Perils of the Sea
The perils of the sea.
The sea around Gower have claimed the fate of ships and
scores of lost lives of numerous people.
This blog looks at three lives lost.
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| Lifeboat Janet |
1916. New Year’s Day,
the lifeboat Janet had been cast off, who was answering the distress
calls of the Glasgow steamer Dunvegan which had gone ashore at
Oxwich. On returning to port, Janet
had been struck by heavy seas and capsized twice. The crew were thrown into the sea but having
managed to hold on the lifeboat. However,
William Gibbs, Coxswain, William Eynon, 2nd Coxswain and George
Harry lifeboatman, were missing. A search
was carried out for the missing men, but sadly to no avail. The bodies of William Eynon and George Harry
were washed ashore. William Gibbs’ body
was never recovered.
February two unknown bodies of sailors were washed ashore. One of the unknown sailors was buried at St. Illtyds
church, Oxwich.
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| Patrick Russell grave St. Illtyds church, Oxwich |
Buried beside the unknown sailor is the grave of Patrick
Russell.
Patrick Russell lost his life in the wreck of the barque Tridonia
The Tridonia was built 1901 by French builders,
Ateliers & Chantiers de la Loire, Nantes and owned by French owners,
Societe Anonymes Les Voiliers Dunkergouis, Dunkirk under the name of SV Jean-Bart,
from 1901 – 1912. During this period, she
had run aground in Australia
Change of owners during 1912, with the German Krabbenhoft
& Bock, Hambrug. Where she was renamed
SV Heinz
At the outbreak of the First World War, the Heinz was
seized by armed merchant cruiser, Kinfaus Castle off Port Nolloth.
This time the ship was Cardiff owned and had a change of
name to Tridonia.
The Tridonia was 2,168 grt, powered by 3 masts. Having served between 1914 to 1916.
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| SV Tridonia |
30th October 1916, under the command of Captain
James Stewart, of Aberdeen. The Tridonia on a voyage between Dublin to Buenos
Aires was in ballast. During a gale, the Tridonia was swept on to the
rocks off Oxwich Point and at Mumbles.
The Tenby lifeboat was unable to reach her. For nearly 30 hours, Captain Stewart and the crew
remained on the deck, where they were lashed to the rigging. For nearly 24
hours, the various stations on the Gower coast trying to work communications
with the stricken vessel. Eventually they
succeeded and the crew rescued. Word was
received that on the 31st the crew had been rescued off the Tridonia. The first to come ashore was Captain Stewart’s
wife. Sadly although, Captain James Stewart,
Second Officer Rock and Able Seaman Patrick Russel were all swept off the ship
and drowned.
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| The Cambria Daily Leader 2nd November 1916 |
Captain James Steward's body was washed off Swansea Breakwater
Patrick Russell’s body was recovered on the 11th
November 1916 from Oxwich. Patrick was
43 and he came from 74 Beslington Street, Dublin.
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| South Wales Daily Post 11th November 1916 |
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| The Cambria Daily Leader 6th November 1916 |
Over twenty years later, January 1938. Harries Bros. & Co ship SS Glanrhyd with a cargo og coal duff
was on passage from Newport, South Wales to Irlam, Lancashire, when passing on the 15th
January 4 miles northward of Foreland Point Light, when it was overwhelmed by exceptionally
large seas and waves, that it might have foundered and lost at sea.
SS Glanrhyd a 1525 grt cargo ship and powered by a
triple expansion engine.
The alarm was raised the following day, with the discovery
of two bodies and ships boats were washed up off Rhossilly. A further 6 other bodies were recovered between
Slade and Whitford.
Two of the bodies of John Kane and John McRan were buried at
St. Cattwg’s church, Port Eynon.
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| Graves of John Kane (left) and John McRan (right) St. Cattwg's church, Port Eynon |
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