OUTBREAK OF WAR
Weymouth,
8.30 p.m.
Dearest Parents
We have just received orders to raise steam, and we are leaving early to-morrow morning. I don't know where we are going.
As you say, the situation looks bad, tho' we have not gone North, but everyone has coaled and completed with stores with feverish activity.
I feel convinced that Austria is determined to have war, and that being so I rather fail to see how we can avoid being drawn into it. However, if we go to War, you must write to me often and not be frightened, Mummy, after all, we are not here to do yachting trips, but to fight, so no one ought to mind the idea of going to War, though it would be most unpleasant, and I think I should be in a bit of a funk, but then, so would the others I expect.
It's not likely to last more than a month, and then, I take it, those left would get a good whack of leave! I am going to make a Will if War is declared, in which I leave my motor-bike to Kenneth, everything else I've got (not much) to you both.
If nothing turns out over this, you can expect me about 27th Aug. to 3rd Sept. Can you also put Kenneth up, who will probably be homeless, as family touring abroad. Our present idea, if we can raise the money, is to meet in town, go to Ostend for three days, and then come to Brighton for 5 days, as his leave is same time.
Your devoted son
W. Stephen King-Hall.
Address:c/o GPO H.M.S. Southampton,
1st Light Cruiser Squadron, (Going to a certain place "at sea")
31.7.14
Darling Parents,
As I write war has not yet been declared, and we know no news except that relations are strained, and we may be at war any moment. When I tell you that, Father will be able to describe to you the state of the ship; I have to be careful what I write.
We are all very anxious to get to this certain place and see some newspapers. I also hope to get a letter from you. I think there is a chance of a show to-night, anyhow, we are running no risks.
I am feeling quite fit and well, and think of you a lot. The spirit of the ship's company is also excellent, though I anticipate a slight panic when we first go under fire. I expect I shall be frightened myself. I am gradually familiarizing myself with the idea of war. I wonder what the European situation is, we must be very, very close to War. I wish we had a few airships and some more cruisers, but we are well superior to them all along the line, not counting the French.
I think, Father, I should offer your services to the Admiralty, in case they need anyone for some job, such as Admiral Supt. of Examination Services, or Censorship, or some job like that.
I will conclude with one word of advice to Mother. Please don't worry, whatever happens is for the best, and if I think you are worrying it upsets me awfully. Love and kisses to all, Your devoted son, W. stephen king-hall For heaven's sake use this Address c/o G.P.O. "at a certain place" and don't say where you think we may be.
1.8.14.
Dearest Parents,
We were not attacked last night, though I think we were all on the top line in case of it. However, we've got where we wanted to, which is a great thing. The only War news to date (I haven't seen a paper yet) is that one of our men has apparently gone slightly off his head in a harmless way, as the result of the strain, I suppose !!
I can't tell you exactly where we are, or the Fleet with us, but I daresay father will hazard a guess at the salubrious watering place (!!!!) we are gracing with our presence.
Yesterday we saw a certain ship, belonging to a certain power, watching us. It retired at some speed when some fat cruisers went to have a look at it.
Love and kisses
Your devoted son
W. Stephen King-Hall.
I will write as often as possible, but you must not expect great regularity, of course.
FROM GEORGE KING-HALL'S DIARIES.
3rd August. " Stephen writes in a fine spirit evidently determined to bring credit to his name and to the Service. Our fleet must be prepared for a very sudden attack from the German Destroyers and Small Graft.
Later. Heard this evening of the Ultimatum we have sent Germany regarding the invasion of Belgium who is blowing up bridges and flooding the country. How awful to be involved in this war which neither France or Germany or Great Britain wants. Olga very sad. We prayed for our son to be brought through it safely'with tears in our eyes."
H.M.S. Southampton
14.8.14.
Dear M. & F.,
The arrival of the Map, Pate, chocolate and print greeted with acclamation this morning. I am more in demand about seven bells p.m. than ever! I feel prepared for a month at least of strenuous warfare. Grandfather has such a knowing look, not surprising considering he went thro' it all. If all goes well in this war I wonder if there will be a great slump in things Naval, as there so often used to be after big wars. I have received tons of letters, and am very well.
Yours S.
H.M.S. Southampton.
" Scapa Flow's the place for me, When the German Fleet is out at sea
or
when you're chased by a T.B.D."
SCAPA FLOW AND NORTH SEA PATROLS
Sunday, 9th August
On the evening of Sunday 9th we were to the northward of Kinnaird Head. I had been keeping the first watch, and at about 3 a.m. I was awakened by the noise of the alarm bells ringing furiously.
To quote some notes :
'I pulled on some clothes and ran up on deck, to find it was early dawn, rainy and misty. Every second or so the mistiness ahead was illuminated by a yellow flash, and the crash of a gun followed.'
'Suddenly, the Birmingham loomed up straight ahead, or a shade on our starboard bow, distant about 2' cables (500 yards). It was difficult at the moment to say whether the shells falling between us and the Birmingham were being fired by the Birmingham, or at her from a ship on the far side. I restrained our quarter-deck guns' crew from firing into the Birmingham; she looked rather Teutonic in the early morning light.'
'The mystery of the alarm was settled by the sudden appearance of part of the conning tower of a German submarine, exactly between ourselves and the Birmingham.'
'How the Birmingham actually turned and rammed her I could not see; but she did, and when the Birmingham turned away, a large oily pool, bubbling furiously, with three black objects resembling air-flasks floating in it, was all that remained of the U.Boat." [This was U. 15, and the first of the odd 200 submarines the British Navy disposed of during the war.]'
The operations of the 9th were entirely unfruitful, and in my opinion it was a very hazardous operation taking all the big ships so far South. However we all got back safely. After a little more pottering around in the N. Sea and a P.Z. [tactical exercise] up North, we went into Scapa and the B.F. to Loch Ewe. We spent a most welcome and unexpected week in Scapa.
Tuesday, 18th August
On the 18th we left with the Battle Cruisers and went down towards the Horn Reef, first sweeping upwards in the mouth of the Skagerak without sighting anything. The idea of the movement was thoroughly to examine all the trawlers which continually hang about there. The examination was to be by means of boarding each vessel, but owing to the very bad prevailing weather this had to be abandoned. I was rather annoyed, as owing to my knowledge of German I had been selected as one of the special boarding officers.
H.M.S Southampton
18.8.14.
Dearest M. & F.
All well and as fit as blazes ! Looks like a second 30 years' war! However, let's hope we'll be home for Christmas dinner. Mails from you not yet arrived.
Yours, S.
H.M.S. Southampton
27th August
Dearest Parents,
At the moment of writing the Germans are doing nicely in Belgium, to be expected of course, I even, am preparing myself to see them in Paris. But nothing, nothing, not even the annexation of France ought to make us give in. Everyone who is serving ought to feel that he has dedicated himself to win or die.
I feel, and know that the feeling will grow as the War goes on. I almost welcome the idea of initial reverses, and the idea of being knocked out has quite begun to lose any unpleasantness which it may naturally have had in the sudden transition from peace to War.
Whenever I feel a bit fed up on Watch, and as I daresay you hardly need telling, there is a good deal of Watchkeeping, I just comfort myself with thinking that however long we have to wait, it may be months or even years, we'll get them in the end, the Empire will never give in until there isn't an Empire, and then it hardly matters, does it ?
I hope Mother has got used to the idea of War, and does not worry about it. The papers are a nuisance. I usually study every alternate Times until I want to laugh, then I read the "Naval Notes " or "Our Fleet at Sea." Or "How the Submarine was sunk" or "Attack on Br. Cruiser Squadron by Submarines." Don't believe a word that does not come from the Press Bureau. We are only human, and alas, have our limitations, and I daresay man for man no better than the Germans, but as good I hope. You can imagine our life fairly well. At sea, sometimes rough, otherwise it's been quite nice, watchkeeping, sleeping, a game of deck hockey, eating, watchkeeping, a little exercisein the arts of war, eating, watchkeeping, sleeping, and so on.
In harbour, coaling, sleeping, sleeping, eating, sleeping, reading mails, writing same, arguing about the War, eating, sleeping and then to sea. We are all in good spirits, and growing more efficient every day, though I fear we have a long while to wait before we attain the superhuman hardiness and war-worthiness of our forefathers off Brest.
We have two young officers from Dartmouth, on board, whom I chase always and beat at times in a fatherly manner. I have assured them that, as far as lies in my power, they shall die as an adornment to their profession ; they are nice boys.
Now, father, don't you go and join any corps of Veterans, though I believe you are game enough to join the Regulars, and fit enough too ! You did your share, and a jolly good share, in sharpening the sword, and you've got your only son at the handle, and you ought to be satisfied.
Love and kisses to all. We sail at day-break.
Yours
S.
THE HELIGOLAND BIGHT ACTION
28th August
During the month of August, from immediately after the outbreak of war, our submarines had been in the Bight, or wet triangle as the Germans delighted to call it. The British E-boats, based on Harwich, nosed about round Heligoland (one actually grounded there) and penetrated into the mouths of the German rivers.
Little escaped their curious periscopes, and they soon discovered that the Germans were working a night patrol off the Bight with destroyers and light cruisers. It was the habit of these gentry to retire into the Bight at dawn each day ; and it was decided to cut them out.
This task was entrusted to Sir David Beatty in the Lion, with the battle cruisers ; our Commodore in the Southampton, with the light cruisers ; and Commodore Tyrwhitt in the newly commissioned Arethusa, leading the Harwich force of destroyers.
At 3 a.m. on the 28th August, the forces concerned rendezvoused near the Horns Reef light vessel, which is about 80 miles north of Heligoland.
At 4 a.m. the sweep started.
The plan of operations was simple and depended for its success on surprise.
Broadly speaking, the operation may be compared to the movements of a forefinger, the nail of the finger being close to Heligoland.
To continue the analogy of the finger, the finger nail was Commodore Tyrwhitt's force, the first joint was the supporting light cruisers under Commodore Goodenough, and the second joint and knuckle were Admiral Beatty's supporting battle cruisers ; whilst the Battle Fleet in the background may be fairly compared to the wrist that held the hand.
The day dawned calm and foggy. This mist hung over the water all day, and on the whole was an advantage to us, as it added to the confusion and the uncertainty of the Germans and protected us from the batteries of Heligoland, which were unable to fire a shot.
At the same time it made it difficult for our three squadrons to keep alignment with each other during the sweep; and in the course of the day we lost touch with two of our light cruisers for several hours.
At 8 a.m., when a few miles to the west by north of Heligoland, we altered course from south to south-west, and received a signal to say that destroyers were engaging destroyers, whilst at the same time we heard gun-fire to the south-east of us, where we knew Commodore Tyrwhitt to be.
We acted on the good old maxim of going where you hear a gun, and stood over towards the firing. It was impossible to see anything, but at the same time it was undeniably a most thrilling sensation to be moving through the mist at 24 knots towards the first sounds of gun-fire in battle that most of us had ever heard.
At 8.25 a.m. two black shapes, which revealed themselves to be German destroyers travelling at a very high rate of speed, appeared on our starboard bow.
They had evidently been patrolling seawards, and, hearing the firing in between themselves and the German coast, they were scooting into their homes as quickly as they could.
We got the forecastle and starboard bow gun to bear on them and opened fire, but, as the mist prevented any ranging, we could only hope for a lucky hit.
Two white puffs or splashes were seen to proceed from the enemy, and it was not until some ten minutes later, when three witnesses saw the track of a torpedo across our stern, that we realized that the Germans had fired two torpedoes at us.
The hostile destroyers were going at least 32 knots and were moving between enormous bow waves, with their sterns tucked well down, and in about three minutes they had crossed our bows and disappeared in the mist.
Shortly after this episode we were unfortunately observed by H.M.S. Lurcher, the destroyer in which the Commodore of Submarines, the present Vice-Admiral Sir Roger Keyes, used in those early days to cruise about the Bight.
As usual, several of our ubiquitous submarines were in the Bight on this occasion.
I say "unfortunately" the Lurcher saw us, as she obtained only a fleeting glimpse of us, and at once reported by wireless two German light cruisers in a position a few miles to the south-west of where we calculated we were. This sounded like business, so we abandoned our intention of trying to find the destroyer scrap and hastily shaped course to where we understood the two German cruisers had been seen.
Sad to say, we were chasing ourselves; the discrepancy in our position and that calculated by the Lurcher, led us astray, and for about an hour we were on a wild-goose chase.
This matter of accurate position-finding is of prime importance in a naval action, and especially so where wireless signals are concerned, as in such cases one acts on a signal such as "Hostile cruisers, lat. 54' N. long. 4' E."
Now the ship that saw these cruisers probably saw them perhaps 10 miles S.50' E. of her own position.
She may have been at sea two or three days, or, in the case of a submarine, perhaps ten days.
During this period she may never have seen a landmark or lightship of any sort. She has had to rely on her "sights" of the sun and stars. Should the weather have been thick, even "sights" may have been. denied, to her, in which case she has to rely on what is known as "dead reckoning,'
This consists of plotting courses and speeds since she left harbour, and estimating an allowance for wind, tide, and erroneous speed.
It is thus obvious that in the case imagined above of a ship reporting hostile cruisers, she may herself be under a misapprehension as regards her true position'a state of affairs which vitiates by a corresponding amount all her " enemy reports."
If one is in sight of a ship reporting the enemy, the matter , is simple; she simply flashes by light, "Enemy such and such a distance, bearing so and so from me."
I have mentioned this matter at some length, as during the war several cases of the importance of positions and the result of errors came under my notice. On this occasion we chased ourselves for about fifty minutes, when suddenly every one was electrified to see a periscope on the starboard bow, distant 500 yards.
The helm was put hard over, the ship heeled, and we prepared to ram her. The submarine made a steep dive, and some people on the fore bridge stated that she went down at such an angle that her tail nearly came out of water.
A few seconds later we thundered over the place where she had been, and they must have heard the roar of our propellers as we passed over them.
In about ten minutes' time the Lurcher suddenly appeared, and asked us why we were attacking her submarines.
Luckily the submarine we had tried to ram had recognized our red ensign, which was flying as a battle flag, just as he intended to torpedo us. Explanations with the Lurcher ensued, and the mystery of the two German light cruisers was cleared up.
It was too late by this time to turn back to where the destroyer scrap had been going on, and at the moment no sounds of gunfire came from the mist, so we decided to carry on with the sweep as arranged, on the assumption that the Harwich destroyers with the Arethusa and Fearless were somewhere inside us on a parallel course.
An uneventful hour passed, until at 11 a.m. we intercepted a signal from Commodore Tyrwhitt, to the effect that he was heavily engaged with German light cruisers and he wanted assistance.
We at once altered course 16 points, and started back as hard as we could towards where we imagined the Arethusa to be.
The sound of gun-fire was very heavy right ahead of us when we turned round, and at irregular intervals a flash of yellow flame came through the mist.
At 11.30 we seemed very close to the action, and the firing was so heavy that it seemed almost as if we were in the middle of the fight, except that no shells could be seen.
At 11.40 a number of destroyers, which turned out to be British, steamed out of the mist, evidently retiring from something, and a moment later we sighted the Arethusa on our port bow in action at close range with the German light cruiser Mainz.
Our squadron at that moment consisted of the Southampton, Effingham, Nottingham, Lowestoft, Liverpool, and Falmouth, posed in quarter line, and as soon as the Mainz saw us she ceased fire on the sorely tried Arethusa and very wisely fled like a stag.
At 10,000 yards the squadron opened fire, and the German replied with a straggling fire from her after 4-1 inch guns. Most of her shots fell short, but a few hummed over us.
It was very peculiar hearing the moaning sob, and realizing that a lump of steel full of explosives had just gone by. I examined myself carefully to see if I was frightened, and came to the conclusion that on the whole I was excited and rather anxious.
The Mainz was now under the fire of about fifteen 6-inch guns, and suddenly there were two yellow flashes amidships of a different nature from the red jabs of flame from her own gun, and I realized she had been hit twice.
A most extraordinary feeling of exultation filled the mind. One longed for more yellow flashes ; one wanted to hurt her, to torture her ; and one said to oneself, "Ha ! there's another ! Give her hell !" as if by speaking one could make guns hit her.
Though she was being hit, she was not being hit enough, as at the range of 10,000 yards in that mist it was nearly impossible to see the splashes of the shells and thus control the fire. Also she still had the legs of us. To our dismay, the mist came down, and for five minutes we drove on without sight of her.
Down below, in complete ignorance of what had been happening, the stokers forced the boilers until our turbines would take no more, and, the safety valves lifting, the steam roared up the exhaust pipes at the side of the funnels with a deafening roar.
Suddenly'everything happens suddenly in a naval action with ships moving at 30 miles an hour'we came on top of the Mainz only 7,000 yards away, and the range decreasing every moment.
Something had happened to her whilst she was in the mist, for she was lying nearly stopped.
It is now almost certain that she was torpedoed forward by a destroyer, though it will never be known which destroyer flashing past her in the mist launched the blow which permitted us to overtake her.
When the destroyers found themselves being harried by light cruisers, the traditional foe of the destroyers, they had lashed out viciously with their torpedoes and fired some thirty.
An eye-witness told me that the sea was furrowed with their tracks : I think he was being cynical. At all events, one got home on the Mainz, and we closed down on her, hitting with every salvo.
She was a mass of yellow flame and smoke as the lyddite detonated along her length. Her two after funnels melted away and collapsed. Red glows, indicating internal fires, showed through gaping wounds in her sides. At irregular intervals one of her after guns fired a solitary shot, which passed miles overhead.
In ten minutes she was silenced and lay a smoking, battered wreck, her foremost anchor flush with the water. Antlike figures could be seen jumping into the water as we approached. The sun dispersed the mist, and we steamed slowly to within 300 yards of her, flying as we did so the signal "Do you surrender?" in International Code. As we stopped the mainmast slowly leant forward, and, like a great tree, quite gradually lay down along the deck.
As it reached the deck a man got out of the main control top and walked aft'it was Tirpitz junior.
I have a photograph of him standing, solitary figure, on the extreme end of his ship.
Her bridge was knocked to pieces and there was no one to read our signal, which signal seems incongruous in 1918, but the last precedent was years old in 1914. Nevertheless, as we watched, a flag fluttered down from the foretopmast head ; it had been lowered by the boatswain.
The feeling of exultation was succeeded by one of pity as I looked at this thing that had been a ship. Through glasses I could see that her deck was a shambles 'a headless corpse, stripped to the waist, hung over the forecastle side. This was indeed war, and the first realization of war is like one's first love, a landmark in life.
The hundred or so survivors in the water were wearing lifebelts and raising their heads, shouting for help. We were debating what could be done, when we were roused from the contemplation of our handiwork by the sudden outbreak of firing to the northward.
The Liverpool was detailed to rescue survivors and sink the Mainz, whilst the Southampton with the rest of the light cruisers started to get under way towards the new action.
We had hardly begun to move through the water, ere I saw a magnificent sight; it was the battle cruisers. They had been coming up at full speed from the south-west towards all the firing, they had also of course received the Arethusa's call for help.
It was undoubtedly a bold and dashing decision to bring these great ships into the Fight, and, as often happens in war, this decision was successful.
The battle cruisers arrived too late to do anything to the Mainz, but they were determined to get up in time to participate in the firing to the north which had just started.
It is difficult to describe the impression produced by these monsters as, following in each other's wakes, they emerged one by one from the mist, and flashed past like express trains.
Not a man could be seen on their decks; volumes of smoke poured from their funnels; their turret guns, trained expectantly on the port bow, seemed eager for battle.
We were just able to work up sufficient speed to get astern of the Indomitable, when we sighted the unfortunate Germans, which were two small cruisers, the Koln and the Ariadne. They had run into a detached group of our destroyers, hence the firing. A succession of salvos rolled out from the Lion and her squadron.
One German disappeared in a cloud of steam and smoke; the other drifted away in the mist, burning furiously and sinking.
I was watching this spectacle on our port bow, when I heard a " crump ! crump ! crump ! " and turning round saw a salvo of splashes stand up in the water, a few hundred yards from our starboard side. I could not make out where these shells had come from, until I noticed a four-funnelled cruiser on the horizon about 14,000 yards away, where there happened to be a clear patch, for I could see the German coast and some chimneys behind her. As I watch her a ripple of flame ran down her side, and I knew another flight of shells were on their way. They arrived with a "whump" exactly right for range, but between the Birmingham and ourselves, about 50 yards astern of us.
We were quite surprised by this unexpected attack, but the Birmingham at once retaliated with a salvo of 6-inch, an example we were not long in following, though it seemed ages before our guns went off.
We exchanged several salvos with her, and she straddled us once without hitting, whilst we saw one of our shells detonate on board her. We discovered months afterwards that this shell had landed on her quarter-deck and killed about sixty men, as the Germans had a habit in those days of taking spare guns' crews to sea with them, and these gentry were being mustered when our shell arrived. She turned and went into port, and we followed the battle cruisers.
It was now 4 p.m., and as we were within 15 miles of the German Fleet their arrival on the scene of action was expected any moment.
I believe, as a matter of fact, that the sound of the firing could be heard in the ships at Wilhelmshaven, where they were making desperate efforts to raise steam in the big ships and come out and drive us off.
At 4.15 p.m. we left the Bight and steered at high speed for Scapa. I started the day at midnight on the 27th - 28th and ended it at 4 a.m. on the 29th .
I have forgotten to mention that we saw a number of floating mines in the Bight, which were avoided by quick use of the helm.
AT SCAPA FLOW
Saturday, 29th August
We arrived at Scapa Flow at 8 p.m. on the 29th, well pleased with ourselves. The Arethusa and Fearless and our damaged destroyers had got in, and the casualties in officers and men were slight. On the other side, we had sunk three German light cruisers and two destroyers.
Looking back, there are several interesting features connected with this action.
When the Mainz was sunk, we found that she had rafts on her deck, and that her guns' crews had been wearing lifebelts. This struck us at the time as very bad for the morale ; we soon altered our opinion when the submarine menace started in earnest.
We were also made acquainted for the first time with the remarkably long ranges of the German 4.1-inch guns, due to their large angles of elevation.
This cuts both ways, as at long ranges the German shells were falling almost vertically, and it was quite easy for their shells to fall just "over" without hitting the ship. The Germans fought well. They always have fought well whenever I have seen them fight at sea, and they were beaten on this day because they were overwhelmed by a greatly superior force; and the side which can achieve this state of affairs will, other things being equal, always win the war.
When we arrived in Scapa, it was a perfect summer's evening, and we had a great reception from the battleships, who cheered us vigorously, whilst the Orion sent parties over to help us coal'a service which was very much appreciated, but which I never saw repeated. No less than three girls competed for the honour of sending me chocolates, and an unknown number of ladies sent sacks of warm clothing to the ship. Gradually, as was inevitable, this enthusiasm died out, the pendulum swung over, and I once more occupied the position of a giver of chocolates.
Nor at the beginning of winter in 1915 did one go down to the half-deck and contemptuously cast aside knitted waistcoats because the colour did not suit.
On Sunday we were given four hours' leave, and the thirsty members of the Mess repaired to the hotel at Kirkwall, where each described the action to an eager group of officers from the battleships, pausing at intervals to "have another" and celebrate the victory. Towards the end of the afternoon some very divergent accounts of the scrap were in circulation.
H.M.S. Southampton,
1st Light Cruiser Squadron.
Dearest Parents,
The official account of our trip over to Heligoland is so good that there is little I can add, except that my last letter was written just before we sailed, and that we leave tomorrow on some expedition; what, I know not, but shall know long before you get this.
We had several narrow squeaks from floating mines which they appear to drop with great profusion. The cruiser we sank was in an awful condition before she went down. Apparently when all the Guns' Crews were killed they drove the stokers up to the guns, the men then tried to take to the boats and jumped overboard, being shot by their own officers. I hardly blame the men, as she was an inferno, on fire all over the place, and a mass of wreckage. Our chief danger, apart from a couple of torpedoes which missed us, was mines. I don't think they anticipated that we should dare come so close in, in such force.
I have also heard a rumour that the German Fleet is on ' rations. I trust Russian pressure will soon make itself felt.
It almost seems as if the turning point or crucial moment of the War had nearly arrived. We had a great reception from the Fleet when we rejoined them, as the continued lack of excitement makes it extremely monotonous work in the Battle Fleet. Anyhow, even if later on this ship gets knocked out, we feel that we have justified our existence.
Your devoted son,
Stevie
Tuesday, 22nd September
I was on watch at 7 a.m. this morning and we were sweeping North, with the lovely Norwegian Coast on the stbd. bow, when suddenly I heard a voice, "Signal, Sir !" The signalman handed me over the flimsy wireless signal, dated 7.15 a.m. on which I read the dreadful words :
"Cressy to all ships, Aboukir is sinking and so are we." It was dreadful to think that 300 miles away over the smiling sea to the southward, 1500 men were preparing to fight for their lives. At 7.25 the signal came through, Hogue sinking." Then there succeeded a most ominous silence, broken only by Harwich, which was making persistent efforts to call the three ships. One more fragment came through, a position 20 miles to the N.E. of the Hook, and then it was all over. P.M. An "Admiralty to all ships" has come through pointing out the necessity for heavy ships to clear out at once if one of their number is struck, and abandon the doomed ship to her fate. It seems hard, but tactically there can be no question as to its correctness. There seems little doubt that Hogue and Cressy were struck whilst standing by the Aboukir.
As I am only writing of what I hear and more or less come into touch with myself, I will not at present give any details of the contretemps, in fact as a general rule I shall not waste time putting down things that are accurately reported in the press.
Thursday, 24th September
Arrived Scapa and coaled. They have blocked up the minor entrances to the Flow by sinking ships.
I heard the following items of gossip from the Iron Duke. "The effect on the Admiralty of the Aboukir etc., had been to withdraw all armoured cruisers from the S. portion of the N. Sea, so that the men who lost their lives may not have done so in vain, if as a result this insane policy of Winston Churchill filling the S. part of the N. Sea with ships is abandoned. It plays the German game, by providing food for their submarines, and we gain nothing by it."
I am very sorry to hear that the old Pegasus, an old ship of mine, has been smashed at Zanzibar, and her No. 1, Turner, killed, a very good chap. I also hear that the Admiralty got in a funk after the Aboukir show, and refused permission for the Commodores (T.) and (S.)1 [Commodores Tyrwhitt and Keyes] to have a dash at the German submarines on their way back. It is a pity, as then was the time to go for them.
ON PATROL
Sunday, 27th September
We proceeded to the Eastward and after a day's steaming arrived about 50' S.W. of the Naze. Battle Cruisers in company. Our object was to intercept certain German ships reported to be trying to make a break from Bergen, and also to keep the Skagerak under observation. The only thing we met was an abnormally heavy N.W. gale which obliged us to heave to for 16 hours, broke our fcsle. breakwater, and caused other minor damages.
As may be imagined, with every hatch save one amidships battened down, life was not very comfortable. In the height of the gale I saw an interesting sight, which was the Drake, attended by a destroyer, escorting E.5 which together with E.1 had made a reconnaissance down the Kattegat, without seeing anything. It was interesting to note the behaviour of the three types. The Drake, plunging heavily, the destroyer like an animated cork, the E.5 like a great rock. I heard afterwards that E.5 got fed up with the bad weather, and quietly dived and lay under water for 24 hours till the worst was over. I know her disappearance caused some anxiety, as we were looking out for her, as well as E.1 which had completely vanished two days before. 5 days later she arrived at Aberdeen, and reported engine trouble.
H.M.S. Southampton
1st Light Cruiser Squadron,
At sea. 28.9.14
Dearest Parents,
Tho' I cannot tell you of any deeds of war at the moment of writing, our life has not been devoid of incident, as for the last 12 hours we have been hove-to in the biggest gale I have ever seen.
I have had unique opportunities for observing it as I had the " first" and "morning" last night. In the darkness of the 1st, it was difficult to appreciate the size of the sea, the only tangible evidences being a steady sheet of spray breaking over the bridge, and leaving glowing spots of phosphorescence behind it.
When I turned in at 12, I wedged myself in with cushions and coats, and though we rolled 35' (tho' heading into it) I slept like a log. At 4 a.m. you could have seen me painfully crawling forward, by means of a life-line, on my slow journey to the bridge. At last, gasping and drenched, one gets up there. My opposite number lifts up the flap of my Sou'-wester, and placing his lips close to my ear, turns over Course and Speed, and a word of cynical condolence. For the 1sthour it is like the first watch, only meanwhile the wind has increased in strength, and driving squalls of stinging rain complete the picture.
By 5 a.m. a grey flickering light illuminated the sea. It was a wonderful spectacle. As far as the eye could see great curling billows of pale green water, capped with snowy foam, succeeded each other like regiments. Each one would deploy swiftly down from the N. West, hurl itself to the assault on our forecastle, only to be shattered into welter of foam and tossed up into the wind by our f'csle. gun and breakwater. Then the blast caught it, and lifting it up 20 feet, down it came on the top of the upper bridge, where the bended back of yours affec. and his satellites awaited the blow. Each discharge made a noise against the bridge just like two express trains passing each other. Then a hasty glance round the horizon, and down again for another, so it went on. One enormous one completely flattened out the breakwater at 6.30. The Conning Tower was under water. A great wave which broke breakwater made me think that the whole bridge was going.
The Ship has stood it magnificently, and is as comfortable as a baby's cradle. We shall never get anything worse, so we are all, from the Commodore down, very satisfied with her.
The C-in-C. came over to the ship the other day and was pleased to recognize my name and speak to me.
Love & kisses,
Stevie.
AT SCAPA FLOW
Wednesday, 30th September
On the 30th we arrived back at Scapa Flow, without seeing Seaplane 77, which had been missing to the Eastwards 24 hours. Coaled and provisioned, and I went over to the Hospital ship Rohilla, to have a tooth seen to. A fellow sufferer from the New Zealand, a Lt., had the face to ask me whether we let off any guns at the Mainz!, though whether he was pulling my leg over the expenditure or was merely a fool, I don't know. I hear that, including three torpedoes from our squadron, the flotilla in the Heligoland Bight show loosed off 36 torpedoes. My Lords are very perturbed about it.
However if I was in a T.B.D and being cut up by Light Cruisers (as they were ) I would not count the number of tin fish I loosed. I hear the following items.
1, The Germans have been firing on each other in the Baltic.
One of the submarines in the Bight weighed a Laon Mine by the glass prongs on her Hydroplane guard. They must have sweated when they opened the Conning Tower hatch and saw it.
We have bagged a submarine per Explosive Creep.
8 Fifes, Big Drum, and little Drum, belonging to the Band I am organizing, have arrived. Battle of Aisne drags on.
ON PATROL
Thursday 1st October
Proceeded to patrol line to cover transport of Canadian troops. A convoy of 31 ships, escorted by cruiser force G, and met half-way by Princess Royal, are coming over. There are two lines across the N. Sea to prevent Germans sending Battle Cruisers out, should they try. (I think not). The lines are so arranged that the distance between them is sufficient to prevent anything getting through one line at night, and being able to pass the next line in darkness. The Southern line is composed of Cruisers and the N. line the Battle Squadron in support. There is also a patrol of T.B.D.'s between Orkneys and Scotland, thus sealing up the Firth. The Mine Layers are patrolling between Shetlands and Orkneys. We are at the Western end of the Southern Line.
The weather is exceedingly favourable to submarine attack, and as some have been reported off the Skaw, both lines shift bodily N. and South about 20 miles daily to avoid repetition of Aboukir show. It is said (with truth) that they patrolled their line so exactly one could have set one's watch by them. The only things to do to avoid submarines are :
High speed
Zig-zagging
Frequent change of position.
Wednesday, 7th October
Whilst patrolling, a serious error was made in the coding office. A signal to the squadron to turn together to East was coded as West. The result was that during the 1st watch we had the whole squadron down on top of us. Fortunately it was a fine moonlight night, and no regrettable incidents took place, but if it had been dark'well, anything might have taken place. Once a gun is fired it is almost impossible to stop a general engagement. The float of the ill-fated seaplane, 77, which has been missing from Scapa, was picked up by Lowestoft during the middle. To be strictly accurate, it was examined but not retrieved by those idiots, net result, the whole squadron had to go back and look for it, and it was while engaged on this, on Thursday, 8th Oct. that the following events took place.
MAN OVERBOARD
Thursday, 8th October
We had just finished our usual little drop of "Control Drill" at 11 a.m., and were steaming along at 12 knots. I was in the waist and heard the shout 'Man Overboard." Running on to the Q.D., I saw a man's head in the water about 50 yards astern of the ship. Urged by an irresistible impulse I ran aft and dived in after him. My actions were quite out of my control, and I only realised the state of affairs on finding myself swimming briskly towards him. I only saw him once, over the waves, and spectators on the ship inform me he was observed to sink just before I reached him. On getting to the place where I had seen him, I saw nothing, and looking round noted :
I had swallowed a lot of the N. Sea.
The water was devilish chilly.
The ship was about a mile away.
I also felt a beastly lassitude coming over me. However I had the sense not to give way to that and its attendant consequences. I then started to undress. Removed my coat, shoes and socks, and trousers, the latter frightened me catching round my knees. However, with every inducement to keep cool I worked them off gradually. I then cruised round a bit (my word, it was cold) but I am sorry to say saw no signs of Maclean who, I afterwards heard, had fallen over from P.3, on stepping off the sight-setter's seat. I was eventually extremely glad to see old Peters bearing down on me in the seaboat, and after a bit of an effort I was hauled in over the bows. The bowmen at first appeared to experience a certain delicacy at manhandling a naked officer, but my language soon put them at ease. I found I had been in the ditch, temperature 45', for 20 minutes, and quite long enough for me. A day in bed put me all right.
H.M.S. Southampton,
1st Light Cruiser Squadron,
12.10.14
Dearest Parents,
No news of any great interest, except that I think personally there was a mess up at Antwerp. I fear the end of this War, is a long, long way off. I put my ultimate trust in the Russians and our Navy. They must feel the blockade sooner or later. The only nuisance, of course, is their submarines. There is this consolation, that if the Battleships are dead birds, we have a good margin in Submarines.
The weather remains pretty beastly, but we have been inundated with knitted gear, both for officers and men, from various industrious ladies. On watch, in addition to usual clothes, I usually wear :
(a) A Shetland vest.
(b) A sweater.
(c) Short sea-boots ("short" after my bathe, had I worn long ones that day they would have done me in. My present ones are also 1 size too big).
(d) A Sou'wester.
(e) Long oilskin.
(f) Double wool-lined, waterproof gloves.
(g) Thick scarf.
and in my bunk resides a hot-water bottle.
The band continues to make the most satisfactory progress. I take them together with Medd every day for an hour, and have quite convinced them that I know all about "scoring, counter-pointing, and the whole theory of music"
Needless to say, I know nothing, but I never deign to do more than abuse them, which they love, and as for playing a fife myself, I never do it in their presence for the very good reason that at least 80% of the band are better than I am. Very rarely, I strike a triangle. It would make you laugh to see us practising in the submerged flat ; I keep very strict discipline, and we bust off on the 3rd beat with tremendous eclat. We start, for instance, on Georgia, just before the end I hold up three fingers, that indicates three beats on the big drum, I then shout "Swanee" and off we go, running the two into one. From this we slip into "Dixie" then prolonged roll on side-drums, and "Hitchy Koo" follows, ending up with sustained bugle calls of "Georgia." This completes what I've called "Fantasia Americana.' It's great fun. As I'm quite prepared to spend the rest of my life at War, I've started a book.
Stevie
SUBMARINE THREAT
Tuesday, 13th October
Left Scapa in company with Battle Cruisers and two flotillas of T.B.D.'s to carry out operation order No. 16. The idea was to sweep at high speed along the line so as to intercept, if possible, two German Minelayers that were reported as having left Emden. It was the old game of a Heligoland sweep, only the submarine menace having impressed itself to a moderate extent on the Admiralty, you will notice the sweep only extended as far as Dogger Bank. We carried it out in perfect weather, and saw nothing. On arriving at "B" we took up our position in the Southern line of a Double Daylight Trade line. We were along the patrol "CC " the 10th C.S. in area b. along FF. and the and C.S. supporting us at " H." The Battle Fleets were to the Northward.
Yesterday we were patrolling up and down on line, looking out for trade, when at 1.30 pm. a signal was intercepted from Theseus, 10th C.S., to say, "submarine has just missed me, torpedo passed 200 yards astern." Immediately, of course, Edgar signalled all 10th C.S. to clear out of the area at once. All replied save the Hawke.
We have just heard definite proof from 4th Flotilla that went there this morning, that the Hawke had evidently been already torpedoed about 20 miles away, and had sunk so rapidly that she had not been able to get a signal through. We are now (7th) going to the Northward. Theseus reports that she never even saw a sign of a submarine, save the track of the torpedo. One cannot help feeling how absolutely defenceless one is against them. I am reluctantly forced to the conclusion that the day of the surface warship is over; jointly with this I am obliged to admit to myself that the N. Sea has been rendered untenable by us through German ships, at least we can only hold it and lose heavily and uselessly.
As far as interception of trade is concerned it can be done by flinging out patrol lines based on the Shetlands into the Atlantic. These should be more or less out of range of German submarines at present. Patrolling in the N. Sea must be done when necessary by our own submarines.
All neutral shipping must be made to call at Kirkwall, report itself and, if satisfactory, then follow a definite route to the Skaw and Holland.
Saturday, 17th October
Things move rapidly, it is evident that a tremendous submarine attack has been launched. Swift has had several torpedoes fired at her at scene of Hawke's loss, and a tremendous upheaval is going on at Scapa Flow, as submarines have actually got inside. One torpedo missed the Leda by 10 ft. The whole place is being evacuated. To cap it all, they have been reported in the Minch off another of our bases, at present empty, and that is Loch Ewe. Down South they fired into Dover Harbour, and have been seen off St. Catherines!
A mine went up in our minefield and we hope it was the Dover submarine. Two were seen oiling off Stornoway. We were going to Broadford Bay (Skye), but as a result of all this we are bound for Lough Swilly. Even here the devils that were seen oiling off the Hebrides can get at us. 3rd B.S. and 20th C.S. are also here. We have scuppered 4 old German T.B.D.'s off Terschelling.
H.M.S. Southampton
1st Light Cruiser Squadron.
Dearest Parents,
All well etc., I am glad to say. It is very satisfactory that the T.B.D. action coincided with Hawke; I wish we'd been there. I prophesy that that will be the last "affaire" of outposts for a long time, we shan't catch 'em outside again. Their submarines are rather boring, but have had no moral effect on the Fleet owing to their invisibility, as what the British Blue can't see he doesn't waste time thinking about, though I try and ginger up submarine lookouts in my watch by recounting harrowing tales. The only effect (which lasts about ' an hour) is a strenuous shout of, " Submarines, Sir! on the port bow. As you were, Sir! it was a bloomin' whale! " Or else some intelligent signalman:
"Objec' right ahead, Sir, a glintin' in the sun.
" Self: "How far off?" Signalman : "There, Sir, there, Sir."
Self : " Yes, yes, how many cables ? "
Signalman : " There you are, Sir, I seed it plain then."
Self : " Confound you, how many cables ? "
Signalman : " 'arfa mile, Sir. Why, it's a floatin' tin."
Peace reigns once more. As a matter of fact, unless the gentleman in the submarine is a fool, which they are not, he dives long before you stand a chance of seeing his periscopes. There are only two good ways of not being had.
High speed.
Not being where they are.
No. 2 is, on the whole, most satisfactory ! But as it doesn't rest in my hands, but in Sir J. J.'s, it's simplest not to worry about the matter at all. And we don't. . . .
Stevie
LOUGH SWILLY
Sunday, 18th October
Coaling all the afternoon and most of the night. When the inhabitants here woke up and saw us, in here, painted silvery grey, they thought we were Germans!
Monday 19th October
Went for a topping walk, eating black berries and sniffing the green grass, with King, Crosbie and the Soldier. We had a great battle on hills amongst the heather with clods of turf. I also had speech with a dear old lady, who called every blessing from Heaven on my head. She had a son, John Sheridan, Ldg. Stoker in the Argyll. She broke down and wept when I said I would write to him and tell him I had seen her, which I have just done. I also received this evening a letter from the father of Maclean. It is the most perfect example of dignified sorrow I have ever read.
Capt. (D.) 2nd and 4th flotillas are sweeping down the Minch and Little Minch to try and bag the submarine parent ship. The Hebrides and W. Coast of Scotland must be very carefully watched ; it would be extremely serious if they established a base this side. An old man ashore here thought the whole British Navy was here. On being told there were 10 times as many he said, "Thank God ! Thank God!" throwing up his hands with delight.
I saw an extremely pretty girl here to-day. I felt a tremendous desire to go up to her and say, "How do you do!" She would have thought me mad. It is 3 months since I spoke to a girl; I frankly confess I like them !!
The Band progresses excellently, four more pipes arrived to-day.
The Commodore told me he has recommended me for promotion to Lieut. at once. I fear he has asked too much of my Lords ! I asked him about specializing in submarines, but nothing doing yet.
ON PATROL
25th - 31st October
On leaving Lough Swilly, which we did in a great hurry at 2 a.m., we went round C. Wrath, and stood over towards the Skaw. We met very heavy weather and hardly moved. We were getting across, or trying to, in order to intercept 4 German cruisers, submarines and T.B.D.'s, which were supposed to have left Danzig for the N. Sea. The whole thing sounded most improbable.
When about 50 miles East of Noss Head we heard that a German submarine was lying damaged in Lister Fjord. Within 12 hours we had another saying she had gone out again. Our tracks crossed but we did not see her. U.9 passed Skaw - N.W. We then returned to Scapa and anchored in the winter anchorage off Long Hope.
On 26th we heard the extremely serious news that the Audacious had apparently struck a mine and sunk. No lives lost, and no details to hand. The devils have apparently managed to lay a minefield off Lough Swilly; mines have also been laid (suspected) between Fair Island and Ronaldshay. I think this is the most serious blow we have sustained; I don't mean so much the loss of the Audacious, as the fact that they seem to know where our Fleet is at once, and that they are able to lay mines with impunity, probably under a neutral flag, but what the devil does that matter, the mines are there. If this goes on, it's the attrition game with a vengeance. The only thing to do in my opinion, which I discussed with the Commodore, and he concurs, is to fill the N. Sea with trawlers, with short wave sets, in such a manner that everything, especially submarines, and suspicious merchant ships, are reported at once.
I will not go into details here as I propose (at the Flag Commander's suggestion) drawing up a paper on the subject. We left Scapa at 4 p.m. on the 28th, in a hurry, to try and intercept the minelayer. Dash it all, the strategy of the thing is wrong. She lays her mines, (we know that) in all probability ditches her apparatus, and becomes a harmless Norwegian tramp. Out goes a cruiser squadron, in this case 10th C.S. and us. Owing to the submarine menace we are unable to stop and board merchant steamers; all we can do is to look for suspicious vessels. What the deuce constitutes a suspicious vessel? One would almost think they expected her to paint on her sides in three languages, "I laid mines." As usual, we did nothing except meet with filthy weather, and arrived here 7 a.m. to-day.
Last night a submarine was reported steering South from Sumburgh Head. We must have crossed in the night, fortunately it was dark and very rough. Heaven knows, no one objects to risking ships or men, or even losing them, provided we get some commensurate gain therefrom. But supposing in this last trip of ours one of the squadron had gone, where can we point to a gain, where did we ever stand a chance of a gain?
This morning's "Poldhu" is startling. P2. L.B. [Admiral Price Louis of Battenberg] resigned, Lord Fisher instead. He's 74 to-morrow. What will it lead to? Turkey declares war on Russia.
AT CROMARTY - VISIT BY MOTHER
3rd - 15th November
Since writing the above, little has taken place from the Naval point of view with the following exceptions. On 3rd we went South to Cromarty to dock, and passed in at night. The place seems very well guarded, with any amount of trawlers and sweepers outside, searchlights on both Sutors, and a submarine defence boom of the flexible gate type. My mother came up as well as several officers' wives. We were waiting to go into dock when the news of the Yarmouth raid came through, and B.C.S., ourselves and a flotilla of K's rushed off to sea. The ladies had just arrived in Invergordon, and seeing us just off to sea, rushed off in a tug, and were able to get aboard for 10 minutes before we sailed.
Once outside we found a heavy sea running, and as we were going into it at 20 knots we took over masses of water forward. At 7 p.m. an Admiralty Wireless message arrived to say that we were to go back. Obviously the German cruisers were legging it back to Heligoland as hard as they could go, and we had not a chance of catching them. In connection with this we lost D.5 on a mine, but they lost the Torck and 300 men on one of their own mines in a fog, evidently whilst trying to get back from their mine-laying expedition.
The 8 days that followed this saw this ship hors-de-combat, as we were in Dry Dock. So I will merely note : Chilean Action, Monmouth - G. Hope.
Despatch of Inflexible and Invincible after Scharnhorst and Co. They should catch 'em by January. Hermes sunk in straits.
Niger sunk in Downs. More secrecy introduced generally into Grand Fleet (movements etc.).
Konigsberg trapped by Chatham. Emden sunk at Cocos by Sydney.
I had the happiest of weeks. I spent 48 hours with my mother at Inverness, and the remainder of the time she was at Alness, where I went every day as soon as I could get off.
The men all had 24 hours off in Inverness, and not one broke his leave, though the first they had had since August. Whenever possible they were landed for football and tea. I usually took them and incidentally started quite a promising flirtation with a very pretty farmer's daughter at the farm next to the football field. She gave me flowers for my cabin, and I presented her with a knitted scarf. We are well looked after now, as people in London send us books, games, gramophones, etc.
DEPART CROMARTY
Sunday, 15th November
On 15th November, we came out of dock, the ship refitted, and officers and men refreshed. At 9 p.m. we sailed for Scapa. I had the middle, and at 12.50 the T.B.D. Star, without seeing us, stood right across my bow. I just avoided cutting her in half by putting my helm hard over and going full speed astern with one engine. It made him hop out of it when he did see us. In a few minutes we were back on our course and no one any the wiser.
ARRIVE SCAPA
Monday 16th November
Arrived Scapa. 1st and 2nd B.S., and C.S. and L.C.S. here. Blowing very hard, coaled, hoisted all boats. We are now using the Long Hope anchorage. Let go another anchor under forefoot. It snowed in my middle watch and was devilish cold.
ON PATROL
Tuesday, 17th November
Still blowing hard and snow all round. Went to sea and proceeded to some rocks 60 miles West of Stack Skerries, and 40 miles N.W. of C. Wrath. Submarines had been reported off C. Wrath the day before, evidently using Loch Erriboll as a base during the heavy weather. We smote the rocks, or rather one of them, vigorously with practice projectiles, and then cleared off out of it, as the sound of the firing was rather a " give away." Did some night firing further North, and during the dark hours passed through the Fair Island - Sumburgh Head gap, and rendez-voused with battle cruisers ; we then proceeded to the Eastward and met the 2nd CS.
At 1pm The Minesweepers reported that they were chasing a submarine to the South of Fair Island. It was on the surface, and though the old gunboats were doing 16 they could not catch her. This shows the speed of these ocean- going submarines. She must have been unpleasantly close to us yesterday. Later : She has dived, and though ringed with T.B.D.s, will doubtless get up and away to-night.
During the night we proceeded N. 40' W. and arrived on the "Muckle Flugga due North" patrol, which we did for the day and only saw one big ship, which looked a fat prize, but was furnished with a pass from the British Ambassador. She had also been boarded by Caronia 5 miles from the Ambrose Lt., off New York. I imagine a lot of work is done the other end. The real object of our excursion this time was, as far as I can make out, to intercept some armed German merchantmen which were supposed to be trying to break out.
It is rather significant that, coincident with our presence in the N. Sea, the Berlin and another armed liner both put into Norwegian ports and were interned. But I don't really know the ins and outs of this trip.
The next episode was one of those tremendous combined operations when half the British Navy is at sea.
DEPART SCAPA - OPERATION IN BIGHT
Sunday, 22nd November
We left Scapa at 4 p.m. on Sunday 22nd, after a stay of only 48 hours in port, during which time I went over to the Iron Duke and saw Lloyd. He told me that the C-in-C. took a very strong line with the Admiralty, and got what he wanted. The object of this particular expedition was to support an attack by three seaplanes from a seaplane carrier near Sylt on to airships at Cuxhaven. I break off here to point out that I can merely describe what I see and hear as facts, and that much that seems inexplicable to us in the Fleet can doubtless be explained by motives of policy directed from the Admiralty. What I do know is this ;'
It was an Admiralty plan.
The C-in-C. protested against it on the grounds, I understand, that for the results at stake the risk was too great to take the Grand Fleet down South.
An Admiralty messenger with detailed orders, supplementing the bare operation orders, missed the Fleet.
The weather was brilliantly fine and glassy calm, like June.
Tuesday, 24th November
At 1 am on the 24th we were all disappointed to hear that the seaplane carrier had been ordered to go back to Harwich (was the Friedrichshaven raid a failure, and were the Admiralty chary of risking more planes, as owing to the raid at F. taking place yesterday, 23rd, it might be presumed that the Cuxhaven crowd would be on the alert ? I give this idea for what it is worth). However, I suppose having come South we had to do something, so at 8 a.m. the 2nd C.S. and Liverpool and Falmouth went into the Bight to reconnoitre. We remained with the B.C.S. about 70 miles from Heligoland, and cruised about at 20 knots to guard against submarines. Incidentally, Commodore (T), who should have approached the Bight from the Westward, was apparently too far North, and chased us for a long time, thinking we were enemy T.B.D.'s. It then appeared that he had not been informed by Admiralty of our dispositions. (He came from Harwich.)
The reconnaissance reported that there was a submarine on the surface, much smoke behind the island, and that Heligoland forts fired on them but they were out of range. At noon we all started to retire. A German seaplane flew over the 2nd B.S. and dropped 5 bombs near the Liverpool. We retired to the N.E. at high speed all night, as a T.B.D. attack on Battle Fleet was considered possible. U.18 was sunk by a trawler near Stack Skerries off Scapa. Her captain said that one of their boats had been right inside the Flow but seen nothing! We must have been all away. I imagine it was before the boom was fitted.
Wednesday, 25th November
To the Westward of Skudesnaes Fjord, sweeping an area. Great activity amongst German submarines reported round Scapa. They are laying for our return, I suppose. Returned to Scapa Flow during dark hours.
AT SCAPA FLOW
Thursday, 26 November
Coaling. A German submarine is supposed to be sheltering, submerged, in Thurso Bay. They are detonating guncotton all over the place to shake him up.
Friday, 27th November
Two mines, not our own, found inside here! Can't understand it at all, unless submarines have laid them, and then I don't see how they got in, with the boom there. Blowing hard.
Later : I am sure this is a yarn.
ON PATROL
Monday, 30th November
A unit consisting of Natal, Brum [Birmingham] and ourselves went out to do the Scapa Patrol. The area is an area triangular in shape, the sides 70 miles long with the base N.S. and the apex on Muckle Skerries. The idea is to prevent minelaying off the port. I believe we are going to be almost the last to do it, as if it is kept on we are bound to lose a ship on it sooner or later, as it is in the direct track of their submarines. We saw nothing for 3 days except the foulest weather, bar once, we have had up to date.
Hove to, or practically so, for 24 hours, rolling 35' at times, and the upper deck a mass of water.
On the 1st December, we had a Wireless Telegraphy message saying Garry was engaging a submarine which she had caught sheltering in Holm Sound; it was so rough they could not hit her, and they each loosed off a torpedo. Apparently before the Garry could ram her, she dived and made off to the East (we were 40 miles to the E.) but I don't know the details, except that she got away and must have been very near us next morning, when the weather moderated a little.
AT SCAPA FLOW
Friday, 4th December
Came in and coaled.
H.M.S. Southampton,
1st Light Cruiser Squadron
Thursday.
Dearest Parents,
I did an acrobatic turn, by shinning up a coaling whip to the triatic stay to clear a coaling strop that had stuck there. . . .
Yours, with love and kisses,
Stevie.
Saturday, 5th December
It blew like blazes, we dropped another anchor and almost lost our steam cutter trying to hoist her. I was O.OW. She was plunging about on the falls like a mad dog, lifting about 8 feet, and the fore guy of the fore davit carried away twice ; of course she swung into the ship's side with a crash. Finally hoisted her clear after an hour and a half's work in cutting rain, with the davits at right angle
changed March 3, 2008