Helen Forsey
As the war years approached so did another threat to Newfoundland schooners.
In the early morning hours of Sept 6 1942 the crew of the Helen Forsey was
fired upon by a German U boat #514. Two of the crew was killed while the
remaining four were able to get into a lifeboat and quickly row away. The
submarine, under the command of Capt. Hans-Kurgen Auffermann fired again at
the sinking ship. An officer of the sub asked the survivors to speak to
their Captain. Bill Keating, (my grandfather's brother) quickly replied that
Capt John Ralph had died, thinking they would be fired upon again if it were
known that the Captain had survived. Bill Keating and the remaining crew
survived 13 days in the open boat rowing 300 miles to Bermuda.
