Captains in 1937

[Marian Gray]

Hello Edward, Just working my way through the names listed in FMP. My hunch says it's Captain Gwilym Henry Storks Prance, born in Solva Penbrokeshire 1895, died Marine Club Calcutta Geraldton 1946 due to misadventure whilst master of the Ocean Gypsy. Dis A No: 748824. The records of his ships showing on FMP are incomplete [missing page?] checking out the 25 trees on Ancestry and their records. The Stanhope was known as the Lancer in 1937 and changed name the following year.

Lancer/Stanbrook also known as Polyfloisvos and used by 'Republicans during the Spanish Civil War.'
https://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship/103.html. Only 10% of crew lists survive for this period.

Still searching for the correct Captain Prance.

[Marian Gray]

Hello Edward, Have finished the list of Prance surnames on FMP. The other seamen were not ship's Master's when they died therefore, I feel Gwilym Henry Storks Prance is the correct man. Unfortunately the trees on Ancestry do not show the ships that William served on probably due to missing records. Have found an uncle of his George Storks Prance 1874-1929 who died at sea in like most of the others with the same surname.

UK, Commonwealth War Graves, 1914-1921 and 1939-1947
Gwilym Henry Storkes Prance
Gender Male
Age 50
Birth Date abt 1896
Death Date 11 Feb 1946
Cemetery Calcutta (Bhowanipore) Cemetery
Burial Country India
Region or Memorial India

TNA_MSEA_BT350_20_89_208961.jpg45947_0018-01921.jpgBMD_MTM_BT334_0106_001-062.jpgGBOR_BT364_131_811.jpgUncle Billy Prance ship captain Gwylum Prance.jpg

Last photograph and excerpt of death taken from a public tree on Ancestry.

'What we know of William Prance is that he ended the war somewhere in the Far East. He was in India in 1946 and found himself caught in the middle of a local riot. A gang threw him out of an upstairs window and he died. His grave is in India and reads.

‘GHS Prance D.S.C.

Master S.S."Ocean Gypsy"

11th of February 1946 Age 50

"He Giveth His Beloved Sleep"

Off to search Captain Scott

[Marian Gray]

Captain Stanley Scott, excerpt below from: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11175377

Various documents of the Stancroft here which may be of interest
https://hec.lrfoundation.org.uk/arch...un-w446-0023-r

The selected British News Paper pages are too large to upload here unfortunately.

Captain Scott was acquitted of all charges. His Russian born wife said the trial affected his health and he died due to heart problems.

[Edward Hooton]

Marian
As always very many thanks for your very valuable information

[Edward Hooton]

Sorry to add to the burden but does anyone know the Christian name of Captain Cossintine of the Caper in August 1937?

[Marian Gray]

Good Morning Edward, His CR2 is posted under Maurice Richard! Same Dishcharge No therefore, must be him, however, don't see the ''Caper'' in his listed ships below. About to check the numbers listed.

Grandfather Captain Cossentine (four stripes) (1).jpg

Captain Richard Maurice Cossentine
1897–1972
BIRTH 24 SEP 1897 • Flushing, Falmouth, Cornwall

DEATH 26 JAN 1972 • Miramar, Main Road, Salcombe, South Hams District, Devon, England, United Kingdom

Web: UK, WWII Medals Issued to Merchant Seamen, 1939-1945

Name Richard M Cossentine
Birth Date 24 Sep 1897
Service 1939-1945
Medal Issued/Claimed 1946-2002
Discharge Number 945422

gbor_bt364_170_483.jpg

Thinking there maybe a connection here:R M Cossentine in the Asia, Directories and Chronicles Relating to Government Agencies and Foreign Nationals,
1917-1941

i2832618-00526.jpg

??

Have not been able yet to link him to the ''Caper'' could that also be the ''Capercaillie''per chance? If not can you give me the details you have on the ''Caper'' please.

Question for you Edward As you have piqued my curiosity with your requests can you say why you are researching these Ships Captains?

[Marian Gray]

Richard's early certificates for Mate/Master of Competency were for ''Foreign-Going Steam Ships'' that's why I listed the Asian link above.

1919 listed as a boat owner

00006f12.jpg

26 Apr 1944
New York
Captain of screw steamer SS Empire Abbey on trip to Liverpool as part of convoy HX289 which consisted of 130 ships.

More if required.

[Edward Hooton]

Marian
Very many thanks for your response. The name Caper was given in a House of Lords debate on December 12 1938 on events in August 1937. The 'Caper', reportedly of the Cape Line, was captured by Nationalist warships and while in a Spanish port there was a fight between the Greek crew and the Nationalist sailors in which six crew were killed. Cossenstine was the only British subject on board a foreign-owned vessel (probably Greek) in what the Royal Navy described as a 'pseudo' i.e. a ship nominally registered in Britain to ensure the protection of the White Ensign.
I am writing a book on the Spanish Civil War is naval aspects and the impact upon foreign navies and merchant marines. It is quite an interesting subject and worth noting that at least 80 foreign sailors starting with six Norwegians, were killed by bombs, torpedoes or mines, together with three boys and one master's wife. The death toll may be underestimated because I suspect losses in Greek and Panamanian-registered vessels were under-reported, but then quite a few ships lacked radios! I am seeking details of some captains to try to discover their fate as a post-script

[Marian Gray]

You are most welcome Edward, good luck with the book.

Omitted earlier to say most on the information was from Ancestry.com

[Hugh]

The 'Caper', reportedly of the Cape Line, was captured by Nationalist warships and while in a Spanish port there was a fight between the Greek crew and the Nationalist sailors in which six crew were killed. Cossenstine was the only British subject on board a foreign-owned vessel (probably Greek) in what the Royal Navy described as a 'pseudo' i.e. a ship nominally registered in Britain to ensure the protection of the White Ensign.

Edward,

It is not true that six men were killed.

ss CAPER, official number, 121226, left Oran for Gijon on 5 August 1937. Ten miles off-shore and about twenty-two miles from Gijon she was stopped by shots being fired at her and she was arrested by two rebel warships. She was taken into Ribades under armed arrest. On August 11, the British Consul from Corunna paid a visit to the ship and remained there till August 24. On August 24 the ship left Ribades with a prize crew on board for Ferrol. She arrived and anchored at Ferrol on August 25 and six armed guards were left in charge.

About 8.45 p.m. on 25 August the Master was in the chart room when he heard a single shot, a few seconds later the guards were rushing to the bridge firing their rifles as fast as they could.
The Master came upon a man lying on the deck and tried to help him but he too was shot through the right breast. In about 20 minutes, officials and assistance arrived from shore and several naval officers got aboard and questioned him and he was taken ashore to hospital. Three of the crew were found shot dead.

Those killed aboard ship that day were the Bosun (Dutch), a Cook (Greek), a seaman (Russian).

There is an official logbook for the ship along with the Crew Agreement for 1937 held at the Maritime History Archive in Canada.

Regards
Hugh