Centenary of the Nissen Hut

Two Nissen Huts at RNAD Trecwn, Pembrokeshire, NPRN 96059

One of the world’s most recognisable military structures is the humble half-cylindrical Nissen Hut. The simple design was developed by Canadian-American Captain Peter Norman Nissen, of 29th Company, Royal Engineers in 1916.

First used later that year at Hesdin, France, the light, economic and reusable huts were manufactured in three widths – 16ft; 24ft; and 30ft, the internal bays were set at 6ft, so any length of hut could be used, as necessary. The whole standard unit could be carried by a single 3-tonne army lorry. The load comprised the corrugated-iron outer skin; wooden inner linings; the semi-circular metal frames; a wooden door; and oiled cloth windows. A well-rehearsed team of six men could assemble a hut on a prepared concrete base in four hours. One hut was completed in a record time of 1 hour 27 minutes. It is estimated that over 100,000 units were produced during WWI.

The Nissen Huts fulfilled the requirement for temporary structures to accommodate the large numbers of newly conscripted troops for the army. The versatile design meant functions could also include kitchens, mess rooms, stores, dressing stations, churches etc.

Drawing: From Medwyn Parry Collection.

Nissen had filed the patent for his design in the UK, Australia, South Africa, Canada, and the US. But he declined any royalties for the duration of WWI, and the manufacturing company did the same again during WWII.

Captain Nissen was not the only one to be developing temporary hutting during the First World War. Other solutions included Armstrong Huts, Aylwin Huts, Forest Huts, Tarrant's Portable Huts, and Weblee Huts, each named after officers in the Royal Engineers. During the Second World War there were similar designs such as Abbey Huts, Iris Huts, Romney Huts, and Tufton Huts. However, none of these was as ubiquitous as one of the great design classics of the twentieth century, the eponymous “Nissen Hut”. The simple concept has continued to be used for almost a century without alteration to its basic shape.

By Medwyn Parry


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Royal Commission gains Heritage Lottery Fund approval for the development of ‘The Forgotten U-boat War around the Welsh Coast’ Project

The Royal Commission, in partnership with Bangor University and the Nautical Archaeology Society, have been given a grant to pursue the development of a new Great War commemoration project.

Some 170 shipping and aircraft losses relating to war at sea are recorded in the National Monuments Record of Wales. Each site has the potential to act as a focus for commemoration, but 14 have initially been selected for underwater exploration to enable the Great War story to be told from both the Allied and German perspectives. The sites include British and German submarines; HMS PENSHURST - the Royal Navy's most successful Q-ship or decoy vessel; HMS DERBENT a tanker which played an important part in refuelling naval vessels in the Mediterranean during the Gallipoli campaign; large merchant ships carrying Welsh coal to key theatres of the war as well as coasting vessels from the last days of sail.

The new underwater survey data will be combined into 3D interactive models to be displayed on a dedicated website.

After 100 years underwater, the wrecks have become fabulously rich colonies of marine life. It is hoped that the project will provide opportunities for volunteers to assist with species identification.

The project has been developed in collaboration with Welsh museums and the Archives Network Wales, whose kind letters of support have provided a great deal of inspiration for the initial work programme. It is hoped that many of the project’s outreach activities will be linked into maritime museums, with each participating group having the opportunity to contribute a display panel to a mobile exhibition. The exhibition will be launched at a conference in 2018.

Remembering those who gave their lives for their country, and who have no grave but the sea.
http://www.peoplescollection.wales/collections/415321

A multi-beam echosounder survey of the APAPA undertaken by SEACAMS, Bangor University, which shows the two large areas of seabed scour (darker blue) caused by the currents which flow around the wreck.

In March 1915, the DERBENT was in the Mediterranean at Port Mudros and Tendos refuelling naval vessels such as HMS PHAETON and HMS INFLEXIBLE, which were attempting to seize control of the Dardanelles Straits during the Gallipoli Campaign.

By Deanna Groom

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FISHING NEWS Provides Confirmation of Identity of Lost Admiralty Trawler

First published in 1913, the long running news weekly of the fishing industry has helped to untangle the identify of a steam drifter, which was lost whilst tasked with deploying anti-submarine nets at the entrance to Milford Haven.

The Royal Commission’s ongoing project researching shipping losses relating to the Great War had discovered some confusion in sources about the origins of the fishing vessel. Staff at the Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre had records which showed that the LADYSMITH was returned to its owners, Henry Taylor and Henry Hopwood, in 1919, so could not have been lost on 27 December 1915. However, members of staff at the Scottish Fisheries Museum were able to put Commission staff onto the right track – a steam drifter (fishing number BF1528) with close associations to the fishing community of the Moray Firth. Two short articles in early editions of this well-known fishing weekly provided confirmation.

Two Scottish fishing vessels, LADYSMITH and FERNDALE, had been put to use as armed patrol vessels/minesweepers and net layers. It would seem that the skippers of both had determined to run for the shelter of the Haven during a gale, but in attempting the heavy seas breaking at the entrance both came to grief. A crewman was washed overboard from the FERNDALE and, as the vessel stopped to attempt a rescue, it was driven onto the rocks off St Ann’s Head. What happened to the LADYSMITH is uncertain, but the reporting in FISHING NEWS reveals how devastating the loss was to three Scottish fishing families.

Just before the Great War, the British fishing fleet was vast. As early as 1908, the Admiralty had begun developing plans to ‘call up’ men to man the trawlers that it had ordered to help counter the increasing menace of sea-mines. These plans included requisitioning commercial vessels should the need arise. Some 150 vessels were thought to be all the Admiralty would need to complete its Royal Naval Patrol Service. However, by the end of the war, over 1,800 had requisitioned and the thousands of the fishermen who formed the core of their normal crews had been employed in theatres of war all around the world. http://www.peoplescollection.wales/items/495674

A very special thanks to the editorial team of Fishing News for allowing us to add a copy of the article to the ‘Great War at Sea’ collection on the People’s Collection Wales website.

Remembering all who gave their lives for their country and have no grave but the sea.
http://www.peoplescollection.wales/collections/415321


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One Hundred Years Ago This Christmas Day…

Local Borth seaman, Richard Davies, of the Royal Naval Reserve, was one of the trawler crewmen who crossed to the VAN STIRUM

… four crewmen belonging to a Royal Naval Auxiliary Fleet trawler were fighting their way through heavy seas in a small boat to reach the stricken VAN STIRUM steamship. After getting on board and touring the ship to assess the damage, they found the tables in the saloon laid for Christmas dinner – but no sign of the crew. 

It would be nearly a year before they received a letter of thanks from the Admiralty for their attempts to save the ship and that the full story of the loss the VAN STIRUM was finally told.

Eight miles south-southwest of the Smalls, whilst carrying a general cargo from London to Rouen, the steamship was spotted by U-24. This German submarine, under the command of Kapitänleutnant Rudolk Scheider, had been responsible for sinking the British battleship HMS FORMIDABLE 12 months earlier off Portland Bill. The captain of the VAN STIRUM attempted to escape pursuit, but ultimately had no option but to order his crew to abandon ship. The two crewmen left on board to lower the lifeboats were killed when the torpedo struck.

The U-boat commander also fired shells at the ship; and yet, despite this damage, the VAN STIRUM remained afloat until later in the day, when it was spotted by the trawler. The lieutenant in charge sent four men to put the steamship under tow. Although their small row boat was smashed against the side of the steamship, they were successful in setting up the towing hawser. However, they soon found that the VAN STIRUM’s steering gear was jammed – the ship would not be controllable when it was underway.

With the VAN STIRUM lurching heavily and sinking ever lower, the four crewmen had to wait for another of the trawler’s small row boats to row across. No sooner had this boat hauled alongside, than the VAN STIRUM rolled over. The four rescuers managed to slide down the ship's side to be picked up by their comrades before the steamship finally sank.

Extract from the Cambrian News, 22 September 2016, regarding the loss of the VAN STIRUM

The two VAN STIRUM crewmen killed in the torpedo attack were W.A. Belanger, Boatswain, and J.T. Hetherington, ordinary seaman.

Full details: http://www.peoplescollection.wales/node/489706

Remembering those who gave their lives for their country, and who have no grave but the sea: http://www.peoplescollection.wales/collections/415321

By Deanna Groom


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Conflict Archaeology in Wales and the Wider World - 20 November 2015

Chartered Institute for Archaeologists and WelCAAP
Welsh Conflict Archaeology Advisory Panel

National Library of Wales (Council Chamber)
20 November 2015 

Delegate Cost: £15.00 (includes tea and coffee).

Lunch ordered at time of booking: £8, or bring your own.

The Welsh Conflict Archaeology Panel (WelCAAP) is organising a one day seminar in partnership with the CIfA Cymru / Wales Group introducing the concepts, themes and current projects concerned with conflict archaeology in Wales and the wider world.

Originating in the Cadw C20th Military sites Working Group and with representatives from Cadw, the Royal Commission, the four Welsh Archaeological Trusts, Historic England, the Defence Infrastructure Organisation and other agencies and national bodies. WelCAAP exists to raise the profile of recent conflict archaeology in Wales and the impacts on the communities and landscapes of Wales. as well as to disseminate best practice pertaining to the identification, research, protection, conservation, interpretation and presentation of eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth century conflict sites across the historic environment in Wales.

This one-day seminar will introduce delegates to current UK (and wider) research themes, projects and management issues, and will feature papers on a range of topics including military field archaeology, First World War themes, the Home Front in Wales, aviation archaeology and community archaeology. Offers of exhibitions are welcome. 

For further information please contact:
Toby Driver, toby.driver@rcahmw.gov.uk +44 (0)1970 621207 or
John Latham jernstlatham@gmail.com +44 (0)7774 877834.

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One Hundred Years Ago Today…

During his first cruise in homes water, April–August 1915, Max Valentiner and U38 accounted for five trawlers, three sailing vessel and 22 merchant ships. Valentiner would go on to become the third most successful u-boat commander of the Great War (144 vessels sunk, six damaged and three taken as prizes).

… Max Valentiner, one of the ablest and most ruthless commanders in the German submarine service, brought U38 to the narrowing of the shipping lanes in St George’s Channel (between Cardigan Bay and the Tuskar Rock lighthouse, Ireland).

Over the next 24 hours, the submarine would sink 10 merchant ships and fishing vessels causing the loss of two lives.

The vessels were:

• BONNY, 2702 ton British steamship operated by the British & African Steam Navigation Co. Ltd (Elder Dempster Line);
• GEORGE BAKER, a British steam drifter owned by E. A. Baker of Great Yarmouth (NPRN 516131); http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/516131/details/UNNAMED+WRECK/
  
  
• GLENBY, 2196 ton British steamship owned by R. Ropner & Co, West Hartlepool, and carrying coal from Cardiff to Archangelsk (NPRN 274830); http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/274830/details/GLENBY/
  
  
• ISIDORO , 2044 ton Spanish-owned steamship carrying iron ore from Bilbao to Glasgow;
• KIRKBY, 3034 ton British steamship also owned by R. Ropner & Co, West Hartlepool, carrying coal from Barry (NPRN 274829); http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/274829/details/KIRKBY/
  
  
• MAGGIE, small British steamship, on passage from Youghal to Fleetwood;
• PAROS, 3596 ton British steamship requisitioned by the Admiralty and bringing wheat from Karachi to Manchester (NPRN 274828); http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/274828/details/PAROS/
  
  
• REPEAT, a British steam trawler owned by R. J. Tripp of Kessingland, Suffolk (NPRN 274831); http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/274831/details/REPEAT/
  
  
• THE QUEEN, 557 ton British steamship carrying coal from Ayr to Devonport (NPRN 274832); http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/274832/details/THE+QUEEN/
  
  
• THORNFIELD, 488 ton British steamship belonging to Liverpool and on passage from London to Peel, Isle of Man (NPRN 273139); http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/273139/details/THORNFIELD/ . 

THE QUEEN - built on the Clyde in 1897 by Ailsa Shipbuilding Company and owned by John Hay & Sons, Glagsow. The steamship was sunk by the guns of U38.

The ISIDORO was the first Spanish-owned vessel sunk by a German submarine and the loss brought protest from the Spanish government. Germany had come under strong pressure from America, after the sinking of the LUSITANIA on 7 May 1915, to modify its whole submarine campaign, with a promise that liners would not be sunk if engaged in no hostile act. The sinking of the ISIDORO alienated another neutral nation.

With the whole political situation so delicate, the German Admiralty despatched secret orders for submarines to confine themselves to ‘cruiser warfare’; i.e. submarines were to surface to search for merchant ships and ensure that crews were in a place of safety before sinking the ship, unless the ship had shown ‘persistent refusal to stop ... or active resistance to visit or search’.

However, U38 continued southwards after the 17 August, to join U24 and U27 in the Western approaches. These three submarines continued to sink ships between southern Ireland and Ushant on the French coast, bringing the total losses for the year to a peak in this month (121 ships sunk and five damaged). Each event a tragedy for the crews and shipowners concerned.

Today, we commemorate the lives lost by the sinking of the GLENBY in Welsh waters:

C. Neilson, Boatswain, age 21

Ernest Hall, Donkeyman*.

Remembering those who gave their lives for their country and who have no grave but the sea.

• http://www.peoplescollection.wales/collections/415321
• http://www.peoplescollection.wales/items/468344

*Note: the duties performed by a Donkeyman could be different on every ship, but generally they were responsible for the operation and maintenance of assorted ship’s machinery, other than the main engines, particularly smaller steam boilers and donkey engines used on deck for anchor windlasses and bilge pumps.

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