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Banner file photos
At a previous memorial for the S-4 the ceremonial wreath is laid at the base of the plaque. |
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The plaque remembering those who served and died on the S-4. |
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A tragedy remembered
80th anniversary of the sinking of the S-4 to be marked with special service
By Melora B. North
Banner Staff
PROVINCETOWN — In 1927 the S-4 Navy submarine collided with a Coast Guard destroyer off the shores of Provincetown while assigned to routine duty. The cries of the men were heard through the tapping of Morse code as they prepared to meet their demise.
“Is there no hope?” they asked. And then their final message, “We understand.”
The sub went silent. Forty submariners were sacrificed to a watery trap deep in the belly of the bay, gone but most certainly not forgotten. In fact, the memory of these brave men is honored each Sunday at the Episcopal Church of St. Mary of the Harbor in Provincetown, with church members singing the Navy Hymn during services. This Sunday, a commemorative 80th anniversary service will be held beginning at 10 a.m.
In the garden at the church a driftwood cross is mounted with a memorial plaque listing the names of the departed. Recently, Harwich resident David Zeni, who is writing a book on the S-4, discovered that one name had been omitted from the plaque, and another logged in twice. Determined to solve the mystery of the missing name, the author double-checked naval records and found that one Henry H. Brown was the 40th submariner. Traveling to Brown’s last known address, in Georgia, Zeni found Brown’s grave and confirmed his suspicions — Brown was indeed the missing submariner. In an effort to correct history, Brown’s name has now been added to the plaque, which will be presented this Sunday when the remembrance is held.
In attendance for the ceremony will be Capt. T. Randy Cash, director of the Navy Chaplains School, who will represent the U.S. Navy when he is the guest preacher for the worship service followed by a memorial service. Joining the congregation this Sunday will be Brown’s relative Marianne Busbee, who will be flying in from Georgia to attend the special anniversary.
Following the tragic accident, the S-4 was salvaged and towed to the Boston Navy Yard where it was repaired and returned to active duty a year later. For five more years the submarine was used as a rescue and salvage test ship. In 1933 she was decommissioned, but her memory will always live on in Provincetown where the neighbors still mourn the tragic accident.
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Dec 13th, 2007