Connemara

[Tony Lund]

I have come across a very brief reference to John Beever being killed during the disaster that happened to the Connemara in 1916.

It sounds like a ship to me, but that is all there is.

Any information on any ship of that name sinking or having other problems in 1916 would be much appreciated.

Tony.

[Kath]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/yourp...n/A724385.shtml

[Tony Lund]

That was quick!

In Nov. 1916, Ferry Steamer, "SS Connemara" collided with "SS Retriever" in Carlingford Lough. Both ships sank. 94 lives were lost .

One of them was Holmfirth's John Beever, no idea what he was doing there.

Thank you.

Tony.

[Tony Lund]

Extract from the above link.

Drowned with handcuffs on

Whilst many of those travelling that night were visiting relations or starting new lives, a group of soldiers were heading for the Western Front. Private RA Kenna had already been wounded twice, whilst Private Philip Goodfellow had been attending the funeral of his sister. One recruit, however, from outside Newry, may have been under arrest for desertion and, according to the local press, his body was found after the collision handcuffed to that of a sergeant. This, however, is disputed by some of his relatives who claim he was not handcuffed when his body was discovered.

[Guest wrighty]

ss CONNEMARA

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built by William Denny & Brothers Dumbarton,

Yard No 558

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Propulsion: steam, triple expansion, 16 knots

Built: 1896

Ship Type: Passenger Vessel

Tonnage: 833 grt

Length: 272.5 feet

Breadth: 35.1 feet

Draught: 14.2 feet

Owner History:

London & North Western Railway Company

Status: Sunk - 03/11/1916

Remarks: From the Dictionary of Disasters At Sea (Hocking/Lloyds)

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The Connemara, Capt. G. H. Doeg, was employed on the run between Holyhead and Greenore. On the evening of November 3rd, 1916, in the teeth of a fierce gale the steamer left Greenore with 55 passengers and 31 crew. In crossing Carlingford Bar she ran into heavy seas flowing on a strong ebb tide and was swept across the bows of the s.s. Retriever, 459 tons, Capt. P. O'Neill.

This ship, which belonged to the Clanrye S.S. Co. of Newry, was already in difficulties as her cargo of coal had shifted soon after she left Garston and had made her almost unmanageable.

There was no time in which to take avoiding action and the Connemam's port side crashed on to the bows of the Retriever and then tore away. In five minutes the Connemara had sunk with all on board.

The Retriever managed to keep afloat for about a quarter

of

an hour, after which she also sank with all her crew save one man.

This man, James Boyle, was an eye

witness of the collision and testified to the helplessness of both captains to avoid it.

The state of the sea prevented the launching of any boats and he had been saved when the boat which he, with other members of the crew, was trying to launch was swept overboard with himself as the only occupant.

The total loss of life was 94 persons, of whom eight were the crew of the Retriever.

[Tony Lund]

Thank you for that, some interesting details are always useful.

Tony.

[Tony Lund]

I have found the John Beever information, an interesting man.

Before the war twenty-two year old John Beever worked in his father’s textile business, at Swan Bank Mill, Holmfirth, but his real interest was always radio. He built what the Holmfirth Express described as a large wireless plant at his home, making all the components himself. At that time radios were quite large, and a portable version needed two wagons to carry it, and a team of men to assemble it.

When the war broke out he was medically rejected, first by the army, and then by the navy, so he applied to be registered as a wireless operator; and he did so well in the examinations that the Royal Naval Air Service offered him a commission. But once again he failed the medical.

He then took a job as a wireless operator with the London and North Western Railway Company’s ferry service, where he had a near miss from torpedoes on more than one occasion during the two years he served with them before his death. He was also shot at when his ship called at Dublin to pick-up Sinn Fein prisoners after the Easter Rising.

He joked that the first time he ever needed to send out an SOS call would also be the last, and this proved to be the case. His body was later recovered and identified by a relative.

Tony.