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Patrick's great-grandfather Lieutenant Paul was the captain of the St Genny and drowned in the 12 January 1930 disaster. He knows little about him other than that "he became an orphan very young and was brought up by his 'uncle and aunt', and started to work on ships 'at 14.' " He sent Naval-History.Net the following material, most of which speaks for itself.
right - believed to be HMS St Genny |
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COMMISSIONED GUNNER, later LIEUTENANT CHARLES FREDERICK PAUL RN |
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ACCOUNTS IN "DAILY SKETCH" and 'DAILY EXPRESS" |
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REPORT LOST st), K.X. 76581 (Chatham). Richard Robert COTTON (Sto. 1st), K 62113 (Chatham). James CROWTHER (Sto. 1st), K 16109 (Devenport). Thomas FRAY (E.R.A., 2nd), M 34649 (Chatham). Leonard Charles GREEN (Sto. 1st), K 62435 (Chatham). Frederick James Benjamin HEBEL (Ldg. Sto.), K 59712 (Chatham). George Arthur HOWES (A.B.), J 105307 (Chatham). Sydney Richard KELLINGTON (A.B.), J 92220 (Chatham). Claud William Nevell KEMP (Off. Std. 2 nd), L 12749 (Chatham).Frederick Andrew KNIGHT (Sto. 1st class), K 65419 (Chatham). Paul MAITLAND (A.B.), J 100943 (Chatham). William Henry PEPLER (E.R.A. 1 st), M 14878 (Chatham).Frederick George PINK (Ldg. Sto.), K 59106 (Chatham). Albert James PRIEST (Off. Std. 3 rd), L 14694 (Chatham).Henry Albert RAVEN (Sto. 1st) K 58432 (Chatham). Sidney Silvester TITMUS (A.B.) J 106605 (Chatham). John Thomas WILLIS (Ldg. Sto.) K 2294 (Devonport). Thomas John WILLOUGHBY (Tel.) J 48094 (Chatham).
Published in "The Times" 14 th January 1930.(From Our Correspondent) Weymouth, Jan. 13.
STRUCK BY BIG WAVE RESCUES BY COMPANION SHIPS
News of the disaster to the tug St. Genny was received with surprise in the Atlantic Fleet at Portland. It was pointed out that while she was not a very large vessel, she was well built and very powerful, and had weathered very severe storms off the French coast during similar journeys with the Fleet in previous years.
Information received at Portland this evening shows that at the time of the disaster, 8.20 on Sunday evening, the wind was blowing at a rate of between 70 and 80 miles an hour, and at times reached 100 miles an hour. The St. Genny, her sister tug, St. Cyrus, and the sloop Snapdragon left Portland together on Saturday, and hove to about 30 miles N.W. of Ushant in the hope that the storm would abate. The three ships were within half a mile of each other. After one huge wave had swept the St. Cyrus and the Snapdragon, the look-out men missed the St. Genny. Searchlights were thrown on the spot where she was seen last, and several men were observed struggling in the water. The two ships approached the spot, and life lines were thrown to the drowning men, who were wearing lifebelts. In this way five men were saved. Owing to the heavy seas it was impossible to launch a lifeboat.
The light cruiser Frobisher, which was at Portland, was sent early this morning to give what help she could, but no men could live long in such rough sea, even if they had lifebelts or had found wreckage. It is believed that a huge wave stove in the plates of the St. Genny, that there was a tremendous inrush of water, and that only the men on deck had a chance to escape, those below being caught in a trap. The Admiralty has ordered an inquiry.
The departure of the Atlantic Fleet for Spanish and Mediterranean ports has been postponed for 24 hours in consequence of the rough weather. The ships will leave port at 2 o’clock tomorrow afternoon.
THE KING’S SYMPATHY
The following telegram has been received by the Admiralty:-
"The King is much distressed to hear of the sinking of H. M. Tug Saint Genny during yesterday’s storm, and asks that you will convey to the relatives of all those who lost their lives an expression of his Majesty’s sincere sympathy."
The cruiser Frobisher, escorting the sloop Snapdragon and the tug St. Cyrus, with the survivors of the St. Genny aboard, arrived off Plymouth at 8 o’clock last night, and anchored in the Sound. It was understood that the survivors would remain aboard during the night and land at Davenport Dockyard this morning.
LIEUT. PAUL AND HIS SHIP
The St. Genny belonged to the "Saint" class of the fleet tugs built late in the War, and was of about 425 tons gross, with a length of 135ft., beam of 30ft., and a maximum draught of 14½ft. She was a single screw ship, with engines of 1,250 horsepower, giving her a nominal speed of 12 knots. The St. Cyrus and the St. Genny were attached to the Atlantic Fleet Target Service, and the latter finished a refit at Chatham yard only on January 4, before leaving for the Mediterranean to take part in the spring cruise of the Fleet.
The St. Genny had been commanded since April 30 by Lieutenant C. F. Paul, R.N., formerly second-in-command of the fishery protection trawler Kennet.
Lieutenant Paul was born on November 18, 1882, and was promoted to the warrant rank of gunner in August, 1914, and appointed to H. M. S Lord Nelson, flagship of Admiral Sir Cecil Burney. He remained in the ship when she was sent to the Eastern Mediterranean, where she was flagship of Vice-Admirals de Robeck and Thursby. From October 1 1917, he served in the destroyer Express. He was promoted commissioned gunner in August, 1924, and lieutenant in June, 1928, after two years at Chatham Gunnery School.
Published in "The Times" 15th January 1930. (from Our correspondent) Plymouth, Jan. 14.
THE LOST TUG GALLANT RESCUE OF SURVIVORS SISTER SHIP’S PLIGHT
The full account of the rescue of the survivors of the naval tug St. Genny, which foundered in the gale on Sunday evening when about 40 miles off Ushant with the loss of 23 lives, reveals the heroism exhibited by the captain and crew of the sister tug St. Cyrus, who rescued five men in seemingly impossible conditions.
The St. Genny was steaming to Gibraltar in company with the sloop Snapdragon and the tug St. Cyrus, and was sunk by mountainous seas at a quarter to 8 on Sunday. The story of what happened was told by Lieutenant Henry Melville, the captain of the St. Cyrus.
The St. Cyrus herself, it appears, had a very narrow escape from disaster. About 3 o'clock on Sunday afternoon, soon after the gale sprang up in the Channel, the tug had her steam steering gear put out of action. This put the vessel in great danger, as if she had got broadside on the heavy seas she would have stood little chance. The captain ordered the rigging of the temporary hand-steering gear, and while taking part in this dangerous work received a blow from the uncontrolled rudder which broke his little finger and shattered two other bones in his right hand. By the time the temporary gear was fixed the St. Cyrus had fallen a long way behind the other boats.
The tug struggled against the gale at a speed of about four knots, when at 7.45 an S. O. S. signal was observed. The signal seen must have been the last flash before the lamp went out, as the next thing noticed was the burning of calcium flares in the water, showing that men were in the sea. These flares are set off automatically when life-belts are immersed in water. The captain thinking that he was still many miles behind the St. Genny, thought at first that a merchant vessel was sinking. The St. Cyrus, lame herself, with huge seas washing her gunwales, proceeded to the scene as quickly as possible. Her searchlight could not be brought to bear upon the figures struggling in water, but they could be seen in the light of the flare, and some of the men shouted that they were members of the crew of the St. Genny.
FINE SEAMANSHIP
An amazing scene followed, and according to the crew only the coolness and expert seamanship of the captain made it possible to save lives with the ship almost half sinking herself. The gunwales of the tug were under water, and the crew, fighting to keep their own washboards free, began flinging lines and lifebuoys to their comrades, who were being pitched hither and thither like corks. About eight or nine members of the St. Genny's crew were all who were seen by the rescuers. The others, it is assumed, had been carried out of reach, or, as empty lifebelts betokened, given up the struggle with the intense cold and the fury of the storm. Two men were seen on the weather side of the St. Cyrus, where they could not be reached without turning the ship. The captain shouted to them "All right, we will get you in a minute," but they were never seen again. The crew of the St. Cyrus, including the officers and stewards, helped in the rescue work, standing in water reaching at times to their armpits. Mr. A. E. Harding, the Bos'n was stunned by at big wave almost as soon as he came on deck.
After the rescue work had lasted about half an hour, it became evident that no others on that side of the tug could be saved. In trying to turn to pick up the two men who had been seen on the other side the St. Cyrus very nearly capsized, and the attempt had to be abandoned. The St. Cyrus, lame and waterlogged, with every man onboard wet to the skin, beat her way at four knots for nearly 11 hours. The five survivors were transferred to the Snapdragon, which was several miles away when the tug sank.
The Snapdragon brought the men into Devonport this morning, and during the afternoon an official court of inquiry was held on board. The survivors were sent later to the Royal Naval Barracks before proceeding on leave. Lieutenant Melville had only just joined the St. Cyrus, and was making his first trip in her.
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THE COMMEMORATIVE PHOTOGRAPH
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return to Naval-History.Net revised 9/4/12 |
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