Esso Ipswich incident - 1979

Thanks everybody for your assistance so far. I have found the entry on FindMyPast and I’m going to try to order the death certificate from the GRO. I will probably have to wait a while, as I know they are running on reduced staff at the moment.

It’s interesting because I posted a similar question onto Facebook, on the Esso Marine group and - although nobody yet on Esso Ipswich in September 1979 - I have yet to find anyone around at the time who knew of the event, and anyone who even knew him. Very strange, but hopefully the death certificate (when I get it) may provide a more of a clue.

If anybody knows of anybody on Esso Ipswich in September 1979, please send them my way! If preferred to talk privately, my email address is: andylewisal@gmail.com

Once again, thank you all!
Andy

What Entry is this please that you found on FMP
cHEERS

Also see the cutting of the Memorial Service.
But my Sub is not up to date. However you have printed it all out Good!

Attachment 30242

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Doc Vernon

What Entry is this please that you found on FMP
cHEERS

Also see the cutting of the Memorial Service.
But my Sub is not up to date. However you have printed it all out Good!

Attachment 30242

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Thanks for this. The newspaper cutting was my original find (I had previously been unaware of any details other than he was ‘lost at sea’).

The FMP record is the one you mentioned earlier with reference S0049. I believe that this is is a registration of the death, and that I may be able to obtain a death certificate from GRO. Hopefully when received this may provide some more details. I will keep you posted on progress.

Many thanks again!
Andy

Hi All,

I have now received the official death record for my Grandad, which corroborates the story published the Liverpool Echo. I am having trouble uploading the image, but cause of death is listed as 'lost at sea, believed killed or drowned'. The captain was J E Evans. Date of the incident is listed as 8th September 1979 and the coordinates listed are 'Lat. 50o 14'N , Long. 04o 13'W'. I have put these coordinates into Google Maps, and the location is indeed in the English Channel, about 6-10 miles off the English southern coast.

Thanks all again for the information - without finding the entry on FindMyPast I may not yet have found the certificate, as I couldn't find this on Ancestry, which is what I was previously using.

I have also posted on Facebook and been in contact with Peter Eaton; he sailed on the Esso Dover with my grandfather back in 1971, and apparently he was known to his shipmates as Johnny. Peter has also been able to name two other colleagues from Esso who were in attendance at his memorial service in Birkenhead.

As a long shot, I may as a next step approach Esso/Exxonmobil to see if they have any further reports in the archives.

Thanks again all,
Andy

Hi Andy
Well glad that at least you have progressed a bit and with time may well get all that you want on the case!
Hope that if you contact those people they may have more for you
Good Luck and keep us posted
Thanks

Thanks for the update and keeping us informed.

Regards Keith.

Hi Andy

I was Second Mate on the Bridge at the time of this incident and remember the day very well as it was a very fraught and sad day during my time at sea. I have read the threads and I know some are speculation but they are all well off. As I say I was on the Bridge in control at the time of the incident and attended the inquest. I would be very pleased to give you a full account of what happened but I would sooner do it privately.

This is the first time I have used this forum and only just now seen your post while looking for details on Esso Ipswich which I served on from May 1977 until June 1981.

Kind regards Graham

#17 . Graham was your father a seafarer ? I sailed with someone with the same surname many years ago. JS

HI JS = Sorry no, he was a dairy foreman. I was the only one who went to sea. Graham

Thanks very much Graham, great to have a new lead on this story after a long interval. I have replied to your email with many thanks.
Andy