General Discussions
This is the place to discuss general issues related to the U-boat war or the war at sea in WWII.
British Atrocities - WW1 and 2.
Posted by:
John Griffiths
()
Date: January 20, 2002 12:37PM
<HTML>Hi,
While researching for an article I'm writing on Q ships, a mention of something to do with atrocities in this week's Guardian caught my eye. Not, as usual, German atrocities perpetuated by the U-boat but rather a bit about the Brits. It's a bit short but here it is:
>>August 19, 1915 Lieutenant Godfrey Herbert of the merchant ship Baralong sank German submarine U-27 and shot 10 survivors in the water. Some of the Germans sought refuge aboard the SS Nicosian, which had been abandoned by its crew. Herbert sent marines aboard the Nicosian who killed the four remaining survivors.
September 24, 1915 HMS Baralong, renamed Wiarda, lured a German submarine U-41 into range and sank the U-boat with gunfire. After the Wiarda left the area two survivors climbed aboard an abandoned lifeboat. About three hours later the Wiarda returned and deliberately ran down the lifeboat.
April 13, 1940 The British navy sank the German ship the Erich Giese. The captain Karl Smidt reported that while the crew of 200 men were in the water, British destroyers opened fire on them.
May 20,1941 A convoy of 21 German ships was attacked by British warships off the coast of Crete during the night. Witnesses said the British ships scanned the sea with searchlights looking for the survivors, and opened fire on them. One survivor, Corporal Walter Segel, said: "I saw at least 20 groups of survivors who were illuminated by the British and then sprayed with bullets." <<
Of course, no charges were ever brought against those responsible for these atrocities.
I know we've discussed a lot of these before but, just for the record- and for those who are new to the forum - here they are again.
BTW, anyone with info on British Q-ships during WW1 can contact me direct. I'll be starting the piece soon for inclusion on militaryhistoryonline.com
Aye,
John</HTML>
While researching for an article I'm writing on Q ships, a mention of something to do with atrocities in this week's Guardian caught my eye. Not, as usual, German atrocities perpetuated by the U-boat but rather a bit about the Brits. It's a bit short but here it is:
>>August 19, 1915 Lieutenant Godfrey Herbert of the merchant ship Baralong sank German submarine U-27 and shot 10 survivors in the water. Some of the Germans sought refuge aboard the SS Nicosian, which had been abandoned by its crew. Herbert sent marines aboard the Nicosian who killed the four remaining survivors.
September 24, 1915 HMS Baralong, renamed Wiarda, lured a German submarine U-41 into range and sank the U-boat with gunfire. After the Wiarda left the area two survivors climbed aboard an abandoned lifeboat. About three hours later the Wiarda returned and deliberately ran down the lifeboat.
April 13, 1940 The British navy sank the German ship the Erich Giese. The captain Karl Smidt reported that while the crew of 200 men were in the water, British destroyers opened fire on them.
May 20,1941 A convoy of 21 German ships was attacked by British warships off the coast of Crete during the night. Witnesses said the British ships scanned the sea with searchlights looking for the survivors, and opened fire on them. One survivor, Corporal Walter Segel, said: "I saw at least 20 groups of survivors who were illuminated by the British and then sprayed with bullets." <<
Of course, no charges were ever brought against those responsible for these atrocities.
I know we've discussed a lot of these before but, just for the record- and for those who are new to the forum - here they are again.
BTW, anyone with info on British Q-ships during WW1 can contact me direct. I'll be starting the piece soon for inclusion on militaryhistoryonline.com
Aye,
John</HTML>
British Atrocities - WW1 and 2.