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• Wexford Lightshipmen Honoured

Wexford Lightshipmen Honoured

DURING the week Capt. James Rossiter, The Faythe,Wexford, Master of the South Arklow Lightship, was notified that the King had been pleased to award to him and the crew of the South Arklow Lightship "The Torpedo Badge"-a special distinction created to denote that the wearer had performed exceptional services to shipping at the risk of his own life. The distinction, which was only recently created, is being conferred on Capt. Rossiter and his crew, all of whom are Wexfordmen, for services rendered as far back as March, 1917, when they risked their lives in the performance of their duty, viz., warning mariners of the presence of danger.

Their action on that occasion, however, differed from their everyday avocation of apprising seamen of the perils which beset their path along the Arklow coast, for the danger they heralded was not one which nature has placed there in the shape of rugged rocks, or shifting sands, or capricious currents, but a menace of human device which lay lurking in the shelter of the shoal awaiting its prey. Twice that day had the submarine, for such was the danger, treacherously crept up behind unsuspecting merchantmen to send the innocent non-combatants aboard to their doom. One of the victims of the pirate was the little schooner 'Harvest Home' of Wexford, which had just left her home port bound across channel.

These devilish deeds were witnessed by the crew of the lightship who were powerless to assist the distressed sailors, but they resolved that come what would they would do all in their power to prevent the submarine finding another victim. Accordingly, when the next vessel hove in sight they signalled the presence of the submarine, and the merchantman putting about escaped the doom the Germans had destined for her. Nay more the fugitive craft was able to notify oncoming shipping of the danger ahead with the result that the channel was closed, and in consequence of the action of the lightship's captain and crew, it is estimated that at least 20,000 tons of shipping was saved that day. But while the shipping escaped unscathed the lightshipmen were quickly called to account by the submarine commander who, baffled of his human prey, determined to have revenge, and he furiously attacked the defenceless beacon ship. Ordering the crew to take to the boats, the Germans placed bombs aboard the ship and it is probable that the approach of a ship prevented the submarine commander from adopting sterner measures towards the captain and crew. Leaving the crew adrift in an open boat the submarine made off and later when the coast was clear the pirate shelled the lightship, sinking her. In the meantime the distressed lightshipmen were picked up by a steamer which, by a peculiar coincidence proved to be the vessel they had warned earlier in the day. They were subsequently landed at Wicklow, where they immediately reported for duty.

Captain Rossiter was personally thanked by the Commissioners of Irish Lights, by Admiralty officials and by various shipping companies whose vessels, through his daring intervention he had saved that day. The news that his action has now been officially recognised will be learned with pleasure by his numerous friends in the service, and in his native town, where the gallant captain, like his son, Mr John Rossiter, who having "done his bit" at the front, is now a cadet in the Royal Air Force, is so well and popularly known. Interviewed this week by our representative Captain Roster, who was about to resume duty on the South Arklow Lightship which was replaced shortly afterwards, gave a detailed account of his experiences on the occasion of the sinking of his ship as follows:-

ON the 28th March, 1917, about 3 p.m., the 'Harvest Home' of Wexford and a Norwegian steamer passed going N.E., one inside and the other outside of the lightship. I and the watch on deck noticed what at first appeared to be a fishing boat, but which, on closer inspection, proved to be a submarine, hanging about the Arklow Bank. I noticed the steamer in difficulties and a great cloud of smoke arising from her. After a few minutes the steamer foundered. The schooner "Harvest Home" was going free, i.e., with a fair wind, the booms on the starboard hard. She jibbed, bringing the wind on the starboard side and the topsail to the mast. I noticed the "Sub" firing on the schooner, and subsequently the boats from both vessels were seen making for Arklow. I was wild, seeing myself powerless in the way of helping, and there wasn't a patrol boat in sight. After a short time I noticed the smoke of a steamer coming from the N.E., and I at once made up my mind that, come what might, I would save that steamer, because I knew the submarine was waiting to destroy her. I ordered a signal to be made and fired several "socket rockets" to draw the attention of the steamer.

Fortunately my signal was noticed and the steamer slewed round on her heel and went back for North Arklow Lightship. Apparently the submarine was watching my movements, for I had just said to the men "Thank God we saved that ship", and were hauling down the signal when one of my men called my attention to the submarine, which had come up on the surface about 50 yards from the lightship. A few minutes after the Germans hoisted from a small mast the urgent signal "A.B." meaning abandon ship. We got out our boat and all hands got into her. The submarine commander ordered us alongside, and I laid our boat alongside the submarine. I sang out to the joker in the conning tower if we could take our effects and he said something guttural which I could not understand and shook his hand. An evil-looking brute got into our boat and two large brass bombs were passed into her. We were ordered to pull to the lightship and got alongside.

Bombs were passed on deck, and this fellow ordered one of the men to unship the bell, but he failed, as it was corroded. Meanwhile he came down into the cabin and asked for the ship's papers. I said we had no regular papers only the records which I had on the cabin table. I asked this fellow could I take my effects and he said "Yes" so I got a few of my things and thrust them into my bag. Just at this time the officer on board the submarine whistled, as if to hurry the Hun to finish his dirty job, so he proceeded in a methodical manner to fix the two bombs on the ship outside; he ignited the fuse, got down into the boat and ordered us to pull alongside the submarine. This we did, and the Hun got on board her. He cast us off and never spoke. She submerged and went off in a S.E direction, and on looking I observed a steamer in that direction. In about a quarter of an hour this steamer was also sunk, going down in a few minutes. The bombs went off in about 20 minutes after we left the ship, blowing the planking, rails, etc., away, but as the ship was steel and sheathed with teak I could see she was all right as long as daylight lasted. We pulled away for Arklow, the wind freshening, with some rain and the sea rough. Some time about 7 p.m., when it was very dark, we observed a black object to leeward and made it out to be a steamer. We all shouted our best and the steamer stopped and picked us up. The steamer turned out to be the 'Anman' of Glasgow, which, strange to say, was the vessel I had warned earlier that day. She was trying to get south inside the bank, and when I spoke to her captain he decided to go back to Wicklow Roads. Soon after turning, another steamer was warned and came back with us. When we got up to Wicklow Head I asked the captain to signal the Head about what had happened. He did so, and in consequence everything coming south was stopped in Wicklow and Dublin Bays. I have no hesitation in stating that directly and indirectly my action was the means of saving on that occasion 20,000 tons or thereabouts. Previous to being picked up I heard the sound of shell fire, and I afterwards learned that it was the submarine shelling the lightship, which they sunk. While on board the "Anman" we were treated splendidly by officers and crew, and landed in Wicklow next day. I feel sure only the submarine's commander was in a hurry 'to do in' the last steamer I would have been shot or brought to Germany, a prisoner, which would be equivalent to death, but anyhow, in a similar situation, I would do the same again.

THE other members of the crew who have been awarded the distinction and certificates testifying to their action on the occasion are Messrs Patrick Cogley, School street, Wexford; Martin Murphy, King street, do.; Patrick Sinnott, Courtown; Peter Gadderen, the Faythe, Wexford; James Sinnott, Courtown, and John Leader, Green street, Wexford. The captain and crew are to be heartily congratulated on the conduct on the occasion, which was thoroughly in keeping with the great traditions of the seamen of Wexford.