Harry Charles Birnie: Difference between revisions
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Birnie began working with the Cunard shipping line in 1905 as a junior officer on R.M.S. ''Campania''. On April 26, 1907 while in ''Campania'', the chief officer [[Arthur Henry Rostron|Arthur Rostron]] (famous for later rescuing 712 Titanic survivors) called out to Birnie, "Keep clear of the snag right ahead." Rostron's impression of this obstruction changed as they drew near to was what he described as “a huge sea monster!” Both he and Birnie had a good sight of it not 50ft from the ship. Rostron describes the account in his memoir, "Home from the Sea". Many years later, Birnie confirmed Rostron's story to researcher R.T. Gould. Such unusual sightings were not unique for Birnie, as when he was a child in 1894 or 1895, he and his father had seen on the beach at New Aberdour, “a long snake-like thing" extending from the water's edge to a rock some distance away.<ref>The preceding is a near-quote from a short biography Barbara Walker wrote for Birnie.</ref> | Birnie began working with the Cunard shipping line in 1905 as a junior officer on R.M.S. ''Campania''. On April 26, 1907 while in ''Campania'', the chief officer [[Arthur Henry Rostron|Arthur Rostron]] (famous for later rescuing 712 Titanic survivors) called out to Birnie, "Keep clear of the snag right ahead." Rostron's impression of this obstruction changed as they drew near to was what he described as “a huge sea monster!” Both he and Birnie had a good sight of it not 50ft from the ship. Rostron describes the account in his memoir, "Home from the Sea". Many years later, Birnie confirmed Rostron's story to researcher R.T. Gould. Such unusual sightings were not unique for Birnie, as when he was a child in 1894 or 1895, he and his father had seen on the beach at New Aberdour, “a long snake-like thing" extending from the water's edge to a rock some distance away.<ref>The preceding is a near-quote from a short biography Barbara Walker wrote for Birnie.</ref> | ||
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During World War 1 he served in the Royal Naval Reserves. On 4 October, 1915 he was appointed in command of {{UK-TB82}}, remaining in command until 19 February, 1916.<ref>Birnie Service REcord. {{ADM 340/12.|D8288953}}</ref> In 1916 he was Commanding Officer of the {{UK-Fairy|f=pt}}. On 18 November 1917 while in command of {{UK-P57}} as Lieutenant –Commander, he sank the {{DE-UC47}} off Flamborough Head Yorkshire by ramming and depth charges. Birnie received the D.S.O. for this exploit and the admiralty awarded a “kill bonus” of £1000 to be shared by the crew.<ref>Letter from Walker, paraphrased here, citin ''London Gazette'' 19.12.1918 p. 2301.</ref> | During World War 1 he served in the Royal Naval Reserves. On 4 October, 1915 he was appointed in command of {{UK-TB82}}, remaining in command until 19 February, 1916.<ref>Birnie Service REcord. {{ADM 340/12.|D8288953}}</ref> In 1916 he was Commanding Officer of the {{UK-Fairy|f=pt}}. On 18 November 1917 while in command of {{UK-P57}} as Lieutenant –Commander, he sank the {{DE-UC47}} off Flamborough Head Yorkshire by ramming and depth charges. Birnie received the D.S.O. for this exploit and the admiralty awarded a “kill bonus” of £1000 to be shared by the crew.<ref>Letter from Walker, paraphrased here, citin ''London Gazette'' 19.12.1918 p. 2301.</ref> | ||
Revision as of 18:22, 20 January 2016
Captain R.N.R. Harry Charles Birnie, D.S.O, R.D. (10 October, 1882 – 9 March, 1943) served in the Royal Naval Reserve.
Life & Career
Birnie was born in New Aberdour, Aberdeenshire the son of the Reverend Charles Birnie and Katherine Alexander.
He went to sea around the turn of the century in the biggest barque of the day, The Strathdon which regularly sailed to Australia for the Aberdeen White Star line.
Birnie began working with the Cunard shipping line in 1905 as a junior officer on R.M.S. Campania. On April 26, 1907 while in Campania, the chief officer Arthur Rostron (famous for later rescuing 712 Titanic survivors) called out to Birnie, "Keep clear of the snag right ahead." Rostron's impression of this obstruction changed as they drew near to was what he described as “a huge sea monster!” Both he and Birnie had a good sight of it not 50ft from the ship. Rostron describes the account in his memoir, "Home from the Sea". Many years later, Birnie confirmed Rostron's story to researcher R.T. Gould. Such unusual sightings were not unique for Birnie, as when he was a child in 1894 or 1895, he and his father had seen on the beach at New Aberdour, “a long snake-like thing" extending from the water's edge to a rock some distance away.[1]
During World War 1 he served in the Royal Naval Reserves. On 4 October, 1915 he was appointed in command of T.B. 82, remaining in command until 19 February, 1916.[2] In 1916 he was Commanding Officer of the destroyer H.M.S. Fairy. On 18 November 1917 while in command of P57 as Lieutenant –Commander, he sank the UC 47 off Flamborough Head Yorkshire by ramming and depth charges. Birnie received the D.S.O. for this exploit and the admiralty awarded a “kill bonus” of £1000 to be shared by the crew.[3]
World War II
From 1940 onwards, Birnie held the rank of Commodore, Second Class, commanding several Atlantic convoys. Some of these were quite large; Birnie served as Vice Commodore sailing in Pacific Pioneer in Convoy ON.50 from Liverpool to Halifax (24.12.1941 - 3.1.1942), as Commodore of Convoy UR.32 from UK to Reykjavik in the "Empire Beaumont" (July 11-16 1942) and Commodore of Convoy ON.62 from Liverpool to New York (Feb 1943) in Belgian Airman — a convoy of 63 ships.
In 1942, Birnie was mentioned in dispatches for “outstanding devotion to duty during two years of arduous service as Commodore of convoys." [4] In February and March 1943 he was in command of convoy SC121 from New York to Liverpool, sailing in a Norwegian merchant ship the M.V. Bonneville.
Birnie was amongst those 36 of 45 crew lost on 9 March when Bonneville was torpedoed.
Credits
Thanks to Barbara Walker, granddaughter of Birnie's cousin, Mary Birnie, for much of the information on this page.
See Also
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by Fairfax M. Kerr |
Captain of H.M.S. Fairy 15 Feb, 1916[5] |
Succeeded by Geoffrey H. Barnish |
| Preceded by ? |
Captain of H.M.S. P57 23 Oct, 1917[6] |
Succeeded by William A. Dumbleton |
Footnotes
- ↑ The preceding is a near-quote from a short biography Barbara Walker wrote for Birnie.
- ↑ Birnie Service REcord. Template:ADM 340/12.
- ↑ Letter from Walker, paraphrased here, citin London Gazette 19.12.1918 p. 2301.
- ↑ London Gazette 15.12.1942 p. 5462.
- ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 394k.
- ↑ The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 396f.
