SS YSELHAVEN

[Wrecktec]

Hi Guys

I'm struggling to find the names of the 9 crewmen lost when the US steamer YSELHAVEN sank after detonating a mine on 14 March 1919, 20 miles off Coquet island. Hope some one can help, but it is a tough one, being all American (I think?)

Cheers Ron

[Carmania]

The casualties were:

R E MILLER supercargo, Cleveland

RICHARD E WELCH cadet engineer, Baltimore

IVOR BERGLUND boatswain, Belgium

W R SAWTELL second Cook, Providence

PRESTON BARLIER fireman, Hamptonville North Carolina

W E LIPPACHER fireman, New Berlin, NY

FRANK COLWELL coal passer, Rome NY

F GIMENZ coal passer, Ageath Spain

MANUEL LOPEZ oiler, no address given

Details according to the Boston Daily Globe, 18th March 1919

[sadsac]

Silent Ron, probably not of much relevance to you, but name of YSELHAVEN sounds `Dutch', so passad / purchased into American hands.

Regards Sadsac

[Wrecktec]

Silent Ron, probably not of much relevance to you, but name of YSELHAVEN sounds `Dutch', so passad / purchased into American hands.

Regards Sadsac

Hi Carmania and Sadsac

Thank you very much for the DD names, much appreciated.

Sadsac you are correct, regarding the name.

She was built and completed by Rotterdam (Dry Dock) Droogdok Mij., Rotterdam, Nederland on 15 April 1916 for Gebr. van Uden, in Rotterdam.

In March 1918 she was requisitioned from the Dutch by the U.S. Government and operated by the U.S. Shipping Board, under the U.S. flag.

On 14 March 1919, the YSELHAVEN was some 20-miles off Coquet Island, at about position 55° 12.45N 00° 30W, when she detonated a mine at 0145hrs and sank with the loss of ten crewmen; she was on passage from Baltimore for Copenhagen. Ten hours later, the 407-ton British steamer TAYCRAIG (1901 - Wraith Steam Shipping Co., Ltd., London) rescued 35 members of the crew and landed them at Hartlepool. An inquest was held on the 18th March 1919 at Hartlepool on the body of Richard Walsh, a 29yrs old cadet engineer from Baltimore. The master of the YSELHAVEN attended the hearing and stated that he had followed his instructions as to the route they should follow and they were not in the minefield at the time. He also declared that he was the last to leave the ship and they were actually lucky to leave the vessel because the boilers exploded and the funnel fell within three feet of the boat. Heavy squalls had also prevailed, making things even more difficult. Richard Walsh was huddled up with the others, all more or less in a state of collapse. Unfortunately he died before the TAYCRAIG could pick them up. Six of the nine missing men were seen to jump overboard, apparently because of the fear of being sucked down with the stricken steamer.

Thanks for the help, it is much appreciated

Cheers Ron