BX April 22, 1915

Stirring Times Seen In the British Navy – Brantford Veteran’s Life Story – W. Mann, Who Left Last Evening to Join the Canadian Navy at Halifax, Has Seen Service Throughout the World – The Tragedy of the “Victoria” – Slave-Trade Work in East African Waters – Escapes as a Deep Sea Diver

Adventures as stirring as every boy read from the pen of Gordon Stables, G.A. Henty or R.M. Ballantyne have been the common everyday experience in past years of W.H. Mann, who left yesterday for the dockyards at Halifax, following upon the acceptance by the Canadian naval department of his services. He left last evening at 6 o’clock for Halifax, where it is expected that his 22 years’ experience win the British navy will be found of worth. He has resided here for some time, having a wife and seven children residing at 20 Abel Avenue.

Has Met the Kaiser

The Kaiser, should he come within reach at the present time, would not be exactly a stranger to Mr. Mann, but he would most likely have paid to him an honor similar to that paid to him in 1889. This was shortly after he had been proclaimed Emperor of Germany, and in his honor, when H.I.G.M. – which means His Imperial Germanic Majesty – paid a visit to Great Britain, he was honored by having the British navy, stationed on home duty, assembled at Spithead, Portsmouth, to receive the Emperor’s inspection. The successor of this navy, of which Mr. Mann is now a member, is prepared to turn out again for the Kaiser’s inspection, though along strictly business lines.

Witnessed Catastrophe

At the time of the inspection of the fleet at Spithead, Mr. Mann was a member of the crew of the protected cruiser “Undaunted,” a ship at that time fit for anything that rode the waves. Most of the ships then were of the masted type that could use sails as well as steam, though these were being gotten out of the service. In 1893 he was commissioned on the “Edgar” for the Mediterranean station, then the most important of the British navy. It was on Thursday, June 22, that while on the “Edgar,” he saw the fatal collision between the “Victoria” and the “Camperdown” which resulted in the sinking of the Victoria with a loss of 350 men, including Sir George Tyron, the commander-in-chief of the Mediterranean station.

A few days later he took the survivors of the catastrophe – the greatest in British naval history in peacetime – in company with the “Phaeton,” to Malta. On the “Edgar” being ordered to the China station, Mr. Mann was returned to England. He was there for but a short time, however, when he was sent to the Cape of Good Hope station, in the “Grafton,” for service in the “Philomel.”  On this station punitive expeditions were the order of the day, many lives having been lost in fights with the natives on the Bypass and Benin rivers. For ten months he did duty on the west coast of Africa and then he returned to Simon’s Town, the boat needing repairs greatly. After being given a time to recuperate from the ill effects of the climate of West Africa, which is given credit for being the worst in the world, the boat was ordered to the east coast of Africa.

Conditions in East Africa

On the East African coast thee was excitement daily. After the boats had been provisioned, they were sent away n boat cruising, on the lookout for slave dhows. Hundreds of poor colored wretches were thus saved from death or a life of horrible slavery under the cruel Arab taskmasters. The slaves were found, invariably, in the holds, which had been battered down, giving little air and not light. The slaves were huddled together, and the conditions were such that it was a wonder that any lived, though the death rate was terribly high. The crews nearly always put up a fight, for they knew that it meant hanging if they were captured in this nefarious trade. Occasionally the boats lost a man or two, and had some wounded, but the lads in blue never gave up, and the Arabs and their crews were soon put out of action forever.

On August 26, 1896, the British fleet bombarded the palace of the Sultan of Zanzibar, at Zanzibar, sinking the Sultan’s private yacht, the “Glasgow,” which was supposed to have been a gift from Her Majesty Queen Victoria. One man was killed, and one wounded, he losing a leg. The ships which took part in the bombardment, were St. George (flagship), with Sir Harry Rawson’s flag flying; “Philomel,” “Thrush,” “Widgeon” and “Raccoon.”

Men Rescued From Sharks

The seas on this station were shark-infested. Once, when his vessel was doing a steam trial in the shark infested waters, two seamen fell overboard. The boat was going 17 knots an hour. Within a moment steam was reversed, and a boat lowered. The men were picked up, badly scared, having seen sharks varying from 15 to 20 feet in length.

A grand reception was given to the men of the fleet when it returned to England, in recognition of their services on the east and west coasts of Africa

Served On Niobe

Transferred to the “Niobe,” Mr. Mann was in that boat when she with the “Diadem” escorted the “Ophir,” which brought to Canada the Prince of Wales and his consort, now King George and Queen Mary. After leaving the “Niobe” he was drafted to the “Hogue,” which met its end in the present war, being torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel.

When war broke out between Russia and Japan, he was with the old destroyer “Dragon,” and was detailed for service in the Gut. While going out of the harbor, the destroyer collided with the Spanish mail boat “Elverial,” cutting her from the bow to the bridge, only a miracle saving her from foundering. He later served on the “Ocean,” commanded by the Hon. Carson Howe, which was sunk during the bombardment of the Dardanelles by the allied fleet during the present war. He was at Malta at the time that Queen Victoria passed away, a royal salute being fired when the news was received there. Afterwards he was sent to Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania. In the “Pyramus,” a training ship for the Australian navy. Returning to England, he retired from the navy and settled down. Three years ago he pulled up stakes again and came to Canada, settling in Brantford, where he was employed at the Canada Starch Company’s works, from that date to this. His wife and family were brought out through the services of Mr. Schmidlin and Jos. Ruddy of that company.

Was Deep Sea Diver

During his naval career Mr. Mann was a deep sea diver for a number of years. In this most dangerous trade he had many narrow escapes. While clearing out a fouled anchor the cable twisted the air pipe and lifeline of the diving equipment, and he was held fast until another diver could descend, clear away the cable and allow him to come to the surface. Fortunately the cable was not cut. At another time, while cleaning the ship’s bottom of barnacles he was knocked off the staging by a swish from a shark’s tail and had not the attendants in, the boat held on to the life line, after he had fallen about 12 feet, the cables would have parted.

Has Son at Front

At present Mr. Mann has a son at the front. He was in the 2nd Battalion of the Devon Regiment, which was serving in Egypt at the time that war broke out. The regiment was called to England, and afterwards sent to France during the bitter fighting. He was unfortunate enough, however to have his feet frost-bitten, and he was sent to Glasgow. Later he was able to rejoin his regiment, and the latest news received from him was that he had returned to the front.

He also has a brother in the Royal navy, serving now on the signaling staff of the “Conqueror,” who has served 25 ½ years. His time was up, but the war came on and he remained in the service.

Another naval veteran here is John Trebble, also employed at the Starch works, who was at one time known as the best diver on the west coast of England. His chief adventure was in being blown up by dynamite and being taken home for dead, but he had several other narrow escapes.

BX December 13, 1916

Brantford Man Lost on ‘Grilse’ – Chief Petty Officer W.H. Mann Was on Canadian Torpedo Boat Given Up

One Brantford man, Chief Petty Officer William H. Mann is thought to have been lost on the Canadian torpedo boat Grilse, which was yesterday reported lost at sea with all hands. His home is at 20 Abel Ave, here and he has been with the Canadian navy for close on to 20 months.

Early in the history of the present struggle Mr. William Mann, who had then served over 22 years in the British navy, offered his services to the Canadian government for the Canadian navy. It was on April 20, 1915 that he received his orders to report to Halifax without delay, as his offer had been accepted.

He was an employee of the Canada Glue Company and had a wife and seven children. One of the sons is at present at the front with an Imperial Regiment.

BX December 15, 1916

The many friends of W.H. Mann, chief petty officer on the torpedo boat Grilse, who was yesterday thought, lost with the boat, will be pleased to know he is safe. After a terrific battle with ocean gales the boat reached Shelburne, N.S. However, six members of the crew were washed overboard and were drowned.