24 | telegraph | nautilusint.org | August 2015
MARITIME HISTORY
Commemorative paving stone in Islington
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A shipmaster who became the first civilian to be awarded a Victoria Cross in the First World War was honoured in his London birthplace last month — 100 years to the day after he died during a U-boat attack on his vessel. Captain Frederick Parslow was in command of the Lawther, Latta & Co steamship Anglo-Californian when it was attacked by the German submarine U-39 off the southern coast of Ireland on 4 July 1915 while carrying almost 1,000 horses bound for the Western Front.
Peter and Andrea Walker unveil the paving stone remembering their great grandfather, Captain Frederick Parslow VC, in Islington Picture: Centenary News
VIPs and veterans attended a ceremony in London last month to pay tribute to one of two merchant shipmasters to be awarded the Victoria Cross for their heroism in the First World War… A ceremony to unveil a commemorative paving stone at Islington Green, close to where Capt Parslow was born in 1856, was organised last month by the Honourable Company of Master Mariners, the Merchant Navy Association, the Royal Navy and the local council. The carved stone is one of 628 being laid around the country in a government scheme to honour all 628 people who were awarded VCs during the First World War. The VC is Britain’s highest military honour, and Capt Parslow was not only the first civilian recipient in WW1, but also the oldest person to receive it. Both he, and Captain Archibald Smith, who died in an attack on his vessel Otaki in March 1917, remain the only merchant seafarers to have been given the award. While the Admiralty wanted to recognise their bravery, there had been some opposition to the idea of giving the military decoration to civilians and it was only after they were posthumously
commissioned as Royal Naval Reserve Lieutenants in May 1919 that the medals were awarded. Capt Parslow was given the VC in recognition of his ‘most conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty’ when the Anglo-Californian was attacked on its voyage from Montreal to Avonmouth, some 90 miles off Queenstown (now known as Cobh). U-39 — which had sunk three vessels on the previous day — had spotted the Anglo-Californian at around 0800hrs, and its commander, Kapitänleutnant Walter Forstmann, decided on a surface attack. The submarine fired an initial warning shot and sent the warning message: ‘Get into your boats. You cannot get away.’ But Capt Parslow would not give up so easily. He ordered the ship to turn away and put the submarine to the stern, to present a minimal target for U-39, and called for emergency full speed, 14 knots, while the wireless operator was told to try and contact any nearby Royal Navy vessels. Capable of 16½ knots on the surface, U-39 began to gain and informed by its own wireless operator that the Anglo Californian had contacted a RN ship, manned its 88mm deck gun. Capt Parslow cleared the open bridge — apart from the second mate, at the wheel. The officer was also called Frederick Parslow and was the master’s oldest son. By 0900, U-39 had closed to 1½ miles, its firing becoming more accurate. Capt Parslow ordered the crew below and his son now steered a zig-zag course. But at 1030, the submarine signalled Capt Parslow to abandon his badly damaged ship. Not wanting to risk his men any further, the master rang for the engine to stop and ordered boats to be lowered. But his wireless operator then passed a message that two RN destroyers were on their way and, encouraged by this, Capt Parslow immediately ordered the boats inboard and full speed. Taken by surprise, the U-boat commander ordered fire to be directed onto the bridge, supplemented by a machine gun and rifles. This continued for another hour until Capt Parslow, his ship badly holed and on fire, decided to heave-to in the interests of his crew, lowering boats. Even then, the 88mm gun continued firing until at around 1120 Capt Parslow was hit by a shell that carried away the peak of his son’s cap. The master suffered severe wounds to his head, and an arm and leg were severed. His son took the helm after his father died and even after another shell hit near the
Captain Frederick Parslow
bridge, he managed to keep steering while lying flat on the deck. As the U-39 closed to within 50 yards, the RN ships appeared. Fired upon this time, the submarine hastily dived and escaped. Carl List, who was serving onboard the U-39, later wrote: ‘Our crew agreed that the Anglo-Californian’s captain ought to have the Iron Cross.’ Capt Parslow’s son managed to take the AngloCalifornian into the port of Queenstown, where the master and eight of the crew are buried. A total of 33 crew died, and 14 of those without a grave are named on the national Merchant Navy Memorial on London’s Tower Hill. The ship was bought by Cunard and renamed Vandalia, but was sunk by another U-boat in June 1918. The younger Frederick Parslow went on to become a shipmaster, but died in March 1938 when his vessel, Anglo Australian, disappeared off the Azores. While Capt Parslow was awarded the VC and the Lloyd’s Medal, his son received the Distinguished Service Cross, as did the ship’s chief engineer, James Crawford. Several other crew members were Mentioned in Despatches. Speaking at the ceremony last month, Captain Phillip Hanton of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary said Capt Parslow’s heroism was a reminder of the debt of gratitude the nation owes the Merchant Navy. ‘In remembering this heroic VC,’ he added, ‘we should also dedicate that to the Merchant Navy, in both world wars and those serving today, who do still face the threat from the pirates who wish to take over their ships, imprison them and hold them to ransom.’
Captain Jim Conybeare, Master of The Honourable Company of Master Mariners, reads Frederick Parslow’s VC citation which was published in the London Gazette for 23 May 1919 Picture: Les Scriver
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