We were asked to go over to IRELAND to assist some Irish divers who had acquired the contract, to try and find the rest of the gold bullion that was not recovered by the navy in 1952(it was first worked after the first world war) we intended to take the RECOVERY over, but first we went survey the wreck.
We were met by the Irish lads after we came off the ferry, then we drove over the border into Southern Ireland. We stopped at a pub just over the border and had a couple of drinks and a chat with the landlord, then we back on our way.
Later in day i asked the Irish lads if our safety would be OK if we brought the RECOVERY over (considering that gold was involved) he replied by saying that they had been in touch with the IRA and every thing was OK, they also said that the landlord of the pub we had just been in was a supplier of arms to the IRA.
We went out to the wreck to check it out, but then decided not to take the risk to take the job on.
"SS LUSITANIA"
We received a phone call one day from OCEANEERING Ltd in Glasgow
asking us to meet the directors concerning them chartering to "RECOVERY".We travelled up to Glasgow and discussed terms for them to charter our ship (at £1500 a day for six months each year on a three year contract)
They wanted to charter the RECOVERY to go to the "LUSITANIA" to try and recover the safe from the wreckage, because in the safe is the original manifest of what she was carrying (which was suspected that arms were carried)if it was proved that arms were carried, it would have seriously damaged and embaressed the British Government, the British always denied that it was carrying arms.The Germans had always said that it was a legitimate target because of the arms it was supposed to carry, also it was one of the reasons that the Americans entered the first world war (american passengers had been onboard at the time of its sinking)so if the manifest had been found it would have changed the history books.
The "RECOVERY" had a four point mooring system that could position itself over the wreck, then OCEANEERINGS diver would utilise and use a BIG JIM suit (one atmosphere suit)and guide our grab to the wreckage were the safe was supposed to lay,obviously we were very excited at having a chance of participating in such a venture.Oceaneering also said that their bosses in Texas had approached Hollywood with the intentions of making a big film (with big name stars taking our parts)and that Hollywood were very much interested in making the film if the safe was recovered.
We immediately went back to Hull wondering who would take parts in any film that would be made.We immediately started getting the ship ready for the forthcoming adventure, then we received a telephone call from Oceaneerings solicitors stating that the British Government had refused Oceaneering the contract.
WHAT A BIG DISAPPOINTMENT.
"LUSTANIA"
Another view
Torpedo from U-BOAT striking
ship
Laid in Dock
"LUSTANIA" Sinking
The U-BOAT that sank the
"LUSITANIA"
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