THE dramatic rescue of all the crew of a German submarine which was scuttled off Glandore on March 13th 1945 was recalled on Tuesday at the unveiling of a specially commissioned commemorative plaque at the Galley Head Lighthouse complex.

It was the response to flares observed by the men of Look Out Post 27 Galley, who with the aid of Tilley Lamps, guided eleven members of the scuttled German U Boat 260 ashore.

The casualties indicated that several other crew members were still at sea and the Courtmacsherry RNLI successfully rescued the remaining 37 crew off Glandore.

The combined rescues at both Galley Head and Glandore were recalled at the ceremony which was attended by Joachim Becker, the son of Klaus Becker, commander of the sunken U Boat 260, who travelled from Germany to meet and pay special thanks to the relatives of the men, who helped save all 48 German submariners.

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage Deputy Christopher O’Sullivan along with Eimear O’Neill, Municipal District Officer West Cork unveiled the plaque which will be displayed at the entrance to the Galley Head Lighthouse.

He spoke of the significance of Galley Head: ‘It’s a huge honour to be part of this historic and incredible event. Galley Head means so much to so many different people. But, who would have thought that for hundreds and indeed even thousands of people in Germany it means much more.  This whole story of heroics by these incredible people at the Look Out Posts and the Lighthouse people, who risked their lives to save the lives of others. I’m not sure how many descendants there are of the 48 men that were saved, but they must be hundreds.’

‘This is an event that could have disappeared if we didn’t commemorate it, but luckily, we have extraordinary historians, extraordinary descendants of both the lighthouse keepers and those people at look out posts and the men that were rescued on that day. This plaque will remember that event for ever.’

Descendants of volunteer James O'Mahony from Look Out Post 27 Galley (left to right): Moira O'Keefe, Culllen, Siobhán O'Mahony and Kathleen Theresa Courtney, both from Skibbereen at the ceremony at the Galley Head Lighthouse last Tuesday. Photo: Martin Walsh.

Mary Rose McCarthy paid tribute the ad hoc steering group which also includes Gerald Butler, Tim Feen, Donal Hayes, Aoife Feen (local librarian) and Conor Nelligan (Heritage Officer Cork County Council). Ms McCarthy also read out a letter from David Gill, German Ambassador to Ireland.

Joachim Becker, the son of Klaus Becker, who was the commander of the sunken U Boat 260 and who was re-united with a paddle - apparently used by his father to come in with the rescue boat, told The Southern Star, ‘This is a very special time, to give back to the history of my father and what happened here. It is very touching and very special.  This is my very first time in Ireland.

‘I think my father was proud that all the lives were saved but he never told a lot of stories about it, like many at the War, they were all traumatised by it and he didn’t want to talk about what happened at the war,’ he added.

Former lighthouse keeper Gerald Butler said they are commemorating the men, who served here during the Second World War and their task was a very tough one.

‘Klaus Becker scuttled the sub to save his own men, eleven of them climbed the cliff, Joe Byrne was the assistant keeper and he climbed down the cliff and helped to bring them up, brought them into his house gave them tea and coffee and looked after them until the Gardaí came in the morning,’ he said.

‘They were taken away to the Curragh as internees. We are commemorating the rescue and really paying a tribute to the coast watchers of the time. They were in a hut (now a ruin out in the field) and we have to honour them and that is what today is all about.’