Daily Event for September 24, 2012

On September 24, 1917 the French bark Mimosa fell in with SMS UC-47 and her commander Kapitänleutnant Paul Hundius. The Frenchman was carrying a load of fish when the U-boat surfaced and began shelling the ship. More than 20 shots were fired before the ship was abandoned by her crew of thirty men, one remained aboard, the master Captain Pepin, who was sadly killed by the gunfire.

The Mimosa remained afloat but the two of lifeboats were ordered alongside the submarine. Six men were ordered to board the submarine, presumably to be interrogated. Here the story gets a little murky. In one version it was said that Hundius soon closed his hatches and submerged with the six Frenchmen still on the casing, a clear attempt to murder the men. In another version he was said to have submerged because several British destroyers were seen approaching. I have no clear documentation to confirm which version is correct. I would point out that of the five lifeboats only two were picked up by a British destroyer, the other three landed at St. Mary's, Scilly Islands. If the British ships were within sight at the time it would make sense to submerge the boat and escape, but if they were that close why were all the lifeboats not picked up?

It should be pointed out that Hundius was not above killing survivors, he had done so later in his career when he rammed lifeboats from SS Lyndiane, a French freighter. There may be other examples of war crimes committed by Hundis, but I have not researched each ship that was sunk by him at this point in time. In any event, the men jumped off the boat before it went under and returned to the lifeboats, none were lost.

Fifteen survivors were, as mentioned, picked up by a British destroyer and the other fifteen landed at St. Mary's, the Mimosa, though damaged, remained afloat and was towed to Penzance where the crew later rejoined her. Captain Pepin was buried at sea by the crew of the destroyer.
© 2012 Michael W. Pocock
MaritimeQuest.com




2009 Daily Event
2011 Daily Event