Heroes and Rebels in the Family Tree—Michael Dann and the Loss of the “Bucentaur”

 

You may recall a post from June 10, 2023 which reported on the sinking of the Lowestoft Fishing Vessel Bucentaur (LT170).  At least two other family ancestors were lost on that vessel along with Mate Frederick Jermiah Warford.  Also lost were 3^rd Hand Ernest George Flowers and Cook, Michael Dann. 

Michael Dann was born on March 4, 1880 in Aldeby, Norfolk, England to George Dann (1844-1916) and Eliza Hammond (1842-1881).  The children of George and Eliza were:

1.       William Joseph (1867-1910)

2.       George (1868-1951)

3.       Sarah (1870-1911)

4.       Emma (1872-1943)

5.       Ernest (1874-1914)

6.       Fred (1876-1924)

7.       Ambrose (1878-1958)

8.       Michael (1880-1947)

9.       John (1881-1960)

It is most likely the birth of her last child also caused the death of Eliza Hammond soon after John was born.  George Dann then married Sarah Ann Snowling (1849-1936) on August 3, 1885 in Carlton Colville, Suffolk, England.  (You may recall the earlier post about Sarah Ann Snowling who served 10 years in prison for attempting to poison her child)  The children of George and Sarah Ann were:

1.       Robert Henry (1886-1913)

2.       Arthur (1887-1917)

3.       Walter Herbert (1888-1948)

Michael Dann married Harriet Louisa Good on January 25, 1905 in Gisleham, Norfolk, England.  Harriet was 19 year of age and Michael was 24 years of age.  Michael and Harriet had thirteen children.  They were:

1.       Muriel Ellen Rhodadendron Dann (1905-1973)

2.       Christine Margery Dann (1906–1994)

3.       Michael James Dann (1908–1939)

4.       Madeline Harriet Dann (1909–1996)

5.       Edith Myrtle Dann (1911–1997)

6.       Rhoda May Dann (1913–1997)

7.       Frederick Gordon Warneford Dann (1915–1979)

8.       Raymond Mark Dann (1917–1999)

9.       Evelyn Joyce Dann (1918–1957)

10.   Alfred Gladwyn Thurston Dann (1921–1989)

11.   Sylvia Mary Dann (1922–2004)

12.   Russell William Dann (1924–2005)

13.   Reginald Ivan Dann (1926–1991)

With the loss of his brother Ernest in France in 1914 and then the loss of his step-brother Arthur in Arras, France in 1917, it may have been the motive for Michael to decide it was his turn to serve his country during World War I.  Michael Dann joined the Royal Naval Reserve on August 7, 1918 at the age of 38.  His military service record describes him as 5’ 5” tall with fair complexion and Hazel eyes. Soon after completing his military training, the war ended.  He was demobilized on July 23, 1919 having served as a Navy Deckhand.  He was issued the British War Medal and the Victory Medal at the time of discharge.

 

 

Michael Dann worked on fishing vessels most of his adult life.  In May 1947, he was working aboard the fishing vessel Bucentaur, which belonged to Consolidated Fisheries, Ltd.  Unfortunately, the ship was believed sunk when it was struck by the American steamer Wilson Victory on May 21, 1947.  The following is an account of the tragedy as originally published in the Lowestoft Journal.

 

FOG DRAMA OFF NORFOLK COAST

LOWESTOFT TRAWLER’S LIFEBOAT FOUND

  A radio message from the American steamer Wilson Victory, at 1:16 a.m. G.M.T. yesterday, was the first news of a collision in dense fog between the steamer and a small, unknown craft.

   The wireless message, picked up by Lloyd’s Agency, at Cullercoats, stated that the collision occurred two miles South-West of the buoy off the Norfolk coast.

   The Wilson Victory is of 7,604 tons and owned by the U.S. War Shipping Administration.

THE LOWESTOFT BOAT

   The owners of the Lowestoft trawler Bucentaur, now at sea, are trying to get in touch with their vessel, following the discovery of the drifting lifeboat L.T. 170—the Bucentaur’s registration number.  The owners are Consolidated Fisheries, Ltd.

   The company stated: “The Bucentaur had a crew of 10, and left Lowestoft yesterday for the fishing grounds.

   “She would have stayed there for about 12 days.  Since she left we have heard nothing.  Until we are sure there is no hope and have told the relatives of the crew, we can issue no names.”

   Our Lowestoft correspondent states: The lifeboat belongs to the Lowestoft trawler Beucentaur, which left her home port on Tuesday, on a week’s fishing trip in the North Sea.

   Her owners, Consolidated Fisheries, Ltd., had had no news of her since she sailed, and the first news of the collision was conveyed to them by a reporter.

Sea Disaster

to Bucentaur

now presumed

On Wednesday the final shred of hope for the ten men on board the missing Lowestoft trawler Bucentaur disappeared when their families were notified that she must now be regarded as lost with all hands.

Nothing had been heard of her since May 21^st, when her lifeboat was found by the American steamer Wilson Victory describing the occurrence, trawlers maintained a listening watch and the owners, Consolidated Fisheries Ltd., made unavailing efforts to get in touch with Bucentaur.  As the American vessel had seen little of the collision, because of the fog, and had later found nothing save the lifeboat, it was hoped that survivors might have been picked up by some small foreign craft without radio.  Hope was not abandoned until well after the normal duration of the voyage.

THE CREW

The crew of the Bucentaur were:---Skipper, William James Besford (57), 68, Southwell Road; mate, Frederick Jermiah Warford (48), 618, The Avenue; chief engineer, Harold E. Rose (47), Gladstone Cottages, kessingland; second engineer, Benjamin A. Crowford (58), 35, Horn Hill; third hand, Ernest G. Flowers (43), 73, Pakefield Street; trimmers, Sam Durrant (26), 3 Hill Top, Kirkley Run, Ronald J. Wheatley (18), 12, Edgar Road, Poplar; deckhands, Frederick W. Gowing (51), 15 Morton Road, J. Sergeant (66), High Bank, London Road, Pakefield; cook, Michael Dann (66), Rhoda Cottages, Gisleham.

The death roll would have been 11, instead of 10, but for a last-minute transfer to another ship of trainee-deckhand, D. P. Carr, of 112, Worthing Road.  The mate, who leaves seven children, had his sons, aged 21 and 15, sailing with him until a few trips before the fatal voyage.

The fund opened by the Mayor of Lowestoft for the dependants of the crew of the trawler S.D.J., lost only a few days before the Bucentaur’s ill-fated trip, will now embrace both ships.

SATURDAY, MAY 24, 1947

STILL NO NEWS

OF BUCENTAUR

_____

“Thorough Search” by American Ship

There is still no news of the missing Lowestoft trawler Bucentaur, with which no contact has been made since a collision reported on Wednesday by the American steamer Wilson Victory.

Incoming trawlers have had nothing to report, and the only fresh information the owners have received in confirmation by the American ship’s English pilot, when he landed at Dover, that the lifeboat the ship found belongs to the trawler.

“We are satisfied that the American ship made a thorough search,” said a representative of the owners.  “We have had reports that she was seen sweeping the sea with her searchlight.”

He added that hope for the crew would not be given up until after the normal time her trip should occupy.

MEMORIAL SERVICE

FOR BUCENTAUR

____

A memorial service to the ten men of the Lowestoft trawler Bucentaur took place on Sunday evening at the Missions to Seamen Institute, where the church was filled by relatives and friends of the crew.  The service was conducted by the chaplain (the Rev. H. L. Newton Edwards) who spoke of the shock which this second disaster was to the town, of the fortitude of the relatives while awaiting news, and of the risks which ever attend the gathering of the harvest of the sea.

The lesson was read by Skipper W. Thorpe, of the R.N.M.D.S.F.

Final tribute to the men was paid on Monday, when wreaths from the service were cast upon the sea.  This office was performed by the trawler Ostrich, belonging to the same owners, which before departing on Monday afternoon took the tributes on board to be strewn upon the waters when she reached the spot in the North Sea where the Bucentaur went down with all hands after collision in dense fog with the American steamer Wilson Victory.

 

Genealogy:  Michael Dann 1880-1947 was the son of George Dann 1844-1916 and Eliza Hammond 1842-1881.  Michael’s step-mother was Sarah Ann Snowling and her father was William Snowling 1815-1874 and his father was Robert Snowling 1788-1865 and his father was William Snowling 1761-1830 and his brother was Oliver Snowling 1771-1861and his daughter was Judith (Julie) Snowling 1795-1883 and her daughter was Eliza Dye 1835-1873 and her daughter was Caroline Forster 1864-1906—the wife of George "Pikey" William Welch-Adams 1867-1940.

Genealogy: Ernest George Flowers 1904-1947 was the son of William Flowers 1862-1941 and his brother was Harry Flowers 1866-1914 and his daughter was Sophia Rebecca Flowers 1897-1986 and she was the wife of William Adams 1889-1948 and he was the brother of George "Pikey" William Welch-Adams 1867-1940.

Genealogy:  Frederick Jeremiah Warford 1901-1947 was the son of Ann Maria "Laura" Forster 1861-1934 who was the sister of Caroline Forster 1864-1906—the wife of George "Pikey" William Welch-Adams 1867-1940.