Graff Spee: Grandfathers Photos [Archive]

iain mchenry

05-02-2010, 18:25

Through a bit of help from the forum, I believe my Grandfather to have been on HMS Diomede and entered Montivideo, just a few days after the Graff Spee blew herself up. I remember my Grandfather, Thomas McMeekin, telling me stories of seeing the Graff Spee dead in the water and also seeing Captain Langsdorf being carried to his grave. Although these photo are from my Grandfathers collection of his time in the Navy, given to me after he passed away, I am nearly sure I remember him saying the Graff Spee photos were taken by a fellow ship mate he knew as "Air Ball" (sounds daft, I know) and who was a fairly proffessional photographer.
One thing I certainly remember my Grandfather telling me was how they were hosted by ex-pat families during their stay in port. My grandfather had one of those "Spooky Coincedences" happen to him in Montivedeo. His uncle, who left Ireland just before WW1, worked on the Railways in South Africa and my Grandfathers mother had a photo of him and his fellow railway workers next to a steam train in South Africa, as pride of place in her house in Northern Ireland. The family my Grandfather was hosted by in Montevideo had exactly the same photo on show in their house, a family member being in it, also worked on the railways in SA. Strange but true.
Anyway here are the photos from his collection:

nigelweysom

06-02-2010, 17:45

Iain thanks for posting these pictures , they have captured forever a great moment in time
Nigel

Guz rating

06-02-2010, 19:41

Through a bit of help from the forum, I believe my Grandfather to have been on HMS Diomede and entered Montivideo, just a few days after the Graff Spee blew herself up. I remember my Grandfather, Thomas McMeekin, telling me stories of seeing the Graff Spee dead in the water and also seeing Captain Langsdorf being carried to his grave. Although these photo are from my Grandfathers collection of his time in the Navy, given to me after he passed away, I am nearly sure I remember him saying the Graff Spee photos were taken by a fellow ship mate he knew as "Air Ball" (sounds daft, I know) and who was a fairly proffessional photographer.
One thing I certainly remember my Grandfather telling me was how they were hosted by ex-pat families during their stay in port. My grandfather had one of those "Spooky Coincedences" happen to him in Montivedeo. His uncle, who left Ireland just before WW1, worked on the Railways in South Africa and my Grandfathers mother had a photo of him and his fellow railway workers next to a steam train in South Africa, as pride of place in her house in Northern Ireland. The family my Grandfather was hosted by in Montevideo had exactly the same photo on show in their house, a family member being in it, also worked on the railways in SA. Strange but true.
Anyway here are the photos from his collection:

Great pictures Iain and a very historic event for your Grandfather to witness, the men walking behind the German sailors are some of the crews from British merchant ships that the Graf Spee sunk. Captain Langsdorf treated his captives with respect, that is why they went to his funeral and placed a wreath on his grave. Thanks for posting the pictures I had not seen the funeral one before.

Guz

steve roberts

06-02-2010, 21:18

Hi Iain.Thanks for the photos.I also had not seen Captain Lansdorf's funeral photo.I do remember that there were several photos published of Graf Spee's crew's funeral.Langsdorf was a true Gentleman,and it is no suprise that some of his captives both went to the Funeral and laid a wreath. Regards. Steve.

Bee

07-02-2010, 04:05

[QUOTE=iain mchenry;97315]Through a bit of help from the forum, I believe my Grandfather to have been on HMS Diomede and entered Montivideo, just a few days after the Graff Spee blew herself up. I remember my Grandfather, Thomas McMeekin, telling me stories of seeing the Graff Spee dead in the water and also seeing Captain Langsdorf being carried to his grave. Although these photo are from my Grandfathers collection of his time in the Navy, given to me after he passed away, I am nearly sure I remember him saying the Graff Spee photos were taken by a fellow ship mate he knew as "Air Ball" (sounds daft, I know) and who was a fairly proffessional photographer.
One thing I certainly remember my Grandfather telling me was how they were hosted by ex-pat families during their stay in port. My grandfather had one of those "Spooky Coincedences" happen to him in Montivedeo. His uncle, who left Ireland just before WW1, worked on the Railways in South Africa and my Grandfathers mother had a photo of him and his fellow railway workers next to a steam train in South Africa, as pride of place in her house in Northern Ireland. The family my Grandfather was hosted by in Montevideo had exactly the same photo on show in their house, a family member being in it, also worked on the railways in SA. Strange but true.

Thankyou for posting your photos Iain. Also....re: Your Grandfather's "spooky coincidence" .....that's quite incredible. I bet he was rather amazed.

Regards,
Bee

iain mchenry

07-02-2010, 14:17

... the men walking behind the German sailors are some of the crews from British merchant ships that the Graf Spee sunk.

Guz

Hi Guz,

Many thanks for that snippet of info, very interesting indeed.

Regards

Iain

RonHowell

07-02-2010, 20:05

Hi Guz

Thank you for sharing those and reliving history.

Cheers
Ron

Peter Stephens

09-02-2010, 08:51

Iain,
Thankyou this made interesting reading, My father Fred Stephens now aged 90 was a chief ERA on Diomede. I have chronicled his time on board since joining her as a 5th rate tiffy at Devonport on the 6th February 1940 till he returned in 1943. For this I am glad as he is now not at all well and the information would have been lost. He mentions the Iderwald and also sailing into Martinique to stop the French W/I fleet falling into German hands.
A lot of information on the Diomede including photos from the west indies, Montevideo, Bermuda, Trinidad to name a few.
Pete

Dreadnought

09-02-2010, 09:51

Great photos Iain. Tried to do something with the funeral photo as it is so unique. Unfortunately, the size/resolution prevented very much improvement. But here it is anyway.

limeybiker

10-02-2010, 13:12

Through a bit of help from the forum, I believe my Grandfather to have been on HMS Diomede and entered Montivideo, just a few days after the Graff Spee blew herself up. I remember my Grandfather, Thomas McMeekin, telling me stories of seeing the Graff Spee dead in the water and also seeing Captain Langsdorf being carried to his grave. Although these photo are from my Grandfathers collection of his time in the Navy, given to me after he passed away, I am nearly sure I remember him saying the Graff Spee photos were taken by a fellow ship mate he knew as "Air Ball" (sounds daft, I know) and who was a fairly proffessional photographer.
One thing I certainly remember my Grandfather telling me was how they were hosted by ex-pat families during their stay in port. My grandfather had one of those "Spooky Coincedences" happen to him in Montivedeo. His uncle, who left Ireland just before WW1, worked on the Railways in South Africa and my Grandfathers mother had a photo of him and his fellow railway workers next to a steam train in South Africa, as pride of place in her house in Northern Ireland. The family my Grandfather was hosted by in Montevideo had exactly the same photo on show in their house, a family member being in it, also worked on the railways in SA. Strange but true.
Anyway here are the photos from his collection:

Could you rescan, please, one at a time, these superbly historic photos at the highest resolution, and re-post.

iain mchenry

10-02-2010, 13:52

Hi Barry,

i must admit to being a wee bit crap with computers. I will ask her indoors to help me with this. I will however be away from my scanner until next Friday, so will get onto it then.

Regards

Iain

limeybiker

10-02-2010, 15:11

Hi Barry,

i must admit to being a wee bit crap with computers. I will ask her indoors to help me with this. I will however be away from my scanner until next Friday, so will get onto it then.

Regards

Iain

Bring them round and I will do them. Got plenty of Pusser's Rum.

Bee

17-02-2010, 08:07

Iain,
Thankyou this made interesting reading, My father Fred Stephens now aged 90 was a chief ERA on Diomede. I have chronicled his time on board since joining her as a 5th rate tiffy at Devonport on the 6th February 1940 till he returned in 1943. For this I am glad as he is now not at all well and the information would have been lost. He mentions the Iderwald and also sailing into Martinique to stop the French W/I fleet falling into German hands.
A lot of information on the Diomede including photos from the west indies, Montevideo, Bermuda, Trinidad to name a few.
Pete

Hi Pete,

I hope your Dad is comfortable, and as well as he can be. It's great that you and he have been able to chronicle his story. I'm sure that means a great deal for both of you (and your family.) As you say....without it...the information would have been lost.
Sadly, my late Dad ran out of time...but we do have a few of his WWII navy stories, and for that I'm extremely grateful...as there are so many who, sadly have no stories from their loved ones.
I'm sure that all here, in this forum, would love to read your Dad's stories too, if you (and he) would like to share them.

Regards,
Bee
p.s. This is a great forum for keeping memories alive. Also, if you're still having problems with uploading photos onto the forum...the moderators are more than happy to lend a hand. I've had help before from both Terry (Astraltrader) and Alanbenn. Just send one of them a p.m. (private message)...top right hand section of screen. :)

ludsie

06-08-2011, 04:47

Great pictures thanks ever so much for sharing them

One of the interesting facts about this wreck is that the britsh purchased it and removed the radar equipment

WGVSr

25-08-2011, 01:06

I saw a documentary a while back about a film crew covering a group bringing up one of the AA guns off the GS a few years ago. Don't remember much more about it than that.
Bill

jorgeY

25-08-2011, 06:50

I saw a documentary a while back about a film crew covering a group bringing up one of the AA guns off the GS a few years ago. Don't remember much more about it than that.
Bill

Maybe this:

http://www.histarmar.com.ar/InfHistorica/Graf%20Spee/The%20Wreck%20of%20the%20SMS%20Thuringen_archivos/gunfromgrafspee.jpg

http://www.histarmar.com.ar/InfHistorica/Graf%20Spee/The%20Wreck%20of%20the%20SMS%20Thuringen_archivos/grafspeegunsalvage.jpg

the site has also a good photo collection:

http://www.histarmar.com.ar/InfHistorica/Graf%20Spee/GrafSpeeHistoria.htm

jorge