By Dan Walsh
The Royal British Legion (Wexford Branch) are holding a Memorial Service at Templetown next Sunday, August 4th at 3pm recalling the sinking of two Allied Armed Trawlers off the Wexford coast in 1917. All are welcome to attend.
On Friday 20th April 1917 His Majesty’s Armed Trawler Loch Eye was sunk by a mine from the German submarine UC-33, 1¾ miles southwest of Hook Point near Dunmore off the Irish coast. Seven crew were lost with two unidentified seamen found later on the Wexford coast and interred at Templetown.
An identified seaman was found and returned to his family for burial. The UC-33 sank 35 ships including one Allied warship. On 26th September 1917 she was rammed by patrol boat PC61 in St George’s Channel and sank with only one survivor from a crew of 26.
Also included are three Wexford men who perished in the Secord World War.
Walsh, Michael, 27 yrs. Gunner, 9th Coast Regiment, Royal Artillery. Died in captivity as a Japanese POW, Changi, Singapore. 5th March 1943.
Guilfoyle, Maurice Francis. 22 yrs. Able Seaman RNR. HMS Adventure. Son of Charles and Mary Guilfoyle of Fethard, Co Wexford. Died with eight other crew members on 31st November 1939 when ship struck a mine near the Thames Estuary.
Guilfoyle, John Charles Seymour. 24 yrs. Leading Seaman RNR.HMS Zambesi. Son of Charles and Mary Guilfoyle of Fethard, Co Wexford. Lost overboard in a storm NE Faroe Islands on 16th January 1945.
Lest we Forget
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