7 replies to this topic

[Arnhem44]

Hi all,would anyone have a photo of HMS Alyssum,sister ship to the HMS Migonette both sunk off the Galley Head in Cork on the 17th and 18th of March 1917 and if possible any details of what happened to there crews.I also have a photo of a gun taken off HMS Migonette which is on display in a village near the Galley Head however the file is to large for it to be added.Also I'm wondering is the Alyssum possibly the ship in the background of the photo?

Brendan

 HMS_Mignonette_sinking_1917.jpg   41.01K   2 downloads

HMS Migonette sinking

[sotonmate]

Brendan

I have read that there were no casualties from ALYSSUM.

Sotonmate

[Arnhem44]

Thanks sotonmate for that,anyone have any info on the other one.?

Brendan

[ARABIS]

Brendan,
A minefield was discovered off Galley Head on Friday 16th & the next day sloops were sent in to sweep it resulting in Mignonette having her bow blown off. An attempt was made to tow her stern first but she sank. There were fourteen killed and her captain was wounded. On Sunday Alyssum working in the same minefield struck another mine & sank with no casualties. Because of these two sinkings it was decided not to risk deep draught vessels such as sloops & trawlers to sweep this field, but instead to use drifters & MLs until shallow draught paddle sweepers could reach Ireland. Haldon, Hurst, Eridge and Epsom reached Queenstown on April 2nd.

Above details from Danger Zone by Keble Chatterton.

That is another Flower class sloop in the background of your photo but whether it is Alyssum I could not say.

David.

[Arnhem44]

David that you for sharing that info,I do recall the Migonette being towed after her being split in two and the whereabouts for each part are in seperate locations.I'm not sure which part of the ship the gun that is on display came off.Would you know did the men that were lost go down with the ship as none are buried locally unless they were taken back to Queenstown?

Brendan

[ARABIS]

LINK TO NAVAL HISTORY.NET



Brendan,
You're welcome. Attached should be a link to the NAVAL HISTORY.NET website which gives the names of the fourteen killed. All are commemorated on the Naval Memorial at Chatham which suggests the bodies were never found.
I would like a copy of the photo of Mignonette's gun if possible, may I get in touch by PM?

Thanks,
David.

[Arnhem44]

Thank you again David,it's much appreciated.Yes if you would like the photo's please PM me your email address and I'll send them on.

Brendan

[Edward Gilbert]

Men Killed on the HMS Mignonette March 17,1917......My relative Edwin Henry Skewis is listed among the 14 men killed March 17th.He was a boy, telegraphist.Naval records report that "he was killed or died as a direct result of enemy action...his body was not recovered for burial" Many diving websites often mistakenly say that there was no casualties. Their lack of research is a disgrace and I am offended by the lack of consideration shown by them for those killed that day, especially if as in my relatives case he went down with the ship and was denied a decent funeral.