Her Name Was "Trevessa"

[INFO AT TREGENNA]

Her Name Was “Trevessa”

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.

On 3 June 1923, the Hain Line steamer "Trevessa”, loaded with zinc concentrates and on route from Fremantle to Durban, sank very quickly in the Indian Ocean during a violent storm. The 44-crew members scrambled into two lifeboats, some with very little clothes on, and the Captain, Cecil Foster, decided to endeavor to make for Mauritius some 2,000 miles away. With no compass and only enough water for 7 pints per man, 550 biscuits and two cases of condensed milk, they were immediately put on strict rations. The boats soon became separated and with the soaring heat of the tropics some succumbed to drinking salt water which caused them to become delirious and death followed quickly.

With no wind the men had to row, which aggravated not only their swollen hands and feet but also their bodies, which were suffering from extensive salt-water boils. It was only by perfect discipline and obedience to the Captain's orders that they stuck together and on the 23rd day one boat landed on the island of Rodriguez and three days later the second boat landed at Bel-Ombre, Mauritius and a total of 34 men survived.

On the second boat the engineer had fallen overboard during rough weather and another crewman died two hours before land was sighted. The survivors in this boat were so exhausted they had to be carried ashore, and the chief cook died soon after arrival.

In Lelant church near the font is a stained class window of St Christopher dedicated to the memory of Harry Sparks, who perished on 23rd June, 1923, after the wreck of the S.S.Trevessa in the Indian Ocean.

A monument to the crew of "Trevessa" was erected on Bel-Ombre and on the anniversary of their landing on Mauritius "Trevessa Day" was celebrated which is now become "The Seafarers Day"

News from Mauritius

Capt Yves Goilot (1962) in his capacity of Secretary to the Merchant Navy Club of Port Louis, Mauritius had the honour a while ago of scattering the ashes of his friend Charles Seaborne who one of the survivors and a cadet of the s.s. "Trevessa" and who revisited the island each year on the anniversary of his landing by lifeboat in order to lay a wreath on his friend Alchin's grave .

SS. TREVESSA

In June 1923 the Hain Line steamer "Trevessa" loaded with zinc concentrates and on route from Fremantle to Durban sank very quickly in the Indian Ocean during a violent storm. The 44 crew members scrambled into two lifeboats, some with very little clothing on, and the Captain Cecil Foster decided to endeavour to make for Mauritius some 2,000 miles away. With no compass and only enough water for 7 pints per man, 550 biscuits and two cases on condensed milk they were immediately put on strict rations. The boats soon became separated and with the soaring heat of the tropics some succumbed to drinking salt water which caused them to become delirious and death followed quickly. With no wind the men had to row which aggravated not only their swollen hands and feet but also their bodies which were suffering from extensive salt water boils. It was only by perfect discipline and obedience to the Captain's orders that the stuck together and on the 23rd day one boat landed on the island of Rodriguez and three days later the second boat landed at Bel-Ombre, Mauritius and a total of 34 men survived.

A monument to the crew of "Trevessa" was erected on Bel-Ombre and on the anniversary of their landing on Mauritius "Trevessa Day" was celebrated which is now become "The Seafarers Day" so that the islanders can ponder the fact that they are indebted to seafarers of many nations.

The story of the survivors of the shipwreck of the S.S. Trevessa.

On June 3, 1923, the Trevessa sank in the middle of the southern Indian Ocean, having left Fremantle, Australia for Britain and Europe. Two boats were launched leaving the crew of forty-four hoping for assistance. They eventually set a course for Rodriguez Island. One boat made it after twenty-six days. The other boat however experienced a tragic passage. Water ran short and despite repeated warnings, four Indian members of the crew drank seawater and died. The second engineer fell overboard during rough weather and another crewman died two hours before land was sighted. This boat missed Rodriguez Island and sighted Mauritius on 28 June. The survivors were so exhausted by this time they had to be carried ashore, and the chief cook died soon after arrival. An interesting tale!

[Administrator]

Talking what now seems a long time ago (although, I had vague recollections of the story) a gentleman reminded me of a Barry Seaman and a red ensign from a ship presumed to be Trevessa - now seems more likely to be Trevessa (1) The flag apparently has been displayed for a very long time near the alter in Saint Pauls Church in Barry Dock. Hopefully, as the plaque that was below it, with its content now believed incorrect. all ammendments may be made and the flag rededicated to all seamen, including Arthut.

I will as soon as time permits, follow this up and for now ask that anyone that has any knowledge of this, please contact me. Thank you in advance of any co-operation, I hope to find more details of the young man.

Keith.

[e-mail]

[A READER]

The Red Ensign at St.Paul’s

The Red Ensign was apparently recieved by a ship’s young apprentice, Barry boy Arthur Phillips .

That ensign displayed at St. Paul’s church, was a tribute to Arthur and at the time officers and crew of Trevessa. It is now known that Arthurs association was with an earlier Trevessa (1) rather than Trevessa (2).

Arthur lived with his parents in Porthkerry Road, Barry and was a St. Paul’s choir boy.

The ensign was presented to St. Pauls by his late mother Dora Phillips.

The full tale may be lost in time, a particular belief, concerning the ensigns rescue was a long time popular at least local belief, any earlier reports were based on good faith and at the time there seemed no reason to believe the tale incorrect.

It is more possible that the ensign was recieved by the young lad from a Haimes ship we know he was associated with and this presented by his mother in memory of her son.

Lack of information then may have confused the pasts events especially as many would have not have known of an earlier ship with the same name.

[KGPO]

Hi Keith

I was very interested to see your website on the loss of the Trevessa. Captain Cecil Patrick Thomas Foster was my great-uncle. There was no mention that he had to appear before a Board of Trade Enquiry but was completely exhonerated. This, however, apparently broke him and he never sailed again and died at a relatively early age.

regards
Penny

[KG]

Captain Foster of Trevessa , having been torpedoed in the Great War, believed that tinned milk saved many castaways, and in the few moments before his steamship suddenly foundered he ordered his steward – who had sailed with him in wartime – to grab condensed milk rather than tinned meat. This Fact emerged at the Board of Trade enquiry into the loss of Trevessa and by July, 1, 1925 every British lifeboat carried a pound of condensed milk for every passenger.

When the good captain and his chief officer and their surviving crew arrived at Gravesend in a Union Castle Line mail steamer in August 1923 they received a heroes’ welcome.

The flags were flying and ships’ sirens saluted them.

The Board of Trade made presentations to the captain and officers. The Hain Steamship Co. presented pieces of plate to Capt. Foster, Mr. Stewart Smith and Mr. N. V. Robson, chief engineer. Lloyd's awarded the Silver Medal for saving life at sea to the captain and first officer.

Captain Foster and the mate were not only awarded the Lloyd’s Silver Medal for their splendid seamanship and courage, but were also received by the King and Queen at Buckingham Palace.

KG.

[KG]

The loss of the Trevessa in 1924 where the rescuers, although alerted by radio, failed to find the crew, who sailed 1700 miles in open boats, apart from setting rules of provisions to be carried resulted in the regulation that lifeboats in certain categories of ship must carry emergency transmitter-receivers.

[KG]

I have just made a succesful bid on EBAY for a copy of the book that Cecil wrote in 1925, recording the ordeal for all time, in his 17,000 miles in open boats. I hope top gain much knowledge from the publication and will contact the family and publishers RE: any new info etc that we could use in our research project on the "Trevessa" Her Captain and crew etc,

[INFO AT TREGENNA]

RE: A Red Ensign at St.Paul’s church in Barry.

On Sunday the 3rd of August 2008, a visit was made to St. Pauls and we were kindly allowed to take several pictures of the Red Ensign that was associated to Barry boy Arthur Phillips .

That ensign at the time at St. Paul’s church was a tribute to Arthur Phillips and remembered the officers and crew of Trevessa.

We now know that there were two Trevessa's any connection with Trevessa (2) is not likely in anyway.

Arthur lived with his parents in Porthkerry Road, Barry and was a St. Paul’s choir boy.

The ensign was presented to St. Pauls by his late mother Dora Phillips to remember her son.

[Administrator]

We would like to thank Captain Joe Earl: Author of The Men who Missed The Tide and I Am A Western Ocean Mariner, for kindly passing on to us today some of his most recent work.

A Poem - The S.S.Trevessa.

In tribute.


Keith.

[Keith at Tregenna]

THE GREY WIDOW MAKER by BERNARD EDWARDS: The true stories of twenty-four disasters at sea. I have just borrowed a copy of Bernard Edwards book. as he states: The sea has many moods, few of them benevolent. I have as yet found little time to read properly, but will do so.

The book has a feature on "TREVESSA" and we will update on all asap I am certain this will be of great assitance to our research.

We shall endeavour to contact both the author and publisher for permision to hopefuly quote from the writing of Mr. Edwards and again hopefuly to reproduce some of the photographs etc. KG.

[THE SSTREVESSA]

THE S.S.TREVESSA

`Twas in the Indian Ocean in nineteen twenty-three,
The Trevessa perished by the head in a raging sea,
Loaded in Port Pirie her cargo heavy zinc,
Bound in time for Antwerp until about to sink,
The heaving seas were flooding in, the vessel taking water,
In the hold, the concentrates like wet cement or mortar,
Pumps there could not handle it, as bilges could not drain,
Engineers tried everything but toiled and fought in vain.

Abandoning Trevessa in the early hours of morn,
Shocked by her quick foundering soon after in the storm,
Embarking in two lifeboats the crew of forty-four,
Commenced upon their voyages of epic ocean lore,
The wooden craft were clinker built, eight foot beam and strong,
A single mast with lugsail and twenty-six feet long,
The Mate in charge of one boat cast off to sail and row,
Westward to Mauritius - two thousand miles to go.

The Old Man took the other one to find Rodriguez Isle,
Mostly in good spirits in Merchant navy style,
They tried to sail together but after six rough days,
The Mate’s boat proved the slower so went their separate ways,
Keeping up the headway, they pulled at times with oars,
Ignoring painful sunburn and agonising sores,
They lived on basic rations, doled out with discipline,
Plus cigarettes with matches and baccy in a tin.

The seventeenth day in the Old Man`s boat saw two men pass away,
Nine succumbed in the other one by exposure cold and spray,
Though four of them delirious carried out self-slaughter,
By ignoring well known orders and drinking of salt water,
Captain Cecil Foster had braved the first World War,
Knew how to stock the lifeboats as he’d been sunk before,
Stowing extra water and tins of milk condensed,
Along with hard ship’s biscuits carefully dispensed.

Experience and foresight served them very well,
He’d saved the lives of many with now a tale to tell,
Of surviving heavy seas, trying to steer a course,
Through extremes of weather and latitudes of Horse,
Days then weeks were counted, declining all the while,
`Till navigating coral reefs off Rodriguez Isle,
Mauritius bound, the Mate’s crew, later made landfall,
Carried then ashore - for they could not walk at all.

J.Earl Aug. 2008

The zinc concentrates were loaded in the form of a kind of slime which water could not percolate. The sounding rod could not detect water in the holds nor could the bilge pumps reach it. Engineers started to cut off the heads of the rivets in the collision bulkhead to allow the water to escape into the forepeak where the pumps could reach it. However, the bulkhead began to bulge and crack and they were forced to give up the attempt

[KEITH AT TREGENNA]

I regret any confusion in past reports, all information is generally from a good source, generally I do look into all things deeper.

Information and sources via modern technology becomes more and more available now than ever, some may still be lost forever. If by chance we do err, will attempt to make ammends.

Some information that people believed years ago was based on what they knew or were told. Often a ships location in wartime was not accurately told as to some extent was classified. The family had chance to mourn, but only with release of documents much later did some learn of the different location.

I do regret as said any errors, often information is found again in old sources that were not actually correct, as and when and with help will attempt to ammend any such errors.

Regards K.

[Grahame Davies]

Hello,

I wonder if you can help, please? I'm currently writing a book about references to Muslims in Welsh literature. One of the most fruitful sources for material has been in seafarers' memoirs, and in Cardiff's University Library I have found an example in a poem published in the 1920s by Ernest Forrest of Cardiff and entitled The ‘Trevessa’: An Epic of the Sea, and subtitled ‘Two Thousand fathoms Deep!’. It mentions the deaths of Firemen Jacob Ali and Fireman Naji. If you're not already aware of the poem, I'm sure you'd find it interesting.

I have two questions. Firstly, was there any particular connection between the Trevessa and Wales? I know of the commemoration of one of the survivors in the church in Barry, but was the connection stronger than that? Was the Trevessa based in Barry, perhaps? And secondly, is there a list of those who died? I'm wondering if the names in the poem are real or not.

I'd be grateful for any help you can give. I can be contcted through the Contact page of my website; www.grahamedavies.com/contact.shtml

Thanks in advance for your help,

Grahame Davies

[KG]

WE ALWAYS RESPOND / REPLY:

Much has been altered from earlier reports re: Arthur Phillips of Barry, His story may be lost in time and I have no doubt that he did and saw much in his time with Haines at sea, he was not on the crew list of the Trevessa hence neither took part in the epic voyage. It is proven that he did sail with Haines on may "Tre" ships:

INCLUDING THE FIRST KNOWN "TREVESSA" (1)

Hence confusion from before my time and recently, hopefully corrected,

He. I am certain had a tale to tell, that we may or may not ever find more about, but will try.

There is now no evidence that he was associated with Trevessa (2)

His mother obviously loved him and wished to remember Arthur, any confusion occurred a long time ago and at least we are more aware of all.

K.

[KG]

The "Trevessa"
An Epic of the Sea.
Two Thousand Fathoms Deep !

BY ERNEST FORREST
CARDIFF.

This Steamer of 5,000 Tons, belonging to the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co., sank in the Southern Ocean in less than three hours at 2.15 on the morning of June 4th, 1923, while en route to Europe. The Crew in two lifeboats reached land 1,200 miles distant in 23 and 25 days respectively, after terrible sufferings and privations.