The Vigilant Crew
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Who were the Treasure Hunting crew of the Vigilant?
The 1932 'Vigilant' treasure hunting crew comprised of a group of distinguished British WW1 'Old Salt' sailors & soldiers, a professional treasure hunter, a gold diviner, several engineers, an Olympic athlete and a talented Naturalist. Their nautical skills and experience were second to none and no doubt their war hardened toughness held them in good stead for the challenging voyage across the Atlantic and the hostile conditions on Cocos Island. Their military discipline ensured that they kept calm under pressure and worked harmoniously as a team without disputes, something which would prove to be crucial in surviving the 11,000 mile voyage. ( Many other expeditions seemed to fall apart early on due to clash of ego's and personal grudges! )
There were a total of nine crew members although only eight are shown in the photo below. The photographer is probably the organiser and seasoned treasure hunter and author Stratford Jolly. The 'Crown and Anchor' and the 'Commercial Inn' in Brixham Harbour can be seen in the background. Engineers Phillips and Cooper were instrumental in fitting out the BM273 Vigilant trawler for the long voyage to Cocos Island, Costa rica, 1000's of miles across the Atlantic Ocean.
One of the leaders may have advertised to recruit a crew for the Treasure Hunt. Despite much searching in newspaper archives, I have been unable to find any adverts, so I suspect it could have been an advert or news feature on the national radio.
The response for the crew vacancies seemed to have been quite overwhelming. About 5000 people applied, 3000 in writing and many visited in person.
40 women applied for the positions which was 'extraordinary' in those times and many people travelled to Brixham in South Devon to show their interest.
Two applicants cycled from Manchester to Brixham in Devon (approx. 300 miles) and at least one prospective applicant mistakenly travelled to 'Brixton' in London which was 200 miles away!
One newspaper wrote: "In one week, Mr Jolly received over 3000 letters from people anxious to embark in the venture. One applicant enclosed a holed target as a credential for expert markmanship"
The interest was probably so huge because it was the early 30's in the Great Depression and many people were looking for a bit of excitement, perhaps also to fill the void or some kind of therapy after surviving the first world war... It would have of course seemed like a good way to get rich, especially bearing in mind that at the time official UK government reports stated that there was potentially ÂŁ12-ÂŁ25m of unaccounted treasure probably still buried on Cocos Island.
The story 'Treasure Island' by R.L. Stevenson was reputed to be based on Cocos Island and stories like these helped to inspire people to try and dig up a fortune in gold, silver & precious gems. There were plenty of 'genuine' treasure maps being traded to anyone who wanted to join in with the pirate treasure gold rush.
The local Brixham fishermen were probably very bemused with the idea of the Vigilant crew using a retired fishing trawler to sail across the Atlantic and I'm sure they would have made that known!
Many of the crew stayed in Brixham for around 6 months in 1931/32 while they fitted the boat out and carried out sea trials. They made good friends with the locals, probably spending a lot of time in the pubs and chatting to the local people to share stories with and who helped them with the fitting out.
The newspapers in Trinidad ran several stories about the impending expedition and so they found themselves well known to the public on their arrival.
They occasionally sent telegrams from Panama back to Mr S J Bellchamber who was the landlord of the Commercial Inn and he notified family members of their progress. In a cruel twist of fate, Mr Bellchamber had to send a telegram to a crew member regarding the death of their wife back in England...
BM273 Vigilant - Brixham Harbour 1932 - photo from the book 'Treasure Cruise' by J. Plumpton
The 'Crown & Anchor' and 'The Commercial Inn' are visible in the background - The Vigilant appears to have been conveniently moored alongside them!
I have no doubt that the crew consumed a sizeable amount of alcohol in those pubs, especially considering that they got through a 50 Gallon barrel of rum while on Cocos Island!
The crew of the Vigilant sent occasional letters or telegrams from Panama to the landlord of the Commercial Inn, Mr S J Bellchamber
These are the crew to the best of my knowledge ...I have taken several factors into account but am happy to be corrected.
1- Cmdr. F.C. Finnis R.N. DSO - 1886-1951 (age 46 in photo)
2 - Percy Howe
3 - Guy Tracey R.N. 1896-1965 (age 36 in photo)
4 Cmdr. Charles Milbourne. R.N. - Holding Cat - Royal Navy
5 - Cmdr. James Plumpton R.N.R. 1880-1949 (age 52 in photo)
6 - Frank Cooper R.N.
7 - A H Sheffield
8 - Major Harold Louis Phillips - Army D.S.O. ~1870 - 1942 (age ~63 in photo)
9 - Ships Cat "Brixy" (100%) He was 1 of 2 cats, the other was a Siamese called "Dwong" (Age 6 mths?!)
10 - Taking the photo was most likely to be Stratford Jolly (RAF), a seasoned treasure hunter & organiser (B 07-09-1881)
If you have any information to add or any comments, please drop me an email: jamesplumpton.history@gmail.com
'Tracey & Howe on the Vigilant' - 1932
From the book 'Treasure Cruise' by J. Plumpton
The Crew Profiles - Some of these photo's have been 'enhanced' from the main crew photo above to varying degrees of success..
I have added information below about their background, skill sets and any other interesting family tidbits.
Commander James Plumpton R.N.R
Born 1880 - Died 1949 - from Cullompton, Devon
Married to Amy Plumpton in 1920 at Kensington, London.
Engineer - Specialist 'Otter' Training - (Fitting Anti-Mine Equipment to Ships)
Royal Navy Reserves
"Commander James Plumpton R.N.R (Retired) is from Cullompton in Devon.
He is the nautical skipper of the expedition. He commenced his sea-faring career in sailing craft. He was an officer in P&O liners until 1910, when he entered the Royal Navy as an officer in the Royal Navy Reserves. He served two years at the Admiralty and received the RNR decoration. "
James Plumpton served at Gallipoli in the Dardanelles being involved with the landing and evacuation of troops on C beach at Suvla bay.. (see photo albums)
After the Cocos Island expedition, James moved to Trinidad in 1935 with other 'Vigilant' crew members Frank Cooper & Percy Howe. They searched for gold in two sunken Spanish Galleons.
James' younger brother William Plumpton was a sharpshooter who trained at Bisley and was also at Gallipoli in WW1.
After the war, James lived the life on the oceans and enjoyed the thrill of the Treasure Hunt expeditions, while William preferred to run the very successful family business 'Plumpton Engineers' back at home in Cullompton. He also often took part in bowls, shooting competitions and socialising around Cullompton.
He also enjoyed sailing at Exmouth with his daughter Marie Plumpton.
Mr Frank Cooper R.N.
From Yeovil - Somerset - Married
Royal Navy - WW1 - Gunner on 'HMS Foresight' Cruiser
Geological Surveyor and Gold Diviner
Glove Manufacturer, Inventor & Engineer
Registered Patents for Glove / Leather manufacturing machines.
Frank Cooper - RN - Diviner
"Mr Frank Cooper of Yeovil, is the Engineer and gold diviner. He is really a glove manufacturer. He is married, has a grown up daughter: Even a five years' contract has not counteracted his insatiable thirst for adventure"
Frank Cooper was lost at sea off Trinidad, when the ship he was on, sunk in a bad storm. I have not found any evidence to suggest that he was ever found.
"Mrs Cooper who carries on the family glove business, with the help of her two daughters, in Yeovil states: "We last saw Frank about four years ago. That was when he retuned from the Cocos expedition. We then thought that he had given up his life of adventure, but it was of no use: he went off again. He wrote from time to time, seemingly quite happy". "But," added Mrs Cooper with tears in her eyes, "I think he is gone now. I should very much like to think he is safe somewhere, but somehow I cannot really believe it is possible. We were pals from childhood, and even in those days he always wanted to go to sea."
Stratford D Jolly - Treasure Hunter
Born Portobello, Midlothian Scotland, on 7th September 1881.
Stratford Jolly was the son of Benjamin Stratford R Jolly and Beatrice Williamson
He was married twice, first to Maud Lyndon Bateman 1908, second marriage to Eileen Margaret Stead (1901-84) in Kensington, June 1933
They had 2 children, one was James Stratford Jolly 1945-1981)
Served in the Royal Flying Corps in France from September 1917 through January 1919
Also a Sculptor and Actor. Wrote "The Treasure Trail", "South American Adventures" & "The Soul of the Moor: A Romance of the Occult".
Stratford Jolly died in 2nd March 1948 at the European Hospital in Mombasa, Kenya, at the age of 66.
Stratford Dowker Aird Jolly - Explorer / Treasure Hunter/ Author / Sculptor
"Mr Jolly was one of the leaders of the Scambaya expedition in Bolivia. He has searched for lost treasure in Montezuma in Guatemala, has penetrated the head waters of the Amazon in launches and canoes, and has explored the back waters of the Urubana, Ucayali and Nopo in Peru. "
"Jolly, Phillips and Cooper took up residence on board a few days later, and started work on her almost at once. She was stripped entirely inside, and the twenty-seven tons of iron ballast were landed, cleaned, hoisted on board again ( except three tons) and redistributed."
"About half-a-dozen cameras were on board and a cinema camera belonging to Jolly. "
"Jolly remained at Panama, and returned home some weeks later, after selling" Vigilant". "
"Jolly was a good cook provided he kept away from the Rum bottle"
Misc. Notes:
County of London Volunteer Regt. 1st Bn.—To be temp. Lte. 19th Oct. 1916 : — Stratford Dowker Aird Jolly
The undermentioned to be temp. 2nd Lts. (on prob.) for duty with R.F.C.: — 4th May 1917. Stratford Dowker Aird Jolly
Major Harold Louis Phillips - Engineer
"Major Harold Louis Phillips of Southwick, Sussex is the mate. He Served in the mechanical transport of the siege gun ammunition column in France during WW1. He accompanied Mr Jolly on the Secambaya expedition. He was with Mr Jolly at the purchase of the Vigilant and superintended the reconstruction of the internal accommodation and the transformation of the Vigilant from a fishing smack into the auxiliary cruiser yacht.
A few years prior to the expedition, Maj. Phillips met Sir Wilfred Grenfell of the Royal Nation Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen, in London, and being greatly interested in the splendid work Sir Wilfred has done for fishermen in Newfoundland and Labrador, he volunteered to go to Labrador to help in the work. On his return to England, Major Phillips selected a small steam yacht for conversion to a hospital ship to replace Sir Wilfred's ship 'Strathcona' which was lost at sea. He superintended the refitting and voyaged across the Atlantic and handed over the new hospital ship to the mission at St. John's, Newfoundland."
About Grenfell Mission: https://www.heritage.nf.ca/articles/society/grenfell-mission.php
"GREAT CONTRAST
His present venture to the tropics will be a great contrast to his mission work in Labrador. Maj. Phillips is an ardent Yachtsman, his activities having centred in Brighton Sailing Club." - A Local Newspaper ~1932
Married to Florence Annie (nee Lodge)
Vice President of British Legion Southwick
Medical Officer of Vigilant
Listed on Ancestry as an Engineer
Experienced in fitting out ships
Returned early from expedition due to illness. Did not make it to Cocos.
"Actually our final sailing date was March 2nd, 1932., and in the light of information regarding other vessels that have been converted and fitted out, coupled with the fact that all the work of reconstruction, the installation of electric light plant, a four-cylinder Diesel engine and the countless other jobs done by Phillips and Cooper with casual labour hired from the shore, it was, to my mind, no mean achievement to have been ready so soon."
"But best of all is a hobby of some sort, and I cannot forget that Major Phillips, who on account of health had to leave us at Trinidad, was a keen model-maker, and, from the time we left Brixham till he went ashore at Trinidad, he never had a spare moment on his hands, for during that time he had turned out a splendid scale model of "Vigilant". "
George Chesterman Phillips,
Only Son of Major H L Phillips.
Cmdr G C Phillips was Awarded the DSO in WW2 - He was also well known for working with Barbour to develop the 'Ursula' Weatherproof Clothing which became standard issue for submariners.
The Ursula name is still used by Barbour today!
Commander Frederick Cobb Finnis R.N. - D.S.O
Royal Navy (served in WW1 & WW2)
Born 1886, Died 1951 - From Walmer, Dover.
Survived HMS Pathfinder sinking in 1914
Listed in 1915 Navy Book as a Leut. Cmdr. on 505 TYNE
"Lieu. Cmdr. Frederick Cobb Finnis R.N. (D.S.O) of Dover is the Bo'sun on the Vigilant. He was the gunnery officer on HMS Pathfinder which was blown up 5th Sept. 1914 during WW1 losing 248 of the crew with 20 known survivors. HMS Pathfinder was the first ship ever to be sunk by a self-propelled torpedo fired by submarine."
After surviving that, he served two years on a Monitor in the Dardanelles, for which he was decorated with the D.S.O.
After the Vigilant Treasure Cruise 1923/33, Commander Finnis lead yet another treasure hunt expedition to Cocos Island in the 'Veracity' a Lowestoft drifter, being assisted by Commander Worsley who was a member in the 1916 Shackleton Antarctic Expedition and Stratford Jolly. (see 'Other Cocos Treasure Hunts page')
I believe that the father of the Vigilant's 'Frederick Finnis' was possibly a Admiral Frank Finnis. (To be confirmed)
One of Frederick Finnis' brothers was Captain Herbert Cobb Finnis DSO-OBE - 14th Sikhs, (1885-1923). He was murdered in India 1923 while serving in the Political Department.
Additional information about the loss of the Pathfinder - Lieu. Cmdr. Finnis was one of few survivors
A list of Pathfinder survivors
Guy Richard Tracey R.N.
Athlete / Olympian
Born 1896- Died 1965. From Willesden - London
"Guy Richard Tracey of London played as the right-centre-three-quarter for Ireland against England and Wales in 1912. During the war, he saw service in the Royal Navy.
In 1928, he participated in the Olympic Games at St. Moritz: he has played polo on the continent: his career includes ranching in Texas, prospecting in Australia, and planting in Kenya Colony."
Listed as a Lieutenant / midshipman in the Royal Navy WW1 1915
Competed for Great Britain in the 4 man Bobsleigh team at the St Moritz Winter Olympics 1928
Guy Tracey returned home to London after the expedition by liner.
"Tracey was the first baker, and the stuff he turned out was quite fit to eat, but unfortunately he set fire to the galley-stove, and very nearly the ship as well."
"On January 25th 1933 Tracey announced that news from home called for his presence there as quickly as possible and two lays later he went by rail across country to Port Limon, and took steamer for England. "
A scene from the four man bobsleigh event in the 1928 Winter Olympics at St Moritz, Switzerland
Lieu. Cmdr-Charles Milbourne R.N - Guernsey
Born 1895, Died 1962, from Guernsey.
Served in Royal Navy in WW1 & WW2
"Lieu. Cmdr-Charles Delves Milbourne of Guernsey is the cook. He was on HMS King George V during the Battle of Jutland. He has been farming in Australia and planting in New Guinea."
I believe that he was the Father of Miss Miriam Milbourne who was famous for the legendary Golden Guernsey Goats.
Cmdr. Milbourne ran a coffee plantation and a dairy farm in Costa Rica after the Cocos Island expedition.
"They were two very welcome additions, especially as Milbourne, in a weak moment, was persuaded to act as cook and caterer. "
"Jolly possessed what I believe is called a Hawaiian guitar, whilst Milbourne also carried a guitar, his being the common-or-garden brand. They were not expert musicians, and when these instruments were first produced, some days after sailing, the initial tuning up received no great encouragement, and it was not long before there was active hostility to the music provided. "
"We spent the 5th February 1933 in going around to bid farewell to various friends including Milbourne, who had been for some days in hospital with the familiar dysentery and fever from which he had suffered more or less for a month. "
HMS King George V (Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
<------ Charles Delves Milbourne
Percy Howe - Manchester
There is an Eastern Kingbird, Tyrannus tyrannus "Tyrant Fly-Catcher" in the British Museum collections from Cocos Island, off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, the first to be reported from that distant point. A note attached to the specimen reads in part "Collected by Percy Howe at Wafer Bay, Cocos Island on 15th November, 1932. The bird was exhausted and taking cover just behind the camp in cleared ground. It is the only one seen of its kind during a year's residence on the Island."
"Mr Percy Howe from Manchester is the youth in the adventurous crew. It was simply a toss up whether he would dare the hazard of motorcycling across the Sahara or venture on the quest for hidden treasure on the Spanish Main. He is the Naturalist of the party."
21 year old Percy Howe, is the son of a Manchester Estate Agent. He worked in a gold mine after the Cocos Island treasure hunt. Also Percy Howe was James Plumpton's deputy on a Treasure Hunt expedition in Trinidad in 1935. The search was for gold in a sunken Spanish Galleon. Frank Cooper also attended. (See the Spanish Galleon Hunt page)
While on Gasparee Island, Trinidad, Percy Howe was bitten by a bat and had to be tested for any nasty diseases. He also had an unlucky fall at Chatham Bay on Cocos Island:
" We paid still another visit to Gasparee to see some very fine caves there, and in one of these Howe captured a bat with which these caves swarmed. Howe was a keen naturalist, and he took this animal on board, fed it and kept it for some days during which time he was bitten two or three times. I was dining a little later with a Doctor Masson, the chief medical officer of Trinidad, who had, strangely enough, a few years previously, resided with his wife at my home-town in Devonshire, and I happened to relate the bat incident to him. To my surprise he was greatly concerned, for he explained that, just at this time, bats that carried some deadly infection had been discovered at Trinidad and on other West Indian islands. He begged me to have this particular bat sent at once to the hospital for examination, for almost certain death occurs in about three weeks should the bite be from one that is so infected. Howe seemed naturally rather keen to know where he stood in the matter and it was taken to hospital, but fortunately found to be free from infection. "
--------
"The landing was made at the top of the rocks a line was made fast, and Howe swung over the edge to climb down to the cave. The rope, which looked good enough, was in reality quite perished; it parted and in consequence Howe dropped a distance of twenty-five feet, was badly shaken-up, and had a couple of front teeth knocked out. "
A H Sheffield - Bournemouth
"Mr A H Sheffield of Bournemouth has good credentials as a yachtsman. He has had active associations with the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club at Burnham-On-Crouch and with the Parkstone (Dorset) sailing clubs."
After the Cocos Expedition, Mr Sheffield went to Trinidad.
"In the afternoon of November 22nd, Sheffield decided to land and see if he could get a pig, so took the small skiff and, when about fifty yards from the beach, was capsized by a heavy roller, losing his gun and glasses, but, being a good swimmer, somehow managed to right the boat, recover the oars, and get back to the ship, but with a nasty bump on the head. It was not a pleasant experience because the bay is at all times full of sharks"
Brixy the cat
Brixy the Cat from Brixham
"Coming through the fish market one morning, Milbourne picked up a young tabby cat that was wandering about and brought it on board. It made no attempt to leave us, so after a few days, it was christened 'Brixy' and became a great pet. Finnis also received from a sister in London, a present in the shape of a Siamese cat, which, after a lot of discussion was labelled "Dwong". She was a lady-cat, "Brixy" being of the rougher sex."
James Plumpton - Treasure Cruise
If you have any information to add or any comments, please drop me an email: jamesplumpton.history@gmail.com
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