GAClayton Posted 3 July , 2008 Share Posted 3 July , 2008 John Baxter Been trying to contact you again via PM, but cannot get through. Could you mail me please? Thank you Shieldhall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
museumtom Posted 4 July , 2008 Share Posted 4 July , 2008 A few years ago when we (at the museum) were given a few rounds from the AUD they were Russian. I phoned up the CO in Haulbowline and asked him what the story was as we were under the impression that it would be mauser rounds found. He said that diving on the AUD was fobidden and that it was used during the 1920s by the Irish Navy as target practice until they sank her completely. The rifles and ammo were captured by the Germans from the Russians during the battle of Tannenberg. Regards. Tom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irishmen1916 Posted 4 July , 2008 Share Posted 4 July , 2008 Hi Tom, I was always under the impression that the gus abroad the Aud where Mauser c1870 Franco Prussian war, or am I mixing that up with the guns that the Asgard shiped in ? Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
museumtom Posted 4 July , 2008 Share Posted 4 July , 2008 Beats me, but I am sure one of us will be corrected very shortly. regards. Tom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1st east yorks Posted 4 July , 2008 Share Posted 4 July , 2008 The 'Asgard' was used in the Howth gun running incident in 1914 when a shipment of 1,500 Mausers and 49,000 rounds of ammunition were brought into Ireland from Germany. The 'Aud' formally the Wilson line 'Castro'(built in Hull in 1911)seized by the Germans and renamed the 'SMS Libau',was disguised as a Norwegian steamer and named the 'Aud'.The ship was used to attempt a landing of 20,000 rifles,10 machine guns,ammunition and explosives off the west coast of Ireland at Fenit in Tralee bay(not sure what these weapons were but they were described as an 'Insigificant cargo of second rate arms').The landing failed with the skipper Karl Spindler sinking the vessel while being escorted towards Queenstown(Cobh). The above information was taken from Charles Townshends book 'Easter 1916 the Irish rebellion'. Hopefully this helps, Anthony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lamlash Posted 17 July , 2008 Share Posted 17 July , 2008 I have just got hold of a copy of a diving book that's been missing from my collection - "Don't Forget The Diver" by C.A.Chard. Very early in his diving career he was sent to obtain evidence against Casement from the wreck of the Aud . There are two chapters on diving the Aud. It is largely diving reminiscences and not particularly important. The Aud was pretty close to maximum diving depth for the time and decompression tables were relatively new fangled, which resulted in most of the team getting bent. According to Chard one thing recovered was a packing case which contained "a metal cylinder six feet by three, fitted with numerous dials and gadgets." " Actually it was a big infernal machine or time bomb". " There were ordinary bombs, Russian rifles and ammunition, and all kinds of minor armaments of war". "After sufficient evidence had been obtained to suit the Admiralty, my services were retained for some time obtaining souvenirs of the Aud for the notabilities of the day. The German ensign at the stern of the vessel went, I believe to Buckingham Palace; the white flag with the black cross and double German eagle in the centre went to the Imperial War Museum. There was a particular demand for the Russian rifles, specimens of which were brought up for Lloyd George, Asquith, Jellicoe and Beatty." Regards, Donald Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lamlash Posted 17 July , 2008 Share Posted 17 July , 2008 I have just got hold of a copy of a diving book that's been missing from my collection - "Don't Forget The Diver" by C.A.Chard. Very early in his diving career he was sent to obtain evidence against Casement from the wreck of the Aud . There are two chapters on diving the Aud. It is largely diving reminiscences and not particularly important. The Aud was pretty close to maximum diving depth for the time and decompression tables were relatively new fangled, which resulted in most of the team getting bent. According to Chard one thing recovered was a packing case which contained "a metal cylinder six feet by three, fitted with numerous dials and gadgets." " Actually it was a big infernal machine or time bomb". " There were ordinary bombs, Russian rifles and ammunition, and all kinds of minor armaments of war". "After sufficient evidence had been obtained to suit the Admiralty, my services were retained for some time obtaining souvenirs of the Aud for the notabilities of the day. The German ensign at the stern of the vessel went, I believe to Buckingham Palace; the white flag with the black cross and double German eagle in the centre went to the Imperial War Museum. There was a particular demand for the Russian rifles, specimens of which were brought up for Lloyd George, Asquith, Jellicoe and Beatty." Regards, Donald Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest AzaleaSloop Posted 19 July , 2008 Share Posted 19 July , 2008 You guys really need to read the following book - AUD by Xander Clayton ISBN 978-0-9555622-0-4 Cost me £40 quid via email from the authors website, which is WWW.AUD-N.ORG It's an amazing 896 page extravaganza about the AUD and all the RN vessels that intercepted it. In it you'll find that the ships involved were.... HMS Orotava HMS Orocoma HMS Alsation HMT Setter II HMT Lord Heneage HMS Bluebell HMS Zinnia HMS Nicator HMS Gloucester All of the books that you have quoted above - from BAYLYS to CHARDS pop up in the authors bibliography. More than that though - he uses German, British and american naval records rather than rely on second hand witness accounts from simply quoting from other books. But that's not all. Looks like he's studied the subject all his life and just published now. This guy Clayton has actually interviewed the families/sons and daughters of the ships crews!! I kid you not...! How old can these peoiple be? On both sides too. German and British/Irish. The 300 photos of the RN and German crews are very rare. The wreck of the AUD is photographically surveyed to an astinishing level. The Sir Roger Casement and the U-19 uboat along with the whole Irish Revolutionary thing is given a thorough analysis. The book doesn't pick sides though. It is completely unbiased which I found amazing for such a politicall volatile and complicated subject. It just tells the history by fact rather than feeling. A good thing in a histiry text. Anyway, this book is the last word on the entire subject and was only brought out earlier this year. I'd recommend you pick up a copy. AZ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GAClayton Posted 25 July , 2008 Share Posted 25 July , 2008 Wow! Great tip! Also - John Baxter, if you are still out there - could you please get in contact with me again? Would really like to get in touch. The paperwork you were sending to me never arrived. Getting concerned that it may have become lost in Royal Mail abyss.... Regards your old Pal Shieldhall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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