I now have some photos of the Memorial in Barry showing the names of Everleigh and Davis. and will be posting the images as soon as I can get near the scanner in work.
I have also made contact with the local historical group in Barry who may be able to put me in touch with the families, and possibly obtain photos and the like.
Sunday, November 14, 2004
Friday, October 15, 2004
Wesser Shipyard ~ Image
A G Weser Shipyard taken around 1939 as these are Type VII U-Boats (a direct decendant of the UB III type.)
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
Technical Information for Type UB III
Displacement: (Tons)
516 (sf)
651 (sm)
730 (total)
Length: (m)
55,30 oa
40,10 ph
Beam: (m)
5,80 oa
3,90 ph
Draught:
3,68 m
Height:
8,25 m
Power: (hp)
1100 (sf)
788 (sm)
Speed: (knots)
13,6 (sf)
8,0 (sm)
Range: (miles)
9040 (sf)
55 (sm)
Max depth:
ca. 75 m (246 feet)
Torpedoes:
10
4 x bow tubes
1 x stern tube
Deck gun:
88mm
160 rounds
Mines:
No mines carried
Crew:
34 men
sm = submerged, sf = surfaced, ph = pressure hull,oa = overall, hp = horsepower.
Source : http://uboat.net/wwi/types/index.html?type=UB+III
516 (sf)
651 (sm)
730 (total)
Length: (m)
55,30 oa
40,10 ph
Beam: (m)
5,80 oa
3,90 ph
Draught:
3,68 m
Height:
8,25 m
Power: (hp)
1100 (sf)
788 (sm)
Speed: (knots)
13,6 (sf)
8,0 (sm)
Range: (miles)
9040 (sf)
55 (sm)
Max depth:
ca. 75 m (246 feet)
Torpedoes:
10
4 x bow tubes
1 x stern tube
Deck gun:
88mm
160 rounds
Mines:
No mines carried
Crew:
34 men
sm = submerged, sf = surfaced, ph = pressure hull,oa = overall, hp = horsepower.
Source : http://uboat.net/wwi/types/index.html?type=UB+III
Monday, October 11, 2004
UB57 Shipyard ~ A G Weser
Founded on 8 November 1843 as the Eisengiesserei und Maschinenfabrik Waltjen und Leonhard, becoming Waltjen & Co in 1849 this firm only started very slowly in ship construction.
The Roland in 1846, the Falcke in 1865. On 26th March 1873 the activities and firm became part of the AG Weser and the very first important order came from the Kaiserliche Marine.
During the First World War they constructed small cruisers and U-boats. D’Equevilley, who worked before at the Germaniawerft yard, was asked by the AG Weser to construct a new U-boat in 1912. As they now had their own U-Bootkonstruktionsbüro they immediately became part of the Ms Type U-boat program of the Marine-Amt. The first U-boats constructed over there were however not of the Ms Type but were UB I class subs, the UB 9-UB 15 series. Also UC I series and UB and UC II series were constructed at Weser.
By 1917 most of the work went into the construction of the UB III class. Three UC III were ordered in 1917 also but never got finished. 14 more UB III’s ordered in June 1918 were never started.
Also three U-boats for the Austrian-Hungarian navy were constructed over there, the U15-U17 series at Pola.
AG Weser was also responsible for the plans of the U 27-U 32 series and the U 40 that were constructed at Pola and Fiume for the Austrian-Hungarian navy and they also gave a licence for construction of three U-boats in Sweden, the Bävern was constructed at Kockums at Malmö and the Illern and Uttern at the state naval shipyard of Karlskrona.
The Roland in 1846, the Falcke in 1865. On 26th March 1873 the activities and firm became part of the AG Weser and the very first important order came from the Kaiserliche Marine.
During the First World War they constructed small cruisers and U-boats. D’Equevilley, who worked before at the Germaniawerft yard, was asked by the AG Weser to construct a new U-boat in 1912. As they now had their own U-Bootkonstruktionsbüro they immediately became part of the Ms Type U-boat program of the Marine-Amt. The first U-boats constructed over there were however not of the Ms Type but were UB I class subs, the UB 9-UB 15 series. Also UC I series and UB and UC II series were constructed at Weser.
By 1917 most of the work went into the construction of the UB III class. Three UC III were ordered in 1917 also but never got finished. 14 more UB III’s ordered in June 1918 were never started.
Also three U-boats for the Austrian-Hungarian navy were constructed over there, the U15-U17 series at Pola.
AG Weser was also responsible for the plans of the U 27-U 32 series and the U 40 that were constructed at Pola and Fiume for the Austrian-Hungarian navy and they also gave a licence for construction of three U-boats in Sweden, the Bävern was constructed at Kockums at Malmö and the Illern and Uttern at the state naval shipyard of Karlskrona.
Oberleutnant zur See Johannes Lohs - Biographical
Born on 24 June, 1889 at Einsiedel, Sachsen.
Son of plant owner Oswald Lohs. First ran school in his home village and later a grammar school in Chemnitz.
He entered the Kaiserliche Marine on 1 April, 1909. Had several commands as Fahnrich zur See and served from 1st October 1912 on the cruiser Strasburg on which he saw half of the world.
Saw action for the very first time on 28 August, 1914 and was promoted Lt.z.S. in the autumn of 1915. Moved to the U-Bootschule and got his first U-Boat command on UC 75 of the Flandern Flottille on the 17th March 1917, on which he did 9 patrols off the British coast.
On 2 January 1918 he became CO of the UB 57, taking over the command of this boat from another legendary U-Boat commander, Otto Steinbrinck. Lohs had also some very good ideas on U-boat warfare and new tactics and in April 1918 he received the Pour le Mérite.
On 3 August he sailed from Zeebrugge for the last time. The last contact he made with the base was on the evening of the 14th, as UB 57 was homeward bound roughly in the area of the Sandiette Bank, east of the Straits of Dover. Nothing more was heard. UB 57 is believed to have run onto a mine.
Ships sunk on this last patrol were the Clan Max Vey (5815 BRT), Glenlee (4915 BRT) and City of Brisbane (7094 BRT). In total, Lohs sank approximately 165.000 tons of shippin. Lohs' body washed up on shore a week later; he is buried in the military cemetary at Vlissingen.
On 4 October 1937 the III Unterseebootflottille was named after him at Kiel.
Source: http://uboat.net/wwi/men/index.html?officer=182
Son of plant owner Oswald Lohs. First ran school in his home village and later a grammar school in Chemnitz.
He entered the Kaiserliche Marine on 1 April, 1909. Had several commands as Fahnrich zur See and served from 1st October 1912 on the cruiser Strasburg on which he saw half of the world.
Saw action for the very first time on 28 August, 1914 and was promoted Lt.z.S. in the autumn of 1915. Moved to the U-Bootschule and got his first U-Boat command on UC 75 of the Flandern Flottille on the 17th March 1917, on which he did 9 patrols off the British coast.
On 2 January 1918 he became CO of the UB 57, taking over the command of this boat from another legendary U-Boat commander, Otto Steinbrinck. Lohs had also some very good ideas on U-boat warfare and new tactics and in April 1918 he received the Pour le Mérite.
On 3 August he sailed from Zeebrugge for the last time. The last contact he made with the base was on the evening of the 14th, as UB 57 was homeward bound roughly in the area of the Sandiette Bank, east of the Straits of Dover. Nothing more was heard. UB 57 is believed to have run onto a mine.
Ships sunk on this last patrol were the Clan Max Vey (5815 BRT), Glenlee (4915 BRT) and City of Brisbane (7094 BRT). In total, Lohs sank approximately 165.000 tons of shippin. Lohs' body washed up on shore a week later; he is buried in the military cemetary at Vlissingen.
On 4 October 1937 the III Unterseebootflottille was named after him at Kiel.
Source: http://uboat.net/wwi/men/index.html?officer=182
UB 57 Shipyard & Patrol Info
Some information on UB57 :
Shipyard :
A G Wesser , Bremmen (Werk 269)
Ordered 20 May, 1916
Laid down 13 Sep, 1916
Launched 20 Jun, 1917
Commissioned 30 Jul, 1917
Commanders:
3 Jul, 1917 - 1 Jan, 1918 : Kptlt. Otto Steinbrinck
2 Jan, 1918 - 14 Aug, 1918 : Johannes Lohs
Career :
11 patrols
20 Sep, 1917 - 14 Aug, 1918 Flandern I Flotilla
Successes 53 ships sunk for a total of 153.150 tons (warships excluded).
Fate 14 Aug, 1918 - Mined off the Flanders coast on August 14, 1918. 34 dead (all hands lost).
Source : http://uboat.net/wwi/boats/index.html?boat=UB+57
Shipyard :
A G Wesser , Bremmen (Werk 269)
Ordered 20 May, 1916
Laid down 13 Sep, 1916
Launched 20 Jun, 1917
Commissioned 30 Jul, 1917
Commanders:
3 Jul, 1917 - 1 Jan, 1918 : Kptlt. Otto Steinbrinck
2 Jan, 1918 - 14 Aug, 1918 : Johannes Lohs
Career :
11 patrols
20 Sep, 1917 - 14 Aug, 1918 Flandern I Flotilla
Successes 53 ships sunk for a total of 153.150 tons (warships excluded).
Fate 14 Aug, 1918 - Mined off the Flanders coast on August 14, 1918. 34 dead (all hands lost).
Source : http://uboat.net/wwi/boats/index.html?boat=UB+57
Torpedo Image
This is a torpedo recovered from the UB 61 - a U-boat of the same design as UB 57. It is believed to be a G6 torpedo, but there's not a lot left to go on! It would probably have been one of these that sank the T.R. Thompson.
Wednesday, September 15, 2004
Dover (St James's) Cemetery, Kent
An image of the Kent cemetary which is the final restingplace for Fireman S ALI, of the Indian Merchant Service. A casualty ofthe sinking of the T R Thompson. Chris-P
Monday, September 13, 2004
UB-57 Picture
This is stated to be a photograph of UB-57 although I'm not able to confirm that at present. All I can state is that it is probably a UB-III class boat... and this one is the right way round!
Post Card from Beni Saf
A Post Card from Beni Saf
Three images of Beni Saf the Algerian port from which the T R Thompson departed on it's last voyage
And I'm doing the legwork on behalf of Chris "I'm too busy to learn how to post my own photos" Pascoe, although in deference to him, I am at least posting these images the correct way round!
Tuesday, September 07, 2004
Article ~ Herr Oberleutnant zur See Lohs
I've received a copy of the article from John Grogan (thanks John, if you're reading this!) and although it mostly concentrates on Herr Lohs better known kills such as the RMS Moldavia, Shirala and The City Of Brisbane, it also mentions the Luxor who was hit only days before T.R Thompson on March 19, 1918.
I've extracted a couple of photos from the report which I'll try and source again as they are a scan of a photocopy of a photo and therefore not exactly top quality... but, here is Herr Oberleutnant zur See Lohs in uniform.
I've extracted a couple of photos from the report which I'll try and source again as they are a scan of a photocopy of a photo and therefore not exactly top quality... but, here is Herr Oberleutnant zur See Lohs in uniform.
He is further referred to in "The German Submarine War 1914-1918" by Gibson & Prendergast as Herr "Losz" which might explain why I've had a lot of trouble tracking him down. He is quoted as being known as "the blithesome spirit of Flanders" which might sound more poetic in German and is directly quoted as having said (on referring to the Dover Barrage) "Go through the barriers on the surface" and boasting "The patrols are blind. I go through under their noses"*
A captain indeed...
* "Raiders of the Deep" - Lowell Thomas
Friday, August 27, 2004
Magazine Article on Johannes Lohs
I've just received a reply from a chap called John Grogan who wrote a magazine article called "Johann Lohs - The Channel Hunter" about our elusive U-boat Kapitan. He's kindly offered to send me a copy of the article, and given me some pointers of where to go next for material.
So, watch this space...
So, watch this space...
Tuesday, August 24, 2004
Gun Details
I think it's a fabulous idea, but it's really going to need a bit of planning... mind you, if the BSAC could lift that U-Boat deck gun that's sitting outside Paradise Park then it's got to be do-able (also I seem to remember the "Mary Something" in a shed in Portsmouth?
A cautionary note though:
Gun Weight: 0.6 tons (510 kg)
Gun Length oa 123.6 in (3.139 m)
I'm in....
A cautionary note though:
Gun Weight: 0.6 tons (510 kg)
Gun Length oa 123.6 in (3.139 m)
I'm in....
Monday, August 23, 2004
Survey Planning
Hi to all
Having Dived the Thompson a few weeks ago I have come to realise how difficult it is going to be to carry out the survey dives, we are really going to need to be spot on. Project dives will need perfect planning if we are going to achieve proper useful results. I am at present working on dive planning sheets for this.
I feel we should for the time being concentrate any survey /photo work on the stern section.
We dived the stern area of the ship and noticed that the gun is still connected to the mounting pintel and that someone seems to have tried to lift it. This has given me an idea. With the development of Newhaven marina, would it be a good idea to develop some sort of partnership with Newhaven Council and developers to see if we could lift the gun get it restored and create some sort of memorial in Newhaven to the crew of the thompson and all other merchant seaman lost of our part of the coast.
Lifting the gun would be a mammoth task and we would need permission, but it could be done next season with the right planning. How do other project members feel about this? any thoughts or ideas would be welcome.
Tad
Having Dived the Thompson a few weeks ago I have come to realise how difficult it is going to be to carry out the survey dives, we are really going to need to be spot on. Project dives will need perfect planning if we are going to achieve proper useful results. I am at present working on dive planning sheets for this.
I feel we should for the time being concentrate any survey /photo work on the stern section.
We dived the stern area of the ship and noticed that the gun is still connected to the mounting pintel and that someone seems to have tried to lift it. This has given me an idea. With the development of Newhaven marina, would it be a good idea to develop some sort of partnership with Newhaven Council and developers to see if we could lift the gun get it restored and create some sort of memorial in Newhaven to the crew of the thompson and all other merchant seaman lost of our part of the coast.
Lifting the gun would be a mammoth task and we would need permission, but it could be done next season with the right planning. How do other project members feel about this? any thoughts or ideas would be welcome.
Tad
Mr Evan NICHOLAS ~ First Mate
Some additional information on the First Mate of the TRT:-
NICHOLAS Evan
Place of Birth : St.Davids , Pembrokeshire
Born : 1849
Certificate of competency or certificate of service number : 95597
2nd Mate Certificate issued 1872
Only Captain certificate 1875
Kew Reference : 122/66&85
Appointments:-
Mate / 66870/ Lilian / 1877-8, Bombay.
Mate / 35237/ Beau Monde / 1878-9, Bombay.
Mate &Captain / 66966 / Prince Rudolph / 1879-81, WI, US.
First Mate / 8617 / Mylomene / 1883-7, Aust, EI.
Captain / 70168? / Grampian / 1888, EI.
First Mate /106417 / T.R.Thompson, vessel sunk by enemy off Beachy Head on 29 March 1918. Killed or drowned whilst serving.
Source : www.welshmariners.org.uk/search.php
Chris-P
NICHOLAS Evan
Place of Birth : St.Davids , Pembrokeshire
Born : 1849
Certificate of competency or certificate of service number : 95597
2nd Mate Certificate issued 1872
Only Captain certificate 1875
Kew Reference : 122/66&85
Appointments:-
Mate / 66870/ Lilian / 1877-8, Bombay.
Mate / 35237/ Beau Monde / 1878-9, Bombay.
Mate &Captain / 66966 / Prince Rudolph / 1879-81, WI, US.
First Mate / 8617 / Mylomene / 1883-7, Aust, EI.
Captain / 70168? / Grampian / 1888, EI.
First Mate /106417 / T.R.Thompson, vessel sunk by enemy off Beachy Head on 29 March 1918. Killed or drowned whilst serving.
Source : www.welshmariners.org.uk/search.php
Chris-P
Thursday, August 19, 2004
A start point for researching the survivors...
I've been through the blog, and can't find any reference other than "there were three survivors"... so, today I found out from "Lloyds Shipwreck Index Of The British Isles Vol 2 - Hampshire, IOW, Sussex & Kent" that the survivors (three) were taken to Dover by another vessel.
I'm also trying to track down a copy of a BSAC book which might have some further info.
It's nice to know that some of our info is spot on though... as "British Vessels Lost At Sea 1914-1918" (HMSO pub 1919 - reprint 1988) confirms the date and the loss of life as "33 including master"
So, off we go in search of red herrings, wild geese and other curious creatures such as "footnotes"....
I'm also trying to track down a copy of a BSAC book which might have some further info.
It's nice to know that some of our info is spot on though... as "British Vessels Lost At Sea 1914-1918" (HMSO pub 1919 - reprint 1988) confirms the date and the loss of life as "33 including master"
So, off we go in search of red herrings, wild geese and other curious creatures such as "footnotes"....
Friday, July 09, 2004
Crew Memorials at Barry & Tower Hill
I have a confirmation that the names of the following crew:
DAVIES, JOSHUA SIMEON
EVELEIGH, ALEXANDER DAVID
both from Barry in South Wales are commorated on the Merchant Navy Memorial in Barry as well as at Tower Hill Memorial in London. I'll be getting photo confirmation of this shortly.
I know that the name "Eveleigh" is well-known locally, so we may be able to get more information from surviving family members. "Davies" could be slightly more problematic, seeing as every 8th person in Wales is either Davis or Davies!
DAVIES, JOSHUA SIMEON
EVELEIGH, ALEXANDER DAVID
both from Barry in South Wales are commorated on the Merchant Navy Memorial in Barry as well as at Tower Hill Memorial in London. I'll be getting photo confirmation of this shortly.
I know that the name "Eveleigh" is well-known locally, so we may be able to get more information from surviving family members. "Davies" could be slightly more problematic, seeing as every 8th person in Wales is either Davis or Davies!
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