User:Clearaway15

Captain Selby Yetman, Spaniard's Bay, Newfoundland, Canada''' Bold text' '''Captain Selby Yetman was born December 31st, 1897 to Skipper Joseph & Lucinda Yetman, Bryant's Cove, Newfoundland. Captain Yetman was the First Mate on sailing vessel “ Lttle Stefano" which was known as the fastest sailing vessel to have made the transatlantic voyage under sail from England to Newfoundland in about 1929. Captain Yetman married Elizabeth Seymour in Spaniard's Bay Newfoundland where he resided until his demise on December 6, 1968. He had seven sons, Solomon, Frank, Randal, Nigel, Selby Chesley, Captain Al (Ellie) Yetman, and Charles Cron.

Captain Yetman  owned and operated several coastal vessels in which he transported lumber, sand, coal, mail and passengers  primarily to and from Bell Island,  Newfoundland famous for it’s rich deposits of iron ore used for ammunition in the first and second world wars and transported by many  “ore boats.”  The Battles of the Atlantic did  not deter Captain Yetman from continuing his coastal shipping business throughout the Second World War.

His last vessel was the M/V. Carmelite which was built in Placentia Bay. Newfoundland and powered by a 33 HP Kelvin Diesel engine, one of the first such diesel engines used in Newfoundland. The Kelvin Diesel engine distributorship was owned by Captain Scott who became ship wrecked off the coast of Scotland from which he obtained a Distributorship of Kelvin engines.

Captain Yetman was a veteran of WWI  (Royal Navy). His son Solomon was a veteran of WWII. Both father and son became  Presidents of their local  Royal Canadian Legion. Captain Selby was recognized by King George VI   in a personal chat with the King of England  during  a Royal visit in  1939 and again in 1952 by the king’s own daughter,  Queen Elizabeth II  during a second Royal visit in 1953. He felt deeply honoured on both occasions and conveyed to Queen Elizabeth II his pleasure of all the publicity attached to the  honour bestowed on him by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the Second regarding  one distinctive medal he wore that day with his medals.

Throughout the depression years and during the World War II  Captain Yetman continued  with his coastal trade with his family owned MV Clearaway and MV Joseph Patrick in the North Atlantic. He often watched German U-Boats and submarines surface and responded to the waving of hands by the enemy with a wave back as he never felt threatened by their presence.

In retirement he worked long hours for his local Branch of the Canadian and actually trucked a wheel of fortune from town to town to raise money to cover the cost of the erection of   the beautiful marble  War Memorial still standing today in Spaniard’s Bay Newfoundland. In retirement he also fought political battles with signed petitions from residents protesting the incorporation of the Town of Spaniard’s Bay so as to stop the establishment of real estate taxes. Unfortunately for the residents he lost that battle.

Submitted by Capt Al Yetman (son of Capt Selby Yetman) EMAIL: CaptainAlYetman@gmail.com''' 'Bold text'