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Incomplete,
but in preparation
- to be integrated with 1914/15 lists when completed
A
A.10,
submarine, 17 March 1917, SW Scotland - A-class,
190/207t, 1905, 2-18in tt, assigned to inshore local
defence 8/14, training role until 1916/17, now paid off,
moored alongside submarine depot ship Pactolus at
Eglinton Dock, Adrossan on Firth of Clyde, no crew on
board, and under "limited" care and maintenance with too
many boats to look after and too few personnel. Water
slowly leaked into ballast tanks, lost buoyancy and
suddenly foundered at 0630. Raised and beached, not
repaired, sold in April 1919 for breaking up
(Cn/D/bw/on)
ABELARD, hired trawler, 24 December 1916, English Channel - 187grt, built 1909, Milford-reg M17, F R Greenish & E Gerrish, requisitioned/hired 8/14 as minesweeper, 1-6pdr, Admiralty No.151, Skipper William Miners RNR. Wrecked in uncertain circumstances, a short distance 'two cables 240degrees from the Breakwater Beacon', Plymouth Breakwater, Devon (wi - in 50.19.53N, 04.08.27W); no lives lost. Masts stood 8 ft above the surface, salvage operations abandoned by 11/1/17 (H/Lr/C/D/dk/wi) ACASTA, destroyer, 22 December 1917, English Channel - K-class, c1,300t, believed Devonport-based 4th DF. Damaged in collision with SS Clan Cameron, possibly assisting her; three Able Seamen killed (Cn/dk/gr) ACCEPTABLE, hired drifter see GERMAN DESTROYER RAID ON DOVER STRAITS, 23 November 1916 ACHATES, destroyer, 17 February 1917, possibly English Channel serving with 4th DF, Portsmouth as of 1 January 1917. In collision, two crew killed, both men commemorated on Chatham Naval Memorial, presumably drowned (dk/pl) ACHATES, destroyer, 16 December 1917 - K-class, c1,300t, Devonport-based 4th DF. Lost bridge and funnel in heavy seas (D/Cn/gr) ACHILLES, cruiser, 16 March 1917, North Sea - German commerce raider Leopard, 4,652grt, ex-British Yarrowdale captured 11/12/16 by raider Moewe, 5-5.9in/4-3.45in/2tt sailed from Germany, sunk in the North Sea near the Faeroes by armoured cruiser Achilles and armed boarding steamer Dundee. Went down with all hands including Dundee's boarding party of one officer and five men. Royal Navy Single Ship Action - Achilles and Dundee v LEOPARD 1917 (dx) ACTION OFF HELIGOLAND BIGHT, 17 November 1917 - In the last action of the Great War involving British and German capital ships, 1st BCS, 1st CS, 1st and 6th LCSs Grand Fleet totalling 5 battlecruisers, 2 light battlecruisers, 8 light cruisers and 19 screening destroyers, supported by 1st BS of 6 battleships with 11 escorting destroyers, sailed to attack German minesweeping forces in the heavily-mined Heligoland Bight. German small ships protected by light cruisers Nurnberg, Pillau, Kφnigsberg, Frankfurt, supported by battleships Kaiser and Kaiserin near Heligoland. The German cruisers were surprised when 1st CS opened fire at 0737, but escaped under heavy smokescreens and the threat to manoeuvre from the minefields. One German trawler stopped at outset and later sunk, three British light cruisers and Koenigsberg damaged in the ensuing chase in around 55N, 06.30E. British ships withdrew just after 1000 when the German battleships came up: CARDIFF, light cruiser,
Ceres-class, 5,020t, 5-6in/2-3in, flagship 6th LCS.
First to be hit at 0850 by light cruiser 5.9in shell
on forecastle, started two fires, then near after
control position and again in a torpedo adjustment
compartment; 5 ratings killed, two DOW
(Rn/Cn/D/dk/dx/nb);
CALYPSO, light cruiser, Caledon-class, 4,950t, 5-6in/2-3in, 6th LCS, Capt H Edwards. Hit at 0940 by 5.9in shell which penetrated upper conning tower before bursting, Capt Edwards mortally wounded on bridge, others in vicinity killed - in some accounts "entire bridge personnel killed", navigator unconscious and gunnery officer took over command, rate of firing slowed down; 1 officer, 8 ratings ratings killed, one more DOW (Rn/Cn/D/dk/dx/nb/nh); CALEDON, light cruiser, Caledon-class, 4,950t, 5-6in/2-3in, broad pendant 1st LCS, Cdre Cowan. Hit on waterline at 0950 by 12in shell from opening salvo of the two German battleships when they arrived, but according to the Official History fortunately did no damage; Bennett quotes Cdre Cowan as saying she got such a punch in the ribs... I thought she was going to drop in halves. One of her guns also hit, probably earlier by a light cruiser shell, the whole crew killed or wounded including rammer O/S Carless aged 21, mortally wounded in the stomach, he continued serving his gun and clearing away casualties, collapsed then recovered, cheered on new guns crew and shortly died; 4 ratings killed, one DOW. Ordinary Seaman John Henry Carless posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross (Rn/Cn/D/dk/dx/nb/vc) ACTIVE, scout cruiser, 14 September 1917, Dover Straits - Active-class, 3,440t, was 4th DF leader, Portsmouth, now believed Dover Patrol, later based at Queenstown (Cobh). In collision with British SS Ousel, 1,284grt, 1?m off E entrance to Dover Harbour, vessel sank with five crew drowned (Cn/D/dq/gr/wi) ACTIVE III, hired drifter, 15 October 1917, St George's Channel - 81grt, built 1907, Banff-reg BF.771, W Barclay of Dundee, hired 4/15 as net drifter, 1-3pdr, Admiralty No.2486, based at Milford Haven (un minesweeping), 10 crew, Skipper Alexander Smith RNR. With group of eight trawlers and drifters in Dale Bay during the night, sailed at 0830 to patrol, when Active was mined, probably laid by UC.51 (Hans Galster) the day before. She blew up and sank off St Ann's Head, entrance to Milford Haven (He 2 1/2 miles NW of Skokholm Island; un between Grassholm and Skokham; wi - armed patrol vessel, lost in 51.40N 05.10W); 1 officer, 9 ratings lost, no survivors (H/L/C/D/He/dk/ps/un/wi; ADM.137/678; ADM.137/3268) ACTON, Q-ship, 20 August 1917, Bay of Biscay - UC.72 sunk, Acton not damaged. According to U-boat.net, UC.72 survived this encounter but was mined in the Dover Straits returning to base, possibly 24 August (dx/un) ADAMTON, Admiralty collier, 8 April 1916, Atlantic off W Scotland - 2,304grt, built 1904, Cardiff-reg, Seville & United Kingdom Carrying, Mr W Bartlett, Scapa Flow for Barry in ballast. Captured by U.22 (Bruno Hoppe), shelled and sunk 15 miles S of Skerryvore LH, W of Isle of Mull (L - 18 miles S by E1/2E of Barra Head, Outer Hebrides; wi - 17 miles NW of Skerryvore, in 56.32.30N, 07.26.30W); one man lost (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) ADEQUATE, hired motor drifter, 2 December 1916, Shetlands - c90grt, built 1903 (D - 41grt), Wick-reg WK109, hired 11/14 as harbour tender or coastal service craft, Adty Motor Boat No.158, harbour tender at Lerwick. In collision with armed drifter Emily Reaich (83grt), sank three cables SE off Kirkabista Light, Bressay island in 27 fathoms; no lives lost (H/C/D/He/dk; ADM.137/313) ADRIAN, hired trawler, 13 March 1918, North Sea - 199grt, built 1900, Grimsby-reg GY1185, Allen Steam Fishing, hired 12/14 as minesweeper (wi - as armed patrol trawler), 1-6pdr AA, Admiralty No.820, believed Harwich-based. At anchor off Harwich. Run down in thick fog by SS Chyebassa, foundered off Harwich, Essex (wi - in 51.54N, 01.20E; He - about two cables from 'O' buoy in the war channel); no lives lost (H/Lr/C/He/D/dk/sc/wi; ADM.1/8496/190) ADRIATIC, Admiralty chartered collier, 31 October 1916, possibly North Atlantic - 3,028grt, built 1904, Hull-reg, W H Cockerline, sailed Newport 31st for Marseilles with coal, went missing, posted by Lloyds 7/3/17. On or after 31st - Lost without trace and with all hands. Note: assuming she would have been reported passing Gibraltar, possibly went down in Atlantic (H/L/Lr/dk; Casualty list, dated 31st 2 naval ratings only) AGAMEMNON, battleship see SUPERB, dreadnought, 13 November 1918, Turkish Surrender AGILE, hired trawler, 27 April 1917, North Sea - 246grt, built 1907, Grimsby-reg GY263, W Grant, hired 12/14 as minesweeper, Admiralty No.697, believed Harwich-based, Skipper George Rushton RNR. Division of seven trawlers clearing field laid east of Sunk LV, completed one sweep and division reversed course, preparing to stream wires. Mined at 1020, laid by UC.11 (Benno von Ditfurth), sank rapidly after large explosion off Sunk Head LV, off Harwich (wi - in 51.54N 01.20E); 3 ratings lost (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/sc/un/wi; ADM.137/3230) AIVERN, hired drifter, 8 February 1917, English Channel - 72grt, built 1910, Inverness-reg INS325, hired 4/15 as net drifter, Admiralty No.1802, Skipper Alexander Stewart RNR. One of nine drifters returning home from Mediterranean, poor weather in western English Channel. Sprang a leak and foundered (He in 48.13N, 06.28N); crew rescued by other drifters, no lives lost (H/D/dk; ADM.137/357) ALABURN, hired drifter - BELGIUM COAST OPERATIONS, 24 April 1916, North Sea ALBACORE, destroyer, 9 March 1917, Orkneys - 440t, 1906. Mined, laid by UC.44 (Kurt Tebbenjohanns) off Kirkwall, damaged; 17 crew killed (D/dk/un) ALBERTA, hired trawler, 14 April 1916, North Sea the Humber minefield laid in August 1914 had continued to exist although parts of it were swept in the spring and early summer of 1916, two Grimsby-reg hired trawlers were lost while sweeping this large enemy minefield, sinking off Grimsby, Lincolnshire (He - 53.45N, 00.51E; wi - in 53.35N, 00.00). The mines had been laid by UC.7 (George Haag): ALBERTA, 209grt, built 1907, GY212, Dominion Steam Fishing, hired 8/14 as minesweeper, Admiralty No.7, Skipper James Sargent DSC RNR. Sweeping mate Orcades went alongside but she too was blown up; 7 ratings lost (H/L/Lr/Mn/C/D/He/dk/sc/un/wi; ADM.1/8454/83); ORCADES, 270grt, built 1911, GY640, Dolphin Steam Fishing, hired 8/14 as minesweeper, Admiralty No.40, 14 crew, Skipper Robert Frost RNR. Skipper and 5 ratings lost (sc - skipper and 11 crew, 2 survivors) (H/L/Lr/MnC/D/He/dk/sc/un/wi; ADM.1/8454/83) ALBYN, paddle minesweeper, 2 September 1917, Dover Straits - Two Dover Patrol paddle minesweepers lying with other minesweepers alongside the quay at Dunkirk damaged in air-raids which lasted for 2-3 hours night of 2nd/3rd. Dunkirk, the main minesweeper base only 12 miles from German lines was subjected to frequent aircraft attacks. A merchantman was also damaged: ALBYN, ex-excursion paddle steamer, 363grt, built 1893, P & A Campbell's White Funnel Fleet, hired 26/5/15, 1-6pdr AA, Admiralty No.587, Lt C King RNR. Took direct hit on stern, after part burned-out and seriously damaged, fire put out with help from other paddle sweepers including Plumpton and Lingfield; captain and 2nd engineer killed, several crew wounded. Towed to the Thames, took 6 months to repair and refit, returned to Dunkirk 1/3/18 (C/Cn/D/ap/dk/do/sc); LINGFIELD, Ascot-class, 810t, 29/4/16, 2-6pdr/2-2pdr. Badly damaged with over 100 holes from machine gun fire; two trimmers killed; X.171, X.173 and X.174, motor lighters, each lost a crew member killed at this time. A petty officer from X.25 DOW on the 7th (C/Cn/D/dk/do/sc) ALFALFA, Admiralty chartered collier, 27 April 1917, Atlantic off SW England - 2,993grt, built 1898, London-reg, Buenos Aires Great Southern Railway, armed, Newport for Malta with coal, originally listed as lost, position not known. Torpedoed and sunk by UB.32 (Max Viebeg), 30 miles SW of Scillies (L/te - in 49.15N, 06.20W), no trace found of her; 30 lives lost including master and two naval seamen (H/L/Lr/dk/ge/te/un) ALLANTON, Admiralty chartered collier, 3 January 1918, Central Mediterranean - 4,253grt, built 1901, T Dixon & Sons, Belfast, armed, sailing Hull to Malta with coal. Torpedoed by UB.50 (Franz Becker) and sunk 20 miles N of Cape Bon, Tunisia (un 37.26N, 11.00E) (H/L/Lr/te/un) ALMANAZORA, armed merchant cruiser, March 1916, Shetlands - 16,034grt, built 1914, hired 23/8/15, 10th CS, entering Swarbacks Minn in a gale. Possibly March - Fouled boom defences, wrapped them round propellers, anchored and managed to clear the "unpleasant tangle", to Liverpool for repairs, "greatly delayed by labour troubles in the shipyards" (D/Mn/bi) ALYSSUM, fleet sweeping sloop see ROSEMARY, fleet sweeping sloop, 4 July 1916, North Sea AMALTHEA, armed yacht see ARAB, destroyer, 4 July 1917, North Sea AMBIENT, Admiralty chartered collier, 12 March 1917, North Sea - 1,517grt, built 1904, Sunderland-reg, Westoll Line, mostly coasting with Welsh and Scottish coals, 19 crew, Mr W Finnie, Sunderland for Dunkirk, in convoy in charge of a pilot. Mined starboard side under No.1 hold at 0840, field laid by UC.4 (Georg Reimarus), sank six minutes later about 7 miles N of Shipwash LV, off Orford Ness, Suffolk (te - 52.08.30N 01.46E; wi - in 52.07.52N, 01.45.42E, also 52.08.15N, 01.45.15E); crew picked up by minesweeper, landed at Lowestoft (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) AMBUSCADE, destroyer see AUSTRALIA, battlecruiser, 22 April 1916, North Sea AMEER, hired trawler, 18 March 1916, North Sea, 216grt, built 1908, Grimsby-reg GY397, E Sleight, hired 8/14 as minesweeper, 1-6pdr, Admiralty No.38, Skipper Frederick Kemp RNR, Harwich-based, attached to Boys Training Establishment HMS Ganges. Mined, laid by UC.7 (Georg Haag), sank at 1520 off Felixstowe, Suffolk (wi - in 51.56.30N, 01.20E); Skipper and 8 ratings lost (He 8 men lost) (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/sc/un/wi; ADM.8451/59) AMITY, drifter see DELIVERER, hired drifter, 3 November 1917, Irish Sea AMPLEFORTH, Admiralty chartered collier, 21 May 1917, Central Mediterranean - 3,873grt, built 1914, Cardiff-reg, Ampleforth SS Co (C Cravos & Co), armed, sailing from Cardiff/Barry for Alexandria with coal and cased aeroplanes. Torpedoed by U.65 (Hermann von Fischel) 15 miles WSW of Gozo Is Light, Malta (un in 36.10N, 13.30E); four crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un) AMPLIFY, hired trawler, 17 January 1917, off W Scotland - 342grt, built 1916, Grimsby-reg GY789, Iceland Steam Fishing & Fish Curing, hired 1915 as minesweeper (D/wi - 2/16; wi - armed patrol trawler), 1-8pdr, Admiralty No.1982, Skipper William Grant RNR. Driven ashore in SE'ly gale, and wrecked at Skeirascape, Castlebay, Barra island (wi - in 56.57N, 07.30W). Salvage attempted but filled with water, heeled to 75 degrees and abandoned as constructive total loss; no lives lost (+Lr/C/D/dk/wi; ADM.137/350; ADM.137/351) AMY, hired trawler, 270grt, 11 April 1917, English Channel - built 1914, (Lr/D/fd - 223grt, built 1905), Fleetwood-reg FD39, J Marr & Son, hired 1915 as minesweeper, Admiralty No.334, Skipper Thomas Dales RNR, sweeping field laid by UC.26. Mined, laid by UC.26 (Matthias Graf von Schmettow), not known when, sank off Havre, Seine Estuary (un 2 miles NE of Whistle buoy in approaches to Havre); Skipper and 8 ratings lost (H/Lr/C/D/dk/fd/un; ADM.137/407) ANNIE SMITH, hired drifter, 9 April 1918, Bristol Channel - 84grt, built 1907, Inverness-reg INS422, hired 4/15 as net drifter, 1-3pdr, Admiralty No.2413, Skipper John Smith RNR. In collision with ss Ballycotton at 3.30pm, sank off Lundy Is, off Devon (wi - in 51.13N, 04.37W; He - about 4 miles SE of Lundy); no lives lost (H/C/D/He/dk/wi; ADM.1/8496/190) ANTHONY HOPE, hired trawler, 16 November 1916, English Channel - 288grt, built 1913, Hull-reg H1006, Newington Steam Trawling, hired 4/15, 1-3pdr, Admiralty No.1380, employed as minesweeper, Lt Herbert Field RNR. Clearing a minefield, mined, laid by UC.26 (Matthias Graf von Schmettow) the day before, sank near Whistle buoy, approaches to Le Havre, Seine Estuary; 2 wireless operators lost (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/hw/un; ADM137/309) ANWOTH, hired trawler, 10 December 1916, possibly North Sea minesweeper. Three men killed and buried on English East coast. Reasons not known, possibly sweeping accident (dk) APPLELEAF, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 10 November 1917, North Sea - Leaf-class, 5,891grt/12,300t, armed, from Invergordon in light condition. Mined off North Suter, entrance to Cromarty Firth, towed in to Invergordon (H/L/D) APHIS, river gunboat - see GRAFTON , bulged cruiser, 30 October 1917, Palestine Campaign APHIS, river gunboat, 4 November 1917, Palestine Campaign - 654t, 1915-16, 2-6in/2-12pdr/6mg, supporting British operations in Sinai near Gaza, river gunboats firing at an observation tower. Nearly hit by a Turkish shell at a maximum range of 12,000yds (Rn/Cn/D) APLEY, hired trawler, 6 December 1917, English Channel - c250grt, built 1908, Neyland Steam Trawling & Fishing, Milford-reg M226, hired 8/14 as minesweeper, 1-3pdr, Admiralty No.143, Lieutenant Frederick William Moody RNR, Minesweeping Officer, Portsmouth Trawlers. With group of trawlers sent to clear newly-discovered mines in the War Channel between Portmouth and Owers LV. Mined at 1125, field laid by UC.71 (Ernst Steindorff), blown up and sank off east end of Isle of Wight (D - off Worthing; He in 50.36N 00.55.30W; wi - SE of Nab LV, in 50.36.59N, 00.56W); 11 crew lost (sc - captain and several crew members killed, only two or three survivors Including Lt Moody) (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/sc/un/wi; ADM.137/636) APPLELEAF, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 10 November 1917, North Sea Leaf-class, 5,891grt/12,300t, armed, from Invergordon in light condition. - Mined off North Suter, entrance to Cromarty Firth, towed in to Invergordon (H/L/D) ARAB, destroyer, 4 July 1917, North Sea - Scandinavian Convoy Attack, sailing from Lerwick. First week of July - U-boat attacked convoy, armed yacht Amalthea and armed whaler Pilot Whale opened fire, destroyer Arab dropped depth charges and submarine driven off. No further attacks on the route until loss of Mary Rose and Strongbow (ap) ARCA, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 2 October 1918, Atlantic off N Ireland - 4,839grt, built 1912, Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co, London-reg, armed, 52 crew, Mr B Wilton, Philadelphia for Portishead with bulk benzine. Torpedoed by U.118 (Herbert Stohwasser), sank 40 miles NW by W of Tory Is, off Co Donegal (L/te/un/wi - in 55.45N, 07.35W); 52 lives lost including master (H/L/Lr/sl/te/un/wi) ARCTIC PRINCE, hired trawler, 15 April 1917, Barents Sea - 194grt, built 1915, North-Shields-reg, Prince Fishing Co, hired 4/15 as minesweeper, sweeping off the NE corner of Ribachi Peninsula, north Russia. Originally listed as mined and damaged in April, reached Kola Inlet, subsequently towed back to England; six crew killed. Uboat.net confirms mine laid by U.75 (Curt Beitzen) off Murmane coast, Arctic Prince damaged on this date (Mn/D/un) ARDANDEARG, Admiralty chartered collier, 14 March 1918, Central Mediterranean - 3,237grt, built 1895, Christian Salvesen & Co, Glasgow-reg, sailing from Malta with government stores and general cargo. Torpedoed by UC.54 (Heinrich XXXXVII (sic) Prinz Reuss), sank 86 miles E1/4N of Malta; master and one crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un) ARDENT, destroyer see AUSTRALIA, battlecruiser, 22 April 1916, North Sea ARETHUSA [01], light cruiser see CROWNSIN, Admiralty trawler, 4 May 1916, Central Mediterranean ARETHUSA [02], light cruiser, 29 January 1916, North Sea - Arethusa-class, broad pendant Harwich Force, next attempt with Vindex to bomb airship bases, Vindex hoisting out seaplanes 20 miles off Ems estuary around 0500. One torpedo grazed the stern of Arethusa or ran under, then a second torpedo missed astern, with the enemy on the alert, the force withdrew again (Rn/Cn/ty) ARGO, Admiralty chartered collier, 24 December 1917, Western Mediterranean - 3,071grt, built 1895, W H Vernall, West Hartlepool, armed, sailing Penarth for Alexandria with coal and general cargo. (te/un - 25th) - torpedoed by U.35 (Lothar von Arnauld de la Periθre), sank 18 miles NW of Cape Tenez, W of Algiers, Algeria (un in 36.42N, 01.01E) (H/L/Lr/te/un) ARLANZA, armed merchant cruiser, 24 June 1917, North Atlantic area - 15,044grt, built 1912, hired 23/3/15, 10th CS. U-boat attack, narrowly missed by torpedo(es) (Mn/D) ARNEWOOD, Admiralty chartered collier, 13 December 1917, off W Scotland - 2,259grt, built 1916, W France, Fenwick & Co, London, armed, from Barry with coal. Mined, laid by U.78 (Otto Drφscher), sank 4 miles ESE of Point of Sleat, Isle of Skye (L - 12 miles ESE of; un in 57.01N, 05.54W, Barrage 56 laid 7 April 1917) (H/L/Lr/te/un) ARTIST, Admiralty chartered collier, 27 January 1917, St George's Channel - 3,570grt, built 1909, Liverpool-reg, Charente SS, armed, 35 crew, Mr G Mills, Newport for Alexandria with coal. Torpedoed by U.55 (Wilhelm Werner), sank 58 miles W1/2S of The Smalls, E of Milford Haven (te/wi - in 51.20N, 07.00W); 35 lives lost including master. Werner was on original British list of war criminals for sinking Artist without warning; progressed post-war as Naval Case No.11 but his whereabouts were unknown and the case did not go to court (+L/Lr/Mn/ge/os/te/un/wi; Casualty list two naval ratings only) ARTOIS, ex-Digby, armed merchant cruiser, 20 January 1916, Shetlands - 3,966grt, built 1913, hired 22/11/14, 10th CS, French-manned since 11/15. Collier went alongside in Swarbacks Minn, holed in port bow with crown of collier's starboard anchor (Mn/D/Cn/bi) ASAMA, Q-ship, 16 July 1917, Atlantic off SW Ireland - special service/submarine decoy/Q-ship, trawler, 284grt, built 1914, Cardiff-reg CF12, Neale & West, Admiralty hired trawler in service as decoy ship from 1/17, 1-3pdr, continued working by her owners on fishing grounds in decoy role, but with naval gun crew. (L - 17th) Captured by U.48 (Karl Edeling), sunk by gunfire 160 miles SW by S of Fastnet Rock, off Co Cork (D - 160 miles SW of; L - fishing 190 miles due W of Lundy Is, off Devon; He - 160 miles W of Fastnet in 48.45N, 10.25W; un armed but not in RN service, also 190 miles due W of Lundy Island); one life lost, two men wounded, survivors rescued by destroyer. Note: listed in Navy section of HMSO as special service ship and in Merchant Shipping as trawler (H/L/Lr/C/Cn/D/qs/un; ADM.137/482) ASHBY, Admiralty collier, 15 February 1916, Atlantic off NW France - 1,947grt, built 1896, West Hartlepool-reg, R Ropner. Wrecked off Ushant (Ashby 1,947grt attacked 24/6/16 - if the same vessel, the attack took place after her loss according to HMSO) (H/Lr) ASPENLEAF, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 30 December 1916, English Channel - ex-Saxol, ex-dummy battleship No.5 Centurion, ex-passenger-cargo steamship Tyrolia, ex-Lake Erie, Canadian Pacific Railway, 7,535/11,850t, armed, Pendant No.Y7.170, Port Arthur for Portsmouth with oil fuel. Mined, laid by UC.16 (Egon von Werner) off Owers LV, damaged, towed into port (H/L/C/D/ed/un) ATTENTIVE, light cruiser see GLORY, battleship, 7 March 1918, Russian Intervention AU FAIT, hired drifter, 25 April 1916, North Sea - 83grt, built 1909, Lowestoft-reg LT364, hired 1/15 as net drifter, Admiralty No.763, Dover Patrol, Skipper Arthur Bridge RNR, with 9th Drifter Division commanded by Cdr Venn, attending the net barrage off Belgian coast that was started on the 24th, at anchor off Raab Bank to SW of Zeebrugge. Three German torpedo boats came out of Zeebrugge to shoot up netted buoys and spotted around 0800 as the early mist cleared. The drifters were chased to the north and then ordered to scatter, Au Fait dropped behind, hit a number of times, stopped and captured (D - sunk) off Zeebrugge; no lives lost, Skipper and crew taken prisoner (H/L/Mn/C/DHe//ap/dk/dq) AUSTRALIA, battlecruiser, 22 April 1916, North Sea - The Admiralty was aware by the 21st that the German High Seas Fleet was preparing to go to sea that same evening and ordered the entire Grand Fleet to sweep towards the Heligoland Bight, the bulk of it under Adm Jellicoe to concentrate the morning of the 22nd east of the Long Forties, 100 miles E of Aberdeen. Adm Beatty's battlecruiser fleet were 40 miles ahead while the Rosyth-based 3rd BS and 3rd CS would be ready to join later if needed. By noon on the 22nd, Adm Jellicoe was informed the Germans were returning to port, but the 4th LCS should sweep to the Skaw supported by the battle fleet, while the battlecruisers were to reach a position 75 miles NW of the Horns Reef by 1800 and cruise off there during the night of the 22nd/23rd. By the time Adm Beatty got to Horns Reef, dense fog had come down and battlecruisers Australia and New Zealand had been in collision. The fog off the Skaw similarly affected the main battle fleet, destroyers Ambuscade, Ardent and Garland were also in collision, subsequently followed by one between a merchantman and dreadnought Neptune. Weather cleared somewhat on the 23rd and the fleet cruised to the west of Little Fisher Bank. Once it had been confirmed the damaged destroyers were safe, the operation was abandoned and Adm Jellicoe headed back for Scapa Flow, especially to allow the destroyers to refuel: AUSTRALIA, was flagship
Royal Australian Navy, now Flagship 2nd BCS and New
Zealand, presented by New Zealand to the Royal Navy,
2nd BCS, both Indefatigable-class, 22,110t,
8-12in/16-4in/3-18in tt. Reported at 1800 on 22nd that
both had been damaged in collision and had to return
to base. Australia missed Battle of Jutland, returned
as Flagship 2nd BCS, New Zealand repaired in time for
Jutland (Rn/Cn/D/gf/gr);
AMBUSCADE, ARDENT,
GARLAND, K-class, c1,300t, 4th DF, with main battle
fleet. In collision about midnight on 22nd off the
Danish coast when the fleet carried out a turn in the
dense fog, Ardent so seriously damaged, she had to be
towed home stern-first, but still ready for Jutland
(Rn/Cn/gf/gr);
NEPTUNE, dreadnought, 22,720t, 10-12in/16-4in/4-3pdr/3-18in tt, 1st BS, with main battlefleet. Neutral merchantman passed through the battle fleet during the fog early on the 23rd, collided with Neptune and did her considerable injury (Cn - not seriously damaged), repaired in time for Jutland (Rn/Cn/D/gf) AUSTRALIA, battle cruiser, 12 December 1917, presumably north British waters or North Sea - Indefatigable-class, 22,110t, 1911, flagship 2nd BCS and Repulse, Renown-class, 8/1/16, 30,830t, 1st BCS, Grand Fleet battlecruisers. In collision, no more details (Cn/gr) AXMINSTER, Admiralty chartered collier, 13 November 1917, North Sea - 1,905grt, built 1881, Capel & Co, London, armed, 22 crew, Mr W Scott, Blythe for Dieppe with coal. Originally believed torpedoed, now confirmed as mined, laid by UC.4 (Walter Schmitz) (master apparently saw conning tower of submarine which probably accounted for the assumption she had been torpedoed), exploded beneath engine-room at 1140, foundered at 1148 off Pakefield Gat, near Lowestoft, Suffolk (L - 2 miles S of Holm Bouy; te/un/wi - in 52.26N, 01.48E); three men in engine space killed by explosion, survivors got away in starboard lifeboat, picked up by minesweeper and landed at Lowestoft (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) B
B.7, submarine, 4 June 1916, Adriatic Sea - B-class, 287/316t, 2-18in tt, trimmed down on the surface 15 miles SW of Pola. Attacked and bombed by Austrian aircraft, some damage, managed to dive out of trouble (Cn/md) B.8 [01], submarine, 28 February 1916, Adriatic Sea - B-class, 287/316t, 2-18in tt, attached to Italian Fleet, returning to Venice from patrol off the Quarnero leading to Fiume. Periscope sighted abaft the beam and five minutes later torpedo came to the surface close by. Austrians made no claim for an attack (Cn/D/md) B.8 [02], submarine, 24 May 1916, Adriatic Sea - B-class, 287/316t, 2-18in tt, attached to Italian Fleet, on patrol off Chioggia, SW of Venice. Austrian U.XI fired a torpedo at 0749 which missed as B.8 dived (Cn/md) B.8 [03], submarine - see B.10, submarine, 9 August 1916, Adriatic Sea B.9, submarine, 29 March 1916, Adriatic Sea - B-class, 287/316t, 2-18in tt, attached to Italian fleet, sailed Venice morning of 29th, trimmed down 15 miles off Pola. Spotted by two Austrian aircraft, bombed and straffed but undamaged, dived but surface ships came up, hunted for same time, finally managed to surface safely and return to Venice (Cn/md) B.10, submarine, 9 August 1916, Adriatic Sea B-class, 287/316t, 1906, 218in tt with 4 torpedoes, 12/6kts, 15 crew. One of a total of six B-boats allocated to British Adriatic Squadron to operate with the Italian submarine service. B.10, Pendant No.I.20, Lt Kenneth Mitchell, returned to Venice after patrol off Pola, tied up alongside Italian cruiser Marco Polo serving as depot ship, undergoing maintenance. Venice raided by 21 Austrian naval seaplanes flying from Trieste and Pola, B.10 hit on port bow at 2230 and sank in shallow water, the first submarine lost to air attack, no lives lost. Raised by Italian divers on 23rd, taken into dry dock for repairs, torpedoes still onboard. On the 31st, workman drilled near a partly full petrol tanks, sparks started a fire and the dock was flooded to put it out, B.10 damaged beyond repair, sold locally for BU (J/C/D/dx - Bombed and sunk while under repair; Cn - while converting to surface patrol boat, but these were not carried out on surviving B-boats until 1917 (H/J/C/Cn/D/He/bw/dk/dx/go/na/on/wi; ADM.137/1227, ADM.137/2126); B.8, lying alongside B.10 was damaged by the explosion, some battery cells cracked (Cn/D/md) B.11, submarine, 17 March 1916, Adriatic Sea - B-class, attached to Italian Fleet, returning to Venice from patrol, had a similar experience to that of B.8 on 28/2/16. Torpedo reported coming to the surface a short distance off the port beam, but no sign of periscope or a submarine. Austrians again made no claim for an attack (Cn/D/md) BACCHANTE, cruiser, 21 February 1917, Irish Sea - Cressy-class, 12,000t, returned from Mediterranean late 1916, serving in Home waters, and Achilles, armoured cruiser, Warrior-class, 13,550t, 2nd CS GF. February - Damaged in collision, no other details. One officer on Bacchante killed (Cn/D/dk/gr) BAKU STANDARD, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 11 February 1918, North Sea - 3,708grt, built 1893, Associated Oil Carriers (J I Jacobs & Co), Swansea-reg, armed, Mr A Torrance, sailing Greenock for Forth with crude oil/fuel oil. Torpedoed by UC.58 (Karl Vesper), sank 5 miles S by W1/2W of Tod Head, S of Stonehaven (L - 7 miles off Gourdon; wi - 4 miles E of Johnshaven, Gourdon, in 56.48.30N, 02.12.48W); 24 crew lost (H/L/Lr/dk/te/un/wi) BALFOUR, hired trawler, 28 November 1917, south east England area - minesweeper, accidental explosion, either off Newhaven or Sheerness, three men killed (dk) BANGARTH, Admiralty chartered collier, 13 December 1917, North Sea - 1,872grt, built 1906, Rea Shipping Co, Liverpool, armed, Mr J Clarkson, Methil for Dunkirk with coal. Torpedoed by UB.34 (Hellmuth von Ruckteschell), sank 13 miles NNE of the Tyne (L/te/un - in 55.14N, 01.23W; wi - in 55.13.44N, 01.19.14W); two crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) BARON AILSA, Admiralty chartered collier, 9 May 1918, St George's Channel - 1,836grt, built 1912, Ardrossan-reg, Kelvin Shipping, armed, Queenstown for Barry with government stores. Torpedoed by UB.72 (Friedrich Traeger), sank 18 miles WNW of The Smalls, W of Milford Haven; 10 crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un) BARON HERRIES, Admiralty store carrier, 22 April 1918, Atlantic off SW England - 1,610grt, built 1907, Ardrossan-reg, Kelvin Shipping, hired 15/8/14 as RFA, armed, Pendant No.8 (D - flotilla supply ship, then collier Y3.105 from February 1916), Lisbon/Huelva for Glasgow with copper ore, cork, fish oil, pyrites, resin. Torpedoed by U.91 (von Glassenapp), sank 43 miles N by W1/2W of Bishop Rock, Scillies (L/te/wi - in 50.27N, 07.06W; wi - but also 43 miles off South Bishop Rock, i.e. off SW Wales); 3 crew killed by the explosion, 2nd officer taken prisoner. Von Glassenapp was on original British list of war criminals for this sinking, case did not go to court (H/L/Lr/C/Cn/D/ge/os/te/un/wi) BARRANCA, Q-ship, 26 April 1917, English Channel - aka Echunga, special service/submarine decoy/Q-ship, cargo ship, 4,124grt, built 1906, Elders & Fyffes, commissioned 6/16-5/17 as decoy ship Q.3 (D - in service 4/16-1/18; qs - to 5/17), c1-4in/2-12pdr. Torpedoed (un not listed) and damaged, towed into Portsmouth. Note: not to be confused with Admiralty oiler Echunga 6,285grt, sunk 5 September 1917 (Lr/C/Cn/D/qs/sk/un) BATOUM, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 19 June 1917, Atlantic off SW Ireland - 4,054grt, built 1893, Associated Oil Carriers (J I Jacobs & Co), Swansea-reg, 1-4.7in QF, 42 crew, Mr E Laidman, sailing New Orleans for Queenstown (Cobh) with petroleum, steaming at 9kts under escort. Torpedoed by U.61 (Victor Dieckmann) abaft engine-room at 0710, engine and boiler-rooms flooded, sank 6 miles S of Fastnet Rock, off Co Cork (wi - in 51.17N, 09.36W); donkeyman killed by torpedo explosion, survivors rescued by escorting US destroyer, landed at Queenstown (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) BATTLE OF JUTLAND A summary of the battle is not included here. Instead only a listing of those British ships lost and damaged. With Naval-History.Net, readers can refer to the following contemporary sources: 1. British Despatches, casualties and honours; 2. "History of the Great War - Naval Operations" by Sir Julian S Corbett and Henry Newbolt, including plans within volume, Volume 3, Spring 1915 to June 1916; 3. "Grand Fleet, 1914-1916 - It's Creation, Development & Work" by Admiral Viscount Jellicoe ; 4. "Germany's High Seas Fleet in the Great War" by Admiral Reinhard Scheer BEACON LIGHT, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 19 February 1918, off NW Scotland - 2,768grt, built 1890, Liverpool-reg, Bear Creek Oil & Shipping Co (C T Bowring & Co), armed, saling Liverpool for Scapa Flow with furnace fuel oil. (un 10 February) - Torpedoed by U.91 (Alfred von Glasenapp), sank 15 miles SE of Butt of Lewis, Outer Hebrides (wi - in 58.27N, 05.48W); 33 lives lost including master, believed all those on board (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) BEAVER, destroyer see VALE OF LEVEN, hired trawler, 10 July 1917, English Channel BECHUANA, Admiralty chartered collier, 4 September 1918, Atlantic - 4,148grt, armed, on Admiralty service from 1915. Attacked by U-boat, two torpedoes missed (H/tl) BEDALE, Admiralty chartered collier, 6 October 1917, St George's Channel - 2,116grt, built 1914, Furness, Withy & Co, West Hartlepool, armed, Mr Woodruff, Cardiff for Berehaven with coal, stores. Torpedoed by U.96 (Heinrich Jess), sank 25 miles SE by S of Mine Head, Co Waterford (wi - 25 miles SE by E of, in 51.43.35N, 07.02W); three crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) BEECHLEAF, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 3 January 1918, Mediterranean - Leaf-class, 5,861grt/12,300t, armed. U-boat attack, torpedo missed (H/D) BEEMAH, Admiralty chartered collier, 27 April 1917, Atlantic off SW England - 4,750grt, built 1914, Whitby-reg, Rowland & Marwood SS Co (Headlam & Rowland), 1-12 pdr, Cardiff for Italy (te - Montevideo) with coal. Torpedoed by UB.32 (Max Viebeg), starboard-side in engine-room, one lifeboat destroyed, radio room out of action, sank within 5min, 30 miles SW by S of Bishop Rock (L - 30 miles SW of Scillies; un/wi - in 49.25N; 06.45W; un also 49.24N, 06.47W); 3rd Engineer and 2 firemen killed by the explosion, survivors found by RN vessel and towed to St Mary's (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) BEGONIA, Admiralty chartered collier, 21 March 1918, Atlantic off SW England - 3,070grt, built 1918, North Shields-reg, Stag Line, armed, Tyne/Plymouth for Salonica with Admiralty cargo. Torpedoed by UB.55 (Ralph Wenninger), sank 44 miles S by W of Wolf Rock, near Lands End; no lives lost (L/te/un - in 49.13N, 05.40W) (H/L/Lr/te/un) BEGONIA, fleet sweeping sloop, 29 March 1916, Atlantic off S Ireland - Azalea-class, 1,200t, on patrol. Torpedoed by U.44 (Paul Wagenfόhr), towed into Queenstown; 2 ratings lost. Reconstructed at Haulbowline to resemble small coaster 1916-17, commissioned 8/17 as Q-ship Q.10 (Cn/D/qs/un) BEGONIA, Q-ship, early October 1917, off English Channel(?) - aka Dolcis, Jessop, special service/submarine decoy/Q-ship, ex-fleet sweeping sloop, Azalea-class, 1,200t, 26/8/15, c2-4.7in/2-3pdr AA, 16kts, c90 crew, Pennant No.T.33, torpedo-damaged and rebuilt 1916-17 as decoy ship Q.10 at Haulbowline to resemble a coaster, recommissioned 9/8/17 (qs - with 3-12pdr/2-3pdr AA), Lt-Cdr Basil Noake. Sailed from Devonport to patrol western approaches to English Channel, went missing in October, believed torpedoed in the Atlantic. (C/Cn/D - 2nd; qs/sk - 6th; ke - 12th; dk - casualties listed on 6th; dx 2 October 1918) - according to Kemp, Begonia was sighted by U.151 (dx - U.141) off Casablanca, dived to avoid detection, came up to periscope depth at what was thought a safe distance, but in fact right under Begonia, which tore away decking and left parts of the Q-ships propeller blades embedded in the casing. Moments later, Begonia stopped, heeled over and blew up, possibly because of water flooding in and exploding the boilers; all 7 officers, 89 ratings lost (He 7 officers, 93 men), no survivors. Hepper discounts her being sunk off the North African coast in action with U.151 as this would have been well out of her patrol area. This incident probably involved destroyer Parthian. As no U-boat claimed her sinking, she may have been mined (H/J/C/Cn/D/He/dk/dx/ge/ke; ADM.137/84) BELGIUM COAST OPERATIONS, 24 April 1916, North Sea - Dover Patrol sailed to lay the first Belgian coast mine and net barrage, between Nieuport and the entrance to the River Scheldt, to restrict the movements of the Flanders UB minelayers. The force included six divisions of net drifters, four large minelayers and escorting destroyers, six minelaying trawlers, two monitors, a division of Harwich Force destroyers and the Flanders coast patrol from Dunkirk. The ships were in place by 0400, and by 0730 had laid a 15 mile double line of mines and 13 miles of mined nets. It was probably around this time drifter Clover Bank was lost. The minelayers returned to port while the drifters and supporting ships watched the nets. The force was attacked by aircraft without result, and then about 1445, three German destroyers were sighted coming out of Zeebrugge. Destroyers Medea, Murray (commanded by naval author Taffrail), Melpomene, Milne chased them and opened fire, but came too close to the shore and were all hit by German shore batteries. Melpomene was stopped by a shell in the engine-room, Milne and Medea took her in tow at which point the German destroyers came out again from under the batteries, Murray engaged them with Medea after the latter had slipped her tow. Then the two monitors came into action and the Germans retired: CLOVER BANK (1) or
Cloverbank, hired drifter, 78grt, built 1912,
Aberdeen-reg A379, hired 1/15 as net drifter, 1-6pdr,
Admiralty No.750, Dover Patrol, Skipper Alonzo
Strowger RNR. A line of nets should have been laid
seaward of a line of mines, but were positioned on the
shoreward side. After shooting her nets, Clover Bank,
the last vessel of her division, sailed the wrong way,
detonated a newly-laid British mine and blew up off
Zeebrugge; Skipper and 17 ratings lost, there were no
survivors (He the 18 men lost included 6 working
onboard from drifter Alaburn) (H/L/Mn/C/D/He/ap/dk/dq;
ADM.1/8454/89);
MILNE, MURRAY, M-class,
c1,100t, 3-4in/2-1pdr pom-pom/4-21in tt, Harwich Force
and MEDEA, MELPOMENE, ex-Greek, Medea-class, c1,200t,
3-4in/4-21in tt, 10th DF Harwich Force, enemy
destroyers sighted at 1445, action started shortly
after and lasted for 40min, ships came within
10,000yds of German shore batteries ranging from 4in
to 12in. Murray hit on forecastle by 6in shell which
passed through the ship's side without exploding, got
clear with the help of a smoke-screen by 1550;
Melpomene hit about 1540 by one of the last 4.1in
shells fired by the destroyers, richochetted into her
without exploding, engine-room flooded, speed dropped;
Milne came up to take Melpomene in tow, but tangled
the cable in one of her own propellers. Murray went
ahead through the mined nets, followed by Melpomene
with Milne on her port side and Medea on the other at
which point the German destroyers came back out from
under their guns, closed to 8,000yds and opened fire.
Murray dropped back to within 6,000yds of them to lay
a smoke screen across the other three destroyers'
sterns, then joined by Medea and assisted by 12in
shellfire from Prince Eugene, drove them away. This
action lasted from 1640 to 1655 and again the shore
batteries opened fire. Murray escaped by zigzagging
and making thick smoke, Medea was hit by one shell on
the quarter-deck, a second close to her funnels, and
then by a third, but continued at full speed and all
were clear in 5 or 6min; the after hit on Medea killed
two men and wounded other shell-handlers. Milne went
into the floating dock in Dover to have the cable
unwound from her port propeller, Murray received a
temporary patch on her bow until the next Chatham
refit, Medea went to Chatham for repairs, and
Melpomene was dry-docked in Dunkirk and patched up
before sailing for an English dockyard (Rn/Cn/D/dd)
BELLVIEW, Admiralty chartered collier, 21 April 1918, Central Mediterranean - 3,567grt, built 1894, Hull-reg, Keighley Shipping, armed, Tyne/Barry for Malta with coal and general cargo. Torpedoed by unknown U-boat (un U.32 (Kurt Albrecht)), sank 16 miles ENE of Cape Bon, Tunisia in 37.13N, 11.21E (H/L/Lr/te/un) BEN HEILEM, hired trawler, 8 October 1917, North Sea - 196grt, c1914, Aberdeen-reg A470, R Irvin & Sons, hired 8/14 as minesweeper, 1-12pdr/1-6pdr AA, Admiralty No.97, Skipper John Henry Lawrence RNR. Ran aground off the Pier, Berwick, England-Scotland border in poor weather (wi - Berwick-upon-Tweed Pier light 0.13 miles 350Ί, in 55.46.01N, 01.59W); no lives lost. Attempts made to salvage her, but had to be abandoned as a wreck because of the weather (H/Lr/C/D/He/dk/wi; ADM.137/456) BEN HOLDEN, hired trawler, 17 April 1917, location not known minesweeper. Mined; one crew killed, commemorated on Chatham Naval Memorial. U-boat.net does not list her as lost to a U-boat mine; she was presumably only damaged as she survived the war (D/dk/un) BEN-MY-CHREE, seaplane carrier, 13 March 1916, Eastern Mediterranean - commissioned 1/15, 3,888t, flagship, East indies & Egypt Seaplane Squadron. Sometime before 13th - Damaged in collision, in dry dock at Suez 13/3-25/4/16 (Cn/D/bt) BEN LAWERS, hired trawler, 9 December 1917, English Channel - 176grt, built 1900, 1-12pdr/1-6pdr, hired 11/14, escorting French cross-Channel coal convoy. Rammed UB.18 just aft of conning tower, sank her in 49.17N, 05.47W, Ben Lawers so badly damaged she was barely able to make port (C/D/dx/ub/un) BENTON CASTLE, hired trawler, 10 November 1916, English Channel - 283grt, built 1914, Swansea-reg SA1, Castle Steam Trawlers, hired 9/15 as patrol sweeper, 1-6pdr, Admiralty No.1972, Lt Frederick Varley RNR, Skipper Alfred Thomas. (wi - 10/11/17) - Mined, laid by UC.17 (Ralph Wenninger) that day, sank off Dartmouth, Devon (wi - in 50.20N, 03.30W); 2 officers and 7 ratings killed, 1 rating died of injuried that day (He 9 men lost) (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/un/wi; ADM.1/8473/264) BERGAMOT, convoy sloop, 13 August 1917, Atlantic off NW Ireland - Anchusa-class built to resemble merchantmen, 1,290t, 5/5/17, 24in/2-12pdr, 17kts, c92 crew, within decoy organisation, believed serving with Grand Fleet, Lt Percy Perkins RNR, only in service for about two months (qs - served as decoy partner with submarine E.48), on patrol in Tory Island approach. Torpedoed by U.84 (Walter Roehr) about 70 miles W of North Ireland (un in 55.13N, 10.17W), panic party sent off, prepared to open fire when submarine surfaced but foundered too quickly in the rough weather; 3 officers, 11 ratings lost (ke - no casualties, 98 survivors) (H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/He/dk/dx/ke/qs/un) BESTWOOD, Admiralty chartered collier, 29 July 1917, St George's Channel - 2,248grt, built 1913, London-reg, W France, Fenwick, 23 crew, Mr F Dyasan, Cardiff for Loch Ewe (wi - Milford Naval Base) with coal and drinking water. In collision with London-reg SS Leander, foundered 12 miles NW of South Bishop Rock, off Pembrokeshire (wi - in 52N, 05.37W); 16 crew lost, including two members of the Royal Marine Light Infantry (H/Lr/dk/wi) BETSY SIM, Admiralty hired motor drifter, 18 July 1917, North Sea - 53grt, built 1902, Fraserburgh-reg FR931, hired 3/17 for local coastal patrol duties, 1-6pdr, Admiralty No.3018. On patrol near Haisborough light vessel. In collision with collier Swansea Vale at 2200, foundered 15 minutes later near Haisborough LV, off Happisburgh, Norfolk (He 52.48.30N, 01.36.30E; in D/wi Light House); no lives lost (H/C/D/dk/wi, ADM137/483, ADM.137/528) BILBROUGH, salvage vessel see RACE FISHER, fleet messenger, 25 March 1919 (sic), Mediterranean BILBSTER, Admiralty chartered collier, 21 November 1917, Atlantic W of NW Spain - 4,478grt, built 1908, Greenock-reg, Bilbster SS. In collision, sank in 43.30N, 13.24W (to the W of Cape Finisterre) (H/Lr) BILSWOOD, Admiralty chartered collier, 12 March 1917, Eastern Mediterranean - 3,097grt, built 1915, Joseph Constantine, armed, Hull/Malta for Alexandria with coal. Mined, laid by U.73 (Gustav Siess), sunk 8 miles NW of Alexandria, Egypt (H/L/te/un) BIRCH, hired trawler, 23 August 1916, North Sea - 215grt, built 1912, Grimsby-reg GY677, W Grant, hired 1914 (D - 2/15) as minesweeper, Admiralty No.1129, Skipper Edward Yallop RNR. With group of minesweepers sweeping War Channel approaches to Lowestoft. Mined at 1600, laid by UC.1 (Kurt Ramien) three days before, broke up and sank off Yarmouth (wi - in 52.35N, 01.54E); 3 ratings lost (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/un/wi; ADM137/3185) BIRCHLEAF, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 23 February 1918, Irish Sea - Leaf-class, 5,873grt or 12,300 tons, built 1916, Shipping Controller (Lane & MacAndrew), London, armed, sailing Milford Haven for Oran in ballast. Torpedoed by U.91 (Alfred von Glassenapp) (un then shelled) in "Irish Channel" (L/un - 20 miles W by N of the Skerries), extensively damaged, arrived Holyhead, beached and salvaged; 3 lives lost, master taken prisoner. Note: area of attack only matches voyage if she was sailing north-about Ireland for the Atlantic. Glassenapp was included on British list of war criminals for this and other attacks, case did not go to court (H/L/D/ge/ms/os/un) BIRCHWOOD, Admiralty collier, 3 January 1918, St George's Channel - 2,756grt, built 1910, Birchwood SS Co (W & W W Constantine), Middlesbrough, armed, Mr G Bamberger, Glasgow for Devonport with coal. Torpedoed by U.61 (Victor Dieckman), sank 25 miles E of Blackwater Bank LV, off Co Wexford (un also 10 miles SE of Enniscorthy, Wexford, wi - in 52.30N, 05.30W) (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) BIRTLEY, Admiralty collier, 4 January 1918, North Sea - 1,438grt, built 1906, Burnett SS Co (Burnett & Co), Newcastle, 1-13pdr, 18 crew, Mr J Wiberg, sailed Dunkirk 1st for Tyne/Blyth in ballast, reported in Yarmouth Roads on 3rd, sailed at daylight next day, went missing, posted by Lloyds 27/1/18 presumed by Admiralty to have been sunk by submarine 8 miles N of Flamborough Head 4 January 1918. Confirmed as torpedoed by UB.38 (Gόnther Bachmann) on 4th (un 5th or late on 4th British Time), sank 8 miles N of Flamborough Head, Yorkshire (wi - in 54.14.40N, 00.08.20W); 18 lives lost including master. Note: reported by Wreck Index that master and pilot of French SS Outreau saw a steamship blow up very close by at 2345 on the 4th, believed to be the Birtley (H/L/Lr/dk/te/un/wi) BLEAMOOR, Admiralty chartered collier, 27 November 1917, English Channel - 3755grt, built 1902, Bombay & Persia Steam Navigation Co, Bombay, 1-12pdr, 69 crew, Hull for Falmouth with 5,300t coal, one passenger. Torpedoed by UB.80 (Max Viebeg) in No.1 hold at 1245, sank at 1300, 4 miles SSE of Berry Head, Devon (wi - in 50.22.43N, 03.25.14W); purser and 7 Lascars lost, survivors unable to get boats away but picked up by patrol vessels and landed at Torquay (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) BLONDE, scout cruiser, 10 August 1916, Orkneys - Blonde-class, 3,850t, 10-4in/4-3pdr/2-21in tt, attached to Grand Fleet BS's, sailing in thick weather. Went ashore on Lowther Rock, Pentland Firth, lightened and towed off next day considerably damaged (Cn/gf/gr) BLUEBELL, fleet sweeping sloop, 23 April 1916, Irish waters during the Irish Easter Rebellion, Bluebell intercepted German auxiliary Libau, disguised as Norwegian tramp SS Aud carrying arms in support of the Irish rebellion. Aud scuttled off Queenstown BOLDWELL, Admiralty chartered collier, 27 May 1917, Central Mediterranean - 3,118grt, built 1901, London-reg, Byron SS Co (M Embiricos), armed, sailing Tyne for Alexandria with coal. Torpedoed by UC.20 (Hans Adalbert von der Lόhe), sank 35 miles NE of Linosa island, off Tunisia (L - about 80 miles W of Malta; te/un - in 36.12N, 13.24E); three crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un) BONA DEA, hired trawler see MEDIATOR, hired trawler, 2 January 1916, North Sea BOSCASTLE, Admiralty chartered collier, 7 April 1918, St George's Channel - 2,346grt, built 1912, West Hartlepool-reg, Hatfield SS, armed, Barry for Scapa Flow with coal. Torpedoed by U.111 (Hans Beyersdorff), sank 14 miles NNW of Strumble Head, Pembrokeshire (L - 12 miles NNE of); 18 crew lost including master (H/L/Lr/te/un) BOSCAWEN, Admiralty chartered collier, 21 August 1918, St George's Channel - 1,936grt, built 1909, Cardiff-reg, Cornish Shipping, armed, Mr J Edwards, Birkenhead for Barry in ballast for orders. Torpedoed by UB.92 (Johannes Paul Muller), sank 23 miles WNW of Bardsey Isle, off Caernarvonshire (L/te/un - in 52.46N, 05.24W; wi - off Arklow Bank, in 52.46N, 05.56W); one crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) BOTHA, destroyer see EREBUS, monitor, 28 October 1917, Dover Straits BOTHA, flotilla leader, 21 March 1918, Dover Straits - Allied and German Destroyer Action off Dunkirk. Expecting a raid on the Dunkirk area by the German Flanders Fotilla, [1] flotilla leader Swift, destroyers Matchless, Myngs, North Star were on patrol in the Dover Straits, [2] destroyers Botha, Morris and French Capitaine Mehl, Bouclier, Magon were ready in the Dunkirk Roads along with monitor General Crauford and a number of CMBs including CMB.20, and [3] monitors Terror, M.25 and French destroyer Oriflamme lay off the beaches of La Panne. When the enemy force was reported - five destroyers and two small A-class TB's, Terror [3] opened fire at 0355 and the Dunkirk Roads destroyers [2] got under way at 0405, CMB.20 was also ordered to head north and attack the German ships as they returned to base. Botha's division missed the German destroyers which apparently left the two small TB's behind. After 10min firing Botha was hit in No.2 stokehold and although her speed began to drop, was able to ram and cut A.19 in two. Botha was now partly hidden from her division by the German smokescreen, Capitaine Mehl fired a torpedo which hit her in the after boiler-room, bringing her to a stop. The French destroyers and possibly Morris then sank A7, and around 0500, CMB.20 attacked all five German destroyers claiming a hit on the fourth one; BOTHA, flotilla leader, Faulknor-class, 2,000t, 6-4in/1-2pdr/4-21in tt, 6th DF Dover Patrol, Cdr R Rede. Taken in tow by Morris for Dunkirk screened by the French destroyers; 13 ratings lost (Rn/Cn/D/dd/dk/dq/dx) BOUNTEOUS, Admiralty hired motor drifter, 4 December 1917, off W Scotland - 63grt, built 1903, Banff-reg BF1217, hired 1914 (D - 9/17), harbour tender or coastal service craft, Admiralty No.1682. Ran aground on North Shore, Rhum island, Inner Hebrides and broke up over next two days; no lives lost (H/C/D/Hedk; ADM.137/636) BOY HAROLD, hired drifter, 3 March 1916, Adriatic Sea - 74grt, built 1911, Lowestoft-reg LT1127, hired 10/15 as net drifter, Admiralty No.2708, Skipper William Wood RNR, with the Durazzo evacuation over, drifters now back tending their nets between Cape Otranto and Sasseno Is. Returning to Brindisi with group of other drifters, mined, laid by UC.12 (Eberhard Frφhner) the day before, sank off Brindisi (He - 3 miles off Cape Pedagne light); Skipper and 6 ratings lost (H/L/C/D/He/ap/dk/un; ADM.137/3160, ADM.1/8449/46) BRACKLYN, hired trawler, 11 May 1917, North Sea - 303grt, built 1914, Fleetwood-reg FD2, Brooklyn Fishing Co (T Cardwell), hired 1916 as minesweeper (D - 12/14; wi - as armed patrol vessel), Admiralty No.667, Skipper Radmore, flagship of Lt Arthur Rudd RNR, commanding group of Lowestoft-based minesweeping trawlers, sweeping for mines in Smiths Knoll section starting at dark on 10th, recommenced sweeping in the morning, six trawlers in 3 pairs Bracklyn with Yucca. Came up to buoy marking Cross Sand/Smiths Knoll Channel and mined at 1350 under her bows, broke up and disappeared off Great Yarmouth, Norfolk (He/un - 52.42N, 02.10E; wi - in 52.35N, 01.54E), mine laid by UC.1 (Walter Warzecha) three days earlier; both officers and 8 ratings lost, 4 survivors (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/ft/sc/un/wi; ADM.137/3320) BRADFORD, hired trawler, 28 October 1916, Atlantic off S Ireland - 163grt, built 1896, Grimsby-reg GY132, Consolidated Steam Fishing & Ice, hired 1915 (D - 11/14) as patrol vessel, 1-6pdr, Admiralty No.829, 12 crew, Skipper William Bruce RNR, believed Queenstown-based, took part in rescuing Lusitania survivors in 1915, on patrol. (dk - casualties dated lost 26th) last seen at 1640 on the 26th, disappeared and believed foundered in gale off Old Head of Kinsale, Co Cork, presumed on the 28th (wi - in 51.30N, 08.30W); Skipper and 11 ratings lost, no survivors (H/Lr/C/D/He/ap/dk/wi; ADM.137/455) BRIARLEAF, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 17 October 1918, Atlantic - Leaf-class, 5,822grt/12,300t, armed. Torpedo and gun attack by U-boat, torpedo exploded prematurely, ship saved by own gunfire (H/D) BRITANNIA, Admiralty hired screw tug, 5 November 1917, English Channel identified as Britisher, ex-Britannia, 1902, 80grt, purchased 1916. Stranded and holed at Dungeness, took 11 days to get holes stopped and her down the beach, refloated, brought to Dover by Dover salvage tugs (D/dp/gr) BRITISH STAR [01], Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 26 March 1918, North Sea - ex-Olynthus, war construction, 6,888grt, armed, from North Shields in ballast, in convoy. Torpedoed and damaged by UB.78 (Arthur Stossberg) 1 1/2m E of Tyne, arrived Shields (H/L/D/bp/un) BRITISH STAR [02], Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 1 September 1918, Western Atlantic - war construction, 6,976grt, armed. Chased by U-boat, escaped (H/D/bp) BRITISH SUN, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 1 May 1917, Central Mediterranean - 5,565grt, built 1909, Liverpool-reg, British Sun Co (William Smellie), armed, sailing Abadan for Malta with 7,000t fuel oil, escorted by three armed trawlers, had to reduce speed to 6.5kts for escort to keep up. Torpedoed by UC.37 (un UB.43 (Horst Obermόller)), oil set ablaze on water, sank 230 miles ESE of Malta (L - 232 miles E of) (H/L/Lr/ge/te/un) BRITISH VISCOUNT, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 23 February 1918, Irish Sea - 3,287grt, built 1889, Petroleum SS Co (British Tanker Co), London-reg, armed Mr J Roberts, Liverpool for Queenstown with fuel oil. Torpedoed by U.91 (Alfred von Glassenapp), sank 12 miles NW of Skerries, near Holyhead, Anglesey (un 12 miles N by W1/2W of; wi - in 53.30N, 04.55W); 6 crew lost (H/L/Lr/bp/te/un/wi) BRITISHER, Admiralty hired screw tug see BRITANNIA, Admiralty hired screw tug, 5 November 1917, English Channel BROOMHILL, Admiralty chartered collier, 10 May 1917, English Channel - 1,392grt, built 1909, Newcastle-reg, Broomhill Collieries, 18 crew, Mr G Wright, sailing Penarth for Sheerness with 1,700t coal. Gun attack from 800yds at 0330 by UC.61 (Georg Gerth), ship went to full speed but hit by about 12 shells, stopped and boarded using one of her own boats, scuttling charges placed, went down at 0415, 9 miles SW of Portland Bill, Dorset (L - c9 miles WSW of; te/un - in 50.25N, 02.32W; wi - 50.24.23N, 02.37.15W); two crew killed and one injured during shelling, survivors allowed to abandon ship, stayed in area, picked up by patrol vessel and landed at Weymouth (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) BULLDOG, destroyer, 16 April 1916, Aegean - G-class, 1,100t, 1-4in/3-12pdr/2-21in tt, was 5th DF Mediterranean Fleet, took part in Gallipoli evacuation January 1916, still believed in Mediterranean. Mined off Gallipoli, no other details; 2 officers and 5 ratings lost (Rn/D/dk) BULLMOUTH, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 28 April 1917, Atlantic off N Ireland - 4,018grt, built 1893, London-reg, Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co, armed, sailing Glasgow for Hampton Roads in ballast. Torpedoed by U.58 (Kurt Wippern), sank 125 miles NW by N of Tory Is, off Co Donegal (L/te - in 56.30N, 11.20W; un 58.34N, 10.50W) (H/L/Lr/sl/te/un) BULYSSES, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 20 August 1917, Atlantic off NW Scotland - 6,127grt, built 1900, Anglo-Saxon Petroleum, London, armed (sl - Admiralty oiler No.47, presumably Y7.47), Firth of Forth for Port Arthur in ballast. Torpedoed by U.52 (Hans Walther), sank 145 miles WNW of the Butt of Lewis, Outer Hebrides (L/te/un - in 58.34N, 10.50W; un also 142 miles WNW of, also 58.35N, 11.24W) (H/L/Lr/sl/te/un) BURNBY, Admiralty chartered collier, 26 February 1917, Western Mediterranean - 3,665grt, built 1905, West Hartlepool-reg, Sir R Ropner, armed, Barry for Algiers with coal. Torpedoed by U.39 (Walter Forstmann), sank 20 miles N of Cape Falcone (L - 14 miles NNW of Cape Falcon, Sardinia; te - off Cape Falcon); master taken prisoner. Note: Capo del Falcone is in NW Sardinia, Cape Falcon near Oran in 35.46N, 00.48W; if the Algiers destination is correct, then the more likely loss location is near Oran (H/L/Lr/te/un) BURNLEY, hired trawler, 25 November 1916, North Sea - 275grt, built 1916, Fleetwood-reg FD242, J N Ward, hired 1915 (D - 5/16) as minesweeper, 1-12pdr, Admiralty No.3277, Lt Cdr Thomas Heap RNR, Skipper Robert Page RNR, Harwich-based, Cdr Heap heard an explosion out at sea off Orford Ness, sent his other ships into harbour, and went to investigate. At the time, disappeared night of 25th/26th. Mined, laid by UC.4 (Hans Howaldt; this may have been the same minefield that might have sunk E.30 on 22 November but only discovered now, although Hepper describes it here as laid the day before), went down off Orford Ness, Suffolk (wi - in 52.05.27N, 01.39.26E); Cdr Heap, Skipper Page and 17 ratings lost, no survivors (He 18 men lost) (H/L/C/D/He/dk/sc/un/wi; ADM.1/8474/276) BURNSTONE, Admiralty chartered collier, 19 March 1918, North Sea - 2,340grt, built 1903, Alexander Brothers, armed, Mr W Halcrow, from Immingham with coal. Torpedoed by UB.62 (Bernhard Putzier), sank 44 miles N of Farne Is, off Northumberland (wi - 28 miles NNE of St Abb's Head, in 56.20N, 01.50W); five crew lost (H/L/te/un/wi) BUTETOWN (1), Admiralty collier, 8 September 1916, Central Mediterranean - 3,789grt, built 1905, Grimsby-reg, Town Line (ms Harrison Sons & Co), armed, Malta for Mudros with coal, general cargo. Torpedoed by UB.47 (Wolfgang Steinbauer), sank 55 miles WSW of Cape Matapan (L/te - in 36N, 21.15E) (H/L/Lr/te/un) BUTETOWN (2), Admiralty chartered collier, 29 January 1918, English Channel - 1,929grt, built 1907, Town Line (London) Ltd (Harrison, Sons & Co), London, Cardiff-reg, 1-12pdr, sailing Glasgow for Portsmouth with coal. Torpedoed by UB.40 (Karl Dobberstein), sank 1 1/2m S of Dodman Point, near Falmouth, Cornwall (wi - in 50.11.38N, 04.47.40W); two crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) BUTTERCUP, sloop see FARNBOROUGH, Q-ship, 17 February 1917, Atlantic W of Ireland BUTTERCUP, fleet sweeping sloop, 25 December 1917, Irish Sea - Arabis-class, 1,250t, c2-4in/2-3pdr AA, and PC.56, decoy patrol boat, PC-type, 694t, 1-4in/2-12pdr, Pembroke Dockyard-based, convoy escorts. SS Agberi torpedoed by U.87 and sank at 1510, 18 miles NW?N of Bardsey Is, off W Caernarvonshire. As Buttercup circled the sinking ship, she rammed U.87, perhaps accidentally, PC.56 then dropped two depth-charges, bringing the U-boat to the surface, opened fire and finally rammed, sinking her with all hands (dx - 52.56N, 05.07W; wi - in 52.30N, 05.20W) (Cn/D/dx/ge/ub/un/wi) BUTTERFLY [01], gunboat, 4 January 1916, Mesopotamian Campaign - First attempt to relieve British-Indian forces besieged at Kut/Kut-al-Imara/Amara, battles took place c5th-8th and 13th-21st, river gunboats Butterfly, Cranefly, Dragonfly, Gadfly took part joined by ex-Turkish motor patrol boat renamed Flycatcher (dx) BUTTERFLY [02], river gunboat see MANTIS, river gunboat, 8 March 1916, Mesopotamian Campaign BUTTERFLY [03], river gunboat - see MANTIS, river gunboat, 24 February 1917, Mesopotamian Front BUTTERFLY [04], river gunboat see MANTIS, river gunboat, 26 February 1917, Mesopotamian Campaign BUTTERFLY [05], river gunboat see MANTIS, river gunboat, 8 March 1917, Mesopotamian Campaign BY GEORGE, Admiralty trawler, 7 September 1917, Aegean Sea - 225grt, built 1914, Grimsby-reg GY69, North Western Steam Fishing, hired 8/14 as minesweeper, 1-3pdr, Admiralty No.253, Skipper Francis Joint Hulland RNR. Based at Stavros, northern Greece. Preparing to sweep field where Helgian was sunk the previous day with other minesweepers. Mined port side forward at 1710, laid by UC.23 (Volkhard von Bothmer), broke up and sank in Gulf of Ruphani, location not identified (He in 40.38N 23.54E), but see HMS Helgian lost day before; 2 ratings lost (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/un; ADM.137/3383) C
C.15, submarine, June 1917, S of England - On the 23 July, the final report was received on the use of sea-lions for submarine detection which started in November 1916. Experiments included speed and sound trials at the Admiralty Anti-Submarine Division's Hawkscraig Experimental Station, Aberdour in 1/17 and trials with submarine C.15 in the Solent in June 1917 (dx) C.15, submarine, 3 November 1917, English Channel C.15 sank UC.65 off Sussex (dx/un) C.17, submarine, May 1917, probably southern British waters - C-class, c290/320t, 1908, believed 5th Flotilla, Dover Patrol. Sank in collision with I-class destroyer Lurcher 990t, Harwich Force submarine flotillas, C.17 raised and repaired (Cn/D/dp/dq/gr/ty) C.19, submarine see C.34, submarine, 17 July 1917, North Sea C.32, submarine, 12 October 1917, Baltic Sea in the Second Naval Battle for the Gulf of Riga through to 20th, German naval forces finally broke through. C.32 was lost during this period (dx) C.34, submarine, 17 July 1917, North Sea - C-class, 290/320t, 1910, 218in tt with 4 torpedoes, c13/7.5kts, c16 crew, Pendant No.I.64, Lt Ingleby Stuart Jefferson. One of two C-boats sent on anti-U-boat patrol between Shetlands and Orkneys, especially to protect convoys approaching Lerwick. Both sailed Scapa Flow at 1900 on 16th, C.19 for Fair Isle area, C.34 for SE approaches to Lerwick. Next day at 1335, C.34 was trimmed down on the surface off the Shetlands possibly stopped - sources vary. Sighted by submerged U-boat which spent some time manoeuvering into firing position. (some sources 21st) - Hit amidships by one torpedo from U.52 (Hans Walther) at 1446 and blew up (He in 59.51N, 01.05W; bw - in 59.30N, 00.05W; go - E of Fair Isle; ke - between Orkneys and Shetlands in 59.30N, 00.05E; C/D - off N Ireland; dx - mine laid by UC.74 off Shetlands); 3 officers, 15 ratings lost (ke - 15 casualties), only survivor Stoker Frank Scoble was picked up by U.52 from among the wreckage (H/J/C/Cn/D/He/bw/dk/dx/ge/go/ke/on/un; ADM.137/3709) CALEDON, light cruiser see ACTION OFF HELIGOLAND BIGHT, 17 November 1917 CALIFOL, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 30 September 1916, Atlantic N of Scotland - later renamed Roseleaf, Leaf-class, 6,572grt/12,300t, war construction, armed. Chased by U-boat W of Shetlands, rescued (second attack as Roseleaf on 27/4/17) (H/D/Mn) CALISTOGA, hired drifter, 13 May 1916, Adriatic - Austro-Hungarian submarine U.VI caught in nets in Strait of Otranto by drifters Calistoga, Dulcie Dorry, Evening Star and scuttled (dx) CALLIOPE, light cruiser, 19 March 1916, North Sea - Calliope-class, 4,695t, flagship 4th LCS Grand Fleet, sailed with two destroyers from Tyne after refitting for sweep up Norwegian coast to Utsire. Serious fire in after boiler room fire, forced to return to Rosyth, repaired in time for Jutland (Cn/D/gf/gr) CALLIOPE, Admiralty chartered collier, 12 July 1917, Atlantic off Gibraltar - 2,883grt, built 1900, Calliope SS Co, London, armed, sailed Seville 9th for Newport with pyrites, went missing, posted by Lloyds 5/12/17, presumed by Admiralty to have been sunk by submarine possibly on 14th, Lloyds amended in 1937. Confirmed as torpedoed and sunk by U.155 (Karl Meusel) on 12th (L - in c35N, 17W; un about 150 miles N of Madeira); 27 lives lost including master (H/L/Lr/ge/te/un) CALLIOPE II, hired trawler, 5 March 1916, off NW Scotland - 240grt, built 1907, Milford-reg M214, D Pettit, hired 8/14, 1-3pdr, Admiralty No.367, Skipper J Foreman. In service as minesweeper, in collision with Norwegian steamer Dane, sank at 0030 off Butt of Lewis, N tip of Lewis (He - 10 miles north of Butt of Lewis; wi - in 58.31N, 05.45W); one rating drowned (H/Lr/C/D/dk/wi; ADM.137/217) CALVIA, hired trawler,19 November 1917, possibly North Sea - minesweeper/hydrophone vessel suffered gun explosion, two ratings killed, one buried at Cleethorpes (D/dk) CALYPSO, light cruiser see ACTION OFF HELIGOLAND BIGHT, 17 November 1917 CAMBRIDGE, paddle minesweeper see FAIR MAID, paddle minesweeper, 9 November 1916, North Sea CAMPANULA, sloop, 18 January 1918, Mediterranean - UB.66 sunk by Campanula in central Mediterranean off Tunisia (dx) CANDYTUFT, convoy sloop, 8 November 1917, Atlantic off SW Portugal - Anchusa-class, 1,290t, 2-4in/2-12pdr, sailed Devonport early November, escorting convoy to Gibraltar, operating as Q-ship disguised as a tramp. Gun attack by U.63 (Otto Schultze) off Cape St Vincent (un - in 35.24N, 08.18W), bridge wrecked but fired three shots in reply without any hits; no lives lost. Repaired damage at Gibraltar by 16th. Sunk on 18th (Cn/D/ge/sk/un) CANGANIAN, Admiralty collier, 17 November 1916, North Sea - 1,142grt, built 1900, Cardiff-reg, Canganian SS, Mr H Roberts. sailed Methil on 17th for Scapa Flow with coal, went missing, not since heard of, posted by Lloyds 27/12/16. Confirmed as mined, laid by UC.29 (Ernst Rosenow), sank SE of Montrose (wi - off Arbroath, position unknown, but c56.30N, 02W, also recorded as foundered 810 miles off Montrose in 56.35.24N; 02.21.30W); 18 crew lost including master (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) CAPE COLONY, hired drifter, 8 January 1917, North Sea - 82grt, built 1908, Fraserburgh-reg FR525, hired 1916 (D - 3/15) as net drifter, 16pdr AA, Admiralty No.2497, at anchor off Harwich, watching her anti-submarine nets, weather bad, heavy sea running. Dragged anchor overnight, weighed at dawn and mate spotted German mine jammed between the anchor's fluke and shank, capstan stopped but drifter pitched and mine went up blowing the drifter into matchwood off Harwich, Essex (wi - in 51.54N, 01.20E); no lives lost, crew in water for some time but picked up by hired naval drifters Citron and Enterprise. Mine laid by UC.11 (Benno von Ditfurth) (+L/C/D/He/ap/dk/sc/un/wi; ADM.137/525) CARADOC, light cruiser, 15 August 1917, North Sea - Caledon-class, 4,950t, 6th LCS Grand Fleet; stranded on Fair Isle, extensively damaged (Cn/D/gr) CARBINEER, Admiralty trawler, 18 May 1916, Atlantic off SW England - Military-class, purchased on stocks 11/12/14, one of ten bought for total cost of £93,800, 276grt, launched 15/2/15, 1-12pdr bow mounted deck gun (D - minesweeper, 1-3pdr; wi - auxiliary trawler), Admiralty No.1164, based at St. Mary's, on patrol duties. Wrecked on Crebawethan Point, SW Scillies in poor weather; no lives lost. Note: in the Wreck Index account, she ran onto the Crim Rocks, just north of Bishop Rock and presumably started to take in water, a crew member from the Scillies advised running her ashore, reached Crebawethan Point - just east of the Bishops - also identified as Western Rocks, in 49.52.43N, 06.25W, stranded and became a total loss (He - badly damaged) (H/C/Cn/D/He/dk/wi; ADM.137/235) CARDIFF [01], light cruiser see ACTION OFF HELIGOLAND BIGHT, 17 November 1917 CARDIFF [02], light cruiser, 21 November 1918, End of the Imperial Navy - German High Sea Fleet with two battle squadrons of 9 dreadnoughts, 5 battlecruisers, 7 light cruisers, 49 destroyers surrendered off May Is off the Firth of Forth to around 250 mainly British warships in Operation ZZ, arrived at Rosyth before internment at Scapa Flow. They were led in by light cruiser Cardiff. Two more German dreadnoughts, 1 light cruiser, 1 destroyer arrived later (dx) CARNARVON, cruiser, February 1916, central Atlantic - Devonshire-class, 10,850t, North America and West Indies Station. February - Hit shoal near Abrolhos Rocks off E Brazil, tore bottom plating. Repaired at Rio de Janeiro, continued on Station until 11/18 (Cn/D/gr) CARNATION, fleet sweeping sloop, 31 March 1917, Orkneys - 1,210t, 1915. Mined, laid by UC.42 (Otto Heinrich Tornow) at southern exit from Stronsay Firth in 58.59'N, 2.31'W, damaged; five crew, four of them stokers, killed (un - no casualties). An account in "Swept Channels" refers to "Carnation with Grand Fleet flotillas, flotilla slipped sweeps, steaming in single line led by senior ship Gentian, Carnation number six or seven, conditions foggy. Date not given, but probably 1917, before August - Mine sighted and "mine close by" signal sent, visibility low and Carnation struck, towed into Kirkwall, out of action for some time; believed one man killed". This may be the same incident (D/dk/sc/un) CARRIGAN HEAD, commissioned escort ship, 29 November 1917, English Channel - 4,201grt, cargo ship owned by Ulster SS, hired as squadron supply ship 8/14-4/16, Q-ship c6/16-8/17, commissioned escort ship from 8/17, 2-6in/2-4in. U-boat attack, torpedo missed (H/C/D/qs) CARYSFORT, light cruiser, 13 December 1917, North Sea - Caroline-class, 4,730t, 5th LCS Harwich Force. In collision with collier SS Glentaise 1,001grt, 6 miles E of Orford Ness (gr - SS Glentaise damaged; wi - foundered, in 52.06N 01.43.45E), 2 men lost in the steamship (Cn/gr/wi) CASTLE EDEN, Admiralty chartered collier, 4 March 1918, Atlantic off N Ireland - 1,949grt, built 1914, Furness, Withy & Co, West Hartlepool-reg, armed, Mr J Griffiths, Greenock/Clyde for Lough Swilly with general cargo, 1,920t Welsh coal. (L/wi - 3rd) - Sunk by U.110 (Karl Kroll), 4 miles SSE of Inishtrahull LH (wi - off Lough Foyle, Co Derry, in 55.19.30N, 07.03.30W, also quotes 07.35.27W); one crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) CATTISTOCK, fleet minesweeper, around 7 September 1917, Atlantic off SW Ireland - Hunt-class, 750t, c2-12pdr/2-6pdr, probably 2nd or 3rd minesweeper Flotilla, Granton. End of first week of September - In action with U-boat off Fastnet Rock, fired about 20 shots to her 12, greatly outranged, trawl-winch hit; no casualties (Cn/D/ap) CHALLENGER [01], light cruiser see CUMBERLAND, cruiser, 18 February 1916, West African Campaign CHALLENGER [02], light cruiser see MERSEY, monitor, 4 September 1916 German East Africa Campaign CHANCE, hired drifter, 26 January 1916, Orkneys - 92grt, built 1908, Wick-reg WK270, hired 8/14 (D - 12/15) as tender for Fleet duties. In collision, sank off Orkneys; no lives lost (H/C/D/He/dk) CHANGUINOLA [01], armed merchant cruiser, 20 July 1917, North Atlantic area - 5,978grt, built 1912, hired 21/11/14, 10th CS, sailing for Loch Ewe. U-boat attacked, narrowly missed by torpedo(es) (Mn/D) CHANGUINOLA [02], armed merchant cruiser, 19 August 1917, Atlantic N of Ireland - 5,978grt, built 1912, hired 21/11/14, 10th CS, armed merchant cruisers leaving or returning to their bases were now joining convoys for protection. Changuinola's convoy dispersed almost immediately after leaving Lough Swilly because of submarine attack, narrowly missed by torpedo (Mn/D) CHARLES GOODANEW, Admiralty store carrier, 17 April 1917, North Sea - 791grt, built 1911, Plymouth-reg, Plymouth Mutual Co-Operative Industrial Society, hired 29/1/17 as RFA, Pendant No.Y8.71, believed 14 crew, carrying a naval rating as passenger, Aberdeen for Scapa Flow with Admiralty cargo/government stores. Mined at 0500, laid by UC.45 (Hubert Aust), sank at once 3 1/2m ENE of Rattray Head near Fraserburgh (wi - in 57.38.30N, 01.44W; te - in 57.39N, 01.45W); 13 lives lost including master, 2nd engineer and fireman were in water for an hour before being picked up by naval drifter (H/L/Lr/Cn/D/te/un/wi) CHARLESTON, Admiralty chartered collier, 12 December 1917, St George's Channel - 1,866grt, built 1908,, Withy & Co, West Hartlepool-reg, Furness armed, Mr C Anderson, Berehaven for Cardiff in ballast (te/un/wi - Cardiff for Berehaven with coal). (L/wi - 11th) - Captured by UB.65 (Martin Schelle), sunk by bombs 30 miles W of The Smalls, E of Milford Haven (un in 51.37E, 05.59W; wi - in 51.40N, 06.28W), two gunners taken prisoner (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) CHARON, whaler see MERSEY, monitor, 4 September 1916 German East Africa Campaign CHATHAM, light cruiser, 26 May 1916, North Sea - Chatham-class, 5,400t, 8-6in/4-3pdr/2-21in tt, due to join 3rd LCS, Grand Fleet. Mined off Norfolk, towed stern-first to Chatham for repairs; two boys died on this day, presumably in this incident. Under repair and missed Jutland (Cn/D/dk/ja) CHERRYLEAF, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 25 August 1917, English Channel - Leaf-class, 5,896grt/12,300t, armed. U-boat attack, torpedo missed (H/D) CHERTSEY [01], Admiralty chartered collier, 26 April 1917, Western Mediterranean - 3,264grt, built 1898, London-reg, Britain SS Co (Watts, Watts & Co), armed, sailing Tyne for Alexandria/Port Said with coal. (L - 25th) - Torpedoed by UC.67 (Karl Neumann), sank 4 miles N of Algiers (L - 3 miles N true of; un 36.52N, 03.05W) (Chertsey 3,264grt attacked 1 February 1918 - if the same vessel, damaged after her loss according to HMSO) (H/L/Lr/te/un) CHERTSEY [02], possibly Admiralty chartered collier, 1 February 1918, English Channel - 3,264grt, armed. U-boat attack, torpedo missed (Note: collier Chertsey also 3,264grt was on Admiralty service when sunk 26 April 1917 - if these were the same vessels, the attack took place after the sinking according to HMSO. They are indexed as one and the same) CHESTER II, hired trawler, 29 February 1916, North Sea - 143grt, built 1896, Grimsby-reg GY148, Consolidated Steam Fishing & Ice, hired 1915 (D - 10/14) as minesweeper (wi - armed trawler), 1-3pdr, Admiralty No.629, Skipper R Dutton. In collision with torpedo boat TB.28 at 0340, both ships darkened, sank in Firth of Forth (He - in Gullane Bay; wi - 1 1/2m off Gullane Bay, Aberlady, Cockenzie, in 56.04.16N, 02.52.15W, also 2.98m, 267.5Ί from Fidra Light); no lives lost. Wreck lies at 56ft, divers can enter the wheelhouse and interior (H/Lr/C/D/dk/wi; ADM.137/216; ADM.53/64514) CHILDERS, whaler see MERSEY, monitor, 4 September 1916 German East Africa Campaign CHRISTOPHER, destroyer see PRIVET, Q-ship, 12 March 1917, English Channel CICALA, river gunboat, 6 August 1919, North Russia - Insect-class, 645t, 10/12/15, 2-6in/2-12pdr, North Russian Expeditionary Force. Probably 6 August - Bolshevik forces released mines into Dvina River, off Selso, leadsmen accidentally hit one which exploded, out of action for several weeks, repaired at Archangel; casualties not known. Note: In action May 7th, mined off Selso by Bolsheviks, afterwards raised and in action again on August 16th, 1919. (gb/gs) CILICIA, Admiralty chartered collier, 12 February 1917, South Atlantic - 3,750grt, built 1907, Whitby-reg, International Line SS, Cardiff for Simon's Bay with coal, general cargo. Mined, laid by raider Wolf on or around 17 January 1917, sank 5 miles S of Dassen Is, Cape of Good Hope (H/L/Lr/Mn/Cn/kp) CITRON, hired drifter see CAPE COLONY, hired drifter, 8 January 1917, North Sea CITY OF BELFAST, armed boarding steamer, 15 October 1917, Western Mediterranean - Midland Railway Co, Barrow. Gun attack by U.35 (Lothar von Arnauld de la Periθre) off Punta Sabinal in 36.39N, 02.11W, damaged; 3 crew killed, all buried in Gibraltar (dk/un only) CITY OF OXFORD, kite balloon ship - see GRAFTON , bulged cruiser, 30 October 1917, Palestine Campaign CLACH-NA-CUDIN, hired drifter, 25 April 1916, Adriatic - 78grt, built 1908, Buckie-reg, hired 4/15 as net drifter. Mined and damaged off Brindisi, remained in service; 6 ratings lost, all buried at Bari. Returned to owner 1920 (D/dk) CLACTON, auxiliary screw minesweeper, 3 August 1916, Eastern Mediterranean - ex-railway packet, 820grt, built 1904, Harwich-reg, Great Eastern Railway, hired 7/10/14, 2-12pdr, Pendant No.T.04 from 9/15, Commander William Coates RNR. Supporting British forces in Macedonia, returning to Chai Aghizi (modern Kevala Bay) with stores, at 0830, preparing to come alongside cruiser Grafton, torpedo track spotted but unable to avoid. Torpedoed by U.73 (Gustav Siess) (Colledges Supplement lists the U-boat as U.38; Hepper confirms U.73), settled by head, attempt made to beach her, foundered after five minutes. Loss positions include: at Chai Aghizi; off Kavalla Bay; off the Levant; and in c40.46N, 23.53E. Kavalla and the latitude/longitude are off NE Greece, Chai Aghizi has not been located but the name appears to be of Greek origin. Uboat.net and Hepper confirm Kavalla/Kevala Bay, Aegean Sea; 2 officers, 3 ratings lost (H/J/L/Lr/C/Cn/D/He/dk/dx/te; ADM.137/3625) CLAM, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 5 April 1918, Irish Sea - 3,552grt, built 1893, armed, (sl - Admiralty oiler No.58, presumably Y7.58), Liverpool for Queenstown with fuel oil. Torpedoed and damaged by UB.64 (Otto von Schrader) in "Irish Channel" (L/un - in 53.25N, 04.57W), arrived Liverpool; no lives lost (H/L/sl/un) CLAN FERGUSON, Admiralty chartered collier, 7 September 1917, Atlantic off NW Morocco - 4,808grt, built 1898, Clan Line Steamers, Glasgow, armed, sailing Glasgow for Alexandria/Bombay with coal and general cargo. (H/L - 6th) - torpedoed by UB.49 (Hans von Mellenthin), sank 15 miles NW of Cape Spartel (L/te/un - in 35.50N, 06.10W); ten crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un) CLAN FORBES, Admiralty chartered collier, 9 June 1918, Eastern Mediterranean - 3,946grt, built 1903, Glasgow-reg, Clan Line, armed, Newport for Port Said with coal. Torpedoed by UB.105 (Wilhelm Marschall), sank 115 miles WNW of Alexandria (L/te/un - in 31.55N, 27.50E); two crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un) CLAN McLACHLAN, Admiralty chartered collier, 19 July 1917, near Gibraltar - 4,729grt, built 1900, Glasgow-reg, Clan Line. Sunk in collision, no other details (H/Lr) CLARA, Admiralty chartered collier, 28 December 1917, English Channel - 2,425grt, built 1898, Burdick & Cook, London, 1-13pdr, 24 crew, Mr E Simons, Rouen for Barry Roads in ballast. Torpedoed by UB.57 (Otto Steinbrinck) in No.4 hold at 2230, ship abandoned at 2250, three shots heard fired by the U-boat before she sank at 2330, 1 1/2m SSW of the Runnelstone/Runnel Stone Buoy, off Lands End (L - 2 1/2m ESE of; wi - in 50.11.00N, 05.36.30W; un 1.5 miles S of); survivors picked up next day at 1000 and landed at Penzance (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) CLEARFIELD, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 24 October 1916, Atlantic off NW Scotland - 4,229grt, built 1909, Newcastle-reg, Hunting SS, sailed Invergordon 21st for Hampton Roads in ballast, passed Cape Wrath on 23rd, went missing, posted by Lloyds 28/2/17, later addition to Lloyds claimed sunk by U.55 on Oct 24 west of the Hebrides. Probably torpedoed by U.55 (Wilhelm Werner), sank off the Flannan Is, off NW Outer Hebrides; 36 crew lost including master. Werner was on original British list of war criminals for sinking SS Clearfield without warning although the case did not go to court (H/L/Lr/ge/os/te/un) CLEON, hired trawler, 1 February 1918, Dover Straits - 266grt, built 1907, Grimsby-reg GY240, Orient Steam Fishing, hired 5/15 as minesweeper, 1-6pdr or 3pdr, Admiralty No.1514, Dover Patrol, Skipper Peter Sinclair RNR. On patrol between Folkestone Gate buoy and NE Varne buoy, and disappeared. Explosion heard at 2100, damaged boat found nearby, believed mined and foundered off Folkestone Gate Buoy, off Kent (wi - in 51.02.09N, 01.10.12E); 1 officer, 11 ratings lost, no survivors (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/dq/wi; ADM.1/8514/49) CLEOPATRA [01], light cruiser see GERMAN RAID ON LOWESTOFT AND YARMOUTH, 25 April 1916, North Sea CLEOPATRA [02], light cruiser, 4 August 1916, North Sea - Caroline-class, 4,730t, 2-6in/8-4in/1-13pdr AA/4-21in tt, 5th LCS and flagship Harwich Force, one of two light cruisers and eight destroyers apparently detached to reinforce Dover Patrol. Mined off Thornton Ridge, off Dutch coast, reached the Nore and repaired; 4 ratings killed (Cn/D/gf/ty) CLIFTON, hired trawler, 18 February 1917, Atlantic off S Ireland - 242grt, built 1906, Grimsby-reg GY116, T C & F Moss, hired 1915 (D - 12/14; wi - as patrol minesweeper), 1-12pdr, Admiralty No.954, Lt James Clemens RNR in command, Skipper Edward Garrod RNR. Used as a patrol vessel. Mined at 0645, laid by UC.33 (Martin Schelle) some days before, sank off Daunt Rock LV, off Roches Point, Cork Harbour Estuary (wi - in 51.43N, 08.15.30W); Skipper, 12 ratings lost (He 13 ratings, Lt Clemens was the only survivor) (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/un/wi; ADM.137/360) CLIFTONDALE, Admiralty chartered collier, 24 December 1917, Western Mediterranean - 3,811/1901, Nella SS Co, Bristol, armed, Cardiff/Oran for Algiers with coal and general cargo. Torpedoed by U.35 (Lothar von Arnauld de la Periθre), sank 36 miles E by N1/2N of Cape Tenez, W Algeria; three crew lost, master taken prisoner (+L/Lr/dk/te/un) CLIFTONIAN, Admiralty chartered collier, 6 February 1917, Atlantic off S Ireland - 4303grt, built 1911, London-reg, Cambrian Steam Navigation, 1-12pdr, 34 crew, Mr Owen, Cardiff for Marseilles with 6,000t coal/coke. Torpedoed by U.85 (Willy Petz) (wi - U.72) at 1100, immediately abandoned by most of crew but master, chief engineer, 2nd officer stayed on board to try to beach her, sank 4 1/2m S3/4E of Galley Head, Co Cork (L - 4 1/2m, S 8 degrees E of; te/wi - in 51.28N, 08.55W); survivors picked up by patrol vessels and landed at Queenstown (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) CLOVER BANK, hired drifter see BELGIUM COAST OPERATIONS, 24 April 1916, North Sea CLYDE, hired trawler, 14 October 1917, English Channel - 146grt, built 1891 or 1898, Grimsby-reg G317, T C & F Moss, hired 2/15 as minesweeper, 1-3pdr, Admiralty No.971. In collision with armed trawler Flintshire at 0420 (gr - in November, with armed boarding steamer Rowan 1,493grt), sank off Sidmouth, Devon; no lives lost (H/Lr/C/D/He/dk/gr/wi; ADM.137/556) CMB ATTACK ON KRONSTADT NAVAL BASE, FIRST; CMB.4, coastal motor boat, 16 June 1919, Baltic Sea - 40ft-type, built Thornycroft, Hampton, Admiralty Motor Boat No.784, Lt A Agar plus two crew, heavily-fortified Bolshevik base of Kronstadt included dreadnought Petropavlovsk and battleship Andrei Pervozvanny, no British ships larger than light cruisers to contain them so CMB attack attempted. (vc/www - night of 16th/17th; dx - night of 17th) - CMB.4 penetrated the base, torpedoed and sank cruiser Oleg 6,645t (Cn - on 17th), boat damaged before and after the sinking by heavy gunfire; no casualties, Lt Augustine Willington Shelton Agar awarded the Victoria Cross. CMB.4 is still in existence in Britain at the Imperial War Museum site at Duxford (Cn/D/dx/gb/vc) CMB.1, coastal motor boat, 19 June 1917, Belgian Coast - 40ft-type, Thornycroft, Hampton 1916, Adty MB No.781, Dover Patrol, commanded by Lieutenant RNR. That morning a Dunkirk-based Short 184 seaplane, with two escorting Sopwith Baby seaplanes, took off to carry out a reconnaissance of the Belgian coast. Ten miles NE of Nieuport they were attacked by three German seaplanes. One German and the two Sopwith's came down. A French destroyer and CMB's 1 and 9 sailed to rescue the pilots. Four German torpedo boats of the Flanders flotillas arrived on the scene first. CMB.9 escaped, but CMB.1 took a direct hit, and blew up off Ostend; 1 rating on CMB.1 lost, possibly DOW next day (dk killed on the 20th; dp - crew taken prisoner; ke - no lives lost, 4 survivors). Note: thereafter, air-sea rescue missions were abandoned if Allied aircraft crashed too close to the enemy coast (H/J/C/Cn/D/He/dk/dp/dx/ke; ADM.137/462) CMB.4 see CMB.9, coastal motor boat, 7 April 1917, North Sea CMB.5 see CMB.9, coastal motor boat, 7 April 1917, North Sea CMB.6 see CMB.9, coastal motor boat, 7 April 1917, North Sea CMB.8, coastal motor boat, 27 September 1917, North Sea - 40ft-type, Thornycroft, Hampton 1916, Adty MB No.788, Dover Patrol, Lieutenant Robert Angus. On night of 25th/26th, minefield laid in southern North Sea as Operation W.11, covered by a number of ships including seaplane carrier Vindex. Two of her aircraft did not return and were assumed to have made for Holland. On the afternoon of the 27th, CMB.8 and 13 sailed from Dunkirk to search for them along the Belgian coast. CMB.8's steering gear broke down around 1800, temporary repairs were unsuccessful, and the search was called off. CMB.13 took No.8 in tow, but they had been spotted from the shore, came under distant fire, and smoke was spotted over the horizon. At 1840, CMB.13's engine misfired and stopped, and No.8 overran the towline, entangling her propeller. She too stopped, but No.13 got underway again. By this time the shore fire was getting more accurate and approaching destroyers were spotted. CMB.13 took on board No.8's crew, demolition charges were fired to sink her (in around 51.15N, 02.35E), and CMB.13 returned safely with both crews; no lives lost (H/J/C/Cn/D/He/dk/dq/ke; ADM.137/2084, ADM.137/2273) CMB.9 [01], coastal motor boat, 7 April 1917, North Sea - attack by CMB's 4, 5, 6, 9 on German destroyers off Zeebrugge, CMB.9 torpedoed and sank G.88, the first success by coastal forces (dx) CMB.9 [02], coastal motor boat see CMB.1, coastal motor boat, 19 June 1917, Belgian Coast CMB.11, coastal motor boat, 2 November 1917, Dover Straits - 40ft-type, built Tom Bunn, Rotherhithe 1916, Adty MB No.791. In collision off Dover, caught fire, burnt out and sank; no lives lost (H/J/C/Cn/D/dk/ke; ADM.137/574) CMB.13, coastal motor boat see CMB.8, coastal motor boat, 27 September 1917, North Sea CMB.20, coastal motor boat see BOTHA, flotilla leader, 21 March 1918, Dover Straits CMB.67A, coastal motor boat, 31 July 1919, North Sea one of 8 CMB's being towed to the Baltic by ships of the 20th DF, sailing from Harwich on 25 July, seas choppy, winds gusting, and tows parted a number of times. Venturous was towing CMB.67A, tow broke three times and reconnected, but at the fourth time, at 2230, she foundered before the line could be reconnected. At the time heading for shelter in Albaek Bay, Denmark, went down NE of Skagen lighthouse. Note: according to Dittmar and Conway's, CMB.67A was lost 18.8.19 in attack on Bolshevik fleet, Kronstadt. (C/D/He; ADM.53/67146) COADJUTOR, hired trawler see LOCH ARD, hired trawler, 10 September 1917, North Sea COCHRANE, cruiser see GLORY, battleship, 7 March 1918, Russian Intervention COLLEGIAN, Admiralty chartered collier, 20 October 1917, Eastern Mediterranean - 7,520grt, built 1899, Charente SS Co, Liverpool, armed, Liverpool for Calcutta with coal, general cargo. Torpedoed by UB.48 (Wolfgang Steinbauer), sank 100 miles NW by N1/4N from Alexandria, Egypt (L/te/un - in 32.35N, 28.41E) (H/L/Lr/Mn/te/un) COLOMBELLA, armed merchant cruiser, 15 February 1917, North Atlantic - 8,292grt, built 1902, hired 20/11/14. Collided with and sank SS Fife 3,912grt in 60.00N, 09.00W (D/gr/ms) COLUMBA, hired trawler, 10 March 1918, North Sea - 138grt, built 1893, T L Devlin, Granton-reg GN43, hired 1914 (D - 5/16) as boom defence vessel, 1-3pdr, under tow from Dundee to Rosyth for gate vessel duties. Mined at 1412, laid by UC.40 (Hermann Menzel), sank off May Is, entrance to Firth of Forth (He about 1 mile SSW of Isle of May, wreck located in 56.09.30N 02.33.30W; wi - 1 1/2m SSW of S point of Isle of May, in 56.09.30N, 02.33.30W); 1 rating and 4 MMR lost (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/un/wi; ADM137/734) COMET, destroyer - see GRAFTON , bulged cruiser, 30 October 1917, Palestine Campaign COMMANDANT, hired trawler, 2 April 1916, North Sea - 207grt, (Lr - blt 1914; D/wi - 1915; C - 1905), Granton-reg GN36, T L Devlin, hired 4/15 as minesweeper, Admiralty No.1440, Skipper Charles Cornelius RNR, believed Harwich-based. Sweeping near South Sunk LV with trawler Regal, one mine brought to surface and destroyed. Mined at 0810, laid by UC.7 (Georg Haag) the previous day, sank quickly stern first, off Sunk Sand LV, off Harwich (wi - in 51.52.10N, 01.35.35E); 5 ratings lost. Note: not listed in Lloyds Register 1912/13, suggesting year of build was later, around 1914/15 (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/sc/un/wi; ADM.137/3141) CONQUEST [01], light cruiser, 28 March 1916, E England - Caroline-class, 7,730t, 5th LCS Harwich Force. Ship's boat, a whaler, returning from shore leave, lost in snow storm, all 39 ratings on board drowned, five buried ashore (Cn/D/dk) CONQUEST [02], light cruiser see GERMAN RAID ON LOWESTOFT AND YARMOUTH, 25 April 1916, North Sea CONWAY CASTLE, hired trawler see RUBY (2), hired trawler, 17 October 1917, Atlantic off NW France CORINTH, Admiralty collier, 13 November 1916, North Sea - 3,669grt, built 1904, Liverpool-reg, Corinthian Shipping (un Page Shipping Co), 26 crew, Mr J Reed, Blyth for Rochefort with coal. (wi - 12th) - UB.39 (Heinrich Kustner) surfaced close alongside and Corinth headed for land under fire, hit a number of times and engines stopped although firing continued, crew abandoned ship, then boarded using one of her boats and pillaged, bombs hung over the side, sank 28 miles S3/4E of Flamborough Head, Yorkshire (L - 30 miles S3/4E of; te - in about 53.43N, 00.14E; wi - in 53.44.41N, 00.16.02E); crew picked up by Royal Navy destroyer and landed at Grimsby (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) CORONA, hired trawler, 23 March 1916, Dover Straits - 212grt, built 1912, Grimsby-reg GY684, Grimsby & North Sea SS Trawling, hired 2/15, 1-6pdr/1-2pdr, Admiralty No 1137, Lt James Irvine RNR, Skipper Frank Thornton, Dover Patrol, with local Ramsgate armed defence flotilla. Mined at 0630 in field laid by UC.6 (Matthias Graf von Schmettow), sank near Ramsgate, Kent (He in 51.08N 01.25E; wi - 51.20N 01.30E), both officers and 11 ratings lost. Later raised, returned to service, listed until 1919 (H/L/C/D/He/dk/un/wi; ADM.1/8452/67b) COSSACK, destroyer, 1 July 1917, English Channel - F-class, 882t, 6th DF Dover Patrol. In collision with SS The Duchess 553grt, 3 miles E by N of the Royal Sovereign LS (wi - in 50.43.50N, 00.30.25E), Cossack's depth charges exploded, stern blown off to water, towed into Dover; no lives lost (Cn/dk/dq/gr/wi) COTSMUIR, hired trawler, 2 February 1917, North Sea - 242grt, built 1915, Milford-reg M15, D Pettit, hired 6/15 as minesweeper, 1-6pdr AA, Admiralty No.1537, Skipper James Butler RNR, based on Humberside. After escorting steamer to the Tyne, on passage back to the Humber. Disappeared night of 2nd/3rd, cause unknown, presumed mined; Skipper and 12 ratings lost (+Lr/C/D/He/dk; ADM.137/943) COURTIER, hired trawler, 6 January 1916, North Sea - 181grt, built 1910, Grimsby-reg GY564, Queen Steam Fishing, hired 1914 (D - 1/15; He as a minesweeper), Admiralty No.449, Skipper Samuel Blissett RNR. Mined at 8.50pm, broke up and sank rapidly off Kilnsea, close to Spurn Head, Yorkshire; Skipper, 10 ratings lost, a trawler commanded by Lt Crossley RNR steamed into the minefield and rescued some of the crew, awarded a DSC (He one man rescued alive but DOW four days later) (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/sc; ADM.1/8444/2) COWRIE, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 4 July 1917, Atlantic off SW Ireland - 4,893grt, armed (sl - Admiralty oiler No.65, presumably Y7.65). Attacked by U.53 (Hans Rose), torpedo missed (H/sl/un) CRAIGENDORAN, Admiralty chartered collier, 3 March 1917, Western Mediterranean - 2,789grt, built 1899, Glasgow-reg, SS Craigendoran, armed, Barry for Malta with coal. Torpedoed by UC.37 (Otto Launburg), sank 6 miles E of Cape Sigli, near Bougie/Bejaia, E of Algiers; three crew lost, master, chief engineer taken prisoner (H/L/Lr/te/un) CRANEFLY [01], river gunboat see BUTTERFLY, gunboat, 4 January 1916, Mesopotamian Campaign CRANEFLY [02], river gunboat see MANTIS, river gunboat, 8 March 1916, Mesopotamian Campaign CRATHIE, hired trawler, 16 December 1916, off NW Scotland - (C - Craithie), 225grt, built 1916, Aberdeen-reg A713, Caledonian Steam Trawling, hired 11/16 as minesweeper, 1-6pdr AA, Admiralty No.2980, based at Larne. Sweeping off southern islands of Outer Hebrides. Went ashore, holed in port side, and lost on Nizam Point, Barra Head, Outer Hebrides (wi - in 57.03N, 07.27.30W). Ship sank before she could be salvaged, divers recovered gun and some stores; no lives lost (H/Lr/C/D/He/dk/wi; ADM.137/570) CRENELLA [01], Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 26 November 1917, Atlantic SW of Ireland - ex-dummy battleship No.8 Audacious, ex-passenger ship Montcalm, 7,035grt, built 1897, now Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co, London, armed, sailing Queenstown for America, no cargo, in ballast. Torpedoed by U.101 (Karl Koopmann), 146 miles W of Queenstown (un in 49.47N, 10.58W), damaged, put back to port on 27th (H/L/Lr/C/D/ed/sl/un) CRENELLA [02], Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 1 August 1918, Atlantic SW of Ireland - ex-dummy battleship No.8 Audacious, ex-passenger ship Montcalm, 7,035grt, now London-reg, Anglo-Saxon Petroleum, armed. Torpedo missed (H/Lr/C/D) CRICKET, river gunboat, 1919, North Russia - Insect-class, 645t, 16/12/15, 2-6in/2-12pdr, on River Dvina. 1919 - Hit by gunfire in bows below waterline, started flooding and forward bulkhead collapsed, ran heavily aground and remained fast for four weeks, patched up and towed to Archangel (gb/gs) CROCUS, sloop see PARGUST, Q-ship, 7 June 1917, Atlantic CROWNSIN, Admiralty trawler, 4 May 1916, Central Mediterranean - ex-German Varel, 137grt, built 1895, prize captured 7/10/15 in North Sea by light cruiser Arethusa, possibly sent to Grimsby, added to Navy list same month, Admiralty No.1950, commissioned as Crownsit, changed to Crownsin from 8/11/15, listed as PT - prize trawler - in Navy Lists, assigned to Mediterranean service as patrol vessel (He minesweeper), Skipper William Knowles RNR. Mined at 2300, laid by U.73 (Gustav Siess) around 25 April, sank near Malta; 11 ratings lost, Skipper was the only survivor (H/C/D/He/dk/ge; ADM.1/8456/104) CUMBERLAND, cruiser, 18 February 1916, West African Campaign - Surrender of last German forces at Mora in Cameroons, armoured cruiser Cumberland, protected cruiser Challenger took part (dx) CUPAR, twin screw minesweeper, 5 May 1919, North Sea - Aberdare-class, 800t, 27/3/18, 1-4in QF/1-12pdr AA, 16kts, 74 crew, P/No.T.86, was Grimsby-based 7th Fast Minesweeping Flotilla, now back in Grimsby clearing British east coast minefield, Lieutenant Ernest Robert Maycock. Sailed from Alnmouth Bay morning of the 5th with four other minesweepers, just started sweeping. Mined at 0845, engines and steering out of action, taking in water. After removal of some of the crew, taken in tow by Sherborne for Tyne but she slowly settled, abandoned at 1115, foundered stern first five minutes later (He in 55.17N 00.44W; wi - in 55.01N, 01.22.45W); 1 rating lost on 17th, perhaps DOW (sc - several crew killed by explosion) (J/C/Cn/D/He/dk/ge/sc; ADM.1/8560/152) CYCLAMEN [01], fleet sweeping sloop, 10 March 1917, NW Mediterranean - Arabis-class, 1,250t, escorting convoy including troopship. Not informed Italian submarine Guglielmotti 710/870t was in the area, took her for a U-boat, rammed and sank her NW of Capraia Island, off NE Corsica (Cn/gr/md) CYCLAMEN [02], sloop, 9 January 1918, Mediterranean - UB.69 sunk by Cyclamen in central Mediterranean off Tunisia (dx) CYDONIA, Admiralty chartered collier, 27 September 1917, North Sea - 3,085grt, built 1910, North Shields-reg, Stag Line, 29 crew, Mr W Gill, Methil/Burntisland for Brest with coal. (wi - 28th) - listed as wrecked on passage with no further details. Wreck Index places her loss on Castle Rocks, Holy Is off Bamburgh, Northumberland in 55.41.30N, 01.47.15W (H/Lr/wi) D
D.7, submarine, 12 September 1917, Atlantic W of Shetlands sank U.45 (dx) DAFFODIL, fleet sweeping sloop, 15 December 1916, believed southern Ireland serving with 1st Sloop flotilla, Queenstown. Damaged in collision, one man DOI next day (dk/pl) DAGON, hired trawler, 8 December 1916, English Channel - 250grt, built 1914, Grimsby-reg GY957 (He Lowestoft), Consolidated Steam Fishing & Ice, hired 6/15 (wi - 12/16), 1-12pdr or 3pdr, Admiralty No.3202, Lt Edward Roberts RNR, Skipper Isaac Pearce, employed as patrol vessel, Dover Patrol, near Royal Sovereign LV. Mined at 1825, laid by UC.21 (Reinhold Saltzwedel) shortly before, sank rapidly off Royal Sovereign LV, off Beachy Head (C - by mine in North Sea; D - by submarine off Dover; wi - in 50.40N, 00.30E; He - 1 mile SW of Royal Sovereign LV); both officers and 10 ratings lost (He 7 survivors). Note; according to The Dover Patrol 1914-18, a U-boat fired a torpedo at a British destroyer, missed and hit HMS Dagon with the loss of all her crew including Lt E E Roberts; Swept Channels supports the torpedoing, the ship exploding violently and sinking almost at once. It goes on to report that none of the officers and crew below were saved (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/dq/sc/un/wi; ADM.137/3207) DALEWOOD, Admiralty chartered collier, 26 February 1918, Irish Sea - 2,420grt, built 1911, Shipping Controller (un Wm France, Fenwick & Co), London-reg, 1-12pdr, 25 crew, Mr D Jones, Cardiff for Scapa Flow with 3,000t coal. Torpedoed by U.105 (Friedrich Strackerjan) starboard-side in boiler room at 1630, sank almost immediately 10 miles SW of Isle of Man (un in 53.48N, 05.09W; wi - in 53.55N, 05W); port lifeboat lowered with about 18 men but capsized when she went down, seven men held onto the boat, righted it with the help of the U-boat crew who then gave the survivors a course to steer for the Isle of Man. One died early next morning and the remaining six reached Castletown Bay and landed at Hango at 0600. Of the 19 lives lost including master, around 7 must have been killed in the explosion, 11 from the capsizing and the man who died in the boat (H/L/Lr/dk/te/un/wi) DE LA POLE, hired trawler, 4 February 1916, Dover Straits - 255grt, built 1911, Hull-reg H377, National Steam Trawling, hired 5/15 as minesweeper, 1-47mm, Admiralty No.1636, 12 crew, Skipper Robert Hill RNR, Dover Patrol, out in the worst southerly gale in recent years. Went aground in Trinity Bay, Goodwin Sands close to wrecked liner Montrose (wi - in 51.12.30N, 01.31.30E); North Deal lifeboat Charles Dibdin came to her assistance, rescued 11 crew but a rating was drowned, survivors landed at Broadstairs instead of Deal because of the weather. Coxswain William Adams awarded the RNLI Silver Medal (H/Lr/C/D/He/dk/dq/hw/wi; ADM.137/212) DELIVERER, hired drifter, 3 November 1917, Irish Sea - 79grt, built 1910, Banff-reg BF151, W Gardiner, hired 2/15 as net drifter, 1-6pdr AA, Admiralty No.2561, net barrier tender based at Kingstown, Dublin, Skipper William Sutherland RNR. Following a reported U-boat sighting, she was on patrol outside Dublin Bay and disappeared, cause unknown, presumed sunk by U-boat (He mined; un identified U-boat; wi - mined, sank near Baily LH, off Howth, Co Dublin, in 53.22N, 06.01W); 9 ratings and skipper killed. Drifter Amity found some wreckage and Deliverer's boat about 1 mile ESE of Bailey's light (H/L/C/D/He/dk/un/wi; ADM.137/575) DELPHINULA, Admiralty-owned red-ensign oiler, 24 August 1918, Mediterranean - 5,238grt/10,500t, built 1908, armed, The Shipping Controller, sailing from Naples. Torpedoed and damaged by U.63 (Kurt Hartwig) W of Cerigo Strait, in 35.42N, 11.16E, beached Suda Bay, Crete (H/L/D/sl/un) DERBENT, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 30 November 1917, Irish Sea - 3,178grt, built 1907, The Admiralty, London, armed, Liverpool for Queenstown (Cobh) with 3,850t fuel/furnace oil. Torpedoed by U.96 (Heinrich Jess), sank 6 miles NE by E of Lynas Point, Anglesey (wi - in 53.28.30N, 04.10W). Wreck lies in 19 fathoms (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) DERWENT, destroyer, 2 May 1917, English Channel - E-class, Hawthorn Leslie, 620t, 1903, 412pdr/218in tt, 25kts, 70 crew, Pendant No.D.15, most of class assigned to Patrol Flotillas, Lt Edward Thornton. Escorting hospital ship into Le Havre, reached Whistle buoy at harbour entrance. Mined at 0525, laid by UC.26 (Matthias Graf von Schmettow), back broken and split in two, fore part capsized, after part went down after about seven minutes (dx - 2 cables N of Whistle Buoy, Havre); 1 officer and 57 ratings lost, local boats picked up survivors (He 1 officer and 61 men; ge - 62 lives) (H/J/C/Cn/D/He/dk/dx/ge/un; ADM.137/3257) DEVONIA, paddle minesweeper see FAIR MAID, paddle minesweeper, 9 November 1916, North Sea DEWEY, hired drifter, 12 August 1917, English Channel - 83grt, built 1908, Lowestoft-reg LT59, hired 11/14 as patrol boat, 1-6pdr, Admiralty No.1297, Dover Patrol. Skipper Frederick Henry Burwood RNR. On patrol near Royal Sovereign LV, heading to meet oiler Suram and provide escort, dark night. In collision with darkened SS Glenifer, 9,428grt, sank off Royal Sovereign LV, off Beachy Head, near Eastbourne; 1 officer, 10 ratings lost (He one survivor) (H/D/He/dk/dq; ADM.1/8495/180) DHOON, Admiralty trawler, 24 November 1916, North Sea - 275grt, built 1916, Fleetwood-reg FD244, hired 9/16 as minesweeper (wi - armed patrol vessel), 1-3pdr, Admiralty No.2959, Skipper Allan Ramsay RNR. Sweeping between the Newarp and Cross Sand lights, about 150 yards SW of the light. Mined late morning, laid by UC.19 (Alfred Nitzsche), bows blown off and sank near Newarp LV, NE of Yarmouth (wi - in 52.35N, 01.54E); Skipper and 11 ratings lost (He two survivors) (H/L/C/D/He/dk/un/wi; ADM.137/3194) DOCKLEAF, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 3 June 1917, NW Mediterranean - Leaf-class, 5,311grt or 12,300tgrt, built 1917, The Shipping Controller (Lane & MacAndrew), London, armed, sailing Port Arthur for Spezia with oil. Mined, laid by UC.35 (Ernst von Voigt) off Genoa, in 44.20N, 08.45W, damaged, reached port (H/L/D/un) DON BENITO, Admiralty chartered collier, 27 March 1917, off SW England - 3,749grt, built 1906, London-reg, Buenos Aires & Pacific Railway, 32 crew, Mr H Fenwick, Swansea for Leghorn with patent coal, iron bar/rod/sheet/tube. In collision at night with Liverpool-reg SS Ultonia, sank in 49.35N, 06.44W, SW of Scillies (wi - 2 miles S50ΊW of Bishop Rock, in 49.51.30N, 06.29.30W) (H/Lr/wi) DONSIDE, hired trawler, Sunday 7 January 1917, North Sea -182grt, built 1900, Aberdeen-reg A.155, G F Paul, hired 8/14 as minesweeper, Admiralty No.268, Skipper Ernest Jefferson RNR. Sweeping field off Lowestoft, recovering sweep wires and a mine probably snagged on the wire. Explosion around 1600, mine laid by UC.4 (Georg Reimarus) in mid-December, sank quickly off Lowestoft, Suffolk (He - 52.17N, 01.44E; wi - in 52.28N, 01.47E); 5 ratings lost (He 4 men lost) (+L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/un/wi; ADM.137/3227) DORISBROOK, Admiralty chartered collier, 9 February 1918, South Pacific - 3,431grt, built 1915, London-reg, M & R SS Co (Miller & Richards), London. In collision and sank (ms 7 February in 05.48S, 81.19W) (H/Lr/ms) DRAGONFLY [01], river gunboat see BUTTERFLY, gunboat, 4 January 1916, Mesopotamian Campaign DRAGONFLY [02], river gunboat see MANTIS, river gunboat, 8 March 1916, Mesopotamian Campaign DROMONBY, Admiralty collier, 13 January 1916, Atlantic off Portugal - 3,627grt, built 1900, West Hartlepool-reg, R Ropner, Cardiff for St Vincent (CV) with coal (kp - for British cruiser squadron off South America). Captured by German raider Mφwe, stopped with shot across the bows, boarded by scuttling party and sunk by charges 220 miles W true of Lisbon (L - in 38.20N, 13.30W) (H/L/Lr/Mn/kp) DRONNING MAUD, Admiralty chartered collier, 22 April 1918, Western Mediterranean - 2,663grt, built 1917, Newcastle-reg, Shipping Controller, armed, Sunderland for Malta with coal. Torpedoed by U.34 (Johannes Klasing), sank 65 miles N by E3/4E of Cape Sigli, near Bougie, Algeria (L/te/un - in 38N, 04.56E); one crew lost (H/L/te/un) DRUMMER BOY [01], hired trawler see OLDENE, hired trawler, 2 February 1917, North Sea DRUMMER BOY [02], hired trawler see JOHN E LEWIS, hired trawler, 16 January 1918, North Sea DRYAD, minesweeper see NELSON (G. & E.), Q-ship, 15 August 1917, North Sea DUCHESS OF BUCCLEUCH, paddle minesweeper see FAIR MAID, paddle minesweeper, 9 November 1916, North Sea DUCKBRIDGE, Admiralty collier, 22 February 1916, Atlantic off N Scotland - 1,491grt, built 1914, Newcastle-reg, Duckbridge SS, from Cardiff with coal. Mined, laid by unknown U-boat, sank 6 miles N of Straithie Point, to W of Pentland Firth; 19 lives lost including master (H/L/Lr/te) DULCIE DORRY, hired drifter see CALISTOGA, hired drifter, 13 May 1916, Adriatic DUNDEE [01], armed boarding steamer see ACHILLES, cruiser, 16 March 1917, North Sea DUNDEE [02], armed boarding steamer, 3 September 1917, Atlantic off SW England - 2,187grt, built 1911, Dundee-reg, Dundee, Perth & London Shipping, hired 11/10/15, 2-4in, Pendant No.MI.12, Captain Selwyn Mitchell Day RNR. Escorting convoy. (te/un - 2nd) Torpedoed at 2230 on 2nd by UC.49 (Karl Petri) (C/ge - U.19), started to settle, 103 survivors taken off by US destroyer Rowan, trawler Neil Smith stood by and tug Sun II sent from the Scillies to salvage her. Dundee foundered at 1100 on the 3rd, SW of Scillies (He/un - 48.50N 09.20W); 1 officer, 6 MMR lost, one crew DOW next day (He 9 men killed by explosion) (H/J/L/Lr/C/Cn/D/He/dk/ge/te/un; ADM.137/512, ADM.137/513) DUSTER, hired trawler, 17 December 1917, Atlantic off SW England - 192grt, built 1911, Hull-reg H267, Kelsall Bros & Beeching, hired 11/14 as minesweeper, 1-6pdr AA, Admiralty No.421. Left Penzance afternoon of the 15th, under tow of armed trawler Lark II for a refit at Bristol. Weather worsened and by afternoon of the 17th had reached a strong NW storm. Tow parted off Trevose Head and Duster was driven ashore, wrecked in Scratten Cove near Portreath, NW of St Ives (wi - in 50.15.45N, 05.17.45W); no lives lost, the small towing crew was taken off by rocket apparatus (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/wi; ADM.137/640) E
E.5, submarine, 7 March 1916, North Sea - E-class, 655/796t, 1912, 1-12pdr/4-18in tt with 8 torpedoes, 15/9kts, c30 crew, Pendant No.I.85, believed Harwich-based 8th Flotilla, Lt-Cdr Harrington Edwards, sailed with E.23, E.29, H.5 on 4th, E.5 for patrol in Heligoland Bight, possibly sighted by E.29 afternoon of 6th N of Juist island, the other three returned on the 10th, E.5 failed to, "overdue, presumed lost. Around 7th - Lost, cause unknown, possibly mined or accident, German destroyers escorting battlecruiser Seydlitz in the area reported attacking a submarine at 0810 on the 7th, a few hours later, cruiser Regensburg sighted a submarine not far from a German minefield off the Western Ems which may well have accounted for E.5; 3 officers, 27 ratings lost, no survivors (ke - 33 lost) (H/J/C/Cn/D/He/bw/dk/go/ke/on) E.16, submarine, 22 August 1916, North Sea - E-class, 667/807t, 23/9/14, 1-12pdr/5-18in tt with 10 torpedoes, 15/9kts, 30 crew, Pendant No.I.96, believed Harwich-based 9th Flotilla, Lt-Cdr Kenneth Duff-Dunbar DSO, sailed on 18th with E.38 for patrol in Heligoland Bight area as part of the Grand Fleet operation to intercept German units, and which led to the loss of Falmouth and Nottingham. Last sighting was by E.38, 35 miles E of Yarmouth, nothing more heard from her, overdue, presumed lost. Around 22nd - Lost, cause unknown, most sources list her as possibly mined, otherwise accident. E.38 later reported group of warships near Terschelling and splashes which may have been depth-charges; also Germans reported making attack on a periscope on the 22nd, possibly E.16, although they made no claims for her sinking (He wreck found int 2001 near Heligoland with apparent mine damage); 3 officers, 28 ratings lost (H/J/C/Cn/D/He/bw/dk/dx/go/ke/on/wi) E.17, submarine, 6 January 1916, North Sea - E-class, 667/807t, 16/1/15, 1-12pdr/5-18in tt with 10 torpedoes, 15/9kts, c30 crew, Pendant No.I.97, believed Harwich-based 8th flotilla, Lt-Cdr John Moncreiffe, on patrol submerged off Dutch coast, N of Texel island. Struck uncharted sandbank in the early hours and badly damaged, surfaced and decided to return to base. Cruiser sighted bows on, possibly German, E.17 tried to dive but flooding forced her back to the surface, turned out to be Dutch cruiser Noord Brabant, distress flares fired, crew taken off and boat scuttled, sinking at 1140; no lives lost, all 33 crew survived, interned at Groningen until the end of the war. Conning tower salvaged in 1986, in RN Submarine Museum (H/J/C/Cn/D/He*/bw/dk/dx/go/ke; ADM.137/1245, ADM.1/8444/3) E.22 [01], submarine see GERMAN RAID ON LOWESTOFT AND YARMOUTH, 25 April 1916, North Sea E.22 [02], submarine see E.26, submarine, 3 July 1916, North Sea E.23, submarine see E.5, submarine, 7 March 1916, North Sea E.24, submarine minelayer, 24 March 1916, North Sea - E-class, 667/807t, 9/12/15, 3-18in tt/20 mines, 15k/9kts, c30 crew, believed Harwich-based 8th Flotilla, Lt-Cdr George Naper, sailed Harwich 21st for minelaying patrol in Heligoland Bight, not heard from again, "overdue, presumed lost". Around 24th - Lost, cause unknown, although with many British and German fields in the area and her own laying area only 3 miles from a previous one, most sources assume mined; 4 officers, 31 ratings lost, no survivors (ke - 34 lost). Wreck found in 1973, inspection of the hull confirmed mining (H/J/C/Cn/D/He/bw/dk/go/ke/on) E.26, submarine, 3 July 1916, North Sea - E-class, 662/667t, 11/11/15, 1-12pdr/5-18in tt with 10 torpedoes, 15/9kts, c30 crew, believed Harwich-based 9th Flotilla, Lt Edward Ryan, failed to return to Harwich on the 6th from patrol in southern North Sea off the entrance to the River Ems, "overdue, presumed lost. Before or on the 6th, probably 3rd - Lost, cause unknown, German patrol boat reported following oil trail near the Ems on the 2nd, submarine spotted next day and attacked, E.22 was on patrol in that area and was probably the submarine attacked, E.55 about 20 miles N of E.26's area also heard depth-charging although German records make no claim for a sinking at that time, otherwise mined or accident; 3 officers, 28 ratings. Note: according to the British destroyer section of Conways, and contrary to most sources, there is no written evidence that E-class submarines E.25 & E.26 had been ordered by Turkey pre-August 1914 (H/J/C/Cn/D/bw/dk/go/ke/on; Casualty list for 3rd) E.29, submarine see E.5, submarine, 7 March 1916, North Sea E.30 [01], submarine, 7 April 1916, North Sea - E-class, Blyth-based 11th Flotilla, presumably alongside depot ship Titania. Battery explosion on board; 3 ratings lost from E.30, 1 from Titania (Cn/D/dk/se) E.30 [02], submarine, 22 November 1916, North Sea - E-class, 662/667t, 29/6/15, 1-12pdr/5-18in tt with 10 torpedoes, 15/9kts, 30 crew, believed Harwich-based 9th Flotilla, Lt-Cdr Geoffrey Biggs, sailed from Harwich 15th to patrol area 53.25-54.00N, 03.30-04.00E off Dutch Frisian Islands, not heard from again, failed to return on 22nd, overdue, presumed lost. On or before 22nd (ke - possibly 15th) - Lost, cause unknown, possibly mined in Heligoland Bight or as early as the 15th in new field off Orford Ness not discovered until 25 November; 3 officers and 27 ratings lost (other sources - 3 officers and 30 ratings) (H/J/C/Cn/D/He/bw/dk/ke/on; Casualty list, dated 22nd) E.31, submarine see GALATEA, light cruiser, 4 May 1916, North Sea E.38, submarine see E.16, submarine, 22 August 1916, North Sea E.47, submarine, 20 August 1917, North Sea - E-class, 667/807t, 29/5/16, 1-12pdr/5-18in tt with 10 torpedoes, 15/9kts, c30 crew, believed Harwich-based 9th Flotilla, Lt Edward Carre, E.47 was one of four Harwich E-class boats patrolling off the Dutch coast near Texel, failed to return on 20th, "overdue, presumed lost. Around the 20th - lost, cause unknown, possibly mined or accident; 3 officers, 29 ratings lost, all hands (H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/He/bw/dk/go/ke/on; ADM.137/3709) E.49, submarine, 12 March 1917, Shetlands - E-class, 667/807t, 18/9/16, 1-12pdr/5-18in tt with 10 torpedoes, 15/9kts, 30 crew, Tees-based 10th Flotilla, Lt Basil Beal, sailed from Balta Sound for anti-U-boat patrol off Muckle Flugga searching for U-boats breaking out into the Atlantic. Seen leaving Balta Sound at 1225 (He 1255), passed behind Huney Island, explosion heard and cloud of smoke observed (wi - 500yds SSW of Balta LH, in 60.44.14N, 00.47.51W), E.49 not seen again although some wreckage found by drifters; 3 officers, 28 ratings lost. Divers discovered her with bows blown off by a mine, laid by UC.76 (Wilhelm Barten) on the 10th (dx - by U.76 in company with UC.43; ke - UC.70). Wreck lies in 100ft of water (H/J/C/Cn/D/He/bw/dx/dk/go/ke/on/un/wi) E.50 [01], submarine, E-class, 19 April 1917, North Sea - 667/807t, possibly Harwich-based 9th Flotilla. Submerged and in collision with UC.62 also submerged off North Hinder LV (Cn/D/dx) E.50 [02], submarine, 31 January 1918, North Sea - E-class, 667/807t, 13/11/16, 1-12pdr/5-18in tt with 10 torpedoes, 15/9kts, c30 crew, believed Harwich 9th or Tees-based 10th Flotilla, Lt Ralph Snook, failed to return from North Sea patrol on 31st, overdue, presumed lost. Cause unknown (C/Cn/D/bw - mined on or about 1 February; He presumed lost before 31st by accident or mining); 3 officers, 28 ratings lost (H/J/C/Cn/D/bw/dk/ke/on) E.51, submarine, 29 November 1917, North Sea - UB.61 sunk by mine laid by E.51 off Holland (dx/un) E.52, submarine, 1 November 1917, Dover Straits E.52 sank UC.63 off the Goodwin Sands (dx/un) E.54 [01], submarine, 21 August 1916, North Sea - UC.10 torpedoed and sunk by E.54 off Dutch coast (dx) E.54 [02], submarine, 1 May 1917, SW of Ireland - U.81 sunk by E.54 (dx) EARL KITCHENER, hired trawler see ML.38, motor launch, c18 June 1916, Palestine Campaign EARL LENNOX, hired trawler, 23 October 1917, off SW Scotland - 226grt, built 1914, Strand Steam Fishing Co, Grimsby-reg GY367, hired 4/15 as minesweeper, 1-6pdr, Admiralty No.1441, Skipper George William Taylor RNR. Escorting ammunition carrier Dunarea through the Sound of Islay in company with trawler Davara. Earl Lennox was mined forward at 1300, the mine laid by U.79 (Otto Rohrbeck). She broke up and sank off the entrance to the Sound, separating Islay and Jura islands (He - 55.44.30N 06.00W; un S of Islay Sound in 55.45N, 05.57W, Mine Barrage 171 laid 24/9/17; wi - in 55.45N, 06W); 7 ratings lost. Believing the explosion to be a U-boat attack, Davara lowered a boat to assist, but continued to escort Dunarea through the Sound. On returning, only four survivors had been found (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/un/wi; ADM.137/3296) EASTFIELD, Admiralty chartered collier, 27 November 1917, English Channel - 2,145grt, built 1901, London-reg, Field Line, Cardiff, 1-90mm, 23 crew, Mr J Humphreys, Newport for Dieppe with coal. Torpedoed by UB.57 (Otto Steinbrinck), hit in coal bunkers at 1040, sank 7 miles ESE of Dodman Point, near Falmouth, Cornwall (wi - 7 miles SE of, in 50.14.06N, 04.42.06W); one fireman missing, survivors picked up by Mevagissey lifeboat and landed there (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) EAVESTONE, Admiralty chartered collier, 3 February 1917, Atlantic off SW Ireland - 1,858grt, built 1912, West Hartlepool-reg, Furness, Withy, Barry for Gibraltar with coal. Captured by U.45 (Erich Sittenfeld), sunk by gunfire 95 miles W of Fastnet Rock, off Co Cork (te - in 51.00N, 12.00W); 5 crew lost, including master (+L/Lr/Mn/te/un) EBRO [01], armed merchant cruiser, 21 March 1917, north of British Isles - members of her armed guard were on Norwegian barque Naiade or Najade, when the barque was sunk by U.59 off Fair Isle. All four of the armed guard were lost (dk) EBRO [02], armed merchant cruiser, 26 May 1917, North Atlantic area - 8,480grt, built 1915, hired 23/3/15, 10th CS. Attacked by U-boat and narrowly missed by torpedo(es) (Mn/D) ECHO [01], Admiralty whaler see HYACINTH, light cruiser, 11 April 1916, German East Africa Campaign ECHO [02], Admiralty whaler see MERSEY, monitor, 4 September 1916, German East Africa Campaign ECHUNGA, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 5 September 1917, Atlantic off NW France - 6,285grt, built 1907 (Lr - 4,589grt; un converted to tanker in 1916 by installing tanks in the holds), Adelaide SS Co, Port Adelaide-reg (un Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co), armed (sl - Admiralty oiler No.169, presumably Y7.169), sailing Port Arthur for UK with fuel oil. Torpedoed by U.52 (Hans Walther), sank 40 miles N by E of Ushant; 9 crew lost (H/L/Lr/sl/te/un) EDEN, destroyer, 18 June 1916, English Channel - E-class, c540t, 1903, 412pdr/218in tt, 25kts, 70 crew, Pendant No.D.17, most of class assigned to Patrol Flotillas based at Dover, Humber, Forth and Tyne, HMS Eden not listed as Dover Patrol, Lt Alastair C Farquhar. (J/He - 17th) escorting transport SS France to Le Havre, when at 0300, the transport's steering gear failed. Eden, on her starboard bow, was informed but before avoiding action could be taken, the destroyer was hit amidships and cut in two. Forward half sank immediately, after half stayed afloat, and towed into Le Havre (ke sunk in North Sea); Lt Farquhar, 2 officers and 39 ratings lost (He 39 men lost) (H/J/C/Cn/D/He/dk/dx/ke/wi; ADM.1/8460/150) EGLANTINE, convoy sloop, 5 February 1918, Atlantic off N Ireland - Anchusa-class, 1,290t, presumably escorting convoy. Collided with and sank SS Brittany 2,926grt in 55.50N, 08.30W, N of Tory Is (D/gr) EL TORO, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 2 January 1917, Atlantic off SW Ireland - 5,958grt, built 1913, London-reg, Lobitos Oilfields, 35 crew, Mr Burdiss, from Port Arthur with fumace fuel oil. Wrecked on Blasket Is, N entrance to Dingle Bay (wi - 300yds offshore, NW of Clogher Head, Blaskets, in 52.09.30N, 10.28.10W) (+Lr/wi) ELAX, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 10 October 1916, Central Mediterranean - 3,980grt, built 1893, Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co, London-reg, armed, (sl - Admiralty oiler No.133, presumably Y7.133), Rangoon for Malta with fuel oil. Torpedoed by UB.43 (Hans von Mellenthin), sank 70 miles WSW of Cape Matapan, Greece (L/te - in 35.54N, 21.19E) (H/L/Lr/sl/te/un) ELEANOR, Admiralty mine carrier, 12 February 1918, English Channel - ex-coaster, 1,980grt, built 1888, Eleanor SS Co (J Ridley, Son & Tully, Managers), South Shields-reg, hired 8/14 as RFA, Pendant No.Y6.1, armed, Lt Arthur Brain RNR in command, sailing Immingham for Falmouth with government stores including 200 type D depth charges, 605 BE ordinary mines, 570 filled spherical Mk.III AP mines, 30 filled spherical Mk.III GC mines and 229 filled spherical BE mines. Torpedoed by the submerged UB.57 (Johannes Lohs) at 0440, sank immediately 9 miles W by S1/2S of St Catherines Point, Isle of Wight (L/He/te/un - in 50.30N, 01.30W; He/wi - 12 miles ESE of Anvil Point, in 50.30.02N, 01.40.21W), U-boat then surfaced to identify victim; 34 lives including master were lost, 2nd Officer Barton Hunter was the only survivor, picked up by drifter Parisienne. Wreck is much broken up in 120ft with old mines in evidence (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/te/un/wi; ADM.137/691) ELECTRA II [01], hired trawler, 15 April 1916, Dover Straits - 269grt, built 1904, Hull-registered, hired 7/15 as minesweeper, Dover Patrol. (dq/sc - 14th) - Badly damaged in collision, water rose rapidly in the machinery space, engines kept going, ship stayed afloat and reached Dover with decks awash (D/dp/dq/sc) ELECTRA II [02], hired trawler see ST GERMAIN, hired trawler, 15 August 1916, Dover Straits ELLA SAYER, Admiralty chartered collier, 29 April 1918, English Channel - may be spelt Ellis Sayer, 2,549grt, built 1898, Newcastle-reg, Ella Sayer SS, armed, Mr J Doughty, Penarth for Dunkirk with coal. (te/un - 30th) - Torpedoed port-side amidships by UB.57 (Johannes Lohs), sank an hour later 15 miles E by N of Royal Sovereign LV, off Beachy Head (te/un - in 50.49N, 00.48E; wi - in 50.50.30N, 00.47.59E); two crew killed by explosion (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) ELLASTON, Admiralty chartered collier, 6 March 1918, Atlantic off Canaries - 3,192grt, built 1890, Ellaston SS, armed, Barry for Sierra Leone with coal. Captured by U.152 (Constantin Kolbe), sunk with bombs 180 miles W by S true of Palma (L/te - in 28.29N, 21W; te - torpedoed and damaged before capture); master taken prisoner. Kolbe was on British list of war criminals for this sinking, case did not go to court (H/L/ge/os/te/un) ELLERSLIE, Admiralty chartered collier, 3 October 1917, location not known - 299grt. Wrecked, no other details. Note: Lloyds Registers only list Ellerslie, 1906, 3,854grt, Cardiff-reg, owned 1917/18 by Hansen Shipping Co ELMLEAF, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 24 December 1917, Atlantic off NW Scotland - Leaf-class, 5,948grt (12,300 tons), built 1917, armed, Shipping Controller (Lane & Macandrew), London, sailing from Port Arthur with fuel oil. Torpedoed by U.91 (Alfred von Glasenapp) N of North Minch (L/un - in 58.26N, 05.34W), damaged, put into Stornoway (H/L/Mn/D/un) ELSISTON, Admiralty chartered collier, 19 October 1917, Central Mediterranean - 2,908grt, built 1915, Elsiston SS Co, Glasgow, armed, Malta for Suda Bay with war stores. Torpedoed by Austrian U.XIV (Georg Ritter von Trapp), sank 150 miles E by S1/2S of Malta (te/un - in 35.40N, 17.28E); one crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un) EMILY REAICH, hired drifter see ADEQUATE, hired motor drifter, 2 December 1916, Shetlands ENDEAVOUR, hired trawler, 10 March 1918, Orkneys - 156grt, built 1894, Aberdeen-reg A403, G Craig, hired 1915 as boom defence vessel. Run down by tug Heracles, foundered at 1245 at Kirkwall boom (D - off Kirkwall); no lives lost (H/Lr/C/D/dk/He; ADM.137/734) ENDURANCE, hired drifter, 5 April 1916, English Channel - 94grt, built 1907, Fraserburgh-reg, hired 12/15 as net drifter, 1-6pdr AA, Skipper T Wylie. Submarine sighted in Havre Roads near Whistling Buoy, six drifters of the Havre Drifter Flotilla ordered out and shot their nets, Endurance's was fouled, and U.26 in trying to get clear hit Endurance's rudder and put it out of action. U-boat sunk in cooperation with French torpedo boat La Trombe. Endurance towed in by HMS Pleasance; skipper awarded DSC (Mn/D) ENERGY, hired motor drifter, 5 March 1917, North Sea - 45grt, built 1917, Fraserburgh-reg FR7, hired 3/17 probably as harbour tender or coastal service craft, Peterhead for Lowestoft to fit out, probably on maiden voyage, not commissioned at the time. Drove ashore in heavy weather, wrecked in Peterhead Bay, N of Aberdeen (wi - in 57.28.45N, 01.46.30W); no lives lost (H/C/D/dk/wi) ENGLAND, Admiralty chartered collier, 23 May 1917, Central Mediterranean -3,798grt, built 1906, London-reg, J F Drughorn, armed, sailing Cardiff/Bizerta for Malta with coal. Captured by U.65 (Hermann von Fischel), sunk with bombs 40 miles S by E of Cape Bon, Tunisia (te - by gunfire; L/te/un - in 36.20N, 11.15E); three crew lost including master (H/L/Lr/te/un) ENTERPRISE II, Admiralty drifter, 8 March 1916, Adriatic Sea - 84grt, built 1906, Lowestoft-reg LT408, hired 1/15 as net drifter, Admiralty No.1063, Skipper Chesterfield RNR, drifters now back on the Otranto Barrage nets between Cape Otranto and Saseno Is. Returning to Brindisi with group of drifters, mined at 0700, probably laid by UC.12 (Eberhard Frohner) on 3 March, sank off Brindisi (He - about 2 miles N of Cape Pedagne lighthouse); 8 ratings lost (He 2 survivors) (H/L/C/D/He/ap/dk/un; ADM.137/3160) ENTERPRISE, hired drifter see CAPE COLONY, hired drifter, 8 January 1917, North Sea EREBUS, monitor, 28 October 1917, Dover Straits - Erebus-class, 8,450t, 2-15in/2-6in/2-12pdr/1-3in AA, Dover Patrol Monitor Squadron on bombardment duties off the Belgian coast, based at Dover. Hit 9 miles off Ostend by German distance-controlled explosive boat (DCB) FL12 operated from shore by electrical signals sent along an unreeling cable, directed by spotting seaplane and carrying 1,540lb charge. Blew 50ft hole in her bulge but did little damage to the hull; 2 ratings killed, 15 wounded by the blast, members of the crew standing on deck and watching the approaching boat who were unaware of the danger. That same day destroyer Botha hit another one with pom-pom fire and blew it up. Erebus repaired and back in service by 21/11/17 (Cn/D/dq) ERIC CALVERT, Admiralty chartered collier, 22 April 1918, English Channel - 1,962grt, built 1889, Goole-reg, Calvert SS (te/wi differ; un J Mitchell & Sons, Dundee), 1-12pdr, 25 crew, Penarth for Falmouth/Boulogne with coal, slowing to enter Falmouth defences. Torpedoed by UB.103 (Paul Hundius) starboard-side abaft engine room at 0200, sank 4 miles SSW of St Anthony Head, Cornwall (L - 2 miles SE of Falmouth boom defence; un/wi - in 50.04.30N, 05.01.45W); two crew lost, survivors picked up by boom defence vessel and landed at Falmouth (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) ERIDGE, paddle minesweeper, October 1917, off S Ireland - Ascot-class, 810t, 23/2/16, believed Queenstown-based 8th Fast Sweeping Flotilla. One of two minesweepers in collision with US destroyers off Queenstown (Cobh), Co Cork during the month, in this case, USS Wadsworth 1,205t. The other sweeper was Zinnia (D/gr/sc) ERINS ISLE, paddle minesweeper, 7 February 1919, North Sea - 633grt, built 1912, hired 21/11/15, 1-6pdr/1-6pdr AA, P/No.571, Lieutenant Richard Plowman, post war sweeping operations. At anchor, and at 0600 detonated drifting mine, broke up and sank rapidly near Edinburgh LV, Nore in Thames Estuary; 24 ratings lost (J/C/Cn/D/He/dx; ADM.116/2062) ERMINE, fleet messenger, 2 August 1917, Aegean Sea - 1,777grt, built 1912, G & J Burns, Glasgow-reg, hired c16/7/15, Pendant No.Y4.25, Lieutenant Matthew Boggan DSC RNR. Sailed from Stavros, Salonika peninsula at midnight on the 1st, with naval stores and passengers for Mudros, Lemnos island. Mined starboard side at 0100, laid by UC.23 (Volkhard von Bothmer), quickly sank by the head with little time to launch boats (He/un mined in 40.39N, 23.34E; other sources - either torpedoed or mined); 3 officers, 3 ratings, 17 MMR lost (He 24 men lost (H/J/L/Lr/C/Cn/D/He/dk/te/un; ADM.137/3690) ESKBURN, hired drifter, 30 November 1916, Dover Straits - 90grt, built 1914, Whitby-reg WY18, Robert Milburn, hired 1914 (D - 1/15) as net drifter, Admiralty No.747, Dover Patrol, Skipper John Crane RNR. In collision with paddle minesweeper Kylemore off Dover (wi - damaged off Dover, made The Downs, sank 1m E by S of Old Stairs Bay, Kingsdown, in 51.10.50N, 01.25.50E; He - foundered in Old Stairs Bay, Kent, in 51.11.10N, 01.25.50E); no lives lost (H/C/D/He/dk/dq/wi; ADM.137/312) ESKMERE, Admiralty chartered collier, 13 October 1917, Irish Sea - 2,293grt, built 1916, The Bromport SS Co, Liverpool, armed, Belfast for Barry in ballast. Torpedoed by UC.75 (Johannes Lohs), sank 15 miles WNW of South Stack Rock, Anglesey (wi - in 53.38N, 05W); 20 lives lost including master (H/L/Lr/Mn/te/un/wi) ETAL MANOR, Admiralty chartered collier, 19 September 1917, St George's Channel - 1,875grt, built 1916, John Fenwick & Son, Newcastle, sailing Barry for Queenstown (Cobh) with coal. Torpedoed by UC.48 (Kurt Ramien), sank 7 miles S by W of Hook Point, Co Wexford (L/wi - 10 miles due S of the LH, in 51.58N, 06.50W); 6 lives lost including master (H/L/Lr/dk/te/un/wi) ETHEL & MILLIE, Q-ship see NELSON (G. & E.), Q-ship, 15 August 1917, North Sea ETHEL DUNCAN, Admiralty chartered collier, 18 October 1916, Atlantic off N Scotland - one of two colliers - sister was Agnes Duncan, ordered to meet Naval requirements and amongst the largest engines-aft colliers of the period, 2,510grt, built 1912, Cardiff-reg, Ethel Duncan SS, on long-term charter to Admiralty prewar, 22 crew, Mr A Murphy, from Cardiff with coal. U.20 (Walther Schwieger) sighted 3 1/2m away, opened fire at 0910, continued to chase for an hour hitting her four times, master stopped engines and abandoned ship at 1020, U-boat fired two or possibly three torpedoes hitting her once, then fired more shells before Ethel Duncan went down at 1155, about 40 miles WNW from Noop Head, Westray island, Orkneys (W/te - in 59.25N, 04.36W), ships papers destroyed by the master before torpedoes fired, rigged sails on the lifeboats and headed for the Orkneys, picked up by trawler Valta 22 miles W of Noup Head and landed at Stornaway (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) ETHELBALD, drifter (not known if in Admiralty service) see NOBLE, destroyer, 4 August 1916, North Sea ETHNEE, hired drifter, Tuesday 15 January 1918, Dover Straits - 86grt, built 1913, North Shields-reg SN227, hired 1914 (D - 1/15) as net drifter, Admiralty No.754, Dover Patrol, based at Dover, Skipper George Hammond RNR. Driven ashore around 0700 in gale force winds on the Goodwin Sands, off Deal and broke up (D - Goodwins, near Fork Light; wi - in 51.16N, 01.32E, but in an unidentified position); no lives lost. See also ML.278 (H/C/D/He/dk/dq/wi; ADM.1/84960, ADM.137/684) ETTON, Admiralty collier, 20 September 1916, Barents Sea - 2,831grt, built 1905, Hull-reg, Etton SS, Barry for Archangel with coal. Mined, laid by U.75 (Kurt Beitzen), sank off Sviatoi Nos on Kola Penisula (te - in 67.36N, 41.20E); one crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un) ETTRICK, destroyer, 7 July 1917, English Channel - E-class, 550t, 412pdr/218in tt, 25kts, 70 crew, Pendant No.D.32, assigned to Patrol Flotillas. Originally described as mined, possibly laid by UC.61, but listed by Uboat.net as torpedoed by UC.61 (Georg Gerth) 15 miles SW of Beachy Head, lost bow up to and including bridge (dx - sunk 15 miles S by W of Beachy Head); 48 ratings killed (un 49). Sold 5/19 to James Dredging for BU (C/Cn/D/dk/dx/un) EUSTON (1), hired trawler, 12 February 1917, North Sea - 209grt, built 1906, Fleetwood-reg FD67, Lune Steam Fishing, hired 6/15 as minesweeper (wi - armed trawler), 1-3pdr, Admiralty No.1589, Skipper William Christian RNR. Mined, laid by UC.30 (Heinrich Stenzler) earlier that day, sank at 1030 near Longmoor buoy off Hartlepool, Durham (He - 54.40.20N, 01.19.10N; wi - in 54.40.26N, 01.09.02W); Skipper and 10 ratings lost (He only 2 crew saved) (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/ft/un/wi; ADM.137/358) EUSTON (2), Admiralty chartered collier, 25 October 1917, Central Mediterranean - 2,841grt, built 1910, London-reg, Euston SS, armed, Cardiff/Malta for Mudros with coal. (H/L - 24th) - Torpedoed by UC.34 (Horst Obermόller) (un not Austrian U.XIV as in other sources), sank 37 miles SW of Cape Matapan, Greece (L - 36.40N, 22.21E; te - in 34.53N, 19.50E; un in 35.33N, 21.48E); one crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un) EVADNE, hired trawler, 27 February 1917, English Channel - 189grt, built 1907, Hull-reg H.945, Great Northern SS Fishing, hired 1915 (D - 9/14) as minesweeper, 1-3pdr, Admiralty No.148, Skipper W Motley (He - Skipper John Barron RNR). Mined at 1030, laid by UC.65 (Otto Steinbrinck) on 25 February, sank off Owers LV, SE of Selsey Bill (He - about 8 miles S of the Owers; wi - in 50.39.30N, 00.41.15W); 1 officer, 11 ratings lost (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/hw/un/wi; ADM.137/362) EVANGEL, hired trawler, 25 March 1917, St George's Channel - 197grt, built 1914, Grimsby-reg GY970, Consolidated Steam Fishing & Ice, hired 1916 (D - 3/15) as minesweeper (wi - patrol mine sweeper), 1-6pdr, Admiralty No.1408, Milford Haven-based, Skipper William Winchester RNR. Mined, laid by UC.48 (Kurt Ramien), sank off St Ann's Head, W entrance to Milford Haven (He - about 5 cables NNE of Barrels light vessel off Milford Haven; wi - in 51.40N, 05.10W); Skipper, 14 ratings lost, no survivors (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/ps/un/wi; ADM.137/392) EVENING STAR, hired drifter see CALISTOGA, hired drifter, 13 May 1916, Adriatic EVERARD, hired drifter, 15 January 1916, St George's Channel - 82grt, built 1907, Inverness-reg INS30, hired 2/15 as net drifter, Admiralty No.2460, Skipper William Cordiner RNR. In collision with the armed trawler Penguin (190grt) at 6.20am, both ships darkened, sank off Tuskar Rock, off Rosslare (He 12 miles SE of Tuskar Rock); no lives lost (H/C/D/He/dk; ADM.137/209, ADM.137/897) EXCELLENT, Admiralty chartered collier, 9 January 1917, Atlantic off N Scotland - 1,944grt, built 1907, Sunderland-reg, Westoll Line, 19 crew including five Arabs, seven British, one Greek, five Japanese, one Norwegian, master, Mr J Robertson, Penarth for Lerwick/Swarback Minns with coal, government stores. U.70 (Otto Wunsche) surfaced off the port bow and opened fire at 1545, master stopped engines and abandoned ship, sunk by gunfire 40 miles NW from Noop Head, Westray island (te - 40 miles NE of, in 59.37N, 04.18W; wi - in 59.37N, 04.18W); master taken prisoner, survivors afloat for 36 hours, rescued by trawler and landed in Orkneys (+L/Lr/te/un/wi) F
F. MATARAZZO, Admiralty collier, 15 November 1916, Central Mediterranean - 2,823grt, built 1906, London-reg, F Matarazzo SS, armed, from Cardiff with coal. Torpedoed by U.64 (Robert Moraht), sank 26 miles ENE of Linosa Is, off Tunisia (L - in 35.05N, 13.20E) (H/L/Lr/te/un) FAIR MAID, paddle minesweeper, 9 November 1916, North Sea - 430grt, built 1915, Glasgow-reg, building for North British Steam Packet Co 8/14, fitted out and requisitioned July 1915 (D - purchased), 1-6pdr, Pendant No.589, joined Grimsby Paddlers, crew of 40 or 50, Lt William Bayne RNR i/c, nicknamed Hurricane Bill, sailed Lowestoft in the morning with three other paddlers to sweep War Channel, joined sweeps with Cambridge near Cockle LV, sweeping near Cross Sand LV. Mined amidships at 0815, laid by UC.18 (Wilhelm Kiel), blew huge hole from bridge to after well-deck, almost broke in two, after end of vessel swung clear of fore part, Devonia closed to tow but she sank within 20min of the explosion off Winterton-on-Sea, Norfolk, near Cross Sand Buoy (do - 1 mile W of East Cross Sands buoy; wi - in 52.37N, 01.58E); 1 officer, 3 ratings and 1 MMR killed, others blown overboard and injured, survivors rescued by boats from Cambridge, Devonia and Duchess of Buccleuch, landed at Lowestoft (H/J/L/Lr/C/Cn/D/He*/dk/do/sc/wi; ADM.137/3196) FAME, Q-ship, 19 November 1916, North Sea - (Cn/D/He - Revenge, ex-Fame, also known as Fame), Q-ship/special service ship, auxiliary motor sailing smack, c39grt, built 1898, Lowestoft-reg LT1020, taken up 21/1/16 on Admiralty service. Dragged her anchors in easterly gale off South Holm buoy, in collision with paddle minesweeper that had come to her assistance, foundered off Lowestoft (He - 52.30.35N 01.45.55E; no lives lost (H/Cn/D/He/dk/qs; ADM.137/310) FANDANGO, tunnel screw minesweeper, 3 July 1919, North Russia - ex-War Department T.98, Dance-class, 1917, P/No.T.2N, Chief Boatswain Thomas Joseph Vosper. Taking part in mine clearance operations 200 miles up the river Dvina, near the town of Troitsa. Sweeping as a pair with Step Dance. Although the channel had been sept three times, mined under her stern and totally wrecked, sank in Dvina River off Troitsa (dk - near Selso); 1 officer, 7 ratings killed (J/C/Cn/D/He/dk/ke; ADM.137/3817) FARNBOROUGH [01], Q-ship, 22 March 1916, Atlantic off SW Ireland - ex-Lodorer, aka Lodorer, Sandyford, Q-ship/special service ship, collier, 3,207grt, built 1904, Admiralty collier Pendant No.Y3.859, hired as decoy ship Q.5 (D - in service 22/10/15; qs - 6/4/16!), 5-12pdr/2-6pdr/1 Maxim mg, Lt-Cdr Gordon Campbell, steaming at 8kts in 51.54N, 10.53W. Sighted U-boat which dived, attacked around 0700 by torpedo which missed, submarine surfaced and "panic party" got away, enemy closed and Farnborough opened fire. U.68 hit before she went down, depth charge dropped, came back to the surface, hit a number of times and went down, finished off by two more depth-charges, Farnborough was not believed damaged in the action; Lt-Cdr Campbell promoted Commander and awarded first of three DSOs, £1,000 paid out in prize money in £1.18s.1d/£1.90 shares (Cn/D/qs/sk/ub/un/vc) FARNBOROUGH [02], Q-ship, 17 February 1917, Atlantic W of Ireland - ex-Lodorer, aka Lodorer, Sandyford, special service/submarine decoy/Q-ship, collier, 3,207grt, built 1904, Admiralty chartered collier, Pendant No.Y3.859, hired as decoy ship Q.5, 5-12pdr/2-6pdr/1 Maxim mg, (D - entered service 22/10/15; qs - 6/4/16), Cdr Gordon Campbell DSO, holds crammed with buoyant timber, on patrol in Western Approaches for 17 days. Torpedo seen approaching starboard side around 0945, ship steered to avoid hit in engine-room, struck No.3 hold but burst engine-room bulkhead, panic party away, engine-room flooded. Submarine approached submerged, came to the surface 300yds off at 1005, shortly after rapid and accurate fire was opened, conning tower and hull shattered, U.83 went to the bottom (dx - 67 miles W of Fastnet, in 51.34N, 05.44W; ub - 51.34N, 11.23W). Boats recalled but engine and boiler-rooms, Nos 3, 4 & after holds filling rapidly, and assistance called for, destroyer Narwhal came up and took off the crew, sloop Buttercup arrived and took the Q-ship in tow. Water gaining, depth charge exploded and Buttercup cast off, but the timber cargo kept her afloat, now sloop Laburnam took her in tow for Berehaven, beached in Mill Cove next day; Cdr Gordon Campbell DSO was awarded the Victoria Cross, other awards totalled two DSOs, three DSCs, ten DSMs, 24 MID. Crew paid off and went into barracks in Devonport, most volunteered to join Cdr Campbell in his next Q-ship (D/dx/qs/sk/ub/un/vc) FAULKNOR, flotilla leader, 25 September 1917, Belgian coast - mined and damaged off Zeebrugge, one man killed and two DOW (dk) FAUVETTE, armed boarding steamer, 9 March 1916, southern North Sea - 2,644grt, built 1912, London-reg, General Steam Navigation Co, hired 2-3/15 as RFA store carrier Pendant No.Y8.44, armed boarding steamer from 19/3/15, 2-12pdr, Pendant No.MI.26, Cdr H Wilson RNR, had served in Dardanelles campaign as both store carrier and ABS, present duties uncertain viz. (He returning to London from Mediterranean; L/te/wi - sailing Girgenti or Agrigento, Sicily for London in ballast, but wi - also steaming toward the Thames on duty as an ABS; ke - on examination duty in The Downs). Mined, probably twice, laid by UC.7 (Georg Haag) (He UB.29 according to some sources) the previous day, reportedly detonated one, drifted, then hit a second, sank in as little as four minutes probably off North Foreland, Kent (H - in North Sea; J - off East coast; L - off Ramsgate; ke/wi - 30 miles E by N of North Foreland, in 51.27.55N, 02.13.05E; He/te - in the Downs, off North Foreland, in 51.24N, 01.29E); 15 lives lost - 3 officers, 7 ratings, 5 MN (He 14 lost; wi - 2 officers, 12 ratings drowned), survivors including the CO got away in the two port-side lifeboats (H/J/L/Lr/C/Cn/D/He/dk/ke/te/un/wi; ADM.1/8450/53) FERNLEAF [01], Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 10 June 1917, Atlantic off SW Ireland - Leaf-class, 5,838grt/12,300t, armed. Chased by U-boat, saved by own gunfire (H/Mn/D) FERNLEAF [02], Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 25 June 1917, Atlantic - Leaf-class, 5,838grt/12,300t, armed, Queenstown for Port Arthur in ballast. U-boat gun attack (L - in 44.45N, 29.18W; un not listed), saved by own gunfire, listed by Lloyds as damaged (H/L/D) FERRET, destroyer, 18 January 1917, English Channel - 778t, 1911. Torpedoed and damaged by UC.21 (Reinhold Saltzwedel) SE of St Catherines Point, Isle of Wight, one rating died of wounds that day (dk/un only) FIFI [01], armed steamer, ex-German Kingani see TOUTOU, armed motor boat, 14 January 1916, German East Africa Campaign FIFI [02], armed steamer see MIMI, gunboat, 9 February 1916, German East Africa Campaign FILEY, Admiralty trawler, 2 October 1916, Atlantic off N Ireland - 226grt, built 1914, Hull-reg H8, Hull Steam Fishing, purchased 1915, in service from 3/15, 1-12pdr, Admiralty No.1363, Skipper Daniel Stather RNR, serving as patrol vessel. Driven ashore in high winds and seas in Camusmore Bay, Tory Is, off Co Donegal, wrecked and abandoned; no lives lost. Salved 1917 (D/He - salved in 1917 and re-acquired July 1918), believed assigned new Admiralty No.3826, sold 1920 (H/Lr/C/D/He/dk/hw; ADM.137/282) FINROSS, hired drifter, 26 November 1916, Southern Adriatic area - 78grt, built 1911, Londonderry-reg LY872, hired 10/15 as net drifter, 157mm, Admiralty No.2726, Otranto Barrage drifter line, Skipper James Third RNR. (C - 27th) - Ran ashore and wrecked near Gallipoli (not the Dardanelles), Gulf of Taranto (un mined, laid by UC.14); no lives lost (H/C/D/He/ap/dk/un) FIONA, armed boarding steamer, 6 September 1917, North Sea - 1,611grt, built 1905, Leith-reg, London & Edinburgh Shipping, hired 28/11/14, 1-4in/1-12pdr, Pendant No. M.17, Commander Sidney Ralph Martin Tyrer RNR. Departed Longhope at midnight for Lerwick. Ran aground at 0100 in dense fog, and wrecked on Clettack Skerry, most easterly of Pentland Skerries in Pentland Firth (wi - in 58.41N, 02.53.30W), tugs unable to salvage her and wreck abandoned; 3 ratings lost (wi - no loss of life) (H/J/Lr/C/Cn/D/He/dk/wi; ADM.137/513) FIREDRAKE, destroyer, 27 April 1916, North Sea - UC.5 grounded off Harwich, scuttled on arrival of Firedrake, raised and exhibited in Britain (dx) FIREFLY [01], river gunboat see MANTIS, river gunboat, 26 February 1917, Mesopotamian Campaign FIREFLY [02], river gunboat see MANTIS, river gunboat, 8 March 1917, Mesopotamian Campaign FIRST PRIZE, Q-ship, 30 April 1917, Atlantic off SW England - ex-Else, aka Else, Prize, listed in HMSO as Else, special service/submarine decoy/Q-ship, 3-mast auxiliary schooner, 227grt, built 1901, entered service (D - 6/11/16; qs - 6/4/16) as Q.21, 3-12pdr, Lt W Sanders RNR. In action with U.93 south of Ireland (dx - 120 miles SW of Fastnet) in the early evening, shelled, crippled and nearly sinking, but in return appeared to have sunk the U-boat by heavy return fire at point-blank range, U-boat captain and two crew rescued from the water by the panic party". U.93 made port and Prize managed to reach the Irish coast with all hands at the pumps including the prisoners. Acting Lt William Edward Sanders RNR, HM Q-ship First Prize was awarded the Victoria Cross (Cn/D/dx/qs/sk/vc) FLICKER, hired trawler, 4 March 1916, Dover Straits 192grt, built 1911, Hull-reg H334, Kellsall Bros & Beeching, hired 1915 (D - 11/14), 1-3pdr, Admiralty No.413, Skipper George West RNR, Dover Patrol, patrolling off minefield laid by UC.6, 2 miles SW of Dover Pier warning shipping to keep clear, no longer on station morning of 4th, disappeared (He - night of 4th/ 5th), and no wreckage found. Believed mined, laid by UC.6 (Matthias Graf von Schmettow), sank (wi - in 51.07N, 01.27E); Skipper and 13 ratings lost, no survivors, one body was found floating in its lifebelt on the 5th (H/L/Lr/C/D/dk/dq/hw/sc/un/wi; ADM.1/8449/47) FLIRT, destroyer, 1 June 1916, Dover Straits - C-class, 440t, 1-12pdr/5-6pdr/2-18in tt, Dover Patrol. Three officers including the CO, Lt A Swainson and 3 ratings drowned, perhaps night of 1st/2nd, incident not known, Lt Swainson buried at Bexhill, Surrey. Note: new CO Lt R Kellett appointed on 5 June 1916 (D/dk/dp/dq) FLY, whaler see MERSEY, monitor, 4 September 1916 German East Africa Campaign FLYCATCHER, ex-Turkish motor patrol boat see BUTTERFLY, gunboat, 4 January 1916, Mesopotamian Campaign FLYING FALCON, Admiralty rescue tug, 1 September 1917, North Channel - 184grt, built 1904, Glasgow-reg, Clyde Shipping, hired 30/6/17, Pendant No.W.27, probably commissioned, despatched from Lough Swilly to join escort of inbound convoy, now heading back in heavy seas. Tow ropes swept over the stern and fouled propeller, drifted towards island of Islay, anchors let go but cables snapped, driven up sandy beach at Machrie Bay on south of island (not Machir Bay on the west) and sank into sand; three crew drowned trying to launch a boat. Casualty list dates the death of the three crew as 27 September 1917. Salvaged two years later, sold back to owners, hire continued to 1920 (Lr/Mn/C/D/dk/tu) FLYING SPRAY, rescue tug see RAVENSTONE, possibly Q-ship, 21 May 1917, believed Atlantic FORELAND, Admiralty chartered collier, 12 February 1917, North Sea - 1,960grt, built 1914, Shipping & Coal Co, London-reg, Mr W Lloyd, sailing Blyth for Devonport with coal. Mined, laid by UC.11 (Benno von Ditfurth), sank 6 miles S3/4W of Shipwash LV, off Orford Ness, Suffolk (L - 6 miles S of; te - 6 miles S1/4W of, in 51.56N, 01.40E; wi - 6 miles S of, in 51.57N, 01.41.15E) (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) FORNEBO, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 17 June 1917, Atlantic off N Scotland - 4,259grt, built 1906, London-reg, Fornebo SS, armed (sl - Admiralty oiler No.148, presumably Y7.148), Mr W Barnes, Port Arthur for UK with fuel oil. Torpedoed by U.78 (Otto Drφscher), sank 4 miles N of Cape Wrath (wi - in 58.41.30N, 05.01.30W) (H/L/Lr/wi/sl/te/un) FORTUNE, destroyer see KING EDWARD VII, predreadnought, 6 January 1916, Atlantic N of Scotland FORWARD III, hired drifter, 31 March 1917, North Sea - 89grt, built 1907, Banff-reg BF624, Alexander Bruce, hired 3/15 (un as net barrier tender), 1-6pdr AA, Admiralty No.2298, Skipper James Mitchell RNR. With division of six drifters sailing from Harwich at daylight to sweep and patrol near Sunk buoy. Mined at 1320, laid by UC.6 (Werner von Zerboni di Sposetti) some days earlier, exploded under keel amidships off the Shipwash, off Orford Ness, Suffolk (He/wi - in 51.58.20N, 01.47.30E), vanished in smoke and water with nothing left; Skipper, 9 ratings lost, no survivors (H/L/C/D/He/dk/sc/un/wi; ADM.137/3229) FOYLE, destroyer, 15 March 1917, English Channel - E-class, c550t, 1903, 4-12pdr/2-18in tt, 25kts, 70 crew, Pendant No.D.20 from 9/15, Dover Patrol, but on patrol in Western Channel, Lt-Cdr Frederick Thompson RNR. Mined at 0405, laid by UC.68 (Hans Degetau) in 50.11N, 03.58W, bow blown off forward of bridge, stern taken in tow at first light for Plymouth, became unstable and foundered at 1500 in 50.16N, 04.10W where wreck has been located (He off the Mewstone, a few miles from Plymouth; wi - off Dover, in 51.07N, 01.27E; un the Dover location is wrong); 30 ratings lost (He/un 28 crew lost) (H/J/C/Cn/D/He/dk/dq/un/wi; ADM.137/389) FRANK, hired tug see THAMES (3), Admiralty screw tug, 16 February 1918, North Sea FREUCHNY, hired drifter, 8 January 1916, Adriatic Sea - Italian transport Citta di Palermo carrying troops including about 150 British, mined 10 miles off Brindisi, 21 hired drifters steamed into the area and picked up about 100 survivors, two drifters ran onto mines and blew up, the remainder continued the rescue work. According to Uboat.net, UC.14 laid the minefield, but Caser Bauer, who was in command until the 6th laid the mines that sank the two drifters and Franz Becker (in command from the 7th), the mines that accounted for Citta di Palermo. As Bauer went on to command UB.46 from the 12 June 1916, it can perhaps be conjectured that he fell ill: FREUCHNY (L - Frenchny; C - Freunchy), 84grt, built 1908, Buckie-reg BCK.29, hired 4/15 as net drifter, Admiralty No.2506, Skipper Joseph Cowie RNR. Skipper and 7 ratings lost, just one survivor. Note: Freuchny Road is in Buckie and is presumably the correct spelling (H/L/Mn/C/D/He/ap/dk/un; ADM.137/3162; Caualty list); MORNING STAR, hired drifter, 8 January 1916, Adriatic Sea - 97grt, Fraserburgh-reg FR.237, hired 2/15 as net drifter, Admiralty No.2286, Skipper Peter Buchan RNR. Skipper, 8 ratings lost, all hands (H/L/Mn/C/D/He/ap/dk/un; ADM.137/3162; Casualty list). The Hepper account is different. In this the group of drifters sailed from Brindisi at 0730 for their Otranto Barrage station. As they cleared the harbour, the Italian steamer Brindisi was mined and started sinking, the drifters went to her aid, and first Freunchy and then Morning Star were mined, both due to UC.14. No mention is made of Italian transport Citta di Palermo (He) FRIGATE BIRD, hired drifter, 11 March 1918, Central Mediterranean - 84grt, built 1905, Buckie-reg BCK68, hired 1916 (D - 2/15) as net drifter, 1-57mm, Admiralty No.2276. Skipper Frederick Hayhoe RNR. In collision with SS Theseus, sank off Marsa Scirocco, Malta; 1 officer, 8 ratings lost (He skipper and 7 crew) (H/C/D/He/dk; ADM.1/8496/190, ADM.1/8518/83) FROSTAXE Admiralty trawler, 29 April 1919, English Channel - In collision with Greek merchant ship Epiros and sunk off Newhaven. Epiros lowered boat to pick up survivors; 9 lives lost, 11 survivors (He 7 survivors) (D/He/dk) FURIOUS, aircraft carrier, 2 August 1917, British waters - First deck landing on a moving ship was made by Sqdn-Cdr Dunning on Furious flying a Sopwith Pup. He was killed on the 7th in a later attempt (dx) G
G.8, submarine, 14 January 1918, North Sea - G-class, c703/837t, 1/5/16, 1-3in AA/1-21in with 2 torpedoes/4-18in tt with 8 torpedoes, 14/9kts, 30 crew, Pendant No.I.OC, believed Tees-based 10th Flotilla, Lt John Tryon, sailed for North Sea Patrol, failed to return on 14th, overdue, presumed lost. Probably by 14th - Lost, cause unknown, possibly mined or accident; 3 officers, 29 ratings lost (ke - 30 lost), Commonwealth War Graves Commission dates casualty losses on 3 January, possibly G.8's departure date (H/J/C/Cn/D/He/bw/dk/ke/on) G.9, submarine see NOBLE, destroyer, 4 August 1916, North Sea G.9, submarine, 16 September 1917, North Sea - G-class, 703t/837t, 15/6/16, 1-3in AA/1-21in with 2 torpedoes/4-18in tt with 8 torpedoes, 14/9kts, 30 crew, Pennant No.I.1C, possibly Grand Fleet-based 11th Flotilla, Lt-Cdr Hon Byron Cary, sailed from Scapa Flow on 9th for patrol off Norwegian North Sea coast, warned of U-boat in area also that a convoy would be passing through. Made submerged attack just after midnight on what was thought to be a German warship, in fact a British destroyer (He confirmed as Pasley; J/C/D - Petard; bw/dx/ke - Pasley, both Grand Fleet ships) escorting a Scandinavian convoy to Lerwick, one torpedo hit amidships and failed to explode, the other missed astern, the destroyer in turn assumed the attacker was a German U-boat and rammed just before the conning tower, sinking her in about 30sec even though at the last minute it was realised she was British; 4 officers, 29 ratings lost (bw - 30 lost), one survivor, Stoker William Drake was picked up. Collision damage to destroyer not known, however Petard joined 1st LCS at Rosyth a month later on 17/10/17 (H/J/C/Cn/D/He/bw/dk/dx/ke; ADM.137/3709) G.13, submarine, 10 March 1917, Atlantic - UC.43 sunk by G.13 in off N Shetlands (dx) G.S.P., hired drifter, 2 February 1917, English Channel - 100grt, built 1916, Yarmouth-reg YH487, hired 1917 (D - 12/16) as net drifter, Admiralty No.2989. Based at Poole, Dorset. In collision with new destroyer Radiant then carrying out builder's speed trials, sank 6 miles south of Owers LV, SE of Selsey Bill; 5 ratings lost, 4 survived (+C/D/dk; ADM.137/355) GADFLY [01], river gunboat see BUTTERFLY, river gunboat, 4 January 1916, Mesopotamian Campaign GADFLY [02], river gunboat, 14 January 1916, Mesopotamian Campaign - Fly-class, in service late 1915, 98t, 1-4in/1-12pdr/1-6pdr/1-3pdr AA/1-2pdr/4mg, during the first attempt to relieve Kut, the British flotilla reconnoitred Turkish positions, Gadfly carrying the Senior Naval Officer. Hit by 4.8in shell; no lives lost. Sent south to Abadan for repairs (Rn/Cn/D/dk) GADFLY [03], river gunboat - see MANTIS, river gunboat, 24 February 1917, Mesopotamian Front GADFLY [04], river gunboat see MANTIS, river gunboat, 26 February 1917, Mesopotamian Campaign GADFLY [05], river gunboat see MANTIS, river gunboat, 8 March 1917, Mesopotamian Campaign GAELIC, Q-ship, 22 April 1917, Bristol Channel - Q.22. Damaged in action with UC.57 (Paul Hundius) off Minehead, Somerset; two crew killed (D/dk/un) GAFSA, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 28 March 1917, Atlantic off S Ireland - 3,974grt, built 1902, London-reg, English & American Shipping, 1-12pdr, 39 crew, Port Arthur for Queenstown with 4,900t fuel oil for orders, escorted by warship. Torpedoed by U.57 (Carl-Siegfried Ritter von Georg), possibly hit twice in engine-room at 1715, sank quickly 10 miles SE1/2S of Kinsale Head, Co Cork (L - 8 miles S by E of; te - in 51.31N, 08.18W); seven engine-room crew killed by explosion, survivors got away in two boats, picked up by escort, landed at Queenstown (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) GALATEA [01], light cruiser, 4 May 1916, North Sea - Light cruisers Galatea and Phaeton damaged German Navy airship L.7 (Production No. LZ.32) with gunfire in the North Sea, south of Horns Reef LV, submarine E.31 finished her off and rescued survivors (dx) GALATEA [02], light cruiser, 10 December 1918, North Sea - Arethusa-class, 3,500t. In collision with and sank SS MOTO 1,941grt off Amble, near Coquet Island (ms 20 miles N of the Tyne) (gr/ms/wi) GAMBRI, hired trawler, 18 January 1918, English Channel - 274grt, built 1916, Grant & Baker, Grimsby-reg GY992, hired 4/17 as minesweeper (wi - as patrol vessel), 1-6pdr, Admiralty No.1263, Chief Skipper George Bee RNR. Mined at 1015, laid by UC.71 (Ernst Steindorff) that day, sank off Royal Sovereign Light Vessel, off Beachy Head, near Eastbourne (He/un 3/4 mile off Royal Sovereign LV; un also SE of Isle of Wight; wi - adjacent to or 1/4 m E by S of, in 50.43.23N, 00.26.32E); Skipper, 1 officer and 20 ratings lost (He/un 21 men lost) (H/L/C/D/He/dk/un/wi; ADM.1/8512/27) GARFIELD, Admiralty chartered collier, 15 January 1917, Eastern Mediterranean - 3,838grt, built 1907, Newcastle-reg, Northern Petroleum Tank SS, armed, Barry/Malta for Port Said with coal. Torpedoed by U.39 (Walter Forstmann), sank 60 miles NE by N1/2N of Alexandria; master taken prisoner (+L/Lr/te/un) GARLAND, destroyer see AUSTRALIA, battlecruiser, 22 April 1916, North Sea GARRIGIL, drifter see QUARRIE KNOWE, drifter, 4 August 1916, Adriatic GARTLAND, Admiralty collier, 3 January 1918, English Channel - 2,613grt, built 1892, Gart SS Co (Whimster & Co), Glasgow, 1 -3in HA, 27 crew, Mr J Geddes, Newcastle for Gibraltar with coal. Torpedoed by UB.30 (Wilhelm Rhein) port-side abreast the engine-room at 0315, ship abandoned, seen to sink at 0325, 5 miles ESE of Owers LV, off Sussex (wi - in 50.37N, 00.34.30W); two crew killed by torpedo explosion, survivors picked up by SS Numima, landed at St Helen's, IoW (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) GASCONIA, Admiralty chartered collier, 16 November 1917, Western Mediterranean - 3,801grt, built 1915, Gascony SS Co, Liverpool, armed, sailing Barry for Malta with coal and government stores. Torpedoed by U.63 (Otto Schultze), sank 12 miles NE1/2E of Shershel/Cape Cherchell, W of Algiers; three crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un) GENA, Admiralty chartered collier, 1 May 1917, North Sea - 2,784grt, built 1893, Whitby-reg, Thomas Turnbull, 1-15pdr, 26 crew, Mr W Peguiro, sailing from Tyne with coal under sealed orders, pilot on board. Two German seaplanes sighted low down and approaching fast from the east, one dropped a torpedo which hit at 0545, sank rapidly 3/4m S by W1/2W of 'A' War Channel Buoy, off Southwold, Suffolk (wi 3/4m S by W of, in 52.11.28N, 01.46.10E); survivors picked up by patrol vessel and landed at Lowestoft. Wreck Index reports that one of the seaplanes was shot down by the ships gunners and the flight crew taken prisoner by a patrol vessel (H/L/Lr/wi) GENERAL CRAUFORD, monitor see BOTHA, flotilla leader, 21 March 1918, Dover Straits GENTIAN, fleet sweeping sloop, 30 May 1916, North Sea one of t wo warships attacked by German U-boats deployed in support of the High Seas Fleet operation leading to the Battle of Jutland. Apart from these two attacks the U-boats played no part in Jutland; GENTIAN, Arabis-class, Grand Fleet sweeping flotilla, with other minesweepers. Attacked (Rn - by U.43; ju - only U.41 and U.44 on patrol off Pentland firth) about 40 miles due E of Pentland Firth early in the afternoon, avoided the torpedo (Rn/D/gf/ja/ju/kt); TRIDENT, destroyer, Talisman-class, attendant destroyer, Blyth-based 11th Submarine Flotilla. Attacked by U.63 off the Firth of Forth, avoided the torpedo (D/ja/gf/kt) GEORGE MILBURN, hired trawler, 12 July 1917, Atlantic off SW Ireland - 235grt, built 1916, Aberdeen-reg A634, R Irvin & Sons, hired 7/16 as minesweeper, 1-6pdr AA, Admiralty No.3301, Skipper W Cowling (He - Skipper George Henry Lucas RNR. Note: Skipper Lucas included in casualty list, but not Skipper Cowling). Sailing Queenstown (Cobh) for Conningbeg and return, escorting oiler Wylie as far as Conningbeg, relief escort failed to turn up and proceeded together. Seen to blow up around 1 1/2m S of Dunmore Naval Station around 1740, mined amidships, laid by UC.42 (Otto Heinrich Tornow) on 14 June and sank (wi - between 1/4 & 1 1/2 miles off Dunmore, Co Waterford, in 52.09.20N, 06.58.45W; un 1 1/2 miles off); 1 officer, 10 ratings lost, only survivor was Trimmer Davies RNR, on deck at the time who found himself in the sea, clambered onto the ships upturned small boat which had floated off, picked up about 15min later by Waterford-reg fishing boat W.229. A leading seaman with a head wound also got on the boat but slid off and drowned. Note: Court of Enquiry held on board HMS Colleen, Queenstown on the 30th (H/C/D/He/dk/wi; ADM.137/3265) GERMAN DESTROYER RAID ON DOVER STRAITS, 23 November 1916 - Thirteen German destroyers of 9th TBF plus Flanders Half Flotilla sailed to attack the northern entrance to The Downs, arrived off North Foreland at 2100 then steamed at slow speed for the anchorage. Acceptable, one of 12 vessels of the 2nd Division, Ramsgate drifters was on patrol near Broadstairs and at 2250 sighted six destroyers passing under her stern only 150yds away, failed to realise they were German. As the last ship passed, Acceptable and nearby Buckler came under fire, the alarm was raised, the three destroyers guarding The Downs slipped, but by this time, after firing a few rounds at Margate, the Germans had gone: ACCEPTABLE, hired
drifter, 82grt, built 1911, Lowestoft-reg, hired
12/14, 1-6pdr, Sub-Lt W FitzGerald RNR. Steamed clear
but badly hit above deck; no casualties listed
(Rn/Mn/D/ap/dk)
GERMAN DESTROYER RAID ON DOVER STRAITS, 25 February 1917 - Another raid was launched from Zeebrugge, but this time Dover Patrol had far more forces at its command, and the barrage was now marked by five large lighted buoys with a destroyer stationed off each at night, instead of the defenceless drifters. German 6th TBF headed for the barrage but was thwarted about 2230 by the rapid gunfire of Laverock stationed near No.11A Buoy. Half an hour later Ramsgate drifter John Lincoln on patrol at the northern end of a drifter patrol line from North Foreland to the North Goodwins sighted three destroyers of the 1st "Zeebrugge" Half-Flotilla steering north along the coast, was fired on and sent up signal rockets. The German ships briefly shelled the wireless station at North Foreland and bombarded Margate and nearby Westgate before heading back for Zeebrugge. GERMAN DESTROYER RAID ON RAMSGATE, KENT, 26 April 1917 - night of 26th/27th, 2 killed in the town, monitor Marshal Ney and torpedo boat TB.4 present. No more destroyer raids in Dover Straits until February 1918, although aircraft attacked drifters and buoys (dx) GERMAN RAID ON LOWESTOFT AND YARMOUTH, 25 April 1916, North Sea - The German High Seas Fleet was expected to make a demonstration in the North Sea, possibly in support of the Irish Easter Rising which broke out on the 24th. Grand Fleet was ordered out, together with Harwich Force which included 5th LCS Conquest (broad pendant, Cdre Tyrwhitt), Cleopatra and Penelope, leader Lightfoot with 7 destroyers, followed by leader Nimrod with 8 more, then by two divisions of L-class destroyers operating with Dover Patrol. Sailing on the night of 24th/25th, Harwich Force ran up the East coast while destroyer Melampus with six Yarmouth-based submarines positioned them first between Southwold and the Hook of Holland, then in a more northerly position. The German 1st SG, less Seydlitz which struck a mine that morning, was sailing to bombard Lowestoft and Yarmouth. Harwich Force sighted the Germans about 0350 and tried to induce them to chase south, but instead Lowestoft was badly shelled around 0410. The 1st SG then headed north for Yarmouth, Harwich Force followed and probably helped save Yarmouth from a full half hour battlecruiser bombardment. Tyrwhitt opened fire on the German light cruisers at 0430, the battlecruisers stopped bombarding to support their cruisers, and were sighted at 0445, following which Tyrwhitt turned south and came under heavy, accurate fire. Cruiser Conquest, now at the rear of 5th LCS line was severely punished and destroyer Laertes damaged. The Germans now headed back home, their retirement covered by Flanders-based U-boats including UB.18 and UB.29 off Lowestoft/Yarmouth. Adm Beatty's battlecruisers, Harwich Force and the submarines continued to search and seek action, then as Harwich Force returned home after recall, Penelope was torpedoed just before 1000 and patrolling submarine E.22 sunk around 1145: CONQUEST, light cruiser,
Caroline-class, 4,730t, 2-6in/8-4in/1-13pdr
AA/4-3pdr/4-21in tt, flagship 5th LCS Harwich Force.
Within five minutes of coming under German
battlecruiser fire sometime after 0445, hit on the
superstructure by a 12in salvo and badly damaged; 1
officer and 22 ratings killed. Cdre Trywhitt completed
emergency repairs by 0540 and continued in action
(Rn/Cn/D/dk/ty);
LAERTES, destroyer, L-class, c1,300t, 3-4in/1mg/4-21in tt, 3rd DF Harwich Force. Also hit in the battlecruiser action which lasted 13min, boiler out of action; five men wounded (Rn/Cn/ty); PENELOPE, light cruiser, Arethusa-class, 4,400t, 2-6in/6-4in/1-3pdr/4-21in tt, 5th LCS Harwich Force. Cdr Tyrwhitt continued NE in pursuit with his light cruisers in line abreast, passed UB.18 at 0635, and at 0830 after a three hour chase spotted enemy smoke ahead, ten minutes later came the recall which he had to obey. Just before 1000 on the run back, Penelope was torpedoed by UB.29 (Herbert Pustkuchen) stationed off Lowestoft, rudder blown away and steering gear wrecked, still able to steam at 20kts. Reached Harwich by 1500 (Rn/Cn/D/ge/ty/un); E.22, submarine, E-class, 662/667t, 27/8/15, 1-12pdr/5-18in tt with 10 torpedoes, 15/9kts, 30 crew, Pendant No.I.79, believed Harwich-based 8th Flotilla, Lt Reginald Dimsdale, on the new patrol line set by Melampus between 0500 and 0600, also described as one of four submarines steaming on the surface, one mile apart at 12kts, E.22 in the lead. First torpedo fired by UB.18 (Otto Steinbrinck), one of the Flanders Flotilla boats covering the return of the German battlecruisers, but missed and E.22 turned towards her attacker, UB.18 dived under E.22 scrapping her hull as she did so, then fired again at 1145 and this time hit; 3 officers, 28 ratings lost, two crew escaped, one of them, an ERA stayed afloat on the wreckage of a wooden aircraft platform from E.22, both picked up when UB.18 surfaced 90 minutes later, landed at Zeebrugge next day, taken to Bruges for questioning (H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/He*/bw/dk/dx/ke/on/un); A number of other vessels were sunk or damaged at the time, either by the German warships at sea or during the bombardment of Lowestoft, including: KING STEPHEN, aka Ledger No. 778, Q-ship/special service ship, trawler, 162grt, built 1900, Grimsby-reg GY1174, Consolidated Steam Fishing & Ice, hired 1915 (D/qs - 2/16) as decoy ship, Skipper Thomas Philips RNR. On patrol off the Norfolk coast, reportedly sunk by submarine (C only - by German destroyer G.41, as destroyers accompanied the German battlecruiser force, her loss to a destroyer is quite likely. Confirmed by Hepper); no lives lost . Loss only known when crew were reported as prisoners of war (H/Lr/C/Cn/D/He/dk/qs; ADM.1/8455/95, ADM.137/2237); MOSS, hired drifter, 99grt, built 1911, Yarmouth-reg, hired 9/14 as patrol vessel, 1-3pdr, Skipper Percy Shreeve. Damaged during Lowestoft bombardment; Skipper and 5 ratings lost (D/dk) GHURKA, destroyer, 8 February 1917, English Channel - original spelling but often spelt Gurkha, F-class, 872t, 1907, 3-12pdr/2-18in tt, 33kts, c68 crew, Pendant No.D.04, 6th DF Dover Patrol, Lt-Cdr Harold Woolcombe-Boyce, proceeding southeast, "just to the westward off Dungeness in a fierce gale at night". Mined amidships at 1945, laid by UC.47 (Paul Hundius) the day before, flooded and broke in two, sank 4 miles SE off Dungeness buoy (dx - SW of; ke - SE of); 75 lost - CO, 4 officers and 70 ratings, nearly all on board, 5 survivors, covered in oil, were rescued by Admiralty trawler Highlander. Lt-Cdr Francis Lewin, 6th Flotilla's gunnery officer kept one man alive until rescue and received two humane awards (H/J/C/Cn/D/He/dx/dp/dq/dk/ke/un; ADM.137/3245) GIRL EVA, hired drifter, 2 October 1916, North Sea - 76grt, built 1913, Yarmouth-reg YH346, hired 7/15 as net drifter, Admiralty No.2201, Dover Patrol, Skipper George Pulford RNR. (un 30 September) - Mined, laid by UC.6 (Paul Gunther), sank off Elbow Light Buoy (wi - near Elbow buoy, St. Andrews Bay, River Tay estuary, in 56.27N, 02.40W); Skipper and 6 ratings lost, four survivors. Note: if HMS Girl Eva was serving with Dover Patrol, location is more likely to be the Elbow Buoy off North Foreland, Kent. Confirmed by Hepper as Elbow light buoy, off Broadstairs, in51.24.20N 01.35E (H/L/C/D/He/dk/dq/un/wi; ADM.137/282; ADM.1/8468/227) GISELLA, Admiralty chartered collier, 18 November 1917, St George's Channel - 2,502grt, built 1904, SS Mary Co, London, armed, Mr E Bisset, sailing from Cardiff with coal. Torpedoed by UC.77 (Reinhard von Rabenau), sank 2 miles SW by S of Skokham island, off Milford Haven (L/wi - also 6 miles W of St Ann's Head, in 51.41.15N, 05.20.30W); two crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) GLEN, Q-ship, 20 April 1917, English Channel auxiliary schooner, 113grt, damaged by gunfire by UC.16 (Egon von Werner); no lives lost (D/dk/un) GLENBOYNE, hired trawler, 4 January 1919, Dover Straits area - 224grt, built 1915, Glasgow-reg GW10, hired 9/15, 1-6pdr AA, Admiralty No.289, Skipper James Barron RNR. Post-war mine clearance, clearing a minefield about 6 miles off Folkestone. (wi - 14th) Detonated drifting mine, broke up and sank in under a minute off North Foreland, Kent (wi - 6 miles E by S of Folkestone Pier, in 51.02.55N, 01.21.50E; He in 51.02.50N, 01.21.45E); 2 ratings killed (C/D/He/dk/ge/wi; ADM.116/2062) GLENOGIL, hired trawler, 3 May 1917, Shetlands - (gr - Glenogle), 1902, 203grt, Glasgow-reg, hired 8/15 as BDV. Collided with and holed SS St Clair in the bows off Busta/Basta Voe, island of Yell (D/gr) GLOCLIFFE, Admiralty chartered collier, 19 August 1917, English Channel - 2,211grt, built 1915, Globe Shipping Co (Humphries, Cardiff, 1-12pdr, 22 crew, Mr R Evans, Barry Dock for Southampton with 3,300t coal, steaming at 9kts. Torpedoed by UB.40 (Hans Howaldt) in boiler-room at 1420, abandoned at 1430 and sank at 1605, 9 miles ENE of Berry Head, Devon (te/un/wi - in 50.29.25N, 03.17.55W; wi - also quotes 50.27.05N, 03.17.17W); two firemen killed by torpedo explosion, survivors picked up by patrol vessel and landed at Torquay. Wreck lies in 125ft with stern gun still mounted (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) GLORY, battleship, 7 March 1918, Russian Intervention - Allied Naval operations in North Russia started against the Bolsheviks in Murmansk and Archangel areas, British pre-dreadnought Glory, armoured cruiser Cochrane, scout cruiser Attentive, seaplane carrier Nairana took part (dx) GLOWWORM, river gunboat, 24 August 1919, North Russia - Insect-class, 645t, 5/2/16, 2-6in/2-12pdr, Cdr Sebald Green, also flotilla commander, on River Dvina. Went to assistance of burning wooden barge moored along river bank, laden with explosives but no warning signs displayed, came alongside and barge blew up, Glowworm severely damaged; 1 officer, 18 ratings killed, Cdr Green and another rating DOW (gs - 42 killed & wounded) (D/dk/gb/gs) GOISSA, hired yacht, 25 April 1916, North Sea - 882grt, built 1893, hired 19/2/16, presumably serving with Auxiliary Patrol in Home Waters. In collision with battlecruiser Invincible (dx - one man lost in Invincible) returning with the Grand Fleet following sweep against German fleet, "bow of Goissa broke off and was embedded in the starboard quarter of Invincible"; 2 ratings, 2 MN lost. See also GERMAN RAID ON LOWESTOFT AND YARMOUTH, 25 April 1916, North Sea (D/dk/www) GOLDEN SUNSET, hired drifter, 4 January 1918, English Channel - 85grt, built 1913, Lowestoft-reg LT1194, Frederick Offord, hired 10/15 as net drifter, 1-6pdr AA, Admiralty No.1914. In collision with armed trawler Touraco which was escorting a coastal convoy, sank off Shambles Bank LV, off Portland Bill, Dorset (He - in 50.31N 02.18W; wi - in 50.32N, 02.18W); no lives lost (H/C/D/He/dk/wi; ADM.137/682) GOLDMOUTH, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 31 March 1916, Atlantic off NW France - 7,446grt, built 1903, London-reg, Anglo-Saxon Petroleum, armed, Tarakan/Dakar for Falmouth with fuel oil. Captured by U.44 (Paul Wagenfόhr), sunk by torpedo 60 miles WNW of Ushant island, off NW Brittany (L - 60 miles NNW of); master taken prisoner (H/L/Lr/Mn/sl/te/un) GOODWOOD, paddle minesweeper, 1 January 1917, Dover Straits - Merchant ship damaged by British anti-submarine mined nets off Calais (L - 4 miles N of Gravelines; sc - near West Dyck shoal), Dover Patrol paddle minesweepers went to her assistance but Goodwood was also mined in the nets, Ascot-class, 810t. Left in sinking condition, towed by sister-ship Redcar to Dunkirk, handed over to salvage tugs, put into dry-dock (D/dq/sc) GORSEMORE, Admiralty chartered collier, 22 September 1918, Central Mediterranean - 3,079grt, built 1899, Liverpool-reg, Johnston Line, armed, Barry for Taranto with coal. Torpedoed by UC.53 (Erich Gerth), sank 44 miles SE1/2E of Cape Colonne, Calabria (L/te - in 38.40N, 18E; un 38.28N, 17.51E) (H/L/Lr/te/un) GOSHAWK, destroyer, 4 May 1916, North Sea - Sopwith Baby (Admiralty 8200 Type) tractor biplane seaplane from seaplane carrier Vindex, crashed into mast of Goshawk in North Sea off Schleswig-Holstein. Flight Lieutenant Oswald Walmesley RNAS drowned (dk) GOWAN LEA, hired drifter, 22 December 1916, Adriatic Sea - (D - Gowanlea), 84grt, built 1914, Fraserburgh-reg, hired 1/15, 1-6pdr, and Our Allies, 1915, 91grt, Lowestoft-reg, hired 8/15, 1-57mm, both net drifters, on Otranto Straits net line. Raid by four Austrian destroyers about 2130, both vessels shelled, Gowan Lea hit several times and damaged, attack broken off when six French destroyers sailing Brindisi for Taranto came up; no casualties (Rn/Mn/D/ap/nw) GRACIE, hired drifter, 10 February 1917, North Sea - 83grt, built 1907, Banff-reg BF973, hired 8/15 as net drifter, 16pdr AA, Admiralty No.3212, Dover Patrol, Skipper John Jarmson RNR. In collision with hired drifter Kitty George, sank 2 miles NE of Tongue LV, N of North Foreland, Kent (He in 51.30.30N, 01.23.30E); no lives lost (H/C/D/He/dk/dq; ADM.137/357) GRAFTON, cruiser, 11 June 1917, Palestine Campaign - "blistered" cruiser, ex-1st class protected cruiser, Edgar-class, 7,350t, 2-9.2in/10-6in, rearmed and bulged for Mediterranean service mid-1915, part of Anglo-French naval force supporting British advance in Palestine. (ge/un - 10th) - Torpedoed and damaged by UB.43 (Horst Obermόller) 150 miles E of Malta, to Malta for repairs, returned to Aegean until 1918 (Cn/D/ge/un) GRAFTON , bulged cruiser, 30 October 1917, Palestine Campaign - Royal Navy forces began bombardment of Gaza coast. Ships taking part included bulged old cruiser Grafton, monitors M.15, M.29, M.31, M.32, Raglan, river gunboats Aphis, Ladybird, destroyers Comet, Staunch, kite balloon ship City of Oxford. Ended on 11/11/17 with loss of M.15 and Staunch (dx) GRATEFUL, hired drifter, 25 March 1916, North Channel - 107grt, built 1907, Inverness-reg INS322, hired 2/15 as net drifter, 1-3pdr, Admiralty No.2399, 9 crew, Skipper W Ralph (He - Skipper John Reaich RNR), sailing in WNW force 8 gale and snow storm. Driven ashore 100yds from Lloyd's Signal Station, Torr Head, Co Antrim (wi - in 55.11.50N, 06.03.45W); Coastguard called Portrush RNLI, but coxswain reluctant to leave the harbour in such heavy seas, later launched with another coxswain and volunteers from Portstewart as well as Portrush, reached the scene at 0900, but all crew already rescued by breeches buoy three hours before. Salvaged, served in WW2 (H/C/D/He/dk/wi) GREAVESASH, Admiralty chartered collier, 26 February 1918, English Channel - 1,263grt, built 1917, Newbigin SS Co, Newcastle-reg, armed, Havre for Barry Roads in ballast. Torpedoed by UB.74, sank 10 miles NE of Cape Barfleur, near Cherbourg (L - 10 miles ENE of); 8 crew lost (H/L/Lr/dk/te/un) GREENHILL, Admiralty chartered collier, 16 December 1917, North Sea - 1,900grt, built 1901, Cardiff-reg, W J Tillett SS, Blyth/Holmsey for Dunkirk with coal. In collision, sank off Longsands, off Clacton (wi - Stranded, in 51.40N, 01.29E) (H/Lr/wi) RN CAS GREGYNOG, Admiralty chartered collier, 18 April 1918, Atlantic off SW England - 1,701grt, built 1899, Sunderland-reg, Lambton & Hetton Collieries, 1-3in HA, crew 22, Mr A Way, Penarth for Portland with 2,400t coal. Torpedoed by UB.86 (Hans Trenk) starboard side at 0800, survivors got away and later questioned, ship sank within 5min, 16 miles off Hartland Point, Devon (L - 3 miles SW of; un 16m SW of, in 50.47N, 4.44W; wi 7 1/2m W of Bude Haven, in 50.47N, 04.44.30W); 3 firemen killed in the explosion, 17 survivors escaped in a lifeboat and the master, mate and a boy on a liferaft (un 3 lives lost). Wreck Index lists two more lost - a gunner drowned abandoning the ship and the boy, the remainder were picked up by a French lugger and landed at Padstow (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) GRENVILLE, flotilla leader, 9 February 1918, North Sea - improved Marksman-class, 1,670t, believed leader 15th DF Grand Fleet. In collision with and sank SS Express 331grt in Pentland Skerries (wi - in 58.41.20N, 02.56W), Grenville badly damaged. All 13 crew in Express lost including two RMLI (D/dk/gr/wi) GREYHOUND [01], destroyer, 25 March 1916, English Channel - C-class, 430t, sent out with other Dover Patrol destroyers to assist SS Sussex torpedoed on 24th, nine crew survivors made for Colbart LV. Greyhound went to bring them back early next morning on 25th, torpedo passed 6ft ahead of her (Rn/Cn/dp) GREYHOUND [02], destroyer, 14 January 1917, Dover Straits - C-class, c375t, Dover Patrol. Accidentally rammed and sank French trawler Sainte Pierre III of Gravelines (D/dq/gr) GRILSE (RCN), torpedo boat, 12 December 1916, Canadian waters American ex-yacht Winchester, 287grt, built 1912, bought 6/15, armed with 212pdr, 114 in tt and commissioned as torpedo boat, unsuited for winter service and sent to Caribbean. Sailed from Halifax on 11th and reported lost in storm, during which time six crew members were lost and drowned, Turned up at Sherburne, Nova Scotia three days later (D/dx) GROESWEN, Admiralty chartered collier, 27 November 1917, North Sea - 3,570grt, built 1900, W & C T Jones SS Co, Cardiff, armed, Mr F Jones, Hull for Spezia with coal. Mined, laid by UC.11 (Ferdinand Schwartz), sank 3 miles NE1/2E of Sunk LV, off Harwich (L/wi - about 3 1/2m NE1/2E of, in 51.53.10N, 01.37.50E; te/un - in 51.55N, 01.40E) (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) H
H.3, submarine, 15 July 1916, Adriatic Sea - H-class, 364/434t, completed 3/6/15, 4-18in tt with 6 torpedoes, 13/11kts, 22 crew, to Mediterranean 1915, Lt George Jenkinson, on patrol off Cattaro (Kotor) naval base for Austrian and German U-boats and in advanced defence of the anti-U-boat Otranto Barrage, close inshore submerged during the day, withdrew at night to recharge batteries on the surface, overdue, presumed lost. Cause of loss originally unknown, but Austrian coast-watchers sighted a submarine that morning and in the afternoon others on Punta d'Ostro outside Cattaro reported an underwater explosion in a defensive minefield, probably H.3; 3 officers, 19 ratings lost, small boats reportedly recovered British submarine parts (H/J/C/Cn/D/He/bw/dk/dx/ke/md/on/wi) H.5 [01], submarine see E.5, submarine, 7 March 1916, North Sea H.5, [02] submarine, 14 July 1916, North Sea - U.51 torpedoed and sunk by H.5 off Ems estuary, Germany (dx) H.8, submarine, 22 March 1916, North Sea - H-class, 364/434t, completed by 6/15, Yarmouth-based 8th Flotilla, Canadian Lt B Johnson RNR, on patrol off Dutch coast. Snagged cable of drifting British mine, exploded and severely damaged, sank rapidly in 80ft of water, leaking badly, managed to surface and limp home (Cn/D/on/www) H.10, submarine, 19 January 1918, North Sea - H-class, 364/434t, completed by 6/15, 4-18in tt with 6 torpedoes, 13/11kts, c22 crew, Yarmouth-based 8th Flotilla, Lt Martin Collier, failed to return from North Sea patrol on 19th, overdue, presumed lost. Probably before 19th (bw - before 20th) - Lost, cause unknown, possibly mined or accident; 4 officers, 22 ratings lost (ke - 20 lost) (H/J/C/Cn/D/He/bw/dk/ke/on) HALCYON, minesweeper, 29 July 1917, North Sea - ex-Dryad-class-torpedo gunboat, 1,070t, originally 2-4.7in/3-18in tt, based at Lowestoft, on patrol in Smiths Knoll Buoy area. Sighted periscope of UB.27, sunk her after ramming and dropping two depth-charges, in 52.47N, 02.24E (un claimed place and cause of loss is not consistent with UB.27's orders) (Cn/D/ub/un) HALDON, paddle minesweeper, 7 August 1917, British Isles As of 30 June 1917 serving with Queenstown (Cobh) minesweepers, mined and damaged; one crew killed (dk/pl) HALIFAX HARBOUR EXPLOSION, 6 December 1917 - Catastrophic explosion took place in Halifax harbour, Nova Scotia when French ammunition ship SS Mont Blanc was in collision with Norwegian steamer Imo. An estimated 10,000 people were killed, 22,000 made homeless. Amongst the vessels damaged were five British steamships and a number of naval ships: HIGHFLYER,
old light cruiser; 9 crew killed (dk)
MARGARET (RCN), patrol vessel, Canadian waters; one PO killed (dk) MUSQUASH (RCN), armed patrol vessel, ex-tug, 198grt, built 1910, 1-3pdr, serving in Canadian waters. Set on fire and adrift, L/S Davis and an AB from old light cruiser Highflyer were taken across to Musquash and helped save her, partly by disposing of burning ammunition; Leading Seaman Thomas Neil Davis RNR was awarded the Albert Medal 1st Class or in Gold, later George Cross; 5 crew killed (D/dk/dx/gc) NIOBE (RCN), armoured or ex-1st-class cruiser, Diadem-class, 11,000t, paid off at Halifax 10/15, disarmed for harbour service as depot ship. Superstructure wrecked and lost funnels, ventilators and masts, continued in service until 1922; 16 crew killed (Cn/D/dk/gr) HAMPSHIRE, cruiser, 5 June 1916, Orkneys - Devonshire-class, 10,850t, 1903, 4-7.5in/6-6in/2-12pdr/20-3pdr/2-18in tt, 22kts, c655 crew, 2nd CS Grand Fleet, Pendant No.50, Capt Herbert Savill, took part in Battle of Jutland, only a few days later carrying Lord Kitchener to Archangel as head of a military and financial mission to Russia. Kitchener arrived at Scapa on the 5th, lunched with Adm Jellicoe and in the afternoon went on board Hampshire, weather extremely bad with NE gale blowing, decision taken to sail up the west side of the Orkneys which was believed to be clear of mines and U-boats, and where escorting destroyers would be able to maintain station. Sailed at 1645, met by destroyers Unity and Victor off Tor Ness, wind backed and escorts sent back, Hampshire reduced speed and drove ahead into heavy seas with 50kt winds. Three hours after clearing Hoxa Gate, mined in a field laid by U.75 (Kurt Beitzen) on 28/29 May as a prelude to the Jutland sortie, sinking was witnessed, ship seen 1 1/2m offshore, large column of water rose up her side at 1940, then reportedly another column, turned towards the land but sinking, went down within 15min between Brough of Birsay and Marwick Head, NW Mainland Island (dx/wi - W of Marwick Head; wi - also in 59.07.30N, 03.23W); 723 crew lost - 38 officers, 681 ratings, 4 canteen staff (ke - 650 lost) plus Lord Kitchener and his staff who were allocated a boat, three rafts with 50-70 men floated clear, just 14 men drifted ashore on a Carley raft but two died before rescue parties could reach them. Nine destroyers went out but only found wreckage and bodies. There were various conspiracy theories about his death but it was simply due to enemy action (H/J/C/Cn/D/He*/dk/dx/gf/ke/ss/un/wi; ADM.137/3621) HARTLEY, Admiralty chartered collier, 26 January 1918, North Sea - 1,150grt, built 1903, British & African Steam Navigation Co (Elder, Dempster & Co), Newcastle-reg, armed, Mr F Inskip, Boulogne for Tyne in ballast. Torpedoed by UB.34 (Helmuth von Ruckteschell), sank 2 miles NE of Skinningrove, near SaltburnbytheSea, Yorkshire (un in 54.36N, 00.49W; wi - in 54.35.45N, 00.48W) (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) HAWK, hired trawler see OKEMENT, Admiralty chartered collier, 17 February 1917, Central Mediterranean HEATHER, convoy sloop, 21 April 1917, Atlantic SW of Ireland/W of France - aka Bywater, Seetrus, Aubrietia-class built to resemble merchantmen, 1,250t, 2-4in/1-3pdr AA, within decoy organisation as Q.16, 1st Sloop Flotilla, Queenstown, Cdr W Hallwright. Heavily shelled by U.52 (Hans Walther) without warning (un - 300 miles W of Ushant, in 48.30N, 11.30W), panic party left, top-bridge hit and ship badly wrecked, by the time Heather was ready for action the submarine had ceased fire and dived, put back into Queenstown; one casualty - captain killed by shell splinter early in the action (Cn/D/ge/sk/qs/un) HEATHER, hired trawler, 2 December 1918, Irish Sea - c170grt, built 1904, hired 1917. In collision with and sank wooden ketch JANIE 94grt off the North Wall LH, River Mersey (gr/wi) HEATHER, sloop see VALA, Q-ship, 21 August 1917, Atlantic, SW of Scillies HEATHERSIDE, Admiralty chartered collier, 25 August 1917, off Bay of Biscay - 2,767grt, built 1909, Charlton SS Co, Newcastle, armed, Newport/Milford Haven for Malta with coal. Originally went missing, believed lost, probably by U-boat attack and possibly on the 24th, Lloyds List amended to 25th in 1937. Now confirmed as torpedoed and sunk by U.93 (Helmut Gerlach) NW of Cape Ortegal in 46.14N, 10.57W; all 27 crew lost including master (H/L/Lr/dk/ge/te/un) HEBBLE, store carrier, 6 May 1917, North Sea - 904grt, built 1891, Goole-reg, Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Co, hired 26/8/14 (C/wi - ammunition carrier; D - store carrier from 3/12/14, boom defence vessel store carrier from 30/4/15, carried Pendant No.Y2.27 as armament carrier and Y3.1594 which would have been as a collier, finally listed as store carrier), Pendant No.Y8.3, 16 crew, Mr Flower, sailing Scapa Flow for Sunderland in ballast (wi - with coal), heading into Sunderland harbour. Mined at 1150, laid by UC.42 (Otto Heinrich Tornow), sank at once 1 1/2m due E of Roker Pier, Sunderland (te/wi - in 54.55.28N 01.18.48W); chief engineer and four crew lost, 11 survivors rescued by motor launch, landed at Sunderland (H/L/Lr/C/Cn/D/te/un/wi) HEBBURN, Admiralty chartered collier, 25 September 1918, St George's Channel - 1,938grt, built 1908, Newcastle-reg, Burnett SS, armed, Mr H Smith, from Barry with coal, general cargo. Torpedoed by UB.91 (Wolf Hans Hertig), sank 14 miles S of Mine Head, Co Waterford (L - 64 miles WNW of The Smalls; un in 51.40N, 07.13W; wi - in 51.48N, 07.30W); six crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) HELEN WILSON, Admiralty hired motor drifter, 5 December 1917, off W Scotland - c44grt, built 1902, Peterhead-reg PD.301, hired 4/17, harbour tender or coastal service craft, Admiralty No.1675. Destroyed by accidental fire at Oban, Firth of Lorne, Argyllshire; no lives lost (H/C/D/dk) HELMUTH, armed tug see MERSEY, monitor, 4 September 1916 German East Africa Campaign HERACLES, hired screw tug see ENDEAVOUR (2), hired trawler, 10 March 1918, Orkneys. HERCULANEUM, Admiralty dockyard paddle tug, 17 October 1916, Dover Straits - 378grt, built 1905, bought 1908, Dover-based. Sank in Dover harbour, raised (D/dp/gr) HERCULES, Admiralty chartered collier, 30 December 1917, North Sea - 1,295grt, built 1909, Shipping Controller (W Coupland & Co), London, Newcastle-reg, 1-12pdr, 20 crew, Mr T Schadberg, Tyne for Newhaven with coal. Torpedoed by UB.21 (Walter Scheffler) port-side amidships at 1550, crew abandoned ship immediately, sank 3 miles ENE of Whitby, Yorkshire (te/un - in 54.32N, 00.39W; wi - 54.10.10N, 00.09.15W); 12 lives lost - the first boat launched capsized drowning the master and 9 men, 2nd officer lowered the dinghy which the ten remaining crew boarded, two men later died of exposure, survivors picked up by fishing vessel and landed at Whitby (H/L/Lr/dk/te/un/wi) HERCULES III, hired trawler see MARION, hired trawler, 23 February 1918, Central Mediterranean HERCULES IV, tug see ML.357, motor launch, 12 December 1917, English Channel HERMATRICE, Q-ship, March 1916, Dover Straits - in service as submarine decoy ship, no further information. March - Sunk by U-boat off Boulogne (C only) HERO, tug, 24 July 1917, probably Dover Straits - 85grt, probably Dover Patrol (D/dp - only lists Hero, Admiralty trawler, 1907, 226grt, Milford-reg, hired 8/14). Damaged in collision, temporary repairs carried out at Dover (D/dp/dq/gr) HERON BRIDGE, Admiralty chartered collier 16 May 1918, Atlantic off Azores - 2,420grt, built 1918, Liverpool-reg, Sir John Esplen KBE or W Esplen & Son, armed, Penarth for Dakar with coal. Torpedoed by U.62 (Ernst Hashagen), sank 320 miles E by N true of San Miguel, E Azores (L/te/un - in 38.49N, 18.26W); one crew lost (H/L/te/un) HERRINGTON, Admiralty chartered collier, 4 May 1917, North Sea - 1,258grt, built 1905, Newcastle-reg, Lambton & Hetton Collieries (E T Nisbet), armed, sailing from Methil with coal. Mined, laid by UC.77 (Reinhard von Rabenau), foundered 3/4m ESE of Red Head, Forfar (L 3/4m ESE of Red Head, Orkneys; te 1/4m ESE of Red Head, Forfar, in 56.37N, 02.27W; wi 3/4m E of Red Head, Arbroath, in 56.37.12N, 02.37.36W). Note: the Orkneys location is incorrect; wreck lies in two halves in 70ft depth, identified by cutlery found by divers (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) HIGHFLYER, light cruiser see HALIFAX HARBOUR EXPLOSION, 6 December 1917 (see log books for further details) HIGHLANDER, Admiralty trawler see GHURKA, destroyer, 8 February 1917, English Channel HILARY II, hired drifter, 25 March 1916, English Channel - 78grt, built 1902, Yarmouth-reg YH674, hired 5/15 as net drifter, 13pdr, Admiralty No.1410, Skipper Samuel Falgate RNR, based at Sheerness. Mined, laid by UC.7 (Georg Haag), sank at 0840 near Spit Buoy (He - 5 miles ENE of); Skipper and 7 ratings lost, 2 survivors. Note: there are various Spit Buoys; Hepper confirms this one is off the Kent coast, with wreck located at 51.28.30N, 01.34E (H/C/D/He/dk/un; ADM.1/8451/66) HIMALAYA, armed merchant cruiser - see MERSEY, monitor, 4 September 1916 German East Africa Campaign HINDUSTAN, battleship see WRESTLER, destroyer, after April 1918, believed southern British waters HIRONDELLE, possibly still store carrier, 25 April 1917, Bay of Biscay - passenger ship, 1,648grt, built 1890, London-reg, General Steam Navigation Co, hired 8/14 by Admiralty as squadron supply ship/store carrier, armed, Admiralty No.Y9.17, believed returned to mercantile service 11/15 (D - listed as BDV water carrier from 6/15 & implies still in Admiralty service when lost), sailing London for Bordeaux with general cargo. Torpedoed by UC.36 (Gustav Buch), sank 13 miles S by E of Belle Ile, W of St Nazaire (H/L/D/te/un) HIROSE, hired trawler, 29 June 1916, North Sea 275grt, built c1915, Cardiff-reg CF44, Neale & West, hired 1915 (D - 6/16, i.e. month of loss), 13pdr, Admiralty No.3280, Skipper Harry Pearce RNR, believed Harwich-based. Patrolling war channel off Lowestoft. Mined aft, laid by UC.6 (Otto Ehrentraut) (He probably laid by UC.1), sank off Aldborough or Aldeburgh Napes (C/wi - off Aldeburgh, near Orford Ness, in 52.08.10N, 01.42.10E); Skipper and 9 ratings lost (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/sc/un/wi; ADM.137/3189) HIRPA, hired whaler, 2 January 1918, North Sea - 110grt, built 1911, Leith-reg LH157, hired 1914 (D - 1/15), 1-6pdr, Pendant No.2317. Serving as patrol vessel, on passage Longhope to Dundee, ran ashore in poor weather in Cluny harbour, Buckie, Banff in Moray Firth. Salvage attempt made but became total loss; no lives lost (H/C/D/He/dk; ADM.137/681) HOCKWOLD, Admiralty chartered collier, 9 September 1917, English Channel - 1,472grt, built 1911, London-reg, Cory Colliers, 20 crew, Penarth for Dover with coal. (wi - 8th; dk 10th) - In collision with Sunderland-reg SS Intent, sank 6 1/2m W by S of Lizard Point, Cornwall (wi - in 49.55.30N, 05.21.30W); 10 crew lost, including one naval seaman (H/Lr/dk/wi) HOLDENE, hired trawler, 2 February 1917, North Sea - 274grt, built 1915, Fleetwood-reg FD161, Lune Steam Fishing, hired 9/15, 1 13pdr/1 3pdr AA, Admiralty No.437, employed as a minesweeper, Harwich-based, Lt Richard Walsh RNR. Sailing with Admiralty hired trawler Drummer Boy to carry out sweep E of Orfordness, just about to connect up. Mined, laid by UC.11 (Benno von Ditfurth) the previous night, sank immediately off Orford Ness, Suffolk (un - 52.01.30N, 01.54E; wi - in 52.05N, 01.36E); 7 ratings lost (+L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/fd/sc/un/wi; ADM.137/3236) HOLLYLEAF, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 30 April 1918, Mediterranean - Leaf-class, 5,167grt/12,300t, armed. U-boat attacked, torpedo missed (H/D) HOLMESBANK, Admiralty chartered collier, 26 May 1917, Eastern Mediterranean - 3,051grt, built 1906, Cardiff-reg, Kestell SS Co (Kestell Bros), armed, sailing Swansea for Port Said with coal. Captured by U.38 (Max Valentiner), sunk by gunfire 90 miles N by W of Alexandria (L/te/un - in 32.26N, 29.30E; un also 35.53N, 29.30E) (H/L/Lr/te/un) HOPE, destroyer, March 1917, Irish Sea - H-class, 970t, believed Devonport-based 2nd DF. March - In collision with Birkenhead ferry Prenton, damaged starboard side below waterline. Note "gr" refers to the researches of Mr George Ransome. NHN notes alongside this entry refer to "6 March 1918?", so the year may be uncertain (Cn/D/gr) HORNET, destroyer, Friday 7 December 1917, Dover Straits - I-class, c990t, Devonport-based 4th DF. Damaged in collision, towed stern first into Dover (Cn/D/dp/gr) HS.3, tug, 12 September 1917, Atlantic off SW Portugal - tug, 121grt, towing barge RB.10 (un RB.40, 800t). Captured by UB.50 (Franz Becker), both tug and barge sunk by bombs 18 miles W by N of Cape Sines, S of Lisbon. Note: see introductory notes for HS tugs and RB barges (H/L/un) HS.4, tug, 21 August 1917, Atlantic off NW France - 121grt, towing barge RB.6, 800t. (un barge on the 20th) - Captured by UC.72 (Ernst Voight), both tug and barge sunk by bombs 130 miles WSW of Ushant (H/L/D/tu/un) HS.48, tug, 9 October 1917, Atlantic W of Gibraltar U-boat attack, torpedo missed HUELVA, Admiralty chartered collier, 23 July 1917, Atlantic SW of Ireland - 4,867grt, built 1915, English & American Shipping Co, London, armed, Newport for Malta with Admiralty cargo. Torpedoed by U.54 (Kurt Heeseler), sank 270 miles SW of Fastnet Rock, off Co Cork (L - 350 miles SW of Ushant; te/un - in 47.15N, 12.28W; un also 47.19N, 12.38W) (H/L/Lr/te/un) HUGHLI, salvage tug, 26 April 1919, North Sea - Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Lieutenant Peter Cosgrave RNR. Carrying naval stores from Ostend to Dover, capsized in violent storm off Middelkerke; 18 lives lost, 11 survivors (He 29 lost) (D/He/dk) HUNSBRIDGE, Admiralty chartered collier, 7 September 1917, Atlantic off NW Morocco - ex-German, 3,424grt, built 1912, now Galbraith, Pembroke & Co (un The Shipping Controller (Farrar, Groves & Co), London), armed, Swansea for Gibraltar also carrying stores. Torpedoed by UB.49 (Hans von Mellenthin), sank 60 miles SW by W3/4W of Cape Spartel (L/te/un - in 35.10N, 06.50W; un also 35.15N, 07.00W); two crew lost (H/L/Lr/dk/te/un) HURLFORD, Admiralty chartered collier, 29 April 1917, Atlantic off W Scotland - 444grt, built 1905, Glasgow-reg, Ford Shipping, crew 9, Mr J O'Hara, carrying coal. Wrecked on S coast of Tiree island (wi - on Roan Bogha Rock, Gunna island, between Tiree and Coll islands, in 56.32.30N, 06.40.05W) (H/Lr/wi) HYACINTH [01], light cruiser, 11 April 1916, German East Africa Campaign - two naval vessels lost crew members "in action" in East African waters on the same day. Note: Allied land forces were active in German East Africa in this period, also coastal operations had been proposed as part of the plan to capture Dar-es-Salaam which surrendered to naval forces in September: HYACINTH, old light cruiser, Highflyer-class, 5,650t, 1898, Cape and East Africa station (sank German SS Tabora at Dar-es-Salaam on 23/3/16); 2 ratings lost on this day, 1 rating may have died of injuries on 15 July (Rn/Cn/D/dk); ECHO, Admiralty-owned whaler, 182grt, built 1912, purchased 1/15, serving off East Africa; 3 ratings lost (D/dk); HYACINTH [02], light cruiser see MERSEY, monitor, 4 September 1916 German East Africa Campaign I
I & J, hired drifter, 1 January 1919, English Channel - Skipper James Murray Baxter RNR. Strong gale, driven ashore on beach at Newhaven night of 1st/2nd. Poor weather continued and she had largely broken up by the 7th; no lives lost (D/He/dk; ADM.1/8496/190) IDAHO, hired yacht see STRUMBLE, Q-ship, 4 May 1917, St George's Channel IDENA, hired trawler, 5 February 1918, Norwegian Sea - 270grt, built 1917, Fleetwood-reg FD288, J Marr & Son, hired 3/17 as minesweeper, 112pdr, Admiralty No.3332, Skipper Alexander Green RNR. With group of ships sailing for the White Sea, leaks started and gale blew up. Started to settle at 0900 on the 5th, crew taken off and scuttled by gunfire in 71N, 17E (D - off Tromso, NW Norway); no lives lost. Note - Colledge only lists hired drifter Idena, 95grt, in service to 1919 (H/D/He/dk/fd; ADM.137/691) ILVINGTON COURT, Admiralty chartered collier, 6 December 1917, Western Mediterranean - 4,217grt, built 1911, Court Line, Liverpool, armed, Barry for Malta with coal and general cargo. Torpedoed by U.34 (Johannes Klasing), sank 8 miles NW by N of Shershel/Cape Cherchell, W of Algiers (L/te/un - in 36.43N, 02.06E); eight crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un) INA WILLIAM, hired trawler, 30 May 1917, Atlantic off SW Ireland - (L/Lr/D - Inawilliam), 337grt, built 1913, Grimsby-reg GY872 (He - Fleetwood), Hecla STEAM Fishing Co (J Harris), hired 1916 as minesweeper (D - 4/15; wi - as armed patrol sweeper), 1-12pdr, Admiralty No.2658, Skipper Charles Slapp RNR, on patrol. Mined at 0923, laid by UC.50 (Rudolf Seuffer) on 21 May, sank rapidly off Bull Rock Light, off Berehaven, Co Cork (He/un 2 miles S of, in 51.14N, 10.18W; wi - 51.30N, 10.20W); Skipper and 11 ratings lost (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/un/wi; ADM.137/450) INDIAN EMPIRE, hired trawler see MOROCOCOLA, hired trawler, 19 November 1917, Atlantic off S Ireland INNISTRAHULL, cargo steamship, 1916 - now Admiralty water carrier (Cn/D - water tank vessel), 238grt, built 1913, Glasgow-reg, Coasting Motor Shipping, Glasgow, purchased 15/9/15 as RFA. Wrecked in 1916, no other details (Lr/C/Cn/D) INTENT, Admiralty chartered collier, 8 March 1918, North Sea - 1,564grt, built 1911, Westoll Line/James Westoll, Sunderland-reg, armed, 21 crew, Mr W Wood, from Sheerness for Newcastle/Tyne in ballast. (wi - 7th) - Torpedoed by UC.40 (Hermann Menzel), hit in engine room at 0730, ship abandoned and sank at 0745, 4 miles E by N of Seaham (wi - in 54.51.45N, 01.13W); 2nd engineer missing, presumed killed by explosion, survivors rescued by patrol vessel and landed at North Shields (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) INVERBERVIE, Admiralty collier, 14 September 1916, Central Mediterranean - (may be spelt Inververbie), 4,309grt, built 1913, Glasgow-reg, Inverkip SS, armed, Cardiff/Messina for Taranto with coal, 4 naval ML's. Torpedoed by UC.14 (Alfred Klatt) (te - Austrian U.IV), sank in Gulf of Squillace, 17 miles S by W of Cape Rizzuto, Italy (L - 15 miles SW of Cape Rizzuto; He/te - in 38.55N, 16.15E); 6 lives lost (H/L/Lr/D/te/un; Casualty list one RNR rating only). Of the four ML.51 series motor launches carried as deck cargo, one floated off and was later based at Mudros for patrol in the Aegean, the other three were lost: ML.230 (H/Cn/D/ap/un); ML.253 (H/Cn/D/ap/un); ML.255 (H/Cn/D/ap/un) IOLAIRE [01], hired yacht, 8 June 1917, off SW Scotland - 862grt, built 1902, hired 1/3/15, renamed Amalthaea 11grt, built 18. Collided with and sank SS Bonawe 223grt, 1 1/2m NE of Point Corrie, Isle of Arran (wi - in 55.39.30N, 05.06W) (D/gr/wi) IOLAIRE [02], hired yacht, 16 February 1918, off W Scotland - 862grt, built 1902, hired 3/15. In collision with and sank SS Madame Alice 478grt, 2 miles SW of Oban, E of Isle of Mull and near Firth of Lorne (wi - Madam Alice, in 56.27.22N, 05.29.15W) (D/gr/wi) IOLO, Admiralty chartered collier, 11 October 1916, Barents Sea - 3,908grt, built 1898, London-reg, Iolo Morganwg SS, Cardiff for Archangel with coal. Captured by U.46 (Leo Hillbrand), sunk by torpedo 153 miles N of Vardo island (L - in 72.50N, 32E) (H/L/Lr/te/un) IRAWADI, hired trawler, 10 August 1916, Eastern Mediterranean - 238grt, built 1906, Hull-reg H941, East Riding Steam Trawling, hired 1915 (D - 8/14) as minesweeper, Admiralty No.270. Wrecked on Tigani Rocks, just NW of Cape Matapan, Greece (He - Tigani rocks, Khios); no lives lost (H/Lr/C/D/dk/hw) IRON DUKE, dreadnought, 18 August 1916, North Sea - Iron Duke-class, Flagship, Grand Fleet, left Scapa Flow for sweep in southern part of North Sea, proceeding ahead of Battle Fleet screened by two destroyers. Torpedoed fired by U-boat about 250yds off around 1955, missed Iron Duke and passed astern of destroyer Onslaught (Cn/gf/kt) ISER, Admiralty chartered collier, Friday 23 February 1917, Bay of Biscay - 2,160grt, built 1888, Dundee-reg, James Mitchell & Sons, armed, Newport for Rochefort with coal. Torpedoed by UC.17 (Ralph Wenninger), sank 14 miles NW of Belle Ile, W of St Nazaire (te - in 47.28N, 03.35W); one crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un) ISLANDMORE, Admiralty-chartered collier, 3 June 1917, Western Mediterranean - 3,046grt, built 1909, Limerick-reg, Limerick SS, armed, sailing Cardiff and Barry for Gibraltar and Malta with coal. Captured by U.33 (Gustav Siess), sunk by gunfire c20 miles NW of Cape Falcon, near Oran, Algeria (te - 35.46N, 00.48W; un 35.52N, 01.09W); two crew including one naval seaman lost, master taken prisoner (H/L/Lr/Mn/te/un) ITALY, hired trawler, 3 September 1916, North Sea - 145grt, built 1896, Grimsby-reg GY92, North Eastern Steam Fishing, hired 12/14, 16pdr, Admiralty No.720, Skipper Thomas Molloy RNR. Patrol vessel, in collision with Norwegian SS IngridII, 1,141grt off Sunderland, Co Durham, foundered at 0315; no lives lost (H/Lr/C/D/dk; ADM.137/276) J
J.2, submarine, 7 July 1917, North Sea - U.99 sunk by J.2 east of the Orkneys (dx) J. Y. SHORT, Admiralty chartered collier, 4 October 1916, Barents Sea - 2,193grt, built 1887, Sunderland-reg, Westoll Line, Penarth for Archangel with coal. (L/te/UN - 3rd) - Captured by U.43 (Hellmuth Jόrst), sunk by gunfire 80 miles E of Vardo, Norway (L - in 70.14N, 35.03E) (H/L/Lr/te/un) JACAMAR, hired trawler, 28 January 1917, Dover Straits - 293grt, built 1911, Grimsby-reg GY649, T W Baskcomb, hired 5/15 as minesweeper, 112pdr, Admiralty No.1207, Dover Patrol, Skipper George Sleeth RNR. Bound for Thames estuary. In collision with collier Southwark (ms believed 558grt) off Folkestone Southgate LV, foundered at 0300 (D - Folkestone LV; He off Folkestone Eastern gate light); 5 ratings drowned, 8 survivors (+Lr/C/D/He/ms/dk/dq; ADM.137/353) JACK, hired screw tug, 9 August 1917, North Sea - ex-Jackal, ex-Woodcock, ex-William Jolliffe, 360grt, built 1885, Belfast-reg, Ocean Transport, hired 1/1/15, Lieutenant Jonathan Sumner RNVR. Towing a lighter and entering the River Tyne in thick fog in the early hours. Ran aground 100 yards N of Bondicar and holed, crew taken off, filled with water and abandoned as a wreck (C - later salved, hire continued until 1919) (H/Lr/C/D; ADM.137/489) JAMES FLETCHER, hired yacht, 11 January 1916, Dover Straits - (dp/dq drifter, ms - fisheries patrol), 264grt, built 1907, hired 25/9/14, 2-6pdr AA/1-2pdr, Dover Patrol, on patrol off South Goodwins. Sighted UC.6 and rammed twice, UC.6 got back to Zeebrugge for repairs, yacht examined on the mud and some damage discovered below the waterline (Rn/D/dp/dq/ms) JAMES SECKAR, Admiralty-owned trawler, 25 September 1917, North Atlantic - standard Castle-class, c255grt, 20/7/17, 1-12pdr/1 bomb thrower, c15 crew, Admiralty No.3526, CO was non-commissioned 2nd Hand (He - Skipper Robert Brown RNR). Last seen west of Bay of Biscay in 46.30N, 12.00W, disappeared, believed foundered around this date in bad weather, listed to 1921; all 16 ratings lost. Now confirmed torpedoed and sunk by UC.63 (Karsten von Heydebreck) on this date 10 miles N of Santona, N Spain after going to the assistance of torpedoed French merchantmen Dinorah (H/J/C/Cn/D/He/dk) JANE RADCLIFFE, Admiralty chartered collier, 28 November 1917, Aegean Sea - 4,074grt, built 1897, Jane Radcliffe SS Co, London, armed, Barry for Milos/Port Said with coal. Originally believed torpedoed, now confirmed as mined, laid by UC.74 (Wilhelm Marschall), sank 2 miles SW of Antimilo island, off Milo island, S of Athens (L - between Milo and Anti Milo Is) (H/L/Lr/te/un) JAY, hired trawler, 11 August 1917, North Sea - c144grt, built 1897, Hull-reg H534, Kelsall Bros & Beeching, hired 10/14 as minesweeper, 16pdr AA, Admiralty No.375, Skipper Edwin Bullock RNR. Heading back to Great Yarmouth after sweeping near Southwold, Suffolk. Torpedoed at 1515 starboard side by UB.35 (Karl Stoter), sank rapidly by the stern off Southwold (He about 500 yards from C buoy; un 55.19N, 01.49E; wi - in 52.20N, 01.45E); 1 officer, 8 ratings lost (He two survivors) (H/Lr/C/D/He/dk/fd/hw/un/wi; ADM.137/3321) JEAN, hired drifter, 17 October 1917, Central Mediterranean - 94grt, built 1907, Fraserburgh-reg FR238, hired 1916 (D - 3/15) as net drifter, 1-3pdr, Admiralty No.2490, Otranto Barrage drifter tender, Lieutenant John Philip Allix RNR. Returning to Taranto and mined, sank off Cape Santa Maria di Leuca at eastern entrance to Gulf of Taranto, Italy (He in 39.43N 18.18E); 1 officer, 8 ratings lost (H/L/C/D/dk; ADM.137/3375) JESSAMINE, fleet sweeping sloop 29 August 1917, St George's Channel - COOROY, 4-mast steel barque, 2,470grt, built 1892, London-reg, Commonwealth of Australia, 23 crew, Tocopilla for Liverpool with nitrate of soda. Captured by UC.33 (un UC.75), sunk by torpedo 10 miles S by W1/2W of Hook Point, Co Waterford (L/wi - 16 miles SSE of Ballycotton, in 52.35N, 07.48W); lives lost included seven armed guards from Jessamine (H/L/Lr/un/wi) JESSIE NUTTEN, hired trawler, 4 September 1916, North Sea - 187grt, built 1908, Aberdeen-reg A243, J E Nutten, hired 8/14 as minesweeper, Admiralty No.312, Skipper Oscar Pitcher RNR. Sailing from Lowestoft with six other trawlers to sweep off the port. Mined at 0730, laid by UC.1 (Kurt Ramien), sank rapidly off Lowestoft, Suffolk; Skipper and 4 ratings lost; 6 crew rescued by other trawlers (wi - in 52.28N, 01.47E) (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/un/wi; ADM.137/3190) JOHN E LEWIS, hired trawler, 16 January 1918, North Sea - 253grt, built 1911, John Lewis & Sons, Aberdeen-reg A354, hired 8/14 as minesweeper, 13pdr, Admiralty No.321, Lt Francis Woods RNR, Harwich-based. Sweeping with other vessels near Sunk LV, weather worsened with heavy snow and ordered to return to Harwich. While forming in line ahead, trawler Drummer Boy, with John E Lewis next astern, sighted one floating mine. John E Lewis then detonated another mine, laid by UC.11 (Ferdinand Schwartz) earlier that day, sank in about 8 minutes off Cork LV, off Harwich (He places her sinking near Sunk LV which is some miles further offshore than the Cork; He/un in 51.54.30N, 01.24.30E; wi - in 51.53N, 01.23.45E); 2 ratings killed by explosion (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/sc/un/wi; ADM.137/3412) JOHN HIGH, hiredtrawler, 7 August 1916, Barents Sea - German auxiliary minelayer Meteor laid mines in June 1915 along the North Russian Murman coast and six Lowestoft-based trawlers were sent to sweep them from July to November 1915. More mines were laid of the same coast by U-boats in 1916, and a second group of minesweeping trawlers sailed from Lowestoft, John High, 228grt, built 1915, North Shields-reg SN233, hired 1/16 as minesweeper, 1-6pdr AA, Admiralty No.3252, 16 crew, Skipper John High, sweeping U-boat-laid mines, heavy sea running. Mined at 0545, laid by U.75 (Kurt Beitzen), blown up and sank off Mount Sozonova, North Russia (He in 67.34N, 41.10E); Skipper and 13 ratings lost, all hands except the mate who was standing in the bows with lifebelt on, blown overboard and rescued by another trawler before the cold water killed him (H/L/C/He/ap/dk/sc/un; ADM.1/8465/198) JOHN LINCOLN, hired drifter see German Destroyer Raid on Dover Straits, 25 February 1917 JOHN MITCHELL, hired drifter, 14 November 1917, English Channel - 89grt, built 1913, Lowestoft-reg LT211, hired 2/15 as net drifter, 1-3pdr, Admiralty No.1065, Skipper George Blowers RNR. In collision at 0145 with SS Bjerka, sailing Newport to Leith, sank off St. Albans Head, Dorset (He - 50.32N 01.42W; wi - in 50.30N, 02W); no lives lost (H/C/D/dk/wi; ADM.137/578) JOHN O SCOTT, Admiralty chartered collier, 18 September 1918, Atlantic off SW England - 1,235grt, built 1906, Newcastle-reg, Steamship Tyne (un Chr Salvesen & Co), 1-12pdr, 19 crew, Mr P Ross, Barry for Dover with coal. Torpedoed by UB.117 (Erwin Wassner) at 0445, sank in minutes, 9 miles W by N of Trevose Head, north Cornwall (L/te/un/wi - in 50.32N, 05.16.30W); 18 lives lost including master, only survivor was Greek AB who stayed afloat clinging to wreckage, rescued by motor launch after 10 hours in the water, landed at Newquay (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) JOHN PAYNE, hired rescue tug see RACE FISHER, fleet messenger, 25 March 1919, Mediterranean JOHN ROBERT, hired drifter, 1 February 1919, Mediterranean - 89grt, built 1912, Yarmouth-reg YH708, hired 1/15 as net drifter, 1-3pdr AA, Admiralty No.1035, Skipper John Stewart RNR, on passage Mersina, SE Turkey (ge - Messina) to Alexandretta, NW Syria, possibly on post-war mine clearance. Departed on 1st and not seen again, presumed sunk by drifting mine off Cape Karadesh, SE Turkey; 1 officer, 8 ratings lost, no survivors (D/He/dk/ge; ADM.1/8496/190) JOLLY ROGER, motor launch, 4 June 1919, North Russia - ex-Bolshevik, original name not known, 70ft, armed with 37mm guns/medium mgs, taken by rail from Murmansk to River Onega with other ex-Bolshevik motor boats and two steam launches to form local naval force. Engines failed regularly, caught fire and exploded; no lives listed as lost (gb - killed several crew). That same day four British mg-armed motor boats went out to meet four larger armed Bolshevik steamers which were driven off when two flights of seaplanes bombed and strafed (dk/gb) K
KANGURU, depot/docking-ship 3 December 1916, Central Atlantic - in a new area of operations for U-boats, U.38 sank British SS Dacia, French gunboat Surprise and depot/docking-ship Kanguru off Funchal, Madeira, then shelled the town for two hours (dx) (Note: not known if Kanguru was a British naval vessel) KAPHREDA, hired trawler, 8 June 1916, North Sea - 245grt, built 1911, Fleetwood-reg FD188, T F Kelsall, hired 8/14 as minesweeper, Admiralty No.364, SubLt John Patterson RNVR, Skipper George Baldry RNR. Sweeping area around Corton LV, lead vessel of group about to pass down Hewett Channel. Mined, laid by UC.6 (Otto Ehrentraut), sank rapidly near Corton LV, off Yarmouth (wi - in 52.31N, 01.48E); Skipper and 8 ratings lost, 4 survivors (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/fd/un/wi ; ADM.137/3188) KELVIN, hired trawler, 7 July 1917, North Sea - 322grt, built 1915, Hull-reg H357, F & T Ross, hired 11/15 as minesweeper, 16pdr AA, Admiralty No.1974, Lt Robert Thomas RNR. Sailed from Harwich at 0630 as division leader to sweep channel into the port - for three hours each side of high water; returning west across a swept area. Mined at 1320, laid by UC.4 (Erich Hecht), sank off Harwich, Essex (wi - in 51.54N, 01.20E); 1 officer, 3 ratings lost, Lt Thomas, an elderly man and prewar sailing ship master might have been saved but gave his piece of wreckage to one of the crew who could not swim (He 13 survivors) (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/sc/wi; ADM.137/3317) KEMPENFELT, flotilla leader see KING EDWARD VII, predreadnought, 6 January 1916, Atlantic N of Scotland KENT COUNTY, Q-ship 8 December 1916, North Sea - - special service ship, drifter, 86grt, built 1911, Lowestoft-reg LT1129, hired as naval patrol boat, Admiralty No.203, decoy vessel in 1915 (D - 9/14, probably date hired as patrol boat), 1-6pdr, commissioned, also known as Kentish Knock, Ledger No. 17, Skipper Samuel Burwood RNR. On patrol off Great Yarmouth. Mined, U-boat-laid (un U-boat not identified), sank off Cross Sand, off Lowestoft (wi - off Great Yarmouth, in 52.37N, 01.50.45E; un 1 mile NNW of Cross Sand LV) (He disappeared night of 7th/8th, wreckage found, presumed detonated drifting mine); Skipper and 10 ratings lost, no survivors (H/C/Cn/D/He/dk/qs/wi; ADM.1/8475/293) KENT [01], cruiser 3 January 1919, Russian Intervention - Armoured cruiser Kent joined Japanese and American warships at Vladivostok, Eastern Siberia (dx) KENT [02], cruiser, 6 April 1919, Russian Intervention - Armoured cruiser Kent landed guns' crews at Vladivostok for transport 4,500 miles to Kama River, southern Urals to support White Russians (dx) KENT [03], cruiser, 18 August 1919, Russian Intervention - Kent's gunnery detachment returned to Vladivostok from service in the Ural Mountains area (dx) KETHAILES, hired yacht, 11 October 1917, St George's Channel - 625grt, built 1903, hired 23/9/14 as auxiliary patrol vessel, 2-3pdr or 6pdr, Pennant No.012, Lt-Cdr Sidney Reginald Lane RNR. In collision with Liverpool-bound Bibby Line SS Leicestershire, at 22.55, eleven miles NE of Blackwater light vessel, County Wexford and broke up quickly (wi - in 52.28N, 06W); 2 officers, 3 ratings, 12 MMR lost Eleven survivors, nine picked up by escorting patrol ship P.44 (H/J/C/D/He/dk/wi; ADM.137/553, ADM.137/678, ADM.53/56495) KILBRIDE, Admiralty collier, 1 March 1916, Central Mediterranean - 3,712grt, built 1901, Glasgow-reg, Napier & Connell, Glasgow, sailing Barry for Malta/Salonika with coal. Captured by U.38 (Max Valentiner), sunk by gunfire 30 miles E of Galita Is, Tunisia (H/L/Lr/ms/te/un) KILDONAN CASTLE, armed merchant cruiser, 27 October 1916, North Atlantic - 9,692grt, built 1899, hired 25/3/16, lately joined 10th CS, patrolling in 63.13N, 18.30W. Two torpedoes fired at her and missed, went to full speed, searched for U-boat but already dived (Mn/D) KILLINGHOLME, seaplane carrier, 27 April 1916, North Sea - also known as paddle air service scout, ex-paddle steamer, 508grt, built 1912, Great Central Railway, hired 21/2/16-21/4/17 as fleet messenger, carried 2 or 3 small seaplanes for coastal anti-airship patrols, Killingholme-based. Possibly mined and damaged, no other details; 2 officers, 4 rating, 12 MN lost. Paid off 21/4/17 (C/D/bt/dk) KILWINNING, Admiralty chartered collier, 24 August 1917, Central Mediterranean - 3,071grt, built 1898, Kilwinning SS Co, Glasgow, armed, Barry for Port Said with coal and general cargo. Torpedoed by Austrian U.XIV (Georg Ritter von Trapp), sank 94 miles ESE of Malta (L/te/un - in 35.26N, 16.30E) (H/L/Lr/te/un) KIMBERLEY, trawler, 27 May 1916, North Sea - U.74 was reviously recorded as sunk by four trawlers including Kimberley off Peterhead on this date. Now listed as sunk by accidental explosion of one of her mines off Dunbar, Scotland on the 17 May 1916 (dx/un) KINCARDINE, Admiralty chartered collier, 3 March 1917, Atlantic off SW Ireland - 4,108grt, built 1906, Newcastle-reg, Sutherland SS, 1-12pdr, 32 crew, Mr J Beeching, Cardiff for Genoa with 5,800t coal. Torpedoed by U.70 (Otto Wόnsche) at 1430, immediately abandoned, apparently sank three hours later, 20 miles NE of Tearagh Is, off Blaskett islands (L - 18 miles N of Tearaght Light; te/wi - in 52.22N, 10.26W); survivors picked up by naval vessel and landed at Berehaven. Note: loss position appears to be inconsistent with a course from Cardiff to Genoa (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) KING EDWARD VII, predreadnought, 6 January 1916, Atlantic N of Scotland - (J - King Edward), King Edward VII-class, c17,290t, 1903, 4-12in/4-9.2in/10-6in/12-12pdr/14-3pdr/5-18in tt, 18kts, c777 crew, Pendant No.66, flagship 3rd BS Grand Fleet, Capt Crawford MacLachlan, sailed Scapa 0700 on passage to Belfast to refit, strong westerly wind with rising sea. Explosion at 1047, first thought torpedoed, then confirmed mined in a field of 252 mines laid by raider Mφwe night of 1st/2nd in western approach to Pentland Firth between Strathy Point and Cape Wrath, 3 to 7 miles off the coast. Detonated starboard-side under engine-room, ship heeled to starboard and both engine-rooms filled, taken in tow by collier Melita (He - steamer Princess Amelia) assisted by flotilla leader Kempenfelt sent out from Scapa Flow with 12 destroyers, now low in the water and unmanageable, tow parted and by 1600 ship had a heavy list, rolled over and sank at 2010 (all quoted positions are assumed to be where she was mined: J/gf - in 58.43N, 04.12W; kp - 58.43N, 04.04W; wi - 7 1/4m NE by N of Strathy Point LH, in 58.42.22N, 03.53.34W; dx - 25 miles 080Ί from Cape Wrath; other positions include off Cape Wrath, between Sule Skerry and Cape Wrath, and near Sule Skerry; He sank in 58.46N 04.11W); no lives lost, ships company saved by destroyers Fortune, Marne, Musketeer, Nessus. King Edward VII at his namesakes launch insisted that she should always be a flagship and she was lost on her first voyage as a private ship. Two neutral steamers went down in the same field (H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/He*/ap/dk/dx/gf/ke/sc/wi; ADM.1/8444/7) KING EMPEROR, hired trawler, 4 February 1916, SE England - minesweeper, in collision off Sheerness, survived and repaired. Officer, skipper and six crew lost (dk) KING STEPHEN, Q-ship see GERMAN RAID ON LOWESTOFT AND YARMOUTH, 25 April 1916, North Sea KING'S GREY, hired trawler, 24 March 1917, English Channel - minesweeper. Mined and damaged near Royal Sovereign LV in 50.42'N, 00.27'E, laid by UC.72 (Ernst Voigt); three crew killed (D/dk/un) KINGFISHER hired trawler - see OCEANS GIFT II, hired motor drifter, 30 August 1917, North Sea KINROSS, twin screw minesweeper, 16 June 1919, Aegean Sea - Aberdare-class, 800t, 4/7/18, 1-4in QF/1-12pdr AA, 16kts, 74 crew, P/No. T.5N from 8/18, had served with Mediterranean Fast Sweepers, engaged in postwar sweeping operations, Lieutenant Reginald Wemyss Duke Gilbertson RNR. Working with a kite balloon and clearing field S of Imbros island. Mine detonated and set of a line of more mines, holed a number of times, rolled over and sank less than an hour later off the Dardanelles; 12 ratings lost (He 11 men died from explosion or injuries) (J/C/Cn/He/D/dk/ge/sc; ADM.116/2062) KIRKLAND, hired trawler, 20 August 1917, Shetlands - 224grt, built 1908, G H D Birt & D J Davies, London-reg LO282, hired 1915 (D - 8/14) as minesweeper, Admiralty No.360, Skipper D Davies (He - Skipper Charles Arthur Garnish RNR, in casualty list). Escorting oiler Kremlin from Swarbacks Minn anchorage, Shetland Islands, with another trawler. Mined, laid by U.80 (Alfred von Glasenapp) on 27/28 June 1917 (un Barrage 129c), sank immediately off Fugla Skerry, Papastour (He between Ve Skerries and Papa Stour; un in 60.21N, 01.47W; wi - in 60.20N, 01.50W); 1 officer, 10 ratings lost (He one survivor) (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/un/wi; ADM.137/3306) KITTY GEORGE, hired drifter see GRACIE, hired drifter, 10 February 1917, North Sea KLONDYKE, hired trawler, 4 June 1916, English Channel - (C - Klondike),155grt, built 1898, Hull-reg H420, Hull Steam Fishing, hired 1915 (D - 10/14) as minesweeper, Admiralty No.647. In collision with steamship Hindu (770 tons), sank near Owers LV, SE of Selsey Bill, Sussex (He in collision four miles SW of Owers light vessel, at 1am); 1 rating lost (H/Lr/C/D/He/dk/hw; ADM.137/239) KNIGHTSGARTH, Admiralty collier, 5 January 1918, North Channel - 2,889grt, built 1905, Rea Shipping Co (R & J H Rea), Liverpool, armed, 22 crew, Mr J Catterall, from Lough Swilly after coaling warships, now heading for Barry Dock still carrying fleet supplies, but in ballast. Torpedoed by U.91 (Alfred von Glasenapp), 5 miles WNW of Bull Point, Rathlin Is (L - off Bengore Head; wi - in 55.17.38N, 06.17.05W), crew abandoned ship, slowly filled, drifted with the tide and grounded just S of Bull Point; two crew killed by explosion, survivors rowed ashore, landed near Giant's Causeway, and made for Portrush and on to Belfast. Wreck Index reports that local people salvaged much of her fleet supplies, including flour, tinned and preserved foods, candles, small arms and ammumition. Wreck lies close to the cliff at Tolovey in depths ranging from 1527ft (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) KREMLIN, possibly Admiralty chartered oiler see KIRKLAND, hired trawler, 20 August 1917, Shetlands KUMU, hired trawler, 19 May 1917, English Channel minesweeper. Mined and damaged, laid by UC.17 (Ralph Wenninger) on 11 May, 5 miles E by N of Hope's Nose, in 50.31N, 03.20W; two crew killed (D/dk/un) KURDISTAN, Admiralty chartered collier, 20 September 1917, Central Mediterranean - 3,720grt, built 1914, Hindustan SS Co, Sunderland, armed, Blyth for Alexandria with coal and coke. Torpedoed by U.32 (Kurt Hartwig), sank 27 miles ESE of Pantellaria island, off Tunisia (L - in 36.40N, 12.38E; un in 36.40N, 12.37E, also 36.43N, 12.42E) (H/L/Lr/te/un) KUROKI, hired trawler see SISTERS MELVILLE, hired trawler, 13 February 1917, North Sea KYLEMORE [01], paddle minesweeper, 1 May 1916, Dover Straits - 319grt, built 1897, hired 23/11/15, Dunkirk-based, sweeping British minefield near Dyck Bank with other paddlers. Mine exploded by rifle fire, pieces swept the deck; two men killed and buried in France, one man slightly injured (D/dk/sc) KYLEMORE [02], paddle minesweeper see ESKBURN, hired drifter, 30 November 1916, Dover Straits L
LABURNUM [01], fleet sweeping sloop see FARNBOROUGH, Q-ship, 17 February 1917, Atlantic W of Ireland LABURNUM [02], fleet sweeping sloop, 15 June 1917, Atlantic off S Ireland - Acacia-class, 1,200t. In collision with US destroyer Jenkins 883t at Queenstown (Cn/gr) LADY CARRINGTON, Admiralty collier, 12 November 1916, Atlantic off NW Spain - 3,269grt, built 1907, Cardiff-reg, Carrington SS, armed, Barry for Malta with coal. Captured by U.49 (Richard Hartmann), sunk by torpedo 98 miles N by W of Cape Ortegal (te - in 44.15N, 08.50W; L - 49.15N, 08.50W). Note: if Cape Ortegal is correct, Lloyds latitude would be a transcription error (H/L/Lr/te/un) LADY CHARLOTTE, Admiralty chartered collier, 11 May 1917, Atlantic off SW England - 3,593grt, built 1905, London-reg, Redcroft Steam Navigation, Cardiff for Alexandria. (wi - 13th or 14th) - Stranded in dense fog, wrecked off Scillies (wi - on Clapper Rocks, Porth Hellick, St. Mary's Island in 49.54.50N, 06.16.40W). Note: Lady Charlotte 3,593grt attacked 17/3/18 - if the same vessel, the attack came after her loss according to HMSO (H/Lr/wi) LADY OLIVE, Q-ship, 19 February 1917, English Channel - ex-Tees Trader, special service/submarine decoy/Q-ship, ex-coaster, 701grt, built 1913, London-reg, British & Irish Steam Packet, 701grt, hired 24/11/16 as decoy ship Q.18 (qs - entered service 18/12/16), 1-4in/4-12pdr/dc's, Lt Frederic Frank RNR, on patrol in western reaches of English Channel. Submarine sighted astern 3 miles away at 0635, UC.18 (Wilhelm Kiel) opened fire, hitting Lady Olive during the approach, panic party away, U-boat only 100yds off by 0710. Lady Olive opened fire, killing the gun crew and hitting the conning tower before she dived, intended to drop depth charges but engine and boiler-rooms flooding and wireless smashed, Q-ship and U-boat sank off Channel Islands (J - Lady Olive torpedoed; qs - torpedoed after action; ub - first torpedoed by U-boat; dx/te/ub/un - 12 miles W of Jersey, in 49.15N, 02.34W); no lives lost in Lady Olive, forced to abandon ship in three boats and two rafts, headed for French coast but made poor progress, all crew into the boats later that afternoon, rafts abandoned. One of the boats lost touch by 2200 but reached Cherbourg, the other two rowed all night and into the next day, sometime after 1700 spotted by French destroyer Dunois and rescued, also landed at Cherbourg (H/J/L/Lr/C/Cn/D/He*/dk/dx/qs/sk/te/ub/un) LADYSMITH, hired trawler, 20 August 1917, North Sea - sweeping. Mined, laid by unidentified U-boat, 2 miles N 7?E of North Knock Buoy, damaged, towed to Harwich; no lives lost (D/dk/un) LADYBIRD, river gunboat - see GRAFTON , bulged cruiser, 30 October 1917, Palestine Campaign LANCE, destroyer, 20 March 1916, North Sea - L-class, c1,300t, 3-4in/1mg/4-21in tt, 9th DF Harwich Force, Cdr W Egerton. Taking part in extensive minelaying operation off Thames estuary by four minelayers escorted by Harwich Force destroyers, with diversionary air-raids near Zeebrugge by British, French and Belgian aircraft and seaplane carriers Riviera and Vindex launching attack on German seaplane base on Zeebrugge Mole. Lance's division escorted the carriers and also covered the minelayers, patrolling at 0800 near North Hinder LV. Attacked by three German destroyers, short action left Lance badly damaged but with no lives lost, enemy driven off and minelaying went ahead (Rn/Cn/D/dk) LANDRAIL, destroyer, 13 December 1916, Dover Straits - UB.29 sunk by destroyer Landrail in Dover Straits off Goodwin Sands, first U-boat sinking by depth charge alone (un the victim of this attack may have been UC.19 although she was reportedly sunk on 6 December 1916) (dx) LARCHWOOD, Admiralty collier, 14 January 1916, Bristol Channel - 689grt, built 1910, Middlesbrough-reg, Meteor SS, 13 crew, Mr A Clarke, from Penarth with coal. In collision with SS Argus, sank in a matter of minutes off Bull Point, W of Ilfracombe, Devon (wi - 3 miles N by W of, in 51.14.23N, 04.15.34W); 8 crew drowned as she went down, survivors including captain, mate, two crew picked up by the severely damaged Argus, landed at Newport next morning (H/Lr/wi) LARGO, Admiralty chartered collier, 27 February 1918, Irish Sea - 1,764grt, built 1910, Pelton SS Co, Newcastle, armed, Mr C Whincop, Barry for Scapa Flow with coal. Torpedoed by UB.105 (Friedrich Strackerjan), sank 12 miles W of Calf of Man island, off Isle of Man (un 53.52N, 05.02W; wi - in 54N, 05.10W) (H/L/Lr/ms/te/un/wi) LARK II, armed trawler see DUSTER, hired trawler, 17 December 1917, Atlantic off SW EnglandLAERTES, destroyer see GERMAN RAID ON LOWESTOFT AND YARMOUTH, 25 April 1916, North Sea LARKSPUR, fleet sweeping sloop, 5 April 1918, SW Scotland - Acacia-class, 1,200t. In collision with and sank tug Satellite 21grt in Albert harbour, Greenock on the Clyde, tug lost one man (Cn/gr) LAUREL CROWN, hired drifter, 22 June 1916, Atlantic off N Scotland - 81grt, built 1912, Fraserburgh-reg FR506, hired 12/14 as net drifter, Admiralty No.2050, Skipper John Coull RNR. (un most sources date her loss on 2 June, the Court of Enquiry established her loss on the 22nd; confirmed by Kindells casualty list) One of nine vessels sweeping area in which cruiser Hampshire was lost - between 58.46N-59.22N and 03.18W-04.39W - passed Brough of Birsay and steering WSW. At 2000, detonated mine laid by U.75 (Kurt Beitzen), foundered west of Orkneys, going down stern first and breaking up (He - 59.05.30N, 03.28.30W; wi - in 59.00N 04W); Skipper and 8 ratings lost, no survivors (H/L/C/D/He/dk/un/wi; ADM.137/3138) LAUREL LEAF, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 17 March 1917, Atlantic off S Ireland - Leaf-class, 5,631grt or 12,300tgrt, built 1916, armed. U-boat attack, torpedo missed (H/D) LAVEROCK, destroyer see German Destroyer Raid on Dover Straits, 25 February 1917 LEICESTER, store carrier. 12 February 1916, Dover Straits - (qs - also listed as Q-ship/special service ship), 1,001grt, built 1891, Grimsby-reg, Great Central Railway, hired 12/10/14 as RFA, Pendant No.Y8.23, 24 crew, Mr S Barley, Portsmouth for Cromarty, 600t general cargo. Mined at 1030, laid by UC.6 (Matthias Graf von Schmettow), sank 2 1/2m SE by E of Folkestone Pier, Kent (wi - 51.03.34N 01.16.03E); 17 crew lost, master, six crew saved by trawlers, landed at Dover. Wreck lies broken up at 70ft, ships bell recovered in 1986 (H/L/Lr/C/Cn/D/ns/qs/te/un/wi) LENA MELLING, hired trawler, 23 April 1916, Dover Straits - 274grt, built 1915, Fleetwood-reg FD189, Melling Trawlers, hired 11/15 as minesweeper, 13pdr, Admiralty No.3223, Dover Patrol, Skipper George Horne RNR. (un 21st) - Mined, laid by UC.7 (Georg Haag), sank near Elbow Light Buoy, off North Foreland or Broadstairs (He - about 1 1/2 miles southwest of the Elbow Light buoy, off Broadstairs); Skipper and 10 ratings lost (He 10 men lost) (H/L/C/D/dk/dq/fd/un; ADM.1/8454/88) LENNOX, destroyer, 10 March 1916, presumably North Sea - Lennox, L-class, c1,300t, and Miranda, M-class, c1,100t, destroyers, believed 9th (Cn - 3rd) and 10th DF's respectively, Harwich Force. In collision, damage not known (Cn/D/gr) LERWICK, hired drifter, 27 March 1916, North Sea - 86grt, built 1908, Yarmouth-reg YH747, hired 12/15 as net drifter, Admiralty No.1955, Skipper Samuel Smith RNR. In service as net barrier tender. Heavy gale, driven ashore and wrecked in Yarmouth Roads, Norfolk (wi - in 52.35N, 01.46E); no lives lost (H/C/D/He/dk/wi; ADM.137/221) LEVEN, destroyer, 26 January 1918, Dover Straits - UB.35 sunk by Leven off Calais (dx) LIBERTY, destroyer, 8 February 1917, Dover Straits - L-class, c1,300t, 3-4in/1-2pdr/4-21in tt, believed 9th DF Harwich Force, possibly on detached service with Dover Patrol. UC.46 running through the English Channel for home, surfaced close by Liberty off the Goodwin Sands, rammed and sunk. Liberty presumably damaged (Cn/D/dx/kt/ub) LIGHTFOOT [01], flotilla leader see GERMAN RAID ON LOWESTOFT AND YARMOUTH, 25 April 1916, North Sea LIGHTFOOT [02], flotilla leader, March 1917, North Sea - Lightfoot-class, c1,700t, Harwich Force, and Oberon, destroyer, Repeat M-class, c1,250t, also possibly Harwich Force. March - In collision, possibly North Sea, Lightfoot crushed her bows (Cn/D/gr) LIMELEAF, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 19 April 1917, English Channel - The Shipping Controller (Lane & MacAndrew), London, Leaf-class, 7,339grt, launched 1916, armed, sailing Port Arthur for Sheerness with fuel oil. Torpedoed and damaged by UB.40 (Hans Howaldt) 10 miles E of Owers LV, towed into Portsmouth; 7 lives lost. Sunk in WW2 (H/L/D/ms/un) LINCAIRN, Admiralty collier, 27 May 1916, North Sea - 3,638grt, built 1904, Manchester-reg, owned Lincluden SS Co (Sivewright, Bacon), Mr C Jackson, Newcastle for Gibraltar with coal. Mined, laid by UC.10 (Alfred Nitzsche), sank 8 miles N by E of the Shipwash LV, off Orford Ness (L/te/wi - 7 1/2m N by E of, in 52.08.18N, 01.42.39E) (H/L/Lr/ms/te/un/wi) LINGFIELD, paddle minesweeper see ALBYN, paddle minesweeper, 2 September 1917, Dover Straits LLWYNGWAIR, Admiralty chartered collier, 26 April 1918, North Sea - 1,304grt, built 1913, Swansea-reg, Harries Bros, 1-18pdr, 18 crew, Mr J Stevenson, Dunkirk for Newcastle in ballast. UC.64 Ferdinand Schwartz) spotted and fired on by the steamship Abbas, forced to submerge then torpedoed Llwyngwair amidships at 1210, sank immediately 5 miles SSE of Seaham Harbour, Durham (wi - in 55.46N, 01.14.30W); 8 lives lost including master, 10 survivors picked up by Abbas and landed at Sunderland (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) LOBELIA II, hired trawler, 19 April 1917, Atlantic off N Ireland 184grt, built c1896, Milford-reg M147, Southern Steam Trawling, hired 1914 (D - 4/15) as patrol minesweeper, 13pdr, Admiralty No.974, Skipper Joshua Pratt RNR. Clearing minefield with two other trawlers, just brought one mine to the surface. Hit another mine at 1220, laid by U.78 (Otto Drφscher), sank near Fanad Point, Lough Swilly (He in 55.18N, 07.45W; wi - in 55.17N, 07.38.15W); Skipper and 10 ratings lost, one survivor (H/L/Lr/C/D/dk/un/wi; ADM.137/3274) LOCH ARD, hired trawler, 10 September 1917, North Sea - 225grt, built 1912, Bon-Accord Steam Fishing Co, Aberdeen-reg A503, hired 8/14 as minesweeper, Admiralty No.330, Skipper J Peck RNR. Sweeping to the SE of Corton lightship paired with trawler Coadjutor. Mined under engine room, laid by UC.14 (Helmut Lorenz), broke in two and sank off Lowestoft, Suffolk (He/un/wi - 1 mile SE of Corton LV, off Lowestoft, in 52.30.20N, 01.52.55E); 5 ratings lost (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/un/wi; ADM.137/3326) LOCH EYE, hired trawler, Friday 23 February 1917, Atlantic off SW England - 225grt, built 1916, Aberdeen-reg, hired 9/16. In collision with and sank SS Dovrefjell 1,565grt off W coast of Cornwall (D/gr) LOCH EYE, hired trawler, 20 April 1917, St George's Channel - 225grt, built 1916, Aberdeen-reg A.693, (un Empire Steam Fishing Co, Aberdeen), hired 9/16 as minesweeper, 16pdr, Admiralty No.2965, Skipper William MacLeod RNR, on patrol. Returning to Dunmore, fourth in line with other trawlers after early morning sweep of the approaches to Waterford, Ireland. Mined at 1035, laid by UC.33 (Martin Schelle), sank rapidly by the stern off Dunmore, Co Waterford (He/un 1 1/4 miles SW of Hook Point, near Waterford; wi - in 52.09.20N, 06.58.45W); 7 ratings lost, 7 survivors (H/C/D/dk/un/wi; ADM.137/3264) LOCH GARRY, Admiralty trawler, 13 September 1916, Orkneys - 176grt, built c1900, Hartlepool-reg, HL32, J B Graham, hired 1915 (D - 1/16) as auxiliary patrol vessel (He - boom defence vessel), Mate John Winchester. Foundered at moorings off Kirkwall at 0115; Mate, Engineer and 2 MMR lost, only survivor was the boy cook (H/Lr/C/D/He/dk; ADM.137/278) LOCH MORAR, hired trawler see SISTERS MELVILLE, hired trawler, 13 February 1917, North Sea LONDON COUNTY, hired drifter, 28 October 1919, North Sea - lost off Beadnell, believed Northumberland, on passage from the White Sea to be released from naval service. No other details (D/He) LONGBENTON, Admiralty chartered collier, 27 June 1917, North Sea - 924grt, built 1898, Newcastle-reg, Harris Brothers, 14 crew, Mr J Kinley, Newcastle for Devonport with 1,200t coal, steaming at 7.5kts. Torpedoed by UC.63 (Karsten von Heydebreck) in No.2 hold at 2000, sank by the head in two minutes, 12 miles S by W of Flamborough Head, Yorkshire (te - in 53.55N, 00.03W; wi - 53.53.07N, 00.00.18W); crew picked up by SS Hogarth (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) LONGSET, hired trawler, 6 February 1917, Bristol Channel - 275grt, built 1914, Grimsby-reg GY376, Lindsey Steam Fishing, hired 5/15, 1-6pdr, Admiralty No.1503, Auxiliary Patrol parent ship (He minesweeper), Bristol Channel area, based at Swansea, Lt Thomas Muir RNR. Mined at 1100, laid by UC.46 (Friedrich Moecke), sank off Nells Point, near Barry; Skipper and 7 ratings lost (He 7 survivors). Note: Lt John Wilson RNR who died on the 20 May 1916 is listed as serving on hired trawler Longset (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/se/un; ADM.137/356) LORD AIREDALE, hired trawler, 29 November 1916, North Sea - 215grt, built 1911, Grimsby-reg GY910, Consolidated Steam Fishing & Ice, hired 2/15, 1-12pdr or 3 pdr, Admiralty No.847, used as patrol vessel, believed Harwich-based, Skipper James Gardner RNR. Mined, laid by UC.11 (Max Schmitt), sank off Sunk LV, off Harwich (wi - in 51.54N, 01.20E, also 51.51N, 01.37.30E, listed as GY215); 7 ratings lost (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/sc/un/wi; ADM.1/8474/282) LORD DERBY, Admiralty chartered collier, 28 December 1917, St George's Channel - 3,757grt, built 1905, Occidental & Oriental Steam Navigation Co, Liverpool, London-reg, armed, Mr Forster, Cardiff for Milford Haven with coal. Torpedoed by U.105 (Friedrich Strackerjan), sank 7 miles SW by S of St. Ann's Head, Pembrokeshire (wi - in 51.34N, 05.16W); three crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) LORD HENEAGE, armed trawler see OCEAN SCOUT I, hired trawler, 21 December 1917, Atlantic off W Ireland LORD NELSON, battleship see SUPERB, dreadnought, 13 November 1918, Turkish Surrender LORD ORMONDE, believed Admiralty chartered collier, 20 March 1918, Eastern Mediterranean - 3,914grt, built 1899, Davie SB and Repiaring Co, Quebec, Canada, sailing Cardiff /Bizerta for Alexandria. Torpedoed and damaged by Austrian U.40 (Johann Krsnjavi) in Mediterranean (un in 35.38'N, 13.24'E), arrived Alexandria; no lives lost (H/L/un) LORD RIDLEY, hired trawler, 10 May 1917, North Sea - 215grt, built 1911, Grimsby-reg GY900, Consolidated Steam Fishing & Ice, hired 2/15 as minesweeper, Admiralty No.850, Skipper William Hodgman RNR. Working off Whitby with trawler Waldorf. Blown up at 1530, mine laid by UC.40 (Gustave Deuerlich), sank off Whitby, Yorkshire (He in 54.30.40N, 00.37.20W; wi - 54.30N, 00.30W); Skipper and 9 ratings lost, all hands (He one badly injured survivor picked up) (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/sc/un/wi; ADM.137/445) LORD STEWART, Admiralty chartered collier, 16 September 1918, English Channel - 1,445grt, built 1905, Sunderland-reg, Marquess of Londonderry, 1-12pdr, 21 crew, from Cherbourg for Barry Roads in ballast. Torpedoed by UB.104 (Thomas Beiber) port-side abreast foremast at 1905, sank almost at once 6 miles E1/2N of Hope's Nose, Torquay, Devon (L/wi 6 1/2m W1/2S off Hopes Nose - probably a reciprocal bearing, in 50.29.35N, 03.16.55W); one Spanish seaman drowned, survivors stayed afloat on wreckage, picked by patrol craft and landed at Torquay (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) LOTUSMERE, Admiralty chartered collier, 2 October 1916, Barents Sea - 3,911grt, built 1908, Newcastle-reg, Irismere SS, Barry for Archangel with coal. Captured by U.48 (Berndt Buss), sunk by torpedo 48 miles NNE of Teriberski LH, Kola Peninsula (L/te/un - in 69.58N, 35.50E) (H/L/Lr/te/un) LOWDALE, Admiralty chartered collier, 20 April 1917, Atlantic W of Gibraltar - 2660grt, built 1893, Newcastle-reg, Lowlands SS Co (J Crass & Co), sailing Tyne for Tunis with coal and coke. Captured by U.35 (Lothar von Arnauld de la Periθre), sunk by gunfire 90 miles W by N of Gibraltar (L - 50 miles WNW of Cape Spartel) (H/L/Lr/ge/te/un) LOWTYNE, believed Admiralty chartered collier, 10 June 1918, North Sea - also Low Tyne, ex-Slingsby, miscellaneous Admiralty auxiliary (Cn/D/qs - Submarine decoy or Q-ship), ex-collier, 3,231grt, built 1892, West Hartlepool-reg, Lowland Steam Shipping, hired 7/6grt, built 18, Pendant No.Y3.1512 as collier, 30 crew, Mr H Summerfield, South Shields for Thames with coal, in convoy. Torpedoed by UB.34 (Erich Forste) at 2105, sank in four minutes, 3 1/2m ESE of Whitby, Yorkshire (un 54.29N, 0.30W; wi - in 54.28.18N, 00.27.12W); 2 ratings lost (wi - 3 naval gunners killed by explosion), one boat lowered, survivors picked up by escort and landed at Whitby. Note: not listed as defensively-armed in HMSO, also only three days between being hired and sunk. Probably served as collier, but role as Q-ship is uncertain (H/J/L/Lr/Cn/D/dk/qs/te/un/wi) LOYAL FRIEND, hired drifter see ROSEVINE, hired drifter, 24 May 1917, North Sea LUCENT, Admiralty chartered collier, 12 February 1917, English Channel - 1,409grt, built 1879, Sunderland-reg, Westoll Line, Mr R Rendall, Cardiff for St Malo with coal, government stores. Captured by UC.66 (Herbert Pustkuchen), sunk by gunfire 20 miles E of Lizard Point, Cornwall (te/wi - in 50.20N, 04.43W) (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) LUCISTON (1), Admiralty chartered collier, 29 November 1916, Central Mediterranean - 2,948grt, built 1910, Glasgow-reg, Luciston SS Co, armed, Cardiff for Gibraltar/Malta with coal. Torpedoed and sunk by UC.22 (Heino von Heimburg) (earlier sources mined), off Marsa Scirocco Bay, about 4 miles E of Dellamara Point, Malta (H/L/Lr/te/un) LUCKNOW, hired trawler, 18 May 1917, English Channel - (may be spelt Ludlow), 171grt, built 1903, Hull-reg H739, Hull Steam Fishing, hired 10/14 as minesweeper, 13pdr, Admiralty No.649, Portsmouth based, Skipper George Woodhouse RNR. Mines discovered near Owers LV earlier in the day, with group clearing the area, paired with trawler Waltham. Detonated mine laid by UC.36 (Gustav Buch) that night, sank off Portsmouth; Skipper and 8 ratings lost, all on board (H/Lr/C/D/He/dk/hw/un; ADM.137/447) LULLINGTON, Admiralty chartered collier, 8 February 1917, English Channel - 2816grt, built 1903, London-reg, Southdown SS, 1-12pdr, 26 crew, Mr J Lloyd, Blyth for Rouen with coal. Mined on port-side near No.2 hold at 1800, crew abandoned ship, sank around 1810, 3 miles E of Royal Sovereign LV, off Beachy Head (te - in 50.42.30N, 00.33E; wi - in 50.42.40N, 00.31.30E); survivors in two boats picked up by trawlers and landed at Dover (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) LURCHER, destroyer see C.17, submarine, May 1917, probably southern British waters LYDIE, Admiralty chartered collier, 9 February 1918, English Channel - 2,599grt, built 1899, Burdick & Cook, London, 1-12pdr, 26 crew, Mr H Fellingham, Cardiff for Brest with 4,000t coal. Torpedoed by U.53 (Hans Rose) in engine-room at 1445, sank 1 mile E by S of Manacles Buoy, off Falmouth, Cornwall (L - 1 mile E of; wi - in 50.02.38N, 05.01W); chief and 3rd engineers killed by explosion, survivors picked up by patrol vessel and landed at Falmouth (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) LYNFIELD, Admiralty collier, 8 January 1917, Central Mediterranean - 3,023grt, built 1905, Stockton-on-Tees-reg, Field SS, Mr Joseph Ellery, armed, Cardiff for Alexandria with coal, coke, railway wagons. Captured by U.35 (Lothar von Arnauld de la Periθre), sunk by bombs about 32 miles SE by S of Malta; one crew lost, master taken prisoner. U.35 returned to Cattaro on the 13th with the captains of Lesbian, Mohacsfield, Andoni and Lynfield on board. Note: from Ms Heather Brewer whose grandfather was Master of the Lynfield - The lightly-armed Lynfield had put up a brave fight, during which the Chief Engineer was killed and several of the crew were injured; Capt Ellery was then taken prisoner, whilst the remainder of the crew, including his 14-year-old son William, were set adrift in boats and eventually rescued. Capt Ellery shouted a farewell message to the crew, which included the words to William, "Tell Mother not to worry." This was later to be the headline in an edition of the Daily Mirror, followed by the phrase, "Pirates capture Captain". Capt Ellery spent the remainder of the War in a prisoner of war camp in Austria; after the War he was appointed in command of the SS Vologda, but after two voyages had to give up, his health completely ruined by the harsh regime of the prison camp. He died at the age of 49 in 1920 (+L/Lr/Mn/hb/te/un) M
M.15, monitor see GRAFTON , bulged cruiser, 30 October 1917, Palestine Campaign M.25, monitor see BOTHA, flotilla leader, 21 March 1918, Dover Straits M.29, monitor - see GRAFTON , bulged cruiser, 30 October 1917, Palestine Campaign M.31, monitor - see GRAFTON , bulged cruiser, 30 October 1917, Palestine Campaign M.32, monitor - see GRAFTON , bulged cruiser, 30 October 1917, Palestine Campaign MACAW, hired trawler see ALBION II, hired trawler, 13 January 1916, English Channel MADRYN, Admiralty chartered collier, 16 September 1918, Atlantic off SW England - 2,244grt, built 1916, Newport-reg, Mervyn SS, 1-90mm, 23 crew, Mr J Harris, Penarth for Devonport with coal. Torpedoed by U.82 (Heinrich Middendorff) port-side in No.1 hold at 0300 blowing up the whole forepart, sank within 10min, 5 miles NNE of Trevose Head, Cornwall (un/wi - in 50.38N, 05.01W); crew got away in two boats - masters landed at Stanbury Mouth, 10 miles N of Bude, chief officer's picked up by French SS Therese and landed at Swansea (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) MAJESTIC II, patrol paddle steamer, 28 July 1916, Western Mediterranean - 408grt, built 1901, Weymouth-reg, Cosens & Co, hired 23/5/16 as auxiliary patrol vessel, 2-6pdr AA, Pendant No.0107. Sprang a leak, foundered near Oran, Algeria; no lives lost (H/J/Lr/C/D/He/dk) MALAYA, dreadnought, 22 November 1918, location not known - Queen Elizabeth class, 27,500t, 5th BS Grand Fleet. Run into by destroyer Penn 1,025t, port quarter damaged, location not known but probably northern Home waters (D/gr) MALTBY, Admiralty chartered collier, 26 February 1918, Central Mediterranean - 3,977grt, built 1906, Sir R Ropner & Co, West Hartlepool-reg, armed, Cardiff for Malta with coal. Torpedoed by UC.27 (Otto Gerke), sank 10 miles SW by S of Pantellaria island, off Tunisia (L - 9 miles S of); five crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un) MANICA, kite balloon ship see MERSEY, monitor, 4 September 1916 German East Africa Campaign MANLEY, destroyer see TB.9, torpedo boat, 26 July 1916, North Sea MANSURI, Admiralty collier, 17 November 1916, North Sea - 3,227grt, built 1894, Bombay-reg, Bombay & Persia Steam Navigation, sailed South Shields on 17th with sealed orders for St Nazaire, went missing, not since heard of, posted by Lloyds 21/3/17, not reported passing Downs in the Dover Strait. On or after 17th - Lost with all hands, presumably in North Sea (H/L/Lr/dx, Casualty list, dated 17th 2 naval ratings only) MANTIS [01], river gunboat, 8 March 1916, Mesopotamian Campaign - Second attempt to relieve British-Indian forces at Kut failed the same day, new "China" or Insect-class river gunboat Mantis took part with the smaller Fly-class Butterfly, Cranefly, Dragonfly, Mayfly, Sawfly (dx) MANTIS [02], river gunboat, 24 February 1917, Mesopotamian Front - After months of preparation by British/Indian forces followed by a steady push up the River Tigris, the Second Battle for Kut took place 22nd-23rd and the town found abandoned on the 24th, river gunboats taking part included Insect-class Mantis, Moth, Tarantula and Fly-class Butterfly, Gadfly, Snakefly (dx) MANTIS [03], river gunboat, 26 February 1917, Mesopotamian Campaign - Mantis, Moth, Tarantula, Insect-class, 645t, 2-6in/2-12pdr/6mg and Butterfly, Gadfly and one other, Fly-class, 98t, 1-4in/1-12pdr/1-6pdr/1-3pdr AA/1-2pdr/4 or 5mg, all river gunboats. Following the capture of Kut the River Flotilla (Capt Nunn) was given permission to pursue the retreating Turks. After passing Bughaila the three "Insects" came under heavy, short-range fire from the Turkish rearguard, Moth hit eight times by artillery, once through, the gunboats continued to harrass the Turks and recaptured river gunboat Firefly which was put back into service, and it is believed gunboat Sumana. The advance on Baghdad continued. In this action Mantis lost 1 rating killed, 1 DOW, Moth, 2 ratings killed, Tarantula, 1 rating killed, no lives lost in Butterfly and Gadfly (Cn/D/dk/gb/nh) MANTIS [04], river gunboat, 8 March 1917, Mesopotamian Campaign - British-Indian forces captured Baghdad by the 11th, river gunboats Mantis, Moth, Tarantula and Butterfly, Firefly, Gadfly, Snakefly took part (dx) MANZANITA, hired drifter, 6 September 1916, Adriatic Sea - 93grt, built 1911, Lowestoft-reg LT1113, hired 1916 (D - 1/15) as net drifter, Admiralty No.1038, Otranto barrage base ship at Brindisi, shifting base to Taranto and on passage. Ran aground on Ugenti Rocks and badly damaged, written off; no lives lost. (Note: probably the Secche d'Ugenta or di Ugento reef, just NW of Santa Maria di Leuca within the Gulf of Taranto i.e. just beyond the S Adriatic; Hepper lists the Ugenti rocks as outside Bari i.e. in the Adriatic (H/C/D/He/dk; ADM.137/2121) MAPLELEAF, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 21 October 1917, Atlantic - ex-Rangol, ex-dummy battleship No.7 Marlborough, ex-merchant ship Mount Royal, 8,039grt, armed. U-boat attack, torpedo missed (H/D) MARCELLA, hired yacht, 24 March 1916, Dover Straits -160tym/127grt, built 1887, hired 6/7/15 as armed boarding steamer, Pendant No.MI.25 from 1/16, probably commissioned, Dover Patrol. In collision, sank in The Downs between Deal and Goodwin Sands (H - in North Sea; He - ENE of Gull light vessel, in the Downs, in 51.14.44N 01.26.08E wreck found); no lives lost (J+/C/D/He/dk/dq; ADM.137/221) MARGAM ABBEY, Admiralty collier, 10 April 1916, Atlantic off SW England - 4,471grt, built 1907, Port Talbot-reg, Margam Abbey SS, Bordeaux for Barry Roads in ballast. Captured by U.66 (Thowald von Bothmer), sunk by gunfire 55 miles SW1/4S of Lizard Point, Cornwall (H/L/Lr/te/un) MARGARET (RCN), patrol vessel see HALIFAX HARBOUR EXPLOSION, 6 December 1917 MARGIT (1), Q-ship, 17 January 1916, Central Mediterranean - (Cn/D - operated as Thornhill, aka Margit, Wellholme, Werribee, Wonganella; qs - Wonganella, aka Thornhill), cargo steamship/collier Thornhill, 3,848grt, built 1911, Taylor & Sanderson, Sunderland, taken over as Admiralty collier Pendant No.Y3.859, in service from 18/11/15 as Q-ship/special service ship, Lt-Cdr G Hodgeson. Received Baron Napier's signal, hoisted Dutch colours and headed for the area, spotted by submarine, few shots fired and ordered to stop, panic party left and submarine submerged to check out her identity, surfaced again at which point Margit opened fire. U.35 (Lothar von Arnauld de la Periθre) was not hit, went back down again, fired torpedo and headed away. One Chief Petty Officer killed (D/dk/md/ms/qs) MARGIT (2), Admiralty chartered collier, 4 April 1917, Mediterranean - 2,490grt, built 1903, London-reg, Groedel Bros SS, armed, from Malta with coal. Torpedoed by U.63 (Otto Schultze), sank 80 miles SW1/2W of Cape Matapan, Greece (L/te - in 35.28N, 21.24E) (H/L/Lr/te/un) MARIE SUZANNE, Admiralty chartered collier, 19 August 1918, Aegean Sea - 3,106grt, built 1898, London-reg, Leander SS, armed, Penarth for Mudros/Salonika with coal. Torpedoed by UC.37 (Otto Kumpel), sank 47 miles W3/4S of Mudros Bay, island of Lemnos (H/L/Lr/te/un) MARION, hired trawler, 23 February 1918, Central Mediterranean - 128grt, built 1891, Dundee-reg DE14, Dundee Steam Trawling, hired 8/14 as minesweeper, 1-3pdr, Admiralty No.20, Skipper John Wood Watt RNR, with Lt Joseph King RNR, Minesweeping Officer, Malta Trawlers embarked. Sweeping the Marsa Scirocco channel off Malta with trawler Hercules III, spent morning off Filfola island. Mined at 1310, laid by unidentified U-boat, sank rapidly (He in 35.45N, 14.23 E); 1 officer, 5 ratings lost (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dx/sc/un; ADM.137/3472) MARNE, destroyer see KING EDWARD VII, predreadnought, 6 January 1916, Atlantic N of Scotland MARS, battleship see PRINCE GEORGE, battleship, 8 January 1916, Aegean Sea MARSHAL NEY, monitor see GERMAN DESTROYER RAID ON RAMSGATE, 26 April 1917 MARSTONMOOR, Admiralty chartered collier, 14 April 1918, Atlantic off N Scotland - 2,744grt, built 1906, London-reg, Moor Line, armed, Barry/Milford Haven for Murmansk/Archangel with mails, coal, general cargo. Torpedoed by U.107 (Kurt Slevogt), sank 55 miles NNE of Cape Wrath (te/un - in 59.34N, 04.54W) (H/L/Lr/te/un) MARVEL, destroyer, 2 June 1917, British waters - Marvel and Menace, destroyers, Repeat M-class, c1,250t, Grand Fleet Flotillas. In collision, no other details, bows of Menace stove in (Cn/gr) MARY ROSE, destroyer see TULIP, convoy sloop, 30 April 1917, Atlantic W of Ireland MASTIFF, destroyer, 30 May 1917, Dover Straits - M-class, 1,010t, had served with Harwich Force, now Dover Patrol. Ran ashore under Shakespeare Cliff, Dover, refloated the following day (Cn/dp/dq/gr) MASTON, Admiralty chartered collier, 13 August 1917, Central Mediterranean - 3,881grt, built 1912 (L - 5,881grt), Thomas & Appleton Shipping Co, Cardiff, armed, sailing Cardiff/Malta for Taranto with coal, stores. Torpedoed by Austrian U.XXVIII (Zdenko Hudecek), sank 35 miles ENE of Cape Spartivento, Italy (L - in 38.12N, 16.43E; un 38.25N, 16.43E); two crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un) MATCHLESS {01], destroyer see TB.9, torpedo boat, 26 July 1916, North Sea MATCHLESS [02], destroyer, 9 November 1916, North Sea - M-class, c1,100t, Harwich Force. Mined and damaged off Southwold, mine laid by unidentified U-boat; no casualties listed (un only) MATCHLESS [03], destroyer, 29 May 1917, probably Dover Straits - M-class, 1,010t, had served with Harwich Force, now Dover Patrol. In collision with unknown vessel, gradually sinking, towed into Dover and beached in the harbour. Wedged upright, refloated next high water and entered floating dock for repairs (Cn/dp/dq/gr) MATCHLESS [04], destroyer see BOTHA, flotilla leader, 21 March 1918, Dover Straits MAVIS [01], Q-ship, 10 May 1917, Eastern Atlantic - First trial convoy sailed from Gibraltar for UK, 16 ships escorted by submarine decoy/Q-ships Mavis (Q.26) and Rule (Q.35), convoys started regularly in July (dx) MAVIS [02], Q-ship, 3 June 1917, English Channel - ex-Nyroca, aka Nyroca, Nyorca, special service/submarine decoy/Q-ship, cargo steamship, 1,290grt, built 1903, Cork SS Co, Cork, entered service (D - 31/1/17; qs - 19/3/17) as decoy ship Q.26, 1-4in/2-12pdr, Cdr Adrian Keyes, carrying timber as buoyant cargo. Torpedoed (un by UC.29 or UC.66) amidships in the engine room at 2145, 20 miles S of Wolf Rock, engine-room and stokehold flooded, wireless wrecked. Distress rockets fired, destroyer Christopher, trawler Whitefriars and two tugs came out, Christopher took off most of the crew, towed by the tugs in succession, list reached 45°, beached in Cawsand Bay, near Plymouth (L - on the 4th), refloated, "paid off into dockyard hands" 30/6/17; one engineering officer and 3 firemen killed by torpedo explosion (L/Cn/D/kt/qs/sk/un) MAVISBROOK, Admiralty chartered collier, 17 May 1918, Western Mediterranean - 3,152grt, built 1912, Glasgow-reg, Steam Ship Treganna, armed, Cardiff for Malta with coal. Torpedoed and sunk by UB.50 (Franz Becker), 50 miles SE by S1/2S from Cape de Gata, near Almeria (L/un - in 36.05N, 01.35W; un also 36.12N, 1.34W); 18 crew lost including master (H/L/Lr/te/un) MAYFLY, river gunboat see MANTIS, river gunboat, 8 March 1916, Mesopotamian Campaign MECHANICIAN, Admiralty commissioned escort ship, 20 January 1918, English Channel - cargo ship, 9,044grt, built 1900, Charente SS Co (T & J Harrison), Liverpool-reg, hired 4/17, 2-6in QF/2-4in QF, commissioned 20/6/17, Pendant No.MI.98, 101 crew, Master James Nicholson, sailing London for Plymouth with government stores. Attacked by submerged UB.35 (Karl Stφter) at 0250, torpedoed in No 6 hold, 8 miles W of St Catherine's Point, Isle of Wight (L - between Needles and St Catherines Point), 30 minutes later hit a second time, in the boiler room, made entrance to Needles Channel with tug assistance and grounded on Shingles Bank, Hunt Castle (wi - in 50.40.13N, 01.36.20W), abandoned. Vessel broke in two by end of 1918 and partly buried, wreck dispersed in 1922, lies 311Ί 7.8 cables from Needles LH; 3 officers and 13 ratings lost (He 3 officers and 10 ratings) (H/J/L/Lr/C/Cn/D/He/dx/ge/te/un/wi; ADM137/4009) MEDEA, destroyer - BELGIUM COAST OPERATIONS, 24 April 1916, North Sea MEDIATOR, hired trawler, 2 January 1916, North Sea - 178grt, built 1912, Aberdeen-reg A483, A Forbes & Sons, hired 9/14 as auxiliary patrol vessel (He as minesweeper), Admiralty No.509, Skipper R Pool (He - Skipper Albert Barker RNR), weather bitterly cold and blowing hard with a rough sea. Sweeping area SE of Flamborough Head with other trawlers. Mined and badly damaged, close to sinking, skipper and four men remained aboard patching and pumping, water gained and they only left when the deck was awash, foundered minutes later off Hornsea, S of Flamborough Head (He taken in tow by trawler Bona Dea, settled steadily and foundered about 1 1/2 miles from Spurn Light); no lives lost. Crew taken off by Bona Dea (H/Lr/C/D/He/dk/sc; ADM.137/3140) MELAMPUS, destroyer see GERMAN RAID ON LOWESTOFT AND YARMOUTH, 25 April 1916, North Sea MELDON, Admiralty chartered collier, 3 March 1917, off W Scotland - 2,514grt, built 1902, Newcastle-reg, Dawson SS, Mr Wadleigh, from Cardiff/Penarth with coal. Mined, laid by U.78 (Otto Droscher), damaged off Mull, 1/2m N of Garvelloch, Firth of Lorne (wi - Rubha Dubh, W entrance to Loch Buie, Isle of Mull, in 56.19.32N, 05.55.33W, master tried to run her ashore in Loch Buie, grounded in shallows off Maol na Croige), declared total loss; all crew safely ashore (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) MELITA, salvage vessel see TRYPHON destroyer, 4 May 1919, Aegean MELPOMENE, destroyer - BELGIUM COAST OPERATIONS, 24 April 1916, North Sea MENACE, destroyer see MARVEL, destroyer, 2 June 1917, British waters MERCURY [01], paddle minesweeper, 26 April 1917, North Sea - 378grt, built 1892, hired 21/12/15. Mined and damaged, laid by UC.11 (Benno von Ditfurth) 3 miles ENE of Sunk LV, in 51.55'N, 01.44'E; no lives lost, no casualties reported by Kindell. An account in "Swept Channels" refers to "Sweeping off Sunk LV (26 April 1917?), brought up three mines in sweep, they exploded and blew off her stern, bow portion towed into harbour and new stern fitted Once repaired she returned to service, on first sweep (7 June 1917?) this time lost her bows around the same position; 2 crew lost on this latter occasion." Kindell also refers to "Possibly mined and damaged in North Sea for "second time" in 1917, on or before 27 September 1917; one crew DOW." (Cn/D/dk/sc/un) MERCURY [02], paddle minesweeper, 7 June 1917, North Sea - 378grt, built 1892, hired 21/12/15. Mined and damaged, laid by UC.6 (Werner Lowe) on 6 June, about 4 miles NE of Sunk LV, in 51.54'N, 01.41'E; two engine room crew killed. An account in "Swept Channels" refers to "Sweeping off Sunk LV (26 April 1917?), brought up three mines in sweep, they exploded and blew off her stern, bow portion towed into harbour and new stern fitted Once repaired she returned to service, on first sweep (7 June 1917?) this time lost her bows around the same position; 2 crew lost on this latter occasion." Kindell also refers to "Possibly mined and damaged in North Sea for "second time" in 1917, on or before 27 September 1917; one crew DOW." (Cn/D/dk/sc/un) MEROPS, Q-ship, July 1917, possibly British waters - ex-Maracaibo, aka Bellmore, Ilma, Imperiuse, Maracaibo, Steady, Toofa, special service/submarine decoy/Q-ship, auxiliary barquentine, 324grt, built 1892, entered service 2/2/17 as Q.28, 1-4in/2-12pdr. July - Engine backfire started a blaze; Q-ships (also sk) gives two accounts of the casualties (1) engineer overcome by fumes, 2nd engineer burnt by exploding paraffin tank, two crew overcome by gas from burning Lyddite ammunition, (2) eight crew badly gassed by burning Lyddite; no lives lost (Cn/D/dk/qs/sk) MERSE, Admiralty trawler, 22 May 1917, off SW Scotland - 296grt, built 1914, Fleetwood-reg FD62, Mersey Steam Trawlers (Taylor & Tomlinson), hired 2/15 as minesweeper, 112pdr, Admiralty No.980, Skipper Frederick Beckett RNR in command, Lt Fane RNR, senior officers ship of trawlers, on passage with dreadnought Ramillies, sailing Clyde to Liverpool for repair to bottom, stern-post and both rudders damaged during launching. Total force consisted of 8 towing tugs and screen of 8 minesweepers, 6 destroyers and 8 trawlers, Merse had helped clear submarine-laid mines off the Clyde before the sailing, part of inner screen, passed Cumbrae Light at 1300. At 1430, 6 miles further on, about one mile off the port bow of Ramillies, detonated another mine, laid by UC.65 (Otto Steinbrinck) and blown to atoms off Garroch Head, Isle of Bute, off Firth of Clyde; 2 officers and 15 ratings lost, no survivors (sc - all 15 crew lost) (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/fd/sc/un/wi) MERSEY, monitor, 4 September 1916 German East Africa Campaign - British-Indian forces captured Dar-es-Salaam, Inshore Squadron monitors Mersey, Severn, gunboat Thistle, armed tug Helmuth took part supported by Main Squadron consisting of predreadnought Vengeance, old light cruisers Challenger, Hyacinth, Talbot, armed whalers Charon, Childers, Echo, Fly, Styx, Pickle, kite balloon ship Manica, fleet messenger Trent. Armed merchant cruiser Himalaya, armed whalers Prattler, Salamander, sloop Rinaldo were also present (dx) METEOR, destroyer, 13 March 1917, Dover Straits - M-class, 1,010t, Dover Patrol. Mined, no other details, "succeeded in getting her to Dover". Note: not listed in U-boat.net as U-boat-laid mine (Cn/D/dp/dq/un) MICHAEL [01], destroyer, 15 March 1918, off Northern Ireland - U.110 sunk by destroyers Michael and Moresby (dx) MICHAEL [02], destroyer, 27 March 1916, North Sea - Repeat M-class, c1,250t, Grand Fleet flotillas. In collision just before daylight with another destroyer S of Pentland Firth off Noss Head, Michael damaged (Cn/gf/gr) MICHAELMAS DAISY, hired drifter, 26 November 1916, Southern Adriatic area - 99grt, built 1913, Lowestoft-reg LT136, hired 9/15 as net drifter, Admiralty No.1910, Otranto Barrage drifter line, Lt Alexander Miller RNR, Skipper George Lincoln. Stationed off Cape Santa Maria de Leuca. Mined at 1800, laid by UC.14 (Alfred Klatt) laid five days before, sank near Santa Maria di Leuca, SE Italy. No trace was found of her (L - sunk by surface ship in Strait of Dover); both officers and 9 ratings lost (He/ap - 2 officers, 10 men; un all hands) (H/L/D/He/ap/dk/un; ADM.137/3178) MILLICENT KNIGHT, Admiralty chartered collier, 18 May 1917, Central Mediterranean - 3,563grt, built 1900, Cardiff-reg, W & C T Jones SS Co (W & C T Jones), armed, sailing Cardiff/Malta for Port Said with coal and government stores. Torpedoed by UC.20 (Hans Adalbert von der Lόhe), sank 130 miles E by S1/2S of Malta (L/te/un - in 35.37N, 17.13E); one crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un) MILLY, Admiralty chartered collier, 6 September 1918, Atlantic off SW England - 2,964grt, built 1904, London-reg, Steam Ship Elmgrove, 1-4in, 33 crew, Brest for Barry Roads in ballast, zig-zagging alone at 10kts. Torpedoed by UB.87(Karl Petri) port-side level with No.3 hold at 1355, apparently broke in two and sank in five minutes, 2 1/4m W3/4S of Tintagel Head, Cornwall (L - 10 miles N of Trevose Head; wi - in 50.30.36N, 04.51.50W); two boats launched but stern went down so quickly the men on the after part went into the sea and two drowned, survivors picked up after about 15min by SS Madame Brooke, landed at Swansea (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) MILNE [01], destroyer - BELGIUM COAST OPERATIONS, 24 April 1916, North Sea MILNE [02], destroyer, 9 May 1917, Dover Straits - M-class, 1,010t, had served with Harwich Force, now Dover Patrol. Rammed submerging UC.26 (dx/un - in 51.03N, 01.40E), then depth-charged and finished off by two other destroyers, Milne left with a badly distorted stem and pieces of the U-boats casing embedded in her forecastle (Cn/D/dq/dx/ub/un) MILO, Admiralty chartered collier, 22 May 1917, English Channel - 1,475grt, built 1903, Swansea-reg, Letricheux Line, 16 crew, Mr Thomas Oxland, Rouen for Cardiff in ballast. In collision with unidentified steamship, foundered 10 miles S of St Albans Head, Dorset (wi - 21 miles SSW of Anvil Point, in 50.24.36N, 02.03.24W) (H/Lr/wi) MIMI [01], armed motor boat see TOUTOU, armed motor boat, 14 January 1916, German East Africa Campaign MIMI [02], gunboat, 9 February 1916, German East Africa Campaign - Gunboats Mimi and Fifi (ex-German Kingani) attacked and sank gunboat Hedwig von Weissman on Lake Tanganyika, control of the long lake between Belgian Congo and German East Africa passed into Allied hands (dx) MINIEH, Admiralty chartered collier, 9 January 1917, Central Atlantic - ex-Alsatia, c3,806grt, built 1876, London-reg, Khedivial Mail Steam Shipping & Graving Dock, supplying Royal Navy warships hunting for raiders, coaled light cruiser Amethyst on 7th, still sailing with cargo of coal. Captured by Mφwe, sunk by bombs and a shell or two 170 miles ENE true from Pernambuco (L - in 07.03N, 32.10W). Note: Wreck Index lists Minieh, ex-Alsatia, 2,890grt, built 1876, sunk in 1915 as a Scapa Flow blockship. Perhaps she was earmarked as a blockship in 1915, but taken back into service due to the lack of shipping (+L/Lr/Mn/kp) MIRA, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler 11 October 1917, English Channel - 3,700grt, built 1901, Mira SS Co, Newcastle, armed, Port Arthur for Dover with fuel oil. Mined, laid by UC.50 (Rudolf Seuffer), sank 4 miles SW1/2W of Beachy Head, Sussex (te/un - in 50.41N, 00.09E; un also 4 miles off) (H/L/Lr/te/un) MIRANDA, destroyer see LENNOX, destroyer, 10 March 1916, presumably North Sea MIRANDA III, hired trawler, 14 January 1918, Orkneys - 173grt, built 1906, Hull-reg H875, Hellyers Steam Fishing, hired 1916, 1-6pdr (D - hired 9/14, 1-3pdr), fitted as a minesweeper, Admiralty No.601, Skipper Samuel Ash RNR. Sailing in strong northerly gale with snow squalls. (He 13th, probably night of 13th/14th) Ran aground late at night, holed and flooded, broke up and abandoned as wreck in Pelwick Bay (it was initially concluded this was possibly Perwick Bay, near Port St Mary, Isle of Man; hw - Pelwich Bay). Hepper locates her loss W of Stromness, Mainland Island, Orkney, in 58.56N 03.20W; no lives lost (H/Lr/C/D/dk/hw; ADM.137/684) ML.19, motor launch, 31 January 1916, North Sea - ML.1-50 series, Lt Gilbert George RNVR. Petrol explosion and destroyed by fire at Harwich (He - lying at Shotley), Essex, home of Harwich Force; no lives lost (H/J/C/Cn/D/He/dk; ADM.137/211) ML.38, motor launch, c18 June 1916, Palestine Campaign - ML.1-50 series, also hired trawler Earl Kitchener, 348grt, built 1915, Hull-reg, hired 10/15. Possibly 18th - RFC carried out bombing attack on aerodromes at El Arish, Sinai peninsula, 3 trawlers and 2 ML's stationed along coast to assist, ML.38 rescued a pilot who came down in the sea, both ships attacked by enemy aircraft (D/ap/ch) ML.40, motor launch, 18 May 1916, Eastern Mediterranean - ML.1-50 series. Lying at Port Said, Egypt on the Suez Canal, accidentally destroyed by fire; no lives lost (H/J/Cn/D/dk; ADM.137/335) ML.55, motor launch, 28 January 1918, Thames Estuary - ML.51 series, Lieutenant Cecil Cochrane RNVR. Being refitted at yard of Messrs Wills and Packham, Sittingbourne, Kent, destroyed by fire; no lives lost (H/J/Cn/D/He/dk; ADM.1/849/190) ML.81, motor launch, early 1917, North Sea - ML.51 series, Lt Hugh Hunter RNVR i/c, Canadian Lt John Hunter RNVR (no relation) 2nd i/c, served mainly in North Sea. Early 1917 - Destroyed by petrol fire, probably in Aberdeen, but possibly Peterhead according to Lt John Hunter's son, not listed as lost in other sources, perhaps damaged and repaired (D/ah) ML.97, mtoro launch, circa late 1918/1919 - one of two ML's sold in damaged condition, not known when, where or how damaged (Cn/D) ML.98, motor launch, circa late 1918/1919 - one of three ML's lost after the Armistice, cause and date not known (D) ML.121, motor launch, 22 December 1918, English Channel - Elco-built motor launch, ML.51 series. Two ML's included in Jane's War Loss Section and lost off French coast. They were part of a group of ten sailing from Portsmouth on the 21st, due to arrive at Le Havre before midnight on passage to make up the Rhine Flotilla. Weather worsened with strong northwesterly gale and high seas, boats labouring; ML.121, served in Dover Patrol, Lieutenant John William Robinson RNVR. In collision with another of the ML's, started to ship water, crew taken of, and foundered at night off the Seine Bank, 15 miles W of Le Havre; no lives lost (J/Cn/D/He/dk/dq; ADM.137/938); ML.566, Lieutenant Hans Hamilton Morrison RNVR. Swamped and filled with water, crew taken off by and escort, and abandoned 10 miles NW off Cape Barfleur, E of Cherbourg; no lives lost. Could not be found and assumed to have foundered (J/Cn/D/He/dk; ADM.137/938) ML.127, motor launch, circa late 1918/1919 - one of two ML's sold in damaged condition, not known when, where or how damaged (Cn/D) ML.152, motor launch, 2 January 1920, Baltic Sea - ML.51 series. Grounded on southern Oland island, Sweden, presumably wrecked (Cn/D) ML.196, motor launch, circa late 1918/1919 - one of three ML's lost after the Armistice, date not known; caught fire and sank (Cn/D) ML.197, motor launch, 31 January 1917, St George's Channel - ML.50 series, Lieutenant Alan Skinner RNVR. Based at Queenstown (Cork), on patrol between Carnsore Point and Helwick Head, strong southeasterly gale. Driven ashore and wrecked near Ballinacourty LH, Co Waterford; no lives lost. Engines, gun and stores salvaged (+J/Cn/D/He/dk; ADM.137/533) ML.229, motor launch, 15 September 1919, Western Germany - ML.51 series, one of 11 MLs on the Rhine in 1919. Almost destroyed by petrol explosion and fire; 1 rating killed. Not repaired, sold in damaged condition (J/Cn/D/dk) ML.230 - see INVERBERVIE, Admiralty collier, 14 September 1916, Central Mediterranean ML.253 - see INVERBERVIE, Admiralty collier, 14 September 1916, Central Mediterranean ML.255 - see INVERBERVIE, Admiralty collier, 14 September 1916, Central Mediterranean ML.278, motor launch, Tuesday 15 January 1918, Dover Straits - ML.50 series, Dover Patrol, Lieutenant Anthony Mackie RNVR. Wrecked in galeforce winds on Dunkirk Pier; no lives lost. See also hired drifter Ethnee (H/J/Cn/D/He/dk/dq) ML.421, motor launch, 6 April 1918, North Sea - ML.51 series, Lieutenant Stanley Gibb Jones RNVR. Wrecked in Seaford Bay (D - collision off Whitby, Yorkshire; He - grounded at low water in Seaford Bay near Whitby); salvage attempts failed, stripped and abandoned; no lives lost (H/J/Cn/D/He/dk; ADM.1/8496/190) ML.434, motor launch, 21 November 1919, Central Europe - ML.51 series. Caught fire on the Danube river, no other details; 1 rating killed (Cn/D/dk) ML.474, motor launch, 23 July 1917, Aegean Sea - ML.51 series, Lieutenant John Alexander Miller RNVR. On patrol for small craft reported passing through the Khios straits, between Khios and the Turkish mainland. On the night of the 22nd, ran aground on Kumuthi Sigleri, rocks on SE side of the straits and could not be got off. Came under fire on the morning of the 23rd, hit by Turkish shell and destroyed by fire off Turkish coast; no lives lost (H/J/Cn/D/He/dk/un; ADM.137/399) ML.521, motor launch, circa late 1918/1919 - one of three ML's lost after the Armistice, date not known; caught fire and sank at Portsmouth (Cn/D) ML.534, motor launch, 13 April 1917, Central Mediterranean - ML.51 series, Lt Samuel G Hill RNVR. One of four ML's that arrived at Taranto, Italy on 31 March as deck cargo on merchantman Bellview, offloaded and prepared for passage to Aegean. While fitting out at Taranto, there was an explosion on ML.534 followed by a fire which destroyed her; Lt Hill died, 2 officers and 4 ratings injured (H/J/Cn/D/dk; ADM.137/2122) ML.540, motor launch, 8 June 1917, Atlantic off NW Morocco - Two ML's lost in attack on British steamship by U.39 (Walter Forstmann) off Cape Spartel, near Tangier: HUNTSTRICK, 8,151grt, built 1902, Shipping Controller (F C Strick & Co), London, armed, sailing London for Salonica with troops, government stores and naval motor launches. Torpedoed and sunk 80 miles WNW of (L - 53 miles NW of; un in 35.52N, 06.47W); 15 lives lost including master and one naval mechanic (H/L/dk/te/un); ML.540, ML.541, motor launches, ML.51 series, being transported to Salonica as deck cargo on SS Huntstrick, probably with crews as passengers, lost when she went down. Note: ML's were normally carried four at a time; not known if Hunstrick was only carrying two or if another two floated off and were saved (H/J/L/Cn/D/He/un, ADM.137/2962) ML.541, motor launch see ML.540, motor launch, 8 June 1917, Atlantic off NW Morocco ML.566, motor launch see ML.121, motor launch, 22 December 1918, English Channel MONKSTONE, Admiralty chartered collier, 25 July 1917, Atlantic off SW England - 3,097grt, built 1909, Scarisbrick SS Co, Cardiff, armed, Tyne/Shields for Gibraltar with coal. Torpedoed by U.82 (Hans Adam), sank 240 miles W of Bishop Rock, Scillies; one crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un)MORAVIA, trawler see SYLVIA, destroyer, 29 September 1917, North Sea off Shetlands MORESBY, destroyer see MICHAEL, destroyer, 15 March 1918, off Northern Ireland MORNING STAR, hired drifter see FREUCHNY, hired drifter, 8 January 1916, Adriatic Sea MOROCOCOLA, hired trawler, 19 November 1917, Atlantic off S Ireland - 265grt, built 1915, James F Duthie (un John Lewis & Sons), Aberdeen-reg A238, hired 1916 (D - 4/15), 16pdr, Admiralty No.2656, Lieutenant Alexander Allan RNR. One of eight trawlers ordered to sweep area near Daunt LV, near Queenstown (Cobh), following report of floating mine, paired with Indian Empire and started sweeping. Mined at 0830, field laid by UC.31 (Kurt Siewert), there was a second explosion, probably her boiler and she sank in seconds off Daunt Rock LV (un 3 miles SE by S of), off Roches Point, Co Cork; 1 officer, 13 ratings lost, no survivors, (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/un; ADM.137/3267) MORRIS, destroyer see BOTHA, flotilla leader, 21 March 1918, Dover Straits MOSS, hired drifter see GERMAN RAID ON LOWESTOFT AND YARMOUTH, 25 April 1916, North Sea MOTAGUA [01], armed merchant cruiser, 29 January 1917, Atlantic off Shetlands - 5,977grt, built 1912, hired 21/11/14, 10th CS, warned of submarine in 60.32N, 01.55W on 28th, heading for squadron's coaling base of Swarbacks Minn. Torpedo fired at 0730, 8 miles from Esha Ness, missed(Mn/D) MOTAGUA [02], armed merchant cruiser, 16 March 1917, Atlantic off Shetlands - 5,977grt, built 1912, hired 21/11/14, 10th CS. Mined, laid by U.80 (Alfred von Glasenapp) 6 1/2m from Esha Ness (Barrage 39 or 39A), considerably damaged but reached Swarbacks Minn, originally reported torpedoed but sweepers found three mines near the position. On this occasion she lost her stern, in another mining, date unknown, bows were blown off; no deaths in either incident (Mn/D/bi/dk/ge/un) MOTAGUA [03], armed merchant cruiser, 19 March 1918, North Atlantic - 5,977grt, built 1912, hired 21/11/14, detached from 10th CS as convoy escort. In collision with escorting USS Manley 1,187t off the Irish coast, depth charges detonated destroying the destroyers stern, Motagua damaged; 3 officers, 25 crew killed on Motagua, as many as 89 on Manley (Rn/D/dk/dn/gr/www) MOTH [01], river gunboat - see MANTIS, river gunboat, 24 February 1917, Mesopotamian Front MOTH [02], river gunboat see MANTIS, river gunboat, 26 February 1917, Mesopotamian Campaign MOTH [03], river gunboat see MANTIS, river gunboat, 8 March 1917, Mesopotamian Campaign MOUNTPARK, Admiralty chartered collier, 21 August 1917, Bristol Channel - 1,376grt, built 1912, Greenock-reg, Denholm Line Steamers, 20 crew, Mr D Richards, Newport for Dover with coal. In collision with Greek SS Alexandria, foundered 1 1/2m N of Lundy Is, off Devon (wi - on 24th, 6 miles NW by N1/2N Bull Point, in 51.16.36N, 04.18.15W); five crew lost (H/Lr/wi) MUNIFICENT, Admiralty chartered collier, 1 March 1917, Dover Straits - 3,270grt, built 1892, Sunderland-reg, Westoll Line, armed, Tyne for Dunkirk with coal. Torpedoed by unknown U-boat (un possibly mined), sank 3 1/2m NNW of Cape Gris Nez, N of Boulogne (L/te - in 50.55N, 01.32E); three crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un) MUREX, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 21 December 1916, Eastern Mediterranean - 3,664grt, built 1892, first tanker built for future Shell fleet, London-reg, Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co, armed (sl - Admiralty oiler No.111, presumably Y7.111), Mudros for Port Said in water ballast. Torpedoed by U.73 (Gustav Siess), sank 94 miles NW of Port Said, Egypt (L/te - in 32.20N, 31E); one crew lost (H/L/Lr/sl/te/un) MURIEL, Admiralty chartered collier, 17 September 1918, North Sea - 1,831grt, built 1898, Newport-reg, Orders & Handford SS, 1-90mm, 24 crew, Mr T Smith, Tyne for Scapa Flow with 2,650t coal. Torpedoed by UC.58 (Kurt Schwartz) at 1120, settled by the head and crew prepared to abandon ship, one boat destroyed, the other too damaged to use, sank at 1132, 3 1/2m NE of Peterhead, N of Aberdeen (L 3 1/2m ENE of Peterhead Signal Station; un in 57.32N, 01.44W; wi - in 57.33N, 01.41W), ships papers went down with her, at no time was the submarine or torpedo sighted; Master and crew stayed on board except one man who went into the sea. He was picked up by an armed trawler, another patrol vessel went alongside and rescued the rest of the crew, all landed at Peterhead (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) MURRAY, destroyer - BELGIUM COAST OPERATIONS, 24 April 1916, North Sea MUSKETEER, destroyer, 6 January 1916, Atlantic N of Scotland - Repeat M-class, c1,250t, believed Cromarty-based 11th DF Grand Fleet, taking part in rescue operations. Considerably damaged by fittings along the side of King Edward VII . See also KING EDWARD VII (D/gf) MUSQUASH (RCN), armed patrol vessel see HALIFAX HARBOUR EXPLOSION, 6 December 1917 MYNGS, destroyer see BOTHA, flotilla leader, 21 March 1918, Dover Straits MYOSOTIS [01], fleet sweeping sloop, 9 September 1917, English Channel - torpedoed and damaged by UC.71 (Reinhold Saltzwedel) between Portland and Isle of Wight; three crew killed (dk/un) MYOSOTIS [02], fleet sweeping sloop, 1918, location not known - Arabis-class, 1,250t. Mined, stern blown off, location not known, probably northern British waters; no lives lost. Dry-docked and rebuilt (Cn/D/dk/sc) N
NAIRANA, seaplane carrier see GLORY, battleship, 7 March 1918, Russian Intervention NAIRN, Admiralty chartered collier, 27 August 1917, Central Mediterranean - 3,627grt, built 1904, Park SS Co, Glasgow, armed, Malta for Port Said with coal. (te/un - 28th; un or late on 27th) - Torpedoed by Austrian U.XIV (Georg Ritter von Trapp), sank 125 miles N by W1/4W of Ben Ghazi/Benghazi, Libya (L/te - in 34.05N, 19.16E; un in 34.05N, 19.20E) (H/L/Lr/te/un) NARVAL, hired trawler, 26 November 1916, North Sea - 211grt, built 1910, Ostend, Belgium-reg O141, H P Aspeslagh, hired 3/16 as minesweeper, 112pdr, Admiralty No.3268, Skipper James Robinson RNR, believed Harwich-based, completed refit at Grimsby on night of 25th, on passage to Harwich. Disappeared between Grimsby and Harwich, originally believed foundered with no survivors (He at the time thought lost in minefield laid by UC.4 on 24 November), later confirmed as sunk by German destroyer during raid on Lowestoft; no lives lost, crew taken prisoner. Narval's lifeboat picked up by trawler Atlanta II in 52.30N 01.52E (H/Lr/C/D/ch/dk/sc; ADM.1/8474/278) NARWHAL, destroyer see FARNBOROUGH, Q-ship, 17 February 1917, Atlantic W of Ireland NEATH CASTLE, hired trawler, 14 August 1916, Orkneys - 225grt, built 1913, Swansea-reg S6, Castle Steam Trawlers, hired 1916 (D - 5/15), 13pdr or 12pdr, Admiralty No.1763, Skipper J Rust. Serving as patrol vessel. Sunk in collision with Dutch steamship Rijndam, 12,527 tons (wi - in 59N, 02.30W; He - to NE of Start Point, Sanday Island, Orkney); one rating jumped overboard after the collision and was drowned (H/Lr/C/D/He/dk/wi; ADM.137/256) NEIL SMITH, Admiralty trawler see DUNDEE, armed boarding steamer, 3 September 1917, Atlantic off SW England NELSON (G. & E.), Q-ship, 15 August 1917, North Sea - Admiralty hired smacks Nelson, also Ethel and Millie operating as Q-ships, sunk in action with U.63 (Karsten von Heydebreck), leading to the award of a posthumous VC to Nelson's skipper in particularly poignant circumstances: G. & E., aka Bird, Extirpator, Foam Crest, Ill Try, Ledger No.929, Nelson, S.3 (H - listed as Nelson), operating as Nelson, special service/submarine decoy/Q-ship, fishing smack, c61grt, built 1905, Lowestoft-reg LT649, taken up 8/8-9/15 and again 22/1/16, probably only armed with 1-3pdr at this time, auxiliary engined by 8/17, Skipper T Crisp RNR, on patrol, fishing on Jim Howe Bank with trawl shot. (dx - 14th) - Submarine sighted at 1445, 3 or 4 miles away, opened fire and although Nelson was hopelessly outranged, she replied. Started to receive hits and take in water, seventh shell went through the skipper's left side, mortally wounding him, second hand Tom Crisp, his son, took over command. Nelson continued firing until nearly out of ammunition, crew abandoned ship, tried to lift the skipper into the boat but his only response was "Tom, I'm done, throw me overboard". They left him on board, Nelson was shelled until she sank off Mablethorpe, Lincs; only the skipper was lost, Ethel & Millie beckoned the survivors on board but they continued rowing west, next day sighted minesweeper Dryad and other sweepers, but were not seen, then on the Friday made fast to the Jim Howe Bank buoy and in the afternoon finally rescued by Dryad. Skipper Thomas Crisp RNR was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, Second Hand Thomas Crisp the DSM (H/Mn/Cn/D/He*/dk/dx/qs/sk/un/vc; ADM.137/3110); ETHEL & MILLIE, aka
Boy Alfred, Ledger No.929, S.3, possibly Ethel and
Emily, special service/submarine decoy/Q-ship, fishing
smack, 58grt, built 1908, Lowestoft-reg LT200, taken
up 1/2/17, 1-6pdr, 7 crew, Skipper William Johnsey
Manning. (dx - 14th) - After Nelson was sunk, UC.63
turned its attention on Ethel & Millie which was
soon hit and stopped, probably sunk by bomb; 1
officer, 6 ratings lost, according to the younger
Thomas Crisp, the crew were picked up by the
submarine, and last seen lined up on the foredeck. No
survivors were found, only a pigeon message picked up
saying she was being attacked by a U-boat. It is
suggested they were drowned when the U-boat submerged
(H/Mn/Cn/D/He*/bm/dk/dx/qs/sk/un/vc; ADM.137/3110)
NEPTUNE, dreadnought see AUSTRALIA, battlecruiser, 22 April 1916, North Sea NESSUS, destroyer see KING EDWARD VII, predreadnought, 6 January 1916, Atlantic N of Scotland NEW COMET, hired trawler, 20 January 1917, North Sea - 177grt, built 1910, Granton-reg GN75, W Johnston, hired 5/15 as minesweeper, Admiralty No.1496, Skipper Dawson RNR, believed Harwich-based. Sweeping mines discovered off Orfordness. Mined at 1530, laid by UC.4 (Georg Reimarus), sank rapidly off Orford Ness, Suffolk (He - 52.07.30N, 01.48.40E); 9 ratings lost (He 2 survivors) (+L/Lr/C/D/he/dk/sc/un; ADM.137/351) NEW ZEALAND TRANSPORT, Admiralty chartered collier, 14 June 1917, Aegean Sea - 4,481grt, built 1913, West Hartlepool-reg, Empire Transport, armed, Port Talbot for Mudros with coal. Torpedoed by UC.23 (Johannes Kirchner), sank 8 miles SE from Serpho Pulo island, off SE Greece (L - about 11 miles ENE of Mikro Light, Seriphos island); three crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un) NEW ZEALAND, battlecruiser see AUSTRALIA, battlecruiser, 22 April 1916, North Sea NEWBRIDGE (2), hired trawler, 19 November 1917, English Channel - 228grt, built 1906, Fleetwood-reg FD55, Tettenhall Steam Fishing, hired 5/15 as minesweeper, 13pdr but see note, Admiralty No.963, Skipper Henry George Joyce Chapple RNR. In collision SS Macons, sank off Prawle Point, Devon; no lives lost. Wreck stands up to 25ft high in 180ft of water with a 7.5in antisubmarine howitzer and a 6pdr still fitted (H/Lr/C/D/He/dk/fd/wi; ADM.137/579) NIMROD, flotilla leader see GERMAN RAID ON LOWESTOFT AND YARMOUTH, 25 April 1916, North Sea NIOBE (RCN), cruiser - see HALIFAX HARBOUR EXPLOSION, 6 December 1917 NINA, hired drifter, 2 August 1917, English Channel - 83grt, built 1904, Peterhead-reg PD497, Heask, Mitchell, Martin & Reid, hired 1/15 (D - April 1915) as patrol drifter, 1-3pdr, Admiralty No.994. Skipper George Stewart RNR. On patrol off Prawle Point, Devon. Uncontrollable fire broke out around 2230, depth charge exploded after five minutes and ship abandoned. Two more explosions blew off her stern and she sank at 0054 (wi - in 50.10N, 03.43W; other sources - probably U-boat-laid mine; un - not listed); 3 ratings lost, 1 DOW (H/L/C/D/dk/pd/un/wi; ADM.131/73, ADM.137/487) NOBLE, destroyer, 4 August 1916, North Sea - Repeat M-class, 25/11/15, 3-4in/1-2pdr/4-21in tt, believed 12th DF Grand Fleet. Collided with and sank drifter Ethelbald 94grt, 7-8 miles east of Kinnaird Head (wi - in 57.43N, 01.46W), drifter lost 5 men. Note: "Wreck Index" attributes the loss of Ethelbald to submarine G.9, which was not completed until 8/16 (H/D/gr/wi) NODZU, hired trawler, 1 January 1919, Bristol Channel - Chief Skipper James Kilby RNR. Assisting U.S. steamer Lake Wiston which had run aground near Nash Point in poor weather. Nodzu also went aground, could not be refloated and abandoned as a wreck on the 3rd; no lives lost. Later salved, resold for commercial use. (D/He/ms; ADM.1/8496/190) NORHILDA, Admiralty chartered collier, 21 August 1917, North Sea - 1,175grt, built 1910, C Tennant & Sons, Bristol-reg (un J Cory & Sons, Bristol), 1-13pdr, 23 crew, Mr J Murphy, Harwich for Tyne in ballast. Torpedoed by UC.17 (Ulrich Pilzecker) just abreast bridge at 1615, started sinking by the stern, went down at 1620, 5 miles SE of Scarborough Castle, Yorkshire (te/un - in 54.15N, 00.10W; 5 miles SE of Scarborough, in 54.16.21N, 00.17.10W); 2nd Engineer missing believed killed in the engine-room, survivors boarded port lifeboat, lowered away but capsized before getting clear, stayed afloat in the sea for about 30min before being rescued by SS Mergerison No.2, transferred to a patrol vessel and landed at Scarborough (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) NORSE, hired trawler see VITOL, Admiralty-owned RFA blue-ensign oiler, 7 March 1918, Irish Sea NORTH STAR, destroyer see BOTHA, flotilla leader, 21 March 1918, Dover Straits NORTHFIELD, Admiralty chartered collier, 3 March 1918, Atlantic off SW England - 2,099grt, built 1901, Keep SS & Lighterage Co (Harry Keep), London-reg, 1-90mm, 27 crew, Glasgow for Devonport with 3,000t coal. Torpedoed by U.60 (Franz Grunert) probably amidships, sank immediately 25 miles SW of Lundy Is, off Devon (wi - 11 miles WNW of Knap Head, Morwenstow, Cornwall, in 50.55.15N, 04.45.30W, also quotes 15 miles SW and 25 miles SW of Lundy); 15 lives lost including master and all officers, survivors escaped in only lifeboat, picked up by London-reg SS Corvus, landed at Swansea (H/L/Lr/dk/te/un/wi) NORTHUMBRIA, hired trawler, 3 March 1917, North Sea - 211grt, built 1906, Grimsby-reg GY169, East Anglia Steam Fishing, hired 9/14 as minesweeper (wi - armed patrol sweeper), 112pdr, Admiralty No.623, Skipper A Young. Heading for patrol position. Mined at 1840, laid by UC.29 (Ernst Rosenow) earlier that day, sank quickly near May Is, Firth of Forth (He about 1 mile N of; wi - 1 1/2m NE of Fife Ness, wreck found in 56.17.31N, 02.32.24W); 5 ratings lost (He lost five men, nine survivors; wi - 1 officer, 8 ratings killed by the explosion) (H/L/Lr/Mn/C/D/He/dk/un/wi; ADM.137/3222) NORTHVILLE, Admiralty chartered collier, 17 February 1918, English Channel - 2,472grt, built 1897, The Lowland SS Co (J Crass & Co), South Shields-reg, 1-12pdr, 26 crew, Mr J Sim, sailing Newport for Dieppe with 3,400t coal. Torpedoed by UB.33 (Fritz Gregor) starboard-side aft at 1020, sank in 8min, about 3 1/2m SE by E of Berry Head, Devon (te/un - in 50.23N, 03.24W; wi - in 50.24.25N, 03.24.33W); crew picked up by tug Dencode, landed at Brixham (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) NUCERIA Admiralty chartered collier, 2 October 1917, Atlantic off NW Morocco - 4,702grt, built 1914, International Line SS Co, Whitby, armed, Barry for Italy with coal. Torpedoed by U.39 (Walter Forstman), sank 120 miles W1/2N of Cape Spartel, Morocco in 35.27N, 8.25W; two crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un) NYMPHE, destroyer, 9 July 1917, English Channel - internal explosion near Portsmouth; three crew killed, one DOW (dk) O
OAKLEY, minesweeper, possibly September 1917, North Sea - early Hunt-class, 750t, probably Granton-based 2nd or 3rd Minesweeping Flotilla. After August 1917 - Lost stern in collision with seaplane carrier Pegasus 3,300t in Firth of Forth. Note: Pegasus commissioned 28/8/17, based at Rosyth with Grand Fleet; no apparent Oakley casualties in this period (D/Cn/dk/gr) OBERON, destroyer see LIGHTFOOT, flotilla leader, March 1917, North Sea OCEANS GIFT II, hired motor drifter, 30 August 1917, North Sea - 50grt, built 1901, Fraserburgh-reg FR863, hired probably as harbour tender or coastal service craft, 1-6pdr, Admiralty No.3015, local tender at Great Yarmouth, Skipper Clement Minister RNR. On patrol NE of Haisborough light with group of drifters. Caught fire at 2200 and burnt out, foundered in The Wash off King's Lynn (wi - in 52.58N, 00.20E); 1 officer lost, trawler Kingfisher picked up survivors (H/D/He/dk/wi; ADM.137/528) OCEAN SCOUT I, hired trawler, 21 December 1917, Atlantic off W Ireland - 200grt, built 1915, Aberdeen-reg A362, Aberdeen Fish Supply Association, hired 7/15, 16pdr AA, Admiralty No.1555. Operating as a patrol vessel. In collision with armed trawler Lord Heneage at 0350, sank in 40 fathoms off Inisheer Light, off Co Clare (He - in53.00.30N, 09.42.00W); no lives lost (H/Lr/D/He/dk; ADM.137/534) OCEAN STAR, hired drifter, 26 September 1917, English Channel - 92grt, built 1907, Banff-reg BF960, hired 1/15 (D - 12/14) as patrol boat, 1-3pdr, Admiralty No.785, Portsmouth-based, Skipper James Mitchell RNR. On patrol near Nab light vessel, off Isle of White, disappeared night of 26th/27th, presumed mined (He believed drifting mine; L - mined off Nab LV; un mined, believed laid by UC.50 (Rudolf Seuffer) on 25 July 1917 off Nab LV; wi - thought mined, but may have been torpedoed, in 50.40N, 00.55W); 1 officer, 9 ratings lost. Destroyer Spiteful found a boat belonging to her 6 1/2 miles SE of Culver Cliff (H/L/C/D/He/dk/un/wi; ADM.137/596) OFFA II, hired trawler see ROBERT SMITH, hired trawler, 21 July 1917, Atlantic of NW Scotland OILFIELD, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 16 March 1918, Atlantic off N Scotland - 4,000grt, built 1896, Newcastle-reg, Hunting SS, armed, Grangemouth/Methil for New York in ballast. Torpedoed by U.90 (Walter Remy), 15 miles NW of Cape Wrath (L/te/un - in 58.45N, 05.26W), beached near Stornoway, refloated but total loss; three crew lost (un no lives lost) (H/L/Lr/te/un) OKEMENT, Admiralty chartered collier, 17 February 1917, Central Mediterranean 4,349grt, built 1915, Sunderland-reg, Westoll Line, armed, Barry for Malta with coal, general cargo. Escorted by trawler Hawk and two other trawlers from Malta to take her through the Cerigotto Channel. Okemont was torpedoed at 1650 by U.64 (Robert Moraht). She settled until Hawk was hit at 1825, then sank 140 miles SE by S of Malta; 11 crew lost including master (H/L/Lr/te/un) OLIVINE, hired trawler, 1 April 1916, North Sea - During attack on English east coast, German Navy airship L.15 (Production No. LZ.48) was damaged by land-based AA fire - the first such success, landed in the Thames Estuary near Knock Deep and surrendered to Olivine (dx) ONSLAUGHT, destroyer - IRON DUKE, dreadnought, 18 August 1916, North Sea ONSLOW, destroyer, 11 March 1918, English Channel - Repeat M-class, c1,250t, convoy escort. Attacked by UB.17 off Portland, torpedo passed under keel, Onslow ran up wake of torpedo and dropped depth-charges, claimed sinking. Note: this claim does not appear to be accepted any longer (Cn/D/ge/ub/un) OOLA, Admiralty chartered collier, 26 October 1916, Barents Sea - 2,494grt, built 1891, Limerick SS, Newcastle for Alexandrovsk (Polyarny)/Archangel with coal. Captured by U.56 (Hermann Lorenz), sunk by bombs 22 miles NE by N of North Cape (L/te - in 70.30N, 26.24E, latitude should probably read 71.30N) (H/L/Lr/te/un) ORACLE, destroyer, 12 August 1917, North Sea - Admiralty M-class, 1,025t, Grand Fleet flotillas, U.44 signalled for an escort through German minefields, message intercepted and decoded, warning sent to 3rd LCS on a routine sweep off S Norwegian coast including screening destroyer Oracle. U.44 spotted at 0600, shortly rammed and reportedly cut right through after which a depth charge was dropped, sank 12 miles W of Stavanger (dx/un - in 58.51N, 04.20E) (Cn/D/dx/ub/un) ORCADES, hired trawler - see ALBERTA, hired trawler, 14 April 1916, North Sea ORESTES, destroyer see PRIVET, Q-ship, 12 March 1917, English Channel OROTAVA, armed merchant cruiser, 21 January 1916, North Atlantic- 5,980grt, built 1889, hired 19/11/14, 10th CS, on patrol in continuing winter gales. Wheelhouse and bridge fittings smashed by heavy sea, forced to run before the wind using hand-steering gear (Mn/D/bi) ORPHESIA, hired trawler, 22 July 1917, Eastern Mediterranean - 273grt, built 1907, Fleetwood-reg FD119, Staretta Steam Fishing, hired 1915 (D - 12/14) as minesweeper, 1-6pdr, Pendant No.956, Lieutenant Harry Hunter Bell RNR. Sweeping near the wreck of Thistleban, four miles N of No 1 beacon, Alexandria, Egypt. Struck the submerged wreck, and subsequently foundered off Alexandria; no lives lost (H/Lr/C/D/He/dk/fd; ADM.137/3686) ORTHOS, hired trawler, 9 April 1917, North Sea - 218grt, built 1913, Aberdeen-reg A591, National Steam Fishing, hired 8/14 as minesweeper, Admiralty No.282, Skipper Tom Leaning RNR. Sailing with group from Lowestoft, and preparing to sweep. Mined at 0710 under bows, laid by UC.14 (Ulrich Pilzecker) the day before, sank off Lowestoft, Suffolk (He in 52.23N, 01.52E.; 1 rating lost (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/un; ADM.137/3231) ORVIETO, armed merchant cruiser, 4 June 1917, North Atlantic area - 12,130grt, built 1909, ex-auxiliary minelayer, taken up 26/5/16 as AMC, 10th CS. Attacked by U-boat and narrowly missed by torpedo(es) (Mn/D) OSMANIEH, fleet messenger, 23 June 1917, Mediterranean - cargo ship, hired 12/5/16, armed. U-boat attack, two torpedoes missed (H/Lr/C/D) OTHONNA, hired trawler, 20 April 1917, North Sea - 180grt, built 1899, Milford-reg M24, Southern Steam Trawling (un Rainbow Steam Fishing Co, Milford), hired 1/15 as minesweeper (wi - armed patrol vessel), 112pdr/1-6pdr AA, Admiralty No.940, Skipper Alexander McLeod RNR. Sweeping with five other trawlers near May Island, several mines brought to surface to be sunk by gunfire, one exploding near Othonna. She hit an unseen mine, laid by UC.41 (Kurt Bernis), foundered quickly off Fife Ness, Fife (He 4 miles NE of May Island; wi - in 56.15N, 02.30W); 9 ratings lost (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/un/wi; ADM.137/3223) OUR ALLIES, hired drifter see GOWAN LEA, hired drifter, 22 December 1916, Adriatic Sea P
P.57, patrol boat, 18 November 1917, North Sea - P-type utility destroyer resembling large submarine, 613t, 1-4in/1-2pdr/2-14in tt, probably serving with Nore Local Defence Flotilla, otherwise Portsmouth Escort Force. P.57 sighted a surfaced U-boat ESE of Flamborough Head, approached at full speed and rammed just forward of the conning tower before dropping depth charges. UC.47 was sunk (dx - in 54.01N, 00.22E) (Cn/D/dx/ub/un) PALMLEAF, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 4 February 1917, Atlantic off SW Ireland - (exOliphant), Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Leaf-class, 5,489grt/12,300t, launched 15/8/16, purchased 1916, London-reg, under management of Lane & MacAndrew, armed, Pendant No.Y7.152, Master F Daniel, Devonport for Port Arthur in ballast. Escorted to 12 W by two armed trawlers. Torpedoed port side forward at 1650 (possibly should read 0450 see later times) by U.54 (von Bothmer), settling at 0510, boats launched and ship abandoned, sank at around 0640, 230 miles W of Fastnet (He approximately 50N,15W; te - in 51.00N, 15.00W); master and chief engineer taken prisoner (H/L/Cn/D/He/te/un; ADM.137/3978) PANSY, hired drifter, 20 January 1917, location not known - 72grt, built 1902, hired 1/17 for harbour service. Wrecked, no other details but from other information she may have been a Wick-reg vessel that was possibly salved and continued in service; no lives lost (C/dk) PARGUST, Q-ship, 7 June 1917, Atlantic - ex-Vittoria, aka Friswell, Pangloss, Snail, Vittoria, special service/submarine decoy/Q-ship, collier, 2,817grt, built 1907, Century Shipping Co (Harris & Dixon), London, then Admiralty chartered collier Pendant No.Y3.540, entered service as Q-ship 3/17, c1-4in/4-12pdr/1-11in bomb thrower/2tt/ dcs, Cdr Gordon Campbell VC, DSO in command, on patrol, steaming at 8kts in 51.50N, 11.50W, misty, raining heavily with choppy sea. Torpedoed by UC.29 (Ernst Rosenow), hit engine-room starboard side around 0800, engine room, boiler room and No.5 hold filling, starboard lifeboat blown in air, panic party abandoned ship. Periscope sighted at 0825, submarine partly surfaced at 0833, three minutes later with most guns bearing and the target yards away, Pargust opened fire. The U-boat was heavily hit, launched a torpedo which missed, there was an explosion at 0840 and UC.29 sank 300yds off, 55 miles W of Valentia Island, in 51.47N, 11.40W. Sloop Crocus arrived at 1230 and towed Pargust to Queenstown escorted by sloop Zinnia and US destroyer Cushing, arriving next day at 1500; one stoker killed by the torpedo explosion, Lt Ronald Niel Stuart DSO RNR & Ordinary Seaman William Williams DSM RNR awarded the Victoria Cross by crew ballot, Cdr Campbell promoted Captain and awarded second DSO, other awards totalled two DSOs, two DSCs, eight DSMs, 11 MID (D/dx/kt/qs/ub/un/vc) PARTHIAN, destroyer see BEGONIA, Q-ship, early October 1917, off English Channel (?) PARTHIAN, destroyer, 12 October 1917, Atlantic off NW Morocco Parthian was in collision with U.151 (Waldemar Kophamel) off Casablanca in 35.36N, 08.07W; no lives lost. Uboat.net reports that this incident is usually associated with the loss of HMS Begonia on or around the 2nd, but this is not the case (un) PATIA, armed merchant cruiser, 20 January 1916, North Atlantic - 6,103grt, built 1913, hired 21/11/14, 10th CS, on patrol. Hove to in heavy seas, bridge seriously damaged; no lives lost, officer injured (Mn/D/bi/dk) PAXTON, Q-ship, 20 May 1917, Atlantic off SW Ireland (Q.25), cargo steamer, sunk by U.46; 31 crew lost (note: damaged as Lady Patricia on 30 March 1917) (dk/dx) PC.51, decoy patrol boat, 7 December 1917, Irish Sea - PC-type, c690t, 25/11/16 (gr/wi - P.51 = P-type patrol boat, converted on stocks and completed as PC.51), believed escorting convoy. Collided with and sank collier SS Castle Dobbs 242grt, 10 miles SW of the South Stack LH, Anglesey (wi - in 53.12N, 04.57W), 7 men lost from the merchant ship (Cn/D/gr/wi) PC.51, patrol boat, 26 March 1918, Irish Sea - U.61 sunk by decoy patrol boat PC.51 (dx) PC.61, decoy patrol boat, 26 September 1917, St George's Channel - PC-type, mercantile appearance, 694t, 6/17, 1-4in/2-12pdr, based at Pembroke Dockyard, escorting convoy. UC.33 was unable to dive but in thick fog torpedoed a convoyed tanker - believed San Zeferino - and tried to escape on the surface. PC.61 spotted and chased her, opened fire and then rammed, stopping engines just before the impact so the bows would drop and cut down into the U-boats hull. UC.33 sank (dx - in 51.55N, 06.14W). Damage to PC.61 not known (Cn/D/ub) PC.62, decoy patrol boat, 26 January 1918, St George's Channel - PC-type, 694t, 1-4in/2-12pdr, based at Pembroke Dockyard. Sighted U-boat, rammed at full speed and sank U.84 off SW Wales, "The Killing Time" refers to a "savage fight" (Cn/D/dx/kt/ub) PEARLEAF [01], Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 6 September 1917, off NW Scotland - Leaf-class, 5,919grt/12,300t, armed. Chased by U-boat, saved by own gunfire (H/D) PEARLEAF [02], Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 11 September 1918, North Sea - Leaf-class, 5,911grt/12,300t, armed. U-boat attack, torpedo missed (H/D) PECHEUR, hired drifter, 3 April 1916, St George's Channel - 67grt, built 1910, Lowestoft-reg LT638, W H Burwood, hired 8/15 as net drifter (ps - patrol drifter), Admiralty No.1824, Skipper Samuel Burwood RNR. In collision with unknown steamer which did not stop, foundered at 2250 off The Smalls Light, W of Milford Haven (He 3 miles NE of The Smalls; wi - in 51.44N, 05.33.30W); no lives lost (H/C/D/He/dk/ps/wi; ADM.137/226) PEEL CASTLE, armed boarding steamer, 7 February 1916, SE England - fire in ship, possibly due to use of paraffin heater. Lt John Steel RNVR killed and buried at Ramsgate (dk) PEGASUS, seaplane carrier see OAKLEY, minesweeper, possibly September 1917, North Sea PELAGIA, hired drifter, 28 November 1916, English Channel - 84grt, built 1900, Coleraine-reg CE227, hired 10/15, 1-6pdr/2mg, Admiralty No.2722, employed as net barrier tender, Skipper George Hitter RNR. (un 29th) blown up at 0830, mine laid by UC.21 (Reinhold Saltzwedel) the night before, sank near Nab LV, off IoW (He - one mile from; wi - 5 1/2m off Bembridge, in 50.38N, 00.57W); Skipper and 11 ratings lost (H/L/C/D/He/dk/un/wi; ADM.1/8474/279) PENELOPE, light cruiser see GERMAN RAID ON LOWESTOFT AND YARMOUTH, 25 April 1916, North Sea PENGUIN, hired trawler see EVERARD, hired drifter, 15 January 1916, St George's Channel PENN, destroyer see MALAYA, dreadnought, 22 November 1918, location not known PENSHURST [01], Q-ship, 30 November 1916, English Channel - UB.19 sunk by Penshurst (Q.7) north of Channel Is (dx) PENSHURST [02], Q-ship, 14 January 1917, English Channel - aka Manford, special service/submarine decoy/Q-ship, collier, 1,191grt, built 1906, entered service 1915 as decoy ship Q.7, c1-12pdr/2-6pdr/2-3pdr, Cdr F Grenfell. Stopped by U-boat at 1555 with shot across the bows, "panic party" away, closed to 700yds still firing and hit the bridge with two shells, Penshurst dropped her disguise, hoisted ensign, then opened fire at 1624, dropped two depth charges and sank UB.37 between Portland Bill and Alderney (dx - 20 miles off Cherbourg, in 50.07N, 01.47W); two gun crew killed by the first hits, two wounded (Cn/D/dx/qs/sk/ub) PENSHURST [03], Q-ship, 19 August 1917, Bay of Biscay - (Q.7) collier Q-ship. Torpedoed by UC.72 (Ernst Voight) in 47.38N, 08.19W, damaged; no lives lost. Sunk on 24 December 1917 (dk/un) PENYLAN, Admiralty chartered collier, 19 October 1916, Eastern Mediterranean - 3,875grt, built 1906, London-reg, G H Mitchell, armed, Newport for Malta with coal. Torpedoed by U.39 (Walter Forstmann), sank 5 miles W by N from Cape Bougaroni, Algeria (L/te - in 37.07N, 06.26E) (H/L/Lr/te/un) PERA, Admiralty chartered collier, 19 October 1917, Eastern Mediterranean - 7635grt, built 1903, Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co, Belfast, armed, Liverpool for Port Said/Calcutta with coal and general cargo. Torpedoed by UB.48 (Wolfgang Steinbauer), sank 105 miles E3/4N of Marsa Susa, E Libya (L/te/un - in 37.16N, 24E, placing her in the Aegean, should probably read 32.16N); one crew lost (H/L/Lr/Mn/te/un) PERIHELION, hired trawler see RECEPTO, Admiralty trawler, 16 February 1917, North Sea PERSIER, Admiralty chartered collier, 11 December 1917, Central Mediterranean - 3874grt, built 1910, Lloyd Royal (un Brys & Gylsen), London, armed, Cardiff for Taranto with coal and general cargo. (L/te - 10th) - Torpedoed by U.35 (Lothar von Arnauld de la Periθre), sank 50 miles E of Cape Spartivento, Italy (L/te - in 37.53N, 17.09E; un 37.58N, 17.09E); one crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un) PERSISTIVE, Admiralty drifter, 9 February 1916, Dover Straits - 82grt, built 1908, Lowestoft-reg LT42, hired 1/15 as net drifter, Admiralty No.1003, Dover Patrol, Skipper John Rodwell RNR. Drifting with nets out, which carried electrocontact mines, nets had fouled object. Mined, probably by one of her own mines while hauling in, sank off Dover (wi - in 51.07N, 01.27E); Skipper, 6 ratings lost, four men saved (H/L/D/He/dk/dq/wi; ADM.1/8447/26) PERUGIA, Q-ship, 3 December 1916, NW Mediterranean - believed operating as Moeraki, Q-ship/special service ship (L - not listed on Admiralty service), collier, 4,348grt, built 1901, Glasgow-reg, Anchor Line, Admiralty chartered collier, Pendant No.Y3.1049, hired/entered service as decoy ship Q.1 from 18/4/16, 1-4in/2-13pdr/4-12pdr, also known as Moeraki, had been allocated to Devonport for manning and storing, Lt-Cdr Lawrence Bignell in command, loaded with buoyant cargo. On patrol in Gulf of Genoa in 42.56N 07.56E. Torpedoed at 1010 by U.63 (Otto Schultze), "panic party" took to boats but no U-boat surfaced. Abandoned at 1430 and sank in Gulf of Genoa (L/te - in 42.56N, 07.56E); 8 ratings lost, survivors probably rescued by French destroyers and sloops which came up and hunted the U-boat (H/J/L/Lr/C/Cn/D/He/dk/qs/sk/te/un; ADM.137/3164) PHAETON, light cruiser see GALATEA, light cruiser, 4 May 1916, North Sea PHILORTH, hired drifter, 24 February 1919, Mediterranean - net barrier tender, stationed in Mediterranean, Skipper Alexander Rutherford RNR. Foundered on passage between the Dardanelles and Malta. All crew saved (D/He/dk; ADM.1/8496/190) PHRONTIS, hired trawler see VULTURE II, hired trawler, 16 March 1918, off N Scotland PICKLE, whaler see MERSEY, monitor, 4 September 1916 German East Africa Campaign PICTON CASTLE, hired trawler, 19 February 1917, English Channel - 245grt, built 1911, Swansea-reg SA107, Castle Steam Trawlers, hired 5/15 as minesweeper, 13pdr, Admiralty No.2672, Skipper Alfred George Kippin RNR. Mined, laid by UC.17 (Ralph Wenninger) but not known when, sank off Dartmouth Harbour, Devon (He - 3 miles SE of the entrance; wi - in 50.18.20N, 03.32.11W); Skipper, 11 ratings lost (He 2 survivors) (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/wi/un; ADM.137/360) PILOTWHALE, Admiralty whaler see ARAB, destroyer, 4 July 1917, North Sea PINEWOOD, Admiralty chartered collier, 17 February 1918, St George's Channel - 2,219grt, built 1914, W France, Fenwick & Co, London-reg, armed, Mr C Fowle, sailing Cardiff for Queenstown with coal and timber/wood. Shelled by U.86 (Helmut Patzig), stopped and captured, sunk by gunfire 15 miles S of Mine Head, Co Waterford (L/wi - 22 miles SSE of, in 51.39N, 07.20W; un 51.50N, 07.35W), two crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) PISCATORIAL II, Admiralty drifter, 28 December 1917, English Channel - 93grt, built 1916, Yarmouth-reg YH762, hired 8/16 as net drifter/net barrier tender, 16pdr, Admiralty No.3300, Skipper John Tungate RNR. Sailed from Newhaven, Sussex, the afternoon of 28th and disappeared. Explosion heard at 1900 that night which could not be accounted for. Wreckage and bodies found next morning 7 miles SW of Brighton and more washed ashore near Newhaven. It was assumed she had been mined; 1 officer, 9 ratings lost (H/D/He/dk; ADM.1/8509/4) PLANTIN, hired drifter, 26 April 1917, English Channel - 84grt, built 1912, Banff-reg BF453, hired 4/15 as net drifter, 13pdr, Admiralty No.1400, Skipper John Wood RNR. Mined, laid by UC.72 (Ernst Voigt) on 13 March, sank at 0300 off Standfast Point, Portland Bill (He 3 miles SSE of); Skipper and 8 ratings lost, one survivor (H/L/D/He/dk/un; ADM.137/411) PLEASANCE, hired drifter see ENDURANCE, hired drifter, 5 April 1916, English Channel PLUCKY, destroyer, 20 February 1917, English Channel - Repeat M-class, c1,250t, Grand Fleet flotillas. Collided with and sank SS Mervyn, 2,118grt, 15 miles SSE of Penzance (wi - in 49.54N 05.22W), Mervyn lost one man (Cn/D/gr/wi) PLUMPTON, paddle minesweeper see ALBYN, paddle minesweeper, 2 September 1917, Dover Straits PLUTUS, Admiralty chartered collier, 24 April 1917, Atlantic off SW England - 1,189grt, built 1910, Glasgow-reg, J & P Hutchinson, 17 crew, Rouen for Barry Roads in ballast, steaming at 9kts. Torpedoed starboard quarter at 0430 by UC.47 (Paul Hundius), sank in 10min, 9 miles NNW of Trevose Head, Cornwall (wi - in 50.41N, 05.07W); 2nd engineer killed by explosion, master injured in the water by wreckage, survivors picked up by patrol vessel, landed at Penzance that day (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) POLA, Admiralty chartered collier, 18 March 1917, Atlantic W of NW France - 3,061grt, built 1898, English & American Shipping Co (C T Bowring & Co), London-reg, armed, sailing Cardiff for Norfolk (Va) with coal. Torpedoed by U.81 (Raimund Weisbach), sank 280 miles WNW of Ushant (te/un - in 48.30N, 12.00W); five crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un) POLAR PRINCE, Admiralty chartered collier, 18 September 1917, Atlantic off NW Morocco - 3,611grt, built 1895, Prince Line (un Farrar, Groves & Co), Newcastle, armed, Milford Haven for Gibraltar/Malta with coal. Torpedoed by UB.50 (Franz Becker), sank 8 miles W by S of Cape Spartel (te - in about 35.50N, 06.00W; un in 35.30N, 06.45W); master taken prisoner (H/L/Lr/te/un) POLDOWN, Admiralty chartered collier, 9 October 1917, Atlantic off SW England - 1,370grt, built 1904, was Hamburg-Manchester SS, Hamburg-reg,, now The Shipping Controller (Lewis Lougher & Co), London, 1-12pdr, 24 crew, Mr Watson, Penarth for Boulogne with 1,700t coal. Mined, laid by UC.51 (Hans Galster), exploded under forefoot at 1350, bow blown off, sank too quickly to lower boats although the falls of the starboard one were cut, went down 2 miles WSW of Trevose Head, Cornwall (te - in 50.31N, 05.04W; un/wi - 50.31.35N, 05.05.05W;); 18 lives lost including Master, 2nd officer dragged down by the sinking ship, got back to the surface and climbed onto an upturned lifeboat with four others, another crew member floated past on a hatch cover, rescued by a fishing vessel at 1530 which continued the search for other survivors, but without success, landed at Padstow (H/L/Lr/dk/te/un/wi) POLRUAN, Admiralty chartered collier, 25 October 1916, North Sea - 3,692grt, built 1907, London-reg, The Admiralty, 26 crew, Mr J Jeffrey, Tyne Dock for Dunkirk with coal. Foundered off Whitby. "Wreck Index" - 3/4m SE of Whitby Rock buoy, detonated a German laid mine off Whitby, although a BOT Inquiry were of the opinion she had in fact struck Whitby Rock, the Master being censured and ordered to pay £50 costs (H/Lr/wi) PONUS, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 3 November 1916, English Channel - 5,077grt, built 1902, London-reg, Tank Storage & Carriage, 52 crew, Mr Hayward, Trinidad for Falmouth with oil, seas rough. Wrecked in Falmouth Bay (wi - Gyllygvase Beach, Falmouth, in 50.08.25N, 05.04W, drove ashore on the beach not far from Pennance Point), ship caught fire, burnt for two days, broke in two but was later salvaged; crew initially remained on board, Falmouth lifeboat called out but tug Victor was unable to tow her out of the harbour, a second attempt was successful but the lifeboat could not approach the wrecked tanker. Two ships boats were launched, filled with mainly Malay crew and reached the shore, one boat capsizing although the occupants were saved. A crew member who must have been asleep then appeared on deck, although in great distress he was encouraged to save himself by swimming ashore (H/Lr/wi) PORTHKERRY, Admiralty chartered collier, 20 May 1917, English Channel - 1,920grt, built 1911, Cardiff-reg, Porthcawl SS Co (Thomas, Stephens & Wilson), 19 crew, Mr J Livingstone, sailing Cardiff/Portland for Sheerness with coal, picking up crew of SS Tycho. Torpedoed by UB.40 (Hans Howaldt) in the boiler room, boilers exploded, sank 16 miles W by S of Beachy Head, Sussex (te/un - in c50.38N, 00.08W; wi - 50.37.46N, 00.18.46W); master, chief officer and 5 crew killed by boiler explosion, survivors rescued by SS Esperanto and landed at Newhaven. Fifteen of the crew of Tycho also killed in the attack. Wreck lies at 150ft, identified by bell recovered in 1988 (H/L/Lr/Mn/te/un/wi) POWHATAN, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 6 April 1917, Atlantic off N Scotland - 6,117grt, built 1898, Sunderland-reg, Tank Storage & Carriage, armed, Sabine for Kirkwall with fuel oil. Torpedoed by U.66 (Thorwald von Bothmer), sank 25 mile N by W of North Rona island, N of Outer Hebrides (L/te - 59.32N, 06.03W); thirty-six crew lost, master taken prisoner (H/L/Lr/te/un) RN CAS PRATTLER, whaler see MERSEY, monitor, 4 September 1916 German East Africa Campaign PRINCE GEORGE, battleship, 8 January 1916, Aegean Sea - Majestic-class, c16,000t, taking part in Gallipoli evacuation off Cape Helles, with sister ship Mars carrying a total of 3,400 troops. Reportedly hit by torpedo which failed to explode, but later presumed to have hit wreckage (Rn/Cn/D) PRINCESS ALBERTA, Admiralty fleet messenger, 21 February 1917, Aegean Sea - 1,586grt, built 1905, Glasgow-reg, M Langlands & Sons, hired around 4/10/15, Pendant No.Y4.58, Lt Donald Cowan RNR, sailing Stavros for Mudros and Salonika with naval stores and 79 personnel. Mined under her bows at 0645, laid by UC.23 (Johannes Kirchner), sank in under five minutes in Mudros Bay, Lemnos island (L - in 39.45N, 25E; He - about 3 miles S of Cape Tigani, 12 miles W of Kombi), three boats got away but one capsized; 1 officer, 11 ratings, 21 MMR lost (H/J/L/Lr/C/Cn/D/He/dk/te/un; ADM.137/3378; ADM.137/3658) PRIVET [01], Q-ship, 12 March 1917, English Channel - ex-Island Queen, aka Alcala, Island Queen, Swisher, special service/submarine decoy/Q-ship, cargo steamship, 803grt, built 1916, entered service as decoy ship Q.19 (D - on 23/11/16; qs - 21/12/16), 1-4in/2 or 4-12pdr, Lt-Cdr C Matheson RNR i/c, heading Lands End for Alderney. Torpedo passed under engine-room, ten minutes later around 1500 a U-boat surfaced and opened fire from 2,400yds, closed the range, hit a depth charge aft and scored more hits. One shell burst among the panic party causing many casualties and destroying two boats, more shells hit the port battery and disabled the engines, SOS sent off, then Privet opened fire from 2,000yds, sinking U.85 after four hits (dx/ub - 24 miles S by E of Start Point, in 50.02N, 04.13W). Engine room filling, CO ordered wounded and most of the crew into the remaining boats, destroyer Christopher arrived from Devonport followed by Orestes, but aft bulkhead gave away and Privet close to sinking, Cdr Matheson returned on board from Orestes to get her into port, almost reached Plymouth Sound but bulkheads collapsed, went down in Cawsand Bay opposite Picklecombe Fort in 30ft of water. Surveyed and refloated, repaired at Devonport Dockyard, continued in service (D/dx/qs/sk/ub/un) PRIVET [02], Q-ship, 12 March 1917, off SW England - U.85 sunk by Privet off Devon in 50.02N, 4.13W (un recent research suggests the attacker was UC.68, which was not sunk) (dx/un) PROGRESS (RFA), water tanker, 21 December 1916, North Sea all 12 of her crew drowned. No details on the ship or the incident. Perhaps grounded and later salved. Three MMR ratings were buried ashore, the two RNR officers commemorated on Chatham Memorial, and the remaining MMR ratings on Plymouth Memorial. Vessel listed as serving until 1919 (dk) PROPHET, Admiralty chartered collier, 14 November 1917, Central Mediterranean - 3,230grt, built 1912, Mitre Shipping Co, London, Glasgow-reg, armed, Barry/Malta for Mudros with coal and government stores. Torpedoed by UC.74 (Wilhelm Marschall), sank 3 miles SE of Antikithera Is, Greece (L - 3 miles S of; te/un - in 35.47N, 23.22E) (H/L/Lr/te/un) PROSERPINE, light cruiser, 28 July 1917, Persian Gulf in collision off Basra; two seamen killed (dk) PROTECT, hired drifter, 16 March 1917, Dover Straits - 98grt, built 1907, Banff-reg BF511, hired 4/15 as net drifter, 1-3pdr AA, Admiralty No.1392, Dover Patrol, Skipper George Findlay RNR. Recovering nets near 6D buoy. Mined, laid by UC.68, sank off Dover (wi - in 51.07N, 01.27E); Skipper, 9 ratings lost (He 3 survivors)(H/L/C/D/He/dk/dq/un/wi; ADM.137/339) PRUDENTIA, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 12 January 1916, Orkneys - 2,791grt, built 1889, Middlesbrough-reg, Lennard's Carrying Co, 30 crew, Mr O Legg, carrying heavy fuel oil. In collision with Liverpool-reg tanker SS Hermione, 5,200grt, foundered in Scapa Flow (wi - Gutter Sound, Scapa Flow, in 58.50.52N, 03.07.52W. Wreck lies 1/2 miles west of No.1 Jetty, Flotta) (H/Lr/wi) PURLEY, Admiralty chartered collier, 25 July 1917, Atlantic SW of Ireland - 4,500grt, built 1913, Mitre Shipping Co (Houlder, Middleton & Co), London, armed, Barry for Malta with coal and general cargo. Torpedoed by U.46 (Leo Hillebrand), sank 210 miles SW1/4S of Fastnet Rock, off Co Cork (L/te/un - in 48.08N, 11.35W) (H/L/Lr/te/un) Q
QUARRIE KNOWE, drifter, 4 August 1916, Adriatic - UB.44 may have been sunk in Strait of Otranto, S Adriatic by drifters Quarrie Knowe & Garrigil (un disappeared in Aegean on or after this date; note: QUARRIE KNOWE has been seen listed as two vessels, Quarrie and Knowe) (dx/un) R
RACE FISHER, fleet messenger, 25 March 1919, Mediterranean in support of British forces in the Aegean, Lieutenant David Spence Brown RNR. Ran aground near harbour at Stratoni, NE Greece and badly flooded. Salvage ship Bilborough (D Bilbrough) with assistance of tug J Payne (D John Payne) had plugged the holes and started pumping by 3 February, but bad weather halted proceedings. By the 11th, so badly damaged the salvage officer recommended stopping salvage efforts. Some work continued to recover stores, but she was ordered abandoned on 20 April. Note both Dittmar and Hepper date her loss on 25 March, but this date does not appear in the more detailed Hepper account. Historicalrfa.org lists her as wrecked on the 30 January 1919 (D/He; ADM.137/1763) RAGLAN, monitor - see GRAFTON , bulged cruiser, 30 October 1917, Palestine Campaign RAMILLIES, dreadnought, 12 September 1916, SW Scotland - Revenge-class, 31,000t deep load. Being launched at Beardmore's, Dalmuir, Glasgow, damaged bottom, stern-post and both rudders, towed with great difficulty to Cammell Laird for repairs, commissioned September 1917 (Cn/gr/sc) RATTLESNAKE, destroyer, 10 November 1916, Mediterranean - G-class, c1,100t, 1-4in/3-12pdr/2-21in tt, 5th DF. In collision with another destroyer, heavily damaged. No casualties listed (Cn/gr) RAVEN II, seaplane carrier, 1 September 1916, Eastern Mediterranean - ex-German SS Rabenfels, 4,678grt, built 1903, 2 seaplanes/1-12pdr, seized at Port Said 8/14, taken over 12/14 with minimum of modifications, under Red ensign with mixed naval/civilian crew, French aircraft with French pilots and British observers, commissioned 6/15, renamed Raven II 8/15, East Indies & Egypt Seaplane Squadron in eastern Mediterranean, Aegean & Red Sea. Bombed and damaged by German aircraft at Port Said, total of 25 bombs dropped. Later served under Red ensign as store carrier, collier and troopship (Cn/D/bt/ch) RAVENSTONE, possibly Q-ship, 21 May 1917, believed Atlantic - possibly special service/submarine decoy/Q-ship, collier, 3,049grt, built 1905, "to be fitted out as Special Service vessel" as of 3/5/17 (qs - also known as Donlevon). Torpedoed (un not listed), towed into Queenstown by rescue tug Flying Spray, commissioned as tender next day, paid off at Liverpool 30/9/17; no lives lost (attacked as merchant ship 1/5/18) (Cn/D/dk/qs/un) RB.10, towing barge see HS.3, tug, 12 September 1917, Atlantic off SW Portugal REAPER, mercantile fleet auxiliary, 21 February 1918, location not known vessel not identified, mined with the loss of two crew. One was buried in Tynemouth and the other commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial (dk) REAPWELL, Admiralty chartered collier, 27 November 1916, Eastern Mediterranean - 3,417grt, built 1900, Maritime Investments, London-reg, armed, Cardiff for Malta/Port Said with coal, general cargo. Torpedoed by U.39 (Walter Forstmann), sank 148 miles NW by N of Alexandria (te - in 33.37N, 27.35E); master taken prisoner (H/L/Lr/Mn/te/un) RECEPTO, Admiralty trawler, 16 February 1917, North Sea - 245grt, built c1913, Grimsby-reg GY254, George F Sleight, hired 11/14 as minesweeper (wi - armed trawler), Admiralty No.47, Skipper Wilkinson Cappleman RNR. Sweeping with hired trawler Perihelion in Tees Bay. Mined, laid by UC.30 (Heinrich Stenzler), sank off Longscar Buoy, off The Heugh, Hartlepool (He about 1 mile from Long Scarr bouy, in 54.40.20N, 01.07.40W; wi - in 54.40.38N, 01.08.18W); Skipper, 7 ratings lost (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/un/wi; ADM.137/359) REDCAR, paddle minesweeper see GOODWOOD, paddle minesweeper, 1 January 1917, Dover Straits REDESMERE, Admiralty chartered collier, 28 October 1917, English Channel - 2123grt, built 1911, Bromport SS Co, Manchester, 1-12pdr, 25 crew, Mr D Jackson, Barry for Southampton with coal. Torpedoed by UB.40 (Hans Howaldt) just aft of engine-room in No.3 hold at 0400, sank within two minutes, 6 miles WSW of St. Catherine's Point, IoW (wi - in 50.29.56N, 01.21.27W); 19 crew lost in the explosion, trapped onboard or thrown into the sea, master and 5 crew clung to wreckage and an upturned boat, picked up by patrol vessel and landed at Portsmouth (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) REDOUBT, destroyer, February 1917, North Sea - R-class, 1,170t, believed Grand Fleet, possibly 15th DF. Ran aground in the River Wear, Co Durham (Cn/D/gr) REGAL, hired trawler see COMMANDANT, hired trawler, 2 April 1916, North Sea RELEVO, hired trawler, 30 December 1916, Eastern Mediterranean - 176grt, built 1912, Grimsby-reg GY670, George F Sleight, hired 4/15, 112pdr, Admiralty No.1615, Skipper George Hughes RNR. Patrol vessel off Egyptian coast, at anchor off El Arish, weather worsened on 29th, strong winds the following day. Driven into shallow water and stranded off El Arish, Sinai, drifting sand led to her being abandoned and written off; no lives lost (H/Lr/C/D/He/dk; ADM.137/548) REMARKO, hired trawler, 3 December 1916, North Sea - 245grt, built 1914, Grimsby-reg GY228, George F Sleight, hired 5/15 as minesweeper, Admiralty No.1489, Lt George Lee RNR, Skipper Arthur Bedford RNR. Sailed from Great Yarmouth at 0730 as leader of six trawlers to sweep area off Lowestoft, passing East Cross Sand buoy. Mined at 0800, laid by UC.4 (Hans Howaldt), broke up and sank rapidly off Lowestoft (wi - in 52.28N, 01.47E); both officers and 10 ratings lost (He 1 survivor) (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/un/wi; ADM.137/3191) REMINDO, hired trawler, 2 February 1918, English Channel - 256grt, built 1917, Grimsby-reg GY1089, George F Sleight, hired 9/17, 1-12pdr, equipped with hydrophones for anti-submarine duty, Admiralty No.3065, Ty/Lt Cyril Salter RNR. Lost off Portland, cause unknown, presumed mined at the time (wi - off Bill of Portland, in 50.30N, 02.20W); CO, 2 officers and 17 ratings lost, no survivors. Hepper and Uboat.net report sunk by UC.79 (Werner Lφwe) on French side of the Channel in the Seine Estuary, but Hepper, torpedoed on 1 February and Uboat.net, by gunfire on 31 January (H/Lr/C/D/He/wi/un; ADM.1/8514/48) REMUS, Admiralty chartered collier, 23 February 1918, Orkneys - 1,079grt, built 1908, G B Wadsworth, Goole-reg, 1-90mm, 17 crew, Mr J Lea, Longhope, Orkneys for Scapa Flow with coal. Originally believed torpedoed, now mined, laid by UC.59 (Herbert Lefholz), exploded port-side in engine-room at 1020, port lifeboat destroyed, sank 6 miles SSW of Copinsay island (L/te/un - in 58.50N, 02.42W; wi - also 5 miles E of Grim Ness, in 58.48N, 02.44W); starboard lifeboat launched but capsized entering the water, five men went missing, survivors got aboard and picked up by patrol vessel, landed in Orkneys (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) RENARD, destroyer see WHITE HEAD, RFA store carrier, 15 October 1917, Central Mediterranean REPRO, hired trawler, 26 April 1917, North Sea - 230grt, built 1910, Grimsby-reg GY510, George F Sleight, hired 2/15 as patrol trawler (He minesweeper), 1-6pdr or 12pdr, Admiralty No.1138, Skipper Herbert Thompson RNR. Ordered to escort oiler Scotol through Inchkeith channel with trawler Taranaki, proceeding slowly to rendezvous. Mined, laid by UC.41 (Kurt Bernis) eight days before, disappeared in large explosion off Tod Head, S of Stonehaven (wi - 4 miles E of Gourdon, near Inverbervie, in 56,51N, 02.08.30W, also 3 miles SE of Todhead LH); Skipper and 12 ratings lost, no survivors (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/un/wi; ADM.137/3224) REPTON, Admiralty chartered collier, 7 May 1917, Central Mediterranean - 2,881grt, built 1894, London-reg, Austin Friars SS, armed, Hull/Malta for Mudros with coal. Torpedoed by UB.43 (Horst Obermuller), sank 45 miles SSE of Cape Matapan, Greece (L - in 35.42N, 22.57E); three crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un) REPULSE, battle cruiser see AUSTRALIA, battle cruiser, 12 December 1917, presumably north British waters or North Sea REWA, Admiralty hospital ship, 4 January 1918, Bristol Channel - ex-passenger liner, 7,308grt, built 1906, British India Steam Navigation Co, Glasgow, hired 3/8/14, Admiralty No.YA.5. Sailed from Salonika, casualties taken on at Malta and Gibraltar, safely passed out of Mediterranean under local agreement with the Germans safeguarding hospital ships in that theatre and after carrying Spanish commissioners as far as Gibraltar, now approaching Avonmouth, total of 566 on board - 279 wounded officers & troops, 79 or 80 medical staff & 207 crew, master, Mr J Drake, fully marked with Red Cross and illuminated as hospital ship, night fine and clear. Torpedoed by U.55 (Wilhelm Werner) port-side amidships at 2315, took immediate list, lifeboats difficult to launch, sank around 0200 on the 5th, 19 miles W1/4S of Hartland Point, Devon (L/te/un/wd/wi - in 50.55N, 04.49W); 4 crew killed outright (wd - 3 Lascar seamen; dk - no naval casualties), survivors taken off in 14 boats which kept together, flares used to attract rescue ships, picked up by two trawlers and a tanker early the following morning around 0300. Sister to hospital ship Rohilla, wrecked in 1914. Werner was on the original British lost of war criminals for this sinking, progressed post-war as Naval Case No.11 but his whereabouts were not known, the case did not go to court (H/L/Lr/Mn/D/dk/ge/me/os/te/un/wd/wi) RIBSTON (1), Admiralty collier, 23 April 1916, Atlantic off NW France - 3,048grt, built 1906, West Hartlepool-reg, Ribston SS, Cardiff for Mediterranean port with coal. Captured by U.19 (Raimund Weisbach) and sunk by torpedo 66 miles W by S of Ushant island, off NW Brittany (L/te - in 47.55N, 06.32W) (H/L/Lr/te/un) RINALDO, sloop see MERSEY, monitor, 4 September 1916 German East Africa Campaign RIO TIETE, Admiralty collier, 28 March 1916, Atlantic off NW France - 7,464grt (L - 3,042grt), built 1904, London-reg, London-American Maritime Trading, Barry for Alexandria with coal. Captured by U.28 (Georg-Gόnther Freiherr von Forstner), sunk by torpedo 140 miles W of Ushant (L - 154 miles W of; te - in 47.30N, 08.25W) (H/L/Lr/te/un) RIVER FORTH, Admiralty chartered collier, 3 March 1917, Central Mediterranean - 4,421grt, built 1907, Glasgow-reg, SS River Forth SS, armed, Barry for Alexandria with coal, general cargo. Torpedoed by UC.35 (Ernst von Voigt), sank 60 miles S by E of Malta (L/te - in 34.54N, 15E); two crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un) RIVIERA, seaplane carrier see LANCE, destroyer, 20 March 1916, North Sea ROBERT SMITH, hired trawler, 21 July 1917, Atlantic of NW Scotland - 211grt, built 1915, Aberdeen-reg A353, Aberdeen Pioneer Steam Fishing, hired 7/15, 112pdr/16pdr, Admiralty No.1737, skipper was non-commissioned 2nd Hand (He - Skipper George William Robinson RNR). Patrol vessel, attached to 10th Cruiser Squadron, Northern Patrol, on patrol (He - NW of the Shetlands). Disappeared off Hebrides in c59.14N, 09.40W, cause unknown; 22 ratings lost including skipper, all hands. Uboat.net lists her as sunk by gunfire by U.44 (Paul Wagenfuhr) on the 21st (some sources 20th); the position given is where she was last seen at 0330 on 21 July by HM Trawler Offa II (H/Lr/C/D/dk/un; ADM.137/299) ROMEO, Admiralty refrigerated/frozen meat ship, 3 March 1918, Irish Sea - 1,730grt, built 1881, Ellerman's Wilson Line, Hull-reg, armed, sailed from Scapa Flow on 23 February after carrying meat and provisions, now bound for Liverpool in ballast. Torpedoed by U.102 (Curt Beitzen), sank 7 miles S of Mull of Galloway, SW Scotland (un 10.9 miles NW of Peel, in 54.22N, 04.52W); 29 crew lost including master (H/L/Lr/dk/te/un) ROMSDALEN, Admiralty chartered collier, 17 February 1917, English Channel - 2,548grt, built 1895, West Hartlepool-reg, G B Harland, armed, Mr Weatherall, Swansea for Calais with 3,500t processed patent coal fuel. Torpedoed by U.84 (Walter Roehr), sank 10 miles SW of Portland Bill/LH, Dorset (te - in 50.22N, 02.35W; wi - 50.23.22N, 02.40.06W) (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) RONDO, collier (not known if Admiralty-chartered), 6 January 1916, off W Scotland reportedly run aground. Hired yacht Hersilia wrecked on Hebrides going to her aid. ROOKE, hired drifter, 3 August 1916, Dover Straits - 84grt, built 1908, Lowestoft-reg LT53, hired 11/14 (D - 12/14) as patrol boat, 1-6pdr, Identification letter I, Dover Patrol, based at Dover, Skipper Edward Yallop RNR. In collision with SS Mereddio at 0030, sank in The Downs, off Deal (wi - in 51.12N 01.27E; He - 51.15N, 01.27E); 6 ratings lost (H/C/D/He/dk/dq/wi; ADM.1/8465/191) ROSALIND, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 6 April 1917, Atlantic off SW Ireland - 6,535grt, built 1913, Liverpool-reg, Oil Tank SS, armed, Port Arthur/Norfolk for Queenstown with oil. Torpedoed by U.86 (Friedrich Crόsemann), sank 180 miles WNW of Fastnet (L - 140 miles W of Dursey Head, Co Cork; te - in 51.39N, 14.20W); two crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un) ROSE II, hired trawler, 23 April 1917, North Channel - 213grt, built 1907, Grimsby-reg GY312, A & R Osborne, hired 12/14 as minesweeper (wi - patrol minesweeper), 16pdr or 3pdr, Admiralty No.592, Skipper James Wright RNR. One of three trawlers preparing to sweep entrance of Belfast Lough, just paying out sweep wire. Mined at 0640, laid by UC.66 (Herbert Pustkuchen), sank in Belfast Lough, Co Antrim (wi - in 54.44.15N, 05.38.46W); Skipper and 5 ratings lost, 6 survivors picked up by other trawlers. Note: Colledge notes that Rose II was listed until July 1919; Wreck Index suggests she may have been raised (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/un/wi; ADM.137/3275) ROSE LEA, Admiralty chartered collier, 14 March 1917, Atlantic W of SW England - 2,830grt, built 1902, Liverpool-reg, Sylvia SS, armed, Cardiff for Malta with coal. Torpedoed by U.62 (Ernst Hashagen), sank 230 miles W of Bishop Rock, Scillies (te - in 48.50N, 12.08W) (H/L/Lr/te/un) ROSE MARIE, Admiralty collier, 5 January 1918, St George's Channel - 2,220grt, built 1916, Rodney SS Co, Newcastle, armed, Mr H Cubitt, Scapa Flow for Barry Roads in ballast. Torpedoed by U.61 (Victor Dieckmann), sank 13 miles SE of North Arklow LV, Co Wicklow (L - 15 miles E of; wi - in 52.46N, 05.38W); one crew lost (H/L/Lr/dk/te/un/wi) ROSEHILL, Admiralty chartered collier, 23 September 1917, English Channel - built for Stephenson Clarke Co's London coal trade, 2,788grt, built 1911, purchased by W J Tillett SS Co, London in 1914 for the expanding naval bunker trade in South Wales steam coal, 1-12pdr, 24 crew, Cardiff for Devonport with coal. Torpedoed by UB.40 (Hans Howaldt) at 1805, crew abandoned ship but tried to reboard at 1845, unable to do do as propeller still turning and had to wait until boil er pressure dropped, taken in tow, but had taken in too much water, sank short of Kennack Sands, 5 miles SW by S of Fowey, Cornwall (wi - 2 3/4m SE of Downderry, Whitsand Bay, in 50.19.40N, 04.18.25W) (H/L/Lr/te/sc/un/wi) ROSELEAF, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 27 April 1917, Atlantic off NW Ireland - Leaf-class, 6,572grt or 12,300tgrt, built 1916, The Shipping Controller, London, armed. Gun attack by U-boat (un not listed), saved by own gunfire (last attack as Califol); no lives lost (H/D/dk/ms/un) ROSEMARY, fleet sweeping sloop, 4 July 1916, North Sea - Arabis-class, 1,250t, Southern Force, believed serving with Humber-based flotilla, sweeping War Channel E of Dogger Bank for Grand Fleet operations. Torpedoed by U.63 (Otto Schultze), stern blown off, taken in tow by sister-ship Alyssum for Humber with rest of flotilla at 5kts. Arrived after two days, could not get into lock at Immingham, stern portion of ship found hanging down at right angles; 3 ratings lost (Cn/D/dk/gf/sc/un) ROSEVINE, hired drifter, 24 May 1917, North Sea - 100grt, built 1913, Lowestoft-reg LT1198, hired 7/15 as net drifter, 1-3pdr AA, Admiralty No.1812, Skipper Robert Wylie RNR. In collision with drifter Loyal Friend early morning, sank off Great Yarmouth, Norfolk; no lives lost (H/D/He/dk; ADM.137/448) ROXBURGH [01], cruiser, 24 May 1917, Atlantic - First trial Atlantic HH convoy sailed from Hampton Roads for UK, 12 ships escorted by Roxburgh and met by 8 destroyers, arrived successfully (dx) ROXBURGH [02], cruiser, 12 February 1918, Atlantic - Devonshire-class, 10,850t, North America & West Indies Station, escorted Atlantic convoy in British coastal waters, now returning to Liverpool. (ub - 13th) - Sighted submarine at 200yds, rammed and immediately went full astern to maximise the damage, sank U.89 (Cn/D/ub/un) RUBIO, Admiralty chartered collier, 25 February 1918, North Sea - 2,395grt, built 1909, Orders & Handford SS, Newport-reg, armed, Mr J Jenkins, Blyth for London with coal. Mined, laid by UC.4 (Kurt Loch), sank 4 miles N1/2E of Shipwash LV, off Orford Ness, Suffolk (wi - in 52.05.20N, 01.45.30E) (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) RUBY (2), hired trawler, 17 October 1917, Atlantic off NW France - 251grt, built 1916, Kingston Steam Trawling, Hull-reg H494, hired 9/16 as minesweeper, 1-6pdr or 12pdr, Admiralty No.2970, Skipper Harold Walter Jameson RNR, on patrol at the time. SS Polvena torpedoed by U.53 NE of Ushant, crew taken off and trawlers Ruby and Conway Castle stood by to await the arrival of a tug. As the trawlers patrolled around her, Ruby was torpedoed at 1730 by UC.79 (Werner Lowe) and broke in two (un this attack was against SS Polvena, which was still afloat, but missed her and struck HMS Ruby), sank off Ushant (He/un approximately 48.50N, 05.10W); 1 officer, 17 ratings lost, no survivors (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/un; ADM.137/3290) RULE, Q-ship see MAVIS, Q-ship, 10 May 1917, Eastern Atlantic RUTHIN CASTLE, hired trawler, 22 April 1917, North Sea - (L - Rathlin Castle), 275grt, built 1916, Swansea-reg SA67, Castle Steam Trawlers Co, hired 12/16 as minesweeper, 16pdr, Admiralty No.3317, Skipper Albert Potter RNR. Sailed from Hartlepool to sweep off Durham coast with other sweepers, started at 0700, three mines brought to surface and sunk by gunfire. (He 22nd; un 20th; others 21st) Detonated unseen mine, laid by UC.50 (Rudolf Seuffer) two days earlier (He 20th), sank off Skinningrove, near SaltburnbytheSea, Yorkshire (wi - in 54.37.00N, 00.53W); 8 ratings lost (He Skipper lost, 6 survivors) (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/un/wi; ADM.137/3226) S
SACHEM, commissioned escort ship, 15 December 1917, English Channel - passenger & cargo ship, 5,354grt, built 1893, Constitution SS Co, Liverpool, armed, London for unknown destination. Torpedoed by UB.31 (Thomas Bieber) off Start Point, Devon, damaged, towed in to Plymouth; one life lost (H/L/dk/un) ST DUNSTAN, Admiralty dockyard bucket dredger, 23 September 1917, English Channel - 600grt, 17/9/94, 21 crew, sailing Portland for Pembroke, under escort. Explosion under port quarter at 1130, believed torpedoed at the time, now listed as mined, laid by UC.21 (Werner von Zerboni di Sposetti), sank within 4min, 12 miles NW by N of Bill of Portland Bill, Dorset (L - 12 miles NW by W of; wi - in 50.38.15N, 02.41.59W); crew member and an Admiralty civilian were drowned, two more were injured by the explosion, survivors picked up from the sea by escort and landed at Weymouth. Wreck with bucket alongside lies upside down in 90ft (H/L/C/dk/un/wi) ST GERMAIN [01], hired trawler, 15 August 1916, Dover Straits - one of two trawlers, Hull-reg, hired as minesweepers, serving with Dover Patrol and damaged in collision, possibly with each other: ST GERMAIN, 307grt, built 1907, hired 2/15. Beached at Dungeness to prevent sinking, submerged at high water, shielded, pumped out and refloated, reached Dover under her own steam for repairs (D/dp/dq/gr); ELECTRA II, 269grt, built 1904, hired 7/15. Temporarily repaired at Dover (D/dp/dq/gr) ST GERMAIN [02], hired trawler, 26 February 1917, Dover Straits - 307grt, built 1907, Hull-reg, hired 2/15 as minesweeper, Lt A Lansley DSC RNR. Mined, laid by UC.16 (Egon von Werner), near Folkestone, lost foremast over the side. Assuming she was finished, trawler Strathgairn ordered alongside to take off much of her gear, CO and three men decided to try and save her, kept pumps going while Strathgairn towed her stern-first, beached at Folkestone (Mn/D/sc/un) ST GOTHARD, Admiralty chartered collier, 26 September 1916, North Sea - 2,788grt, built 1903, Glasgow-reg, St Gothard Shipping, 25 crew, Mr E Smith, Swarbacks Minn for Firth of Forth in ballast for orders (wi - with 200t coal), lowered two boats to rescue the two crews of torpedoed armed yacht Conqueror II and trawler Sarah Alice off Fair Isle when the submarine surfaced, approached to within quarter of a mile. With no time to rescue his own crew and escape, master ordered away the rest of his men in the remaining boat and rowed clear. U.52 (Hans Walther) fired a third torpedo at 1700 from about 100yd which sank the collier five minutes later, about 12 miles N by W of Fair Isle (un/te - in 59.41.N, 01.45W; wi - in 59.44.30N, 01.42W); masters boat reached the Shetlands next day, the other boats were picked up by a destroyer (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) ST IVES, hired trawler, 21 December 1916, English Channel - 325grt, built 1909, Hull-reg H11, T Hamling, hired 3/15 as auxiliary patrol vessel, Admiralty No.1192, Lt William Carmichael RNR (He - Skipper G Brewer, but not in casualty list). Leaving Falmouth harbour. Mined, laid by UC.17 (Ralph Wenninger), sank off St. Anthony LH, Falmouth, Cornwall (wi - in 0.06N, 05W; He - two miles WSW of St Anthony Point); Lt Carmichael and 10 ratings killed by the explosion (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/hw/un/wi; ADM.131/72, ADM.1/8476/302) ST VINCENT, Dreadnought, 22 January 1918, probably northern British waters serving with 4th BS, Grand Fleet, accidental explosion. One officer killed (dk/pl) SALAMANDER, whaler see MERSEY, monitor, 4 September 1916 German East Africa Campaign SAMOSET, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 20 March 1918, Eastern Mediterranean - 5,251grt, built 1909, Glasgow-reg, Tank Storage & Carriage, armed, Port Said for Brindisi with fuel oil. Torpedoed by U.33 (Gustav Siess), 50 miles N by E3/4E of Port Said (L - 50 miles NE by E3/4E of); three crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un) SAN ONOFRE, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 12 May 1917, Atlantic off SW Ireland - 9,717grt, built 1914, London-reg, Eagle Oil Transport Co, 1-6in QF, 49 crew, Mr R Osbon, sailing Puerto Mexico for Queenstown/London with fuel oil. Torpedo sighted on 11th at 1438 and avoided, U.48 (Karl Edeling) spotted a few minutes later four miles astern, SOS wirelessed and fire opened on the U-boat to keep her off. Submarine returned fire and chased, but was unable to close. British warship came up at 1825, left to hunt for the attacker, returned without any success to San Onofre at 1940, oiler ordered to steer for the Skelligs under escort. Next morning at 0520, torpedoed without warning in engine-room by U.48, sank in ten minutes 64 miles NW1/2N of the Skellig Rocks, off Co Kerry (L/te/wi - in 52.26N, 14.40W; un 52.25N, 11.42W); one man killed by explosion, crew escaped in two boats, taken on board escort and landed at Queenstown (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) SANDFLY, destroyer, 1918, North Sea - I-class, c990t, converted to minelayer, 20th DF, and Telemachus, destroyer, R-class, 1,170t, completed as minelayer with 60 mines. In collision in Heligoland Bight, Sandfly towed home; no lives lost (Cn/D/gr) SANDHURST, fleet repair ship, 27 February 1917, Scapa Flow boiler explosion, nine stoker personnel lost. Four killed at the time, two of wounds that day, and one each on the 28th and 5 and 12 March (dk) SANDSEND, Admiralty chartered collier, 16 September 1917, St George's Channel - 3,814grt, built 1899, West Hartlepool-reg, Pyman SS, armed, Mr G Sheldrake, Barry for Queenstown. with coal, general cargo. Torpedoed by UC.48 (Kurt Ramien), sank 6 miles SE by E of Mine Head, Co Waterford (wi - in 51.56.45N, 07.29.30W); three crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) SAPPER, Admiralty Trawler, 29 December 1917, English Channel - Military-class, purchased 11/12/14 on stocks, one of ten bought for total cost of £93,800, 276grt, launched 12/15, 1-12pdr, Admiralty No.1162, Lieutenant Henry Jones DSC RNR. On patrol in the Channel, and last reported her position at 2100 on the 28th, 3 miles SW of Owers LV. Next day the SS Tewfikieh reported speaking to an unidentified patrol vessel at 0300, which then disappeared after a large explosion. This was believed to Sapper going down off the Owers LV, SE of Selsey Bill, Sussex (wi - 9?m S by W of Bognor Regis Pier, in 50.37.18N, 00.41.09W); 2 officers, 17 ratings lost (He 2 officers and 12 ratings). Wreck found in 1983 and lies in 90ft with back apparently broken suggesting she was mined (H/C/Cn/D/He/dk/wi; ADM.1/8509/4) SARAH COLEBROOKE, Q-ship, 3 June 1917, English Channel - aliases include Balham, Bolham, Meryl (sc - serving as Bolham, ex-Sarah Colebrooke, operating as Worrynot of Littlehampton), special service/submarine decoy/Q-ship, ketch-rigged sailing barge, 158grt, built 1914, out of Rye, taken up 21/12/16, armed with 2-3in/12pdrs, depth-charges and machine guns, commissioned early 5/17 at Portsmouth, Lt C Walters RNR, on first patrol. Attacked by U-boat (un not listed) near Beachy Head (Mn - 20 miles S by W of; sc - c15 miles off), severely damaged, port quarter and deck-house smashed, auxiliary motor out of action, hull only saved from being holed by reinforced lee-boards, returned fire and lightly damaged the submarine (Mn/Cn/D/ge/qs/sc/un) SARAH RADCLIFFE, Admiralty collier, 11 November 1916, Atlantic off NW France - ex-Dunraven (not the Q-ship of this name), Admiralty collier, 3,333grt, built 1896, Cardiff-reg, Sarah Radcliffe SS, Cardiff for St Vincent (CV) with coal, general cargo. Captured by U.50 (Gerhard Berger) and sunk by torpedo 170 miles SW of Ushant island, off NW Britanny (te - in 46N, 07W) (H/L/Lr/te/un) SARDIUS II, hired trawler, 13 February 1918, English Channel - 206grt, built 1900, Grimsby-reg GY1140, Arctic Steam Fishing, hired 6/15 as minesweeper, 1-6pdr or 3pdr, Admiralty No.3357, Skipper Thomas Dawson RNR, weather bad. Hit the Runnelstone at 0030 and damaged, run ashore and wrecked in Pendower Cove, Gerrans Bay, near Tolpenden Penwith, Cornwall (wi - in 50.12.15N, 04.56.10W); no lives lost (H/Lr/C/D/He/dk/wi; ADM.1/8406/190) SARNIA, armed boarding steamer 24 January 1917, Mediterranean - in collision, no other details. One man killed (dk) SAWFLY, river gunboat see MANTIS, river gunboat, 8 March 1916, Mesopotamian Campaign SAXON PRINCE, hired trawler, 28 March 1916, Dover Straits - 237grt, built 1906 or 1907, North Shields-reg SN58, Prince Fishing, hired 1915 (D - 8/14) as minesweeper, 1-3pdr, Admiralty No.262, Skipper George Rose RNR, Dover Patrol, on patrol for four days off South Goodwin, due to return to Dover, furious south-westerly gale. Disappeared in storm off Dover, believed foundered, neither bodies nor wreckage found (He last seen in 51.08N 01.24E); Skipper and 11 ratings lost (He 11 men lost) (H/Lr/C/D/dk/dq/sc; ADM.1/8452/72, ADM.137/374) SCORPION, destroyer, 30 November 1916, Aegean Sea - Scorpion and Wolverine, destroyers, G-class, c1,100t, 1-4in/3-12pdr/2-18in tt, 5th DF Mediterrranean Fleet, believed based at Mudros, Lemnos island. Scorpion (Cdr A B Cunningham DSO) was rammed from right ahead by Wolverine early in the morning, Scorpion badly damaged with hole in her side, patched up and sailed for Malta for permanent repairs; one rating died on Scorpion (Cn/D/cu/dx) SCOTOL, oiler see REPRO, hired trawler, 26 April 1917, North Sea SEA KING, hired trawler, 12 June 1917, English Channel - UC.66 sunk by Sea King off Cornwall (dx) SEBASTIAN, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 10 May 1917, Western Atlantic - 3,110grt, built 1914, London-reg, Sebastian Diesel Motor Boat Co (Lane & MacAndrew). Lost by fire off Nantucket island, off Massachussetts (ms in 40.28N, 70.03W); one Royal Marine killed (H/Lr/dk/ms) SEISTAN, Admiralty chartered collier, 23 October 1917, North Sea - 4,238grt, built 1907, Strick Line Ltd, Swansea, 1-12pdr, 59 crew, Mr R Forbes, Tyne for Falmouth with 5,500t coal for further orders, one passenger. Torpedoed by UB.57 (Otto Steinbrinck) starboard-side in the engine-room at 1550, starboard lifeboat destroyed, crew got away in remaining three boats, sank at 1602, 3 1/2m N by W1/4N of Flamborough Head (L - 3 miles N of; te/un - in 54.09N, 00.08W; wi - in 54.10.05N, 00.07.10W); 3rd engineer and four Lascars killed by explosion, survivors including three injured picked up, landed at Bridlington (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) SETHON, hired trawler, 9 May 1917, Atlantic off N Ireland - 295grt, built 1916, Grimsby-reg, hired 10/16 as minesweeper. Collided with and sank paddle steamer Earl of Dunraven (taken up for service as paddle minesweeper, fitting out 15.5.17, but shortly released), 174grt, 6 miles WNW of Innistrahull Light (wi - in 55.27.30N, 07.25W) (D/gr/wi) SEVERN, monitor see MERSEY, monitor, 4 September 1916 German East Africa Campaign SHERBORNE, twin screw minesweeper see CUPAR, twin screw minesweeper, 5 May 1919, North Sea SILVERTON, Admiralty collier, 13 July 1916, Central Mediterranean - 2,682grt, built 1891, Leith-reg, David Cairns, Cardiff/Gibraltar for Alexandria with coal. Captured by U.39 (Walter Forstmann), sunk by torpedo 14 miles NE of Canae Rocks, near Cape Zebib, approaches to Bizerta, Tunisia (L - 14 miles NW of Cani Rocks Light) (H/L/Lr/te/un) SIMOUN, hired yacht, 19 March 1917, Dover Straits - 204grt, built 1897, hired 30/5/16 as ABS. In collision and damaged; no lives lost (D/dk/dp) SISTERS MELVILLE, hired trawler, 13 February 1917, North Sea - 260grt, built 1915, Aberdeen-reg A459, hired 11/15 as minesweeper, Admiralty No.1951, Lowestoft-based, Skipper Arthur Harris RNR. Started sweeping with hired trawlers Loch Morar and Kuroki 4 miles NE of Aldeburgh. Mined, laid by UC.4 (Georg Reimarus) two weeks earlier, stern blown off and sank near Aldeburgh, near Orford Ness (wi - in 52.09N, 01.49E); seven ratings killed (H/L/D/He/dk/sc/un/wi; ADM.137/3234) SKATE, destroyer, 12 March 1917, North Sea - 975t, 1917. Torpedoed and damaged by UC.69 (Erwin Wassner) off the Maas Light Vessel; 1 dead (D/dk/un) SNAKEFLY [01], river gunboat - see MANTIS, river gunboat, 24 February 1917, Mesopotamian Front SNAKEFLY [02], river gunboat see MANTIS, river gunboat, 8 March 1917, Mesopotamian Campaign SNEATON, Admiralty chartered collier, 3 April 1916, Central Mediterranean - 3,470grt, built 1915, Whitby-reg, Rowland & Marwood SS, Hull for Alexandria. Captured by U.34 (Claus Rόcker) of Tunisia, sunk by bombs 35 miles NNE of Cap de Garde (L/te - in 37.35N, 07.57E) (H/L/te/un) SNOWDON (1), Admiralty chartered collier, 19 May 1918, Central Mediterranean - 3,189grt, built 1896, London-reg, Snowdon SS, armed, Cardiff for Milo with coal, in convoy Malta to Milo. (te - 18th) - Torpedoed by U.63 (Kurt Hartwig), captured and sunk by gunfire 84 miles S1/2W of Malta (L/te/un - 34.26N, 14.38E; un also 34.21N, 14.20E); master, one crew lost (te - 2 crew lost, master, 1st officer taken prisoner) (H/L/Lr/te/un) SNOWDONIAN, Admiralty chartered collier, 31 July 1917, Atlantic off Azores - 3,870grt, built 1907, Steam Ship Goidelian & Coranian Co, Cardiff, armed, Barry for Freetown with coal. Captured by U.155 (Karl Meusel), sunk by bombs 245 miles S by E of Santa Maria, SE Azores (L/te/un - in 33.44N, 22.22W) (H/L/Lr/te/un) SOUTHESK, hired drifter, 7 July 1917, Orkneys - 93grt, built 1912, Montrose-reg ME195, J Johnston & Sons, hired 7/15 as net drifter, also used as local minesweeper, Admiralty No.2021, Skipper Francis Fraser RNR. Sweeping in Auskery Sound, Orkney. Mined at 1235, laid by UC.33 (Martin Schelle), sank in Auskerry Sound between Stronsay and Auskerry islands (He in 59.30N 02.34W; wi - in 59.03N, 02.33.30W); 4 ratings lost, five survivors (H/L/C/D/He/dk/un/wi; ADM.137/479) SOUTHINA, Admiralty chartered collier, 7 July 1917, Western Mediterranean - 3,506grt, built 1899, Western Counties Shipping, Cardiff, armed, sailing from Cardiff/Oran with coal and government stores. Torpedoed by UC.67 (Karl Neumann), sank 6 miles WNW of Cape Sigli, near Bougie, E of Algiers; one crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un) SPEY, harbour tender, 7 March 1917, North Sea - ex-iron steam gunboat, Medina-class, 386t, deleted c1915, Chatham-based, shifting berths in harbour. Run down by sludge vessel carrying 1000t raw sewage, sank in the harbour; 2 officers, 18 ratings lost including 3 Royal Marines. Later raised and used as a diving platform, sold for BU 1923 (Cn/D/dk) SPITEFUL, destroyer see OCEAN STAR, hired drifter, 26 September 1917, English Channel ST see Saint STANDISH HALL, Admiralty chartered collier, 4 February 1918, Eastern Mediterranean - 3,996grt, built 1912, Standish Hall SS (Hansen Bros), London, armed, from Bizerta for Alexandria with general cargo. Torpedoed by U.33 (Gustav Siess), sank 38 miles W by N of Alexandria (H/L/Lr/te/un) STARMOUNT [01], Q-ship, 17 October 1917, English Channel - aka Glenmay, Graveney, Stormount, Tring (qs - operating as Stormount), special service/submarine decoy/Q-ship, collier, 2,529grt, built 1905, in service 3/6/17, (qs - "completing shortly" as decoy ship 21/7/17). Torpedoed presumably in English Channel or approaches, "explosion caused fore-rigging to release and clear away as for action, also dummy winches and ventilators at No. 2 gun collapsed", succeeded in entering Plymouth. "To revert to trade" 11/6/18 (D - in service until 10/1/19) (Cn/D/qs) STARMOUNT [02], Q-ship, 30 April 1918, off Fair Isle ex-Glenmay, 2,485grt, built 1905, Lt Cdr A M Y Dane RN in command. Torpedoed and damaged by U.54 (Hellmuth von Rckteschell) 40 miles W of Fair Isle. Hit abreast No.1 hatch; towed into Kirkwell; no lives lost (D/un) STAUNCH, destroyer - see GRAFTON , bulged cruiser, 30 October 1917, Palestine Campaign STEAMAXE, Admiralty trawler, 1 November 1919, North Sea - on passage from Murmansk with lighter X.170 in tow. Departed Bergen on 24 October. Stranded in poor weather on Hewitt Rock, Inchkeith. Salvaged in 1921 and sold for scrap (D/He; ADM.137/1723) STEELVILLE, Admiralty chartered collier, 3 January 1918, Central Mediterranean - 3,649grt, built 1915, Ville SS (Balls & Stansfield), North Shields, armed, sailing Barry to Malta with coal and general cargo. Torpedoed by UB.50 (Franz Becker) and sunk 20 miles N of Cape Bon, Tunisia (te - in 37.25N, 11.00E; un - in 37.25N, 11.06E) (H/L/Lr/te/un) STEP DANCE, tunnel screw minesweeper see FANDANGO, tunnel screw minesweeper, 3 July 1919, North Russia STIRLING CASTLE, patrol paddle steamer, 26 September 1916, Central Mediterranean - 271grt, built 1899, Southampton-reg, Southampton, Isle of Wight & South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet, hired 18/5/16 as auxiliary patrol vessel, 2-6pdr AA, Pendant No.0105, Lt William Mackintosh RNR, based at Malta. Explosion, broke her back and sank, cause unknown (L mined; un U-boat-laid), off W central coast of Malta; no lives lost (H/J/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/un; ADM.137/395) STRATHGAIRN, hired trawler see ST GERMAIN, hired trawler, 26 February 1917, Dover Straits STRATHGAIRN, hired trawler, 29 December 1917, probably Dover Straits area - 211grt, built 1915, Aberdeen-reg, hired 3/15 as minesweeper, Dover Patrol. In collision, temporary repairs carried out at Dover (D/dp/dq/gr) STROMBUS, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 4 June 1918, Central Mediterranean - 6,163grt, armed (sl - Admiralty oiler No.4, presumably Y7.4), Marseilles for Port Said with boxwood, empty drums, war materials. Torpedoed by UC.20 (Heinrich Kukat) in 33.10N, 15.58E, towed in to Malta; 2 lives lost (H/L/sl/un) STRUMBLE, Q-ship, 4 May 1917, St George's Channel - special service/submarine decoy/Q-ship, ketch-rigged sailing smack, 45grt, built 1912, Milford-reg M135, A G John of Goodwick, entered service 1/6/16, 1-12pdr (bm/qs - plus 1-6pdr), 24 crew, based at Milford Haven, attached to base ship HM Yacht Idaho, sailed from Milford Haven on patrol. U.65 (Otto Steinbrinck) closed but not enough for Strumble to open fire, crew given time to leave as panic party, shelled until she sank 10 miles NNE of Strumble Head (wi - in 52.11N, 05W); the submarine found 13 men clinging to an upturned boat, nine on a raft and the captain and chief officer who were picked up from floating wreckage, help with righting the boat was refused. Four crew died of exposure on the raft, survivors picked up by trawler and landed at Milford Haven. It is not clear if the two officers were left or taken prisoner. Note: HMSO lists her as a fishing vessel captured and sunk with a bomb; Lloyds as fishing at the time, presumably as part of her decoy role (H/L/C/D/bm/qs/un/wi) STRYMON, Admiralty trawler, 27 October 1917, North Sea - 198grt, built 1899, Strand Steam Fishing Co, Grimsby-reg GY912, hired 8/15 as minesweeper, 112pdr, Admiralty No.1842, Harwich-based, Skipper John Henry Ridsdill RNR. Sailing with a division of Harwich minesweepers to sweep an area between Sunk LV and Shipwash shoal, started operations at 0815, Strymon paired with Victorian II and leading the sweep. Mined at 0930, field laid by UC.11 (Karl Dobberstein), broke up and sank immediately off Shipwash LV, off Orford Ness, Suffolk (He in 51.57.30N 00.48.00E; un in 51.37N, 00.48E); 1 officer, 9 ratings lost (He 11 lost, two survivors) (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/sc/un; ADM.137/3323) STYX, whaler see MERSEY, monitor, 4 September 1916 German East Africa Campaign SUMANA [01], armed launch, 29 April 1916, Mesopotamian Campaign - ex-launch tug, 2-3pdr from 22/5/15, remained at Kut 12/15 at start of the siege. c29th - British-Indian forces in besieged Kut surrendered to the Turks, Sumana taken over by Turks, recaptured February 1917 (Rn/D) SUMANA [02], gunboat see MANTIS, river gunboat, 26 February 1917, Mesopotamian Campaign SUN II, rescue tug see DUNDEE, armed boarding steamer, 3 September 1917, Atlantic off SW England SUPERB, dreadnought, 13 November 1918, Turkish Surrender - Allied Battle squadron sailed through the Dardanelles and reached Constantinople for the Turkish Surrender. British ships present included dreadnoughts Superb (flag), Temeraire, battleships Lord Nelson, Agamemnon, cruisers and destroyers (dx) SURAM, possibly Admiralty chartered oiler see DEWEY, hired drifter, 12 August 1917, English Channel SWALLOW, hired trawler, February 1917, North Sea - 243grt, built 1897, Hull-reg, hired 10/14, on patrol off Whitby in the morning. Sighted periscope, rammed submarine close to conning tower, bow knocked violently to starboard, U-boat not sunk (D/ap) SWIFT WINGS, Admiralty collier, 1 September 1916, Western Mediterranean - 4,465grt, built 1911, London-reg, Wing SS, armed, Cardiff for Malta with coal, petrol. Torpedoed by U.38 (Max Valentiner), sank about 18 miles E of Cape Bengut LH, N of Tizi Ouzou, near Algiers; two crew lost, master taken prisoner (H/L/te/un) SWIFT, flotilla leader see BOTHA, flotilla leader, 21 March 1918, Dover Straits SYREN, destroyer, 18 November 1917, believed Dover area serving with 6th Destroyer Flotilla, Dover Patrol, in collision, Stoker PO killed (pl/dk) SYLVIA, destroyer, 29 September 1917, North Sea off Shetlands in company with destroyer Tirade and trawler Moravia, when UC.55 surfaced after experiencing minelaying problems. She was scuttled under the guns of the warships (dx) T
TAIYABI, Admiralty chartered collier, 9 January 1918, possibly North Atlantic - 3,157grt, built 1889, Bombay-reg, A M Jeevanjee, Cardiff for Malta. Foundered on passage. Assuming she would have been reported passing through the Strait of Gibraltar, presumably lost in the Atlantic. Date may be presumed date of sinking or when reported (H/Lr) TALBOT, light cruiser see MERSEY, monitor, 4 September 1916 German East Africa Campaign TANDIL, Admiralty chartered collier, 12 March 1917, English Channel - 2,897grt, built 1900, London-reg, Buenos Ayres Great Southern Railway, Mr W Chambers, Barry for Portland with coal. Torpedoed by UC.69 (Hans Degetau; te/un - U.85), sank 20 miles W by N1/2N of Portland (te/wi - in 50.30N, 03.00W; un 49.36N, 2.57W); four crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) TARANAKI [01], hired trawler see REPRO, hired trawler, 26 April 1917, North Sea TARANAKI [02], Q-ship, 8 August 1917, North Sea - special service/submarine decoy/Q-ship, trawler, 247grt, built 1912, Aberdeen-reg, hired 8/14 as minesweeper, escorting merchant ship from Tyne to Granton. Night of 8th/9th - Just before midnight "struck a submerged object with considerable force", had to stop engines, then use them to clear the obstruction. Court of Enquiry held she had hit a submarine, news was then received that a U-boat had been rammed and badly damaged, but reached base. However the two incidents could not be definitely linked (Mn/Cn/D) TARANTULA [01], river gunboat - see MANTIS, river gunboat, 24 February 1917, Mesopotamian Front TARANTULA [02], river gunboat see MANTIS, river gunboat, 26 February 1917, Mesopotamian Campaign TARANTULA [03], river gunboat see MANTIS, river gunboat, 8 March 1917, Mesopotamian Campaign TARTAR, destroyer, 18 February 1918, North Sea - F-class, c870t, 6th DF Dover Patrol. In collision, sank SS Ardgantock 841grt off West Hartlepool (wi - in 54.42N, 01.05W) (D/gr/wi) TB.4 [01], torpedo boat see GERMAN DESTROYER RAID ON RAMSGATE, 26 April 1917 TB.4 [02], torpedo boat, 26 May 1917, possibly English Channel - accidental explosion, cause and location not known; 14 crew lost, all buried at Ramsgate (dk) TB.7, torpedo boat see MATCHLESS, destroyer, July 1916, North Sea TB.9, torpedo boat, 26 July 1916, North Sea - ex-Cricket-class coastal destroyer Grasshopper, c250t, 1907, 26kts, 2-12pdr/3-18in tt, 35 crew, serving with North Sea Patrol Flotilla or Nore Local Defence Flotilla. Lieutenant Austen Gerald Lilly. In collision in thick fog with destroyer Matchless at 2310 (Matchless was returning to Harwich after colliding with destroyer Manley off the Cork light vessel). TB.9 stayed afloat, crew taken off by Matchless, but foundered at 0445 (not known if 26th or 27th); no lives lost (He - one man died of injuries; dx in Matchless, DOI on 27th) (H/J/C/Cn/D/He/dg/dk/dx/gr; ADM.137/253, ADM.53/48857) TB.24, torpedo boat, 28 January 1917, Dover Straits - TB.13-36-class, same type as ex-Cricket-class coastal destroyer, c260t, 1908, 26kts, 2-12pdr/3-18in tt, 35 crew, Dover Patrol, Lt H Wrey (He - Lieutenant Colin McLeod Campbell). Entering Dover harbour in bad weather, collided with South Pier, filled and sank (wi - in 51.07N 01.20.33E); no lives lost. Lifted in April by mooring lighter and two hopper barges, carried into Tidal harbour and handed over to dockyard (+J/C/Cn/D/dk/dp/ke/wi; ADM.137/353) TB.28, torpedo boat see CHESTER II, hired trawler, 29 February 1916, North Sea TB.91, torpedo boat, 28 July 1917, Straits of Gibraltar - in collision off Cape Spartel; one signalman killed (dk) TEAKWOOD, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 28 April 1917, Central Mediterranean - cargo ship converted to bulk oil tanker, 5,815grt, built 1902, Swansea-reg, Teakwood SS Co (J I Jacobs & Co), armed, sailing Port Arthur for Port Said (te - Messina for Port Said in ballast). (L - 29th) - Torpedoed by Austrian U.XIV (Georg Ritter von Trapp), sank 26 miles SW by W of Sapienza island, Greece (L - in 36.21N, 21.17E; te/un - in 36.39N, 21.10E) (H/L/Lr/te/un) TEAL (2), hired trawler, 2 January 1917, North Sea - 165grt, built 1897, Hull-reg H90, Kelsall Brothers & Beeching, hired 1915 as minesweeper (D - 11/14; wi - patrol trawler), 1-6pdr, Admiralty No.418, Skipper John Carlton. Went ashore off Buckie, Banff late at night in poor weather, salvage attempted but wrecked (wi - in 57.41.15N, 02.57W), gun and stores recovered; no lives lost (+Lr/C/D/He/dk/fd/hw/wi; ADM.137/524) TELEMACHUS, destroyer see SANDFLY, destroyer, 1918, North Sea TELENA, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 21 April 1917, Atlantic SW of Ireland/W of France - 4,779grt, built 1895, London-reg, Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co, armed, sailing Philadephia for Queenstown with bulk benzine. Torpedoed by U.61 (Victor Dieckmann), sank 170 miles WNW of Fastnet (L/te - in 51.16N, 14.00W) (H/L/Lr/sl/te/un) TEMERAIRE, dreadnought see SUPERB, dreadnought, 13 November 1918, Turkish Surrender TERROR, monitor, 19 October 1917, Dover Straits - Erebus-class, 8,450t, 2-15in/2-6in/2-12pdr/1-3in AA, Dover Patrol Monitor Squadron on bombardment duties off Belgian coast, at anchor off Dunkirk. Night of 18th/19th - Hit by three torpedoes from German torpedo boats A.59, A.60, A.61, two considerably damaged her bow, third hit the bulge, beached N of Dunkirk, floated into Dunkirk Harbour for temporary repairs, towed to Dover, then on passage to Portsmouth began leaking badly in heavy seas and highs winds, crew taken off by HMT Elysian and abandoned off Hastings (night of: dq - 23rd; Cn - 27th), reboarded next day and brought into Spithead. Took ten weeks to repair (Cn/D/dp/dq) TERROR, monitor see BOTHA, flotilla leader, 21 March 1918, Dover Straits TETRARCH, destroyer, 10 October 1917, probably North Sea - R-class, 1,170t, 3-4in/1-2pdr/4-21in, Harwich Force 10th DF as of 16/10/17 when she sortied with Force C into the North Sea. Presumably damaged a few days earlier on the 10th when Mate Newman won an Albert Medal. Acting Mate Alfred William Newman disposed of burning ammunition when the after magazine caught fire, awarded Albert Medal 1st Class or in Gold, later George Cross (Rn/Cn/D/dx/gc) THAMES, Admiralty screw tug, 16 February 1918, North Sea - 32grt, built 1897, hired 6/11/14. Under tow by hired tug Frank, towline parted in bad weather about 25 miles SSE of Aberdeen, and she disappeared. Presumably foundered off E coast of Scotland; no crew onboard (H/C/D/He; ADM.137/693) THISTLE, gunboat see MERSEY, monitor, 4 September 1916 German East Africa Campaign THORNHILL, Q-ship, 19 June 1917, Atlantic off SW Ireland - aka, Margit, Wellholme, Werribee, Woganella, special service/submarine decoy/Q-ship, collier, 3,848grt, built 1911, hired 18/11/15. In action with submarine (un not listed) off SW of Ireland, not known if damaged; no lives lost (Cn/D/dk/ge/un) THRASHER, destroyer, 8 February 1917, North Sea - UC.39 sunk by Thrasher off Flamborough Head (dx) THURINGIA, hired trawler, 11 November 1917, St George's Channel - 297grt, built 1913, Great Grimsby & East Coast Steam Fishing Co, Grimsby-reg GY855, hired 4/15 as minesweeper (wi - patrol minesweeper), 13pdr, Admiralty No.1624, Skipper Albert William Thornham RNR. Employed as a patrol vessel, escorting tanker Alchymist off southern Ireland coast. Blown up at 0640 off Youghal, Co Cork, disappeared in a large explosion, and presumed torpedoed at the time, later confirmed by U.95 (Athalwin Prinz), (He about 12 miles SW of Mine Head; wi - in 52.41N, 07.40W); 1 officer, 13 ratings lost, no survivors (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/un/wi; ADM.137/3291) TIGER, battlecruiser, 27 August 1919, Scotland - Albert Medal in Gold, later George Cross awarded to Mate Henry Buckle, HMS Tiger at Invergordon, for saving life in gas-filled compartment (dx/gc) TIRADE, destroyer see SYLVIA, destroyer, 29 September 1917, North Sea off Shetlands TITANIA, depot ship - see E.30, submarine, E-class, 7 April 1916, North Sea TOURACO, hired trawler see GOLDEN SUNSET, hired drifter, 4 January 1918, English Channel TOURMALINE, hired trawler, 27 March 1916, Dover Straits - 289grt, built 1905, Hull-reg; hired 3/15 as minesweeper. Mined, damaged with main injection valve fractured, water gained on the pumps but managed to reach Dover, beached and salved (D/sc) TOUTOU, armed motor boat, 14 January 1916, German East Africa Campaign - built Thornycroft 1915, 40ft, 15kts, 1-3pdr forward/1-Maxim mg aft, one of two petrol-driven boats - the other was Mimi - shipped out to Cape Town before travelling around 3,000 miles by rail, towed by steam traction engines, and sailed along rivers to Lake Tanganyika to take away control of the lake from the Germans. Launched 23/12/15, British Tanganyika Squadron commanded by the eccentric Cdr G Spicer-Simson. Toutou and Mimi captured German steamer Kingani on 26/12/15, renamed Fifi and joined the force based at Lukuga on the western shore. Toutou driven against stone breakwater at Lukuga by violent storm, out of action until some time before 9/2/16 (Rn/D/gb) TOWHEE, hired trawler, 15 June 1917, English Channel -199grt, built 1908, Hull-reg H987, Kelsall Bros & Beeching, hired 10/14 as minesweeper, 13pdr, Admiralty No.370, Skipper Frederick Thomas Ellison RNR, on escort duty. Disappeared in English Channel, cause unknown, presumed lost on a mine (un not listed); 1 officer, 10 ratings lost, no survivors (H/Lr/C/D/dk/un) TOWNELEY, Admiralty chartered collier, 31 January 1918, Atlantic off SW England - 2,476grt, built 1910, Burnett SS Co (Burnett & Co), Newcastle, 1-18pdr, 24 crew, sailing Devonport for Barry Roads in ballast. Torpedoed by U.46 (Leo Hillebrand) port-side in boiler room at 2130, sank 18 miles NE1/4E of Trevose Head, Cornwall (L/te/un/wi - in 50.48N, 04.48W); total of 6 lives lost - one man killed by explosion, 23 survivors escaped in starboard boat, closely approached by topsail schooner at 2300 that turned away, signalled a steamship around midnight but she held her course. Boat lay to sea anchor until dawn, land sighted 12 miles off, not until 2100 did Belgian trawler Ibis VI appear. About midnight the survivors were boarding when the boat capsized drowning the master, chief engineer and 3 other crew, remainder landed at Milford (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) TREFUSIS, Admiralty chartered collier, 7 April 1917, Central Mediterranean - 2,642grt, built 1893, St Ives-reg, Hain SS Co, armed, sailing Cardiff/Gibraltar for Alexandria with coal. Captured by U.65 (Hermann von Fischel), sunk by bombs about 30 miles SE of Cape Pula, Sardinia; master, chief officer, chief engineer taken prisoner (H/L/Lr/te/un) TRENT, fleet messenger see MERSEY, monitor, 4 September 1916 German East Africa Campaign TREVOSE, Admiralty chartered collier, 18 March 1917, Atlantic W of NW France - 3,112grt, built 1896, St Ives-reg, Hain SS, armed, Tyne for Italy with coal. Torpedoed by U.81 (Raimund Weisbach), sank 230 miles W by N1/2N of Ushant (te - in 48.40N, 11.29W); two crew lost, survivors picked up by SS Alnwick Castle, sunk next day (H/L/Lr/Mn/te/un) TRIDENT, destroyer see GENTIAN, fleet sweeping sloop, 30 May 1916, North Sea TROCAS, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 19 January 1918, Aegean Sea - 4,129grt, built 1893, Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co, London, armed (sl - Admiralty oiler No.106, presumably Y7.106), Abadan for Salonika with oil. (L - 18th) - Torpedoed by UC.23 (Hans Georg Lόbbe), sank 10 miles NE from Skyros island LH, off Greece; 24 crew lost (H/L/Lr/dk/sl/te/un) TROWBRIDGE, Admiralty chartered collier, 14 November 1917, Western Mediterranean - 3,712grt, built 1904, Temperley SS Co, London, armed, Blythe for Alexandria with coal and coke. Torpedoed by U.63 (Otto Schultze), sank 12 miles SE of Cape/Cabo de Gata, near Almeria, Spain (H/L/Lr/te/un) TRUNKBY, Admiralty collier, 27 May 1916, Western Mediterranean - 2,635grt, built 1896, West Hartlepool-reg, Sir R Ropner, Newport for Cette with coal. (L - 28th) - Captured by U.39 (Walter Forstmann), sunk by gunfire 50 miles S by E of Port Mahon, Minorca (L/te - in 39.07N, 04.45E) (H/L/Lr/te/un) TRYPHON destroyer, 4 May 1919, Aegean - Lieutenant Commander Walter Clark Hall. Stranded on reef at entrance to Tenedos fleet anchorage, could not be hauled off, slowly filled and heeled over to port. Salvage vessel Melita worked from 18 May for eight days, pumping her out and removing guns and stores. Refloated on 26 May, repaired in shallow water, then towed to Malta. Too badly damaged to repair and sold for scrap in September 1920 (D/He; ADM.53/49013) TUBEROSE, hired drifter, 31 August 1916, North Sea - 67grt, built 1909, Lowestoft-reg LT355, hired 1915 (D - 1/16) as net drifter, Admiralty No.3245, Skipper John Grant RNR. On patrol off Suffolk coast from Southwold to Cross Sands. Mined at 1355, laid by UC.1 (Kurt Ramien), sank off Lowestoft (He in 52.23.30N, 01.40.40E, just past S Barnard buoy; wi - 52.28N 01.47E); Skipper and 7 ratings lost, one survivor (H/L/C/D/He/dk/un/wi; ADM.137/3184) TUGELA, hired trawler, 26 June 1916, North Sea - 233grt, built 1900, Hull-reg H521, East Riding Steam Fishing, hired 1916 (D - 7/15) as patrol vessel, 13pdr, Admiralty No.1817, Skipper Philip Mason RNR. Patrolling war channel off Lowestoft. Mined amidships at 1300 in new field laid by UC.1 (Kurt Ramien) off Lowestoft, Suffolk (wi - in 52.28N, 01.47E; He - about one mile E of South Holm buoy), broke in two and sank rapidly; Skipper and 7 ratings lost, 5 survivors (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/hw/un/wi; ADM.137/3187) TULIP, convoy sloop, 30 April 1917, Atlantic W of Ireland - Aubrietia-class built to resemble merchantmen, 1,250t, 15/7/16, 24in/1-3pdr AA, 17kts, 92 crew, serving as special service ship within the decoy organisation as Q.12, 1st Sloop Flotilla, Queenstown, Cdr Norman Lewis, on patrol. Sighted periscope, turned to ram, torpedoed amidships between engine room and stokehold by the submerged U.62 (Ernst Hashagen), largest lifeboat wrecked, boilers exploded and ship reportedly nearly blown in half, abandon ship ordered, submarine finished off Tulip with gunfire 200 miles W of Ireland (dx - 150 miles W by N of Valentia Is, in 52.10N, 14.20W). Hashagen was apparently suspicious of "merchantman" flying a Red Ensign at a time when it was rarely seen; 1 officer and 8 ratings lost, mainly engine-room personnel killed by the torpedo explosion, survivors escaped in three smaller boats (ke - no casualties; He/un 102 men killed in the explosion; He 77 survivors picked up by destroyer Mary Rose), CO taken prisoner, remainder picked up next day (H/J/C/Cn/D/He/dk/dx/ge/ke/sk/qs/un; ADM.137/3090) TURNBRIDGE, Admiralty chartered collier, 24 December 1917, Western Mediterranean - 2,874grt, built 1894, British Dyes Ltd, Hull, armed, sailing Cardiff/Oran for Algiers/Malta with coal. Torpedoed by U.35 (Lothar von Arnauls de la Periθre), sank 34 miles NE by N of Cape Ivi, near Arzew, Algeria (L/te/un - in 36.37N, 00.24E; un also 36.40N, 00.22W); one crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un) TURRITELLA, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 27 February 1917, Indian Ocean - built 1906 as German dry cargo ship Gutenfels, seized at Alexandria in August 1914, renamed Polavon, converted to tanker with tanks installed in holds in 1916 as Turritella 5,528grt, London-reg, Anglo-Saxon Petroleum (sl - Admiralty oiler No.147, presumably Y7.147), Mr T Meadows, Rangoon for Port Said. Spotted by German raider Wolf at 0625, after a short chase stopped at 0800 with shot across the bows 600 miles W3/4S true of Minikoi island, off S India (kp - in 08.40N, 63.15E), converted to minelayer Iltis with 25 mines, laid field in Aden approaches on night of 4-5 March, interecepted by sloop HMS Odin afternoon of 5th, scuttled at 1650 near Perim island to avoid capture (L - in 12.30N, 43.48E; kp - generally accepted as 12.26W, 44.12E). Note: the range of dates for her scuttling include: HMSO Section I - 4 April; HMSO Section II/Lloyds - 4 March; kp/sl - 5 March (H/L/Mn/kp/sl) TWEED, Admiralty chartered collier, 13 March 1918, English Channel - 1,025grt, built 1892, William Sloan & Co, Glasgow-reg, 20 crew, Mr Thompson, Newhaven for Cherbourg with 6,000t government stores, general cargo, in convoy. Torpedoed by UB.59 (Erwin Wassner) port-side just abaft engine-room, sank in 3min, 10 miles S by W1/4W of St. Catherines Point, IoW (L/wi - 8 miles SW of, in 50.25.54N, 01.19.36W); four men killed by explosion and three drowned, survivors picked up by patrol vessels, landed at Portsmouth. Escorting warship sighted the U-boat which submerged before it could be attacked (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) U
UMGENI, armament carrier, 3 September 1917, Norwegian Sea - 2,622grt, armed. Gun attack by two U-boats N of Shetlands, saved by own gunfire (H/Mn) UMGENI, squadron supply ship, 9 November 1917 - or armament carrier, MFA, 2,622grt, armed, foundered and all drowned, including three RNVR ratings. No other details (D/dk) UNDINE, destroyer, 26 September 1917, North British waters serving with Grand Fleet and in collision. One seamen killed, buried at Port Glasgow (dk) UNITY, destroyer see HAMPSHIRE, cruiser, 5 June 1916, Orkneys V
VALA, Q-ship, 21 August 1917, Atlantic, SW of Scillies, special service/submarine decoy/Q-ship, collier, 1,016grt, built c1894, J T Salvesen, Grangemouth-reg, Admiralty chartered collier Pendant No.Y3.446, entered service 7/8/15 as decoy ship Q.8, 4-12pdr/2-6pdr, Queenstown-based, believed Cdr Leopold Bernays (L - not listed on Admiralty service; L/qs - sailing France for Queenstown; He sailed from Queenstown on 20th), last heard of off Queenstown on 20th, sloop Heather went to look for her but without success, no bodies or wreckage found. Confirmed as 21st (dx/te/un - 20th) - Torpedoed and sunk by UB.54 (Egon von Werner) (L - in 47N, 09.32W; te/un - 120 miles SW of Scillies, in 48.37N, 09.28W); 6 officers, 37 ratings lost, no survivors (H/J/L/Lr/C/Cn/D/He/dk/dx/qs/sk/te/un) VALE OF LEVEN, hired trawler, 10 July 1917, English Channel - 223grt, built 1907, Aberdeen-reg A177, Vale of Leven Steam Fishing, hired 3/15 as minesweeper, 16pdr, Admiralty No.1188, Skipper George Robert Till RNR. In collision with BEF transport Londonderry at 0034, sank rapidly off Worthing, Sussex in approximately 50.02N, 00.40W; 4 rating lost, eight survivors rescued by destroyer Beaver (H/Lr/C/D/He/dk; ADM.137/48) VALENTIA, Admiralty chartered collier, 16 July 1917, Atlantic off SW England - 3,242grt, built 1898, International Line SS Co, Whitby, armed, Cardiff for Dakar with coal and general cargo. Torpedoed by UC.41 (Kurt Bernis), sank 70 miles W1/2S of Bishop Rock, Scillies; three crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un) VALIANT, dreadnought, 24 August 1916, Orkneys - Valiant and Warspite, dreadnoughts, Queen Elizabeth-class, 31,500t, 5th BS Grand Fleet, Warspite returning from and Valiant proceeding to night firing area. In collision at Scapa Flow, both "considerably damaged", Valiant to her stern, both had to be docked (Cn/gf/gr) VALKYRIE, flotilla leader, 22 December 1917, North Sea - V-class, 1,400t, 4-4in/2-2pdr/4-21in tt, 10th DF Harwich Force, brand new ship. Mined at 2215, believed off Maas LV in the same field that sank Harwich Force destroyers Torrent, Surprise and Tornado the next day, back broken, towed in; 10 ratings killed, 2 more DOW (Rn/Cn/D/dk/ty) VALPA, hired trawler, 19 March 1916, North Sea - 230grt, built 1915, Fleetwood-reg FD1160, Clifton Steam Trawlers, hired 6/15 as auxiliary patrol vessel, 112pdr, Admiralty No.1543, Skipper Charles Smith RNR. Mined at 1215, laid by UC.7 (Georg Haag) some days earlier, sank off Spurn Head, Humber Estuary (wi - in 53.34N, 00.10E); 1 officer, 3 ratings lost (He 3 men lost) (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/un/wi; ADM.1/8451/60) VELLORE, Admiralty chartered collier, 25 March 1917, Eastern Mediterranean - 4,926grt, built 1907, Glasgow-reg, Vellore SS, armed, Tyne/Malta (te - Glasgow) for Alexandria with coal. Torpedoed by U.63 (Otto Schultze), sank 21 miles NW by N of Alexandria (L/te - in 31.28N, 29.37E); master, chief engineer taken prisoner (H/L/Lr/te/un) VENDETTA, destroyer see VERDUN, destroyer, 10 November 1920, English Channel VENETIA, Admiralty chartered collier, 9 December 1917, North Sea - 3.596grt, built 1898, Venetia SS Co, Glasgow-reg, 1-12pdr, 36 crew, Mr R Findlay, from Newcastle with coal under sealed orders. Torpedoed by UB.75 (Franz Walther) at 1545, 3 miles NNW of Whitby Rock Buoy, off Yorkshire (te/wi - in 54.32.00N, 00.39.00W), beached in shallows close to Whitby West Pier; some of the crew abandoned ship and picked up by a patrol vessel, remainder waited until she grounded firmly, taken off by Whitby No.2 lifeboat (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) VENGEANCE, battleship see MERSEY, monitor, 4 September 1916 German East Africa Campaign VENTUROUS, destroyer see CMB.67A, coastal motor boat, 31 July 1919, North Sea VERDUN, destroyer, 10 November 1920, English Channel - carried the coffin of the Unknown Soldier from Boulogne to Dover. An account by Kindell follows from material made available by Maritime Quest: "Verdun and escorts left Boulogne accompanied by French dispatch boat Marne, the Flag of Vice Admiral the Maritime Prefect of Cherbourg. The British ships accompanying Verdun were Witherington, Wanderer, Whitshed, Wivern, Wolverine, and Veteran of the Atlantic Fleet. Three ships were in a line abreast forward, Verdun alone in the centre and the other three destroyers abreast astern. Vendetta left Dover midday and sighted Veredun and her escort at 1300. Vendetta drew level with Verdun, her crew came to attention and removed their hats, and Vendetta then sailed ahead of Verdun, arrived at Dover about 1530" (dk/mq/www) VERONA, hired yacht, 24 February 1917, North Sea - 331grt, built 1890, hired 7/11/14 as auxiliary patrol vessel, 2-6pdr, Pendant No.034, Cdr Charles Wilson RNR. Carried out night patrol between Lossiemouth and Helmsdale, heading back to Tarbet Ness to meet other patrol vessels. Mined at 0817, laid by UC.33 (Martin Schelle), back broken and sank stern first off Portmahomack in Moray Firth (He - 57.51.40N, 03.38.40W); Cdr Wilson, 3 officers, 5 ratings and 14 MMR lost. Hepper suggests the mine might have broken loose from a British field (H/J/L/C/D/He/dk/un; ADM.137/3220; ADM.137/3649) VERONICA, fleet sweeping sloop, 14 April 1917, Eastern Mediterranean - Acacia-class, 1,200t, 2-12pdr/2-3pdr AA, probably on Mediterranean escort duty. Torpedoed and damaged by UB.42 (Fritz Wernicke) 45 miles NW of Alexandria in 31.43'N, 29.17'E (D/ge/un) VETERAN, destroyer see VERDUN, destroyer, 10 November 1920, English Channel VICTOR, destroyer see HAMPSHIRE, cruiser, 5 June 1916, Orkneys VIKING [01], destroyer, 29 January 1916, Dover Straits - F-class, 1,090t, 2-4in/2-18in tt, only British 6-funnelled vessel, 6th DF Dover Patrol, all officers except gunner below for lunch before afternoon troop convoy escort duties, Cdr Thomas Williams. Mined, laid by unidentified U-boat, off Boulogne near Colbart LV, lost stern, photos shows her "as if she had been gripped and crushed through by a giant hand" with stern connected to forepart only by her propeller shafts, towed to Chatham and rebuilt; 4 officers including CO, 5 ratings lost, 1 rating DOI (Cn/D/cw/dk/dp/un) VIKING [02], destroyer, 3 February 1918, probably English Channel was 6th DF, Dover but as of 1 January 1918 based at Portsmouth. In collision, four crew including three stokers killed. Two are buried at Dover, one at Newcastle and the fourth commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial (dk/pl) VINDEX [01], seaplane carrier see ARETHUSA, light cruiser, 29 January 1916, North Sea VINDEX [02], seaplane carrier see LANCE, destroyer, 20 March 1916, North Sea VINDEX [03], seaplane carrier see GOSHAWK, destroyer, 4 May 1916, North Sea VINDEX, seaplane carrier see CMB.8, coastal motor boat, 27 September 1917, North Sea VINDICTIVE, seaplane carrier, 30 July 1919, Russian Intervention - Aircraft from cruiser/seaplane carrier Vindictive attacked Kronstadt Naval Base (dx) VIOLET, destroyer, 23 February 1916, North Sea - C-class, 400t, possibly Humber-based 7th Patrol Flotilla. Ran aground on the Haile Sands, River Humber. Refloated in March (Cn/gr) VIRGINIAN, armed merchant cruiser, 21 August 1917, Atlantic off NW Ireland - 10,757grt, built 1905, hired 13/11/14, detached from 10th CS as convoy escort. Torpedoed by U.102 (Ernst Killmann), damaged, brought into port; 3 MMR ratings killed (Rn/Mn/D/dk/un) VITOL, Admiralty-owned RFA blue-ensign oiler, 7 March 1918, Irish Sea - Belgol-class, 4,900grt (He/un 2,639grt), launched 24/5/17, 39 crew, Pendant No.X.76, sailing Liverpool for Queenstown, Lieutenant William Harvey RNR. Torpedoed at 1900 by U.110 (Karl Kroll) and sunk (un in 52.38N, 05.04W; He - about 45 miles SSW of South Stack light); 4 lives lost, 17 survivors picked up by escorting trawler Norse (J/C/D/He/un; ADM.137/733) VIVANTI, hired trawler, English Channel, 7 March 1917 226grt, built c1915, Grimsby-reg GY878, Amaranth Fishing, hired 1915 (D - 3/16) as minesweeper, 112pdr, Admiralty No.3264, Skipper Thomas Henry Kay RNR. Ordered to join another trawler off Royal Sovereign LV at dawn on the 8th, last seen at 1930 on 7th. Foundered, probably after being mined, off Fairlight, Hastings, Sussex; 1 officer, 12 ratings lost, no survivors. Wreckage and her boat were found off Fairlight (H/Lr/C/D/dk; ADM.137/529) VULTURE II, hired trawler, 16 March 1918, off N Scotland - 190grt, built 1899, Hull-reg H.470, St Andrew's Steam Fishing, hired 8/14 as minesweeper, 1-6pdr or 3pdr, Admiralty No.310, Skipper William Rudland RNR. In collision with trawler Phrontis, sank in Erriboll Wreck or Loch, E of Cape Wrath; no lives lost (H/Lr/C/D/He/dk/hw; ADM.1/8496/190) W
WAITEMATA, Admiralty chartered collier, 14 July 1918, Central Mediterranean - 5,432grt, built 1908, London-reg, Union SS Company, armed, Barry/Bizerta for Alexandria with coal, calcium carbide. Torpedoed by UB.105 (Wilhelm Marschall), sank 100 miles E3/4N of Marsa Susa, Libya (te/un - in 33.21N, 24.10E); no lives lost (H/L/Lr/te/un) WALDORF, hired trawler see LORD RIDLEY, hired trawler, 10 May 1917, North Sea WALPOLE, hired trawler, 21 January 1917, Atlantic off W Scotland - 302grt, built 1914, Grimsby-reg, hired 5/15, 1-6pdr/1-7.5in bomb thrower or howitzer, with three other armed trawlers. Torpedo missed off St Kilda island, W Outer Hebrides, Walpole opened fire but submarine submerged, trawlers searched for the U-boat, later sighted but escaped (Mn/D) WALTHAM, hired trawler see LUCKNOW, hired trawler, 18 May 1917, English Channel WALTHAM, hired trawler, 10 October 1917, Irish Sea - 161grt, built 1897, Consolidated Steam Fishing & Ice, Grimsby-reg GY303, hired 12/14 as minesweeper, 16pdr, Admiralty No.689, Skipper W Hills (He - Skipper James Mair RNR). Disappeared off Isle of Man, presumed sunk by U-boat (wi - in 54N, 04.30W). Uboat.net lists her as possibly lost on mines laid by UC.75 (Johannes Lohs) six days before; 1 officer, 12 ratings lost (H/L/Lr/D/He/dk/un/wi) WANDERER, destroyer see VERDUN, destroyer, 10 November 1920, English Channel WANETA, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 30 May 1918, Atlantic off S Ireland - 1,683grt, built 1910, London-reg, Tank Storage & Carriage (un Standard Transportation Co, Hong Kong), armed, Mr Bisson, Halifax (NS) for Queenstown (Cobh) with fumace fuel oil. Torpedoed by U.101 (Carl-Siegfried Ritter von Georg), sank 42 miles SSE of Old Head of Kinsale, Co Cork (wi - in 51N, 08W); eight crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) WAPELLO, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 15 June 1917, English Channel - 5,516grt, built 1912, London-reg, Tank Storage & Carriage, armed, 46 crew, Mr D MacDonald, Philadelphia for Thameshaven with benzine/fuel oil. Torpedoed by UC.71 (Reinhold Saltzwedel), sank 14 miles WSW of Owers LV, SE of Selsey Bill, Sussex (L/te - in 50.30.30N, 00.57W; wi - also in 50.32N, 01.03W); two crew lost. Note - Wreck Index describes her as a Fleet Tanker.... supplying ships of the Royal Navy with fuel oil i.e. direct replenishment rather than bulk transport (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) WAR ANGLER, oiler, 28 May 1918, Atlantic off SW Ireland - AO-type tanker, believed Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 5,210grt/6,500dwt, armed. Two torpedoes missed. Note: AO-type tankers were British-built A-type standard dry cargo steamships with cylindrical tanks in the holds (H/br) WAR COUNCIL, Admiralty chartered collier, 16 October 1918, Central Mediterranean - War standard dry cargo steamship, 5,875grt, one of 20 acquired from Japan, built Kawasaki Dockyard, completed 7/17, Shipping Controller (Furness, Withy & Co), London-reg, armed, Barry for Port Said with coal. Torpedoed by U.63 (Kurt Hartwig), sank 85 miles WSW of Cape Matapan, Greece (L - in 35.44N, 21.00E; un 35.44N, 20.16E) (H/L/br/te/un) WAR RANEE, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 5 September 1918, Atlantic - British-built Z-type standard tanker, 5,500grt/c11,600t, armed. Attacked by U-boat, torpedo missed (H/D/br) WARSPITE, dreadnought see VALIANT, dreadnought, 24 August 1916, Orkneys WELLHOLME, Q-ship, 30 January 1918, English Channel - aka Danton, Thornhill, Werribee, Wonganella, Q-ship/special service ship, auxiliary motor sailing ketch, 113grt, built 1916, entered service 4/9/17, 1-12pdr. Sailed from Portland in the morning in response to reports of U-boat activity. UB.55 (Ralph Wenninger) surfaced at 1740, opened fire and hit Wellholme repeatedly (un torpedoed) which sank SW of Portland (He attacked in 50.11N, 02.24W; qs - 20 miles off Portland Bill); 3 ratings lost. Note: Q-ship collier Thornhills aliases also included Werribee and Wonganella (H/C/Cn/D/He/dk/dx/qs/un; ADM.137/684) WEST WALES, Admiralty chartered collier, 21 January 1918, Central Mediterranean - 4,831grt, built 1912, West Wales SS (Gibbs & Co), Cardiff-reg, armed, sailing Barry for Alexandria with coal. Torpedoed by Austrian U.XXVIII (Zdenko Hudecek), sank 140 miles SE3/4S of Malta (te/un - in 34.00N, 16.50E); two crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un) WESTBURY, Admiralty chartered collier, 31 August 1917, Atlantic off SW Ireland - 3,097grt, built 1904, Alexander Shipping Co (Capper, Alexander & Co), Glasgow, not defensively armed (wi - 1-3in HA stern gun), 28 crew, Mr R Smith, Barry Dock for Halifax (NS) with 5,000t coal and possibly other cargo, zig-zagging at 5.5kts. Torpedoed by U.48 (Karl Edeling) abreast No.2 hold at 0730, crew abandoned ship and taken aboard a patrol vessel, ship remained afloat, master and 8 men reboarded to find little water taken in. Arrangements being made for a tug tow when second torpedo hit, taken in tow by a trawler, survived for two hours before going down 8 miles SSE of Fastnet (L - 8 miles SE of; un 51.18N, 09.22W; wi - in 50.17N, 09.22W), the tug arrived too late; survivors landed at Queenstown (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) WESTERN COAST, Admiralty chartered collier, 17 November 1917, English Channel - 1,394grt, built 1916, Powell, Bacon & Hough Lines (un Coast Lines), Liverpool, armed, Mr C Cogley, Portsmouth for Barry Roads in ballast. Torpedoed by UB.40 (Hans Howaldt), sank 10 miles WSW of Eddystone LH, off Plymouth (wi - in 50.07N, 04.30W); 17 crew lost (H/L/Lr/dk/te/un/wi) WESTWOOD, Admiralty chartered collier, 3 October 1918, English Channel - 1,968grt, built 1907, Furness, Withy & Co, West Hartlepool, armed, 14 crew, Mr Labourne, Barry for Devonport (te - Havre) with coal. Torpedoed by UB.112 (Wilhelm Rhein) at noon, sank 5 miles SW1/2W of Lizard Point, Cornwall (wi - 5 miles SW by S of, in 49.53N, 05.16W); one crew lost, survivors landed at Falmouth (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) WEYMOUTH, light cruiser, 7 February 1916, Adriatic Sea - Weymouth-class, 5,800t, 8-6in/4-3pdr/2-12in tt, attached to Italian Fleet, on patrol with French destroyer Bouclier during Serbian evacuation from Durazzo. Attacked, probably by Austrian submarine about 15 miles WNW of Durazzo (Rn/Cn/D) WHITE HEAD, RFA store carrier, 15 October 1917, Central Mediterranean - 1,172grt, built 1880, Ulster SS Co, Belfast-reg, hired as store carrier 31/8-27/10/14, armed, Pennant No.Y8.1 (D - special service vessel from c16/7/15, but not listed in this role elsewhere), Lieutenant Thomas Mann Heddles RNR, bound for Suda Bay Crete with 15t of ammunition, and wide range of naval stores including minesweeping gear. Torpedoed at 1510 by UC.74 (Wilhelm Marschall), hit in No 2 hold where the ammunition was stored. The resulting explosion wrecked her and she sank head first in two minutes, 40 miles NNE of Suda Bay, NW Crete (L/un - 14 miles NNE; He in 36.08N 24.30E; un also 36.13N, 24.33E); 2 officers, 9 ratings, 4 MMR lost (H/un - 23 lives lost; He 23 men killed by explosion), survivors later picked up by destroyer Renard. Note: total lives lost may have beeen 38 - 15 RN and 23 MN (H/J/L/Lr/C/Cn/D/He/dk/te/un; ADM.137/3385) WHITE ROSE, hired drifter, 26 July 1916, Dover Straits - 79grt, built 1907, Buckie-reg BCK120, hired 4/15 as net drifter, Admiralty No.1810, Dover Patrol, Skipper Alexander Coull RNR. In collision with another drifter in thick fog, sank off Dover at 2300; no lives lost (H/C/D/He/dk/dq; ADM.137/253) WHITSHED, destroyer see VERDUN, destroyer, 10 November 1920, English Channel WHOOPER, hired trawler, 30 June 1916, North Sea - 302grt, built 1914, Fleetwood-reg FD15, Cygnet Steam Fishing, hired 12/14 as minesweeper, Admiralty No.668, Lt William Duggan RNR, Skipper Thomas Phipps RNR. Sweeping war channel off Lowestoft, and about to slip sweep. Mined, laid by UC.1 (Kurt Ramien), sank in under a minute off Lowestoft, Suffolk (wi - in 52.28N, 01.47E); Skipper and 8 ratings lost (H/L/Lr/C/D/dk/fd/un/wi; ADM.137/3186) WILLIAM TENNANT, hired drifter, 5 March 1918, North Sea, 93grt, built 1893, Kircaldy-reg KY472, hired 1916 (D - 6/15) as net drifter, 1-6pdr AA, Admiralty No.1258, Grimsby-based, Skipper David Wood RNR. In collision with ss Principal at 0400, sank off Humber estuary (wi - armed patrol vessel, lost in 53.35N, 00.20W); no lives lost (H/C/D/He/dk/wi; ADM.1/8496/190, ADM137/721) WILSTON, Admiralty collier, 15 February 1916, North Sea - 2,611grt, built 1909, Glasgow-reg, Wilston SS, 24 crew, Mr T Keay, South Shields for Scapa Flow with 4,000t coal. Mined at 0230, sank six minutes later 20 miles ENE of Wick (wi - in 58.38.40N, 02.31W); master, 7 crew killed presumably by explosion, two boats got away with 17 survivors, landed at Fraserburgh, Wreck Index lists the 3rd engineer as dying from exposure in one of the boats. Note: not included in Tennent or uboat.net, so possibly not a U-boat laid mine (H/L/Lr/wi) WINLATON, Admiralty chartered collier, 23 August 1917, Atlantic off NW Morocco - 3,270grt, built 1912, Gordon SS Co, London-reg, Barry for Gibraltar with coal and naval stores. Torpedoed by UB.48 (Wolfgang Steinbauer), sank 25 miles W of Cape Spartel (L/te/un - in 35.40N, 06.25W); two crew lost, master taken prisoner (H/L/Lr/te/un) WITHERINGTON, destroyer see VERDUN, destroyer, 10 November 1920, English Channel WIVERN, destroyer see VERDUN, destroyer, 10 November 1920, English Channel WOLVERINE [01], destroyer - see SCORPION, destroyer, 30 November 1916, Aegean Sea WOLVERINE [02], destroyer see VERDUN, destroyer, 10 November 1920, English Channel WRESTLER, destroyer, after April 1918, believed southern British waters - W-class, c1,490t. Possibly sometime after April 1918 - In collision with battleship Hindustan, King Edward VII-class, c17,290t, location not known but Hindustan was depot ship in the Swin from late 1917 to May 1918 for ships preparing for Zeebrugge raid, Wrestler's bows "telescoped" (Cn/D/gr) WYCHWOOD, Admiralty chartered collier, 28 March 1917, St George's Channel - 1,985grt, built 1907, London-reg, W France, Fenwick, 21 crew, Mr G Fowle, Barry for Scapa Flow with coal. Torpedoed at 1758 by UC.65 (Otto Steinbrinck), sank at 1804, 4 miles SSW of South Arklow LV (te/wi - in 52.40N, 05.55W); 3rd engineer and two seamen drowned, survivors escaped in one boat, U-boat surfaced, questioned them and left to sink the South Arklow LV, men picked up 12 hours later by SS Potosi and landed at Wicklow (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) WYLIE, oiler (not known if Admiralty chartered) see GEORGE MILBURN, hired trawler, 12 July 1917, Atlantic off SW Ireland X
X.25, motor lighter see ALBYN, paddle minesweeper, 2 September 1917, Dover Straits X.138, motor lighter, 28 February 1918, Mediterranean - Admiralty X-type landing craft, lost in Mediterranean with six crew. Three were buried in the UK and three commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial. No other details (dk) X.170, lighter see STEAMAXE, Admiralty trawler, 1 November 1919, North Sea X.171, motor lighter see ALBYN, paddle minesweeper, 2 September 1917, Dover Straits X.173, motor lighter see ALBYN, paddle minesweeper, 2 September 1917, Dover Straits X.174, motor lighter see ALBYN, paddle minesweeper, 2 September 1917, Dover Straits Y
YARMOUTH, light cruiser, 21 August 1917, North Sea - RNAS Sopwith Pup N6430 (Lt B A Smart) flying from a short platform on Yarmouth destroyed German Naval airship L.23 (Production No. LZ.66) near Lodbjerg, Danish coast (dx) YESSO, hired trawler, 9 February 1917, North Sea - 229grt, built 1911, Grimsby-reg GY600, H L Taylor, hired 8/14 as minesweeper (wi - now patrol sweeper), 16pdr, Admiralty No.166, Skipper Arthur George RNR. Mined at 0930, laid by UC.29 (Ernst Rosenow), sank off Aberdeen (wi - in 57.10N, 02W; He about 1/2mile NE of girdleness, Aberdeen); 7 ratings lost (He 6 survivors picked up by other trawlers) (H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/un/wi; ADM.137/357) YUCCA, hired trawler see BRACKLYN, hired trawler, 11 May 1917, North Sea Z
ZAFRA, Admiralty collier, 8 April 1916, Western Mediterranean - 3,578grt, built 1905, London-reg, English & American Shipping, Cardiff for Malta with coal. Captured by U.34 (Claus Rόcker), sunk by bombs 44 miles N of Oran, Algeria (L - 60 miles N of) (H/L/Lr/te) ZAMBESI, Admiralty chartered collier, 1 April 1917, Eastern Mediterranean - 3,799 (also 3,759; ms 3,727grt), built 1901, London-reg, Turner, Brightman & Co, armed, Tyne for Port Said with coal. Torpedoed by U.63 (Otto Schultze), sank 15 miles N by W of Alexandria (L - in 31.25N, 29.48E); two crew lost (H/L/Lr/ms/te/un) ZENA DARE, hired trawler see ALBION II, hired trawler, 13 January 1916, English Channel ZINNIA, sloop see PARGUST, Q-ship, 7 June 1917, Atlantic ZINNIA, fleet sweeping sloop, October 1917, off S Ireland - Azalea-class, 1,210t, 12/8/15, possibly 1st Sloop Flotilla, Queenstown. One of two minesweepers in collision with US destroyers off Queenstown (Cobh), Co Cork during the month, in this case, the USS Benham 1,235t. Zinnia's bows were twisted. The other sweeper was Eridge. (D/gr/sk) ZOROASTER, Admiralty collier, 29 December 1916, North Sea - 3,803grt, built 1900, London-reg, Turner, Brightman, armed, Mr F Wickham, Tyne for St Nazaire with coal. Mined, laid by UC.11 (Benno von Ditfurth), sank 1 1/4m ENE of Sunk LV, off Harwich (te - 1 1/4m ENE of, also in 51.53N, 01.38E; wi - in 51.53N, 01.38E); three crew lost (H/L/Lr/te/un/wi) ZUBIAN, destroyer, 4 February 1918, Dover Straits - UC.50 sunk by Zubian (dx) ZYLPHA, Q-ship/special service ship, 12 April 1916, Atlantic off SW Ireland - ex-collier, 2,917grt, built 1894, in service from 9/15 as Q.6, 3-12pdr, Lt-Cdr John Macleod. Submerged U-boat attempted torpedo attack, but failed. Zylpha proceeded to Bantry Bay to alter her appearance (Cn/D/qs/sk) |
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return to World War 1, 1914-1918 revised 21/6/16 |
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