten". In this mission many families failed & sadly this continues, more so as the modern trend of fragmented families & attendant distractions reduce those feelings of connection, debt, honour, sacrifice & remembrance. webmaster@cwgc.co.uk <webmaster@cwgc.co.uk> |
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Post by Friend of Tregenna on Dec 24, 2007 21:47:06 GMT
Canova, 4,637grt, defensively-armed, 24 December 1917, 15 miles South from Mine Head, torpedoed without warning and sunk by submarine, 7 lives lost
Daybreak, 3,238grt, defensively-armed, 24 December 1917, 1 mile East from South Rock LV, torpedoed without warning and sunk by submarine, 21 lives lost including Master
Turnbridge, 2,874grt, defensively-armed, 24 December 1917, 34 miles NE by N from Cape Ivi, torpedoed without warning and sunk by submarine, 1 life lost
Argo, 3,071grt, defensively-armed, 24 December 1917, 18 miles NW from Cape Tenez, torpedoed without warning and sunk by submarine
Cliftondale, 3,811grt, defensively-armed, 25 December 1917, 36 miles E by N ½ N from Cape Tenez, torpedoed without warning and sunk by submarine, 3 lives lost, Master prisoner
Agberi, 4,821grt, defensively-armed, 25 December 1917, 18 miles NW ½ N from Bardsey Island, torpedoed without warning and sunk by submarine
Umballa, 5,310grt, defensively armed, 25 December 1917, 8 miles SW by W from Cape Scalea, Gulf of Policastro, torpedoed without warning and sunk by submarine, 15 lives lost
Tregenna, 5,772grt, defensively-armed, 26 December 1917, 9 miles south from Dodman Point, torpedoed without warning and sunk by submarine
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Post by KG on Feb 28, 2008 12:57:09 GMT
ERNEST GULWELL A BARRIAN.
We further remember GULWELL, Mess Room Steward, ERNEST, S.S. "Daybreak" (West Hartlepool), Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine 24 December 1917. Age 17. Son of George and Phoebe Gulwell (nee Reed), of 44, Arthur St., Cadoxton, Barry, Glam. Born at Tewkesbury.
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Post by Keith on Aug 1, 2008 1:35:05 GMT
“Her name was “Daybreak”.
The S.S. DAYBREAK
Nineteen seventeen it was – during perilous days,
The freighter S.S. Daybreak loaded deep with maize,
Steamed along on Christmas Eve near the Southern Rock,
Off the coast of County Down abeam of Strangford Lough,
No notice or forewarning, a torpedo found its mark,
It came and blew the nose right off – plunging all in dark
The vessel’s screw rotating during its descent,
Her boilers then exploding as underneath they went.
U – Boat Eighty Seven had loosed her lethal load,
To meet this helpless target on a winter’s ocean road,
One and twenty brave men - the total of her crew,
Murdered in the Irish Sea by folk they never knew,
It was seen by witnesses or perhaps we’d never know,
What occurred to brave men dragged down far below,
Entombed there now forever, thirty fathoms deep,
Akin to unsung mariners in Davy Jones’s keep.
Joe EARL
The late John Bailie of Newcastle townland was the boat contractor attending the South Rock Lightship for 42 years before retiring in 1955. Part of his contract was that if the crew were short-handed he would remain on board. He described the loss of the steamer Daybreak on 24 December 1917, one mile east of the lightship-
'I remember being on the South Rock as a temporary, 2s/6d a day and feed yourself. On Christmas Eve 1917 about midday the Daybreak loaded with maize was torpedoed and 21 were lost. Her nose was cut clean off. It happened so quick her propeller was going round in the air as she sank. You talk about explosions, boilers bursting one after another.'
IN MEMORIAL :
GREENWAY, Boatswain (Bosun) THOMAS, S.S. "Daybreak" (West Hartlepool), Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine 24 December 1917. Age 47. Son of the late James and Mary Greenway; husband of the late Nora Greenway. Born at Kinsale.
BARRETT, Ordinary Seaman, JAMES, S.S. "Daybreak" (West Hartlepool), Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine 24 December 1917. Age 18. Son of Patrick and Hannah Barrett, of Fisher St., Kinsale, Co. Cork.
O'CONNOR, Able Seaman, WILLIAM, S.S. "Daybreak" (West Hartlepool), Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine 24 December 1917. Age 39. Son of Michael O'Connor and the late Ellen O'Connor; husband of Ellen O'Connor (nee McCarthy), of Higher St., Kinsale, Co. Cork. Born at Brownsmills, Kinsale.
Casualties of S.S. DAYBREAK, WW 1
Commonwealth War Dead 1914-1918
ARCHANGEL ALLIED CEMETERY, Russian Federation
ROSS, Ordinary Seaman, JOHN HAMILTON, J/51016, S.S. "Daybreak.", Royal Navy. Killed by an internal explosion of the vessel 8 November 1916. Age 21. Son of Mr. O. B. and
Mrs. M. H. Ross, of Canton, Helensburgh, Dumbartonshire. Grave Ref. C. 9. (Coll. Grave).
CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL, United Kingdom
VERNEY, Able Seaman, SAMUEL, London Z/5790, S.S. "Daybreak.", Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Killed in action with submarine 24 December 1917. Age 19. Son of Sophia Kempley (formerly Verney), and John James Kempley (stepfather), of 41, Baythorne St., Mile End, London. 27.
PLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL, United Kingdom
SUMNER, Signalman, FRANK, Bristol Z/105, S.S. "Daybreak.", Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Killed in action with submarine 24 December 1917. Age 18. Son of Edith Sumner, of Fenny Compton, Leamington Spa and the late Elijah Sumner. 25.
TOWER HILL MEMORIAL, United Kingdom
BARRETT, Ordinary Seaman, JAMES, S.S. "Daybreak" (West Hartlepool), Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine 24 December 1917. Age 18. Son of Patrick and Hannah Barrett, of Fisher St., Kinsale, Co. Cork.
BIANCHI, Fireman, PAOLO, S.S. "Daybreak" (West Hartlepool), Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine 24 December 1917. Age 37. Son of the late Giorgio, and Consdata Bianchi; husband of Elena Bianchi, of 52, Sda Sta Maria, Casal Zebbug, Malta. Born in Malta.
COLLINS, Able Seaman, W, S.S. "Daybreak" (West Hartlepool), Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine 24 December 1917. Age 35. Born at St. Johns, Newfoundland.
DOBSON, Second Mate, JOHN EDWARD TOMLIN, S.S. "Daybreak" (West Hartlepool), Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine 24 December 1917. Age 30. Born at Polruan, Cornwall.
FREDERICKSEN, Able Seaman, T, S.S. "Daybreak" (West Hartlepool), Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine 24 December 1917. Age 19. Born in
Denmark.
GOMEZ, Able Seaman, JACINE, S.S. "Daybreak" (West Hartlepool), Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine 24 December 1917. Age 35. Born in
Portugal.
GREENWAY, Boatswain (Bosun) THOMAS, S.S. "Daybreak" (West Hartlepool), Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine 24 December 1917. Age 47. Son of the late James and Mary Greenway; husband of the late Nora
Greenway. Born at Kinsale.
GULWELL, Mess Room Steward, ERNEST, S.S. "Daybreak" (West Hartlepool), Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine 24 December 1917. Age 17. Son of George and Phoebe Gulwell (nee Reed), of 44, Arthur St., Cadoxton, Barry, Glam. Born at Tewkesbury.
HARROP-GRIFFITHS, Second Engineer, JOSEPH, S.S. "Daybreak" (West Hartlepool), Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine 24 December 1917. Age 23. Son of David Harrop-Griffiths and Charlotte Harrop-Griffiths, of Brondeg, Pontardulais, Glam. Born at Pontardulais.
HOLLAND, Ship's Cook, JAMES ALLCOCK, S.S. "Daybreak" (West Hartlepool), Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine 24 December 1917. Age 45. Son of the late James Allcock Holland and Betsy Holland. Born at Birkenhead.
KENNEDY, Fireman, JOSEPH, S.S. "Daybreak" (West Hartlepool), Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine 24 December 1917. Age 33. (Served as BONNER), Son of Joseph Kennedy, of 26, Thomas St., Londonderry, and the late
Catherine Kennedy (nee Banner).
MUSCAT, Fireman, MICHAEL, S.S. "Daybreak" (West Hartlepool), Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine 24 December 1917. Age 39. Son of the late Guiseppe and Rosa Muscat; husband of Carmela Muscat (nee Carnane), of 103, Sda Reale, Casal Zebbug, Malta. Born at Bona.
O'CONNOR, Able Seaman, WILLIAM, S.S. "Daybreak" (West Hartlepool), Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine 24 December 1917. Age 39. Son of Michael O'Connor and the late Ellen O'Connor; husband of Ellen O'Connor (nee McCarthy), of Higher St., Kinsale, Co. Cork. Born at Brownsmills, Kinsale.
OWEN, First Mate, WILLIAM, S.S. "Daybreak" (West Hartlepool), Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine 24 December 1917. Age 39. Son of the late Owen and Charlotte Owen; husband of Mariah Owen (nee Davies), of Coed Hyfryd, Bethesda, Carnarvonshire. Born at North Llanllechid.
PEPPER, Ordinary Seaman, THOMAS, S.S. "Daybreak" (West Hartlepool), Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine 8 November 1916. Age 18. Son of Henry Pepper, of 7, Lavender St., Dame Agnes St., Nottingham. Born at Nottingham.
POPE, Master, S F, "Daybreak.", Mercantile Marine. 24 December 1917.
POSTLETHWAITE, Steward, TOM BENNETT, S.S. "Daybreak" (West Hartlepool),Mercantile Marine. Drowned, as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine 24 December 1917. Age 62. Husband of Mary Postlethwaite (nee Robinson), of Brookside, Applethwaite, Keswick, Cumberland. Born at Keswick, Cumberland.
WILKINS, Fireman, W, S.S. "Daybreak" (West Hartlepool), Mercantile Marine. Drowned,as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine 24 December 1917. Age 27. Born at Southampton.
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Post by KG on Jan 27, 2010 18:07:12 GMT
THOMAS BENNET POSTLETHWAITE age 62
Merchant Navy SS Daybreak 24th Dec 1917
Husband of Mary Postlethwaite (nee Robinson), of Brookside, Applethwaite, Keswick, they had three sons Joseph a Corporal in Mesopotania, Sydney an air mechanic in the Royal Naval Air Service and James who is foreman timber loader on the C.K. and P. Railway. Thomas had been at Sea for 38 years and had sailed from Barry Dock last June to West Africa, Dakar, the States, South America, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, River Plate, Spain, Gibralter and thence to Milford Haven. Mrs Poslethwaite had a letter on Christmas Day to say they had arrived safely and would be home in a day or so. They were unfortunately torpedoed 40 miles from Belfast on Christmas Eve.
The SS Daybreak loaded with iron ore was sunk as a result of a torpedo fired without warning by German submarine U-87 on Christmas Eve 1917 near South Rock Lightship, Strangford Lough, off the Ards Peninsula, Co Down. Lightship Keepers say she sank in less than five minutes, the torpedoe taking off most of her bow, all 21 crew including the Captain died. On Christmas Day, the same U-boat 87 attacked a convoy and sank the SS Agberi in the Irish Sea, U-87 was sunk after being rammed and depth charged by the sloop HMS Buttercup and British patrol boat PC56, All of its 44 crew perished.
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Post by Administrator on Jul 14, 2016 21:24:51 GMT
Hello, I will do all I can to help but, have struggled to find more on my own relative from the time. Daybreak SS was a 3,238grt defensively-armed British merchant ship. On the 24th December 1917 when on route from Huelva for the Clyde she was torpedoed by German submarine U087 and sunk when 1 mile East from South Rock Light Vessel, Ireland. 21 lives lost. including Master. Owner Elvidge & Morgan, Cardiff. ref. used: LINKPS. Not certain if you have seen this PDF on my tribute site, a good friend wrote the poem for me and THE REST IS A SMALL TRIBUTE. K LINK
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Post by Administrator on Jul 14, 2016 21:47:45 GMT
DO YOU KNOW Griff Roberts ?
Nov 17 2005
by Sarah Marion Jones, North Wales Weekly Newspapers series
AS people across Britain stood in silence to remember the victims of war, one Pwllheli man has a permanent reminder of the ultimate sacrifice made.
Griff Roberts, originally from Cilan, is the proud owner of a commemorative bronze plaque given to his family after the death of his grandfather at sea during the First World War.
William Owen was first mate on the SS Daybreak, a submarine operating off the coat of Russia. The vessel was torpedoed and he died on December 24, 1917, aged 39. He was the son of the late Owen and Charlotte Owen and husband of Mariah Owen of Coed Hyfryd, Bethesda.
The plaque was given to the family by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The plaque was passed on to Mr Roberts when his mother died in 1994. "These plaques are given to relatives of sailors killed, where there is no known grave," he added.
Mr Roberts' friend, Neil Beaton, also a Naval man, found out the history of the plaque for him. Mr Beaton said: "I think its so important that people know the sacrifice made, so we can live like we do today."
news.desk@northwalesnews.co.uk
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Post by KG on Apr 11, 2018 16:41:38 GMT
New Imaging Techniques Capture Forgotten U-boat
On Christmas Day 1917, U-87 attacked a convoy in St George’s Channel (in particular, the 4812-ton British steamship AGBERI). One of the convoy escorts, P56, was just 150 yards away from the AGBERI when it was struck and turned to ram the submarine while another escort, the BUTTERCUP, fired and hit its conning tower. Within 10 minutes the submarine had sunk. Some witness accounts claim that the stricken U-boat was sliced clean in half, and that the bow section remained afloat for ten minutes with men visible within the submarine. LINK
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