Captain dies at Aden

The following story is based upon a real life account written by Forrest Frank based upon a story by Captain Henry Nicholson. These appeared in the Scarborough Daily Post in 1920 as part of the 'Sea Dogs' stories by Forrest Frank.

...We remained at Aden a few days, and whilst there Captain Weelan died. We tried to get a coffin made for him ashore, but could not get one, so John Flinton, the carpenter, took up part of the false floor of the apprentices' deck house, and I helped him to make a coffin out of this, which was well done, well caulked with oakum, and lined with canvas. There was a number of other transports in the roads, and the Captain had a good funeral, no less than sixteen ships' boats escorting the body to the shore. I was left behind as one of the ship keepers, and so did not see where he was buried, a fact I mention because years afterwards, when I was mate of the Aldgate visiting Aden I arranged with my Captain for our carpenter to make a cross and effect any repair to the grave necessary; but though all enquiries were made the burial place could not be found.



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