More on a Boat Called Henry

Back in March 2009 I posted on the little salvage steamer the Henry Keswick, a boat from the Kong Kong and Whampoa Dock Co. Ltd. I got this note below from Nigel in New Zealand who’s looking for more information and who’s grandfather was the Henry Keswick’s skipper for a time. As the post was a long time ago and as I know many people who read this blog are boat-philes I’m posting here to see what comes out the woodwork in terms of additional info. Here’s Nigel’s message:

“Thanks for finding this image of her, its the first I’ve seen as she was hardly a vessel to grace the pages of any book on ‘real’ ships of note, but she was a worker none-the-less.

No, she made it away from North dock; my grandfather Hugh Hoskyn Williams (Skipper) was her captain when she was captured by the Japs at Corregidor. He sought permission to scuttle her but that was refused, and he was more than annoyed to see his fully equipped salvage tug sail away in Jap hands.

My grandfather died in Los Banos POW camp on the last day of 1944, 6 weeks before the camp was liberated.

So while the Henry Keswick may not have done ‘enough’ honour to its esteemed namesake, for me and my family it is the eternal reminder of those who sailed on her, and died serving her and freedom.

My grandfather’s last command.

I would like to hear from anybody who served with Hugh, either in the war or before. He was x Union Steam Ship Co, then worked for Hong Kong & Wampoa Dock Co, hence his association with the ship. When she was captured she had a scratch crew of mixed nationalities including volunteers from US ships.”