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80The Newsletter of the SOUTH WEST MARITIME HISTORY SOCIETY` ISSN 1360-6980

CONTENTS –NO. 80 – September 2010 Edited by Jonathan Seagrave

EDITORIAL 2

REPORTS OF MEETINGSAGM Topsham 5

ARTICLESBy the Largeness Of Their Breasts by ET Fox 8The Navy in the English Civil War by Michael Lea-O’Mahoney 9The Spanish Plaque Mystery by Jonathan Seagrave 10

REVIEWSSunk by Stukas by Tony Mc Crum rev. Bill Forster 14Wrecks of Scilly by R Larn OBE rev. David Clement 16Maritime History of Somerset Ed. A Webb rev. David Clement 18Hard Fought Ship by R Moore rev. David Clement 19Galley Slave by Jean Marteilhe rev. Jonathan Seagrave 21Cornish Wrecking by Cathyrn Pearce rev. David Clement 23

LETTERS NOTES AND NEWS 25WEBERY 31WELCOME ABOARD 34UPCOMING EVENTS 36

OFFICERS and COMMITTEE back cover

WEBSITE. www.swmaritime.org.ukIndividual contributions © Individual contributors. Entire journal © South West Maritime History

Society 2010

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EDITORIAL

We had an excellent AGM programme at Topsham with almost 60members in attendance. Richard Harding, Chairman of the Society forNautical Research, gave the keynote talk on the history of SNR, foundeda hundred years ago almost to the day. He finished his talk byprompting us to think of the future of societies such as SNR and ourown, and how we can better engage the public in the history of themaritime world. His paper will appear in Mariners Mirror in duecourse. Two student abstracts from the AGM are included in thisedition, more will follow.

The brief formal part of the AGM elected Philip Northcott as our newTreasurer. Otherwise the Committee remains unchanged.

All Membership/change of address correspondence should beaddressed to Philip from now on at: -

Mr Philip NORTHCOTT7 Canberra ClosePennsylvaniaExeterDevonEX4 5BA01392 437543Email: treasurer@swmaritime.org.uk

Send email changes to Dave Hills: webmaster@ swmaritime.org.uk

We have not changed subscriptions for 8 years. We all owe a huge debtof thanks to Dale Thomas for looking after our finances so well; hehands them over in good shape. More details are given in the AGMreport below.

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The website was unfortunately down for a couple of weeks, owing tothe abrupt closure of our web host supplier. It was fully backed up butemails sent via the site during the closure will not have been forwarded.Once again our thanks to Dave Hills for dealing with this problemefficiently

We offer a warm welcome to the considerable number of new members,listed on p.34. We now top 430. We are good value. If you take up thediscounts offered by publishers, that alone pays the sub in some cases,as you can see in the offers with reviews! Don’t forget that the onlinemembership list (password from Dave Hills) lets you get in touch withmembers with common interests.

I’d like to record my thanks to all contributors, including readers whosend in news items and details of other society meetings. I now have anemail reminder list, which is improving the flow of news. If you wouldlike to be added (or removed of course) please let me know. We alsoplan to put more photos on the web version, as they often appear muchbetter on screen.

I’d also like to record thanks to the various news sources. Copyright canbe a tricky issue, but we try and clearly acknowledge all sources.

Our best wishes for summer sailing and reading.

Jonathan Seagrave

Next copy date: October 15th 2010

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FUTURE MEETINGS AND OTHER EVENTS

( Also see other society announcements at the end of the magazine)

September 18/19th Maritime History Conference, Exeter University

16 October NMM Cornwall Cornish Ports and People ffi Helen Doe/TonyPawlyn

30 October Evening with SWMAG see page 36

November 6th Launch of David McGregor Library, Bristol (calling noticeenclosed)

2 April 2011 South West Shipping Show Portishead

(Italics indicate an event of interest but not organised directly by the Society).Confirmation of events will be published either in the next edition or incalling notices for bookings, which will be sent to members at theappropriate time.

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REPORTS OF MEETINGS

Minutes of the 26th South West Maritime History Soc. AGM,Saturday 12th June 2010 at the ‘Globe’ Inn, Topsham

Minutes of the 2009 AGM: were approved.

Reports by Officers

The Chairman, Dale Thomas commenced by noting Society awardspresented at the Falmouth meeting in November 2009. Presentationswere made to Roger Hall, small boat restorer, to John Beck, author ofthe monograph on the Falmouth packets, and to Dave Hills who haddeveloped and who runs the Society web site. Present at the 2010 AGMwas Will Stirling, the young researcher and wooden boat builder, whowere then presented with his award. He had researched, designed andthen built an 1830s smuggling lugger, proceeding to sail her to Icelandand back for a maiden voyage.

The SWMHS awards are special engraved paperweights.

Two student awards for academic research were then made to Ann Pondand Edward Fox, chosen by Dr Maria Fusaro of the University ofExeter.

Treasurer’s Report

Dale Thomas presented his final treasurer’s report for 2009/10, copieshaving been circulated. He summarised the contents, and explained theloss of c. £3,000. The Society being a charity the committee had decidedto spend money on encouraging education and maritime research, hencethe instigation of awards to Exeter University students, other researchersand to supporting conferences relating to maritime matters in the southwest. In addition he referred to the Society’s publications and regular

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meetings hosted throughout the region. Investment income had declinedsharply due to the economic downturn and fall in interest rates. Alsopostage costs had increased and would do so again in the near future.Gift Aid refund from the Inland Revenue, worth currently c. £1,200 ayear, might be at risk in the future should national economiccircumstances deteriorate.

Although the committee were happy to have lower reserves (in order tocomply with the Society’s charitable status and aims) Dale proposedthat a subscription increase be allowed for, if need be, in 2011/12. Hepointed out that membership fees had been held at £12 per year since2002. He therefore asked that the AGM agree to increase fees to £15should circumstances require it. The AGM unanimously agreed to givethe committee the authority to raise subscriptions should the need arise.

Other comments

It was explained that the Society Internet web site was currently notavailable due to the host server not seemingly being in businessanymore. Web master Dave Hills would be obtaining a new supplierurgently upon his return from holiday. [The web site is now back inaction. Ed]

Dale Thomas said that after six years as treasurer he would be standingdown. His last act had been to complete a comprehensive return to theCharities Deposit Fund, detailing information about the Society trusteesand bank accounts. The committee had managed to persuade PhilipNorthcott, an Exeter based qualified accountant, to stand in his stead.Philip could not be present at this AGM as he was at a meeting, astreasurer, of the Naval Records Society.

Election of Officers & Committee Members of the Society

The revised committee were elected unopposed, proposed by KenGollop and seconded by David Pulvertaft, as follows: -

The main officers for the coming year would be: -Chairman: Dale ThomasTreasurer: Philip NorthcottSecretary: Helen Doe [Agreed at Committee meeting 3rd July .Ed]

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The other members of the committee for 2010/11:

Mike BenderDavid Clement (publications – Journal + monographs)Julia CreekeHelen DoeMike DuffyPeter FergusonMaria FusaroColin GreenMartin Hazell (Vice Chair & Minutes Sec.)Dave Hills (Webmaster)Chris Penn (corresponding member – assisting with publications)Jonathan Seagrave (Editor, SWS)

Hon Auditor: Peter Myers

A O B.

In reply to a question from the floor Dale said that requests for financialassistance for publications such as ‘Maritime history of Somerset’ and‘Maritime History of Cornwall’ (currently in preparation) would beconsidered on merit and given the financial position of the Society at thetime. It was hoped that some money could be awarded.

Maria Fusaro explained why the AGM had removed from ExeterUniversity. It was a question of cost. She was against increased chargesbut the university finance department required more and more income.This went against government policy for universities to foster closerlinks with civil society. Such was the current economic climate. Shewent on, however, to welcome the continued links between the SWMHSand Exeter University, which she hoped would continue and grow.Particular mention was made of Mike Duffy’s retirement and associatedconference in September 2009, which was supported by the Society..

Martin Hazell/Minutes Sec.

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ARTICLES

‘By the largeness of their breasts’ - Women and Piracy, 1690-1730

The study of women and their relationship to early eighteenth-centurypiracy has traditionally been focussed on the stories of two femalepirates, Anne Bonny and Mary Read, and their efforts to disguise theirgender in order to join a pirate crew. But Bonny and Read were not theonly female pirates of the period, and a study of the documentssurrounding the cases of these other ‘pirates in petticoats’ forces areappraisal of the evidence concerning the exploits of Bonny and Read.

This paper set out to show that Bonny and Read never disguisedthemselves as men, and were known to be women from the time theyfirst joined the pirates. This was also the case in the other examples offemale pirates, and so pirates can be seen as a seafaring group that,occasionally, allowed women to join its ranks. The known femalepirates all had previous associations among their crewmates, and mayhave been allowed to join for that reason. Earlier, and more powerful,pirate crews proscribed women being allowed aboard their ships, out offear of the divisive effect a few women might have had in apredominantly male environment, and the strictures against bringingwomen aboard, disguised as men, were severe, both for the meninvolved and, in some cases, the women.

As the pirates’ strength and numbers declined in the 1720s the fact thatwomen volunteered was more important to pirates than their gender.This did not prevent pirates from having a number of different kinds ofrelationships with women ashore: a minority of pirates were marriedmen, but the wives of captured pirates often petitioned for theirhusbands’ freedom; prostitutes provided for the pirates’ carnal needs;and pirates sometimes spent huge sums of money on women in port.Female captives were also feared for their potentially divisive effect,and so many pirate crews ruled against their sexual mistreatment, anddemanded that they be treated fairly.

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Only very occasionally did a pirate’s wife profit financially from hiscrime, but from time to time pirates were even prepared to give up someof their own share of plunder to compensate the widow of a crewmate.

E.T. Fox (Exeter University)

The Navy in the English Civil War

The Navy has often been overlooked in studies of the English CivilWar, brushed over as ‘more ornamental than useful’ in John Kenyon’swords. My research towards a PhD on the topic, however, has shownthat both King and Parliament vied earnestly to secure the fleet. It wasone of the great ironies of history that King Charles I, having built uphis Navy with the controversial levy of ship money, saw his ships andsailors stand firmly with Parliament when war erupted. I aim to discusswhy.

During the conflict, Parliament’s use of the Navy was a key componentin its success, helping to keep besieged outposts such as Hull andPlymouth supplied in the face of fierce Royalist pressure. Furthermore,the fleet was a vital instrument with which to block the Royalists’supplies of arms from the continent. Yet Parliamentarian neglect ofnaval finance, against the warnings of the Earl of Warwick, commanderof the fleet, left the Irish Sea virtually unguarded in 1643 and allowedthe Royalists to ship thousands of reinforcements into England at acrucial moment in the war. The importance of sea power was madeclear: Parliament thereafter could not afford to rest on its laurels. Myresearch aims to uncover the role played by the Navy during the war,with due emphasis also being placed on the countermeasures taken bythe Royalists at sea, namely the use of privateers and hiredmerchantmen.

Michael Lea-O’Mahoney (Exeter University)

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The Spanish Restaurant Plaque Mystery

Whilst on holiday in Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote, your Editor, sittingin a fish restaurant, noticed a rather attractive plaque on the wall. Ithought it looked like a shipping agent’s board. I had never heard ofPlymouth Lines, and Google revealed nothing for once, so I sought thewisdom of members. Gary Hicks commented: -

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What a beautiful object!

I had assumed that Plymouth did not have companies involved in shareownership in vessels until the mid 1800s, but then discovered a coupleof instances where vessels were owned by several owners without anyreference to a partnership or company; or that they were trustees on theregister and subsequent newspaper reports revealed they were, in fact,trustees for a company. “Plymouth Lines” may therefore be hidden insuch an arrangement or in an even more informal arrangement whichseems to consist of a loose group prepared to put money into a vessel ata given time. Such a group of businessmen owned the vessels, locallyknown as the Plymouth Line of American Packets. You’ll find themunder that name on your copy of my disc.

Unfortunately, you will see from this that I have no solid information onthe “Plymouth Line”. As to “Lanzarote of all places” the Canarieswere a popular destination for Plymouth vessels involved in the fruittrade and I have a couple of joyful newspaper reports of arrivals inPlymouth of first cargoes of the season and also a number of usuallyquite brief accounts, of Plymouth vessels lost off open anchorages in theislands.

David Clement added: -

I think you will find the earliest Shipping 'lines' did not evolve until theearly 19th. Century so I suspect this may be artist’s licence! I can tracenothing of that name in Plymouth, particularly in 1722, and nothing inLondon directories either.

So we had a mystery for readers of Soundings.

Our travels in Spain later on took us to Northern Spain and Asturias, abeautiful area, little visited by British tourists. Sitting in a hotelrestaurant in Barro, near Llanes, I turned round, and- lo- two moreplaques! This time I tested my very limited Spanish, and it turns outthey were purchased along with other nautical memorabilia, as part ofthe hotel décor from a firm of chandlers, Juan Garcia-Moran, in nearbyAviles. There were a couple more plaques on the first floor, along withmany lifebelts, ships wheels etc.

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So the plaque in Lanzarote quite probably has no special connectionwith the island, though I don’t know if it came from the same source.

I wasn’t able to visit the supplier. Their limited website suggests theyare primarily commercial suppliers, but the photo on the salesman’scard also hints at a fascinating nautical junkyard. A return visit is nowessential !

This time I studied the plaques much more carefully. They are wellmade, about 80 cm. across, and clearly fairly old, but still probablyfrom the 20th century. There were also a couple of river fishing plaqueswhich were clearly old, and age spots on the John Williamson plaque.The sailing ships are in bas-relief and seem reasonably accurate.

The web indicates an Italian painter, Tomaso De Simone, painted theJohn Williamson Capt. Young leaving the Bay of Naples 1871 – EnglishBarquentine – 44 x 69 cm – signed, inscribed and dated. A print of thisor a similar painting might well be the image source for this plaque.

There are anomalies, however, which show most clearly on anotherplaque “advertising” the “South Eastern and Chatham and DoverRailway “ (sic) Southampton-New York service by American Line.(seep 39). I am pretty sure the South Eastern and Chatham Railway neverhad trains to Southampton or an interest in promoting that port! The1912 timetable on the site of the SECR society gives no indication ofSouthampton connections. On the other hand the American Line andits Southampton – NY service was real enough, but in 1901 itsconnecting trains went from Waterloo, the LSWR London terminus.The line operated between the 1880’s and early 1920’s, and the plaquesmight easily date from around then.

So what could these be ? There is a strong local tradition of ship modelmaking in Asturias , and rather nice models are on sale in the touristshops. I suspect that sailors returning from the sea probably made ourplaques. Who else would have an interest in such secular topics whenthe local market for carvings would surely have been religious,especially the Santiago pilgrims? - if indeed they were made in Spain.

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I think for the source of the images, the makers were perhaps usingposters and prints, but also sometimes inaccurate memory, and theplaques were made for the purpose seen now, as décor, not as appearsat first sight, as advertising. None of them have any point of contactsuch as an agent’s address . So they are sadly, probably not a reliableindicator of long vanished shipping businesses, although PlymouthLines must have come from somewhere. I wonder who commissionedthem, or were they made on spec ? They certainly aren’t the product ofan idle half hour.

If my surmise is correct, there are probably a fair few more around, as itis wildly improbable that I chose the only two restaurants decoratedwith them, from many thousands. They are nice pieces, and I willcertainly be looking to see if I can buy one on the next trip ! If you haveany more information, or happen to see any more, take a picture andwrite in or post on the forum.

My thanks to David, Gary and the web sources for helping me unpick atleast part of this mystery.

Jonathan Seagrave

http://www.hotelkaype.es (the Asturias hotel)http://www.efectosnavalesmoran.com/ (the chandler)http://www.fineartemporium.com/se-Desimone-T.htmhttp://www.southeasternandchathamrailway.org.uk/index.htmlhttp://www.gjenvick.com/SteamshipLines/AmericanLine/index.html

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REVIEWS

Sunk by Stukas, Survived at Salerno: the memoirs of Captain TonyMcCrum RN (Rtd) 183pp plus 16pp of plates. Pen and Sword Maritime,2010. ISBN 978 –1-84884-251-9. Hardback, £19.99

The author, a thoughtful reflective man, wrote this engagingly modestmemoir about his naval career in his ninetieth year and the only thing Idislike about it is the title which although accurate gives a somewhatmisleading impression (I suspect it was suggested by the publisher).

It falls into three (and a half) parts with the first likely to be of specialinterest to members of this Society. It covers his time at the BritanniaNaval College in Dartmouth, on the cadet training cruiser, HMSFrobisher, as a midshipman on the battleship, Royal Oak, and thedestroyer HMS Basilisk between 1932-9.

His future was set at the age of eleven when his father, a Commander inthe RN told him “You will be joining the services, I expect”. Two yearslater he was sent to Dartmouth, a cross between a public school and amilitary establishment with civilian teachers under overall control of anaval Captain with naval officers and petty officers to teach technicalsubjects. There is an extraordinary studio photograph of him taken onhis first day, a boy in cadet uniform complete with naval cap. Theacademic education was poor and naval training of little practical value.

The abrupt change from cadets at Dartmouth to life at sea as labourerson the seaman’s mess deck of HMS Frobisher was a shock made all themore startling by an invitation to visit the King of Denmark at hissummer palace near Copenhagen where they were served chilledchampagne.

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The second part covers his time on minesweepers, not the mostglamorous of warships, between 1939-42. His first ship, HMS Skipjack,a “rust bucket” brought out of Reserve was “sunk by Stukas” on the 2June 1940 whilst returning from the beaches of Dunkirk. Nineteenmembers of the ship’s company and 294 of the troops resting belowdecks were lost. He joined HMS Bridlington, a brand new minesweeperunder construction at Dunbarton, as a 21-year-old First Lieutenant. Hewas in charge of the sweep deck, watching for mines which escaped thecutters on the sweep wires. These, if missed, would be swept to thesurface and blow off the ship’s stern.

The third and by far the longest part begins when he was sent to SignalsSchool instead of the long desired posting to command a destroyer. Hewas transferred to Combined Operations as Signals Officer on HMSLargs, a West Indies banana boat converted into a Headquarters Ship forcombined ops landings on the south west coast of Sicily (OperationHusky). His success in establishing reliable communications for theassault landing on Sicily led to his posting to USS Biscayne to briefRear Admiral Connolly USN on Ultra decodes of enemy plans receivedfrom Bletchley during the landings at Salerno (he survived a guidedmissile attack from a German aircraft).

His next posting to Capri to prepare for occupying and restoringservices in Naples, a process known as “tin opening”, was followed byseveral weeks “lotus eating” in Algiers before he was posted to theSouth of France. He noted that “the USN appeared to be morebureaucratic than ours, and junior officers had less scope for takingdecisions and using their own initiative” and this difference nearlybrought his promising naval career to an abrupt end when he establisheda communication centre in Toulon before the Germans had left and themain port party had landed, embarrassing and infuriating his USNAdmiral. In December 1944 he commandeered a Rolls Royce garagedfor the war’s duration by an English resident, and drove to Dieppe fortwo weeks home leave.

After Christmas at home, he received a letter from the Admiralty to“Join HMS Tartar on the 15 January for service in the Far East”. Hewas on a destroyer at last but as Staff Signals Officer for the Flotilla,and these final happy months with little in the way of action ended withboisterous celebrations of peace on the way home.

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This slim volume is a thoroughly readable entertaining account of avaried naval career, which reads as if written by a man half his age. It ishighly recommended.

Bill Forster

The Wrecks Of Scilly. Richard Larn, OBE. Tor Mark Press UnitedDowns Industrial Estate, St. Day, Redruth, TR16 9HY. ISBN: 978 09523 9719 9 £14.99

Richard Larn needs no introduction as a respected member of SWMHSociety, lecturer and author of such seminal works as the 5-volumeShipwreck Index of the British Isles; he has now returned his attention tothe Scilly Isles, where he lives. This book is the 5th edition of a booklast seen in 1992 and now very much revised and updated.

This book is profusely illustrated with 132 photographs, engravings andcharts, around half of which are in full colour, within 225 pages ofextremely informative text. After a brief introduction the reader is takenthrough eight chapters divided into Living From The Sea; The WesternRocks – a maritime graveyard; The Islands Of St. Agnes And Anne; StMary – a meatley strong pile; Bryher, Samson and Tresco Islands; St.Martin’s and the Eastern Isles; The infamous Seven Stones Reef; andfinally Deep Water Wrecks and Derelicts.

This has to be the most complete overview of the wrecks and shippingdisasters in the area during the period from 1616 to the present time.There are 770-recorded incidents going back to around 1707, and theauthor freely accepts that other losses may not have been included, asthese were not published – particularly during the earlier periods prior tothe 1600’s. Richard provides us with a fascinating snapshot, calculatingthere were 7.7 shipwrecks per mile of coastline, as compared with 44per mile of coastline in County Durham!! – So the myth that morevessels were wrecked on the Scilly Isles than any other location aroundBritain is just that. After providing a detailed alphabetical schedule oflosses, the author considers the Graveyard of Shipwrecks, examiningpotential sources of information and touching on difficulties with some‘public’ sources.

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An interesting feature of this volume is the ‘sidebar’ naming theprinciple vessel discussed on each page, which does make for easierlocation when checking on specific vessels. Altogether this book, withis 240mm x 170mm, is excellent value for money for such a completeanalysis of the wrecks of Scilly and its surroundings.

David Clement

A Maritime History Of Somerset Volume 1 – Trade & CommerceEdited by Adrian J. Webb ISBN: 978 0 902152 21 2 SomersetArchaeological and Natural History Society. Available from the editor,Staverton, 19, Kirk Grove, Taunton, TA2 8SB. £15.95 + £3.50postage/packing

Members will recall with affection the two volumes of The MaritimeHistory of Devon published in 1994 at a cost of £70. This volumeemulates this publication in many ways – not least in the quality andhigh standard of both the presentation and the content of this, the firstvolume in a projected series of three. The cost for this soft-back book298mm x 210mm is significantly more affordable.

The book, which has been a labour of love for Adrian and his manycolleagues, is a sheer joy to dip into, and your Society is proud to havebeen associated in some small measure with this publication, which wefinancially supported.

This is the first in a series of volumes to be published by the SomersetArchaeological & Natural History Society covering original researchinto aspects of the maritime history of the ancient county of Somerset.Somerset has a rich and varied maritime heritage, aspects of which arebrought to light in this volume. Many communities depended on the seafor their livelihood, not just for the goods that came and went from theirports, but also for the people who were associated with thosetransactions. This book contains a wealth of information on the tradeand commerce witnessed in Somerset from the sixteenth centuryonwards, written by a collective of authors based upon original research.

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Attractively presented, the 180 pages come with 91 illustrations, manyof which are in full colour and have not been published before, with newmaps, tables and graphs. The book will be of interest both to scholarsand the general reader. The standard of production is extremely highand the editorial team are to be congratulated on that.

The book is divided into separate chapters, each covering a specific areaof interest and written by a different specialist on the subject. Thesesubjects include Somerset’s Sixteenth Century Maritime Trade byDuncan Taylor; Drainage, Navigation and Civil Engineering:Straightening the River Parrett in 1568 by Adrian Webb; PorlockWeir’s Quay and Trade Development, 1420-1790 by Philip Ashford;The Coastal Trade of the Somerset Ports in the late Seventeenth andearly Eighteenth Centuries by David Hussey; Collins, Mackenzie andthe Hydrographic Surveys of the Somerset Coast by Andrew David;Coal Harbour by Mary Siraut – a look at an unlikely location at Ham(or Bathpool) on the River Tone; then The Development of WatchetHarbour in the 1850s by Ian Coleby; and finally The Effect of Tide onthe Social History of Weston-Super-Mare by Brian Austin.

The standard of these articles is very high, and the book is a verysuccessful introduction to the forthcoming volumes on the MaritimeHistory of Somerset, which has not been written up in this mannerbefore. For anyone with an interest in the history of the coastal trade ofSomerset, this deservedly warrants a place in your bookshelf. I cannotwait for Volume 2 to appear which is hoped to be published in 2011.

David Clement

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A Hard Fought Ship- The Story of HMS Venomousby Robert J Moore and John A Rodgaard published by Holywell Housepublishing, 88 HOLYWELL HILL, ST ALBANS, AL1 1DH isbn: 9780 9559382 0 7 £18.99. Tel: 01727-838595.venomous@holywellhousepublishing.co.uk.(SPECIAL OFFER TO SWMH Society Members £12.00 + £3.00 Postage) Softback 235mm x155mm size 384 pages, profusely illustrated with 170 photos, drawings, sketches and tables.

This book tells the story of a ‘maid-of-all work’ operating in the RoyalNavy from 1919 to 1948, in a most comprehensive manner preparedfrom original research by the authors and the publisher W A Forster,who is one of our members.

The book sets the scene for the building of the ‘destroyer’ genre andshows how at the time of her building the design, seaworthiness andcapacity to accommodate greater armament had reached its apogee.

HMS Venomous, a modified W Class destroyer was ordered in January1918 from John Brown at Clydebank with the 10th order of the 1918-19Programs. The ship was laid down on 31st May 1918 and was launchedon 21st December 1918. She was originally to have been named HMSVenom but this was changed in order to avoid confusion with theTorpedo School HMS Vernon. Build was completed on 24th August1919 and the ship joined the 4th Destroyer Flotilla, Atlantic Fleet.Venomous was a Devonport ship and many of her married crewmembers moved their families to Plymouth, her home port, to spendtheir leave at home when their ship was in the RN Dockyard. Throughthe 12 chapters of this book we are taken from her building, through theinter-war years and duty in the Baltic, to her very active career duringthe Second World War. The information provided is extremely detailedand the illustrations, many of which were taken by members of the crewon active service, show sensitivity, which is not usual. We appreciatethe horror of war as survivors from HMS Hecla are taken aboard.. Theauthors are to be congratulated on the very broad span of their research,which makes the book a must for all students of the Royal Navy in the20th. Century, and particularly of the ‘lesser’ vessels which combined to

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support the interests of the United Kingdom during the dark days of1939-45.

In 1939 as war approached, the fleet was mobilised and a crew of navyratings were sent from the RN Barracks at Devonport to get Venomousready for sea. Amongst them was CPO Hugh McGeeney who was bornin Plymouth. In 1940 as the phoney war ended and the German armyswept through northern France Venomous was in the thick of things. Onthe 23 May Venomous and her sister ships were sent to Boulogne toevacuate the Welsh Guards trapped in the narrow streets surrounding theharbour. They were attacked by 60 Stuka dive bombers and used their4.7-inch guns to good effect against the German tanks. Hugh McGeeneytook over on B Gun when its gunner was wounded and was awarded theDSM. When Venomous returned to Devonport for repairs he toldEvelyn, his future wife, they were nearly “bottled” and trapped when thenarrow entrance to the harbour was blocked by HMS Venetia, out ofcontrol and in danger of sinking.

Once Venomous was repaired it joined the small ships evacuating theBEF from the beaches of Dunkirk and the north mole. GeneralAlexander was amongst the 4,140 troops she brought back fromDunkirk. Venomous returned to Devonport on the 5 June and Hugharrived home just as Evelyn’s family were taking shelter from thenightly bombing raids in their Anderson shelter. When they married byspecial licence on 16 October the headline in the newspaper was“Plymouth Hero Marries”. Evelyn accompanied her husband toBuckingham Palace to see him receive his medal from King George VI.She is now 97 but still live in her own home.

During the next five years the 160 strong crew of HMS Venomous wereto see very little of their families as Venomous never again visited its“home port”.

On 14th April, the National Museum of the Royal Navy at Portsmouthwelcomed Captain John Rodgaard, the author of this edition of A HardFought Ship: The Story of HMS Venomous, as he gave an account of theservice of this typical ‘V’ & ‘W’ Class destroyer during 1940 whenBritain feared invasion. Her Battle Honours included the Atlantic 1940-43; Dunkirk 1940; the Arctic 1942; the Malta convoys 1942; NorthAfrica 1942 and Sicily in 1943. Venomous, after brief service as a target

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vessel was paid off in 1947 and sold to Metal Industries for breaking atRosyth.

The authors of A Hard Fought Ship are Robert J Moore, a formerCommanding Officer of T/S Venomous, the Sea Cadet Corps unit whichkeeps the name of Venomous alive long after the ship was scrapped in1948, and his good friend, Captain John Rodgaard USN who took overwhen Robert Moore died two years ago. They tell the story of the “W”and “V” class destroyers, starting with an overview of the developmentof this class. The entire class of ships are covered in an appendix and thebook is well illustrated by some 170 wartime photographs. Anadditional 8 appendices cover her battle honours; commanding officers;a list of officers and those ratings identified; shipboard organisation; andlife aboard.

This really is a fascinating and most comprehensive insight into life in avery different world, beautifully crafted by the authors and a book welldeserving of a place in your library – particularly at the special offerprice £15.00 incl. postage) at which it is available to members of SouthWest Maritime History Society.

D. B. Clement

Galley Slave Jean Marteilhe abridged & introduced by VincentMcInerney tr. Oliver Goldsmith. Seaforth ISBN 978-1-848320703.£ 12.99 . Compact hardback.210pp.

This is the first in a new series by Seaforth, Seafarers Voices, ofabridged editions of classic tales, in a compact format.

Jean Marteilhe came from a well-connected Protestant Huguenot familyin Bergerac, SW France. After the revocation of the Edict of Nantes,which had given Huguenots freedom of worship for a century, there wasa major crackdown. When Duke La Force came to Bergerac to convertor arrest Protestants in 1700, Jean’s family were imprisoned.Aged 16,Jean and a friend escaped and sought the safety of the Protestant LowCountries. After various escapades, and indeed actually crossing theborder, he was arrested in Marienburg, nearly managed to talk his wayout, but in the end could not avoid the " chain" gang to Dunkirk, thepenalty for attempting to escape from France.

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The galley slaves were chained 6 to a bench, and any offence met withthe fearsome bastinado (whip). Deaths were frequent, and unremarked.Our hero had the benefit of some comfort money from wealthyHuguenot merchants. Jean was clearly physically very tough, anddetermined not to renounce his faith, which would have earnedimmediate release.

There were 6 galleys at Dunkirk, and they seem to have spent theirtime patrolling the English coast firing cannon to cause alarm, but notmuch else. They could only operate in really calm weather. Herecounts being caught in a storm off Dunkirk; in the winter they werelaid up.

In 1708, however, the galley fleet sought to intercept a British convoyoff the Thames escorted by HMS Nightingale. In a bloody battle,Nightingale was captured, Jean was seriously injured and his entirebench killed. To be under fire when chained to a bench seems especiallyhorrific. Isouf the Turk, who acted for Jean as a faithful runner to themerchants who paid for the comforts for the Huguenot slaves, died nextto him. Interestingly, Jean has very kind words for the loyalty andhonesty of the Turks, not just Isouf.

In hospital Jean survives when most of the wounded die, again helpedby his contacts, and returns to the galley.Unable to pull full weight butliterate, he becomes a secretary to the commander, despite being aHuguenot.

In 1712 however, after the English occupy Dunkirk, and the Huguenotslaves expected release, they are smuggled out, and again face thedreaded “chain”, this time all the way to Marseille. After intervention byQueen Anne, Jean and all the Huguenots are eventually released. Helived to the ripe old age of 93.

The introduction provides a clear context to the story. The fluenttranslation was by Oliver Goldsmith, and the abridgement has roughlyhalved the original length and modernised spelling. It flows well, makesa gripping read, and is an almost unique tale.

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Although quite a large part of the story takes place onshore, there isdetailed description of the galley layout and working arrangements.Perhaps other members with more specialised knowledge of the periodwould like to add comments.

Seaforth are to be congratulated on this initiative and hopefully will finda wide market for these classic tales.

Jonathan Seagrave

Cornish Wrecking 1700-1860 by Cathryn Pearce ISBN: 978-1-84383-555-4 Boydell & Brewer, PO Box 9, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 3DFspecial offer of £25.00 to members (£45.00 normal price.)

To obtain the offer price MEMBERS SHOULD QUOTE REFERENCE ‘10180’ TO‘trading@boydell.co.uk or tel. 01394 610 600.’ The special offer is openuntil 31st December 2010

‘Cornish Wrecking 1700-1860’ is clearly a labour of love for Cathrynwho has produced a most comprehensive hardback book running tosome 264 pages which sets out to dispel rumour and folklore, and toexamine in great detail the truth behind the stories of ‘wrecking’.

The book provides one the most detailed explanations of the Law andRights of Wreck that I have read in any non-legal work. It is written inclear and concise language, detailing the history and development of thelaw, and the penalties for breaching it. Some landowners and othersviewed the law more in breach than in acceptance!

This book is divided into 9 chapters; the first of which gives anexcellent overview of Cornish Maritime History. Without being ‘picky’I would take issue with the placement of Truro on the North coast,(Table 2 and Table 3) but the correction of this error only reinforces thearguments proposed by the author. That apart, I could find nothing tocriticise in this book. The next two chapters provide an overview ofWreck Law from its definition in Edward I ‘s Statute of Westminster in1245; and the subsequent modification of law through Statutes, leadingto an overview of Wrecking and Criminality. From these details it is

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clear that intentional wrecking by land-based persons, if it occurred, wasextremely unusual, but the plunder of vessels and their contents waslooked upon by much of the local populace as an ‘entitlement’ ratherthan a felony, albeit the law did not see it like that. This was probablythe attitude around the UK, rather than just Cornwall. Perhaps theisolation and ‘mystique’ of Cornwall resulted in rumours and ‘tallstories’. Plunder and carrying away of materials from wrecks washowever seen as opportunistic and, in areas where wrecks were notuncommon, as an important part of local economic life – despite anyperceived moral objections!

Chapter 5 looks specifically at Wrecking and Popular Morality andparticularly focuses on Penzance and Mounts Bay where from 1738-1860 some 155 wrecks occurred. Around 10 of these were attacked, butaround 120 were salvaged and 90 lives saved. Lifesaving is particularlyexamined, together with the interlink with Methodism andEvangelisation. The total number of shipwrecks over the periodcovered is examined, albeit this may well continue the error alreadynoted in the previous paragraph.

Chapter 6 examines Wrecking and Enforcement of the law, withoccasional use of the military, the water guard and the coastguard. Theauthor looks at those comparatively few prosecutions. These generallyhad to be initiated by the victim, and at their expense. Ultimately themagistrates could use their ‘discretion’ to argue insufficient evidence.The ultimate penalty – death – was usually commuted to hard labour ortransportation dependant on the era when they were sentenced. Recordsshow only three persons were executed for wrecking.

Chapter 7 examines the legal Rights of Wreck of the local Lords of theManor and the rights under Tenant/Landlord relationships, with theirrespective rights to goods removed from wrecks. Chapter 8 thenexplores Wrecking in association with central government and theirauthority, tracing the ascendancy of Customs and coastguard officers,and how this inter-linked with smuggling and its control. We then lookat Admiralty rights to flotsam as against Manorial rights, and contrastthis with the Common Law rights and those of the Duchy of Cornwall.The profit from wreck is also considered, with interesting comparisonsbetween Falmouth, Padstow, Penzance, and Scilly, contrasted withPlymouth and Bideford.

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The last chapter covers the individual wrecker, the press they receivedand the sermons handed down from preachers of various denominations,who often likened wreckers to ‘cormorants feeding on their prey’, butwere nonetheless anxious ‘not to be left out’!

The book concludes with helpful Appendices covering the ‘Wreck Billand Statutes’ from 1700-1860; the ‘Constabulary Report of WreckReturns 1837’; and ‘The Manor of Connerton Presentments 1704-1759’which adds flavour to the book.

This book really is an excellent piece of research on a subject which ismore often told on the basis of myth. This uses facts to define CornishWrecking, which for the number of vessels wrecked was only ‘average’with County Durham, the Thames estuary, Kent, Norfolk and Suffolkhaving many more losses. I suspect much the same practices went on inthose locations as well, but perhaps were not ‘broadcast’ to the sameextent.

At its Special Offer price of £25.00 this book is a real bargain.I have hadthe real pleasure of reading one of the finest overviews of the law ofWreck.

David B Clement

NOTES AND NEWS

Sail News

Bessie Ellen is still at Mayflower Marina doing some charter work. Sheis reported currently at sea with a commercial cargo of wine !

Garlandstone remains at Morwhellam, which is now reopened byBicton Gardens, but the restoration programme on her has stopped. .Kathleen and May was at the Bristol Harbour Festival, along with Irene,Vilma (ex HMS Pickle), and resident Tangaroa. This year the SteamboatAssociation came with ten or so of their beautiful steam launches, allvarnished wood and polished brass.

Ruth and Morwenna continue their charter programmes. JohannaLucretia was spotted in Falmouth on 24 July.

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NMM prints online

The National Maritime Museum (NMM) to make part of its considerablecollection of prints and drawings available online for the first time. TheNMM’s collections comprise over 70,000 prints and drawings, including alarge number of little-known sketchbooks and albums. The newly digitizeddrawings, mainly produced by Royal Navy officers in the 18th and 19th

centuries, give us a glimpse of tropical islands, exotic cities and indigenouspeoples at a time when the ability to draw a landscape was not just apastime but also a means of intelligence gathering.

Highlights from material recently added to the NMM’s online collectioninclude:

• Over 100 working sketches by marine painter to George IV,William IV and Queen Victoria, John Christian Schetky (1778 - 1874)

• An album of drawings made by Gabriel Bray (d. 1823) recordinghis voyage as second lieutenant of HMS Pallas to West Africa in 1775

• A remarkable collection of over 100 watercolours from albums bythe now little-remembered Admiral Sir Edward Gennys Fanshawe (1814-1906), covering his service in the Pacific from 1849-52, in the Baltic duringthe Crimean War, and in the Mediterranean.

Ffi http://www.nmm.ac.uk/collections/explore/

[ Note: Listed in the green panel on the left hand side, well down the page.Ed].

Divers find oldest champagne in Baltic wreck

A group of divers exploring a shipwreck in the Baltic Sea have foundbottles containing what is thought to be the oldest drinkable champagnein the world, made in the late 18th century. It was said to be 98 per centsure that it is Veuve Clicquot champagne and that it was probably madebetween 1772 and 1785 . “It was fantastic... it had a very sweet taste,you could taste oak and it had a very strong tobacco smell. And therewere very small bubbles," Independent/Reuters 17 July

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Sea, Salts & Sail, Mousehole, July 2010

Every two years the luggers of Cornwall, and of course many othertraditional boats, come together for this, one of two Cornish festivals forworking boats and yachts. This year, with better weather than two yearsago, some 30+ visiting boats filled the small picturesque harbour, said tobe the oldest in the county. Original luggers there were Barnabas,Happy Return, Ibis and Ripple as well as the replica Veracity.Furthermore there were three Polperro gaffers - Vilona May, Edith andSpinaway X - two Beer luggers and Percy Mitchell - recently sold toBeer and converted to a typical Beer lugger rig - Gem and Jade, twoMevagissey toshers, the Gorran crabber Ellen, owned by the CornishMaritime Trust (as is Barnabas) and a couple of Falmouth workingboats. All sailed in races organised on the Saturday and Sunday. Otherboats present in the roll call were the Belgian-built shrimp boat Rosa,the Scillonian pilot cutter Agnes, the Gourock-built Rose of Argyll, nowFrench owned and over for the 70th anniversary of the Free French fleetfleeing after the Nazi invasion; the 1899-built Pioneer, the replicapilchard driver Celia Elizabeth and several yachts including theGerman-built Omo. In addition to the boats were several maritimerelated stalls on the pier and beach including crab pot making, 'Bears onLocation', Flaxland and herring smoking at 'Kipperland'. Mike Smylie

New Severn Ferry Service

Severn Link have announced that public services will be delayed till2011 because of mooring problems at Swansea, though some test runsmay take place later this year

Restoration of Somerset rope worksRopes made at the historic Dawes Twine Works in West Coker are believed tohave used on the ships of Admiral Nelson's victorious fleet at the Battle ofTrafalgar in 1805. A long-awaited and much-anticipated restoration project tobring back to life West Coker's historic twine works has begun. The DawesTwine Works building - which dates back to the 19th Century - is believed tobe the most complete surviving example of a rural rope works in the countryand crucial work to realign its 300ft structure began last month.

Yeovil Express, for full article see their website.

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Barque Antoinette [+1895] Padstow Doom Bar . Recently as the channelhas moved, it has been uncovered and become a navigation danger.Early 2010 Royal Navy bomb disposal and Harbour Commisionersmade attempts to blow wreck clear with not a tremendously succesfulresult. It is possible to walk around it low spring tides. It is marked byan isolated danger buoy. Position is 50 32.483N 04 55.665

Steve Hutchinson Harlyn Dive School www.wrecksite.eu

Purton WrecksHarriett has at long last been given Ancient Monument status.Congratulations to Paul Barnett and Friends of Purton for their tirelesscampaigning. Another 30 to go !

National Historic Ships Register

National Historic Ships has launched Shipshape Network – a newinitiative to promote skills relating to historic vessel conservation. TheUK-wide Network will reach out to all those with an interest in shippreservation, providing a communications and marketing framework forthe sector. The associated website includes the National Directory ofSkills & Services, offering free listings for over 500 specialised craftsmenand facilities. Shipshape Network has focussed particularly on four keyregions, where a natural concentration of maritime services has beenidentified– Mersey,Thames Estuary, Solent & Bristol Channel. NationalHistoric Ships will be working with organisations and individuals withinthese areas to promote regeneration of skills via increased trainingopportunities. Shipshape Mersey is the first region to announce aflagship training project of this kind. £110K has been awarded by theHeritage Lottery Fund (HLF) under its Skills for the Future programmeto the National Waterways Museum, in partnership with NationalHistoric Ships to further skills at the Heritage Boatyard, Ellesmere Port.

Three 18-month training placements will be funded, covering boatrepair and shipwright skills, practical boat handling techniques, and anunderstanding of the ethics behind historic vessel conservation.

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Trainees will also be given an opportunity to broaden their experienceof workplace environments by visiting other sites within the ShipshapeNetwork. Source: National Historic Ships

A Maritime History of Somerset Volume One: Trade and Commercewas launched at Brendon Books in Bath Place, Taunton thanks to theowner Lionel Ward. SWMHS was well represented, especially by DaleThomas (Chairman) and David Clement. The Society was thanked bythe Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society (the book’spublisher) for their support, without which the volume would not haveprogressed as far as it has. The main part of the evening was a lively andentertaining talk by Dr David Hussey on Maritime trade on theSomerset coast, followed by some interesting questions andobservations from the audience. The hospitality arranged by BrendonBooks was greatly appreciated.

Plymouth News

PrincessYachts' have been given the go-ahead by PlymouthCity Councilto build a large assembly 'hangar' to put together big £1m + yachts atSouth Yard, Devonport. This would be adjacent to the listed historicropewalk building and covered slipway. English Heritage were againstthis. However expansion would increase employment - newapprenticeships are being advertised. This in effect may eventuallyspell the end for the naval museum, developed by SWMHS memberCdr. Charles Crichton.

The archives may be sent to the 'new' RN museum at Portsmouth.However there is currently an RN 'visitor's centre' at the Royal WilliamYard, Devonport. The information office is open Monday to Thursday +Friday am. A FREE tour can be booked at 48 hours notice - threechoices = two of the South Yard museum + one to HMS Courageous,ex nuclear submarine. As yet there is little promotional material toadvertise this important part of Plymouth's heritage.The Plymouth classic boat rally was held at Sutton Harbour ,includingShamrock and Pete Goss’ Spirit of Mystery

Martin Hazell

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Swash in the news again

The Swash Channel site in the approaches to Poole Harbour is currentlysubject to a major excavation led by Bournemouth University withfunding from English Heritage. This unidentified wreck, which dates to1629 or later, has well preserved ship carvings. These rare finds may bethe earliest found in the UK, probably predating those found on the1641 built Swan excavated off Mull in Scotland. The aim of the Swashexcavation is partly to remove the site from the Heritage at RiskRegister by recovering those parts of the hull and a carved rudder thatare currently at risk.

IFA MAG

Stirling News

Will is currently building a 43' gentleman's cutter circa 1880 calledIntegrity which is fully framed up at present, see photo below. She isbeing built on spec and will be ready for launch next summer.

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WEBERY

Website Downtime

The website was out of action from the end of May until the 16th ofJune, also affecting SWMHS email addresses. The disruption was out ofour control, our hosting service having ceased operation withoutwarning.

We are now using a service whose core business is hosting for largecommercial enterprises but they have a policy of offering webspace toregistered charities on very advantageous terms.

All facilities are now back to normal but if anyone sent an email usingan address in the series xxx@swmaritime.org.uk during the outage itwill have been lost and will need to be sent again.

Flatholm WebsiteThe website address given in Mike Bender’s letter (SW SoundingsNo.79 p25) is no longer available. An alternative iswww.flatholmisland.com

Requests for InformationCurtis and Pape Boatyard closure – West LooeA volunteer at Looe Museum and town Gaol has had a request for infoconcerning the closure of the boatyard and is asking if the SWMHScould help. Are there any pictures of the buildings? (There are plenty ofphotos of boats). The actual date (day, month and year) of the closure,completion of last build or similar.The enquirer is Dan O'Connell, email address:futuresunshine2000@yahoo.co.uk

Woodes Rogers - Privateer, Circumnavigator and Governor of theBahamas.Non-member Simon Dunsterville, email address:simon@dunsterville.co.uk writes:

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“I am a direct descendant of Thomas Goldney, one of the merchantswho funded W R's voyage with Duke and Duchess, and have a copy ofW R's book, complete with maps.My father also owned W R's original log of this voyage. Many yearsago he lent it to a friend who died with it still in his possession andinadvertently the log was sold with all the other books and stuff in thisfriend's library.I would love to trace it and try to buy it back into the family archives orat least find a replica or copy of it, if such a thing exists, but haveabsolutely no idea how to start to go about this quest.Can you possibly help?”

A Selection of Contributions to the Forum

14th Century Oared WarshipsIn reply to an enquiry about the design characteristics of 14th centuryballingers and galleys that were constructed in Northern Europe,SWMHS member David Jenkinson mentioned the detailed ship imageson the porch of St Peter's Church, Tiverton, Devon. Some are ofmerchantmen and some of oared convoy escorts armed with cross-bowarchers and cannon.

J Class yacht restoration (Meeting report from SW Soundings No.62,Feb 2005.)Two recent messages referred to John Amos who started restoringEndeavour at Calshot before Elizabeth Meyer became involved.

Juliette Amos wrote: I just fell upon this site searching for articleslinked to my father John Amos. I have been looking for copies of thefilms made of my family for years but as of yet to no avail. I cannot tellyou how often it upsets me to think that the love that my father put intoEndeavour has been forgotten. He was a truly beautiful man doing atruly beautiful thing.

Another contributor “Charlie” tells us that he works with John Amosnow. He found our website after having heard stories of John workingon the Endeavour. “Charlie” comments that John Amos may becomparitively crazy/dedicated but that’s what got the thing out of themud. He was restoring the hull for seven years or so.

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Donald Vivian Hotchkiss, Marine Architect (Maritime South WestNo.19 2006 pp4-51)Non-member Peter Robinson writes:“As a schoolboy and then a university student I used to drive the AvonVanity between Tuckton and Mudeford in the summer holidays in thelate '50s and early '60s. The Hotchkiss Cone was fine for going forwardthough a little less responsive to the rudder than the other, moreconventionally propelled boats in the United Motor Boats fleet. Inreverse it was rather poor and I could never emulate the other boats'trick of coming in at high speed then using reverse to stop abruptly.Mind you that saved me the embarrassment of having the prop shear pingo at the crucial moment as happened once to one of the other driverswhile I was there.

Coincidentally, 50 years on I have just recently found out that the Vanityis now operating on the Avon near Bath. I should like to track it downand ride it again for old times' sake.”

Dave Hillsdave.hills@rya-online.net

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WELCOME ABOARD !

WELCOME ABOARD ! ( 1.1.10 to 30.7.10)

Stephanie Haxton Penzance CornwallStephanie Pearn Yeovil SomersetRoy Fenton LondonMike Grose Truro CornwallWilliam Pratt Totnes DevonRobert Simper Woodbridge SuffolkWilliam A Forster St AlbansD W McClaughlin Exeter DevonPhilip Northcott Exeter Devon

Prenax Consolidation Centre Hertford HertsWilliam R Taylor Exeter DevonHugh Cannell Gestingthorpe EssexMalcolm Johnson Lerwick ShetlandD J Penfold Newnham on Severn GlosAndy Plumbly Tinglewick BucksMichael Richards Falmouth Cornwall

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Dr Alison Grant

Just a short note to advise you of the passing of Dr Alison Grant on 28March 2010 at the age of 82. Alison Elspeth Grant was instrumental ingetting the North Devon Maritime Museum up and running. She sadlyhad a stroke about 9 years ago and was very disabled. She regularlycontributed to the Devonshire Association transactions and wrote anumber of books on her north Devon interests. She had been deputyHeadmistress of Park School, president of the North Devon MuseumTrust and a respected historian and author. She was also a foundingmember of SWMHSociety and a regular attendee at the Dartingtonmaritime seminars.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

SWMAG meetings

Venue: The Flavel Art Centre, Dartmouth Date: 30th October 2010 @ 7.00 for7.30pm. A visual presentation by team members.

Known as SWMAG they are the country’s most successful diving teamcollectively responsible for re-writing the history books on the 17th CenturyWhite Slave trade in South West England, and trade between Europe and theMediterranean 3000 years ago.

How did the team come together? The screen presentation will take you back to1975 through to the present day with tales of adventure, treasure, and marinearchaeology.Join us for an entertaining evening of 'History from the Sea'

A similar presentation will be at University of Plymouth on Monday 7thFebruary 2011.

Bronze Age copper & tin ingot artefacts recovered earlier this year, bySWMAG team members, from the Salcombe ‘B’ / Moor Sand site are now ondisplay in the upper gallery of ‘Plymouth City Museum & Art Gallery. We aresupporting the museum as part of their ‘Festival of British Archaeology 2010’events.

The new display will be on until early September 2010.

THE BRISTOL SHIPLOVER’S SOCIETYProgramme for 2010

Talks take place at: The Wardroom, HMS Flying Fox, Royal NavalHeadquarters, Winterstoke Road Bristol, BS3 2NS.Talks start at approximately 19:30.TuesdaysFor this years programme contact Brian Butler

Membership: Open to all with an interest in ships and the sea.VISITORS ARE VERY WELCOME - £3.00 PER HEAD

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Newport Medieval Ship

Newport Ship Special Public Viewing.At the Ship Conservation CentreUnit 22 Maesglas Industrial Estate(Behind Parcel Force)Docks WayNewport

Saturday 21 AugustSaturday 18 September

All Open Days run between 10 am and 4 pm

Purton dates

Hope to see you on the bank - Paul

Scheduled site tours

Sunday 5th & 19th September 2010 2pmSunday 17th October 2010 2pmSunday 21st November 2010 1pmSunday 19th December 2010 1pm

The Purton column listing all the wrecks.

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World Ship SocietyMeetings - September to December 2010

Meetings start at 7.30pm, apart from Swansea (7pm). There may be a small charge tohelp with room hire and/or refreshments. Non-members are generally welcome butnote special arrangements at Plymouth

BRISTOL24 Sept: Memories/ favourite slides - Alan Smith (Sec, North Wales

Branch WSS)29 Oct: Q-Ships 1915 - 1918 - Dr Richard Osborne26 Nov: The 'Seeadler' and a Banana Boat (A WW1 tale) - John Random17 Dec: Members' pictures and mince pies (NB Third Friday of month)

CORNWALL10 Sept: Armed Merchant Cruisers 1939 - 1945 - Dr Richard Osborne

8 Oct: Gibraltar 2010 - Krispen Atkinson12 Nov: Ships, Trains and Planes - David Pollard10 Dec: Xmas Buffet (6.15pm) , then Travels Abroad - Peter & Bruce

Dawes

DORSET11 Sept: Southampton Shipping - Bert Moody9 Oct: The 'Mary Rose' - Bill Moore

13 Nov: The Soviet 'Ivan Franko' class passenger liners- David Trevor -Jones

11 Dec: DVD - a Cruise on 'Oriana' 2004

GLOUCESTER13 Sept: Coastal Steamer to North Cape in the 1960's - Amy Woolcott11 Oct: 150 years of HMS 'Warrior' - Les Dalton

8 Nov: Cosens of Weymouth - Richard Clammer13 Dec: Photo competition and Xmas buffet

PLYMOUTH7 Sept: 'Dreadnought to Vanguard' (RN Battleships) - Dr Richard Osborne5 Oct: Shipping Miscellany - Ted Willey2 Nov: Digital surprises and delights - Tony Holtham7 Dec: Xmas buffet & quiz - set by Trevor Fredricks

SWANSEA & WEST WALES3 Sept: programme not yet announced

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TORBAY14 Sept: A Shipping Miscellany- David Eeles12 Oct: New Waterway (Rotterdam/Europoort) - Ken Cload9 Nov: 2010 update - Roger Musselwhite

14 Dec: Solent trip 2010 - David Walker

Venue Details: See WSS website or contact Roland Whaitethewhaites@hotmail.com 01291-625697

‘

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SOUTH WEST MARITIME HISTORY SOCIETYRegistered Charity No. 289141

OFFICERS

Chairman Dale Thomas` 4 Clear View, The Narth, Monmouth,

NP25 4QHTel: 01600 860311Email: chair@swmaritime.org.uk

Vice Chairman Martin Hazell24 Molesworth RoadStokePlymouthDevon PL3 4AH Tel. 07941 603097E-mail: vicechair@swmaritime.org.uk

Editor Maritime S.W David Clement& Monographs The Holt, Exton, Exeter, Devon EX3 0PN

Tel. 01392 875604.E-mail: journal@swmaritime.org.uk

Editor Jonathan SeagraveS.W. Soundings 10 Woodlands Rise, Downend

Bristol BS16 2RXTel: 0117 9566127Email: soundings@swmaritime.org.uk

Treasurer & Membership Philip Northcott7 Canberra ClosePennsylvaniaExeterDevon EX4 5BATel 01392 437543Email: treasurer@swmaritime.org.uk

COMMITTEEJulia Creeke, Helen Doe, Michael Duffy, Maria Fusaro, Peter Ferguson, ColinGreen, David Hills (webmaster), Chris Penn, Mike Bender

Annual Subscriptions Due 1st April. £14.00 or £12 if paid by Standing OrderStudents can take advantage of our special annual subscription of £7