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IN OUTLINE, with SHIP'S
DAMAGED
Wednesday 16 December
German Raid
on English coastal towns of Hartlepool, Scarborough and Whitby
( 1)
Fleet encounter
German 1st
SG battlecruisers and 2nd SG light cruisers escorted by
destroyers sailed to attack the Yorkshire coast.
Battlecruisers Seydlitz, Moltke and armoured cruiser
Blücher were to bombard Hartlepool, battlecruisers
Derfflinger and Von der Tann to bombard Scarborough, and
light cruiser Kolberg to lay up to 100 mines off
Flamborough Head. Both the German and British
battlefleets were out in support of their forces.
Coming
south in anticipation of this attack the seven 4th DF
destroyers screening Adm Beatty's battlecruisers - Lynx,
Ambuscade, Unity, Hardy of 1st Div and Shark, Acasta,
Spitfire of 2nd Div, met destroyers from the German
light cruiser screen in the Dogger Bank area, in
c54.10N, 03.00E at 0515. When challenged, they opened
fire damaging Lynx and Ambuscade, the remaining
destroyers then sighted cruiser Hamburg close by at
0553. This time Hardy and Shark opened fire and it was
Hardy's turn to be damaged.
All Acasta or K-class
destroyers, c1,300t, 3-4in/2-21in tt:
Lynx,
Cdr R Parry. Hit several times, not too badly damaged.
Unity initially stood by, before she made for Leith for
repairs; no lives lost, 1 man wounded (Rn/D/dk/gf)
Ambuscade,
Lt-Cdr G Coles. Holed forward, had to leave the line
around 0550 with 5ft of water in mess-deck, crippled and
called for assistance. After seeing Lynx out of danger,
Unity searched for Ambuscade and escorted her into
Leith; no lives lost (Rn/D/dk/gf)
Hardy,
Lt-Cdr L Crabbe. Wireless shot away, holed on waterline,
bridge wrecked, severely damaged by 0600 with steering
gear disabled and had to turn out of line, managed to
proceed at 0620 and limped into port escorted by
Spitfire; 2 ratings died, 1 officer and 14 ratings wounded
(Rn/D/ap/dk/gf)
( 2)
Attack on Hartlepool
As
Seydlitz, Moltke and Blücher approached at dawn, they
were spotted by patrol destroyers Doon, Waveney, Test
and Moy, a division of the 9th DF already at sea about 5
miles NE of the port; scout cruisers Patrol and Forward
and submarine C.9 were unable to leave harbour because
of the low state of tide. The destroyers came under 11in
fire around 0800, three of them being hit by shell
fragments with Doon suffering casualties, then the
Germans opened fire on the Hartlepool defences
consisting of 3-6in guns. Both C.9 and Patrol came out
at this time, followed by Forward, but Patrol was badly
hit. In return, the shore batteries hit Moltke and
Blücher several times:
Doon,
E-class, 615t, 4-12pdr/2-18in tt, Lt-Cdr H Fraser. One
rating died and 11 wounded, of whom one later DOW (Rn - 3 killed, 6 wounded)
(Rn/D/dk)
Patrol,
Pathfinder-class, 2,940t, 9-4in/2014in tt, leader, 9th
DF, Capt Alan Bruce. Worked her way out of the
tidal harbour under fire, once clear, hit by two 8.2in
shells from Blücher, then straddled by the
battlecruisers 11in. Ran hard aground near South Gare
breakwater, probably saved from destruction by the shore
batteries, badly holed but reached the Tees safely; 4
ratings died and 4 wounded (Rn/D/dk/gf)
Two
merchantmen were damaged and two fishing vessels sunk in
the docks during the Hartlepool bombardment.
(3)
Attacks on Scarborough and Whitby
Three
German ships appeared off the defenceless town of
Scarborough just before 0800, battlecruisers Derfflinger
and Von der Tann opened fire, while light cruiser
Kolberg went to lay mines off Flamborough Head. The
two battlecruisers then headed north for Whitby, and
opened fire on this equally defenceless port just after
0900, departing after 10min and ignoring two tramp
steamers passing to the south. Four fishing vessels were
damaged in Scarborough during the bombardment.
Although
the retreating German ships were sighted by ships of the
Grand Fleet's 1st LCS and 2nd BS in the low visibility,
they could not be brought to action.
IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH
Saturday 19 December
North Sea
Three days
after the Yorkshire Raid, minesweeping gunboats
Skipjack, Gossamer, Jason, on passage from Sheerness to
Scapa Flow to rejoin Grand Fleet, were ordered to sweep
from Flamborough Head north to Scarborough to determine
the extent of the minefield laid by the German
Kolberg, but only found two mines off Scarborough.
Grimsby-based Admiralty-hired minesweeping trawlers were
then sweeping closer inshore, and a number of mines were
swept up or detonated in sweeps. As Skipjack joined
them, Orianda was mined and sunk close by, and two more
damaged, all off Scarborough. Skipjack and the rest of
the sweepers anchored until the tide rose:
ORIANDA,
273/1914, Grimsby-reg GY291, hired 9/14, Admiralty
No.99, Lt Hubert Boothby RNR. Went down within 10min
with engines at full ahead, the tip of her masthead the
last part to disappear (do - c1 mile SE of Scarborough
Castle; wi – wreck lies in 54.15.17N, 00.18.32W); 1
rating lost. Wreck stands upright and remains in one
piece (+L/Rn/C/D/He/ap/dk/do/sc/wi)
Passing,
459/1913, Grimsby-reg GY877, hired 8/14, 1-12pdr or
1-6pdr, Admiralty No.58, later 1542, Lt G Parsons. Badly
holed (ap - first to be mined), down by the bows, badly
on fire, steam-pipe severed and blowing off steam.
Assisted by sweeping partner, then towed stern-first
across Cayton Bay by paddle minesweeper Brighton Queen
(SNO), beached on Scarborough Sands; no lives lost.
Salvaged and put back into service (C/D/ap/dk/do/sc)
Star of
Britain,
228/1908, hired 9/14, Aberdeen-reg, Lt C Crossley RNR.
Leaking badly from mines exploding close alongside, in
danger of sinking but saved; no lives lost (D/ap/dk/sc)
Sunday 20 December
North Sea
Two hired
auxiliaries mined in the Kolberg-laid Scarborough
field:
Valiant,
Admiralty yacht, 1,855/1893, hired 18/11/14, Cdr C
Barlow RNR (Adm Rtd), heading for Cromarty. Mined off
Filey about 0900, propellers and rudder blown off, two
trawlers brought her into Scarborough. Next day, taken
in tow by yacht Eileen for the Humber and on to Isle of
Wight for repairs; no lives lost (Rn/Mn/ap/dk/sc)
GARMO,
Admiralty trawler, 203/1900, Ocean Steam Fishing,
Grimsby-reg GY1165, hired 11/14, believed as patrol
vessel (He – minesweeper), armed, Admiralty No.810,
Skipper Thaddeus Gilbert RNR, on patrol rather than
minesweeping (He – minesweeping). Mined about an hour
after Valiant, turned right over and sank off
Scarborough (wi - 3.5 miles SE of Scarborough Castle, in
54.15.12N, 00.17.06W); skipper died of injuries from the
explosion and five ratings lost, survivors saved by HM
Drifter Principal. Wreck lies at 80ft
(+L/Lr/Rn/Mn/C/D/He/ap/dk/sc/wi; ADM.1/8407/478)
Friday 25 December
North Sea
Admiralty
trawler (and two British steamships) mined in
Scarborough field laid by cruiser Kolberg:
NIGHT HAWK
Admiralty trawler, 287/1911, Pioneer Steam Fishing,
Grimsby-reg GY643, hired 8/14 as minesweeper, Admiralty
No.57, 13 crew, Sub-Lt or Lt William Senior RNR i/c,
Skipper Evans, sweeping between Flamborough Head and
Whitby. On Christmas Eve put into Whitby for the night
with her unit, came out on Christmas Day at 0700. “Whole
bottom of the ship fell out with her engines and all
hands that happened to be below”, disappeared in less
than 10sec (He – a minute) off Scarborough (Mn - 5.5
miles E of; sc - off Whitby; wi - in 54.16N 00.15W); six
ratings lost in the explosion, 7 survivors including Lt
Senior who rescued most of them from the freezing water
using a liferaft which he sculled through the icy water
(+L/Lr/Rn/Mn/C/D/He/ap/dk/sc/wi; ADM.1/8407/488)
Wednesday
6
January 1915
North
Sea
BANYERS
or The Banyers, Admiralty trawler, 448/1914, South
Western Steam Fishing, Grimsby-reg GY128, hired 12/14 as
minesweeper, Admiralty No.450, Lt Hubert Boothby RNR,
sweeping. Mined in Scarborough field laid by German
cruiser Kolberg between Fiely and Scarborough,
sank “very quickly” off Cayton Bay, S of Scarborough (wi
- in 54.15.07N, 00.15.24W); 2 ratings lost (He/wi - 6
crew), Skipper escaped through wheel-house window, 11
survivors rescued by other ships. Lt Boothby lost HMS
Orianda less than a month before, was awarded the DSC
and later wrote about his experiences in “Spunyarn”,
published 1935 (+L/Lr/C/D/He/ap/dk/wi; ADM.137/84)
(click for source abbreviations)
____________________
NAVAL DESPATCH
With thanks to
the London Gazette
29076 - 16 FEBRUARY 1915
EAST COAST MINESWEEPING OPERATIONS
Admiralty, 19th February, 1915
The following Memorandum has been furnished by the Admiral Commanding the East Coast Minesweepers, detailing the recent mine-sweeping operations off
Scarborough.
____
From the 19th to the 31st December sweeping operations were conducted by the East Coast Mine sweepers with the object of clearing the minefield which had been laid by the enemy off Scarborough.
At the beginning there was no indication of the position of the mines, although owing to losses of passing merchant ships it was known that a minefield had been laid.
In order to ascertain how the mines lay it was necessary to work at all times of tide with a consequent large increase in the element of danger
The following officers are specially noticed for their services during the operations -
Commander Richard H Walters, R N, A M S Staff, was in charge of the whole of the mine sweeping operations from 19th to 31st December. During this period a large number of mines were swept up and destroyed. By the 25th December, a channel had been cleared, and traffic was able to pass through by daylight.
Commander (now Captain) Lionel G Preston, R N , H M S "Skipjack," on the 19th December, proceeded at once into the middle of the area where the mines had exploded to give assistance to the damaged trawlers. He anchored between the trawlers and the mines which had been brought to the surface, and proceeded to sunk them
Lieutenant Godfrey Craih Parsons, R N , HMS "Pekin," displayed, great skill and devotion to duty in continuing to command his group of trawlers after having been mined in Trawler No 58 on 19th December. On this day his group exploded eight mines, and brought to the surface six more, Trawler No 99 being blown up and Nos 58 and 465 damaged, all in the space of about 10 minutes.
Lieutenant H Boothby, R N R, HMS "Pekin". When Trawler No 99 ("Orianda") in which he was serving was blown up by a mine on the 19th December, Lieutenant Boothby successfully got all his crew (except one who was killed) into safety. Lieutenant Boothby was again blown up on 6th January, 1915, in Trawler No 450 ("The Banyers").
Lieutenant C. V. Crossley, R.N.R., H.M.S. "Pekin". Whilst sweeping on 19th December, three violent explosions occurred close under the stern of his ship, Trawler No. 465 (“Star of Britain”). He controlled the crew, and himself crawled into a confined space near the screw shaft, discovered the damage, and temporarily stopped the leak sufficiently to enable the pumps to keep the water down and save the ship.
Skipper T. Trendall, R.N.T.R., Trawler "Solon," No.55, on his own responsibility went to the assistance of the Steamer "Gallier," which had just been mined on the night of 25th December. It was low water at the time and dark, and the "Gallier" was showing no lights, so had to be searched for in the mine field.
Skipper Ernest V. Snowline, R.N.T.R., Drifter "Hilda and Ernest," No. 201, carried out his duties as Commodore of the Flotilla of Lowestoft drifters under Chief Gunner Franklin, R.N., in a most satisfactory manner. He kept to his station in heavy weather, standing by the S.S. "Gallier" after she had been damaged by a mine.
Lieutenant W.. G. Wood, R.N.R., Trawler "Restrivo," No. 48, did excellent work in going to the assistance of damaged trawlers on 19th December, and performed the risky duty of crossing the mine field at low water when sent to bring in the "Valiant," which had been disabled by a mine.
Skipper George W. Thornton, R.N.T.R., Trawler "Passing," No. 58, displayed great coolness and rendered valuable assistance to Lieutenant Parsons in controlling the crew when No. 58 had been mined.
Skipper William Allerton, R.N.T.R., Drifter "Eager," No. 202, kept to his station in heavy weather, standing by the S.S. "Gallier" after she had been damaged by a mine.
Sub-Lieutenant W. L. Scott, R.N.R., Drifter "Principal," went alongside the Trawler "Garmo" in a dinghy to rescue a man at considerable risk to himself and his boat, as the vessel was floating nearly vertical at the time, with only the forecastle above water. She turned completely over and sank a few minutes after he left her.
Skipper Thomas B. Belton, R.N.T.R., Drifter "Retriever," No. 223, kept to his station, marking the safe channel for shipping when all other drifters were driven in by the weather.
The following are also commended for Good Service done under dangerous conditions:
Robert A. Gray, Engineman, R.N.R. No. 694ES, M.S.Tr. No. 465.
William A. Lewis, P.O., 1cl., O.N. 178498,. M.S.Tr. No. 450.
Christopher Briggs, Engineman, R.N.R. No. 1542ES, M.S.Tr. No. 450.
William Gladding, Cook, R.N.R. No.223T.C., M.S.Tr. No. 450.
Robert Frost, Second Hand, R.N.R. No.81D.A., M.S.Tr. No. 43.
Edwin F. Frankland, Deck Hand, R.N.R. No. 2481D.A.,.M.S.Tr. No. 49.
George Newman, Engineman, R.N.R, No. 625ES, M.S.Tr.No.451.
William R. Kemp, Engineman, R.N.R. No. 846ES, M.S.Tr. No. 49.
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starting with
MAP and IMAGES
North Sea - click to enlarge
Some of the German
Warships
SMS Seydlitz, battlecruiser (Maritime Quest)
SMS Moltke,
battlecruiser (Maritime Quest)
SMS Blucher,
armoured cruiser (Maritime Quest)
SMS Derfflinger,
battlecruiser (Maritime Quest)
SMS Von der Tann,
battlecruiser (Maritime Quest)
____________________
IMMEDIATE
ROYAL NAVY
CASUALTIES OF THE RAID
With thanks to
Don Kindell
Wednesday, 16
December 1914
Doon,
old
destroyer, damaged by German battlecruisers in raid on Hartlepool, one rating died of wounds next day
Died
FRASER, James, Stoker 1c, SS 109383 (Ch)
Wounded
Bodiam, Albert, Victor, Leading Seaman, 222793 (Ch),
slightly
Credland, Harold, Able Seaman, 177695 (Ch),
DOW next day
Gale, Clifford Alfred, Stoker 1c, K 12925 (Ch)
Hawkridge, Frederick William, Mate,
Horne, William Frederick, Able Seaman, J 6275 (Ch)
Jacob, Edward Charles, Leading Seaman, 234400 (Ch)
Maver, Renwick Graham, Able Seaman, 181417 (Ch)
May, Frederick George, Stoker 1c, K 3570 (Ch)
Milne, James, Stoker 1c, 291911 (Ch), slightly
Moynihan, John, Stoker 1c, K 9032 (Ch)
Watts, William, Stoker 1c, K 14524 (Ch), slightly
_____
Hardy,
destroyer, damaged in action during raid
Died
RIGSBY, Harold H, Leading Seaman, 212189 (Po),
DOW
WOOLGAR, George W, Able Seaman, J 5689 (Po)
Wounded
Adlam, Henry James, Able Seaman, 209445 (Po)
Atkins, George, Stoker 1c (RFR B 9628), SS 107000 (Ch)
Bailey, James Albert, Stoker Petty Officer, 290613 (Po)
Belton, Philip John, Leading Seaman, 228011 (Po)
Chapple, Edwin John, Leading Signalman, 212392 (Po), severely
Goulding, William, Able Seaman, J 5417 (Po)
Greiffenhagen, Rider M W, Sub Lieutenant,
Johnson, John Walter, Signalman, J 6110 (Po)
Ledley, Alfred William, Able Seaman, J 12133 (Po)
Lewis, Jesse Gordon, Able Seaman, 217891 (Po)
Manser, Thomas George, Able Seaman, J 11678 (Po), severely
Myers, John, Stoker 1c, SS 111735 (Po)
Niven, W J, Engine Room Artificer, RNR, 1196 E A, slightly
injured
Plackett, Samuel Sidney, Stoker 1c, SS 111988 (Po)
Watts, Edward Charles, Able Seaman, 205399 (Po)
_____
Patrol,
light
cruiser, damaged by German battlecruisers in raid on Hartlepool
Died
CUMMINGS, Ernest C, Able Seaman, J 8662 (Ch)
FLYNN, George M (real name, but served as
George M Martin), Armourer's Crew, 345449 (Ch)
HOOK, Ralph W, Leading
Seaman, 224557 (Ch)
SHERIDAN, Patrick J, Engine Room Artificer 1c,
280091 (Ch)
Wounded
Gilbert, Charles, Stoker 1c, K 12645 (Ch)
Mcclure, Robert, Shipwright 2c, 344936 (Ch)
Pace, William James, Leading Seaman, 227986 (Ch)
Richmond, Robert Henry, Engine Room Artificer 3c, M 1367 (Ch)
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HM
Coast Guard Station
Whitby
RANDELL, Frederick, Boatman (Coast Guard),
301408 (Po), kill in raid.
Wounded
Thursday, 17
December 1914
Doon,
old
destroyer, damaged on 16th
CREDLAND, Harold, Able Seaman, 177695 (Ch),
DOW
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AWARDS
With thanks to
the London Gazette
29123 - 9 APRIL 1915
Admiralty 10th April 1915
To receive the Distinguished Service Medal
For services rendered in action off Hartlepool on 16th December, 1914 John Walter Johnson, Signalman, O.N. J 6110, H.M.S. "Hardy."
Many of the honours and
gallantry awards listed in the London Gazette, do not identify ships or
battles/campaigns. Therefore the above listings are probably incomplete
____________________
29076 - 16 FEBRUARY 1915 East
Coast Minesweeping Operations Admiralty, 19th February, 1915
The KING (is) pleased to give orders for the following
appointment to the Distinguished Service Order and for the award of the
Distinguished Service Cross in respect of the undermentioned Officers, in
recognition of their services mentioned in the foregoing despatch (bottom
left hand column): To be a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order. Lieutenant H. Boothby, R.N.R. ____ To receive the Distinguished Service Cross. Lieutenant C. V. Crossley, R.N.R. Skipper T. Trendall, R.N.T.R. Skipper Ernest V. Snowline, R.N.T.R. ____ The following awards have also been made: To receive the Distinguished Service Medal. Robert A. Gray, Engineman, R.N.R., No. 694ES. William A. Lewis, Petty Officer, 1st Class, O.N.178498. Christopher Briggs, Engineman, R.N.R., No. 1542ES. William Gladding, Cook, R.N.R., No. 223TC. Robert Frost, Second Hand, R.N.R., No. 81DA.
Many of the honours and
gallantry awards listed in the London Gazette, do not identify ships or
battles/campaigns. Therefore the above listings are probably incomplete
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