Genealogy Investigations Ltd
  • Home
  • Family Tracing
  • Deceased estate tracing
  • Family History
    • Basic Family Tree Report
    • Henry's story
  • Interpreting DNA
  • WHO WE ARE
    • The legal stuff
    • GI news stories
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Getting started on your own

Our updates and stories

The Dolphin's end - Grave Story 109

1/21/2022

1 Comment

 
Picture
The 1939 sinking of the boat Dolphin was a New Zealand wartime tragedy that had nothing to do with the fighting overseas.
Entrances to harbours and all along our coast were guarded by gun emplacements. Many can still be visited.
The 40 foot fishing boat was entering Lyttelton harbour coming back from fishing near Godley Head about 2.20pm on October 12, 1939 and when it stopped to await a signal to proceed, it was fired up by the shore port battery.
Under wartime conditions, there was a great deal of concern about the harbours of the country being a way for the enemy to get it.
The Dolphin’s approach was noticed by the naval signal station who warned the gun battery.
Fishing boats were supposed to stop in an examination zone and then be passed into the harbour.
But as the Dolphin was approaching a little earlier than expected, the examination boat was in port to restock. It rushed to intercept the boat.
Efforts were made to contact the Dolphin by semaphore and morse code to no avail.
So a shot was fired.
The commander in charge of the battery claimed the Dolphin refused to stop so the fateful warning shot was made.
It was supposed to pass in front of the boat but it hit the Dolphin’s engine room.
The fishing boat's sole survivor, William Henry Willman, later said they never received a signal to stop.
The examination boat arrived just in time to see the Dolphin hit. They rescued Willman from where he was clinging to a lifebuoy.
On board the ship was Frederick James Brasell, who went down with his boat.
When the ship was recovered, his body was found in the wheelhouse.
Willman credited Brasell with saving his life by telling him to take off his gumboots and swim for it.
The sinking caused a furor, with fishermen around the country calling for a full inquiry.
An inquest into Brasell’s death said a signal was made but it was not understood by those on the boat.
Brasell was born in Timaru on May 6, 1888 to Robert and Eliza Brasell. He married Sarah (Sadie) Maria Beswarick and they had four children.
His funeral at Bromley Cemetery was attended by hundreds of fishermen.
1 Comment
Brenda Healey
3/1/2024 01:08:29 pm

Clarrie Blackwood was at Godley Heads at the time.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Fran and Deb's updates

    Archives

    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020

    Categories

    All
    Grave Stories
    Hidden Cemeteries
    Kiwi Icons
    Our Work

    RSS Feed

SERVICES:
Tracing lost family
Deceased estate tracing
Family history research
Interpreting DNA results
CONTACT US:
Email: [email protected]
​
Online contact form
​Phone: 021 473 900
(+6421473900 outside NZ)
​
Site powered by Weebly. Managed by HBHosting
  • Home
  • Family Tracing
  • Deceased estate tracing
  • Family History
    • Basic Family Tree Report
    • Henry's story
  • Interpreting DNA
  • WHO WE ARE
    • The legal stuff
    • GI news stories
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Getting started on your own