H49

HetCdrH49 · Member

RE: H49

Chris · Veteran Member

I think we have been in contact on another website some years ago, I think the trip was with the Beaumont School to Texel Island and you are Dennis Feary, it is good to hear from you,

Kind regards,

Christine

HetCdrH49 · Member

Hello Chris.

As you must know I have researched the H.49 story at length. It was I that organized the party that went to Texel Island, Holland to lay the Wreath on the wreck of H.49.

I know the FULL story of the sinking, having got the story from ; the officer (Baron von Walther & Croneck) / Herr Haider (the sailor that pulled George from the water after the sinking / George himself / Eric Warren (who was on the previous trip / and more.

Have picture of all & such.

Not much time now for more info - just moved home / been abroad / going abroad shortly.

Regards DAF

Chris · Veteran Member

Hi Shane and to our new contact. The story of the sinking and the survival story of my Uncle George is a story we are most proud of. He was a very quiet and reserved man and was dearly loved. I had been researching my father Frederick Oliver and at the same time my Uncle. The internet helped me put the two stories onto the internet where I could as I felt it was a story worth telling. I even contacted an author of sunken subs who had written about H49 and informed him that my Uncle had in fact survived the sinking. Five german trawlers were brought in to sink H49 at any cost. When George popped up the crew wanted to save him as it was felt that the assault had been too intense.

More stories can be found on googling the names and you can see where I have put the story of the two very brave men.

Kind regards,

Christine Frahm (nee Oliver) niece of George Oliver and daughter of Frederick Oliver.

HetCdrH49 · Member

Hello Shane. Thanks for your reply. I am, at the moment in the throes of moving home so time to really `fill in' my info re H49 & George, will take a little time.

I started researching the H49 story in 1983 on learning of the finding of the wreck of H49. It was while researching in the RNSM that I decided to follow up the story and try to find relations of the crew of H49 to inform them of the finding of the wreck. A short ceremony of Remembrance had been held in the Chapel at Gosport of which I did not know. I said I would visit, should they wish all the relations that I found of the crew. I contacted the Hartlepool Courant re info re George Oliver. Apparently they sent out a `Cub reporter' to investigate. She stopped people in the town and enquired re George. After stopping a few people saying `do you know of George, the man that got out of a sunken submarine alive', finally a gentleman (name unknown) said `he is not dead, that is my uncle George, and I saw him in the High Street last week'.

At that my interest intensified. I informed the RNSM of this and contact was made wit the Courant newspaper and the address of George obtained. Within two weeks I was sitting with George in his apartment chatting, and obtaining the story of the sinking (which is/was not true in all aspects).

More of MY stories in future when time permits.

Regards DAF / Het CdrH49

Shane Bywaters · Guru

Hi There HetCdr,

Very pleased that you have found your way to the messageboard here and that you've taken the time to post.

Whilst researching George Oliver I had actually come across you and your use of 'HetCdr' so I am aware of your own personal connection to H49 and also the work you have done over many years in remembrance of H49 and its crew.

Of course you will have discovered the connection here is George Oliver, the sole survivor - his niece and nephew have contributed much to the content.

Hope you have managed to 'find your way around', I think the main areas of content around George, his family and H49 are these:

http://oliverfamilyhistory.activeboard.com/t52770211/george-william-oliver-born-1904-died-1997-sole-survivor-of-s/

http://oliverfamilyhistory.activeboard.com/t51743823/george-william-oliver-born-1881-died-1931-of-studley-road-an/

Much of what we know has been consolidated into this short piece which is on our wider Oliver Family History website:

http://www.oliverfamilyhistory.co.uk/v4/stories/george-oliver-sole-survivor-H49-ww2.htm

Always happy to hear of any additions or corrections, should you spot anything.

If I understand correctly, I believe you met George back in 1984 on a number of occasions? would love to hear of those meetings, who you spoke with, and how you managed to make contact, if you might be happy to share any recollections of the time?

Thanks for now,

Shane

HetCdrH49 · Member

Hello.

Have just been informed of this site - informed of it by Jan Neiwenhuis (sic) of Texel Island, Holland - would that I had known of the site years ago.

Will be looking through the comments as posted. See what interest there still is and try to find `my way around'.

HetCdr