wulsten Posted 4 January , 2008 Share Posted 4 January , 2008 Does anyone have a casualty list for the monitor HMS Glatton, from the explosion September 1918. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiegeGunner Posted 4 January , 2008 Share Posted 4 January , 2008 Does anyone have a casualty list for the monitor HMS Glatton, from the explosion September 1918. Geoff's very wonderful search engine produces 98 hits. I haven't checked them all, but certainly the first half dozen are all casualties of the explosion: http://www.hut-six.co.uk/cgi-bin/sx2.php?v...=1&pageno=1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Saunders Posted 4 January , 2008 Share Posted 4 January , 2008 Interesting that the Glatton was lost off Dover in 1918 but bodies were recovered at least 24 months later and buried in the Naval Cemetery in Gillingham - approx 50 miles distant from Dover. I have never got to the reason why and have always been perplexed by the remains being recovered so much later. Without being gruesome I wouldnt have thought the sea would have left much to recover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiegeGunner Posted 4 January , 2008 Share Posted 4 January , 2008 Glatton wasn't 'lost off Dover', Jon — she blew up in Dover harbour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 4 January , 2008 Share Posted 4 January , 2008 Here's the Admiralty files: ADM 1/8538/245 HMS GLATTON sunk in Dover harbour after explosion on 16 September 1918. Casualties 1918 ADM 116/1625 Loss of H.M.S. GLATTON - Court of Enquiry etc. 1918 ADM 137/3791 Loss of HMS GLATTON 1918 Sept 16-Sept 24 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wulsten Posted 4 January , 2008 Author Share Posted 4 January , 2008 Cheers all, the casualty i have been checking also gives the date of death as the 15th September 1916, is this a mistake as the Glatton from posts gives explosion on the 16th September JOHNSON, ALFRED JOSEPH Stoker 1st Class Royal Navy H.M.S. Glatton Date of Death: 15/09/1918 K/19408 Grave/Memorial Reference: Naval. 15. 804-6. Cemetery: GILLINGHAM (WOODLANDS) CEMETERY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Saunders Posted 4 January , 2008 Share Posted 4 January , 2008 Grave/Memorial Reference: Naval. 15. 804-6. Cemetery: GILLINGHAM (WOODLANDS) CEMETERY This is a mass grave and also serves as a memorial to the loss of HMS Glatton by the internal explosion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 5 January , 2008 Share Posted 5 January , 2008 The casualty file will probably have next of kin and may even have examples of the notification that was sent out. Service register: Name Johnson, Alfred Joseph Official Number: K19408 Place of Birth: Newcastle Under Lyme, Staffordshire Date of Birth: 02 May 1894 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...p;resultcount=1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melliget Posted 5 January , 2008 Share Posted 5 January , 2008 Does anyone have a casualty list for the monitor HMS Glatton, from the explosion September 1918. It wasn't until March 1930, some 11 and a half years after the explosion, that the remains of 57 sailors (The Times reported 58) who died in the explosion were recovered "during shipbreaking operations on the wreck." Why the long delay, I don't know (perhaps the presence of unexploded ordnance prevented a faster salvage). Once recovered, the remains were taken to Chatham Naval Hospital and later carried with fully naval ceremony to be buried in Gillingham Cemetery (Naval 15, 804-6). The Times reported that the "casualties numbered 80 altogether". Though they reported 58, I could find only 57 casualties buried in Gillingham Cemetery (they are Royal Navy, unless noted otherwise). ALFORD, ALFRED, Petty Officer Stoker http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056428 ALLANTON, GEORGE, Ordinary Seaman http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056429 AMES, WILLIAM, Stoker 1st Class http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056432 BAKER, ALBERT, Stoker 1st Class http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056449 BARLOW, BERTRAM, Able Seaman http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056455 BEATTY, ALFRED, Engine Room Artificer 4th Class http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056467 BENNETT, WILLIAM STEPHEN, Stoker 1st Class http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056476 BENSON, JOHN WILLIAM, Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056480 BRIDGE, THOMAS, Stoker 1st Class http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056506 CARD, WALTER ALBERT, Stoker 1st Class http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056536 CAVE, HENRY, Petty Officer Stoker http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056541 CLIFTON, ROBERT, Ordinary Seaman http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056560 COPP, WILLIAM JACOB, Petty Officer http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056574 COWDREY, CHARLES, Chief Engine Room Artificer http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056580 CURT, ALBERT, Ordinary Seaman http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056595 DICKSON, THOMAS, Stoker 1st Class http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056620 DREW, REGINALD JAMES BLAKENEY, Lieut-Commander http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056629 GENEE (aka GENCE), RAPHAEL AUGUSTE, Petty Officer Stoker http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056684 GREENWOOD, RALPH DUKE, Engine Room Artificer 4th Class http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056703 GROVE, WILLIAM GEORGE, Stoker 1st Class http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056705 HARDEN, PERCIVAL JACK ROBERTS, Ordinary Seaman http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056715 HARDEN, WILLIAM FREDERICK, Able Seaman, RNVR http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056716 HEATH, CHARLES BENJAMIN, Stoker 1st Class http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056730 HILL, ALFRED HERBERT, Officer's Cook 1st Class http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056741 HOWARD, CHARLES, Stoker 1st Class http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056757 JOHNSON, ALFRED JOSEPH, Stoker 1st Class http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056787 JONES, WILLIAM TREVOR, Stoker 1st Class http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056791 KNAPP, EDWIN, Stoker 1st Class http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056804 KNIGHT, ROBERT, Stoker 1st Class http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056807 LAKE, WALTER, Petty Officer http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056811 MACKIE, THOMAS BREBNER, Engine Room Artificer 4th Class http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056854 MAKIN, CHARLES THOMAS, Engine Room Artificer 4th Class http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056869 MARTIN, PETER, Petty Officer http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056879 MILLER, FREDERICK JOHN, Stoker 1st Class http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056889 MILLS, THOMAS RICHARD, Stoker 1st Class http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056892 MOGER, CHARLES WILLIAM, Private, Royal Marine Light Infantry http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056896 MOTTRAM, ALFRED HENRY, Leading Stoker http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056906 NETTLESHIP, WILLIAM, Stoker 2nd Class http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056914 OWEN, GEORGE ARTHUR, Chief Petty Officer http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056923 RHODES, FRANK, Shipwright 2nd Class http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056973 ROBSON, GEORGE COLLINGWOOD, Stoker 1st Class http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056978 SCORER, THOMAS, Stoker 2nd Class http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056991 SHADWELL, FREDERICK WILLIAM, Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056999 SHAW, ALFRED BERNARD, 3rd Class Waiter http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3057001 SIMPSON, FREDERICK WALTER, Engine Room Artificer 4th Class http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3057008 SMALL, MARTIN, Stoker 2nd Class http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3057014 SMITH, THOMPSON, Stoker 2nd Class http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3057023 STAMP, TOM, Petty Officer Stoker http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3057030 STARKEY, CHARLIE AGUSTA, Petty Officer Stoker http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3057033 STENSON, WALTER, Stoker 1st Class http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3057035 STUBBS, GEORGE, Stoker 2nd Class http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3057046 SULLIVAN, MICHAEL, Shipwright 2nd Class http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3057047 TAYLOR, GEORGE HENRY, Stoker 1st Class http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3057057 WAUGH, MATTHEW, Stoker 2nd Class http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3057113 WHITINGTON, JOHN JAMES, Boy Servant http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3057126 WILLS, JOHN, Stoker 2nd Class http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3057136 WRAY, ROBERT MCGREGOR, Leading Stoker http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3057147 An additional 23 casualties (+) of HMS Glatton who all, except for one, died after the day of the explosion: ANDREWS, F. W. (Frederick William), Master at Arms, d.03/10/1918, GOSPORT (ANN'S HILL) CEMETERY http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3055402 AYLING, H. F., Petty Officer Stoker, d.25/09/1918, PORTSMOUTH (KINGSTON) CEMETERY http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=361715 BALCOMBE, JAMES, Chief Gunner, d.18/09/1918, PORTSMOUTH (MILTON) CEMETERY http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=361518 BOYLAND, CHARLES, Private, Royal Marine Light Infantry, d.02/10/1918, HEMYOCK CEMETERY http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=349709 BROWN, WILLIAM THOMAS, Able Seaman, d.21/09/1918, DOVER (ST. JAMES'S) CEMETERY http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=365463 COSTELLO (aka SNOWBALL), ROBERT, Stoker 2nd Class, d.17/09/1918, DOVER (ST. JAMES'S) CEMETERY http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=365500 HENSHAW, ALBERT HAROLD, Cook's Mate, d.19/09/1918, PORTSMOUTH (MILTON) CEMETERY http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=361585 JOHNS, RICHARD, Private, Royal Marine Light Infantry, d.21/09/1918, PORTSMOUTH (EASTNEY OR HIGHLAND ROAD) CEMETERY http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=361398 KING, H. G., Cook's Mate, d.21/09/1918, WELLS CEMETERY http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=394546 MARTIN, A. K. (Arthur Kenneth), Officer's Cook 1st Class, d.21/09/1918, GOSPORT (ANN'S HILL) CEMETERY http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3055464 ODDY, J. H. (John Haralio), Leading Cooks Mate, d.25/09/1918, PORTSMOUTH (KINGSTON) CEMETERY http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=361949 ROWE, R. W., Stoker 2nd Class, d.17/09/1918, DALTON-LE-DALE (HOLY TRINITY) CHURCHYARD http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=354553 SAVE, G. A., Carpenter's Crew, d.17/09/1918, FULHAM PALACE ROAD CEMETERY http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2905321 SOLLERS, PERCY, Engine Room Artificer 4th Class, d.17/09/1918, LLANTILIO PERTHOLEY (ST. TEILO) CHURCHYARD http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=389732 SPENCE, JOSEPH, Able Seaman, d.17/09/1918, DOVER (ST. JAMES'S) CEMETERY http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=365738 SPOONER, ALBERT HENRY, Able Seaman, d.26/09/1918, FUNTINGTON (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=402732 STOKER, J., Stoker 1st Class, d.25/09/1918, SUNDERLAND (MERE KNOLLS) CEMETERY http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=353845 VASS, A. S., Able Seaman, d.18/09/1918, FLEET (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2758331 VAUGHAN, C. H., Plumber's Mate, d.28/09/1918, WREXHAM CEMETERY http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=671216 WARWICK, L. C., Signal Boy, d.19/09/1918, BOURNEMOUTH EAST CEMETERY http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=362409 WEIR, ROBERT, Able Seaman, d.16/09/1918, DALZIEL (AIRBLES) CEMETERY http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=4029471 WELLS, R., Leading Stoker, d.23/09/1918, EFFINGHAM (ST. LAURENCE) CHURCHYARD http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=401029 WHITE, R. G. (Robert George), Leading Stoker, d.17/09/1918, GOSPORT (ANN'S HILL) CEMETERY http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3055500 regards, Martin + 19 Jan 2008: Added H. G. KING - thanks Orson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soldier75 Posted 5 January , 2008 Share Posted 5 January , 2008 Wulston, Not the full list, but here are some details on one casualty from Widnes, Lancashire. Soldier 75 Harry E.R.A. 4th Class Alfred Beatty No.M28409 HMS “Glatton” Born : Not known. Enlisted : Not known. Resided : 49 Frederick Street, Widnes, Lancashire. Killed in an explosion on 18th September, 1918, aged 22. Buried at Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent. Commemorated on the family headstone in Widnes Cemetery. The son of John & Annie Beatty, Alfred Beatty was killed in an explosion on his ship in Dover harbour.# HMS “Glatton” was a coastal monitor of 5,700 tons and was part of the Dover Patrol. The cause of the explosion was thought to be ammunition exploding.## # WWN 1918. ## British vessels lost at sea 1914-18. ***** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melliget Posted 6 January , 2008 Share Posted 6 January , 2008 Hi. I Googled a further 22 casualties, almost all dying after the day of the explosion. I've appended these to my earlier post. Not sure if there are any others but the total number seems to tally with reports. While looking around, I noticed some websites saying that Admiral Keyes later ordered the Glatton to be torpedoed (to avoid a catastrophic explosion) knowing that there were still sailors trapped inside the burning ship. Does anyone know anything about this? The site below, which gives a description of the disaster, doesn't seem to subscribe to that theory: http://www.bobhenneman.info/glatton.htm regards, Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiegeGunner Posted 6 January , 2008 Share Posted 6 January , 2008 The site below, which gives a description of the disaster, doesn't seem to subscribe to that theory: http://www.bobhenneman.info/glatton.htm My confidence in this account might be higher if its author had correctly identified the sister ship of Glatton as Gorgon rather than Gordon ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wulsten Posted 6 January , 2008 Author Share Posted 6 January , 2008 Martin, pm sent and many thanks for the work relating to the list and again thanks to all the posts, ive been checking a biography about Roger Keyes and i cannot find any evidence re the torpedo and sailors aboard either. noted some casualties listed as died as early as the 10th Sept 1918 ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melliget Posted 6 January , 2008 Share Posted 6 January , 2008 Thanks, wulsten. I'll post here if I find anything more. I think those casualty dates that pre-date the explosion may be just plain wrong, especially the 16/04/1918. I don't know the exact date of the commissioning of HMS Glatton but I think it was just a few months prior to the explosion on 16/09/1918. Probably transcription errors. regards, Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 7 January , 2008 Share Posted 7 January , 2008 As the Court of Enquiry proceedings survive, they should reveal any account of the circumstances and if Keyes gave any such order it should have been revealed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian turner Posted 7 January , 2008 Share Posted 7 January , 2008 The Glatton disaster has been aired on the forum several times before. Not that it is gospel, but I have the volumes of "I was there" - first hand accounts of the Great War. Glatton is featured, together with photos of her salvage (1920's not 1930) when the last remains were recovered. It certainly recounts the Admiral Keyes torpedoing, as does the linked article mentioned in post 11. I am not sure of the reasons for the time taken to commence salvage ops, but maybe as she had 'turned turtle' and sank upside down it might have proven not so easy to raise her. Maybe the Scapa salvage work was an incentive! Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melliget Posted 7 January , 2008 Share Posted 7 January , 2008 Hi. Yes, the salvage was in the 1920's (she was finally raised in Feb 1926) but the opening of the monitor didn't begin until Nov of that year (in the area of the bunkers) and the remains of the sailors were not discovered/removed until Mar 1930. In regard to Admiral Keyes ordering the monitor to be torpedoed, is there anything in those first hand accounts to suggest that he did this knowing that there were still survivors onboard? I'm just interested to learn if suggestions of this on some websites have any basis in fact. regards, Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian turner Posted 8 January , 2008 Share Posted 8 January , 2008 Martin, I will look up the book when I am home tonight. From memory I am sure that the knowledge of trapped crew was there - it was a question of crew/ship versus Dover. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melliget Posted 8 January , 2008 Share Posted 8 January , 2008 Thanks, Ian. I appreciate that. If it was true, even though it was the lesser of two evils, it still must have been a difficult order for Keyes to give. regards, Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian turner Posted 8 January , 2008 Share Posted 8 January , 2008 Martin, Can you just imagine it? That said, I think the trapped crew might not have been readily saved in any case. The ship had been previously ammunitioning. It is not hard to immagine the consquences of letting the fire get to the magazines. I think the ships (part of the Dover patrol) were preparing for the bombardment in support of 4th Ypres later in Septmber 1918. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melliget Posted 8 January , 2008 Share Posted 8 January , 2008 I'm going to contact the CWGC and query the dates of death for 4 of the Glatton casualties, namely: CLIFTON, ROBERT, Ordinary Seaman, d.15/09/1918 http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056560 HEATH, CHARLES BENJAMIN, Stoker 1st Class, d.10/09/1918 http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056730 HILL, ALFRED HERBERT, Officer's Cook 1st Class, d.16/04/1918 http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056741 JOHNSON, ALFRED JOSEPH, Stoker 1st Class, d.15/09/1918 http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3056787 According to the Miramar Ship Index, HMS Glatton wasn't completed until 08/09/1918 so, if this date is correct, it seems unlikely there would have been any earlier casualties. I think the dates are probably simply transcription errors. Can anyone confirm the commissioning date of the Glatton from another source? Thanks. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Clark Posted 8 January , 2008 Share Posted 8 January , 2008 Interesting thread... I have been meaning to do a detailed write up on the loss of the Glatton in Dover harbour for kentfallen project. I'm busy with non-comms at the moment but if anyone else wants to do it then I would be pleased to allow the work to go on kentfallen? Nice to see that these guys are not forgotten. I will try and post a photo of their tribute in Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham next week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Denham Posted 8 January , 2008 Share Posted 8 January , 2008 The dates are scanning or typo errors and have been reported. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian turner Posted 8 January , 2008 Share Posted 8 January , 2008 Martin, Source: The Great War - I Was There vol 3 Article accredited to Capt W J Pearce, skipper of Dover tug "Lady Brassey" There is too much to type out, so I just give a precis: 16 Sept 1918 - Dover harbour a scene of bustling activity as vessels prepared for a bombardment of the Belgian coast the next day. Four monitors side by side: Marshal Soult, General Wolfe, Gorgon and Glatton. The Glatton had been coaling for the past hour or so and the collier was shifting to the Gorgon when there was an explosion. A blanket of white smoke rose from the Glatton amidships and then flames. The Lady Brassey was manoeuvered alongside the Glatton, now fiercely burning. Already many wounded were on deck. The Lady Brassey deployed a hose party to try and fight their way forward to where there were wounded, and there was a party of ratings attempting to get below to flood the magazines and open the seacocks, so as to sink the ship. The great risk of a major explosion amongst the number of fully ammunitioned ships had been immediately recognised. The skipper of the Lady Brassey had returned to his ship to organise more fire-fighting equipment when a pinnace came alongside carrying Admiral Keyes plus other officers. Keyes boarded the LB to get access to the Glatton and ordered the LB away clear of the burning ship. But ten minmutes later the LB was called alongside once more as Keyes wished to go ashore. There followed another explosion - possibly caused by bridge ack-ack ammunition going off. The Glatton was by now down by the head, but whilst the danger had passed from the forward magazine, the aft of the ship was well alight, with the continued danger of exploding the aft magazine. Keyes was taken ashore at the Camber - a small dock near the Eastern end of the harbour. After considering the options, Keyes decided on torpedoing the Glatton. The authorities cleared the many onlookers that had by now gathered (even sounding the air raid siren). Keyes reboarded the LB and instructed the tug to take up a station whilst the destroyer "Myngs" positioned itself to launch the torpedo. The account only mentions one torpedo being fired. ++ My comments: The account looks to have been a little 'sensationalised' and I wonder a little at the accuracy. The Captain writing the article at first mentions the coaling, but then repeatedly says that there was smoke/gas from the burning fuel oil! The publication dates from the late 1930's, I do not know who would have been readily available to criticise the passage for inaccuracies, but published it was. The story finishes with the salving of the hulk and the removal of the remains of some 57 crew who were buried at Gillingham. I could not quickly find reference to a destroyer named Myngs in WW1 but there was a WW2 destroyer of that name. Perhaps a pal can check out the Myngs in WW1, if they have suitable reference sources? Another episode made me doubt the article - it was said that Keyes enquired if the Lady Brassey carried any oxy-acetylene equipment, so as to try and cut a hole in the Glatton at the waterline! I doubt this, since obviously it would have taken time to cut a sufficient hole to sink the ship promptly, and secondly the Glatton was protected by anti-torpedo bulges - which even the article mentions when showing pictures of the salvage.... My conclusion therefore was that the article was sensationalised, and I cannot judge which parts are true and which might not be. That said I feel guilty in criticising such a tragic matter, however it was reported. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiegeGunner Posted 8 January , 2008 Share Posted 8 January , 2008 Myngs was a Sixth Flotilla destroyer, attached to the Dover Patrol from 5 March 1917 (Appendix to Vol 2 of Admiral Bacon's "Dover Patrol 1915-1917"). Lady Brassey was the DP's principal salvage tug and, in Admiral Bacon's time, at least, was always skippered by his most experienced and trusted tug captain. The account of Keyes dashing hither, thither, and yon sounds characteristic and credible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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