Written Monday 25th January. There has been good hunting since I last wrote, but I must begin at the right place.
Monday, 18th January
On 18th we went to sea somewhat hurriedly, and with the B.C.S. we went down to do a stunt in the Heligoland Bight. Commodore (T) was out, and we hoped to sweep up a patrol of 32 boats said to be patrolling on the Ems River - Horns Reef - Line. We arrived at daylight 19th and saw nothing except a Zepp and a seaplane. At 11 a.m. we retired, having swept up close to Heligoland. A few floating mines were seen in the afternoon.
Saturday, 23rd January
I got 4 hours short leave and went to Edinburgh by the [1.6] train. I then made arrangements to be on the end of a telephone wire, and went to Lady Marjorie's, where I met Kythe and Sir Kenneth, who were taking me to the Haymarket Rink to teach me curling. I had just begun to play, and had crashed down somewhat heavily whilst frantically "souping it oop" ! when the G.O.C., who was an opponent of mine, told me a message had come saying all L.C.S. officers back at once. (I was to leave curling for an even greater game as it turned out.) I dashed out, got a taxi, went to F. & F.'s [Ferguson and Forrester restaurant] to see if anyone was there, picked up two fellows in Prince's Street, warned the constable on point duty to tell N.O.'s to go back to their ships, and then proceeded at full speed to Dalmeny. We did the 10 miles in 20 minutes. Whilst waiting on the Hanse Pier for a boat, Engineer Captain Taylor came up to me, and in his usual charming manner was very friendly about the medal, etc. He always remembers officers who had been Cadets at Dartmouth when he was Engineer Commander there. (He was the only officer killed on our side yesterday, in the Tiger.)
L.C.S., B.S., 1st and 2nd B.C.S., and 3rd C.S. all went to sea after dark. For the account of the action see separate sheets.
Sunday, 24th January
We were at Action stations from 6.50 a.m. till 1a.m. I had the Middle Watch (12-4 a.m.) before, and the 1st and morning afterwards, consequently, I am rather tired to-day, as during the last 56 hours I've only had 8' hours turned in, in two whacks, also a snatched snooze when I could. We could get no breakfast yesterday, as the Action was just opening. At 10 a.m. I had a banana and a biscuit.
The first hit recorded by our Battle Cruisers was greeted with cheers by our men. Everyone was surprised to see the way the Blucher stood the hammering she got.
The two middle German B.C. were also getting a bad time; we saw a salvo of four from the Tiger hit the 2nd one and sheets of flame sprang up. The Lion was obliged to haul out of action by a submerged injury, hit by mine or torpedo as far as is known at present. V.A. Lion shifted his flag to Princess Royal and this delay, coupled with our nearness to Heligoland, enabled the remaining three to escape. Two of them had a bellyful, and must need pretty extensive repairs. Had we been able to get a grip on one more Battle Cruiser, the German Light Cruisers might have had to return in order to beat us off with torpedo fire.
In doing this they would have been brought to action by us. We were admirably situated as a support for this operation had it been ordered. As it was, all our flotillas were trailing along astern of us, and useless. The manner in which the action was forced was magnificent. Sir David led the Battle Cruisers in a manner worthy of our traditions, for in his flagship the Lion he received the concentrated fire of four ships. At 9 a.m. it did not appear possible that we could bring them to action, but by tenaciously hanging on to them and ignoring, or rather risking the great danger of torpedo attack from their four stern tubes, he managed to get within range and forced them to abandon the Blucher. Our gunnery also showed superiority. As for the greater part of the action the Germans had (10) 11-inch and (6) 8-inch bearing on (12) 13.5-inch, the Germans were better armed. Yet we sank the Blucher and seriously injured two others.
They damaged the Lion by torpedo or mine, and also hit her (no details yet); she had 11 men wounded. They also hit the Tiger (no details) wounding 7 men and killing Eng. Capt. Taylor.
The T.B.D. Meteor was also apparently damaged when we met them at dawn. No other injuries as far as I know at present. At 3 p.m. we gathered round the Lion, which was being taken in tow by the Indomitable, and L.C.S. and 48 destroyers guarded her through the night until 7 a.m. It was bright moonlight, and going at seven knots, which was her max. speed, was most uncomfortable. Especially as an Admiralty telegram arrived to say we were being chased by submarines from Heligoland. 4 salvage and seven ordinary tugs met her to-day.
We, with other B.C., swept South during the afternoon to meet any hostile T.B.D.'s. We hope, all being well, she will get into Rosyth at midnight to-night. We are going in at 5 a.m. H.M. has sent a congratulatory signal'I wish the Lion was in first. 8 p.m. She has stopped all leaks, is upright, and doing 8 knots in tow. Submerged flat flooded. Both engine rooms out of action due to shell piercing eduction pipes. Feed tank. holed. But all details are fragmentary so far.
I hear from Lion that in Blucher and Derfflinger one turret was lifted clean out of the ship in each case. This sounds incredible, but Lt. (G) of Lion swears to it, so do others. Once again many of the German shells did not burst.
I passed close to the Lion and saw the holes in her funnel, quite small, also one or two in her hull and the place where her armour was struck, and two plates came apart and stuck out 6 inches.
In the Tiger the shell that wounded 7 men and killed Capt. Taylor burst under the 6-inch Control Tower, and came up through. They were in the 6-inch C.T. The other men were bad hats, and stowed themselves away, instead of going on watch in the boiler room. They found a lonely and deserted spot in the middle of the ship and thought themselves safe, but a shell found them out, and hours after the action, when they were missed, their bodies were found. What a moral ! I don't believe the statement that the Kolberg was sunk ; we must have seen her I think.