Help with naval action May 1918

[Guest]

Below is a transcription from a letter in a local newspaper (United States) where a Clifford (E) Groomer (Sr. Nicknamed Dutch). I'm having trouble finding out what action this was, I don't think it's the Action of May 21st 1918 although he does talk of a U Boat being towed into a port but the other details don't have anything to do with the Action of May 21st, his date is also 4 days off. Make of it what you will, any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

 

Sinks a Submarine - Former Orange County Boy has Thrilling Experience.

   Somewhere on the water, May 27, 1918.

Dear mother:

   Just a line to say hello, and to try and tell what I have been doing. We are doing convoy duty and that consists of a number of main warships escorting merchant ships from one post to another, and mother mind it sure is an exciting job, have had a run in with one of Fritz’s U Boats a couple of times already and take it for granted he got a warm reception from the gang on here, the first was May 11th early in the morning we were steaming along fine and just at the break of day a german submarine fired a Torpedo at a big merchant ship and hit her in the bow, all of her crew got away safe, she sank slowly bow down and all of a sudden she stood straight up and went down just like a shot. We never did see the sub but of course we hunted a long time for her, but as soon as he fired his Torpedo he submerged probably 100ft. and of course might have got away. We got into port without losing any men. On May 17th in the afternoon we were with a big convoy and the ocean was as smooth as a window pane when all of a sudden up popped a german sub and stuck a Torpedo into a big merchant ship, a big explosion followed but she did not go down, we were steaming by this time at full speed looking for the submarine when he torpedoed another one, she broke into three pieces and sank in three minutes. By that time we were pretty sore two ships gone and we could not see any sub no periscope or nothing, about that time we saw Fritz cross our bow, and we certainly did get him, in a few minutes another ship was torpedoed and we knew that we were being attacked by two or more, we hunted two hours but could not find any more out of that convoy. We lost three ships Torpedoed and two unaccounted for. But anyway Germany is minus one more U Boat. We read lots about a German sub being towed into port and where they were towed from is in the vicinity of the battle, all hand are proud of having got one of Fritz’s U Boats, we want more. The old boy may stick a two fish in us but if he does he had better put it in the right place for if he misses he had better submerge and not try it again.    Mother don’t worry about me for we are too slick for Fritzy and if he does get us, well it’s finished, so always think of me as the boy who left you March the 9th 19?? Give all my love to father and sisters tell them “Dutch” will be home early next year and bring Lucille with him.

 

   Your loving son, CLIFFORD GROOMER

 

Notes: I can not find the action that he is describing. The closest is the “Action of May 21st 1918” which he hints at with the description of a U Boat being towed into port. That incident however doesn’t resemble what he describes.

[seaJane]

Anything match on here? A list of May losses to U-Boats.

https://uboat.net/wwi/ships_hit/losses_year.html?date=1918-05

[Guest]

Thanks a ton. I believe the U Boat in question was UB 50, sinking tone and damaging another cargo ship on the same day as reported by Groomer. Doesn't appear that Groomer's ship managed to sink or damage her though, as she sunk another ship just two days later. The location of this action makes sense, as it's close to Spain and Groomer knows later that a U Boat was seen in port damaged there (result of the action of may 21st) but he assumed it must have been their doing. Thanks again, this has been a big help. I'll continue to investigate to make sure

Edited 18 October , 2018 by Guest