Post by KG on Mar 30, 2018 21:36:34 GMT
James (Jim) Edward Luen.
James Edward Luen, a son of Albert Edward and Rebecca Luen of Barry, South Wales, was a Chief Officer within the British Merchant Navy. Known locally as Jim, he had attended High Street School in Barry. Apparently, in 1910 after an argument with a tutor Jim departed via a school class room window and ran away to sea. He reappeared at Cardiff two years later, when someone contacted his mother saying he was in Cardiff and needed some shoes.
Jim is noted as having served in the Royal Naval Reserve during WWI. Still a mystery is that he is also recorded as joining the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force. Jim survived WW1, to commence going through all again WW2:
Between wars he spent some time in Australia. Jim and his wife Violet married in Australia, the day after she arrived in Sydney from Barry. The couple left Australia in 1927 before the birth of their first daughter.
A keen artist, Jim Luen held an exhibition of his work in the County Hall, London during 1937-1938. He wrote copiously all the years he was at sea. Jim was also involved with The British Ship Adoption Society, the organisation enabled schools in Britain to "a d o p t " Merchant Ships, The main school with whom Jim corresponded with was the Archbishop's Temple School in Lambeth in London.
At one time at sea Jim cared for an albatross that landed on deck suffering from exhaustion, but which recovered. There is a campaign to save the Albatross, spear headed by an Ellen MacCarthy. So impressed with his kind act, they asked permission to use the photograph in a brochure. A picture of Jim, was taken off the Straits of Magellan off Cape Horn 1937 on board the Harlingen. Two years later he was washed overboard.
During the last voyage he saved the lives of two people, by performing an appendicectomy on a fellow sailor on the wireless instructions of a doctor on another ship. Jim died at the age of 43 on November 25, 1939 off the coast of Newfoundland, Nova Scotia when a wave crashed into the ship and he was washed overboard.
EXAMINATION ON OATH.
Relating to the death of James Edward Luen on the Harlingen
By name and address supplied. I was on the bridge on the morning of 25th Nov 1939. There was a high sea and an E.N.E. gale. At about 9.35a.m. the vessel shipped a heavy sea, and directly afterwards, I heard the First Mate, Mr Luen, shouting for help, and could see him in the water about 100 feet to starboard. Four life bouys were thrown to him, and a raft was heaved over the ship's side at once, and I saw him grasp a bouy and get into it. The ship was kept as near to him as possible and on one occasion sighted. It was difficult for the look outs to see him on account of the heavy seas, and I wanted to swim to him with a line attached to a ***** which had been thrown to him and which fell short. It was impossible on account of the seas and the distance and I was restrained. At 11.35 a.m. we came quite close to Mr. Luen and I could see he was unconscious. I volunteered again to go to his assistance and went over to the side to him. The water was extremely cold and owing to the ship rolling and the heavy seas it was difficult to reach him. As he was in a bouy and I was on a swimming bowline he was more bouyant than I was and although I managed to grasp the bouy twice I was unable to hold it. When the those at the other end of the line saw that I myself was in distress and that Mr Luen was by this time out of my reach they hauled me aboard and I was taken to the stewards room for treatment. I saw no more of Mr Luen who was undoubtedly lost by now. I’m satisfied that every possible effort was made to rescue him
Signed. Roy Dudley Creser. 29th December 1939
It was hand written and clearly faded so could not read, one word marked with stars.
"There are no graves: no crosses: Nowhere a loved One can shed a tear: We should remember them."
Jim Luen is one of over 600 names on the Merchant Navy Monument at Barry and in the towns Roll of Honour – Little is known of many on all MN Monuments hence we record that known of a few in tribute and remembrance of the many.
A small tribute in remembering Jim: From the scroll commemorating him - Words are " This scroll commemorates J.E. Luen, Chief Officer Merchant Navy held in honour as one who served King and Country in the world war of 1939 - 1945 and gave his life to save mankind from tyranny. May his sacrifice help to bring the peace and freedom for which he died".
Chief Officer, JAMES EDWARD LUEN, S.S. Harlingen (London). Merchant Navy. 25th November 1939. Age 43. NB: SS Harlingen was sunk just under two years later by U-75 on 5th August 1941.