Aftermath SS Irish Oak (1919)

1 aftermath

1.1 british
1.2 irish
1.3 american
1.4 german

aftermath
british

at time not known submarine had sunk irish oak. survivors knew not u-650. in house of commons sir william davidson called formal protest, because irish oak had not warned convoy, , douglas lloyd savory called end of coal exports ireland.

no official action taken: ireland exporting food britain @ time. also, paul emrys-evans revealed convoy knew u-boat; british stance that, knew of presence of both irish oak , u-607, there no need irish oak have warned convoy.

irish

during world war south arklow lightvessel guillemot, operated commissioners of irish lights, had given warning of u-boat. in consequence on 28 march 1917 uc-65 surfaced, ordered crew lifeboat, , sank guillemot. against background sinking of irish oak became hotly debated issue.

the irish government s stance irish oak had not warned allied convoy of u-boat presence, stated Éamon de valera in dáil, , irish shipping limited. de valera went on ...no business of irish ships give information .

a rumour contrary picked irish labour party. james everett asked: information given british convoy submarine sighted night before? discussion in dáil during run-up general election, focused on possibility warning had been transmitted , demands made know nationality of captain (a british subject):

bill norton: taoiseach state nationality of master of ship?
Éamon de valera: not know it.
james hickey: think taoiseach should take deep interest in finding out nationality of captains of our ships.
william davin: taoiseach aware recommendation submitted irish nationals should preference these ships?



norton, hickey , davin labour party members.

luke duffy, secretary of labour party, said ... government guilty of duplicity , near belligerency behind facade of neutrality. had placed foreign nationals on bridge of irish ships ... . party issued advertisement condemning criminal conduct of fianna fáil government in sending brave men doom on irish oak .

responding allegations irish oak had acted in such way endanger neutral status, irish shipping limited stated:

...whether... information had been conveyed british convoy submarine had been sighted. company states in explicit manner there no foundation whatever suggestion contained in question. no such message sent.

seán macentee (fianna fáil party) placed counter advertisement in irish times titled licence sink, saying labour party sought justify sinking of irish oak; these ships many of our people might have been hungry, have been idle ... if our people hungry , idle more ready listen pernicious doctrines .

after election william davin complained of unfounded allegations , slanderous , libellous statements made against members of {sic labour} party ... had audacity charge members of party, during recent election campaign, having condoned sinking of irish oak. more scandalous, or more untrue?

although labour increased representation , de valera s fianna fáil party lost seats in general election, Éamon de valera remained in power support of farmers party.

american

it not known @ time submarine had sunk irish oak, not u-650. irish shipping limited negotiating lease of ss wolverine united states. u.s. state department intervened, asking why ireland had not protested germany sinking.

the irish replied protested other sinkings when attacker known. protested attacks on colliers glencullen , glencree. referred attack on mv kerlogue 2 unidentified aircraft, denied british admitted when shell fragments of british manufacture found.

no further american ships leased or sold ireland.

german

not until after war learned u-607 had sunk irish oak. action, , u-607 s report, not received. captain, oberleutnant zur see wolf jeschonnek, claimed irish oak q-ship false irish markings, sailing without lights.

second lieutenant excused sinking saying irish oak q ship. alleged sailing @ night without lights, zigzagging, , travelling @ fourteen knots, although appeared capable of barely half speed.

flag officer u-boats said ought not have happened, attributed understandable mistake eager captain. precise observance of irish neutrality , of flag officer u-boats strict orders in connection duty of u-boat captains , in immediate , pressing interests of german reich .

u-607 sunk, while in convoy 2 other u-boats, in bay of biscay on 13 july 1943 sunderland flying boat of 228 squadron royal air force, assisted halifax of 58 squadron. oberleutnant jeschonnek , 6 of crew taken prisoner; rest perished.

nine days after sinking of irish oak, on 24 may 1943, admiral dönitz ordered u-boat withdrawal atlantic. of operational fleet, 41 u-boats – or 25% – had been lost in black may, against total of 50 allied merchant ships destroyed. battle of atlantic over.