09/07/2026
● As next Sunday is our National Day of Commemoration held in Kilmainham, perhaps the story about a young 16 year old Patrick Griffin who was a crewmember of the Irish Steam Trawler KOSMOS when the trawler was machine gunned off the coast of Scotland, illustrates the courage of all who served onboard Irish Registered Vessels during the Emergency 1939-1946
● In March 2002, At the request of the Superintendent of the Mercantile Marine Office in Dublin, one was tasked to corroborate the sea service of 16 year old Patrick Griffin from Ringsend to inform a decision on entitlement to an award for service at sea on Irish registered vessels during the Emergency 1939-1946. Patrick aged 16 years showed remarkable courage under fire. This is part of his story:
● The Irish Independent, of October 2nd 1940, records ‘DUBLIN SHIP SWEPT BY BULLETS’, ‘Attack by plane’. The newspaper also informs their readers that Patrick Griffin of 17 Hope Street had a remarkable escape, when the firing started he rose from his bunk in the forecastle and went towards the engine room. That is inaccurate.
● Peter Leadbetter (Master) of the Steam Trawler Kosmos owned by the Dublin Trawling Ice and Cold Storage Company, 8 Cardiff Lane, City of Dublin, in his sworn testimony stated:
● “On Friday the 27th September 1940 at 8.30am he was engaged in fishing when an airplane bearing German markings was observed at a distance of about 300 feet approaching the ship from the stern. The plane passed over the vessel and turned round and coming down to within 100 feet of water and passed the ship on the starboard side and again turned around and flying over the boat opened fire with her machine gun and a small cannon. The deck structure of the boat was damaged in several places as a result of the fire. The crew had taken cover and the deponent who was on the bridge lay down and no one was injured”
● On the 17th December 1940 the Irish Government sent a coded message to the Irish legation in Berlin, asserting Kosmos was plainly marked with Irish colours on each side and was flying the Irish flag along with the instruction to emphasise verbally to the German foreign office that the Kosmos when attacked was engaged in fishing for the Irish market. The Irish legation was also instructed to lodge a protest and ask for acceptance of liability for damage and loss caused.
● Research now indicates the Kosmos may have been attacked by a Junkers 88D, a German aircraft operating out of Buc Airfield near Paris. This type of aeroplane was usually equipped with a defensive armament of three 7.9mm MG machine guns and would have been on a reconnaissance mission in the area of the north western approaches. Irish archive material indicates the damage caused when the Kosmos was raked by machine gun fire was substantial, indeed the crew were very lucky to have survived. The newspaper reports at the time are inaccurate in relation to the role of Patrick Griffin. He was not in his bunk at the time when the German plane attacked as he had already been instructed to go aloft and it was Patrick Griffin who forewarned the crew of the Kosmos of the imminent danger of approaching German Aircraft.
● Note: ("aloft" refers to being high up in the rigging or masts of a ship. This is where a crow's nest is traditionally stationed— usually a barrel-like platform attached to the highest mast so a lookout can spot land, weather changes, or other vessels).
● In December 1950 it was agreed by Government in relation to the award of Mercantile Marine Valour Medals for service on Irish registered vessels during the Emergency 1939-1946 “ that in any case of bravery, death or disablement the full award should be given, even if the duration of service was insufficient to merit the full award”. Patrick Griffin was only a boy of 16. His decisive act in alerting his shipmates of the danger posed by German aircraft enabled the crew of the Kosmos to take cover in time, an action which effectively saved their lives.
● Following this conclusion, a recommendation was submitted by the Superintendent of the Mercantile Marine Office to his superiors in the Department of Marine in which he stated; Quote; “Please see the attached application from Mr Patrick Griffin for an award in respect of his service on Irish registered vessels during the Emergency Years i.e. 3/9/39 to 31/3/46. Also attached is a submission from Mr Mulvany in regard to the application. In normal circumstances Mr Griffin’s service would entitle him to an award of a medal and a certificate. However, consideration should be given to the role played by Mr Griffin while on board the “Kosmos” on 27th September 1940. Mr Mulvany has researched the matter and has established that Mr Griffin played a very significant role in saving the lives of his crewmates when the vessel was attacked by a German warplane. The following is an extract from Mr Mulvany’s submission; “He had been previously instructed to go aloft and it was he who forewarned the crew of the “Kosmos” of the imminent danger of the approaching German Aircraft”. Given the unique circumstances of this case and the age of Mr Griffin (16 years) when he preformed this heroic act I would recommend that the full award be presented to Mr Griffin i.e. medal with three bars as against his normal entitlement of a medal with no bars. Submitted for approval, please, to proceed and inform Mr Griffin that he will receive the full award". End of Quote:
● All those seafarers who served in Irish registered vessels during the Emergency 1939-1946 were heroes. Their service and the sacrifice of those who lost their lives through belligerent action on Irish Registered Vessels deserve to be remembered during our National Commemoration held in July each year.
Peter Mulvany BCL, HDip Arts Admin
Irish Seamen’s Relatives Association (1939-46)
https://www.irishseamensrelativesassociation.ie
