Not much is known on the trawler JEANNETTE.
Built as a side-trawler by De la Brosse & Fouche at Prairie-au-Duc, Nantes, France for Société Générale d’Armement, France
Launched as the JEANNETTE.
Tonnage 273 gross, dim. 42.6 (bpp) x 6.7m.
One triple expansion steam engine, ?hp
Completed 1906.
Most probably used for the cod fishery at the Grand Banks off Newfoundland.
06 August 1914 she left from St Pierre bound for Brest, with on board 32 mobilised men under command of Lieut. Benatre. The stamp shows her when she depart from St Pierre.
Then I found that a French trawler under the name JEANNETTE SSY-297 (looks she is then under navy command) was sunk on 04 April 1916 by a submarine. Where is not given.
I got from Mr. Jean-Marie Cureau with thanks for the correction, that this was not correct, she was lost in 1920.
The following comes from Ship Wreck at St Pierre by J,P.Andrieux:
07 April 1920 JEANNETTE sailed from Légué, France for the seasons fishing on the Grand Banks off Newfoundland under command of Captain Jean-Marie Robin and 36 crew.
The Atlantic crossing was going slow due to the bad quality of the coal and strong west and north-west winds.
When reaching the Grand Banks she fished near Whale’s Hole, with three other trawlers, finished fishing on 18 May, where after the JEANNETTE set course for St. Pierre on St Pierre et Miquelon to replenish her coal supply and take on provisions. The following day with dense fog at 09.30 the captain obtained a bearing from the operator of Cape Race. A sounding line was dropt over the side indicating 68 metres of water and the captain concluded that he was seven miles of course, to the north east. Ordering a north east course and later a course of N64W, four additional soundings were taken, the last of which showed only 11.25m water depth. The JEANNETTE changed course and reduced speed to be able to take more frequent soundings – 98 metres, 108 meters, 84 metres. The course was changed to a bearing of N34E. Another sounding at nine in the evening, still in heavy fog indicated a depth of 135 metres and the captain changed course to west, at half speed. The second officer was sent to the bow as a lookout, and with a speed of 4½-5 knots the JEANNETTE crept along.
The captain had ordered another sounding at 09.15 p.m. after which he planned to anchor. At that moment a fog horn was heard, but due to its irregularity the captain believed it to be that of another ship. At the time the fog appeared to be lifting. Ten minutes later the cry came from the second officer ”Full Speed Astern”. He had seen breakers a scant 300 feet away. The engine was reversed, but the vessel’s momentum carried her onto the rocks and within five minutes there was water rising rapidly in the engine room. The chief engineer started the pumps, which worked efficiently, but soon it was apparent that the vessel was sinking rapidly. There was water covering the deck, the engines stopped and orders were given to wear lifejackets. The radio operator signalled SOS and the whistle was fastened to blow continuously, the lifeboats were put over the side. The perilous operation saw two lifeboats successfully launched but the third smashed when it fell. One lifeboat remained along the sheltered side and ignoring the captain’s orders, at around 10 a.m. four crewmen leapt into a small boat and set out for shore through the breakers. The remainder of the crew stayed on board.
The distress signal was heard by the watchman on the Ile aux Vainqueurs. He soon arrived with a lantern and immediately set off to summon help. By 2.30 in the morning a rescue party of some 15 men was on the scene and a heaving line was send ashore which was secured at shore. The crew still on board managed via the rope to climber on shore. At four in the morning, 29 men and the Captain were rescued. The JEANNETTE was lost.
St Pierre et Miquelon 2014 1 Euro, sg?, scott?
Source: Internet and http://www.miramarshipindex.org.nz http://www.saintpierreetmiquelon.net/19 ... jeannette/