A Chronology of the sea career of Percy Allen Eaddy

Revised 23 May 2006

Introduction

As the author of Hull Down (1933), ’Neath Swaying Spars (1939) and Sails Beneath the Southern Cross (1954), Percy Allen Eaddy (1881-1956) is arguably New Zealand’s most prolific writer of the days of sailing ships on the basis of personal experience.

This manuscript is an expanded by-product of checking some of Eaddy's ships' movements that should be a useful aid to using his books.

Facts included are as correct as far as I have been able to check so far but there are gaps and some inconsistencies in his published record. I would appreciate any help towards filling the gaps and any further corrections with a view to possible publication (eg in NZ Marine News). Information to fill the gaps identified will be much appreciated and duly acknowledged. I acknowledge information from John Wilson of Wellington.

There are few applicable surviving crew lists (notable ones missing are those for the Ilma and the Mary Isabel though the Neptune and the Alexander Craig are quite well covered. Possibly there are crew names on Australian arrival documents that would add some details and possibly resolve the first two inconsistencies. Does anyone know what ship Eaddy returned from the UK on in 1908 after the “Hull Down” voyage to Europe?

Eaddy's writings cover the 1901 to 1908 period fairly comprehensively but there are major gaps later. The record in his books only covers up to 1926 at which time he was still only 44. He died in 1956.

Auckland Harbour Board records held by the NZ National Maritime Museum may more precisely date the maiden voyages of the Eunice in 1902 and the Hero in 1905.

There are three major inconsistencies in Eaddy's books (documented in the chronology):

1. Eaddy says he joined the Hawk for one voyage in early 1904 from the Neptune (which returned to Auckland on 1 February 1904) and then shipped in an inter-colonial barque. That is inconsistent with joining the barquentine Southern Cross in "early 1904" (probably in May which appears to be when Mann took over ownership) on account of rig, unless Southern Cross was converted from barque to barquentine at this time. Other details are compatible.

2. Eaddy is specific that he returned to Sydney from Queensland on Christmas Eve 1906 and then joined the Northern Chief. This is difficult to reconcile with him leaving the St Kilda in May 1907 having completed three round voyages covering six or eight months on the St Kilda.

3. The caption saying he sailed on the Mary Isabel 1907-11 is wrong because he could not have joined her earlier than very late in 1908 or more probably 1909.

I do not have specific confirmation that he ever got his mate's tickets or ever made a second voyage in sail to/from the UK. That he never writes of how he got back from the UK suggests that he returned as passenger or by steam. Checking the issuing of second mate’s certificates in UK is indicated followed by checking Auckland passenger and crew arrival records from one month following last known date in UK to find when and how he returned. An ambiguously worded paragraph in A Maritime Heritage, C. W. Hawkins, Collins, Auckland, 1978, p. 50, implies that Eaddy rose to first mate (Eaddy wrote of his experiences as a first voyager on the ship referred to but I have no independent confirmation that he also made a voyage as mate on the same ship, as Hawkins' wording implies). His appointment as an officer in the Royal Naval Reserve seems consistent with him having earned officer's qualifications in the merchant marine.

Major gaps in Eaddy's accounts of his career are 1912-14, 1919-24 and after 1926. The 1909-1911 period is but weakly covered.

Most dates I have added are from Customs registers which often differ by one day from the arrival or departure dates reported in newspapers but which are the more relevant as far as signing on and discharging crew are concerned.

I have no objection to further circulation of this draft provided my authorship is acknowledged and its draft status is made clear. Acknowledgment will be given for assistance in any published version.

A chronology of the sea career of Percy Allen Eaddy

Jeremy Lowe, Wellington NZ.

Updated 23 May 2006

Biographical introduction

He was born on 6 August 1881 in London and sailed as a child to New Zealand on the Clyde. The Clyde left London on 1 Feb 1883, departed the Channel on 6 Feb 1883 and arrived at Auckland on 30 May 1883 (Comber list). He writes of learning to walk on the voyage (SC p 188). The family settled in Auckland, living at Mission Bay (1890-93) and then St Heliers (Delving into the Past of Auckland's Eastern Suburbs, Elizabeth T. Jackson, 1976, Section 4 p 78). A photograph of Eaddy taken in 1907 faces p 161of SC. He sailed on the scow Orakei in the 1898 Auckland Regatta (NS p 39). There are undated references to sailing on the scow Vindex earlier than the 1919 voyage (NS p 147-61).

His father Charles Ford Eaddy of Frankton Junction, Engineer, owned the scows Dominion (1911-14) and Haere (1914-18) [WATT]. His brother Thomas James Eaddy, Master Mariner, owned the Kiatia (1910-12) and the Kiatere (1913-17) [WATT]. T. J. Eaddy was Master of Kiatere in 1913 (WATT p 327) and the Haere in 1914 (NS p 175).

The name is sometimes misspelled Eady.

Chronology

Sources

BBAO National Archives (Auckland) Customs records

HD Hull Down, Andrew Melrose, London, 1933 (page references to 1955 edition)

NS ’Neath Swaying Spars, Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd, later edition. Originally published 1939.

SC Sails Beneath the Southern Cross, A. H. & A. W. Reed, Wellington, 1954

SS National Archives (Wellington) crew and passenger arrival records mostly on Micro T 5366

WATT Watt's Index of NZ registered ships

1898 sailed on the scow Orakei in the Auckland Regatta (NS p 39).

1901 27 Mar 1901 to 25 January 1902 Ysabel (barquentine) (SC p 62). His first overseas voyage aged 20 after early experience on scow Vixen (SC p 26). Passage Tonga to Auckland in 8 days (SC p 63).

1902 Eunice (schooner) maiden voyage Auckland-Whangarei-Wellington-Dunedin-Parapara-Westport-Kaipara-Auckland (NS pp 60, 129-46). Also made later undated voyages in the Eunice. The Eunice was first registered 14 Mar 1902 [WATT]. The Coronation of Edward VII occurred while the Eunice was at Parapara (NS p 142). Edward VII was actually crowned on 9 August but up until his illness on 24 June it was expected that he would be crowned on 26 June. The wording probably means the August date.

1902 Neptune (barquentine 343 tons): Auckland in ballast to Kaipara then with timber to Sydney (SC p 108) then from Newcastle with coal to Auckland, taking about three months for round trip (SC p 114).

Thames to Adelaide with timber in under three weeks (SC p 114)

Edithburg (South Australia) with salt to Wellington in 35 days (SC p 115)

Kaipara for timber to Australia (SC p 115)

Neptune entered at Auckland on 30 May 1902, 6 October 1902, 26 January 1903, 9 May 1903, 27 July 1903, 1 February 1904 (BBAO 5547).

1904 ("early") to Hawk (scow) from Neptune (NS p 86). Auckland-Tairua-Hokianga with cargo of mill machinery; then to Kaipara for timber for Auckland (NS pp 79-112) after which he shipped on an " inter-colonial barque" (NS p 112) which conflicts with the rig of the Southern Cross (barquentine) unless she was converted at this time..

1904 ("early") Southern Cross (barquentine #98988) just after purchase by Capt Mann from the Melanesian Mission Society (SC p 148). Southern Cross registered in Auckland in February and in May 1904; Mann became Master ?May 1904 [WATT]. 28 days from Auckland to Hokianga to load timber at Kohu Kohu for Sydney returning with coal from Newcastle (SC pp 149-50). Eaddy got typhoid in Newcastle and spent four months recovering in Auckland before joining the Ilma in 1905 (SC p 152). The Southern Cross cleared Auckland for Sydney via Hokianga on 20 May 1904 and via Thames on 31 August. She was entered at Auckland from Newcastle on 22 Aug and 24 Nov 1904 and 20 Feb and 1 May 1905 (BBAO 5547).

1905 ("midwinter") joined Ilma (barquentine) at Kopu (SC p 153). The Ilma cleared Auckland for Sydney via Kopu on 19 September 1905. The only other time she cleared via Kopu in 1905 was 5 January. She cleared via Thames for Sydney on 4 April, 5 July and 13 December 1905 (BBAO 5547). Possibly the 5 July date is the applicable one.

1905 Hero (scow) on maiden voyage to Ngungururu for coal for Auckland (NS pp 162-73). Hero was first registered in October 1905 [WATT].

1906 (16 Feb) joined barque Kathleen Hilda at Auckland which he says was renamed Alexander Craig “a few days later” (SC p 156). However, Watt's Index says that the Kathleen Hilda was renamed Alexander Craig on 26 May 1905. Records show the ship arriving at Auckland under the Kathleen Hilda name on 6 September 1905 (SS 1/110) and arriving at Auckland on 26 January 1906 as the Alexander Craig (SS 1/112). Eaddy is not listed as a crew member in either case. P. A. Eaddy is listed as a crew member when the Alexander Craig arrived on 7 May 1906 (SS 1/113) but not on 7 August 1906 (SS 1/114). Eaddy says Alexander Craig took clay ballast from Auckland to Hokianga to load timber. BBAO 5547 shows Alexander Craig cleared Auckland for Sydney via Hokianga on 22 February 1906 which fits with Eaddy joining on 16 February. Hokianga harbour records show Alexander Craig arrived from Auckland on 3 March and departed for Sydney on 18 March 1906 (Alexander Turnbull Library reference MS COPY MICRO 365). Alexander Craig returned to Auckland on 7 May 1906 (BBAO 5547).

1906 Handa Isle (barquentine) from Turua with timber to Sydney (SC p 120) taking 60 days for the passage (NS p 62). Eaddy discharged in Sydney; the six-months' articles having expired. The Handa Isle cleared Auckland for Sydney via Thames on 16 February, 11 May and 30 August 1906 (BBAO 5547). The 11 May departure fits with the return of the Alexander Craig, the 60 day passage of the Handa Isle and the 4-5 month trip to Queensland. Joining at Turua is not necessarily inconsistent with the ship clearing via Thames.

1906 tin mining in Queensland for 4-5 months returning to Sydney on Christmas Eve (SC p 138).

(Dec) joined Northern Chief at Newcastle (SC p 140).

1907 (May) discharged from St Kilda (barquentine) in Sydney "after three round voyages covering six or eight months" (SC p 160) which conflicts with having joined the Northern Chief in Dec 1906. St Kilda called St Elmo in HD. However, joining at Kaipara and leaving at Sydney implies 2.5 or 3.5 round voyages.

1907 (May) joined ship Carnarvon Bay at Newcastle (SC pp 163-64). (Carnarvon Bay=Cambrian Lass in HD). Passage Newcastle to Valparaiso in 45 days with coal (SC p 173). Spent nearly two months in Valparaiso (HD p 109). Passage Valparaiso to Portland, Oregon in ballast in 45 days (HD p 122)

1908 (2 Jan) Carnarvon Bay departed Astoria with wheat for Europe (HD p 132)

(April) collision with iceberg off Cape Horn with loss of fore yard (SC photo caption p 161)

(June) Carnarvon Bay arrived Queenstown for orders 154 days from Astoria bar (SC p 187, HD p 197); 12 days in Queenstown (HD p 197) then to Hamburg in tow. Eaddy left ship in Hamburg and went to navigation school in London to study for second mate's ticket.

1908-09 returned to NZ on ?????. Possibly qualified as second mate in Britain.

19??-1911 Mary Isabel (barquentine) HD photo caption p 80 says 1907-11, but the 1907 cannot be correct as he was on the Cambrian Bay and in UK.

1914 (Aug) Haere (scow) (NS pp 174-96). Father was registered owner [WATT] and brother was Master (NS p 175). First voyage Auckland-Russell-Nelson with timber and sugar. Nelson with coal for Wanganui but diverted to Wellington because of condition of Wanganui bar. Wellington to Gisborne to load telegraph poles for Tauranga and then returned to Auckland. One or two more voyages in Haere and then all hands enlisted in armed services (NS p 196).

1915 Enlisted 24 May 1915 from address in Ellerslie, Auckland (father resident Frankton Junction). Served as sapper in NZ Field Engineers at Gallipoli (October-December 1915) and in France and Egypt. Brother Wilfred gave occupation as shipwright when signing up. Eaddy gave last occupation as Able Seaman when he enlisted which implies that he did not qualify as second mate though Haere may not have required certificated second mate.

1917 Transferred to Royal Naval Reserve serving with temporary commission as Second Officer, Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service, serving in the North Sea from 18 December 1917 to 5 May 1919 (military records and North Shore Times, 30 May 1956).

1919 delivery voyage of scow Vindex to new Nelson owners (ownership transfer registered June 1919; WATT) plus a few trips around Nelson for new owners (NS p 160).

1919 Gisborne (schooner) delivery trip to new French owners; 31 days to Papeete; returned by steamer (NS p 23). Sale of Gisborne registered on 18 August 1919 [WATT].

1920 The Eaddy brothers built a ship repair slipway on low-lying islands at Whakatane in April 1920. [Reference The Story of the Whakatane Harbour, edited and abridged by Annabel Schuler from a manuscript by Max Avery, Whakatane Historical Society for the Whakatane District Council, 1988, p 79.]

1921 married Dulcie Clark, governess, of Te Kawa (near Te Awamutu). Three daughters to marriage. His occupation given as shipwright. The address for the delivery of his war medals in September 1921 was Whakatane.

1924 Eaddy brothers’ Whakatane slipway offered for sale.

1925 Zingara (scow) a number of passages including one with coal from Whangarei to Gisborne arriving with the General Election due to take place before they sailed again (NS p 212). The 1925 General Election was held on 4 November.

1926 Zingara's last trip to Auckland when sold to southern buyers who re-installed auxiliary power. Eaddy participated in removing Zingara's topmasts at this time (NS pp 34, 206-17). Zingara re-registered at Auckland with engines in September 1926 [WATT]. Eaddy still only aged 44.

1928 Whakatane slipway offered for lease. Not certain whether Eaddy was still a partner at that time. The islands upon which the slipway was built were removed for river management reasons in the 1960’s.

1933 Hull Down published covering 1908 passage from Australia to Hamburg on Carnarvon Bay (named as Cambrian Lass in the book).

1939 ’Neath Swaying Spars first published. Republished 1943 and 1944. ?Reprinted 1955.

1954 Sails Beneath the Southern Cross published (with Carnarvon Bay given its own name).

1956 died at Birkenhead (Auckland) on 18 May; survived by wife and three daughters (North Shore

Times 30 May 1956). His probate gives his occupation as turner.

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