Osmund Edward's Story.
According to the ships log on at 08.45am 31st December 1914 H.M.S Hilary stopped and sent one officer and a signalman over to the Norwegian Barque “Maryetta”, a barque is a sailing ship typical with three masts, in which the foremast and mainmast are square-rigged. The Maryetta was sailing from Aalborg to Santos with a cargo of cement, they had asked to be taken in tow, by 11.15am the tow was secured and H.M.S Hilary proceeded to tow. At 11.50pm 1st January 1915 the Maryetta sent up a distress rocket and the tow was stopped, via morse lamp it was reported that the Maryetta had sprung a leak and was sinking. 0.15am 2nd January Maryetta signalled again saying they were going to abandon ship, 12.40am a rescue boat and crew left the Maryetta, at 1am the rescue boat capsized, six men were saved but among the lost were Sub-Lieut O.E. Miles and Signalman Frank Scott (Frank was from Liverpool) At 1.15am the Maryetta sank.
News Paper Report
|
With deep regret we record the death of a young naval officer who was very popular at New Brighton – Sub-Lieutenant Osmund Edmund Miles, R.N.R. Deceased was serving on H.M.S. Hilary, an auxiliary cruiser, and was expected home on leave next week. A wire however was received early this week from the Admiralty stating that he was drowned on Saturday morning by the capsizing of the ship’s boat. Deceased, who was thirty-one years of age, was for many years an officer in the Harrison Line, and he joined the Navy at the outbreak of war and went to Portsmouth to train. The Admiralty have not yet stated where the deceased was drowned. He was the second son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Miles. Formerly of Devonshire Park, Birkenhead, and he resided at 202 Seabank Road, New Brighton. |
