Disembarkation- by Nicky Rossiter (fiction novels to read .txt) 📕

in the event of attack but that such use should not interfere with amenities of the club.

A case in the Wexford Circuit Court in May 1942 illustrates something of the life of a marine widow.

Mrs. Elizabeth Shuddall of Hill Street applied for some of the £600 lodged in court as compensation for the death of her husband in an accident on the London registered ship 'Asherest.' He had been aged 38 and was an Able Seaman earning £15 -12 - 6 per month including food and war risk.

His Lordship allocated £430 as follows £220 to the widow, £20 to John and Charles, £30 to William and

£70 each to Mary-Kate and Francis.

Tonnage at the port again decreased in the year 1941 - 1942. The decrease according to the auditor was in the region of 10,809 tons with receipts down by £318 - 6 - 7 and cargo rates lowered by £278 - 10 - 9.

Considering the prevailing war conditions, the Commissioners were to be congratulated on ending the year with a relatively small deficit.

In July 1942, the local newspaper paid tribute to James J. Stafford. The report described him as a 'big'

man in more than one sense, standing 6 foot 1 in his stocking feet and at 82 years of age, not losing an inch of that stature. He was also referred to as big in achievement during a long and busy life. He was the grandson of an evicted tenant who with little material wealth began work as a clerk in Wexford Dockyard. In those days when work began at 7 a.m. he witnessed the huge sailing fleet of his native town but he was able to realise the future lay in steam and it was into that branch of shipping that he moved. By the outbreak of World War One, his steamship company was sailing to the Black Sea and to Baltic ports.

In the Second World War some of his craft sailed to America for to keep supplies to Ireland running.

Stafford was described as a robust man with a firm face and close cropped white moustache and wrinkles around deep set eyes. The company at that stage was in the capable hands of his 3 sons.

In July 1943, Harbour Commissioners minutes refer to another albeit smaller shipping business, but just as essential.

"An agreement was read from Mr. Elgee, Solicitor, between the Harbour Commissioners and John Murphy 98 (or 198) The Faythe with reference to Ferryboat, the number of passengers to be limited to 12

and a ketch boat to be used as the ferryboat. The Board agreed this to. "

This refers to the years when the nearest bridge across the Slaney was at Carcur and even that was in bad repair with strict traffic regulations.

The impoverished state of Wexford Port in 1944 was the subject of discussion at a meeting of Wexford Corporation, which was attended by a deputation from the Harbour Commissioners comprising of W.V.

Stafford chairman and J.J. Scallan. Under discussion, was the matter of State Aid for the harbour during

'The Emergency.'

Mr. Stafford referred to the lamentable state of the harbour during the previous 3 or 4 years. The dredger had not been working and the channel was in a very bad way. As matters stood the harbour would not be able to take tonnage when supplies became available. Revenue was estimated at £466 for the following year with expense calculated at £2,173. It was agreed that a minimum of £2,173 -10 - 0 would have to be raised by some means to maintain the harbour. It was suggested that the money be got by way of rates with the County Council as well as Corporation joining together.

Ald. Byrne stated that the harbour had been a great source of revenue for the town, while the mayor recalled that Wexford sailors had gone all "over the world and many had achieved prominent positions abroad. The mayor further remarked that Wexford Port was Wexford.

With the ending of the war, the port returned to normal, or as near normal as a declining port could.

Shortly afterwards, the matter of the Crescent again exercised the minds of public representatives. In that year and 4 years later, it was suggested that the Crescent be converted into a swimming pool being drained each night and filled by the incoming morning tide. There is no record of any further action on the proposal.

Meanwhile dredging continued in the constant battle to keep Wexford trading. For the 'umpteenth' time the Harbour Board applied to the Department of Industry and Commerce for a grant to hire a large dredger. It was pointed out that once it had been deepened, their own small dredger could maintain the channels depth.

In November 1949, there were only 5 arrivals at Wexford Port giving a revenue of £89 -19 -1 of which wages took £71 - 4 - 0, such was to be the trend for the following years with arrivals seldom exceeding 15

per month.

On April 1st., 1950 Wexford Quay officially became a main road and thus left the jurisdiction of the Harbour Commissioners and came under control of Wexford County Council.

Throughout the fifties the trade of the port continued to decrease. The trawlers became the predominant vessel on the quays. Wexford sailors were scattered to the shipping companies of the world or else were engaged in the fishing industry. Some of those men donated a statue of Our Lady, Queen of the Sea, to the St. John of God School, the Faythe, in 1954. The statute looks out on the lower harbour area, and perhaps echoes the purpose of the old St. Michaels Church, which their Viking ancestors had viewed as the departed from or arrived at Weissfiord.

Another statue was unveiled at Wexford in 1956. It was a gift to the town from the people of the United States of America and commemorated our contribution to the American Navy. John Barry who was born