Impression sketch
of The Cornwall Training Ship - by Jamie. See original at:http://www.childrenshomes.org.uk/TSCornwall/
A mid nineteenth
century scheme,
Had set out to
create for Roman
Catholic boys - a
Ship Reformatory.
This had begun
with acquisition
Of Merseyside
vessels, naval hulk,
Akbar and the
warship Clarence.
Such boats attempting to reform
The boys housed
on the vessels,
Had a chequered
history - including
The 1887 Akbar
mutiny - In Captain's
Absence boys
refused to work,
Arming selves and
stealing stores.
While some
escaped to be caught,
Sentenced
ringleaders received
Had labour - the
fate of the Clarence
Being more
serious - the original
Boat succumbed to
intentional fire,
By boys who
received penal servitude.
The sister ship
Royal William,
Taking the same
name, suffered
With a boys
mutiny turning to riots.
Some years later having
same end,
As boys saved
rags and flammable
Liquids, setting
boat alight, to sink.
Despite such
events and outcomes
Another
reformatory school ship
Was proposed, to
result in an old
Frigate’s
donation - The Cornwall
Fitted out with donations
moored
In Pufleet, Essex
on river Thames.
As with
predecessors the boat could
Accommodate a
large number of boys,
Who were under
detentions - being
In operation for
some sixty years
Only to witness a
disastrous fate - this
Time with a large
loss of young lives.
The morning of
Monday 30 August,
Saw Mr Frederick
Lane - experienced
Old Naval Petty
Officer - in charge
Of 26 boys -They
had left at 10 a.m.
On cutter Alert,
for instructional tasks,
Returning during
a strong current.
From a distance of
300 yards off
The Essex Shore
and on the London
Side of the
Cornwall - at 600 yards,
The cutter Alert
was hit by a tug -
A witness of
event was an officer
Of the Police PC
Smith, being on duty.
Giving the time
of 11.55 a.m. told
How he saw the
cutter progress
Down the river,
close to the shore -
Then turned to
river's centre to pass
Before a tug, to
collide with another
Tug which had
been moving up stream.
The Alert was
struck on port bows -
The cutter being
dragged broadside
To the tugs
starboard, the sails fell
To the tugs bow -
to be pulled nearly
Eighty yards by
the tug - finally
The sails ripped
and the cutter sank.
From the Cornwall,
Captain Steele
Stated how the
cutter appeared
To be at a
standstill, in the water -
When a gust of
wind caught her
Sails - another
viewpoint stated
The cutters
return to Garrison Pier.
At some 300 yards
from shore,
A towing tug was
seen at a 100
Yards to head
towards them -
Two boys on look
out, reported
Fact to Mr Lane who steering,
Shouted to tug to
alter course.
All twenty-six
boys were sat
At the bottom of
the boat,
When cutter was
struck
Amidships -
slicing through
The oars and
tackle, cutting
Down the mast and
her sails.
It was believed
that all the boys
Knew how to swim;
that prior
To departure Mr
Lane had asked
If any could not
- but none had
Admitted to fact - once the Alert
Was hit two tugs
came to assist.
During any
training sessions,
The Cornwall had
a dedicated
Lookout, so as the collision
Happened small
boats also
Hurried to
assistance - Mr Lane
Told the boys to
await orders.
Boy Potter beside
Mr Lane
Was instructed to
dive when
The boat began to
sink - boys
Told how their
instructor was
Hit by mast on
the head to be
Caught in ropes,
as Alert sunk.
Various survivors
confirmed
That no one
appeared to be
On tug's
deck, except one man
At the wheel -
six boys were
Saved from
drowning by two
Tugs, the Empress
and Florence.
Captain Steele
told how they
Were like a
family, when on ship.
Usually the boys
remain aboard
For five years,
yet with two years
Good conduct gave
them release,
Allowing them new
freedoms.
They followed old
boys progress;
Many of them had
gone into
The army, or to
train for the navy,
Or careers as
merchant marines -
The organization
was proud to say
How 400 were then
serving in army.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1915. Boating Disaster on the Thames - Collision with Tug
- Loss of 17 Lives - Training-Ship Boys Fate. The Daily
Telegraph, [online]
31
August. P.9. Col 5. Available
at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11815075/Daily-Telegraph-August-31-1915.html
[Accessed: 31 August 2015].
Source: File:
Children's Homes. Reformatory School Ship 'Cornwall', Purfleet, Essex
[online]
Available at: <http://www.childrenshomes.org.uk/TSCornwall/> [Accessed:
31 August 2015]
Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago -
Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 31 August 2015).
#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary
#worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1Essex
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