Un Français Libre parmi 63738
 

Cliquez !

Roger Emile Christian Brias

Roger Emile Christian Brias - son Livre ouvert !
 

"Re: s/s London II, Casamance, Nevada, Ashbury
Posted by: Wrecktec Ron (IP Logged)
Date: July 03, 2009 11:54AM

Hi Alain

Here is the rest of the story:
In February 1941, the CASAMANCE was last but one in a convoy, on passage from West Africa via Hull for Glasgow, with a cargo of mahogany baulks, groundnuts and cocoa and manned by a cosmopolitan crew of 47. On February 17th, the convoy was proceeding south down the North Sea and was encountering treacherous weather conditions off the Yorkshire coast, when the ship’s engine broke down. The vessel drifted ashore and became stranded offshore, at the base of the massive cliffs, between Skinningrove and Hummersea, about 9-miles south of Redcar. Thirty-seven of the crew got safely ashore in a steel lifeboat from the ship and a second boat, which was built of wood, was launched with the other ten men on board, however it was swamped by a huge wave and only one of the ten, survived, an able-seaman, Michel le Moan from Brittany.
Michel le Moan gave a graphic account of the incident through an interpreter at the inquest held later at Timm’s Coffee House at Skinningrove.
He told the coroner, “I felt the ship aground soon after midnight and we found it was on the rocks near the coast. The sea was very rough and we decided to wait for a day”
“I saw two or three people come on to the shore and try to send us a line by rocket. Someone signalled a lifeboat was on its way and was due at 6 a.m. As no lifeboat had appeared by 10.30 a.m., we launched our own lifeboat in a very rough sea, even though we were afraid it would be smashed by the sea.”
“Our boat, made of steel was supposed to carry 55 people, but we would not risk that number----the weather was too rough …and 37 went in her.”
“The second jolly-boat, made of wood, was launched with the remaining ten men aboard when the first boat was midway to the beach. The Captain decided that it seemed all right. We were 50 yards from the shore when our boat was caught by a heavy wave, got full of water and capsized.”

Eight of the nine men that drowned were Free Frenchmen and they now lie buried in the tiny churchyard at Lyth, overlooking Whitby. Eight of those that died, were:

Beruel, Adrien 29yrs Carpenter
Brias, Roger Emile Christian 37yrs Master
Gloaguen, G. 43yrs Able Seaman
Knight, John Joseph 26yrs Third Officer
Le Caer, Yves 18yrs Able Seaman
Le Nouys Joseph 28yrs Able Seaman
Rault, Francis 27yrs Storekeeper
Vogel, Joseph 32yrs Second Radio Officer

Cheers Ron "

www.warsailors.com 

Laurent le lundi 09 novembre 2009 - Demander un contact

La page d'origine de cette contribution

Recherche sur cette contribution

Les Français à Londres, 1940 1941, de Pierre ACCOCE

" Le « Casamance » n'est, bien entendu, pas ménagé. L'officier de la marine marchande britannique chargé d'effectuer officiellement la prise du navire, ne procède à aucun inventaire des cales. Il refuse de laisser fermer les portes, lors du débarquement du commandant Floury et de ses hommes, conduits à terre sous escorte. Pourtant, cet équipage civil sera le seul, à Falmouth, qui ralliera malgré tout en majorité la France libre. L'œuvre exclusive du capitaine Roger Brias, second à bord, et de Dussumier de Fonbrune, premier lieutenant. Ils se seront démenés pen­dant dix jours dans ce but, finissant par gagner à la cause du général de Gaulle trente-huit autres officiers, matelots, graisseurs, chauffeurs et soutiers; même Joseph Guillou, le novice, et Michel Cornen, le mousse."

Laurent Laloup le vendredi 27 février 2009 - Demander un contact

La page d'origine de cette contribution

Recherche sur cette contribution

Les Français à Londres, 1940 1941, de Pierre ACCOCE

" A Londres, les Français libres ont vécu cela avec le « Capo di Olmo ». Peu de jours auparavant, ils avaient déjà pareillement vibré à la venue d'un autre bâtiment : le « Casamance ».
Encore un cargo. De sept mille tonnes, qui appartenait aux « Chargeurs Réunis ». Port d'attache : Dunkerque. Cette unité était affectée aux lignes commerciales avec l'Afrique, l'Occidentale comme l'Equatoriale. Comman­dant de bord : le capitaine au long cours Jean Floury. Un marin de la vieille école, dur au travail, âpre au gain. Son second, Roger Brias, deuxième capitaine, rompu au grand métier, féru d'astronomie et de mathématiques, venait aussi des universités de la mer. Un lot de jeunes officiers, Jacques Dussumier de Fonbrune, Marcel Baudouy, Roger Pages et Robert Marie, complétait l'état-major. Le chef-mécanicien, Basile Debec, formé sur le tas, veillait en nou­nou sur la propulsion, qu'assuraient des chaudières à char­bon. "

Laurent Laloup le vendredi 27 février 2009 - Demander un contact

Recherche sur cette contribution