Friend or Foe 1917 Commemorative Weekend

FRIEND OR FOE 1917

Commemorating U-Boat activity and rescue in Waterford Harbour

Event tickets on sale from July 1st in Dunmore shops
(Bay Cafe & Centra) and outlets in nearby villages.

Reservations to baronyofgaultierhistorical@gmail.com or text/call 0838353673

Barony of Gaultier Historical Society presents 

SEMINAR   EXHIBITION  WALKS  CONCERT

August 4th and 5th
Concert, exhibition & seminar
St. Andrew's Church , Dunmore East

All other events
The Harbour, Dunmore East

Two days commemorating the rescue of Kurt Tebbenjohanns, captain
of the mine laying U-Boat UC44 by three Dunmore men but also
remembering all those who lost their lives in WW1 activity in Dunmore
East waters in1917.

Maritime Heritage Weekend
Dunmore East, Co. Waterford.
/Barony of Gaultier Historical Society

Programme

The rescue a German U-Boat commander by three fishermen from

Dunmore East in August 1917 is the core of a two-day centenary

commemorative event entitled Friend and Foe 1917: U-Boat activity

and rescue in Waterford Harbour. The event takes place in Dunmore

East, County Waterford Ireland on August 4th - 5th, 2017. Kapitan Kurt

Tebbenjohanns, commander of the mine-laying submarine, UC44, the

only survivor of the thirty-man crew was rescued by three young

Dunmore East men, Jack McGrath, Tom Power and his brother, Patsy

Power. These men braved the danger posed by mines that were

known to be lain across the mouth of Waterford Harbour to search for

survivors after they heard the explosion at sea. Friend or foe did not

matter for these young men - they were responding to the age-long

code of the sea – help a fellow sea-man in distress. They searched for

two hours and it was after midnight when they heard a faint cry

through the darkness. Within a short time the survivor was hauled

aboard their small, oared fishing boat and brought to the safety of

Dunmore East.

Friday 4th August

4pm • Commemorative Walk • Dunmore East. A 90 minute walk through the village of Dunmore East recalling the village as it was in 1917 and recounting the story of the rescue of Kapitan Tebbejohanns and the subsequent bringing into Dunmore of UC44 and the fate of her crew.

6 pm St. Andrew’s Church, Dunmore East.

• Opening of the Friend and Foe 1917 Memorial Exhibition • The two-day centenary commemorative event will honour the three

Dunmore men who responded bravely to the universal code of the

sea. In so doing it will honour all those who save lives at sea,

particularly the crews of our RNLI life-boats and air/sea rescue.

It will pay homage to the captain and crew of UC44 and it will remember

with respect all those who lost their lives at sea as result of war action

in Waterford Harbour in that fateful year of 1917, particularly the

crews of the two British trawler/ minesweepers, the George Milbourn and the Loch Eye.

8.30pm • Memorial Concert • A variety programme from the Irish and German traditions. St Andrew’s Church, Dunmore East.

Saturday 5th August

9.30am - 12.30pm • Seminar, Friend and Foe 1917: U-Boat activity and rescue in Waterford Harbour.
The seminar consists of several talks giving findings of the most recent research into the sinking of
UC44 and the rescue of its commander. It provides a context for the war at sea especially U-Boat
activity and mine sweeping operations on the Irish south coast, more particularly in Waterford
Harbour. It considers the salvage operation and the bringing of UC44 into Dunmore East. It also
makes public the fate of the German crew, eighteen of whom were in the submarine when brought into Dunmore.

The second half of the seminar will be a panel discussion and engagement with the audience. Speakers include British naval historian, Mr. Tony Bab BEM, WW1, Maritime and Royal

Navy historian, Roy Stokes, WW1 war at sea historian and author of ‘U-Boat Alley’. Also on the panel will be relatives of the rescuers and other local historians.
2.15pm • Blessing of the Boats • This annual ecumenical event, planned this year to coincide with
Friend and Foe 1917, will take place near the Lighthouse.


2.30pm • Laying of the Wreath at Sea • This will be done within view of the Harbour and will consist
of the annual laying of the wreath for deceased Dunmore fisherman and the formal laying of a wreath
to honour and remember those who died in Waterford Harbour due to war actions in 1917 including
the crews of UC44, and the trawler/ minesweepers George Milbourn and Loch Eye. The Dunmore East Life Boat will carry the wreath accompanied by a small flotilla of fishing boats and leisure craft.

3.15pm • Unveiling of Memorial Seat and Plaque • Dunmore Harbour near Lighthouse.

3.45pm • Musical entertainment & BB Q • hosted by the Dunmore East Lifeboat Service. The Harbour, Dunmore East.

Here is more information on the original event of 100 years ago