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A Report on the Sinking of HMS Courageous


World Naval Ships Royal Navy Aircraft Carriers Courageous Class HMS Courageous Report on Sinking

[UP] - Report on Sinking - Crew Histories

Local Survivors’ Dramatic Stories

For a group of local men, the 17th September 1939 was the day they experienced the real horrors of war. As their Ship, HMS Courageous plied the waters of the Irish Sea she was struck astern by torpedoes from the German Submarine U29. According to the Birkenhead News, (23/09/39) there were many men from the region and in particular eight local men on board at the time of the sinking, but only four survived. Three survivors interviewed by the News reporter were: -

  • Leading Seaman John Tennant (27) of 42 Mersey Road Rock Ferry Birkenhead Wirral.
  • AB Daniel McDonnell (21) of 105. Conway Street, Birkenhead. Wirral.

  • AB Michael Barbander (20) of 31 Tees Street Bidston Birkenhead Wirral
 

Also on the survivors’ list: -

  • Leading Seaman James Woodin (21) of 2 Winstanley Road New Ferry Bebington.
 

Reported as lost at sea: -

  • Deck Quartermaster J.W. Holmes (43) of Russell Road Rock Ferry Birkenhead Wirral.
  • AB William Alfred Nield (28) of 10 Manor Place Bromborough Pool Village.
  • AB Albert Nield. (26) of 80 the Causeway Bromborough. (Brothers)
  • Leading Air Fitter. Fredrick James Mitchell (21) of Holt Road Tranmere Birkenhead.

 

Leading Seaman John Tennant told the Birkenhead News reporter: “We sang songs while we were in the water and the fellows were cracking jokes. They were a fine lot.” Mr.Tennant told of the heroism of the ships’ crew. A British Destroyer picked him up after nearly an hour and a half in the oil-covered water. Showing few signs of exhaustion or shock after his terrible ordeal, Mr Tennant gave a graphic account of the sinking vessel. When interview by the News report he said, 

“I had come off watch a little earlier than usual, and had gone below to our mess deck. I was just beginning supper a few minutes before 8 O’clock, when the explosion took place on the port side, under the deck that I was on and with it most of the lights went out. There were only ten other fellows with me on the mess deck. With another chap I dashed ‘upstairs’- we were the last to leave. The deck above was the boys mess deck. We tried to get through but the shock of the first explosion must have upset the lockers. We tried another door, but we could not get further aft because of the smoke fumes, which were overpowering. We therefore went for’ard again and got up by a ladder. By this time the ship was listing to port, but we managed to get in the open on the starboard side. The chap that I was with then left me to help with lowering the boats. It was about 8.15pm now and the ship was taking a bigger list, I saw the Captain standing on the bridge, I jumped over the side, I never saw the Captain again. After that I had to swim for it, I swam out for about a quarter of a mile. Then drifted on my back and saw that the ship was going down at the bow. Fearing that there would be suction when she finally sank, I swam out further. I met another chap hanging onto a big piece of wood; I caught hold of the other end to see the last of my ship. But she had already gone. There can obviously have been no suction, as she went down-bows first. From then on it was a question of keeping afloat until help came. I left the other chap because the wood was not strong enough to hold the both of us. I swam to another log, but gave it up to another man. Then I swam without support for an hour or so. At last I found a float that had been broken up. While I drifted on this I saw the Dutch steamer passing but it was to far away to pick me up. But about a quarter of an hour later a British destroyer picked me up, I think I must have been about the last survivor rescued, because afterwards the destroyer got up steam. It was wonderful to be on board. We were wrapped in blankets and treated marvellously. I reached home this morning, of course, all my belongings are lost, but I am lucky to be here at all. I’m still feeling a bit stiff, but I was never too exhausted in the water. We sang songs while we were in the water- Daisy, Daisy and it’s a long way to Tipperary. The fellows were cracking jokes. They were a fine lot.” 

Mr.McDonnell told how he had seen a destroyer give chase after the German submarine that had torpedoed the Courageous, with depth charges being dropped at the spot that the Submarine appeared to be.

 â€œI had just come off duty and was making my way for’ard to get some supper suddenly the explosion came. The ship shuddered and as she keeled over, all the light went out. I ran top side to take my abandon ship station, my job was to help lowering a pinnace. Because of the ships’ list we were unable to do anything, I smoked a cigarette and then undressed. A lot of men thought that the ship would not sink but she was going lower and lower in the water. Then the order to “Abandon Ship” was given from the captain, I waited a few more minutes and then took the last of my clothes off and dived in. I swam out in the direction of the Destroyer. After about fifty yards I turned and saw the last of the ship as she went under. After that I was swimming and catching hold of pieces of wood for about 45 minutes. The water was black with men and oil, of which I drank mouthfuls! I saw one cutter that was too full of men capsize. Other fellows on floats were paddling with their hands and all around men were singing, at last I got up to the destroyer. Somebody threw me a line and I was pulled aboard. There I was given food, clothes and hot drinks. I saw one man repeatedly dive into the sea to rescue men”. 

Mr. Brabander was on the flight deck securing a plane that had just landed, when there was an explosion. “I tried three times to get a Carley float away, but we only managed to successfully get one away, one jammed and another broke up. The order to abandon ship came and I undressed and dived in. I spent most of two hours swimming although I did manage to hold onto a boat for a while, which had broken in half. A Liverpool merchant ship picked me up; they were a swell crew on board that ship. Each tried to give us clothes before the others; they also gave us brandy and food. 

Researched and prepared by Robert Tennant. Second and youngest son of John Tennant.
Acknowledgements to “Birkenhead News”

 

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