Honouring the Men who gave their lives whilst serving in the Merchant Navy
and whose names are on the Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
and whose names are on the Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Steam Tug GREYHOUND
WW2
WW2
The Advertiser (Adelaide, S.A.) 10-11-1943
SEAWORTHINESS QUESTIONED
Enquiry Into Loss Of Lighter
MELBOURNE, November 9.
The City Coroner (Mr. Tingate) today adjourned for further police enquiries the inquest into the death of Cyril John Smith, ship's trimmer and cook, of Bowden, SA, one of the three men who lost their lives when an Allied Works Council lighter foundered in Bass Strait near Cape Woolamai on October 26. It was the third adjournment.
After hearing survivors and a detective, Mr. Tingate that the evidence placed before him was insufficient for him to arrive at a finding. "According to Mr. E. A. Bell. AWC engineer, the lighter had been placed in order before sailing, but police evidence put his statements in a different light, and I wish to hear from the Assistant Director of Navigation, or who ever told Detective Sonnberger that the ship was unseaworthy."
Mr. Tingate said. "Something also should be done to clear up the method of selecting men for the lighter's crew. Conditions of engagement of the crew included that one member should have been a signalman. Mr. W. Bird. Seaman's Union secretary, to whom the selection of the crew bad been entrusted, should be called as a witness."
George Alfred Home, of Heidelberg, assistant to the AWC Personnel Director, said that at the request of the Army he bad asked Mr. Bird to provide a crew of three seamen and a man who knew Morse code. Before the vessel sailed be had been told by Mr. Bird that the sea going discharges of the crew were in order.
Lacey Lyons, seaman, employed by the AWC said that when the lighter was out side the heads J. Telle. who was virtually in charge of the crew and now missing, directed his attention to how the vessel was shipping water. When the water was 3 ft. deep In the forecastle, Lyons wrote and sent by lamp a message to the towing tug, "We are making water." No one on the lighter under stood Morse. He had written out the signals from a copy of the Morse code given to him before sailing by the lighter's watchman.
Signals Sent Out
Lyons said that other members of the crew repeatedly sent out SOS signals and the letter K, which bad been arranged should the lighter become distressed. Later Lyons sent out another message. "We are sinking." The towing tug, he said, appeared to increase speed, and it was thought that the lighter was being towed into shelter of Westernport Bay. When the position became worse a red flare was sent up. A searchlight from the tug was played along the towline and on to the ship. None of the lamp replies in code could be read on the lighter, and Lyons suggested cutting the towline, as that way tbe only way, apart from Morse and SOS signals, of obtaining aid from the tug. Before the tow line could be cut the lighter sank in a moderate sea. With other members of the crew who were thrown Into the water, Lyons said
that he clung to a lifebelt and a buoy until rescued by the tug. The mate of the tug told Lyons that he had seen SOS messages, and thought the crew could understand Morse. Messages had been sent asking the meaning of tbe SOS calls. Detective Joseph L. Sonnberger said that the lighter, which was being taken to Sydney in tow of the Army tug AT44O had a wooden hull, and was 45 years old.
It had been lying at Geelong out of commission for a number of years. From information given witness by the Assistant Director of Navigation the vessel apparently should never have been taken into open sea.
SEAWORTHINESS QUESTIONED
Enquiry Into Loss Of Lighter
MELBOURNE, November 9.
The City Coroner (Mr. Tingate) today adjourned for further police enquiries the inquest into the death of Cyril John Smith, ship's trimmer and cook, of Bowden, SA, one of the three men who lost their lives when an Allied Works Council lighter foundered in Bass Strait near Cape Woolamai on October 26. It was the third adjournment.
After hearing survivors and a detective, Mr. Tingate that the evidence placed before him was insufficient for him to arrive at a finding. "According to Mr. E. A. Bell. AWC engineer, the lighter had been placed in order before sailing, but police evidence put his statements in a different light, and I wish to hear from the Assistant Director of Navigation, or who ever told Detective Sonnberger that the ship was unseaworthy."
Mr. Tingate said. "Something also should be done to clear up the method of selecting men for the lighter's crew. Conditions of engagement of the crew included that one member should have been a signalman. Mr. W. Bird. Seaman's Union secretary, to whom the selection of the crew bad been entrusted, should be called as a witness."
George Alfred Home, of Heidelberg, assistant to the AWC Personnel Director, said that at the request of the Army he bad asked Mr. Bird to provide a crew of three seamen and a man who knew Morse code. Before the vessel sailed be had been told by Mr. Bird that the sea going discharges of the crew were in order.
Lacey Lyons, seaman, employed by the AWC said that when the lighter was out side the heads J. Telle. who was virtually in charge of the crew and now missing, directed his attention to how the vessel was shipping water. When the water was 3 ft. deep In the forecastle, Lyons wrote and sent by lamp a message to the towing tug, "We are making water." No one on the lighter under stood Morse. He had written out the signals from a copy of the Morse code given to him before sailing by the lighter's watchman.
Signals Sent Out
Lyons said that other members of the crew repeatedly sent out SOS signals and the letter K, which bad been arranged should the lighter become distressed. Later Lyons sent out another message. "We are sinking." The towing tug, he said, appeared to increase speed, and it was thought that the lighter was being towed into shelter of Westernport Bay. When the position became worse a red flare was sent up. A searchlight from the tug was played along the towline and on to the ship. None of the lamp replies in code could be read on the lighter, and Lyons suggested cutting the towline, as that way tbe only way, apart from Morse and SOS signals, of obtaining aid from the tug. Before the tow line could be cut the lighter sank in a moderate sea. With other members of the crew who were thrown Into the water, Lyons said
that he clung to a lifebelt and a buoy until rescued by the tug. The mate of the tug told Lyons that he had seen SOS messages, and thought the crew could understand Morse. Messages had been sent asking the meaning of tbe SOS calls. Detective Joseph L. Sonnberger said that the lighter, which was being taken to Sydney in tow of the Army tug AT44O had a wooden hull, and was 45 years old.
It had been lying at Geelong out of commission for a number of years. From information given witness by the Assistant Director of Navigation the vessel apparently should never have been taken into open sea.
The Advertiser (Adelaide, S.A.) 29-10-1943
S.A. Victim Of Loss Of Lighter
Cycril J. Smith Who was drowned when an Allied Works Council lighter foundered in heavy seas off the Victorian coast on Tuesday. Mrs. E. W. Smith, of Drayton street, Bowden. He was 23. and was born at Brompton. He enlisted in the Army in 1941 and served in Syria, returning to Australia In 1942. He was later discharged from the Army and a few weeks later joined the merchant navy. Smith served on merchant ships in Australian waters.
S.A. Victim Of Loss Of Lighter
Cycril J. Smith Who was drowned when an Allied Works Council lighter foundered in heavy seas off the Victorian coast on Tuesday. Mrs. E. W. Smith, of Drayton street, Bowden. He was 23. and was born at Brompton. He enlisted in the Army in 1941 and served in Syria, returning to Australia In 1942. He was later discharged from the Army and a few weeks later joined the merchant navy. Smith served on merchant ships in Australian waters.