General Chat

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The following is the testimony of the lone survivor aboard the Trawler Kirkland Robert Weymouth given to the Court of Enquiry on 21st August 1917. Robert Weymouth, Deck Hand, D.A 723, H.M.Trawler 'Kirkland' was called and cautioned. Q. Are you Robert Weymouth, Deck Hand of H.M Trawler 'Kirkland'? A. Yes Sir. Q. When your ship was blown up where were you? A. Securing Derricks. Q. Where is that? A. On the port side aft. Q. Give the court a brief account of what happened after the explosion. A. I walked to the starboard quarter and secured the guy, Sir. Then she lifted her stern and dived. Q. How long would you say between the explosion and the time she disappeared? A. About three or four minutes. Q. Did you speak to anybody after the expolsion? A. I spoke to the mate, Sir. Q. He was alive? A. Yes Sir Q. Could you account for the great loss of life? A. No Sir, I Cannot Q. Who was on the deck at the time of the expolsion to your knowledge? A. The Skipper was in the wheelhouse, and George Rose, deck hand and I securing the derricks, the rest were below. Q. How many came up after the explosion? A. Three Sir. Q. Had you all your lifebelts on? A. No Sir Q. Didn't you know of the order that says you are to wear your lifebelts on patrol or minesweeping? A. On minesweeping, Sir, but we had never been on escort duties before. Q. Did you recieve an order to put your lifebelts on? A. No Sir, only when mines were found. Q. Have you seen a recent order with regard to wearing lifebelts? A. No Sir. Q. Did you see any of the crew again when you were in the water? A. One fireman Sir. Q. And you spoke to him? A. Yes Sir. Q. What did you say? A. He says to me 'What are you going to do'. I Said, Swim. and then he sang out 'Help' and went down then. Q. Was there much current did you notice? A. No sir. Q. Do you know if the crew could swim? A. The Chief Engineer could not, the Second Hand nor the signal boy and I do not think the Skipper could himself. Q. Where do you conclude the mine exploded? A. Right amid-ships, Sir. Q. Was the Fireman sleeping aft with the others? A. No Sir, he was on watch. Q. Did she appear to break in half? A. Yes Sir. Q. How long were you in the water before you were picked up? A. About an hour Q. How did you keep yourself up? A. With the frame-work of the Wheel-house. Q. Did you see any bodies floating about? A. No Sir, it was too dark. Q. Did it strike you it was a mine submerged or on the surface? A. Submerged Sir. Q. Were you stunned at all? A. No Sir Q. Were the majority of the men forward or aft? A. There were three forward below. Q. Where was the look-out? A. On top of the Wheel house Sir Q. Do you think if the men had been wearing lifebelts more lives would have been saved? A. No Sir Q. Even in view of the fact that the fireman was in the water and called out for help? A. He could not swim Sir. Q. Could the Mate swim? A. I do not know Sir Q. Do you know the position of your Depth Charges? A. They were on safe, Sir Q. You do not think the depth charges exploded? A. No Sir Q. What depth charges did you carry? A. Two small ones with handles on (type G) Q. Where were they kept? A. They were kept aft close to the Single Toe Charges. Q. That was all you had got? A. Yes Sir. End of his testimony.

That is interesting. Good to have as well, you can imagine him talking aren't you. He was lucky to be saved. What a pity it was not your Uncle who was saved, it would have been even better to have then. Do you know if there was any outcome, verdict or whatever? ann Glos

15 years old...........what a tragedy. This is really interesting reading, thanks for sharing it with us. xx

That is so awful, even the survivors were questioned in such a way that implied their guilt !! Poor lads. So your Grt uncle died on the ship then Gillian? Deanna X

It is such a pity but even more so was the fact that the skipper of the trawler that went to their aid was put up on charges. see below; H.M Trawler Kirkland hit a submerged mine at 10.45 p.m on the 20th August 1917 a mile and half off Papa Stour. The Kirkland was on Escort duty with H.M Trawler Ethel escorting the Tank Kremlin. She was hit amid-ships and sank after 3-4 minutes of the explosion. All hands bar one were lost. The survivor , Robert Weymouth, was picked up after approximately an hour in the water by a boat from H.M Trawler Ethel. Non of the crew were wearing lifebelts contrary to article A.W.O.2450/17and some members of the crew, including Edward, could not swim. The court of enquiry found the accompanying trawler Ethel did all that was possible to save life and that the cause of the accident was atributable to no one. The skipper of the trawler that rescued the lone survivor was put up on charges as follows: Excerpt: The skipper of H M Trawler “Ethel” is to be dealt with under article 724 King’s regulations and admiralty instructions for deserting the convoy placed in his charge, without sufficient reason. He is also to be cautioned to exercise more supervision and care to carry out the provisions of Admiralty Monthly order no 2430/1917. His conduct and Judgement on this occasion appear to have been most unsatisfactory and you are to render report to me as to his conduct at the end of every month until further orders.

Hi Deanna. Yes he was the signal boy aged 15. Edward Roden was his name. He was my Grandmothers brother.

O.M.G. they really do not respect our sons!! How the H*** could anyone stop what happened to that ship.... Deanna X PS... Gillian please tell me how did you get that report?

Hi Anne ad Kitty Thanks for reading Gill

Deana I searched for 'Kirkland' in the National Archives site and they had the full transcript of the inquest. They gave me a quote depending on how many pages there were and then sent me the copy. Gill

My grandad was James Roden,from the midlands Maddy

Thanks for sharing that with us Gillian. I too had a Great Uncle that was a skipper lost on a trawler in WW1. I don't know if you know. But if he is remembered on the Plymouth War memorial . Then there is a site which has pictures of the panels. I found my Uncles name on it. I would never be able to go and see it so this is the next best thing.Let me know if you want the addy Germaine x

Hello Gillian That's so sad and he was but a boy.Interesting to read and, as has been said, it was as though they were somehow to blame,they were all heroes I think. My ancestors (on Mam's side) all worked on the trawlers it was a hard life. As indeed all jobs were in those days, I can't think of any that were cushy,thats for sure! Mau xx