Captains in 1937

[Edward Hooton]

Hugh
Many thanks for the correction but can you confirm she was the Caper under Richard Cossenstine?

[Hugh]

Hugh
Many thanks for the correction but can you confirm she was the Caper under Richard Cossenstine?

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

Not yet Edward. That is why I quoted "the Master" in my reply to you. I have not seen the name Richard Cossenstine quoted to the ship apart from what you mention in #25 and #28. Do you have evidence for him being aboard so I can try and confirm it?

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.

The CAPER official number 121226 was built in 1905 as PRINCESS HELENA then in 1919 she became MORAY COAST until 1935 where she was sold to Greek interests and renamed OLGA, OLGA S and CAPER. Rejoining the British Registry in 1938 and renamed PACIFICO, she came under Admiralty control in 1939 where she was deliberately sunk as a blockship at Dunkirk in 1940.

I am 100% sure about the ship and the three people killed by the Spanish guards. Richard Cossentine's first CR2 card stops in March 1937 with the ship TORTUGUERO official number, 146267 and then he is next shown as joining TETELA official number, 147364 on 14 February 1938. We cannot connect him yet officially to the ship although the circumstantial evidence suggests it was him. You would need to obtain the Crew Agreement for CAPER in 1937 to prove it 100%.

Regards
Hugh

[Hugh]

Hugh
Many thanks for the correction but can you confirm she was the Caper under Richard Cossenstine?

Edward, further research which I have undertaken has confirmed that Richard Cossentine was NOT the master of the ss CAPER.

The master of the ss CAPER was Harry Harvey Cossentine b. 20.4.1868 in Liverpool. I have been able to cross refer some details from this link: https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/ne...IM19380221.2.4
His entry in the 1939 Register also confirms the address from the link. He has various other service records which confirm we are dealing with the correct seaman.

Regards
Hugh