Porthleven Museum - Our History

Additional contribution from Neile Hawke extending our archives for the Strike family.

Three Porthleven Heroes

Captain Hannibal Strike

Captain Edward Carter Strike

Captain Thomas Strike DSC

Edward Carter Strike first went to sea with his elder brother, Hannibal, in about 1878 on a passage from Falmouth to Cadiz and thence to the Rio Grande: Edward was listed as a 17 year old able seaman. Remarkably the young man’s life was spared when, in heavy weather, he was swept from the fore lower yard into the sea. It was the quick thinking of Hannibal that saved Edward’s life as he threw the end of the mizzen halyard to his brother who was hauled aboard to safety. However, Hannibal was unable to save another crewman several years later when he was master of the Porthleven-owned schooner ‘Wideawake’. The Falmouth Packet newspaper had received a telegram from Captain Strike, then at Dundee with his ship. It was reported that the crewman, John Rowe Eddy, had been knocked overboard by the main boom and was drowned. The newspaper reported that “…although the hatch and ladder were thrown to him…the poor chap sang out ‘all right’, but before the boat could get to his assistance he had sunk.”

Eventually Edward Strike moved from sail and joined the Hain Line of St Ives and by 1904 had his first command, the 3066 ton Trevelyn. After three more commands Edward Strike was appointed master of the 4198 ton Hain freighter Trematon in 1914. While on passage from Karachi to London with a cargo of grain the ship was sunk on January 20, 1916 after enduring nearly three hours of shelling from a German submarine. After the ship was abandoned officers and crew took to the ship’s boats until they were rescued and taken to Malta aboard the destroyer HMS Rifleman. By July 1916 Edward was back in command in the first of five commands leading to his retirement, in December 1922.

Five years after retirement Edward was driving his Armstrong Siddley car in Morrab Road, Penzance when he had the misfortune to mount the pavement, colliding with a lamp standard. The matter was reported by The Cornishman newspaper on December 14, 1927, referring to “Mr Edward Carter Strike of Parc-an-Cairn, Porthleven”. The newspaper went on to report that the vehicle received extensive damage to the bonnet and front axle before being taken to Trelawney Garage.  

Thomas Strike, like his brother Edward, had an equally successful career with the Hain Line. A first command – from April 1913 – was in the 4163 freighter Treverbyn. In January 1914 Thomas was appointed master of the Treloske. Towards the end of August 1917 while on passage from Cardiff to Spezia with coal the ship was twice attacked by submarines and on each occasion Thomas Strike managed to shake them off. However, on August 29, 1917 the Treloske encountered U-93 at night, 145 miles off Cape Finisterre. For two hours the Treloske kept U-93 at bay with gunfire on a zig-zagging course, only succumbing when the U-boat got into a position to fire a torpedo which sent the freighter to the bottom. One crew member was lost but the survivors were rescued by the destroyer Hydra and landed at Lisbon. For his act of bravery and valour Thomas Strike was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross “…in recognition of zeal and devotion to duty in carrying on the trade of the country during the war”. Thomas Strike resumed command at the end of July 1918, one of three commands before retirement in March 1923.

The Western Mail on January 22, 1918 carried a report referring to the award,
adding that although a native of Porthleven Captain Strike was resident in the
city of Cardiff. The DSC was bestowed by the King at Buckingham Palace, personally congratulating Captain Strike upon his exploit. "Preserving the modesty and reticence of the hero, Captain Strike could not be induced by a Western Mail representative to relate his experiences at sea."