Albert Stooks Gempton

Relationship - Ist Cousin 3 x removed.

Albert Stooks Gempton 1854-1945

From the Devonian Year Book 1912:-

During the fearful gale of December 16th 1910, in the Bristol Channel, four Brixham smacks - Eva (BM191), Speedwell (BM213), Marjorie (BM246) and Vigilance (BM218) - were totally lost with all hands and two hands were swept overboard from the smack Friendship (BM244) and drowned. The total loss of life was thus eighteen, of whom ten were married, leaving to mourn their loss ten widows and thirty children under fourteen years of age. There were many casualties in other boats belonging to the fleet, the total loss of property being estimated at about £6000.

The Friendship was on the port tack off Lundy about 3 p.m. when the sea swept Captain Richard Foster and his mate Charles Stokes to a watery grave - each leaving a wife and four children. Two apprentices Hugh Keating and Frank Cheadle, managed to hold on, and hour after hour they laboured at the pumps in fear that the smack would flounder. At 3 a.m. Captain Gempton, aboard BM25 Gratitude, observed the Friendship with only a piece of the mizzen sail standing, and he manoeuvred his craft close to the derelict.

Above the turmoil was heard the cry of the apprentices: "We are sinking - can you save us?"

The pleading was immediately answered by Captain Gempton: " I'll try my best, with God's help!"

The third hand, Henry Tidmarsh, volunteered with that alacrity which characterised his skipper. The boat was launched, and each took a lifebuoy leaving the Gratitude under the charge of 2nd hand Cowling and the cook. By a sad coincidence Cowling discovered that he had thereby sustained the loss of his brother-in-law. Before entering the boat, Captain Gempton kissed his son Samuel (who was on his first fishing voyage) and said: " Goodbye, you may not see your Dad again. I am going to try to save two lives."

The Gratitude manoeuvred into a windward berth. The smack's small boat was lowered and they rowed through tempestuous seas to the Friendship. Once the boat was washed right on to the derelict's rail and twice she nearly filled with water. The rescuers found no response to their labours. The lads, prostrated through pumping, had given up all hope.

The stentorian call " Come on my sonnies, we are come to save you!" aroused them. They replied "Thank God for that!"

They were soon in the boat and were thankful when they reached the Gratitude. With the aid of BM43 Varuna's crew, the Friendship was then boarded, the pumps set to work and preparations made to tow her into Milford Haven for the night. Next day, the boat was towed to Brixham which proved to be a lengthy and difficult task.

Both Albert Gempton and Henry Tidmarsh were awarded silver " Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners Royal Benevolent Society Medals" for their heroics on 16th December 1610.

The two men also received "Citations for Gallantry" from the Shipwreck Mariners Society.

" At their meeting on January 6th the Committee made the following special awards for gallant saving of life: To Albert S Gempton, Skipper of the Brixham Trawler Gratitude, the Society's Silver TheMedal and a purse of £3 and to Henry Tidmarsh (3rd Hand) the Medal and £2."

Sea Gallantry Medal Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners Medal Lloyd's Medal for Saving Life at Sea

Other Gallantry Awards

The Shipwreck Mariners Society had previously awarded Captain Gempton for courage in life saving, having in May 1891, awarded him a barometer in recognition of his rescue of the crew of 9 sailors from the Crusader in a blizzard, also in the Bristol Channel.

On another occasion, he snatched the French ketch "Celte" from drifting ashore in Bigbury Bay and towed her safely to Brixham harbour.

Captain Albert Gempton being questioned by Commander Johannes Lohs of U-Boat UC75

On the 4th January 1918, 8 miles SE by E from Berry Head, BM25 Gratitude was captured by a U-boat and sunk by explosives.The crew, three men and a boy were able to take to their boat before the Gratitude was scuppered and were questioned by the Germans for some time before being allowed to reach safety.