The Lurgan seaman who died on HMS Pathfinder 100 years ago

He was just 19 when he enlisted in the navy a year before the outbreak of World War One and Lurgan man Ordinary Seamon Herbert Daley was one of the first to die when HMS Pathfinder was torpedoed 100 years ago this week.

Born on October 18, 1894, the son of George and Sarah Ann Daley, Herbert grew up in Queen St, Lurgan. He had four brothers and four sisters.

He started working as a labourer and carpenter’s apprentice in 1911 at the age of 16 and moved to Milfort Avenue in Dunmurry.

However on February 25 1913 he enlisted and became Ordinary Seaman Herbert Daley and survived until his ship HMS Pathfinder became the first ship ever to be sunk by a locomotive torpedo fired by a submarine on September 5, 1914.

HMS Pathfinder was sunk off St Abbs Head in the Scottish Borders while on patrol, by U-21 commanded by Kapitänleutnant Otto Hersing, taking with her six men from Ulster.

Despite the event having been easily visible from shore the authorities attempted to cover up the sinking and Pathfinder was reported to have been mined.

The majority of crew below decks had neither the time nor opportunity to escape and went down with the ship.

There was some confusion at the time over the exact number of crew on board, but research indicates that there were 261 deaths and only 18 survivors.

One of these survivors was Captain Francis Martin Leake who had started his career as a young Lieutenant on HMS Caroline. Captain Leake stayed with his ship as she went down by the nose but was lucky to be picked up and saved.

He writes in a letter to his mother; “The torpedo got us in our forward magazine and evidently sent this up, thereby killing everyone forward”.

He says of Pathfinder; “She then fell over and disappeared leaving a mass of wreckage all around, but I regret very few men amongst it, for at the time they were all asleep on the mess decks and the full explosion must have caught them, for no survivors came from forward.”

Another survivor was County Down man, Staff Surgeon Thomas Aubrey Smyth who gave an account of his experiences in a letter to his mother who lived at Bedeque House, Dromore.

“The explosion blew a great hole in the side of the ship. I was at the time in the wardroom, but ran up on deck immediately, and it was then evident by the way the bow was down in the water that she would sink rapidly. I should say the whole thing occurred in about ten minutes which time was spent in throwing overboard the few articles which would float (the reason there was not more of these was that in preparation for war all unnecessary woodwork is got rid of to prevent fire). I was then thrown forward by the slope of the deck and got jammed beneath a gun (which I expect is the cause of my bruising) and while in this position was carried down some way by the sinking ship, but fortunately after a time I became released and after what seemed like interminable ages I came to the surface, and after swimming a short time I was able to get an oar and some other floating material with the help of which I was just able to keep on the surface. After holding on for a long time - I believe it was an hour and a half – I must have become unconscious for I have no recollection of being picked out of the water. You see we were alone when it happened, so it took a long time for the reserve torpedo boats to come out and it was too quick to get any of our own boats out, besides most of the few we had were splintered into pieces.”

Of the 268 crew just 18 are thought to have survived. There were at least six Ulster casualties on board HMS Pathfinder who were all under 28 years old.

None of these men’s bodies were recovered for burial and as such they still remain where they died.

Records show that at around 3.30pm on September 5, 1914, the torpedo detonated beneath the bridge. The cordite charges may have then been ignited, leading to a flash causing a second, massive explosion within the fore section of the ship as the magazine blew up. The fore mast and No 1 funnel collapsed and then toppled over the side. The forensic evidence of the wreck is that everything before the first funnel disintegrated. The majority of the crew below decks in the forward section had neither the time nor the opportunity to escape.

The explosion was seen by British writer Aldous Huxley (while staying at St. Abbs) recorded the following in a letter to his father sent on September 14, 1914: “I dare say Julian told you that we actually saw the Pathfinder explosion – a great white cloud with its foot in sea. The St. Abbs’ lifeboat came in with the most appalling accounts of the scene. The explosion must have been frightful. It is thought to be a German submarine that did it, or, possibly, a torpedo fired from one of the refitted German trawlers, which cruise all round painted with British port letters and flying the British flag.”

All six men are remembered at Chatham Naval Memorial. The wreck site of HMS Pathfinder is designated under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986.

The anniversary on Friday, September 5 will be marked by the British Sub-Aqua Club who will lay a wreath for the centenary of her sinking.

On the centenary of HMS Pathfinder’s sinking tomorrow, HMS Bangor will arrive in Bangor, County Down. She will be open to the general public on the afternoons of Saturday, September 6 and Sunday, September 7.

Monday 8 September 2014

http://www.lurganmail.co.uk/news/local-news/the-lurgan-seaman-who-died-on-hms-pathfinder-100-years-ago-1-6279843

27 dead in landslide, toll swells to 143 in J&K floods

Aided by a dry spell, the Army maximized their air-lift operations rescuing close to 22,000 flood-stricken people including around 2,000 from Srinagar alone, even as fatalities increased to 175 with 27 people killed by landslide in remote Pancheri village in Udhampur district on Monday. A higher death toll is feared with scores of people trapped in areas isolated by landslips in Jammu region.

Naval and marine commandoes were deployed for the first time on Monday as water levels remained steadily high hampering distribution of relief supplies. Desperate people were seen huddled on rooftops in Srinagar as they tried to escape the worst flooding in decades.

In Srinagar, tourists in hotels are trapped along the Boulevard and Lal Chowk while residents remain fenced in on the top floors and attics of their houses at Jawahar Nagar, Raj Bagh, Indra Nagar, Wazir Bagh, Gogji Bagh, Mehjoor Nagar, Shivpora areas of the capital city. Most of the houses and the city hospitals remained submerged upto two floors.

Worse, there was a complete breakdown of telecommunication network with both mobile phone and landline links paralyzed. Army, reports said, began airlifting communication and BSNL loads to Srinagar to restore connectivity.

Power supply remain disrupted in both Jammu & Kashmir regions, with hospitals bearing the brunt of the crisis.

IAF deployed 45 choppers and transport aircrafts which made numerous sorties as relief work was extended to south Kashmir. The rescued included 1,400 Army personnel and their families caught in the swirling flood waters in Badamibagh Cantt area.

"We are facing big problem of communication as all links are down," said NDRF chief OP Singh. "We're unable to communicate with our teams on the ground. Also, as water level is high in many places, our personnel are unable to reach the stranded," he added.

In Poonch, five people were reported missing, the worst hit district where flash floods paralyzed road connectivity and rendered the entire district powerless and without potable water. "Close to 1,000 cattle have perished in Jammu," an official said.

Meanwhile, sources said some 40 people are still trapped at Saddal village in Pancheri, about 55 km from Udhampur, after a massive landslide which took place during heavy rain last evening.

"About 20-25 houses came under the debris and nearly 35 persons have been feared dead," they added. As per reports seven dead bodies have been recovered yesterday during rescue cum search operations. "The site of the tragedy is under a deep blanket of boulders and sludge, making it very difficult to retrieve bodies manually," he said, adding, "There is no road to the area as the village is about four km trek from main Saddal village of Panchat Panjar in Udhampur."

Defence spokesperson Northern command Col S D Goswami said, "The IAF launched massive rescue and relief operation in the flood affected area of Jammu & Kashmir after flash flooding were caused in state due to incessant rains since September 3."

Col Goswamni said, "Deployed for the first time in the ongoing devastating flood situation in J&K, the Naval Marine Commandos rescued around 200 personnel at marooned Haigaon on Srinagar-Sopore highway. "Rescue efforts are now continuing near Pantha Chowk, Srinagar, he said adding, "additionally, Naval Diving Teams are also standby at New Delhi, Mumbai and Vishakhapatnam for the rescue efforts. A medical team is standby at Delhi for immediate deployment."

"Deployed army columns have build up to 212 and approximately 22,000 people have been evacuated so far, including 2000 persons from Srinagar city and adjoining areas," army spokesperson said.

Army has deployed 205 columns of its personnel for rescue and relief operations. "65 Medical Teams and 15 Engineer Task Forces(ETFs) are deployed and airlifting of 04 additional ETFs and 10 Medical Teams is underway," he added. "The Army also distributed 23,000 litres of water and 600 kilograms biscuits in the flood-affected areas, while, 60 medical teams of the Armed Forces Medical Services have also swung into action," Col Goswami said.

He further added that relief operations are continuing with unabated intensity. 83 Tons of Emergency rations, 3000 blankets, 45,000 liters of potable water, 1000 life jackets and 220 Tents are also being airlifted from Chandigarh, Pathankot and Kanpur as a part of ongoing Megh Rahat Operations across the state.

Appreciating Indian Air Force (IAF) significant role in Megh Rahat Operation, he said, "1245 people have been airlifted by the Indian Air Force helicopters and transport aircraft. "So far 140 sorties were undertaken by the helicopters and aircraft of Indian Air Force and 155 tonnes of relief materials are dropped by the Indian Air Force, he added. "Today, the engineer task force is being rushed from New Delhi to the flood affected areas to supplement the rescue operation, he said.

The buildup of troops and rescue materials will continue in view of the impending task at hand. All available army aviation recourses have been pressed into service.

Pertinently flash flooding situation caused in state due to incessant rains since 03 September worsened when river Jhelum already flowing few meters above danger line, breached its banks at number of places in highly populated areas of Srinagar town.

Over night the water level rose to 15 to 18 feet submerging thousands of houses in the areas of Rajbagh, Jawahar Nagar, Shivpora and Indranagar and so much so that almost half of the Badami Bagh Cantonment of Srinagar was similarly affected.

Meanwhile to cater to the people being evacuated from Srinagar, makeshift relief camps have been created inside Badami Bagh Cantonment and the services of 92 Base Hospital Srinagar are being utilized. The weather being clear, a number of helicopters were also pressed into action to transport rescue and relief materials to the isolated areas of south Kashmir.

Monday 8 September 2014

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/27-dead-in-landslide-toll-swells-to-143-in-JK-floods/articleshow/42042920.cms