Twm Pen-Stryd: Welsh sailor’s heroic role in Cospatrick shipwreck

Twm’s heroics began immediately after the fire broke out, manning the water pumps and braving the flames and smoke long after many of his fellow officers had abandoned their posts.

He was finally forced to flee for his life as the blaze became unmanageable – although his actions had allowed dozens to get away.

Of the six lifeboats, four were destroyed in the fire, an overloaded fifth capsized, leaving only one upright and manoeuvrable.

Twm and his two eventual fellow survivors – Second Mate Henry MacDonald and Ordinary Seaman Edward Cotter, just 18 – swam across to right the upturned boat, helping the 62 people who had made it off.

Without food, water and with broken oars, they drifted for 10 days, powerless to respond to the cries for help from those still aboard the stricken Cospatrick.

Second Mate MacDonald was glowing in his praise of Twm at the 1875 inquiry.

“Thomas Lewis gave Peter Cope, the ship’s baker, his dungaree over-trousers, as he was nearly naked, and that was typical of his conduct throughout our ordeal.

“When other men were floundering, he discovered the inner strength to do what was necessary,” he said.

With just a handful still alive, Twm was the first to make the grim suggestion that they had to drink the blood and eat the livers of those who had already died.