Post by KG on May 3, 2009 20:38:39 GMT
The British Empire Exhibition, Wembley, London 1924 was a colonial exhibition held at Wembley, Middlesex in 1924 and 1925. It was opened by King George V.
The Straits Times 15th June 1925, reported that the famous Trevessa lifeboat, in which Capt. Foster and part of his crew made their memorable voyage across the Pacific, will be on view at Wembley out-side the Ceylon Pavilion.
In 1923, when the merchant freighter SS Trevessa sank, its resourceful seamen crossed 1,700 miles of the Indian Ocean in two standard 26-foot British Board of Trade lifeboats and arrived safely on Rodrigues Island, northwest of Mauritius.
As one might expect, you could get a cup of tea at the Ceylon pavilion and just outside the pavilion was the real lifeboat from the doomed ship Trevessa that endured a 25-day trip from the wreck to Mauritius.
The loss of Trevessa had made world news and her Captain Cecil Foster was later received by the king at Buckingham Palace, the foundering of the ship and the brave actions of her master were part of much discussion by the Government of the day.
Completely exonerated by a board of enquiry the recommendations from both the enquiries and her master continue to save lives.
27 May 1924 Commons Sitting - BRITISH EMPIRE EXHIBITION.
S.S. "TREVESSA" (LIFEBOAT).
Viscount CURZON asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the boat belonging to the S.S. "Trevessa" is at the British Empire Exhibition, presumably to commemorate one of the finest feats of seamanship ever performed in the mercantile marine; and whether he can take steps to ensure that this boat is exhibited in surroundings and in a manner worthy of it, and preserved for the nation subsequently?
Mr. WEBB: I am aware that one of the boats of the "Trevessa" is being exhibited at Wembley, and if the Noble Lord will be good enough to tell me what he has in mind, I will look into the matter. I doubt whether it will be possible to arrange for the permanent exhibition of this boat.
Viscount CURZON : Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this boat is, at present sitting on the top of a rubbish heap?
It is believed that the Captains lifeboat had been on the beach at Hove and was removed at the start of WW2 when the beaches were cordoned off by the army. So the boat probably lasted until the Second World War when the beach was prepared for war by the forces who also removed or destroyed anything which might provide cover for an invading enemy. If this was the Captains lifeboat was it rescued and put on display at Hove near Brighton? Then broken up to avoid providing cover for the enemy if they reached the beach? Or do we have the fate of both life savers?
One that was casually dumped after the British Empire Exhibition? And another destroyed to prevent use by an invasion force? Or was this the same one? Did the second boat come home?
sequel
An interesting sequel to the SS. Trevessa tale - 1,700 miles in open boats - records Michael Scully, Able Seaman, who at 62 was the oldest person on the Trevessa and was in the Captain¡¯s boat, he left the sea to spend the rest of his days in a Seaman¡¯s Home near Hove. Cicely Fox Smith, an author who has written about the Trevessa, met him many years later in charge of the Captain¡¯s lifeboat at Hove which was on exhibition at the time in aid of funds for the Home which Michael called his `port after stormy seas¡¯ and which Cicely described as a haven where old salts can tell over the stories of their lives afloat, and Michael¡¯s story as one which few would have so strange and so eventful a history to unfold. She said he looked at that time still very hale and hearty, a typical old sailor man, with the far-seeing blue eyes that had scanned so many seas through a long life in many ships with the sailor¡¯s crow¡¯s feet at their corners. Michael said to her: `Ah, it was not bad in the boat. I wanted to sail her home to England from Mauritius, but the Old Man wouldn¡¯t let me. I wouldn¡¯t mind where I went in her. She was a good boat¡¯.
This suggests that it was the captain¡¯s boat on display at Hove
DO I HAVE THE FATE OF BOTH LIFEBOATS? Or another mystery to unfold and more research?
Apparently the school of thought is that the photograph is of the Captain¡¯s No 1 lifeboat when it was exhibited at the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley in 1924-26. The same photograph is in Captain Foster¡'s book facing page 44, but from an angle showing the stern. (Captain Fosters book is: 1700 miles in open boats).
An advisor reports that he has a second copy of Captain Foster¡¯s book which he obtained in 1975 from Norman Kerr of Cartmel, a bookseller specialising in ships. It was originally owned by W T worthy of 10 Woodlands Terrace, Swansea. According to a pencilled note inside, worthy had seen the No 1 boat at the Coast Guard station at Hove. An enquiry for information to the Coast Guard archivist had the response that the Coast Guard station at Hove no longer existed and that they had no record that the Trevessa lifeboat was there.
The Director of the Imperial Institute, South Kensington decided in 1926 to present Hove Museum with two enormous exhibits which had been contributed to the Colonial and Indian Exhibition of 1886. One, the Jaipur Gateway, survives to this day in the grounds of Hove Museum. Judy Middleton said that the Director of the Imperial Institute was having a clear out at the time and that the lifeboat probably came with them.
He further confirms: That he got in touch recently with Mr thingy Rowsell, the Station Officer of HM Coastguard at Bexhill on Sea, to ask if he knew anything of the Trevessa lifeboat at Hove. He asked the Brighton History Centre Officer to send him some information, which I copy below:
Dear Sir,,
The coastguard was established at Hove in March 1823. In 1903 the Royal Naval Reserve was formed and by 1904 there were five companies; 1 & 2 were based at Hove. There was frequent gun practice which annoyed the local residents and meant that that part of the seafront was closed to the public. The coastguard cottages were due to be demolished in 1908 but survived until 1936. The lifeboat from the Trevessa is thought to have been exhibited at the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley (1924/25) and was then moved to the RNR parade ground at Hove. It survived until 1939 when the site was taken over by the Admiralty for the duration of WW2. It was presumably broken up at this time. Regards, Paul Jordan,
This definitively confirms and virtualy completes the story of the Number 1 lifeboat. As Michael Scully said, she was a good boat.
?
This report has many sources and I am aware of the differences eg: 24 days 25 days / Pacific ¨C Indian Ocean / The landing places etc. I have not attempted to correct what was written by others. I know this may be confusing but hope all may lead to response and help. I would further like to thank all that have aided and may continue to contribute. I have attempted not to mention the names of those that have assisted until permissions are gained etc.
Regards Keith.
The Straits Times 15th June 1925, reported that the famous Trevessa lifeboat, in which Capt. Foster and part of his crew made their memorable voyage across the Pacific, will be on view at Wembley out-side the Ceylon Pavilion.
In 1923, when the merchant freighter SS Trevessa sank, its resourceful seamen crossed 1,700 miles of the Indian Ocean in two standard 26-foot British Board of Trade lifeboats and arrived safely on Rodrigues Island, northwest of Mauritius.
As one might expect, you could get a cup of tea at the Ceylon pavilion and just outside the pavilion was the real lifeboat from the doomed ship Trevessa that endured a 25-day trip from the wreck to Mauritius.
The loss of Trevessa had made world news and her Captain Cecil Foster was later received by the king at Buckingham Palace, the foundering of the ship and the brave actions of her master were part of much discussion by the Government of the day.
Completely exonerated by a board of enquiry the recommendations from both the enquiries and her master continue to save lives.
27 May 1924 Commons Sitting - BRITISH EMPIRE EXHIBITION.
S.S. "TREVESSA" (LIFEBOAT).
Viscount CURZON asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the boat belonging to the S.S. "Trevessa" is at the British Empire Exhibition, presumably to commemorate one of the finest feats of seamanship ever performed in the mercantile marine; and whether he can take steps to ensure that this boat is exhibited in surroundings and in a manner worthy of it, and preserved for the nation subsequently?
Mr. WEBB: I am aware that one of the boats of the "Trevessa" is being exhibited at Wembley, and if the Noble Lord will be good enough to tell me what he has in mind, I will look into the matter. I doubt whether it will be possible to arrange for the permanent exhibition of this boat.
Viscount CURZON : Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this boat is, at present sitting on the top of a rubbish heap?
It is believed that the Captains lifeboat had been on the beach at Hove and was removed at the start of WW2 when the beaches were cordoned off by the army. So the boat probably lasted until the Second World War when the beach was prepared for war by the forces who also removed or destroyed anything which might provide cover for an invading enemy. If this was the Captains lifeboat was it rescued and put on display at Hove near Brighton? Then broken up to avoid providing cover for the enemy if they reached the beach? Or do we have the fate of both life savers?
One that was casually dumped after the British Empire Exhibition? And another destroyed to prevent use by an invasion force? Or was this the same one? Did the second boat come home?
sequel
An interesting sequel to the SS. Trevessa tale - 1,700 miles in open boats - records Michael Scully, Able Seaman, who at 62 was the oldest person on the Trevessa and was in the Captain¡¯s boat, he left the sea to spend the rest of his days in a Seaman¡¯s Home near Hove. Cicely Fox Smith, an author who has written about the Trevessa, met him many years later in charge of the Captain¡¯s lifeboat at Hove which was on exhibition at the time in aid of funds for the Home which Michael called his `port after stormy seas¡¯ and which Cicely described as a haven where old salts can tell over the stories of their lives afloat, and Michael¡¯s story as one which few would have so strange and so eventful a history to unfold. She said he looked at that time still very hale and hearty, a typical old sailor man, with the far-seeing blue eyes that had scanned so many seas through a long life in many ships with the sailor¡¯s crow¡¯s feet at their corners. Michael said to her: `Ah, it was not bad in the boat. I wanted to sail her home to England from Mauritius, but the Old Man wouldn¡¯t let me. I wouldn¡¯t mind where I went in her. She was a good boat¡¯.
This suggests that it was the captain¡¯s boat on display at Hove
DO I HAVE THE FATE OF BOTH LIFEBOATS? Or another mystery to unfold and more research?
Apparently the school of thought is that the photograph is of the Captain¡¯s No 1 lifeboat when it was exhibited at the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley in 1924-26. The same photograph is in Captain Foster¡'s book facing page 44, but from an angle showing the stern. (Captain Fosters book is: 1700 miles in open boats).
An advisor reports that he has a second copy of Captain Foster¡¯s book which he obtained in 1975 from Norman Kerr of Cartmel, a bookseller specialising in ships. It was originally owned by W T worthy of 10 Woodlands Terrace, Swansea. According to a pencilled note inside, worthy had seen the No 1 boat at the Coast Guard station at Hove. An enquiry for information to the Coast Guard archivist had the response that the Coast Guard station at Hove no longer existed and that they had no record that the Trevessa lifeboat was there.
The Director of the Imperial Institute, South Kensington decided in 1926 to present Hove Museum with two enormous exhibits which had been contributed to the Colonial and Indian Exhibition of 1886. One, the Jaipur Gateway, survives to this day in the grounds of Hove Museum. Judy Middleton said that the Director of the Imperial Institute was having a clear out at the time and that the lifeboat probably came with them.
He further confirms: That he got in touch recently with Mr thingy Rowsell, the Station Officer of HM Coastguard at Bexhill on Sea, to ask if he knew anything of the Trevessa lifeboat at Hove. He asked the Brighton History Centre Officer to send him some information, which I copy below:
Dear Sir,,
The coastguard was established at Hove in March 1823. In 1903 the Royal Naval Reserve was formed and by 1904 there were five companies; 1 & 2 were based at Hove. There was frequent gun practice which annoyed the local residents and meant that that part of the seafront was closed to the public. The coastguard cottages were due to be demolished in 1908 but survived until 1936. The lifeboat from the Trevessa is thought to have been exhibited at the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley (1924/25) and was then moved to the RNR parade ground at Hove. It survived until 1939 when the site was taken over by the Admiralty for the duration of WW2. It was presumably broken up at this time. Regards, Paul Jordan,
This definitively confirms and virtualy completes the story of the Number 1 lifeboat. As Michael Scully said, she was a good boat.
?
This report has many sources and I am aware of the differences eg: 24 days 25 days / Pacific ¨C Indian Ocean / The landing places etc. I have not attempted to correct what was written by others. I know this may be confusing but hope all may lead to response and help. I would further like to thank all that have aided and may continue to contribute. I have attempted not to mention the names of those that have assisted until permissions are gained etc.
Regards Keith.