Lyr Add: Underway (Loss of Penlee lifeboat)

Subject: Lyr Add: Underway (Loss of Penlee lifeboat)
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 26 Feb 03 - 11:23 AM

My Aunt cut this from the Western Morning News.

My uncle was the innocent victim of a road accident that left him paralysed and without speech. Previously he was one of the coastguards at Falmouth who were talking to the crew when they died.

She said it was the only time she had known him to cry. Not at the time, but next day when their son phoned from Germany having heard of the loss.

UNDERWAY
(Lindsey Kennedy)(Russ Holland)

This is Falmouth coastguard, over.
Back in December in the year '81
Ship going ashore, and the storm had begun.
Sending out a mayday, the distress was relayed,
A call to the lifeboat and the crew's on its way.
Underway, underway, underway.
The rocket went up, they ran to the boat,
Let go the shackles and set her afloat.
The lifeboat was launched, to save all the souls
On that dark stormy night through the gales and the squals,
Underway, underway, underway.

Eight men of courage battled through the gale,
And onward the lifeboat with the sea as a veil.
We lift up our hearts to remember the brave.

On that night in December out on the waves.
Underway, underway, underway.
The attempted rescue on that turbulent sea,
Was above and beyond the call of duty.
Coastguards had listened and heard it unfold,
Of the gallantry of the lifeboatmen, fearless and bold.
Underway, underway, underway.
Falmouth Coastguard, Falmouth Coastguard,
No report of the Solomon Browne.
Over and out.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Underway (Loss of Penlee lifeboat)
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 26 Feb 03 - 11:30 AM

Gosh how sad, I remember the incident well. Certainly put a lump in my throat. They should always be remembered and respected.
Giok

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Underway (Loss of Penlee lifeboat)
From: Gareth
Date: 26 Feb 03 - 11:45 AM

Good find Keith,

I have taken the liberty of adding a BLICKY on the Disaster CLICK 'ERE


I have also cut and pasted the text to emphasise the VHF Radio spoken text.

UNDERWAY
(Lindsey Kennedy)(Russ Holland)

"This is Falmouth coastguard, over."
Back in December in the year '81
Ship going ashore, and the storm had begun.
Sending out a mayday, the distress was relayed,
A call to the lifeboat and the crew's on its way.
"Underway, underway, underway."
The rocket went up, they ran to the boat,
Let go the shackles and set her afloat.
The lifeboat was launched, to save all the souls
On that dark stormy night through the gales and the squals,
"Underway, underway, underway."

Eight men of courage battled through the gale,
And onward the lifeboat with the sea as a veil.
We lift up our hearts to remember the brave.

On that night in December out on the waves.
Underway, underway, underway.
The attempted rescue on that turbulent sea,
Was above and beyond the call of duty.
Coastguards had listened and heard it unfold,
Of the gallantry of the lifeboatmen, fearless and bold.
"Underway, underway, underway."
"Falmouth Coastguard, Falmouth Coastguard,
No report of the Solomon Browne.
Over", "Coastguard out."

Gareth

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Underway (Loss of Penlee lifeboat)
From: mg
Date: 26 Feb 03 - 12:04 PM

awesome song. I can hardly wait until we can just sing the tune into a mike and put it on the computer for people to hear..

Anyway, I live on the ocean in Washington State..last night it was roaring just tremendously..so loud and ominous I couldn't sleep. I live right on Klipsan Beach and it was like I could hear the old shipwrecks that happened there..

Here is an article: http://www.pacificcohistory.org/sw2001_3.htm

mg

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Underway (Loss of Penlee lifeboat)
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 27 Feb 03 - 11:11 AM

Gareth, that was a good idea.
I notice that you also changed the last line. I wondered about that too. You only hear that usage in old war films.
Glad you liked the song Mary and Giok. I have ordered a recording from someone at Trelawney Fish, Newlyn !
Keith.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Underway (Loss of Penlee lifeboat)
From: GUEST,Gareth
Date: 27 Feb 03 - 12:00 PM

Keith - my old Radio Instructer went beserk if any body used "over and out." In VHF parlance it means "I await your reply and I am closing this conversation".

"Underway, underway, underway." = VHF code words for a Lifeboat departing on a service.

"Falmouth Coastguard, Falmouth Coastguard,(= Call sign addressing message) No report of the Solomon Browne.(= Message)
Over (= Any reply to that message ??)",

"Coastguard out." = No reply from Falmouth Coastguard.

Gareth

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Underway (Loss of Penlee lifeboat)
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 28 Feb 03 - 04:40 AM

Thanks Gareth, That's the same in military voice procedure.
I have a book about the event that gives the radio log. When the lifeboat failed to answer the coastguard, the Dutch tug and then Lt Cdr Smith in his helicopter jumped in and tried to raise them .
Then half the fishermen in Newlyn had a try.

I have wrongly attributed the song. Lindsay Kennedy was a Western Morning News journalist. The songwriter was Russ Holland. Sorry.

Keith.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Underway (Loss of Penlee lifeboat)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Feb 03 - 11:35 AM

Is there a recording of this song available?
Dots?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Underway (Loss of Penlee lifeboat)
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 28 Feb 03 - 12:11 PM

I have it on CD and would be happy to mail it to anyone on loan.
They can be obtained for 5 pounds from trevor churchfield, Trelawney Fish, 78 The Strand, Newlyn, Cornwall.
The cover has an Email add. [e-mail]

The recording has an extra verse that I will add shortly.

Thanks for the interest,
Keith.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Underway (Loss of Penlee lifeboat)
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 01 Mar 03 - 01:31 PM

Here is a link to the WesternMorning News report on song.

The extra verse on the recording (by the author) is sung under a chorus of "underways" just before the final line.

In the village of Mousehole the year 81,
The lifeboat was launched, the storm had begun,
Going to the rescue there's lives to be saved,
On the wild ocean sailed the brave .

The first and final lines of the song are spoken, and heard as if over the radio.
The arrngement is vigourous, not maudlin or sentimental.

For your interest Gareth, the coastguard mentioned in my first post went right through WW2 on Black Prince, incuding a run to Murmansk.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Underway (Loss of Penlee lifeboat)
From: Kernow John
Date: 01 Mar 03 - 06:15 PM

Keith
Thanks for the pm linking me to this thread.

Newlyn and Mousehole are famous for their Christmas Light displays, but every 19th of December all lights are turned off in remembrance, It still brings a lump to your throat each year.

John