Withey, C H (Charles Henry)
Withey, C H (Charles Henry), Watson, R (Robert), Shaw, G (George), Powney, T E J (Thomas Edward John), Pawley, J T (John Thomas), Lockwood, H (Henry)
Able Seaman Withey was born on the 27th May 1876. He served onboard H.M.S. Brisk.
On the 2nd 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,[1] 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.[2] The ship had now lost control of its steering, due to damage and flooding and so collided with the cargo ship Mendip Range.[3] Mendip Range was now taking on water and had to beach itself in Ballycastle Bay.[4] Fortunately, though for the survivors aboard the Drake, it still stayed afloat but only long enough to limp into Church Bay[5] anchor up, tip over and sink.
The other ships though had dispersed prior to this and immediately started evasive action. They were not far from 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,[6] 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.[7] The bow section of ship immediately sank, but luckily the stern[8] stayed afloat and was eventually towed to the port of Londonderry.
The U-Boat ultimately survived the war and after its surrender served in the French navy until 1935 when it was scrapped.
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.
Charles was awarded the 1914/15 Star, the Victory and British War Medal.
Date of Death: 02/10/1917 (Aged 41)
Service: Able Seaman, Royal Navy, H.M.S. Brisk.
Service Number: 162853(Dev.)
Burial Location: Londonderry (or Derry), City Cemetery, G. Mil 2.
[1] U-Boat U79 was launched January 1941 and sank during December 1941, the 44 crew members survived.
[2] HMS Drake casualties: 19 sailors lost their lives.
[3] SS Mendip Range was a cargo steamer ship that was launched during 1914.
[4] Ballycastle Bay is located on the north coast of Ireland.
[5] Church Bay is on Rathlin Island, close to the north coast of Ireland.
[6] SS Lugano was a cargo steamer ship that was launched during 1900.
[7] HMS Brisk casualties: 31 sailors lost their lives.
[8] The stern is the back of the ship.
