大象传媒

The two survivors of a crew of 45 of the ill-fated steamer Grilhead, which went to her doom off the Spanish Coast in the early hours of December, 2 have just arrived at their homes, bringing a story of the unconquerable spirit of British youth. They are Andrew Storm Nellist (21), youngest son of MR. and Mrs D Nellist and John Coates, a 16 year old boy of Newscastle.
How they saw their ship take it's final plunge, the sea strewn with the mutilated bodies of their shipmates. Their struggles to free themselves from floating wreckage, buffeted about by heavy waves on a raft for 24 hours was described to an Evening Gazette reporter.
Nellist after many thrilling experiences arrived at his home unexpectedly and was joyously greeted by his parents, who had anxiously waited news of hime for several weeks.
The Grilhead was carrying a cargo for Britain when there was a terrific explosion on board and she sank in 10 seconds. We were four and a half hours out of port when there was a bang and it was immediately followed by a heavy explosion. "I was wakened and rushed up to the deck. How I got my lifejacket on I don't know. A number of the crew were killed, and as I struggled for safety the ship began to settle suddenly I felt myself being sucked down with it. Next I saw a gangway floating past and I snatched hold of it, then I saw Coates in the water. A raft was seen and Coates who is a good swimmer got on it, I kept on paddling with the aid of the gangway, and when I got to the raft Coates pulled me on to it.
For 24 hours we tossed about on the raft, time and again our despair turned to Joy when we sighted Spanish fishing ships "we shouted to them and tried to make signals to them, but they either did not see us or refused to come to our aid, we were beginning to lose hope when at last a Spanish vessel picked us up and took us into Melilla.
After a week at Melilla, where we were cared for by the Bristish Consul, we then travelled by aeroplane to Tetuan. Later we journeyed in a car to Tangier, where we received kindness from Dr and Mrs. Dunlop.
It was Nellist's first voyage on the Grilhead, he volunteered for the Merchant Navy 12 months ago, prvious to which he was employed at Messrs. Cochrane's Foundry, Middlesbrough.
Nellist revealed that there were four other Tees-side youths on the ship, and he had the sad duty of informing the parents of three of them since his arrival home that they had been lost.

In memory of my Grandad (Andrew Storm Nellist) x

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