HMS SOUTHAMPTON - PEACETIME

[Light Cruiser]

1914

In February 1914, he was appointed to H.M.S. Southampton. To quote his own words from his book A Naval Lieutenant:

'The Southampton, which, in my eyes, will always be the ship of ships in the Navy . . . was nearly brand-new, and then represented the latest idea in light cruisers, being in a different category from the Arethusa class, which were smaller, slightly faster, but with less armament. The Southampton mounts eight 6-inch guns and two submerged tubes for 21-inch torpedoes. She has three inches of armour, and can maintain a speed of 25.5 knots for four hours, and she is good for 23 in a very considerable sea. . . .

This little ship can claim an honour denied to nearly every other ship in the Grand Fleet. Namely, that on all the four principal occasions when considerable German forces were encountered in the North Sea, her guns were in action. Those days were the 28th August 1914 and 16th December 1914, the 24th December 1915 and the 31st May 1916. As far as I know, no other ship, with the exception of H.M.S. Birmingham, can claim a share in this record."

In 1935 he wrote in his book, Our Own Times, of his life in the Southampton:

'Much as I hate the foolish cruelty of war, I often let my mind dwell with pleasure on the comradeship which existed between those of us who were shipmates for three and a half years in a small cruiser in the North Sea.'

AT PORTSMOUTH

Tuesday, 17th February

I went to Portsmouth and joined H.M.S. Southampton, flying the broad pennant of Commodore Goodenough. The only drawback is that I have not got a cabin, otherwise it seems very nice. The other two Subs Muir and Robinson, are very good fellows, and Crosbie and Gregory, two junior Watchkeepers, are also very cheerful souls. We are in dry dock at Portsmouth, so there is not much doing, except an occasional day on. It feels very strange, after the turmoil of working up for the exams, to live a life of absolute idleness, in comparison. One rather nice thing about the people on board is that everyone, with hardly an exception, is musically inclined, and several of them are tip-top pianists.

AT PORTLAND

Sunday, 22nd March

1 a.m. At the moment of writing I have received a nasty shock, and the manner and mode of the shock was thus. Having kept a pretty strenuous "Day on" from. 7.30 a.m. till 8.30 p.m. I was retiring to a well earned rest at 11.45 p.m. congratulating myself for the 10th time since the morning that I had a night in, when the unmusical voice of the Corporal of the gangway suddenly remarked outside my cabin, "ten to 12, Sir! " One foot in my bunk and amused at the foolishness of the man, I enquired, with some sarcasm, what earthly interest he imagined I took in the fact that it was ten to 12. 'But you've got the Middle, Sir ! Haven't you?' 'What?' I gasped, panic stricken.

Then my senses returned, and I hastily bid him avaunt. 'But, Sir,' came in pleading tones, 'I've woke up Mr Crosbie and Mr. Gregory, and Mr. Short, and they all say you have, Sir!' Incredulity changed to suspicion, suspicion to doubt, doubt gave way to awful certainty as I examined my list of watches. In some extraordinary way I had overlooked this vital fact. And, Oh! when I think how I might have turned in at 10. The agony of that wrench from my tempting bunk - well, well, here I am on deck, in Portland Harbour, scribbling at the Quartermaster's desk. Still I suppose I might have been born a Bushman (odds 15 bar 1). The only event of any interest that has taken place here was a splendid day's hunting I had yesterday.

H.M.S. Southampton

1st Light Cruiser Squadron,

Portland.

Sunday 22.3.1914

Dearest Parents,

I write to you puffed up with pride but not, I hope, unduly so, and the reason is this. Yesterday I went out with the Cattistock hounds, and after a clinking run, over ripping country, who do you think was amongst the first in at the death out of a field of 80 ? Why yours affec. And who do you think got the brush? Why yours affec. again. There, only the 3rd time I've ever been out. The Commodore was out as well, and in this never-to-be-forgotten hunt we were going neck and neck, until I went over my horse's head at one jump; however, luckily, I got on again at once, and as I became fired with a sort of exaltation, and by going simply all out, I just caught him up before the end. Sir R. Arbuthnot was also there, and was affable, but missed this run.

Earlier in the day I also came off in a fir tree, and my horse ran away, but after about ¼ mile's chase, I caught him again.

We sail to-morrow for these tactical exercises, and we do not anchor again till next Saturday, when we pop up off Queensferry.

Yr. devoted son,

Stephen W. King-Hall.

Since I last wrote this up we have been busy doing exercises in the Channel (see Proff. Note Book) and testing the defences of the Firth of Forth.

AT COWES

Monday, 20th April.

Played golf in the morning with B. Johnson, Magdalen H., Hawker and Baby B. In the afternoon I bought and trimmed a hat for Magdalen H. which though I say it as shouldn't, was a great success, and gratefully accepted. The design was a black hat, covered with black satin ribbon, pleated round the side, then rising into seven big upstanding loops of satin, which met in the centre of the crown and radiated outwards. Four bunches of white apple blossom, suitably disposed, completed it. I was astonished myself, but didn't say so!

AT COLONSAY

Thursday, 12th May

Did G.L. test right through the squadron. Nothing very remarkable about it, except that all the young boys and O.S. were fearfully gun-shy. I had that hateful job repairing targets, and as invariably happens, was well scrubbed for being too slow, as if anyone wants to stand up to the waist in icy cold Scotch water on a heaving target, struggling with sodden sails and ropes. We got back to Oban at 6 o'clock, and I landed and had a game of golf, which we finished at 9 p.m. in poor light.

H.M.S. Southampton

1st Light Cruiser Squadron,

Scallasig, Colonsay

12.5.14

Dearest Parents,

Imagine an island, barren, rocky, flea-bitten, a veritable howling waste of moor and rock. Shrouded in driving rain and mist, and rising like some hideous sea monster, from out a cold, grey disconsolate looking sea. Such is Colonsay.

Further imagine the revolting monotony of working up for Gunlayers' Test under such conditions. Add to this epic of misery, the fact that one of our watchkeepers has gone sick with an appendicitis, making three men and two officers, thus smitten in quick succession.

Hence we hale and hearty ones, bear the dripping rain-sodden burden of his watches.

Verily life has but little savour, not that I, proud as I am of my buoyant spirits, intend to wilt under the bludgeonings of an unkind Fate. No, even Watch and watch shall not break me !

Our Programme (Not public yet) (approx.)

May 12th - June 6th . . At Oban for week-ends, working up Gunnery during week.

June 7th - June 20th . . At Portland or thereabouts.

June 23rd - June 30th . . At Kiel.

July 4th - July 4th . . . Round the S. Coast.

July 21st - July 24th .. A review at Spithead.

August . . . . . . I think S. Coast, also Battle Prac. Berehaven.

September . . . . Three weeks at Queensferry working up night defence.

Oct . . . . . . . A week's exercises in N. Sea. Return South.

I expect I shall get a chance of seeing you all a couple of times during the summer.

About the Kiel trip, when it is made public, which I will let you know, will you write to Admiral Müller, if you know him well enough, he might ask me for a week-end to Berlin. I wonder how his son has got on, in their Service.

I have already taken some excellent photos with my camera, I enclose an interior, the Ward Room, with the pot that Southampton gave us. I'm rather pleased with it for a first essay at a difficult class of photo.

My piano progresses at intervals, but I'm rather busy nowadays.

Hurray, it's ten minutes to 12, I shall soon be between blankets with a hot water bottle. The gilt is removed from the gingerbread, by the fact that I've got a day on, starting at 7-30 and extending through 13 monotonous hours to 8-30. However, sufficient for the day is, etc. Many thanks for the Dict, it is most useful.

I gave the Carpenter a fit the other day. I suddenly became very dissatisfied with the brown furniture and wood-work in my cabin. So I seized a pot of green paint and made them green, they go very well with the white enamelled walls.

As I say, the Carpenter was horrified, and quoted all sorts of regulations and penalties for defacing Govt. property.

I told him I considered myself a better judge of taste than the Dockyard. So at last we went to the Commander, who said he didn't care how I painted my cabin, at which the Carpenter had to draw in his horns.

Your devoted son, W. Stephen King-Hall.

VISIT TO KIEL

AT PORTLAND

We were then given 48 hours' leave, which I spent at home. Returning to Portland I found a French squadron had come in, and a few rather feeble festivities took place. There was one exception, a very good dance, 10 to 4.30, for which Peters and his missus kindly put me up. The rest of the time was spent in furbishing the ships up for Kiel.

PORTLAND TO KIEL

Friday, 19th June

The British squadron, consisting of the battleships K.G. V, [King George V,] Ajax, Centurion, and Audacious, the latest products of the shipbuilder's art, together with the Lt. Cruisers Southampton, Birmingham and Nottingham, weighed and proceeded up Channel.

The first 24 hours were extremely unpleasant, as we ran into a pea-soup fog. Groping our way blindly through the Straits, there were several narrow escapes. We ourselves were twice engaged in megaphone conversation with ships without sighting them.

At 4 p.m. off the Texel on Saturday, we were rammed by a Lowestoft trawler, which retreated with a broken bowsprit, and drifted astern, where she narrowly missed being cut down by our two consorts, but succeeded in carrying away the Nottingham's sounding boom.

Shortly afterwards the fog lifted, and we put on 14 knots. After a dull passage through the Great Belt, which though tricky in places, is admirably buoyed, we arrived off the Gabels Flach at 10 pm on 22nd. Here we anchored for the night, and metaphorically speaking, girded up our loins for the fray.

AT KIEL

Tuesday 23rd June

Next morning we picked up German Naval Officers off the Labo Light and entered Kiel harbour, where we came to our buoys in a smart manner.

The German ships were, 4 of their latest Dreadnoughts, Kaiser Class, 8 of their Hannover class, and 3 Lt. Cruisers, as well as others in dockyard hands, submarines, etc. The usual salutes and official calls were made, and the harbour became stiff with Admirals, Gross Admirals, Secretaries of State, Princes of the Royal Blood, etc. etc. The marine guard remained glued to the quarter deck for many hours.

We also exchanged calls with our chummy ships, the Hannover and Schleswig-Holstein.

In the afternoon I landed at 3.30 in a frock coat, and soon got rather tired of the constant saluting. I called on the Bartels and Pfeiffers, both of whom had typical German families. Having done my duty there, I escaped to the Bellevue Cafe and had an Eis-Chocolade, one of the things I have been looking forward to since I left Germany two, or rather 3½ years ago.

For a Naval port Kiel is really beautiful, and is a striking example of what can be done with well laid out streets, lined with fine trees, and villas each in its own garden. Next day I had a Day On, and a busy one at that, as the place was still stiff with Admirals and other big-wigs dashing about in their beautiful little motor barges, which leave our steamboats standing still.

At 1 p.m. the Kaiser debouched from the new Holtenau locks of the Kiel Canal, and with the Sleipner as she always is glued to her very quarter, the Hohenzollern ran up the harbour, between the lines. All ships were manned and cheered, and we certainly did it in a smarter manner than the Germans. The Emperor took the salute, standing alone in his pride and glory on a special platform over Monkey's Island. At 8 p.m. I got off, and went over to supper in the Kaiser with a Sub. called Ernst. I think this is a good place in which to insert a few remarks about the rival fleets. Externally the Germans present a somewhat more pleasing picture to the eye than the British Dreadnoughts. They look more yacht-like, and the silvery grey paint they use is very becoming. On the other hand, our ships possessed a savage grimness which was totally lacking in the Germans. It was much commented on at Kiel, in the newspapers, etc., that our ships spelt "War" with a big "W.' On deck again the Germans were superior, as instead of having one deck, the Q,D., perfect, they were immaculate right along. But as is so often the case, it was a different tale on the mess decks. In this important department we were greatly superior, some of their crew spaces being filthy. In conclusion, the German ships had remarkably clear upper decks.

Now as to the Officers. By way of preface, I may say that a more charming or perfect set of gentlemen it would be hard to find. Drawn as they were from the best families in the Empire, well read, cultured and physically well favoured, they are approached, but not equalled, by the Austrian alone amongst continental Naval officers.

As to their professional qualities, I must admit that one looked in vain for that relentless professional energy and whole-hearted sacrifice to their Service with which we have been rather prone to endow them. There is little doubt of one point, and that is that the German Naval officer does not look upon his ship as his home. His English confreres may repine at the monotony of the Home Fleet, but a similar state of affairs, and similar expressions of disgust may be heard in the cafes of Kiel. But whereas we grin and bear it, every officer in the German Navy, from the Sub-Lts. upwards, has a "box" ashore, varying from flats to a single room, and unless compelled to by the exigencies of service, he will not dream, in most cases, of sleeping on board. We all have our shortcomings, and if ever we cross swords it will be with gallant opponents.

The Men. The German bluejacket has a smarter appearance, and is physically superior to and cleaner than our men. But living as he does under a rigid discipline, he is prone to behave like a school-boy exempted from the distasteful routine of school. For example: When an officer is in a boat, they will be miracles of smartness, but when they think they are not under observation a boat's crew will hang over the sides, spit, smoke, and go to pieces. They are better educated than our men.

But to continue my diary. After the supper in the Kaiser we came back here, where I shifted, and we all went ashore at 11 p.m. Visited the Trocadero and Mascotte, and got off at 2.30 a.m. How I wish we had similar institutions in England, what a contrast between Portsmouth and Kiel after 11 p.m.

Next day there was a very nice afternoon dance in the Preussen, I also had some people off to lunch. Next morning Admiral Muller's wife, together with Prince and Princess Hangary, Fraulein Muller, a pretty girl of about 18, Lt.Niebuhr, and Lt. Count v. Forstner, arrived alongside in one of the beautiful German Admiral's (motor) barges. We went outside and saw the starts of all the races; I had to be back at 12, as I was sailing a boat in the race of British men-of-war's boats. I did nothing in the race, all the cutters from the Battle Fleet walked away from me.

In the evening at 8.30 there was a big dance at the Marine Akademie, about 800 people, two bands, and the whole thing very well done. Some excitement was caused by the sudden arrival, about midnight, of an enormous Zeppelin (L.3) which flew about 400 metres over the Garden, and then returned to Hamburg whence it came. I also met and talked with Admiral Scheer, said to be Tirpitz's successor, when the old man does go.

About 2.30 it was all over, so Peters and I went to the See Bad Hotel, which is run by Krupp at a loss of '20,000 a year, solely so that there may be a 1st class hotel at Kiel during the week. We had already arranged to have a shift of clothing sent here, and after the usual struggle with my dress boots we were soon shifted. We tipped the porter and changed in the drawing-room; "To what base uses are the noblest chambers put." From here we taxied to the Mascotte and Trocadero, where we had a most amusing time. Amongst other amusements Stoddart and myself caused loud and enthusiastic praise from the German patrons of the restaurant by acceding to the special request of the conductor, and mounting the stage, where, assisted by the band, we sang Thora in English. Any lack of musical talent which we felt, we endeavoured to compensate for by our volume of sound. I think we succeeded! 6 a.m. saw us, still very lively, dashing up Kiel harbour in a motor boat on our way back to the ship. At 8 a.m. I got up again and paid one or two Mess calls to various ships. At 4 p.m. I was over the other side of the harbour perspiring freely in a frock coat, and acting as an umpire in International sports, between the crews of the German Light Cruisers and ourselves. At 7 p.m. we all adjourned to an immense room in a sort of barracks, where about 800 officers and men sat down to an enormous meal. The loudest brass band I've ever heard played in a gallery. When the cymbals clashed one's plate jumped on the table. At 7.30 I had to leave (the show went on with dancing till 2 a.m. I heard). I dashed across the harbour, and changed into mess dress at an hotel. After the usual nerve-racking struggle with my dress boots, I taxied to a dance at the Torpedo-boat school, which started at 9.30. It ended at 1.30 a.m., when I went to the Club with von Niebuhr. I met a very pretty girl at this dance, one Fraulein v. Ehrlenbein of Dusseldorf. Arrived off to the ship at 2 a.m.

The next day there were two dances, but as the news of the assassination of the Crown Prince of Austria had just arrived, they were postponed.

DEPART KIEL

Monday 29th June

We left Kiel and started home. We (1st L.C.S.) went through the canal, but the B.S. went through the Belt. The Canal is dull from the scenic point of view, as the country is very flat. It is spanned by four great bridges, the supports of which, I noticed, were elaborately protected by barbed wire, Block houses, etc. It took us 8 hours to get through, and by 8 p.m. we were out in the open sea, with Heligoland a misty cloud on the stbd. bow.

ARRIVE PORTLAND

Tuesday 1st July

We arrived at Portland. The dull three weeks at a deadly spot were relieved by a pleasant week-end over at Cowes.

HMS Southampton 1st Light Cruiser Squadron,

Thursday, 2.7.14.

Weymouth

Dearest Parents,

We got back this morning, having come thro. the Kiel canal, which was most interesting, and saved a day. I can hardly marshal my facts as to the Kiel week, such a succession, of dances, lunches, dinner, sports, motor-drives, etc., etc., that I was hard put to it to keep up. However, by reducing my hours of sleep to 9 in 4 days, I did my duty. I have heard privately, in a roundabout way, that the Commodore is pleased with me, which spurs me on to further efforts. You will be pleased to hear that my German was so good that I was a not inferior second to the official interpreter, and I was complimented ashore, as one of the very few Englishmen who could talk it. I found it coming back to me with startling rapidity, and had no trouble, except for three words, in translating at sight, for the benefit of the mess, several columns of telegrams in the local paper about the Austrian murder. If I see my way I'll pass my preliminary Interpretership as a Christmas Box. I have only to concentrate on it for about 1 month, and the deed is done.

My piano playing improves, also my chess. I am also laying the foundations of a thorough knowledge of wireless, as I intend being pretty knowledgable by the time I take my course. The great thing, I believe, is self-confidence, even though it may merge almost into conceit, tho. of course, this must be guarded against. I try and train myself to say :

'I've undertaken this job, my brain-power is such that if anyone else can do it, I can; failure must not enter into my calculations." Of course, frankly, that statement is pure unadulterated conceit. I've rather let myself out of my reserve in this letter, but you are both the only people to whom I can confide such things when the mood comes over me with a powerful rush, as it has to-night as I sit, a humble Sub-Lieut., but seething with ideas, in my little cabin. May you never be ashamed of me. Your devoted son, Stephen W. King-Hall.

DEPART PORTLAND

Wednesday, 16th July

An immense assemblage of ships, of which we were one, left Portland, and arrived at Spithead. The assemblage, which was bigger than any previous one (I've known it otherwise) was remarkable by the presence of about 20 aeroplanes and four airships, which circled about very nicely.

Over at Cowes. A nice young man called Bobbie Wolseley was staying there, as well as Magdalen H's great friend. She is a charming girl and a very pretty example of the open air girl.