+ + +
John is the son of James & Margaret (née Mulligan) Adams of Skerries.
He sailed from an early age, rising to become Master Mariner. He was involved in the coasting trade out of the Dublin ports of Skerries & Ringsend. Capt. Adams crews consisted primarily of Skerries men.
In 1877 he married Annie Gowan, the daughter of Capt. John & Mary Gowan. They made their home at 154 Great Strand Street. Both in their mid 20's at the time, there's no record in later years of children in their home. It's unknown how many, if any, children they had but it's believed they all died in infancy or very early childhood.
In advancing age, yet still needing an income, he did what many older Master Mariners of the time did; he hired himself out as Mate to a younger Captain. At the age of 68, Capt. Adams became Mate Adams on the ship Kangaroo owned by his friend & Skerries neighbor, Capt. Jimmie Mansfield.
The Kangaroo
On June 18, 1917, the Kangaroo was in port for repairs & overhauling. The Captain Jimmie Mansfield, Mate John Adams, Able Seaman Luke Carr and Able Seaman John Ryan, all 4 of Skerries, took her out - either to finish the work up the coast at Skerries Harbour or to check some aspect of her sea worthiness. She was in an advanced state of repair with different planks marked for replacement or repair as well as being in other states of disarray.
With The Great War raging throughout Europe, German submarines were a constant presence in the waters between Ireland and England, attacking British Naval ships and trading vessels. When the Kangaroo was spotted by the the German submarine UC-51 some 20 miles south of Tuskar, off the coast of Wexford and close to the Coningbeg Light Vessel, tragedy ensued.
Believing the Kangaroo to be a British decoy boat on patrol, the German sub pulled up along side, guns drawn, and ordered Jimmie Mansfield & his crew to abandon ship, as she was to be sunk for acting as an enemy decoy. Some type of arguing & yelling took place between Capt. Mansfield & the German Captain, Hans Glaster, as he implored him to spare the ship, that she was an Irish trading vessel, not a British decoy engaged in warfare. (Ireland, under occupation by a foreign power, was not at war with Germany).
At that point something went terribly wrong and the German crew let loose with a barrage of machine gun fire, slaughtering every man aboard Jimmie's ship. The Germans then continued firing into the hull until the Kangaroo began to go down. There were a number of other boats nearby that witnessed the attack.
✞ The Kangaroo and her crew rest off the coast of Wexford to this day.
✞ The Sea Pole Memorial
Skerries, Ireland
95 years after the Kangaroo tragedy, Ireland's largest memorial to her men lost at sea was dedicated in Captain John Adam's home villiage of Skerries. The Skerries Sea Pole Memorial remembers and honors 271 men and ships connected with the Skerries port who have no grave but the sea. The roll call of Skerries men, dedicated by Uachtarán na hÉireann Michael D. Higgins, includes Capt. John Adams, who is listed as Mate John Adams of Kangaroo, age 68, along with;
James Mansfield Master age 51
Luke Carr Able Seaman age 22
John Ryan Able Seaman age 18
Also remembered & honored on the Sea Pole Memorial are Captain Adam's father in-law Master Mariner John Gowan & his wife's uncle Master Mariner Joseph Gowan, both of whom were lost to the sea in separate tragedies.
also:
✞ The Tower Hill Memorial
London, England
In 1928, the crew - Master James Mansfield, Mate John Adams, Able Seaman Luke Carr & Able Seaman John Ryan, were remebered & honored when their names were inscribed on the Tower Hill Memorial to Merchant Seamen, located in London. The Tower Hill Memorial is dedicated to the men of the Fishing Fleets & the Merchant Seamen who died during WW I and have "No Grave But the Sea".
James Mansfield
John Adams
Luke Carr
John Ryan
John is the son of James & Margaret (née Mulligan) Adams of Skerries.
He sailed from an early age, rising to become Master Mariner. He was involved in the coasting trade out of the Dublin ports of Skerries & Ringsend. Capt. Adams crews consisted primarily of Skerries men.
In 1877 he married Annie Gowan, the daughter of Capt. John & Mary Gowan. They made their home at 154 Great Strand Street. Both in their mid 20's at the time, there's no record in later years of children in their home. It's unknown how many, if any, children they had but it's believed they all died in infancy or very early childhood.
In advancing age, yet still needing an income, he did what many older Master Mariners of the time did; he hired himself out as Mate to a younger Captain. At the age of 68, Capt. Adams became Mate Adams on the ship Kangaroo owned by his friend & Skerries neighbor, Capt. Jimmie Mansfield.
The Kangaroo
On June 18, 1917, the Kangaroo was in port for repairs & overhauling. The Captain Jimmie Mansfield, Mate John Adams, Able Seaman Luke Carr and Able Seaman John Ryan, all 4 of Skerries, took her out - either to finish the work up the coast at Skerries Harbour or to check some aspect of her sea worthiness. She was in an advanced state of repair with different planks marked for replacement or repair as well as being in other states of disarray.
With The Great War raging throughout Europe, German submarines were a constant presence in the waters between Ireland and England, attacking British Naval ships and trading vessels. When the Kangaroo was spotted by the the German submarine UC-51 some 20 miles south of Tuskar, off the coast of Wexford and close to the Coningbeg Light Vessel, tragedy ensued.
Believing the Kangaroo to be a British decoy boat on patrol, the German sub pulled up along side, guns drawn, and ordered Jimmie Mansfield & his crew to abandon ship, as she was to be sunk for acting as an enemy decoy. Some type of arguing & yelling took place between Capt. Mansfield & the German Captain, Hans Glaster, as he implored him to spare the ship, that she was an Irish trading vessel, not a British decoy engaged in warfare. (Ireland, under occupation by a foreign power, was not at war with Germany).
At that point something went terribly wrong and the German crew let loose with a barrage of machine gun fire, slaughtering every man aboard Jimmie's ship. The Germans then continued firing into the hull until the Kangaroo began to go down. There were a number of other boats nearby that witnessed the attack.
✞ The Kangaroo and her crew rest off the coast of Wexford to this day.
✞ The Sea Pole Memorial
Skerries, Ireland
95 years after the Kangaroo tragedy, Ireland's largest memorial to her men lost at sea was dedicated in Captain John Adam's home villiage of Skerries. The Skerries Sea Pole Memorial remembers and honors 271 men and ships connected with the Skerries port who have no grave but the sea. The roll call of Skerries men, dedicated by Uachtarán na hÉireann Michael D. Higgins, includes Capt. John Adams, who is listed as Mate John Adams of Kangaroo, age 68, along with;
James Mansfield Master age 51
Luke Carr Able Seaman age 22
John Ryan Able Seaman age 18
Also remembered & honored on the Sea Pole Memorial are Captain Adam's father in-law Master Mariner John Gowan & his wife's uncle Master Mariner Joseph Gowan, both of whom were lost to the sea in separate tragedies.
also:
✞ The Tower Hill Memorial
London, England
In 1928, the crew - Master James Mansfield, Mate John Adams, Able Seaman Luke Carr & Able Seaman John Ryan, were remebered & honored when their names were inscribed on the Tower Hill Memorial to Merchant Seamen, located in London. The Tower Hill Memorial is dedicated to the men of the Fishing Fleets & the Merchant Seamen who died during WW I and have "No Grave But the Sea".
James Mansfield
John Adams
Luke Carr
John Ryan
+ + +
John is the son of James & Margaret (née Mulligan) Adams of Skerries.
He sailed from an early age, rising to become Master Mariner. He was involved in the coasting trade out of the Dublin ports of Skerries & Ringsend. Capt. Adams crews consisted primarily of Skerries men.
In 1877 he married Annie Gowan, the daughter of Capt. John & Mary Gowan. They made their home at 154 Great Strand Street. Both in their mid 20's at the time, there's no record in later years of children in their home. It's unknown how many, if any, children they had but it's believed they all died in infancy or very early childhood.
In advancing age, yet still needing an income, he did what many older Master Mariners of the time did; he hired himself out as Mate to a younger Captain. At the age of 68, Capt. Adams became Mate Adams on the ship Kangaroo owned by his friend & Skerries neighbor, Capt. Jimmie Mansfield.
The Kangaroo
On June 18, 1917, the Kangaroo was in port for repairs & overhauling. The Captain Jimmie Mansfield, Mate John Adams, Able Seaman Luke Carr and Able Seaman John Ryan, all 4 of Skerries, took her out - either to finish the work up the coast at Skerries Harbour or to check some aspect of her sea worthiness. She was in an advanced state of repair with different planks marked for replacement or repair as well as being in other states of disarray.
With The Great War raging throughout Europe, German submarines were a constant presence in the waters between Ireland and England, attacking British Naval ships and trading vessels. When the Kangaroo was spotted by the the German submarine UC-51 some 20 miles south of Tuskar, off the coast of Wexford and close to the Coningbeg Light Vessel, tragedy ensued.
Believing the Kangaroo to be a British decoy boat on patrol, the German sub pulled up along side, guns drawn, and ordered Jimmie Mansfield & his crew to abandon ship, as she was to be sunk for acting as an enemy decoy. Some type of arguing & yelling took place between Capt. Mansfield & the German Captain, Hans Glaster, as he implored him to spare the ship, that she was an Irish trading vessel, not a British decoy engaged in warfare. (Ireland, under occupation by a foreign power, was not at war with Germany).
At that point something went terribly wrong and the German crew let loose with a barrage of machine gun fire, slaughtering every man aboard Jimmie's ship. The Germans then continued firing into the hull until the Kangaroo began to go down. There were a number of other boats nearby that witnessed the attack.
✞ The Kangaroo and her crew rest off the coast of Wexford to this day.
✞ The Sea Pole Memorial
Skerries, Ireland
95 years after the Kangaroo tragedy, Ireland's largest memorial to her men lost at sea was dedicated in Captain John Adam's home villiage of Skerries. The Skerries Sea Pole Memorial remembers and honors 271 men and ships connected with the Skerries port who have no grave but the sea. The roll call of Skerries men, dedicated by Uachtarán na hÉireann Michael D. Higgins, includes Capt. John Adams, who is listed as Mate John Adams of Kangaroo, age 68, along with;
James Mansfield Master age 51
Luke Carr Able Seaman age 22
John Ryan Able Seaman age 18
Also remembered & honored on the Sea Pole Memorial are Captain Adam's father in-law Master Mariner John Gowan & his wife's uncle Master Mariner Joseph Gowan, both of whom were lost to the sea in separate tragedies.
also:
✞ The Tower Hill Memorial
London, England
In 1928, the crew - Master James Mansfield, Mate John Adams, Able Seaman Luke Carr & Able Seaman John Ryan, were remebered & honored when their names were inscribed on the Tower Hill Memorial to Merchant Seamen, located in London. The Tower Hill Memorial is dedicated to the men of the Fishing Fleets & the Merchant Seamen who died during WW I and have "No Grave But the Sea".
James Mansfield
John Adams
Luke Carr
John Ryan
John is the son of James & Margaret (née Mulligan) Adams of Skerries.
He sailed from an early age, rising to become Master Mariner. He was involved in the coasting trade out of the Dublin ports of Skerries & Ringsend. Capt. Adams crews consisted primarily of Skerries men.
In 1877 he married Annie Gowan, the daughter of Capt. John & Mary Gowan. They made their home at 154 Great Strand Street. Both in their mid 20's at the time, there's no record in later years of children in their home. It's unknown how many, if any, children they had but it's believed they all died in infancy or very early childhood.
In advancing age, yet still needing an income, he did what many older Master Mariners of the time did; he hired himself out as Mate to a younger Captain. At the age of 68, Capt. Adams became Mate Adams on the ship Kangaroo owned by his friend & Skerries neighbor, Capt. Jimmie Mansfield.
The Kangaroo
On June 18, 1917, the Kangaroo was in port for repairs & overhauling. The Captain Jimmie Mansfield, Mate John Adams, Able Seaman Luke Carr and Able Seaman John Ryan, all 4 of Skerries, took her out - either to finish the work up the coast at Skerries Harbour or to check some aspect of her sea worthiness. She was in an advanced state of repair with different planks marked for replacement or repair as well as being in other states of disarray.
With The Great War raging throughout Europe, German submarines were a constant presence in the waters between Ireland and England, attacking British Naval ships and trading vessels. When the Kangaroo was spotted by the the German submarine UC-51 some 20 miles south of Tuskar, off the coast of Wexford and close to the Coningbeg Light Vessel, tragedy ensued.
Believing the Kangaroo to be a British decoy boat on patrol, the German sub pulled up along side, guns drawn, and ordered Jimmie Mansfield & his crew to abandon ship, as she was to be sunk for acting as an enemy decoy. Some type of arguing & yelling took place between Capt. Mansfield & the German Captain, Hans Glaster, as he implored him to spare the ship, that she was an Irish trading vessel, not a British decoy engaged in warfare. (Ireland, under occupation by a foreign power, was not at war with Germany).
At that point something went terribly wrong and the German crew let loose with a barrage of machine gun fire, slaughtering every man aboard Jimmie's ship. The Germans then continued firing into the hull until the Kangaroo began to go down. There were a number of other boats nearby that witnessed the attack.
✞ The Kangaroo and her crew rest off the coast of Wexford to this day.
✞ The Sea Pole Memorial
Skerries, Ireland
95 years after the Kangaroo tragedy, Ireland's largest memorial to her men lost at sea was dedicated in Captain John Adam's home villiage of Skerries. The Skerries Sea Pole Memorial remembers and honors 271 men and ships connected with the Skerries port who have no grave but the sea. The roll call of Skerries men, dedicated by Uachtarán na hÉireann Michael D. Higgins, includes Capt. John Adams, who is listed as Mate John Adams of Kangaroo, age 68, along with;
James Mansfield Master age 51
Luke Carr Able Seaman age 22
John Ryan Able Seaman age 18
Also remembered & honored on the Sea Pole Memorial are Captain Adam's father in-law Master Mariner John Gowan & his wife's uncle Master Mariner Joseph Gowan, both of whom were lost to the sea in separate tragedies.
also:
✞ The Tower Hill Memorial
London, England
In 1928, the crew - Master James Mansfield, Mate John Adams, Able Seaman Luke Carr & Able Seaman John Ryan, were remebered & honored when their names were inscribed on the Tower Hill Memorial to Merchant Seamen, located in London. The Tower Hill Memorial is dedicated to the men of the Fishing Fleets & the Merchant Seamen who died during WW I and have "No Grave But the Sea".
James Mansfield
John Adams
Luke Carr
John Ryan
Inscription
the main inscription on the
Sea Pole Memorial reads:
I gCuimhne ar na daoine go léir
a cailleach san Fharraige idir
na Sceirí agus Loch Sionnsigh
the inscription on the individual plate reads:
JOHN ADAMS (MATE) - 58 yrs
of Skerries
18th Jun. 1917
on the Kangaroo of Douglas, died in
submarine attack 20 miles S of Tuskar
(nota bene: The Sea Pole Memorial lists an incorrect age for John Adams. He was 68).
Gravesite Details
LOST AT SEA: Off Wexford on the south east coast of Ireland, near the Coningbeg Light Vessel.
Family Members
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