seaJane Posted 15 May , 2015 Share Posted 15 May , 2015 I'm following up on this thread about Surgeon Dermot Loughlin She is described both as a gunboat and as a "paddle yacht" (ref: The Naval VCs, by Stephen Snelling). I can't get a feel for the size or look of her at all. Can anyone tell me? Is there a picture of her anywhere, or something comparable? She can't be the same as HMS COMET (1910). Baffled. sJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seaJane Posted 15 May , 2015 Author Share Posted 15 May , 2015 OK so I think I may have answered my own question. How does RIM (Royal Indian Marine) Launch COMET sound? As in, http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/rd/4b578eb4-466d-4774-bb94-8c9256cf9fe1 and this from navy.net: COMET, paddle launch-tug, ex-RIM, ex-official yacht of British Resident at Baghdad. 144 tons. Armed with 1-3pdr from ESPIEGLE, later 1-6pdr/3-3pdr/2-MGs. In service from 5.11.14. Battle Honour - Mesopotamia 1914/15. Lost after grounding in Tigris 1.12.15. And there is a picture here http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205040451 but (of course) I can't see it on-line - shall have to go and make friends with the IWM.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KizmeRD Posted 16 May , 2015 Share Posted 16 May , 2015 Hello seaJane, When you have made friends with the IWM, perhaps you will then be able to provide confirmation that the smart white paddle yacht shown in the attached photo moored outside of the British Residency in Baghdad in March 1911, is in fact the Comet (albeit in peacetime garb, without any armanent fitted). The photo in the IWM collection is apparently taken in 1915, after the Comet got converted into a gunboat. Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seaJane Posted 17 May , 2015 Author Share Posted 17 May , 2015 Good heavens! She looks better fitted for a tea-party than for charging into a river blockade under heavy fire in the middle of the night ... "Comet bore the brunt of the fusillade. One man described the bullets as “pattering” on the vessel’s steel plating “like raindrops on a window-pane”. [...] Despite being a sitting target for every Turk in the vicinity, Comet’s crew stuck to their task. But it was useless. The obstruction remained defiantly in place. Cookson might have considered withdrawing, but if he did the notion was quickly rejected in favour of a daring gamble which, if successful, was liable to turn the Turkish retreat into a rout. His plan was to lay the Comet alongside the central maheilah [dhow] and cut the steel moorings holding her in place. Having issued his orders, Cookson set the paddle-yacht thrashing upstream into a hurricane of fire that not even her steel cladding could withstand. Comet shuddered under the welter of blows. One shell blew away the 6-pounder’s gun shield, leaving Private Arthur May, a marine gunner, to fight on without a shred of cover. There were many other acts of bravery. Gilbert Wallis, a signaller, was wounded and unable to stand, but propped himself up and carried on, while Leading Seaman Ernest Sparks somehow managed to keep his gun in action despite the bolts that held it to the deck working loose." From http://www.dnw.co.uk/auction-archive/special-collections/lot.php?specialcollection_id=108&lot_id=88082 I'll see what I can do, Michael. sJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadsac Posted 17 May , 2015 Share Posted 17 May , 2015 SJ - here the award of V.C ; COOKSON Edgar C DSC - Killed Lt.Cdr. RN 81L021 Comet C in C East Indies 21.01.16 Gazetted Capture of Kut-el-Amara 27-28th September 1915 VC - Posthumous On the 28th September, 1915, the river gunboat "Comet" had been ordered with other gunboats to examine, and, if possible, destroy an obstruction placed across the river by the Turks. When the gunboats were approaching the obstruction a very heavy rifle and machine gun fire was opened on them from both banks. An attempt to sink the centre Dhow of the obstruction by gunfire having failed, Lt.Commander Cookson ordered the "Comet" to be placed alongside, and himself jumped on to the dhow with an axe, and tried to cut the wire hawsers connecting it with the other two craft forming the obstruction. He was immediately shot in several places and died within a very few minutes. Sadsac Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KizmeRD Posted 17 May , 2015 Share Posted 17 May , 2015 How to spoil a perfectly fine yacht - paint it grey, strip it down and clad the superstructure with sheets of metal armour, send it to war and have a SNO come onboard with a foolhardy plan and an axe in hand! Seriously, a brave little ship and a brave man (Cookson VC). Michael PS Later in the war Surg. Loughlin was also under fire aboard HMS Calypso during the Second Action of Heligoland Bight (Nov 17) when a shell exploded on the bridge killing eight (incl. CO). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seaJane Posted 17 May , 2015 Author Share Posted 17 May , 2015 thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadsac Posted 18 May , 2015 Share Posted 18 May , 2015 And a DSO prior to the `Comet' action ; COOKSON Edgar C N/E Lt.Cdr. RN 81L010 Clio Senior Naval Officer, Persian Gulf 13.09.15 Gazetted Area Basra 30.04.15 to 15.05.15 DSO On May 9th in River Steamer Shushan carried out examination and reconnaissance of El Hair creek, encountering considerable opposition from Arabs who kept under cover among the high reeds. Lt.Commander Cookson though severely wounded early in the action, resumed command after his wound had been temporarily dressed and succeeded in most ably extricating his vessel from a dangerous position under heavy rifle fire. Sadsac Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seaJane Posted 18 May , 2015 Author Share Posted 18 May , 2015 Honestly, I think the man had no "fear" valve! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadsac Posted 19 May , 2015 Share Posted 19 May , 2015 Seems `fear' was a stranger to him ! Here another gazetted `award'. COOKSON Edgar C VC., DSO - Killed in action Lt.Cdr. RN 81L008 N/E General Officer Commanding Indian Expeditionary Force D 05.04.16 Gazetted In Mesopotamia 24.04.15 to 28.09.15 N/E Kut-el-Amara, 28th September, 1915. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seaJane Posted 2 June , 2015 Author Share Posted 2 June , 2015 I have just realised that what I had taken for a smudgy space filler on the Dix Noonan Webb medal listing page was actually a thumbnail of an illustration of the event. COMET must be at the right hand end. What do you think, KizmeRD? I was baffled by the masts for a moment, but they are visible on your image. Meanwhile, I am awaiting a reply from IWM Photographic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadsac Posted 3 June , 2015 Share Posted 3 June , 2015 Here a further award to crew of COMET ; HARRIS William V.H DSC Lt. RN 81L021 Comet C in C East Indies 21.01.16 Gazetted Capture of Kut-el-Amara 27-28th September 1915 To be noted for early promotion On the 28th September, 1915, the river gunboat "Comet" had been ordered with other gunboats to examine, and, if possible, destroy an obstruction placed across the river by the Turks. When the gunboats were approaching the obstruction a very heavy rifle and machine gun fire was opened on them from both banks. An attempt to sink the centre Dhow of the obstruction by gunfire having failed, Lt.Commander Cookson ordered the "Comet" to be placed alongside, and himself jumped on to the dhow with an axe, and tried to cut the wire hawsers connecting it with the other two craft forming the obstruction. He was immediately shot in several places and died within a very few minutes.Handled Comet with great skill and judgement under a particularly heavy fire on the night of 28th September (see above) and undoubtedly saved a heavy casualty list by taking the responsibility, when Lt.Commander Cookson was killed, of making the signal to retire. Same notation as for Cookson. Sadsac Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadsac Posted 3 June , 2015 Share Posted 3 June , 2015 AND SJ - in the great pic you posted Cookson is depicted on the bow of the Dhow chopping-away at the hawser mentioned in the award. Well searched out SJ. Sadsac Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seaJane Posted 3 June , 2015 Author Share Posted 3 June , 2015 So he is! I didn't notice that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadsac Posted 4 June , 2015 Share Posted 4 June , 2015 Here another award for the action ; KERR Thomas N/E Engineer RIM 81L022 Comet C in C East Indies 21.01.16 Gazetted Capture of Kut-el-Amara 27-28th September 1915 DSC Not only kept the Lascar engine-room complement of the "Comet" in excellent order during action, but assisted in carrying down the wounded under fire. Sadsac Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seaJane Posted 4 June , 2015 Author Share Posted 4 June , 2015 Comet looks tiny in the picture - any white crew member who didn't get an award must have felt quite left out... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seaJane Posted 9 July , 2015 Author Share Posted 9 July , 2015 Hi KizmerRD, My making-friends skills have evidently failed me, as IWM is demanding a £30 digitisation fee before they let me see the image Until or unless I can get to the item itself at the IWM I shall have to do without. I suppose it's just possible that Ian Crowley's Kut 1916 has a picture, but I can't see from the sample available from Amazon. sJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KizmeRD Posted 10 July , 2015 Share Posted 10 July , 2015 Hello seaJane, The image shown in post #3 is from Gertrude Bell's photographic collection. And the IWM is not the only institution holding copies (thirty quid - ouch!) You might want to check Newcastle University's archive (Iraq. March 1911 Album Q Photo 038). - Gertrude Bell was certainly a highly interesting lady - one might even be forgiven for referring to her as 'Laura of Arabia' Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seaJane Posted 10 July , 2015 Author Share Posted 10 July , 2015 Thanks Michael! Yes, I must learn more about Gertrude Bell... sJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IPT Posted 24 February Share Posted 24 February Cookson's VC up for sale - https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/wwi-medals-awarded-wirral-navy-28698447 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seaJane Posted 24 February Author Share Posted 24 February Damn *rattles piggy-bank* beyond my financial capabilities. There really is some dodgy writing in that article... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IPT Posted 24 February Share Posted 24 February 27 minutes ago, seaJane said: There really is some dodgy writing in that article... It's a shocking rag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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