The ship’s captain shot for taking on U-boats

SIR – This week we mark the centenary of the unlawful execution of Captain Charles Fryatt of the Mercantile Marine.

On March 2 1915, Fryatt’s ship, the SS Wrexham, was challenged by a U-boat but he refused to stop. Chased for 40 miles, the Wrexham reached Dutch waters with scorched funnels and the submarine only yards behind.

On March 28, Fryatt had command of the larger SS Brussels. Inbound to Rotterdam, he was challenged to stop by a U-33 but instead tried to ram the submarine, which escaped but was probably damaged. Fryatt was given a gold watch by the Admiralty, and by the Mayor of Harwich.

There was outrage at his “piracy” in Germany. On June 22 1916 the SS Brussels, having escaped a number of ambush attempts, was on passage from Rotterdam to Tilbury when, at around 12.30am, the ship was hemmed in by German destroyers. Being unarmed, Fryatt had to surrender, and the ship and its 45 crew were taken to Bruges and imprisoned. On July 27, after a travesty of a court martial, Fryatt was executed by firing squad, despite being a civilian non-combatant.

On July 7 1919, Fryatt’s body was repatriated by HMS Orpheus to Dover, then by train to Charing Cross. The purple-lined luggage van had been used for Edith Cavell’s coffin, and was later used in 1920 for that of the Unknown Warrior. The next day his coffin was taken on a gun carriage to St Paul’s for the funeral. Hundreds of thousands reportedly lined the streets.

There is a memorial to Fryatt at Liverpool Street Station, while in the Canadian Rockies, Mount Fryatt is near Brussels peak.