Brook, C A (Cyril Edgar)

Able Seaman Cyril Brook served on H.M.S. Brisk.[1] He was the son of Mrs. Brook of 56 Holloway Street, Exeter, Devon.

On the 2^nd of October 1917, H.M.S. Brisk was an escort ship in convoy HH24 with H.M.S. Drake and several others. They were coming from America. It was a disastrous day.

U-Boat U79,[2] a mine laying submarine, was patrolling the area and spotted the convoy. It had four torpedoes and it fired one which then struck the Drake.[3] The ship had now lost control of its steering; this was due to damage and flooding and because of this its collided with the cargo ship Mendip Range.[4] Mendip Range was now taking on water and had to beach itself in Ballycastle Bay.[5]

Fortunately, though for the survivors onboard the Drake, it still stayed afloat but only long enough to limp into Church Bay[6] anchor up, tip over and sink.

The other ships though had now dispersed prior to this and had immediately started evasive action. They were not far from the safety of Ireland.

U-Boat U79 was not finished though and soon manoeuvred into firing position and once again fired another torpedo. It struck home hitting the starboard side of SS Lugano,[7] blowing a large hole in the ship. The crew abandoned ship and all escaped, but the ship was lost. It sank rapidly.

The next part is uncertain. H.M.S. Brisk was behind the Lugano and either it struck a mine, or it was hit by a third torpedo. Either way it exploded and ripped in two.[8] The bow section of ship immediately sank, but luckily the stern[9] stayed afloat. It was eventually towed to the port of Londonderry. The U-Boat now left the scene. It would ultimately survive the war and after its surrender it would serve in the French navy until 1935 when it was scrapped.

Able Seaman Brook was rescued from the Brisk but died of wounds later that month. The rest of the surviving crew were taken to Londonderry and billeted with the 3rd Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in Ebrington Barracks.

Able Seaman Brook was awarded the 1914/15 Star, the British War, and Victory Medals.

There are four sailors in the City Cemetery who served on the Brisk, they are Able Seaman Cyril Brook, Petty Officer John Pawley, Petty Officer Stoker John Owens, and Able Seaman Withey.

Date of Death: 31/10/1917 (Aged 32)

Service: Able Seaman, Royal Navy, HMS Brisk.

Service Number: 217477 (Dev)

Burial Location: Londonderry (or Derry), City Cemetery, GB. Mil. 11.

[1] HMS Brisk was a destroyer of the Acorn class.

[2] U-Boat U79 was launched January 1941 and sank during December 1941, the 44 crew members survived.

[3] HMS Drake casualties: 19 sailors lost their lives.

[4] SS Mendip Range was a cargo steamer ship that was launched during 1914.

[5] Ballycastle Bay is located on the north coast of Ireland.

[6] Church Bay is on Rathlin Island, close to the north coast of Ireland.

[7] SS Lugano was a cargo steamer ship that was launched during 1900.

[8] HMS Brisk casualties: 31 sailors lost their lives.