Michael John Neary (abt. 1885 - 1918)

Born about 1885 in Scotland

Ancestors

Died 30 Oct 1918 at about age 33 in Off Cape St. James, British Columbia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Terri Burbank [send private message]

Biography

"Tony" Michael John Neary was 33 years old when he died in a tragic accident aboard the HMCS Galiano during a violent storm off the Cape St. James, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia. He was a telegraph operator with the Royal Navy. His brother, William was also a telegraph operator on another ship. In a strange twist of Naval History, Michael's last transmission asking for help as the Galiano took on water was received by his brother, William on that fateful early morning in October.

"Neary, "Tony" Michael John" Neary was a native of Scotland and for some time was a warrant officer in the Royal Navy. He came to Canada on the delivery voyage to Victoria of Princess Sofia. He joined the Service during the 1911-14 period. At Estevan in 1918. He was the wireless operator in the ill fated FPV Galiano when she took all hands (26 + one passenger) to the bottom after foundering November 1918. The Galiano was making a supply trip to the various lighthouses and had just stopped in at Triangle Island Wireless for passengers and was heading north to Ikeda Wireless. Jack was 33 years old. (Photo from the Daily Colonist 11/18)"

"The fate of HMCS Galiano and those lost with her is a tale of accidents and misfortunes ending in tragedy.

Galiano was short-handed as a result of the Spanish Flu that killed so many who had survived the First World War. Her sister ship Malaspina had been tasked to re-supply West Coast lighthouses and wireless stations, in particular the one on Triangle Island that was running perilously short of fuel. Before Malaspina could sail, however, she crushed her bow on the jetty, creating the cry for Galiano to make up her crew, take on the stores and sail in her stead.

Galiano arrived in a timely fashion at Triangle Island and thus accomplished her first task despite a green crew and a troublesome boiler. At 5 PM on October 29th she set sail, bound for stations in the Queen Charlottes. A southwest gale was brewing and the storm intensified through the night. As the light at Cape St. James on the southern tip of the Queen Charlottes became visible, she transmitted her last message:

"HOLDS FULL OF WATER - SEND HELP"

The message was sent by Galiano's wireless operator Michael Neary, and received by his brother W.C. Neary, one of the operators on Triangle Island. Nothing more was heard.

HMCS Galiano was the only Canadian naval vessel lost in the First World War. She foundered just weeks before the Armistice was declared on November 11, 1918.

Sources

http://www.forposterityssake.ca/Navy/HMCS_GALIANO.htm http://acitygoestowar.ca/records-of-service/?q=neary

http://www.navalandmilitarymuseum.org/archives/articles/ship-histories/hmcs-galiano

http://www.roughradio.ca/staff/l_n_staff.html