They Couldn't Have Done It Without Us:

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They Couldn't Have Done It Without Us:

The British merchant seamen faced up to the difficulties and horrors of war with courage and composure.

"Let those who come after see to it that his name be not forgotten".

Many have perished in and out of wartime: We are generally aware of much and attempt to remember them, as far as we can. With the “Festive Season” approaching, can we remember those that were lost both in the months of December and near or on Christmas? It would seem that if looking into the names on our local Merchant Navy monument many from Barry and the Vale as elsewhere crossed the bar during Decembers throughout the war years. In what should have been the festive periods, loss of life seldom paused in such conflicts.

Every name on all monuments represent a person, little of the life of all is known, what is known is that they not only died, but they died for us. Thoughts at present are with those lost, as we look forward to celebrate depending on faith or belief or just venture into another year. 2013 is to be the Year of the Convoy and needs to be recorded in tribute.

Although no attempt is made to defer from the many lost from all combined services, it is important that our forgotten service the British Merchant Navy is spared some thought. Barry and the Vale of Glamorgan at war supported all services and service people and all that assisted in the war effort and suffered losses of our families and friends, Barry in particular built on black gold was a Merchant Navy town.

Many or most gifts that will enhance this and every years merriment will generally have been imported, as an island most goods come by sea. Little thought is given to the dangers faced by seamen today, they deliver the game boys and goods, the food and much more, many think it just comes from the supermarket? Although todays seamen still have a tough life, they no longer fear the U Boats.

So as “Year of the Convoy” approaches it is hoped to look further, behind the lists and names of those recorded and find more on the lives or even deaths of those that were lost to save us all. We owe them at least enough to remember them as best that we can. More is known of a few, all is intended to remember the many.

It is intended to follow up similar month by month throughout 2013 during the year of the convoy and any assistance from friends, relatives and loved ones would be welcomed.

Many sail what can be a “Cruel Sea”, not always in times of conflict, we ask that our God will “Bless this Ship and all who Sail In Her” at a launch and many pray for a safe voyage and early return for vessels leaving harbour. All ships and crew from liners to fishing vessels, rowing boat to super tanker, require safe passage, a flag to fly under and protection from danger. Safe harbour to rest in and when tragedy occurs a lifeboat to help them. We pray for the safety, support those that may rescue and ask our god to guide and protect. But we must also remember, LEST WE FORGET.

In Memory of: All those Good Men and the women and children, still not Home From the Sea and those of all lost from this world with “No Known Grave but the Sea” the many just not remembered or just forgot and un-commemorated in an unattended grave. The many requisitioned by the Admiralty to serve a nation. “We shall Remember Them”.

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3rd September1939:

Great Britain and France declare war on Germany in accordance with their pre-war pledges to Poland. Australia and New Zealand follow. Irish Free State, however, a British dominion, declares its neutrality.

German submarines (previously deployed to operating areas in late August) begin attacks upon British shipping: during these early operations. The Steamship ATHENIA, a British passenger liner, 13,581 tons, belonging to the Anchor-Donaldson Line, was sunk by German submarine U-30 south of Rockall Bank on the 3rd of September 1938. 1,300 survived, 112

lives lost. No warning was given in spite of the fact that it was only a few hours after the outbreak of war, and contrary to Admiral Doenitz' orders.

At the highest German level it was considered a blunder and they stuck throughout the war with the lie that it was nothing to do with them. She was not sunk immediately with torpedoes, but rather she was at first shelled, and most of the lifeboats were lowered. Whilst causing considerable outrage in Britain, the fact that the Germans had not observed the rules of engagement as they then existed, should not have come as a surprise, since they had, as a population and as individuals, been planning and preparing for war for many years. Their tactic of unrestrained aggression had already been seen to bear fruit elsewhere, and they were rejoicing in the benefits, so the immediate opportunity to attack British interests, after years of resentment and hatred was too difficult to resist.

The British were almost entirely unprepared and had barely begun to grasp just how desperately serious matters were and the 'outrage' should be seen in this context. It was born out of complacency. Later in the war in the Battle of the Atlantic Captain Lemp surrendered his submarine to HMS BROADWAY and HMS BULLDOG. It yielded information of vital importance to Britain resulting in German codes being broken.

Despite having been given strict orders that all merchant vessels are to be treated in accordance with naval prize law (giving a warning before attacking) Lemp's torpedoing ATHENIA in the belief that she is an armed merchant cruiser gives the British the erroneous impression that Germany has commenced unrestricted submarine warfare.

And so it began:

THE YEAR OF THE CONVOY 2013:

The Battle of the Atlantic was the dominating factor all through the war. Never for one moment could we forget that everything happening elsewhere, on land, at sea or in the air depended ultimately on its outcome.

'Worst journey': Between 1941 and 1945, the Arctic convoys transported more than 4 million tonnes of supplies to the Soviet Union. More than 100 ships were lost with 3,000 sailors losing their lives. Winston Churchill said the arctic convoy mission was "the most dangerous journey in the world"

Named the ‘Fourth Service’ by Winston Churchill, the Merchant Navy has, throughout the nation’s history, ensured that supply lines to our Armed Forces have never been broken.

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0n the bosom of Triton:

References to Tower Hill are to both the National Monument and tribute via the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. These men are further remembered on the Merchant Navy Monument at Barry Dock, these were all local men from or residing in the Vale of Glamorgan. South Wales.

Although much more occurred and continued an early local loss of life of a Barrian was on 16th of September1939, Charles Meston Milne aged 47, Son of Alexander Meston Milne and Elizabeth Milne; husband of Ethel May Milne, of Barry, Glamorgan. Master Mariner Charles was master of the SS BRAMDEN (1,594t) cargo ship, Dunkirk to Blyth, hit a mine off Dunkirk. Two of her crew died. He is at rest at CALAIS SOUTHERN CEMETERY Plot J. Grave 2.

On December 5th 1939, Walter Barette, aged 36 “Crossed the Bar” Walter a Carpenter was the Son of William Evan Barette and Jane Barette; husband of Lilian May Barette, of Barry Dock, Glamorgan. He lost his life on the NAVASOTA and is both recorded and remembered at TOWER HILL MEMORIAL Panel 72.

The Navasota was a British cargo steamer of 8,795 tons and built in 1917 and owned by ROYAL MAIL LINES LTD. On the 5th of Decemeber 1939 when on route from LIVERPOOL for BUENOS AIRES in ballast she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk. 37crew lost.

The Steamer 'SS Box Hill' was sunk by a mine in the North Sea, off the eastern coast. Twenty on board perished.

Reginald Mehegan aged 53 was the Master of the SS. Box Hill, Reginald was a son of John and Margaret Mehegan; husband of Emily Gertrude Mehegan, of Barry, Glamorgan. Remembered with Honour: TOWER HILL MEMORIAL Panel 18. Reginald is remembered in perpetuity by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

His Final voyage:- Late in 1939 Box Hill (5,677t), sailed from St John, New Brunswick bound for Hull with a cargo of 8,452 tons of wheat. On 31st December, New Year's Eve she was 9 nautical miles (17 km) off the Humber lightship when she struck and detonated a German mine. She foundered and was lost off the Humber lightvessel with her crew of twenty-two, all of whom were lost. The explosion broke her back and she sank almost immediately with the loss of all hands.

The vessel broke completely in half and sank almost immediately. Her mainmast and smokestack were showing above the surface facing south-east, while her bow section pointed south-west.
Both sections of Box Hill's wreck were a hazard to shipping and showed above the water. In 1952 the Royal Navy dispersed her remains with high explosive and Admiralty charts now mark her position as a "foul" ground.

The MV Lady Glanely was a British Cargo Motor Vessel of 5,497 tons built in 1938. On the 2nd December 1940 when on route from Vancouver BC - Panama - Bermuda - London carrying a cargo of 2,000 tons of wheat and 6,125 tons of lumber she was torpedoed by German submarine U-101 and sunk about 410 miles west of Bloody Foreland. The master, 30 crew members and one gunner were lost.

James Harold Evans, Junior Engineer Officer aged 37, resident in the Vale, was the son of John Evans, and of Mary Evans, of Aberystwyth, Cardiganshire; husband of Minnie Evans, of Aberayron, Cardiganshire. Honoured at TOWER HILL MEMORIAL: Panel 63.

ARTHUR PEARS HEWITSON aged 58 was the Chief Officer of the MV Lady Glanely. Husband of Noreen Hewitson, of Barry, Glamorgan 58 Remembered also in perpetuity at TOWER HILL MEMORIAL: Panel 63.

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0n the bosom of Triton: B

Kenneth Richards was the Second Officer of the ASHCREST. Kenneth aged 32 was a son of Edward Richards, and of Elizabeth Richards, of Barry, Glamorgan. He is remembered by a Nation at the TOWER HILL MEMORIAL: Panel 11. The SS. Ashcrest is recorded as lost on 7/12/1940.

Euphorbia SS was a 3,109grt defensively-armed British Merchant ship. On the 1st December 1917 when on route from Bassein for London she was torpedoed by German submarine UC-75 and sunk when 14 miles E by S from Royal Sovereign Light Vessel, English Channel. 14 lives lost. Owned by J. Robinson & Sons, North Shields.

On 14/12/1940 the TOWER HILL MEMORIAL, records and tributes amongst the many OLE MARTIN JORGENSEN SALTNES, aged 44, Boatswain of the SS. EUPHORBIA.

Arthur A Gall aged 45, was the Second Engineer Officer of the SS Napier Star. She was a British Refrigerated Cargo Liner of 10,583grt belonging to the Blue Star Line. On the 18th December 1940 she was sunk by the German submarine U-100, south of Iceland. She was on a voyage from Liverpool to New Zealand with 8,200 tons of general cargo. Of her crew of 82 and 17 passengers, only 15 survived, including the three women passengers. Arthur is remembered at Tower Hill Panel 71.

25/12/1940

James Henry Jordan Fourth Engineer Officer aged 23 son of Robert and Edith Jordan, of Barry, Glamorganm The British passenger/cargoship Jumna was shelled by German heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper and sank N of the Azores. James was lost by enemy action along with all hands in the Atlantic. (Tower Hill Panel 59).

Albert Samuel George Briffett: Third Engineer Officer, aged 28.His ship the MV ARABY was mined and sunk m the 27th December 1940. Albert is remembered at Tower Hill Panel 9,

Three local men were lost from the crew of the SS. GRELHEAD 1/12/1941, The unescorted British steamsip Grelhead, from Spanish Morocco to the UK, was torpedoed by U-562 and sank 2 miles N of Punta Negri, Morocco.

David Jackson, John Mcauley, Rufus Tyne:

David Jackson was a Fireman and Trimmer, aged 44. John Mcauley again a Fireman and Trimmer, aged52 was the husband of Irene McAuley, of Barry Docks, Glamorgan. Rufus Tyne Fireman and Trimmer aged 45 is rememnered along with David and John his ship mates at Tower Hill Panel 53.

Thomas Raymond Williams, aged 22 was the Fourth Engineer Officer on the MONTREAL CITY, torpedoed and sunk by U.591 at 50.23N 38.00W on voyage Bristol to New York 21/12/1942. Tower Hill Panel Panel 71.

John Conway Cutter, aged 61 was a cook on the British Cargo Steamer SS. King Edward, On the 27th December 1942 when on route from HULL & LOCH EWE for NEW YORK in ballast and in Convoy ONS-154 she was torpedoed by German submarine U-3 56 and sunk NNE of the Azores.

23 crew lost from a total of 48. The master, 15 crew members and four gunners were picked up by the Toward (Master Gordon K. Hudson) and landed at Halifax on 9 January. Five crew members were rescued by HMCS Napanee (K 118) (Lt S. Henderson) and landed at St.Johns.

John was a Son of John and Gertrude Cutter; husband of Queenie Cutter, of Cadoxton, Barry, Glamorgan. . Tower Hill Panel 61.

William J Mote was a Steward on the TREWORLAS Torpedoed and sunk to E of Trinidad o.v. Massowah to Baltimore with manganese ore, she was torpedoed by U-124 and sunk.38 crew lost from a total crew of 48. . Tower Hill Panel 111

EMPIRE WAGTAIL 28/12/1942

John H Bradford, Donkeyman: aged 33 son of John William and Elizabeth Ann Fant Bradford. His brother William also fell 18/10/1940 Steward 39 S.S. Fiscus (Cardiff)

TOWER HILL MEMORIAL Panels 49 and 47.

Empire Wagtail SS was a British Cargo Steamer of 4,893 tons built in 1919. Built as American Ossining for US Shipping Board, Tacoma; 1933 renamed Point Lobos for Gulf Pacific Mail Line, San Francisco. In 1941 given to Britain and renamed Empire Wagtail by Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). On the 28th December 1942 when on route from Cardiff - Belfast Lough - Halifax - Boston in Convoy ONS-154 carrying a cargo of 3,857 tons of coal she was torpedoed by German submarine U-260 when about 900 miles W of Cape Finisterre. The master, 31 crew members and seven gunners were lost.

FORT ATHABASKA 2/12/1943

Robert Peart, and William H Watson, William Henry Watson Second Officer, aged 25. Robert Peart was a Chief Steward, aged 27 was a son of John William Weston Peart and Edith Peart, of Barry, Glamorgan, TOWER HILL MEMORIAL Panel 50.

The SS Fort Athabasca was a merchant ship owned by the Canadian Government but registered in Great Britain. She was owned by a crown corporation, Wartime Merchant Shipping Ltd., which chartered them to the British Ministry of War Transport.

On 2nd December 1943 the Fort Athabasca was in the docks at Bari loaded and ready for departure carrying 76 tons of cargo, mail and 2 captured German 1000 rocket bombs. It was part of a large allied convoy of tankers, ammunition ships and supply vessels at anchor in Bari.

When 20 German planes attacked and when one of the ammunition ships was hit and blew up, it started a domino effect of events. Ship after ship caught on fire. The ship next to the Athabasca blew up, and despite the crews’ heroic efforts, the 2 German bombs exploded killing 46 men out of her complement of 56.

The German air attack on Bari, Italy opened at 1925 hours 2nd December 1943, with bombers (105 Ju-88s) hitting allied merchants unloading supplies for the forces engaged in the battle for Rome.

Fire on ammunition ships John Harvey and bomb hits on John L. Motley caused massive detonations which shattered windows seven miles away. A bulk gasoline pipeline and supply were severed and the gushing fuel ignited engulfing other ships.

Seventeen merchant ships laden with nearly 35,000 tons of cargo were destroyed (5 American, 5 British, 3 Norwegian, 2 Italian, 2 Polish, with another 7 vessels heavily damaged). The port area was closed for three weeks and was only back in operation by February 1944.

In total, 800 crew and civilians lost their lifes in the fire, explosions and poisoning by mustard gas that was on board John Harvey.

List of ships lost:

ALLIED MERCHANTS

John Harvey (US Liberty, 7177 gt)
John L. Motley (US Liberty, 7176 gt)
John Bascom (US Liberty, 7176 gt)
Joseph Wheeler (US Liberty, 7176 gt)
Samuel J. Tilden (US Liberty, 7176 gt)
Fort Athabasca (Canadian, 7132 gt)
Fort Lajoie (Canadian, 7134 gt )
Testbank (British, 5083 gt)
Lars Kruse (British, 1897 gt)
Devon Coast (British, 646 gt)
Bollsta (Norwegian, 1832 gt)
Norlom (Norwegian, 6412 gt)
Lom (Norwegian, 1268 gt)
Lwow (Polish, 1409 gt)
Puck (Polish, 1065 gt)
Frosinone (Italian, 5202 gt)
Barletta (Italian, 1975 gt)

OTHER:
Inaffondabile (Italian)

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0n the bosom of Triton:

Greek Mythology: Triton a god of the sea, son of Poseidon and Amphitrite, portrayed as having the head and trunk of a man and the tail of a fish.

William Wordsworth's "The World is Too Much With Us; Late and Soon"

The world is too much with us; late and soon,
Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers:
Little we see in Nature that is ours;
We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!
This Sea that bares her bosom to the moon;
The winds that will be howling at all hours,
And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers;
For this, for everything, we are out of tune;
It moves us not. — Great God! I'd rather be
A Pagan suckled in a creed outworn;
So might I, standing on this pleasant lea,
Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn;
Have sight of Proteus rising from the sea;
Or hear old Triton blow his wreathed horn.

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An original December 25th 1939 dated Naval Message to ALL BRITISH MERCHANT SHIPS from H.M. THE KING............... message reads as follows.............

IT HAS NOT BEEN POSSIBLE FOR ME TO SEND A CHRISTMAS CARD TO EACH MEMBER OF THE BRITISH MERCHANT NAVY AND FISHING FLEETS AS I HAVE DONE TO MEMBERS OF THE FIGHTING FORCES, BECAUSE OUR SHIPS ARE SO WIDELY SCATTERED OVER THE SEVEN SEAS. INSTEAD I SEND TO EACH OF YOU,

THIS PERSONAL CHRISTMAS MESSAGE OF GOOD WILL AND GOOD CHEER.

YOU ARE FACING THE SPECIAL PERILS WHICH IN THESE DAYS SURROUND THE SEAMEN, WITH A COOLNESS, COURAGE AND FORTITUDE WHICH ARE THE ADMIRATION OF US ALL AT HOME AND I KNOW THAT I SPEAK NOT ONLY FOR MYSELF BUT FOR ALL YOUR FELLOW COUNTRYMEN, WHEN I WISH YOU A HAPPY
XMAS AND A GOOD LANDFALL.

GEORGE R.I.

25th December 1939

[Administrator]

YEAR OF THE CONVOY 2013

The Battle of the Atlantic was the dominating factor all through the war. Never for one moment could we forget that everything happening elsewhere, on land, at sea or in the air depended ultimately on its outcome.

TELL THE CHILDREN:

A Special breed of men my friend - a special breed of men.,
I'm talking of the convoys and remember once again,
Seventy years have passed proving what we owe,
Our debt is all the greater from all those years ago.

Our Mariners endured, intrepid and low paid,
With stubborn sense of purpose carried on their trade,
Still they served our country sailing there and back,
Hauling vital cargoes in times that looked so black.

These doughty Merchant Seamen knew their cruel fate,
If struck by cunning sea-wolves lurking there in wait,
If they lived to tell their story and strived to stay afloat,
They struggled on with hardships aboard an open boat.

Life goes on of course, we age and youngsters grow,
Ask them about the convoys find out what they know,
Show them our Red Duster, explain our island race,
Shed light upon the Nelson touch and put the seaman’s case.

Spell out the wartime rations and shortage of supplies,
Clarify the fight they had risking of their lives,
Tell them of the oceans and lifelines to supply,
Our Children have their freedom and should know the reason why.

Worst journey': Between 1941 and 1945, the Arctic convoys transported more than 4 miillion tonnes of supplies to the Soviet Union. More than 100 ships were lost with 3,000 sailors losing their lives. Winston Churchill said the arctic convoy mission was "the most dangerous journey in the world"

Capt. J.Earl M.N.M. Bristol M.N.Ass.. Nov. 2012


The Year of the Convoy 2013 will be a major anniversary year:

Including:

The 70th Anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic (BOA 70).

(This will be the major National event in 2013 with Liverpool at its focus ) 24 – 27 May 2013: