nicktamarensis Posted 26 April , 2014 Share Posted 26 April , 2014 Thanks MIchael. I appreciate your efforts. Please don't go to any 'above and beyond' solely for my (and the village) benefit! A supplementary couple of questions: The crew total is given variously as 80 or 100 - any idea which figure is correct? Also the casualties are quoted as either 12 or 22 - again, which is correct? Many thanks. Nick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Lowrey Posted 26 April , 2014 Share Posted 26 April , 2014 Nick, A casualty list is here: http://www.naval-history.net/xDKCas1918-07Jul.htm -- looks like 79 names. Hepper says 80 though with survivors were 12 based upon ADM137/3445, which may provide additional details. Best wishes, Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicktamarensis Posted 26 April , 2014 Share Posted 26 April , 2014 Thanks Michael. Much appreciated. Another thing - do you know of the existence of any photographs of the Anchusa that I could use in the North Hill Roll of Honour info? I haven't been able to find any on the web but that's not to say there aren't any in any of the 'official' sources........ Thanks, Nick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g6yfb Posted 26 April , 2014 Share Posted 26 April , 2014 Hi for a picture of Anchusa try the link below. http://www.photoship.co.uk/JAlbum%20Ships/Old%20Ships%20A/slides/Anchusa-01.jpg regards G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron da Valli Posted 27 April , 2014 Share Posted 27 April , 2014 Coincidentally I have been researching Carpenter M/17128 William James Roberts of Llandudno, who was a casualty, so this is of great help to me. Thanks to all who have contributed to this topic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicktamarensis Posted 28 April , 2014 Share Posted 28 April , 2014 Thanks for the link - this pic is in fact the '40's corvette of the same name not the 14-18 Q ship. Many thanks for your trouble in any case. Nick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McCudden Posted 29 April , 2014 Share Posted 29 April , 2014 Hi Nick According to Jane's Fighting Ships of World War One, Anchusa looks very much like HMS Polyanthus. There's a picture of her on page 86 in dazzle camouflage. I'm unable to send a copy until the weekend as I'm away in work; however I'm sure some kind soul will. Alec Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicktamarensis Posted 29 April , 2014 Share Posted 29 April , 2014 Thanks Alec, I've seen the picture somewhere on the web. Polyanthus was more correctly part of the class of 12 known as the Aubretia class. However this class was regarded as an addition to the Flower class to which the Anchusa belonged. Identifying each member within its sub category can often be difficult by sight because each vessel as completed by various builders had detail differences in hull and superstructure shape. If you compare the Bryony and the Gilia (both within the Anchusa class) you'll see what I mean. The Polyanthus has hull shape differences too. Apparently each builder had a certain amount of leeway in the design finish as long as the final product retained 'the look' of a merchantman. Thanks again, Nick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Köln Posted 18 May , 2014 Share Posted 18 May , 2014 Hi, Here you will find a report on the sinking of HMS Anchusa, told by the wireless operator of U54, Georg Haidt: http://www.fotos.ouddorp.de/html/hms_anchusa.html Regards Willi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron da Valli Posted 18 May , 2014 Share Posted 18 May , 2014 Thanks for that report Willi a fascinating account from the "other" side! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikB Posted 18 May , 2014 Share Posted 18 May , 2014 Thanks Michael. Much appreciated. Another thing - do you know of the existence of any photographs of the Anchusa that I could use in the North Hill Roll of Honour info? I haven't been able to find any on the web but that's not to say there aren't any in any of the 'official' sources........ Thanks, Nick. I just looked her up in Wikipedia - turns out that HMS President, moored on the Thames, was formerly HMS Saxifrage of the same sloop group, and there are plenty of pictures of her - though there seem to be minor changes to her upperworks at different times. Regards, MikB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicktamarensis Posted 19 May , 2014 Share Posted 19 May , 2014 Thanks guys and particularly Willi. Is there a translation by any chance? Rgards, Nick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikB Posted 20 May , 2014 Share Posted 20 May , 2014 Thanks guys and particularly Willi. Is there a translation by any chance? Rgards, Nick. OK, here's my punt at it:- Tonnage: 1.290 BRT Length 79,9 m, Beam 10,7 m, Draught 3,8 m Builder: Workman, Clark & Co. Ltd, Belfast Customer: British Royal Navy Machinery: Triple Expansion Steam Engine, 3 Boilers, 2500 SHP, 16 kn, Coal capacity260 t Crew: 91 Men, of which 79 Men fallen, 12 Survivors Armament: 2 x 12 (15,6 cm) Pdr, 1 x 19,1 cm (7.5”) Howitzer, 4 x Depth Charge Throwers Application: Q-ship or Convoy Escort F.T.-Obergast Georg Haidt describes the attack on HMS Anchusa: On the 13th travelled at high speed westward on the surface. Lots of porpoises were playing around us. For us, that was the sign of an approaching weather change. Towards evening the sky became overcast and the seaway became stronger. Was it because of the weather that we could see no opponents in the distance around us? Not until midday on the 15th, after we had rebuilt a defective gyrocompass, did the first enemy escort ships come in sight, which had been fruitlessly chasing after us till towards evening. At 2.30 at night a 13000 ton (sic) steamer approached. Attack was started immediately. The ship must have had a valuable cargo on board – it was running at such high speed we could hardly keep pace with it. At 2.55 came the command: “Tubes one and two fire!” A double shot at 1000 metres range! Two powerful explosions and – the steamer sinks. Nevertheless it rears up and pushes its bow vertically out of the water. Curious smouldering flames flicker from the ship. We make away at “Utmost power”. Suddenly a volcano spews from the middle of the sea. Amid unheard-of noise the entire steamer, torn to atoms, flies into the air. A white-hot glowing spot, then nothing! It hails uninterruptedly down on us. Bits of iron of all sizes strike all around us. A huge shockwave runs up and buries us over our heads in water. We stand as if carved in stone and stare at the tremendous, destroying drama. Regards, MikB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicktamarensis Posted 2 July , 2014 Share Posted 2 July , 2014 Thanks very much for your time and trouble. This info will be added to the info being created for the North Hill fallen project. We're in your debt. Nick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curhalios Posted 10 August , 2015 Share Posted 10 August , 2015 I have been researching Officer Steward 2nd Class Louis Henry Richards, a butler from the Escot estate in east Devon who was killed on the Anchusa. This thread is very helpful to add more details to the little I had gleaned myself. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 23 November , 2016 Share Posted 23 November , 2016 My grandfather George Thomas watts was a ordinary seaman number J/52175 as on the Plymouth navel memorial lost at sea died on 19 July 2018 but on other information it says the ship was lost on 16 July 1918 I just need to know if anyone can advise me as to why the dates are different thank you William wood from Devon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 23 November , 2016 Share Posted 23 November , 2016 Obviously a date error in the CWGC casualty details. ANCHUSA was lost on 16 July 1918, as shown in the Grave Registration Report on Watts' CWGC page. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 16 July , 2018 Share Posted 16 July , 2018 Hello. I am remembering my grandfather today who was killed by the sinking of HMS Anchusa on 16 July 1918. His name was Edmund Williams, aged 24, from Mochdre, Colwyn Bay, north Wales. He left a wife and 18 month daughter, who was my mother. Would love to hear from anyone who is thinking about them today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clive_hughes Posted 16 July , 2018 Share Posted 16 July , 2018 (edited) Remembering also Cook's Mate M/23531 William Jones RN, killed on the Anchusa aged 22. He was born Newborough, Anglesey and a baker by trade. He had previously served as Y7435 in the RNVR when he was enlisted in the RN (for the period of hostilities) November 1916 as a probationer Cook's Mate 2nd Class under HMS Vivid, the rank being confirmed in June 1917, and he rose to full Cook's Mate in November that year. He joined Anchusa on 24 April 1918, his first (and only) "real" ship other than the Vivid base. His wife and parents lived next door to each other in the village of Dwyran, Llangeinwen parish, Anglesey. Named on memorials locally, as well as on the Plymouth Naval Memorial. Clive Edited 16 July , 2018 by clive_hughes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dee souter Posted 11 November , 2018 Share Posted 11 November , 2018 I'm the grand daughter of William Valentine Jones died 16th July 1918, torpedoed by uboat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dee souter Posted 11 November , 2018 Share Posted 11 November , 2018 my grand father was William Valentine Jones and died on hms Anchusa 16th July 1918 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dee souter Posted 12 November , 2018 Share Posted 12 November , 2018 Hi, my grand father was killed on HMS Anchusa on 16th July 1918, his name was William Valentine Jones, thinking of him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 23 February , 2021 Share Posted 23 February , 2021 Would KTB (Kreigstagebuch, war diary) show the position of the sinking of HMS Anchusa? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balfieri Posted 16 December , 2023 Share Posted 16 December , 2023 I am looking for anyone with knowledge of William Valentine Jones who was killed on the HMS Anchusa on July 16, 1918. I am married to his Grandson and would like to pass on an original commemorative document in his name and other family information that I have. Please get in touch with me. Babette Alfieri Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 16 December , 2023 Share Posted 16 December , 2023 You can download his RN record of service from TNA (no charge when you register):- https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7148613 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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