Source: File: A
German submarine of the UB Class in rough seas.jpg, 2015. The History Place - World War I Timeline - 1915 - German U-Boat Action.
[online] Available at:
<http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/firstworldwar/ger-uboat.htm
The
History Place - World War I Timeline - 1915 - German U-Boat Action>
[Accessed: 3 March 2015].
Once more, a tale of sea warfare
Comes via Weymouth - how
A civil coasting steamer on Sunday
28 February was in the English
Channel in the early hours,
To be targeted by enemy intent.
Commissioned by the Bolton Thoradis
Shipping Company, Coal exporters -
A Collier built in a Norway shipyard
Arrived for her working life, in the port
Of Newcastle.
From the Tyne, aptly named Thoradis
Took her maiden voyage as a collier.
With her crew under their given Captain
John William Bell.
Was loaded with coal - the steamer
Leaving Blyth, headed for Plymouth.
With the seas about the British coast
Vulnerable to enemy attacks, look outs
Kept watch on deck.
With vigilance maintained on the Thoradis'
Maiden mission it was at a point, about
Some ten miles off Beachy Head, that
A submarine presence was spotted,
By its periscope.
Alarm raised, the crew on deck of Thoradis,
Saw the indicator, showing the underwater
Craft was closing in - expecting the worst,
They prepared a boat.
With hands about the sides of the Thoradis,
They watched the submarine's periscope
Movements in the water – then in sudden
Alteration of a course, a torpedo wake was
Seen heading starboard.
The crew called out to the bridge of Thoradis
Indicating an intention to hit - by urgent action
Captain Bell ordered a manoeuvre of the ship -
Which, in quick time the new collier avoided
The underwater missile.
Captain Bell, on the bridge of the Thoradis,
Saw the crew indicating the underwater trail.
The seaway was heavy, as the Captain
Thought a heavy thought - both craft were
In close proximity – he decided that he would
Hit the enemy vessel, to either damage
Or sink the submarine.
The captain gave the helm of the Thoradis
The order - the steerer overcame caution
Sharply turned the collier about, so the prow
Lifted into the heavy swell – the crew below
In ignorance, held on.
With the collier riding the wave, the Thoradis
Lifted momentarily in air above the trough -
Below the upper part of the submarine was
exposed – realisation of what they were about
To do - the crew braced.
The prow went down and under the Thoradis
Was a great crash of platage - under scraping
Of metal the enemy submersible dipped away,
Leaving a covering of oil on the waves –
In making their recovery, the cheery male crew
Waved to the bridge.
With great relief Captain Bell hoped the Thoradis
Would be able to survive - he gave orders to turn
The sturdy steamer about to Weymouth to check
For damage and report enemy activity - placed
Into dry dock the collier was to stay, until when
It was decided on a £1160 reward.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1915. German Submarine – Rammed by Collieroff Beachy Head – Sea
Covered with Oil. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 3 Mar. p.2. Col.3.
Available at
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11440731/Daily-Telegraph-March-3-1915.html
[Accessed: 9th March 2015].
Mann, J., 2014. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter]
(Personal communication, xx March 2015).
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11440731/Daily-Telegraph-March-3-1915.html
http://worldwaroneblogger.blogspot.co.uk/
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