Roderigo and Lorella.

!cid_6E90030FB2AA4348BA3E1D1F43F19122@CHRISMAIN

RODERIGO H135 built 1950..

 

Submitted by Billy Collins

A very tragic Loss and never to be forgotten.
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After some research I came across a book trawler disasters . i came across a story about 2 hull trawlers that sank at Iceland the year was 1955. the crew,s of LORELLA and RODERIGO were fighting for their lives.on the morning of Jan 23 1955.
Lorella and Roderigo where fishing alongside the Grimsby trawler the York City off the north cape of Iceland
when it was blowing hard and freezing hard. all 3 trawlers pulled there gear on board and ran for shelter. Lorella and Roderigo laid just 4 miles off the Icelandic coast.
the weather got worse.the skipper of Roderigo spoke to the york city and told them [that her and the Lorella wouLd try and find the Kingston Garnet
because she had a wire fouled around her prop].but unknown to them the Kingston Garnet had freed her self.
Roderigo had reported to the Lancella that a hurricane had been blowing all night and still blowing. Lorella had reported[ the wind east force 10 ]
Lorella was dodging still blowing very hard with continuous snow. at 21;15 hours Roderigo reported [still dodging].
Next report from lorella was at 09;00 on the 26th to Lancella [weather still very bad, and badly iced up position not known]
at 09;10 roderigo reported [been trying to get around but no go].5 minutes later the lorella spoke to roderigo saying
[boat deck solid with frozen snow lads have been digging it out it is also solid on the bridge top].the roderigo replied [same here george and the whaleback is a solid block].
the only message heard from the lorella was a mayday call at 14;35 heard faintly and getting fainter so the last part of the message [heeling right over can,t get her back].at 15;05 hours roderigo told the lancella
[wind force 11 to 12 we are off the cape think the lorella was a stern somewhere] at 15;31 hours the skipper of the roderigo said
[ we are tacking in heavy water now and the aerials are iced up again].the last communications from Roderigo.at 16;33[maneuvering difficulty]. 16;50 hours [we are listing badly to starboard and would like you to come to us]time 17;05 hours [she,s going over and can,t get her back] time
17;10 hours [mayday turning right
over,turning right over,please acknowledge] just a few minutes later the skipper repeated [ she,s going over,going over].
then at 17;20 hours all communications stopped.the only trace that was left From the sinking of the Lorella and Roderigo and the forty men onboard was a rubber dinghy.
found by a Icelandic trawler.at the time.
NEVER EVER SHOULD WE FORGET THESE DEAR SOULS
What it must have been like onboard that is what this Hull Bullnose Memorial Group are striving to achieve so we need all
THE MEMBERS ON THE..
NEW HULL FISHERMENS SITE to join us in this need to preserve what should have been done all those many years ago,
please join and donate your 2 pounds as this will greatly help this cause.
this is what we are fighting for for the generations of Hull fishing Community. thank you

32 responses to “Roderigo and Lorella.”

  1. All the crew should get a Medal,if they had been the armed services and sacrificed their lives trying to help comrades in distress they would be Honoured

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  2. We are travelling to Iceland next year and plan to go to the north cape to pay our respects to the men of the Roderigo and the Lorella. Though I was young when the tragedy happened the death of one of the crewmen had a lasting effect on our family.

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  4. Thanks for that piece of information Chris, I don't suppose you have a copy of the letter or were it can be sourced from.
    Regards
    Ray Coles Chairman HBHG.

    Reply

  5. My brother Billy was the galley lad on the Roderigo aged 15years old. His full name was Edaward William Beaumont. I will never forget him even though I was only 9 at the time.
    paulette.leaming@gmail.com
    Telephone 01482822048.
    I would like to know where abouts these plaques will be please .

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  6. I remember it well and my father had been in the Roderigo a few trips before that fatal January !i heard it on my radio was listening to the radio communications and at 7 /30 i woke my mother and told her about the 2 trawlers going to save another and they were in serious trouble ,RIP Heros every last one of you and by the way the youngest was 15

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  7. Just received an email from you yesterday Ray about the civic crown to be awarded to the crews family members. Could you explain exactly what this is. I have lived in Canada most of my life and am not familiar with this award at all. Thank you Ray for the information.

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  8. My grandfather Ernest Hunter was one of the souls lost on the Lorella. I can not imagine what the crew went through on their final voyage, so can only wonder at the bravery they showed setting out to assist another trawler in distress. The weather conditions must have been biblical off Icelands north cape, at what must have been the worse time of year and with force 10 gales to contend with. All the men on both the Lorella and Roderigo that night were true heroes and should not be forgotten. Thank you all at Bullnose heritage for helping to preserve their memory and that of all the men and woman from Hull fishing community.

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  13. Hi

    My Aunt was married to George Leadley the radio operator on the Rodrigo and they had a son Stuart Leadley, I don’t know if you are aware of this, I have his contact information and there is a book containing the story of what happened and at the end it referred to a letter sent by my Aunt to the American Air Force thanking their pilot for staying and talking to Uncle George till the end.

    Hope this information is helpful to you, best wishes

    T

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  14. I think I contacted you last year as my dad was George Henry Leadley, the radio operator on the Roderigo. He had sailed with George Coverdale, the skipper, for quite a long time and we used to visit each others houses. If you need to contact me, my number is 01562 753155.

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  15. I have been doing more research regarding my grandfather Ernest Hunter. There had been very little discussion within the family about the loss of the Lorella or Ernest himself. I have a photo of my grandad that was in my dads wallet, he is waring a royal naval reserve uniform and cap. I contacted the national archives with his details and they sent me a copy of his service records during world war 2 when he served in the Royal Naval Patrol Service. My understanding is this was common practice for the trawler men during both wars. The trawlers were used as mine sweepers and anti-submarine patrols. I also found my great grandad Albert had also served in the Royal Naval Patrol Service in the first world war and managed to get his records as well. This has been a very interesting journey I knew nothing about until recently. This is part of the war effort that gets very little coverage, the trawler men of this country lost more lives in the wars than the rest of the Navy put together. Is there more information I can access on this subject?
    Thank you Andrew

    Reply

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