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LÉ
Cliona - Project - Campaign - June 2015 |
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LAST UPDATE: TUESDAY: 22 OCTOBER 2024 |
Introduction
The discovery in June 2015 that the crew of
the Irish Naval Service Flower Class Corvette LÉ Cliona had never been
acknowledged for their exemplary action on the 29 May 1962 in putting out
the boiler room fire that had occurred at sea following a
premature depth
charge explosion during a live fire exercise off the coast of Cork, and thereby
saving their ship, prompted the LÉ Cliona Project/Campaign. To be precise,
for many years a false narrative was promulgated that the crew were
responsible for the premature aboard LÉ Cliona and to ignore these recurring allegations was no longer an option.
Significantly, towards the end of August 2015 one had
obtained UK documentation which rebutted comprehensively that false
narrative. However, by October 2015 the campaign effort had also persuaded then
Minister for Defence Simon Coveney T.D. to initiate a formal review
which culminated successfully in September 2016 when four members of crew
were presented with scrolls of commendation and a
commemorative
plinth was erected on the Naval Base, Haulbowline, in
County Cork. (Note: It was an amiss by the Irish department of defence not
to issue scrolls of commendation to all the crew of LÉ Cliona, their
exemplary actions
deserved that consideration). The following is their story:
Peter Mulvany BCL,
HDip Arts Admin
https://www.irishseamensrelativesassociation.ie
Background
● On the 29 May 1962, the Irish Naval Vessel LÉ Cliona while participating
in an annual exercise at sea, south of Roches Point, County Cork, carried
out a successful Hedgehog mortar exercise. During her second pattern of
depth charges, Cliona suffered a premature explosion from a charge dropped
from the stern rails which lifted the stern of the ship out of the water.
The ensuing concussion ruptured fuel oil feed pipes in the aft boiler room.
Leaking oil resulted in a serious fire which rapidly accelerated out of
control.
Able Stoker William Mynes immediately closed the oil feed valves,
isolating the supply of fuel to the fire and in the process suffered burns
to his hands, arms and face. A/S Mynes then assisted the two injured young
stokers, Ordinary Stoker Brady and Ordinary Stoker Hennessy to safety out of
the boiler room, which was engulfed in flames. Even though he was injured
himself, A/S Mynes continued to fight the fire until ordered to report for
first aid.
Lt O'Mahony (ÓMathúna) then proceeded into the boiler room and
fought the fire single-handedly, ably assisted by crew, for nearly 30 to 40
minutes. The fire was eventually extinguished and despite the Marine Rescue
Coordination Centre dispatching an oceangoing tug to the scene to assist, LÉ
Cliona was able to proceed to Haulbowline under her own steam for an
investigation and repairs. (Extract: Report to the Chief of Staff from
Captain Thomas McKenna on fire damage to LÉ Cliona, 31 May 1962 (Military
Archives). Had Cliona foundered it is unlikely that there would have been
survivors as there was a primed depth charge on the deck. Had she sunk the
hydrostatic trigger would have ignited the charge and the resulting
concussion would have killed survivors in the water.
● LÉ Cliona Fire Revisited: RTE Film: Recorded 29 May 1962:
https://www.facebook.com/LECliona/videos/332130198032207
● 31 May 1962:
Report to the Chief of Staff from Captain Thomas McKenna on fire damage to LÉ
Cliona, (Military Archives):
https://www.irishseamensrelativesassociation.ie/McKenna-Report_31_May_1962.pdf
● 1994: Media
Memories of Cork: The Big Bang by Roy Hammond:
https://www.irishseamensrelativesassociation.ie/Media_Memories_of_Cork.pdf
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LÉ
Cliona Project - June 2015 - The Campaign
Links
LÉ Cliona
Fire 29 May 1962 Review:
https://www.irishseamensrelativesassociation.ie/LE-Cliona-Fire-29.05.1962-Review.html
LÉ Cliona Crew Log:
https://www.irishseamensrelativesassociation.ie/LE-Cliona-Log.29.05.1962.html
LÉ
Cliona Crew List:
https://www.irishseamensrelativesassociation.ie/LE-Cliona-Crewlist.29.05.1962.html
LÉ Cliona Project-Campaign-June 2015:
https://www.irishseamensrelativesassociation.ie/LE-Cliona-Project-June-2015.html
30 September 2016:
Unveiling LÉ Cliona Commemorative Stone/Plaque:
Video courtesy Irish Examiner:
https://fb.watch/vnFk3LWgRE/
LÉ
Cliona Project-Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/LECliona
Friday 25th Sept 2020: Seascapes,
RTÉ Radio One, Maritime Programme:
In discussion with Fergal Keane, Bill Mynes, ex Able Stoker LÉ Cliona
(Discharged Petty Officer Stoker 1964) recalls the boiler room fire on board
the Corvette following a premature depth charge explosion during a live
firing exercise while at sea on the 29th May 1962:
https://fb.watch/eokCpkj2IN/
LÉ Cliona Fire Revisited: RTE Film:
Recorded 29th May 1962:
https://fb.watch/eol3Bdw3cN/
Commodore Peter Kavanagh:
former Director and Flag Officer Commanding Irish Naval Service 1973-1980,
pictured on the bridge of LÉ Maev in this 1969 RTE TV Programme,, also
served on the Arctic Convoys in the British Merchant Navy during WW2. LÉ
Maev (02), was a flower class corvette launched in August 1942 as HMS Oxlip
(K123) prior to being commissioned into the Irish Naval Service post WW2: B
a t t l e H o n o u r s: ATLANTIC 1942-45: ARCTIC 1942-45: SICILY 1943:
NORMANDY 1944:
https://fb.watch/vnEJzGVi7s/
- See also:
https://www.irishseamensrelativesassociation.ie/Irishmen-on-Arctic-Convoys_Kavanagh.html
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