|
Thomas M. M. Hemy
datapages
01,
02
&
03 are now on site. Plus all
of the other image pages, accessible though the index on page
05.  PRIOR PAGE / NEXT PAGE
If you want to make a comment, a site guestbook is here. Test.
To search for specific text on this page:- Enter your search
term & 'Submit'. To repeatedly search the page, press 'ALT S' again & again as
many times as may be required. But beware, once it reaches the bottom of the
page, it starts all over again at the top.
Information about this work was kindly provided by a
friend of the site who lives in England. It would appear that Thomas Hemy painted
Unconquerable, a work which
showed Captain Frederick Daniel Parslow (Apr, 14, 1856 - Jul. 4, 1915, born
Islington in N. London) on the bridge of his ship, the Anglo-Californian, on
Jul. 4, 1915, with his son at the wheel
& German U-Boat U-39 attacking. It was, I read, painted to commemorate the posthumous
award of a Victoria Cross to Captain Parslow,
killed in that action, which action took place in the Atlantic Ocean,
some 90 miles south west of Queenstown,
Ireland, while the vessel was en route from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to Avonmouth, with
927 horses aboard.
The page to which that last link takes you describes the Anglo-Californian as being,
indeed, a horse transport vessel,
though it only became such a vessel when chartered by the Admiralty as part of
the WW1 war effort.
And indicates that Captain Parslow was a lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve
('RNR'). That page also
has
a fine image (below) of the Captain, provided by Christine Gates, the Captain's
great grandson. I did not spot there the name of the Captain's son, nor learn if he was killed also
in the action.
But Bernard de
Neumann has answered those last two questions for us. Bernard tells us that
Captain Parslow's son was also named Frederick Parslow. The son
survived the battle, & was given a retrospective Sub-Lieutenant RNR commission in order to receive a Distinguished
Service Cross. He, at least, had
the chance to accept his commission. His citation reads: 'For his services in the horse-transport "Anglo-Californian",
which was attacked by a German submarine on the 4th July [1915] and subjected to heavy gun fire for an hour and a half.
Sub-Lieutenant Parslow steered the ship throughout the action and maintained his post after his father, the Captain of the
ship, had been killed by a shell, until some of our patrol boats arrived and drove the submarine off.'
Did I tell you that
the Anglo-Californian was unarmed?
A New York Times archived story re the fight is
here
- in a page that used to show sensibly but is quite difficult to read today, at
least on my screen. Which story says that nine aboard were killed & eight more were wounded.
The total crew numbered 95, I have read. At least two of
the dead were Americans.
Bernard also
comments that Captain Parslow never was, in his lifetime, in the RNR, but the Royal
Navy appears to have awarded him a posthumous commission in the RNR in order to have him counted as one of their own. 'There
was no other reason I can think of for this as the then Mercantile
Marine were already eligible for the Victoria Cross. However any doubts that there may have been
as to the eligibility of members of the Merchant Marine to receive the Victoria
Cross (if there were in fact
any doubts) were firmly removed by a royal warrant
of May 22, 1920.' See inset text below for more on this whole subject.
 |
The Hemy data comes,
primarily, from a book by David C. E. Burrell, entitled 'The Nitrate
Boats', published by the World Ship Society in
1995.
As you can indeed read below, the painting used to hang in the office of Sir John Latta. The Hemy work
would seem to be lost, & the image which follows is a repainting of the work by Keith Byass, based upon a small black
& white
print published in 'The Shipping World' in 1920.
|
'The Nitrate Boats' (ISBN: 0-905617-77-0) can be purchased
in a great many places.
Now the book may well, correctly, be
entitled 'The
Nitrate Boats (Lawther, Latta & Co. Ltd)'. The Anglo-Californian was, it would seem, owned by the Nitrate Producers
S.S. Co. Ltd., often known
as the Anglo Line, which line was managed by Lawther,
Latta & Co. Ltd. of London, hence, I trust, the name of Sir John Latta above. The Anglo
Line was, I read, in operation from
1895 to 1943 & involved with the South American nitrate
trade.
Should Keith Byass, whose work below graces this page, or the author or publisher prefer the image below
not be
presented on this page, I will gladly remove it - but with regret.
Now the purpose of this site is really to feature the
above artwork of Thomas M. M. Hemy. But I have often expanded that 'mandate' where subject matter is of related interest.
So I provide here a) additional data about the Anglo-Californian with the source
indicated. And b) background data kindly provided about the whole subject of the Victoria Cross
kindly provided by Bernard de Neumann, an
expert indeed on that subject. And maybe even more material, by the time you
read this page.
a) Some images related to the Anglo-Californian.
 |
The image of Captain Parslow, at left, came from this
web page.
The
images that follow, are from a fine 2002 volume by Stephen Snelling. That volume is
'The Naval VCs', (ISBN 0-7509-1395-9) published by and available from Sutton Publishing of Phoenix
Mill, Thrupp, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 2BU, U.K. The book contains
8 1/2 pages of data about F. D. Parslow & the Anglo-Californian drawn,
in part I see, from Parslow family papers provided by M. Finlay (Michael John Finlay, a great grandson of Captain Parslow)
& A. Walker
(clearly related to the Parslow family from the above linked page) & the research notes of P. M. B. Barber. It is all
most interesting reading.
|
It would seem
that the volume is one of a series of three volumes about World War 1 recipients of the Victoria Cross.
Should Christine Gates or Sutton Publishing request this photographic material be removed from this
site, I will of course, do
so.
Michael Finlay, of Barrie, Ontario, Canada, great grandson of Captain Parslow,
has been in touch & can be reached
here.
Michael tells me that Katy Walker, referred to lower on the page re the location
of the VC medal itself, is Michael's cousin's daughter. I guess that makes her
Frederick Parslow's great great granddaughter? Not very good at such matters, so
I might well be wrong in that.
I found it interesting to read that it took quite a while to actually
gazette & award Captain Parslow's Victoria Cross - over four years, in fact. It was presented
by King George V to Frances Parslow, the Captain's widow, on Jul. 10, 1919 in a ceremony that took place
in the quadrangle at Buckingham Palace. It may possibly be the actual 'Parslow' Victoria Cross
that is depicted below the Byass artwork image (above). But now see lower on
this page.
At left, below, then is an image of another artwork of the Anglo-Californian action, apparently by
artist Charles Pears.
It
was published in the Jul. 17, 1915 issue of Illustrated
London News. It shows
Frederick Parslow, the son, at the wheel of the vessel with his father dead at his side. Which
ILN article also advised, I read, 80% down on
this page: (cached here)
One of the bravest deeds in the annals of the British merchant service was told
when the London steamer Anglo-Californian,
reached Queenstown on July 5, [1915] with Captain Archibald Parslow and eight
men dead, and eight others wounded, after an encounter with a German submarine
off the Irish coast.
The Anglo-Californian, which belongs to the Nitrate
Producers Steamship Company, was homeward bound from Quebec when the submarine
overtook her, and began firing at her wireless apparatus. ‘Our Captain,’ said a
survivor, ‘was a brave man, and kept on the bridge smiling at the enemy as shot
and shell were discharged at his vessel.
Eventually the gallant Captain was killed. His son, the Second Mate, who
was by his side, was knocked down, but bravely took the wheel and steered the
ship, lying on the bridge, with shells bursting around him, ‘until assistance
arrived’ and the submarine disappeared.
Our correspondent states that over
thirty horses on board were killed. The submarine, he adds, fired mainly at
the bridge and at the boats being lowered. The ship was hit about twenty
times.
I read in Stephen Snelling's volume
that
the chase lasted over three hours & for much of that time Anglo-Californian zig-zagged to avoid the
withering fire of the surfaced
U-boat. In an attempt to avoid the fire, the Captain lay flat on the deck, & from a similar position
his son steered the ship. It was,
indeed, during a moment when the Captain raised his head to see the vessel's position that he was hit by
an enemy shell. The
U-boat was, at the end of the action, so close that it fired on the Anglo-Californian with rifles! It would seem that both Parslows were truly deserving of the V.C. Carl Franz List, a crew member on the U-boat, stated that the U
39 crew thought
that Captain Parslow deserved the Iron Cross, for the brilliance of his defensive tactics!
Frederick Parslow, the son, was the master of the Anglo-Australian when in Mar. 1938, en route to
Vancouver,
Canada,
out of Cardiff, Wales, that vessel vanished without trace after passing the Azores.
My mind wonders whether any of the
927 horses survived their traumatic experience in the hold of the Anglo-Californian. And ended up at their intended
destination on the Western
Front. While I can only partially answer that question, over 30 horses
were killed in the action. The others? They probably ended up on the Western
front,
since the ship & its cargo were saved. My mind also wondered what later happened to the Anglo-Californian.
 |
Now that
is a question that I can now answer. It would seem that Cunard purchased the vessel from Lawther, Latta & Co.
Ltd. of London in
1915, after the U-boat action, I presume, & renamed it the Vandalia. And on June 9, 1918, the Vandalia was torpedoed
& sunk in St. George's
Channel (the channel
between Ireland & Wales).
And, at left, I am able to provide an image of the Vandalia,
courtesy of Heinz Nederkorn.
|
You would like to know that Heinz has or I probably
should say had, an enormous website covering Cunard Line history & graphics from
1840 onwards.
We thank you Heinz! As this page was updated, in Feb. 2008, I was puzzled. The image at Heinz Nederkorn's site seemed no longer to be
the above image. And his vast website seems to have since vanished.
See also
this page re
the vessel.
I refer above to the print that was published in the Jul. 17, 1915 edition of Illustrated London News.
It was, I see, of most of a page in size. So large indeed. That page was for sale via e-Bay in
Feb. 2013. Here.
b) Published in the London Gazette
of May 23/24, 1919 (&
2nd page)
The availability of the following text was kindly advised by Billy McGee, founder of the Ropner Navy Memorial
Fund. Relating, of course, to the awarding of the 'Victoria Cross'. We thank you, Billy!
Lieutenant Frederick Parslow, R.N.R.
For most conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in command of the Horse
Transport "Anglo Californian" on the 4th July 1915.
At 8 a.m. on 4th July, 1915, a
large submarine was sighted on the port beam at a distance of about one mile. The
ship, which was entirely unarmed, was immediately manoeuvred to bring the submarine astern ; every effort was made
to increase speed, and an S.O.S. call was sent out by wireless, an answer being
received by a man-of-war.
At 9 a.m. the submarine opened fire, and maintained
a steady fire, making occasional
hits, until 10.30 a.m., meanwhile Captain Parslow constantly altered course and
kept the submarine astern.
At 10.30 am the enemy hoisted the signal to "abandon
the vessel as fast as possible," and in order to save life Captain Parslow decided
to obey, and stopped engines to give as many of the crew as wished the
opportunity to get away in the boats On receiving a wireless message from a
destroyer, however, urging him to hold on as long as possible, he decided to
get way on the ship again The submarine then opened a heavy fire on the bridge
and boats with guns and rifles, wrecking the upper bridge, killing Lieutenant Parslow, and carrying away one of the port davits, causing the boat to drop into
the sea and throwing its occupants into the water.
At about 11 am two
destroyers arrived on the scene and the submarine dived Throughout the attack
Lieutenant Parslow remained on the bridge, on which the enemy fire was concentrated,
entirely without protection, and by his magnificent heroism succeeded, at the
cost of his own life, in saving a valuable ship and cargo for the country. He
set a splendid example to the officers and men of the Mercantile Marine
|
c) Background data on the Victoria Cross, courtesy of Bernard de
Neumann.
Victoria Cross Royal Warrants as they relate to
the
Mercantile Marine/Merchant Navy
The Royal Warrant of 29th January 1856 instituted the Victoria Cross
('VC') for acts of great valour in the presence of the enemy by the Royal Navy
and Army.
A Royal Warrant of 10th August 1858 extended its award to
'Non-military persons' as some civilians showed sufficient valour during the Indian Mutiny. It also extended the
coverage to include 'acts of
conspicuous courage and bravery under circumstances of extreme danger, such as
the occurrence of fire on board ship, or the foundering of a vessel at sea,
or under any other circumstances in which, through the courage and
devotion displayed, life or public property might be saved'.
Other Royal Warrants appeared over the years prior to 1920, but none specifically mentioned the Mercantile
Marine/Merchant Navy leaving it unclear, perhaps, as to their eligibility. This may have clouded the
minds of the Admiralty in considering the awards to two Mercantile Marine
Masters, Captain Frederick Daniel Parslow (Temp Lt RNR) of the ANGLO-CALIFORNIAN
and Captain Archibald Bisset-Smith (Temp Lt RNR) of the OTAKI. Both of
whom received posthumous Temporary Lieutenant RNR commissions before being
awarded posthumous VCs. Why the commissions?
To clarify matters completely regarding awards to the Mercantile Marine/Merchant Navy, a consolidating Royal
Warrant was issued on 22nd
May 1920. The condition precedent to the award of the Cross was somewhat enlarged as
'most conspicuous bravery or
some daring or pre-eminent act
of valour or self-sacrifice or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of
the enemy'. In addition to officers and men of the Forces of the Empire and
the Mercantile Marine (whilst under Naval or Military authority or subject
to enemy action during the course of their duties), women of the nursing
and hospital services and civilians of both sexes while serving with the
Forces of the Empire were declared eligible. Thus now the Mercantile Marine
were specifically included. However the Admiralty appeared to operate double
standards and during the Second World War awarded VCs to Gould and Roberts of
HMS THRASHER for an act of great courage NOT in the presence of the enemy - they
removed two bombs from under the submarine's casing and threw them over the
side, whereas Captain Mason of the tanker OHIO received a George Cross ('GC') for his great
courage and endurance in getting the tanker through to Malta in Operation
PEDESTAL - a convoy battle fought almost continuously in the presence of the
enemy!
When there was absolutely no doubt about the eligibility of Captain Mason for a
VC they awarded him a GC instead! And in the case of the THRASHER VCs
there was doubt about eligibility, but Admiral Cunningham overruled the awards
committee and insisted that VCs were awarded instead of GCs. Bernard
wonders why?
|
d) Captain Frederick Parslow's Gravesite
 |
Captain Frederick Daniel Parslow, VC, is, I read, buried at Cobh
(previously known as Queenstown) Old Church Cemetery, Cork, Ireland as you can see on
this
page.
At left I show an
image of the Captain, his gravestone & his Victoria Cross medal engraved on the stone,
thanks in large part to images provided by Iain MacFarlaine.
The medal?
A Nov. 9, 2001 question from Katy Walker read 'I would love to find
out the
whereabouts of my Great Great Grandfather's VC - Frederick Parslow. Any info
greatly received.'
|
And, in what I think was a reply to that message, on Jun. 2, 2002, Mike
Finlay
indicated 'The
medal was auctioned by Sotheby's on Feb. 5, 1975. Also, I seem to remember
that one of his sons was killed at Hill 60. Does anyone know if a list of those
killed in action at that location is available. Any information on the above
would be helpful'.
It would seem that there is now, or maybe there was in late 2006, an
answer to Katy Walker's question.
|
In Dec. 2006, the actual medal was owned by 'James T', of Syracuse, New York, U.S.A. So I am advised
by a kindly site visitor.
And was then, possibly, for sale.
A modest image of it is at right.
Iain MacFarlaine kindly advises me that
Cobh - ('An Cóbh' in Irish, pronounced 'cove') was first referred to as Cove in 1750. It was renamed Queenstown in 1849 to commemorate a visit by Queen Victoria
& so it remained
until the name Cove (with its Irish spelling) was restored in 1922 with the foundation of the Irish Free State.
He also advises me that the words at the bottom of Frederick Parslow's gravestone are taken from a poem called 'For the Fallen'
by Laurence Binyon. Thanks again, Iain!
| |
 |
e) An image of interest
An image which interested the webmaster, ex
the Nov. 1891 issue
of Scribner's. The work, it would seem, of artist J. Burns. Entitled 'A Cattle Steamer at Sea.' Part of a 16 or perhaps 18 page
article entitled
'The Ocean Steamship as a
Freight Carrier' by John H.
Gould. Provided for this page by
Jonathan Kinghorn, of Lexington, Massachusetts, U.S.A., whom we thank. Appropriate for this page, I trust, since
the Anglo-Californian was a horse transport vessel.
I learn that the article just referred to is a chapter in a book entitled 'Ocean Steamships A Popular Account of their Construction,
Development, Management and Appliances', published by Charles Scribner's Sons in 1891. By: F. E. Chadwick USN/ John H. Gould/ J. D. J.
Kelley USN/ William H. Rideing/ Ridgely Hunt USN/
A. E. Seaton. 298 pages, 28 full page & 68 text illustrations. The book was serialized in Scribner's it would seem,
since six of what I believe were eight chapters of the book were published by
Scribner's in 1891. A copy of that rare volume
sold in Apr.
2006 via e-Bay for U.S. $104.06.
More about the subject when I have more to
tell you!
Thomas M. M. Hemy datapages
01,
02
&
03 are now on site. Plus all
of the other image pages, accessible though the index on page
05.
PRIOR PAGE / NEXT PAGE
To MV Danmark
Slider Puzzle
page
& to the
Special Pages Index.
| A SITE SEARCH FACILITY
THE GUEST BOOK - GO
HERE
|
|
|