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WHEN
THE BENVENUE WAS WRECKED
Excerpt taken from the Griggs family records by kind permission of Mr. Mick Griggs now of Sandgate |
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STORY OF THE BENVENUE The Benvenue was a Glasgow ship with a crew of thirty two, and was bound for Sydney with a general cargo. She struck about the same time as the French schooner and lay off Wellington Terrace, Sandgate. About three hours later she sank, but remained in an upright position, with the masts high up above the water, about fur hundred yards from the shore. The crew took to the rigging and sheltered themselves in some of the sails on the lower yardarm of the mizon mast. One of the men fell off into the water and was drowned on nearing the shore. The Hythe lifeboat put off at Seabrook at about seven o'clock but the attempt was unsuccessful and it came ashore broadside on. The boat was then brought on to Hythe, where it was successfully launched by means of the hauling-off line. The scene at this moment (says the 'Reporter') was very exciting. It was pitiable to witness the farewells between husband, wife and children, and the men started on their perilous voyage. One poor woman stood trembling and pleading with her husband not to go, but he pointed to the wreck and said; "There's women and children aboard" and took his place in the boat. Another young wife, only married a short six months, and who had been quartered at the station only a fortnight, was hysterical. Poor woman! She is now a widow; her fears were but too truly realised. At about a quarter past nine the lifeboat shot into the water amid the cheers of the crowd. When she got about two hundred yards from the shore a sail was hoisted, ad shortly afterwards, to the horror of all, she was seen to capsize throwing all her crew into the water. The crew consisted of: Coastguards Lawrence Hennessey (first cox), Albert Sadler of Sandgate (second cox), Mark Elliott, Patrick Buckley, Henry Burton, Joseph Fielder, Albert Oaton, Frederick Goodsell, Charles Fagg, Jock Hennis, Thomas Deelan, - Day, civilians, Thomas Watson, Ned East, Wright Griggs, William Griggs, Harry Griggs, Jesse Goodsell, Jack Knoale, Joe Jags (Sandgate). Opposite Ormonde Terrace (continues the 'Reporter' account), I saw a sight which I hope I may never see again, a dozen black heads just showing above the water and rapidly nearing the dreadful breakers. Elliott, Fielder, Oaten and Deelan, all managed to get back into the lifeboat when she righted herself. The brave Hennessey, who has a few hours before saved four lives, was now in danger of his own. As he neared the shore he managed to grasp the life-line and shouted "If there's anyone aboard, save me for God's sake". He was then dragged in, and the boat with its five occupants, got to shore safely. All Ashore Save One The others all reached the surf simultaneously. Soon we got hold of one man and pulled him out of the surf; then we got hold of another and got him safely ashore. All along the beach, a few yards distant from each other, lay the rescued men, with Ambulance Sergt. Williams very busy rendering assistance in the way of first-aid. East, Keale and one or two others were pulled out in a very exhausted condition. Had they remained in the water a little longer they would have succumbed. All had now been got ashore save one, Charles Fagg, whose wife I have already mentioned. I am told his cork bolt came off him. Poor fellow. He soon had to give up the struggle for life, and threw up his arms and disappeared. It was a dreadful sighted to see. It is a mercy, however, that more were not drowned. Meanwhile the wind had increased to hurricane force, and there was tremendous excitement at Sandgate on the scene of the wreck. Mid-day found the crew still in the rigging, with thousands of spectators on shore powerless to help. Unavailing attempts were made to send a line over the Benvenue by attaching it to a blank shell fired from a Royal Artillery field piece, and the Folkestone rocket apparatus was brought into action with no better result. Night was coming on, and it seemed as if the men would succumbe to cold ad hunger and perish. A bonfire was lighted to let them see that they were not forgotten. Call For Volunteers All hope for the rocket apparatus was now given up, and eager eyes scanned the horizen for the tug and lifeboat from Dover or the Littlestone Lifeboat, all of which were expected. It was learned, however, that the tug was unable to get out of Dover harbour, and that the telegram for the Littlestone boat was not delivered until four-o'clock owing to the wires being broken. "At half past six we were as far from a rescue as ever", says the "Reporter". Yet the wind had considerably abated and its strength decreased hourly. Then the suggestion was made that the Hythe lifeboat, which had in the meantime returned to her station at Seabrook, should put off to the wreck. The scene was again exciting in the extreme. A cry of "Fishermen wanted to man the lifeboat" was raised, and as they came forward one by one, hearty cheers were given for them. If a hundred volunteers had been wanted they would easily have got them. In twenty minutes the boat was hauled out by the crowd of soldiers and civilians, and it appeared as if the boat would have been in the water in a few minutes; but the utmost difficulty was experienced in getting her over the faggots on the each. Two hours passed -weary, dreary hours. The hero, Hennessey, had meanwhile arrived on the scene, and was now in charge of the boat. Wright Griggs had attempted to swim off to the wrecked vessel with a line round him, but her was restrained. However, he was allowed to go out in the lifeboat. Twenty Seven Men Rescued A little after nine, with a ringing cheer the Meyer de Rothschild, for the third tine that day, shot into the water with a crew of fifteen men. For an instant all watched anxiously as they saw her rise and fall over one or two breakers. All fears were soon at rest, however, and cheer after cheer broke from the multitude. Five minutes later and she was alongside the stranded ship and an anchor dropped. Then one by one twenty seven men slid easily down the rope into the lifeboat. They were saved. Five lives were lost in the wreck of the Benvenue - The Captain (who had just gone below when the vessel sank), two men and two apprentices. FISHING BOAT RUN DOWN It might almost be said that danger, sudden and unexpected, was part of his daily existence, once, about thirty years ago, he was on a fishing expedition in his boat, "The Nellie" with his fourteen year old son, when a big French Vessel of many tons swept down upon their little craft ad cit it clean in halves. Mr. Griggs, who had seized his son, almost immediately found himself in the water. He was, however, taken aboard the French vessel and landed at Boulogne, the Port for which has was asking, personally little the worse for the terrifying adventure, but with his craft wrecked. In connection with the rescue of the crew of the "Benvenue" when the Lifeboat was launched on three occasions, on one of which it capsized, and a Coastguard was drowned, Mr. Griggs received a bronze medal from Lloyds; and acknowledgement made only on very rare occasions. He, in common with every member of the crew, also received a silver medal which the then Borough Member, Sir Edward Watkins, had cast. In 1917 he was awarded a bronze medal by The Royal Lifeboat Institution in connection with the rescue of the crew of the 'Ketch Mazeppa', the vellum accompanying the decoration being inscribed as follows:-
SPLENDID WORK Describing the wreck of the "Mazeppa", (the Hythe Reporter) of April 7th 1917 says that the weather was at its worst. It was bitterly cold and a violent Southerly gale raized a very heavy sea, snow, hale rain and sleet fell at intervals, and with the tide low, the lifeboat had to be hauled over a considerable stretch of beach. The crew consisted of the following:- James Dearman (Coxswain) Richard Crump, T. Kennett, Wright Griggs, H. Griggs, S. Griggs, W Cheal, Alban White, James Sadler, Alfred Atkins, George Wire, George Impett, and James Lewis Dearman. In spite of the heavy seas running, the lifeboat was successfully launched, and under sale it reached the ketch, but with great difficulty. Ropes were passed from the lifeboat to the ketch, and the two men on board her, were hauled on to the lifeboat after they had jumped into the sea. The work of the lifeboat and her crew is described as splendid. During the war Mr. Griggs took part in saving the crews of five British Aeroplanes which came down in the sea off Hythe; once in 1917 two fighting machines came down two or three miles of the Grand Redoubt and with a brother and two sons he set out in a rowing boat to their rescue. Two Airman were brought safely ashore but one, a Lieutenant, died on the journey. For this rescue Mr. Griggs was presented with an Anereid Barometer by the Royal Air Force. He was one of the original members of the Folkestone Corps of the Salvation Army, and was a foremost figure in its defence during the riots there many years ago, and he was one of the the Founders of the Hythe Corps. Ten sons and daughters are members of the Army. A FEARLESS MAN As a token of respect to the memory of one who was so well known and well beloved among so large a circle of friends, the flags on fishing boats and pleasure vessels were flown at half mast when the news of his death was received, also the flag near the site of the old Coastguard Station at Hythe. "He was a fearless man", said one who knew him well, "He never asked another man to do what he was not prepared to do himself. He never said 'go and do it - it was always - 'come along lets have a go at it.' Whatever the difficulties whatever the conditions, whatever the danger, that was always his method of dealing with anything. He was ever ready to jump at any time of the night or day, to the assistance of a fellow fisherman or a fellowman". Three of Mr. Griggs sons are members of the present Lifeboat Crew; Mr. H. Griggs (Coxswain), Mr. W. Griggs (Junior Second Coxswain), and Mr. R. Griggs (Chief Mechanic), one Nephew, Mr. Albert Griggs, is also a Lifeboatman. |
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