Sharron B Posted 12 August , 2006 Share Posted 12 August , 2006 Hi! Can anyone help? My Grandfather ( Albert John Powley - born in Tazmania ), was on the transport ship Camoens in 1917, he then joined the British Navy and after training at "Crystal Palace" which included a Gunnery Course, he was drafted into the Minesweeping Fleet and joined the minesweeper William Muir, which was torpedoed in July 1918. After recovering from his injuries he was sent aboard HMS Osiris 11, where he remained until two months after the Armistice was signed. He then left for Sydney aboard the naval dredge Kaione, from where he obtained his discharge and returned home. If anyone can help with Details or Pictures of any of these vessels, or can help me locate his Service Records, I would be most grateful, as I feel like I'm running around in the dark. Thank You Sharron B. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph Posted 12 August , 2006 Share Posted 12 August , 2006 Sharron, Welcome to the forum, Her Majestys Paddle Minesweeper William Muir was a Forth Ferry sailing from Burntisland to Ganton, heres a picture. http://website.lineone.net/~tom_lee/williammuir.htm Cannot find a reference to her being torpedoed one of the submarine experts may know more. Her Majestys Trawler Osiris II was an Auxiliary Patrol ship. Regards Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Lowrey Posted 12 August , 2006 Share Posted 12 August , 2006 Sharron, See also http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/0_a/0_around_e...illiam_muir.htm Charles is right -- there's no conventional attribution to the William Muir being torpedoed, at least being torpedoed by a submarine. That absolutely doesn't mean it didn't happen though -- there's no published list that I'm aware of Royal Navy ships damaged by enemy action (sunk, sure, damaged no) -- and the official history of the German submarine operations for 1918 was only being researched in 1940 or so, when exchange of information would rather obviously have been a problem. I also can't rule out some sort of destroyer or torpedo boat action. Obviously any other details you might have would help nail this case down. Best wishes, Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonmate Posted 12 August , 2006 Share Posted 12 August , 2006 Sharron There seems to be the promise of a photo of the Dredge KAIONE (Built 1915) and indicating it was taken in 1939 on http://www.rapidttp.co.za/museum/jmmc/jmmck.html There is another reference to this vessel giving the Wanganui Harbour Board as it's owner (still ?) at http://nzmaritimeindex.org.nz/index.htm Best wishes Sotonmate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonmate Posted 12 August , 2006 Share Posted 12 August , 2006 Sharron There seems to be the promise of a photo of the Dredge KAIONE (Built 1915) and indicating it was taken in 1939 on http://www.rapidttp.co.za/museum/jmmc/jmmck.html There is another reference to this vessel giving the Wanganui Harbour Board as it's owner (still ?) at http://nzmaritimeindex.org.nz/index.htm Best wishes Sotonmate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharron B Posted 12 August , 2006 Author Share Posted 12 August , 2006 Thank You, for your responses Joseph and Michael. My information comes from a local newspaper story, which was written after my grandfather returned home to Western Australia. I am not sure how to send you a copy of the article, as this is all new to me. Many Thanks for the information you have provided, I will follow it up. Regards Sharron B. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kin47 Posted 12 August , 2006 Share Posted 12 August , 2006 Hello As a note, there are no deaths in WILLIAM MUIR during the war. All best don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharron B Posted 12 August , 2006 Author Share Posted 12 August , 2006 Sharron There seems to be the promise of a photo of the Dredge KAIONE (Built 1915) and indicating it was taken in 1939 on http://www.rapidttp.co.za/museum/jmmc/jmmck.html There is another reference to this vessel giving the Wanganui Harbour Board as it's owner (still ?) at http://nzmaritimeindex.org.nz/index.htm Best wishes Sotonmate Thank you Sotonmate, I am trying to order a copy if possible. Regards Sharron B. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharron B Posted 15 August , 2006 Author Share Posted 15 August , 2006 Hi Charles, You gave me a lead on Osiris 11 being one of " Her Majesty's Trawlers", and was also an " Auxiliary Patrol Ship ". Unfortunately I have not been able to find any of this information, and I wondered if you could tell me where you found it? Regards Sharron B. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharron B Posted 15 August , 2006 Author Share Posted 15 August , 2006 Hello Don, Thank you for your input. According to the information I have, the minesweeper William Muir was torpedoed by a submarine on July 5th 1918, grandad was wounded in the hand badly enough to be sent to hospital, but there is no mention of the vessel being sunk, or of any deaths. Regards Sharron B. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lörscher Posted 15 August , 2006 Share Posted 15 August , 2006 Hi Sharron, the logbook for auxiliary minesweeper WILLIAM MUIR for 05.07.1918 is held at the TNA: reference ADM 53 - 68676 (logbook from 15.06.18 - 15.08.18) Anyone who's next should have a look there in order to found out the location of this incident and if it realy was an torpedo, mine or else... :-) It could be, that your grandfather is recorded by name in the logbook as "wounded". Oliver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharron B Posted 17 August , 2006 Author Share Posted 17 August , 2006 Hi Oliver, Thanks for the lead, I will check it out. The following is a copy of the article I have been following up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharron B Posted 17 August , 2006 Author Share Posted 17 August , 2006 Hi Oliver, Thanks for the lead, I will check it out. The following is a copy of the article I have been following up. Regards Sharron B. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lörscher Posted 1 October , 2006 Share Posted 1 October , 2006 Hi Sharron, was at TNA for one week in the middle of September, had an look into "William Muir"'s logbook: ADM 53/68676 The vessel was at Sheerness Dockyard on 05.07.1918, no torpedodamage reported even before that date!!! There's an complete crew-list on the first page of the logbook, but as I hadn't the name of your Grandfather at hand, I'm not sure if he's listed there, sorry Probably his injury was on an later date OR it was not caused by an attack but by accident instead ??? Best regards Oliver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now