Information mainly from Lancashire Evening Post (Thursday 3 and Friday 4 Oct 1929).
Reports of a Belgian trawler (Commandant Bultinck) making for
Fleetwood being in trouble came from passengers on a tramcar who saw (and
heard) her distress signals on Rossall beach and from another Belgian trawler
(Tanganyika) which had been coming in to Fleetwood at the same time. The
weather was awful - 80 mph winds, sleet and lightning. On hearing the news at
about 11pm, the Fleetwood harbourmaster proceeded to the scene. The lifeboat
headquarters at Blackpool fired their maroon and sent their lifeboat pulled by
horses along the road several miles north towards the wreck. A large crowd
followed the lifeboat along. The harbourmaster then advised the lifeboats that
their services would not be needed - as the wreck was in very shallow water in
big waves. The Fleetwood life-boat crew stood by until 4am, in case their
services would be needed.
The Piel lifeboat was also out that night, but was unable to get close
to the wreck. She did search for bodies and then returned to shelter at Fleetwood.
The onlookers felt helpless - as they saw waves crash over the
trawler, which lay broadside to the shore, and cover the crew who were hanging
on to the sloping deck. The mate (Celestine Tratsaert (23)) attempted to make for
the shore, with a life-belt on and a rope that could be used to rescue them.
He was washed under the vessel and not seen again. Eventually the rocket apparatus
sent by the Blackpool lifeboat coxswain arrived, but it was found impossible
to make use of it.
There were two apprentices on board, and the captain's greatest
anxiety was on their behalf. Protected by lifebelts, one of the apprentices, a
lad (Willie Van Yper (17)), jumped together with the boatswain (Pieter Luyens(24))
who had been sent to look after him. It was only about 50 ft to the shore. It
was proposed if the couple got safely to shore to send the other apprentice in
the same way. They were watched by the anxious crowd as they struggled gamely
the raging seas, and then, just as suddenly, they also disappeared and were
not seen again.
One of the teachers at Rossall School (nearby) knew some Flemish
and that helped them to communicate by megaphone with the crew who did not
speak English. The crew, after seeing 3 of their companions lost, were
reluctant to enter the water. Eventually, as the tide ceased to rise, rescuers
were able to get close to the wreck - to assist the men ashore. A big part was
played by Mr. Richard Wright, the 24-year old son of Mr. Wright, coxswain of
the Fleetwood lifeboat. He had just returned from a prawn fishing expedition -
and, on arrival at the shore, saw about 5 crew members hanging on, helplessly.
Shortly after midnight, there was a lull in the weather, and he got nearly to
the side of the ship, where despite being up to his waist in water, he was
able to catch the men as they jumped off. One man (Victor Brys, the
21-year-old trimmer) was lightly dressed and had his arm damaged, so he was in
a poor state when brought ashore - he was taken to the infirmary at Rossall
School - and eventually resuscitated.
The wreck occurred just some 50 yards south of a breakwater - if she would
have struck that, their fate would have been much worse. The location is a little way
south of Rossall School near sand dunes.
Nine men were rescued - and taken to the Royal National Mission to
Deep Sea Fishermen's Hostel at Fleetwood. The wreck was quite dry at low
water, so many sightseers came on the next morning to view the spectacle.
Debris was strewn around. The fish catch was not rescuable - any ice having
been washed out with seawater. In subsequent days, it became clear that, even after
lightening the wreck by cutting holes in it, the
wreck was not going to be refloated and a contract was signed with a Bradford
Company to break it up as it lies.
Commandant Bultinck (O177) ashore at Rossall
Crew lost (names as reported in Lancashire papers, then as on Belgian FV web-site):
Celestine Tratsaert (23); CAMIEL TRATSAERT
Pieter Luyens(24); PIERRE LUYENS
Willie Van Yper (17); WILLY VAN YPER