NARRATIVE OF EVENTS RELATING TO DISABLED SHIPS.
At 2 a.m. on 1st June, "
Marlborough
" reported that her speed was reduced to 12 knots and at 2.30 a.m. she was directed by
Commander-in-Chief
to proceed to Tyne or Rosyth by " M " channel.
At 3.0 a.m. Vice-Admiral Commanding,
First Battle Squadron
was directed to send his division to join Commander-in-Chief, keeping one ship as escort if necessary.
He reported that he had transferred to " Revenge " and that " Marlborough " was proceeding with " Fearless " in company.
At 7.0 a.m. Commander-in-Chief ordered Commodore (T) to detach four destroyers to screen " Marlborough," her 4.30 a.m.. position being in latitude 55° 30' N., longitude 6° 3' E. Course S.W., speed 14 knots.
At 6.50 p.m. 1st June " Marlborough " reported—All compartments between 78 and 111 stations starboard from outer bottom to middle or main deck probably flooded. AU double bottom compartments between these stations on starboard side vertical keel damaged and probably double bottom compart- ments vertical to 2nd longitudinal on port side also damaged. Boilers, auxiliary macliinery in " A " boiler room not damaged, except air blower and Diesel engine oil pump. " A " boiler room partially flooded but w^ater is being kept under.
At 9.30 p.m. Admiralty directed " Marlborough " to proceed to Rosyth for temporary repairs.
At midnight lst-2nd June " Marlborough " reported her position to be in latitude 54° 40' N., longitude 0° 53' E., and
that she was making for Flamborough Head. Owing to bad weather the water was gaining.
The Commander-in-Chief requested the Senior Naval Officer Hiimber to send powerful tugs to her and also directed " Can- terbury," who was proceeding to Harwich, to proceed to her
assistance.
" Canterbury " sighted " Marlborough " ofE the Humber at
7.30 a.m. 2nd June, when she was informed that her assistance was not required.
At 4.0 a.m. " Marlborough " reported her position to be in latitude 54° 10' N., longitude 0° 2' E., course South, speed 11 knots ; water was being kept under -control.
" Marlborough " arrived in the Humber at 8.0 a.m. 2nd, screened by " Fearless " and 8 destroyers from Harwich, having been unsuccessfully attacked by enemy submarines whilst en route.
" WARSPITEr
At 9.0 p.m. 31st May, " Warspite " reported that the damage reduced her speed to 16 knots. The Commander-in-Chief ordered her to proceed to Rosyth.
At 6.10 a.m. 1st June, " Warspite " reported to the Commander-in-Chief that she had many holes from shellfire, that the ship was tight and on an even keel. vSeveral compartments were full, but the bulkheads were shored. The ship was being steered from the engine room.
At 9.0 a.m. 1st June the Commander-in-Chief asked the Commander-in-Chief, Rosyth, to send local destroyers to screen " Warspite."
She arrived at Rosyth at 3.0 p.m. on 1st June having been unsuccessfully attacked by enemy submarines en route.
" BROKEr
At 11.24 a.m. 1st June the Commodore (F) reported that " Broke's " midnight position was in latitude 57° 49' N., longitude 3° 50' E., course N.W. speed 7 knots; that she was damaged forward and would like escort if available.
At 1.30 a.m. 2nd June, " Active " was dropped astern of fleet and proceeded to search for " Broke." She was informed that two destroj^ers would be sent as soon as " Broke " had been located.
At 5.0 a.m. the Commander-in-Chief directed the Commodore Commanding, Fourth Light-cruiser Squadron, to detail one Hghtcruisertoassist"Active"insearchfor"Broke." "Con- stance " proceeded at 5.30 a.m. 2nd June.
At 6.30 a.m. 2nd June the Rear-Admiral Commanding, Second Cruiser Squadron was ordered to abandon the search for " Warrior " and sweep to find " Broke."
At 9.15 p.m. 2nd June orders were given for the search to be continued next day to the South and S.W. of the area already searched.
At 1.0 a.m. 3rd June " Constance " and " Active " were ordered to return to Scapa.
At 3.0 a.m. 3rd June " Broke " reported her position to be in latitude 56° 21' N., longitude 0° 12' E., course West, speed knots, and the Vice-Admiral Commanding, Battle Cruiser Fleet, was ordered to send four destroyers to meet and screen
her. They sailed at 8.0 a.m. 3rd June.
The Second Cruiser Squadron was ordered to return to the
base. Tliis squadron arrived at 6.30 p.m. the same day. The " Broke " arrived in Tyne at 6.0 p.m. 3rd June.
" WARRIOBr
At 8.0 p.m. 31st May " Engadine " took " Warrior " in tow in about latitude 57° 10'' N., longitude 5° 45' E., steering W.N.W. " Warrior " was abandoned at 7.45 a.m. 1st June in approxi- mately latitude 57° 34' N., longitude 2° 56' E., " Engachne " proceeding alongside to take the crew off. The latter arrived at Rosyth at 1.35 a.m. 2nd June with 35 officers, 681 men, 25 cot
cases and two walking cases from " Warrior."
At 8.45 a.m. 1st June the Commander-in-Chief, not having
received information that " Warrior " was abandoned, informed the Commander-in-Chief, Rosyth, that she was in tow of " Engadine," com.pletely disabled, in latitude 57° 18' N., longitude 3° 54' E., course W.N.W., speed 7 knots, and requested that tugs should be sent.
At 9.55 a.m. 1st June, the Rear-Admiral, Invergordon, informed the Commander-in-Chief that yacht " Albion," in charge of two tugs, had been ordered to leave Peterhead and proceed to the assistance of " Warrior."
" Engadine's " 11.0 p.m. position on 31st May was in latitude 57° 10' N., longitude 2° 17' E.
At 1.45 p.m. 2nd June, the Rear-Admiral, " Cj^clops," reported that vacht " Albion III." with three tugs had been unable to find " Warrior."
At 4.30 p.m. the Commander-in-Chief informed the Rear- Admiral Commanding, Second Cruiser Squadron, of the state of affairs about " Warrior " and directed Mm to search for her and if impossible to salve, to sink her. If the tugs sent out from Peterhead were not required for " Warrior " they were to be sent to tow " Acasta," who was in tow of "Nonsuch," a httle to the Eastward of " Warrior's " position.
At 2.30 p.m. the Commander-in-Chief directed Unit 42 from Peterhead to be diverted to search for " Warrior."
At 3.0 p.m., the Rear-Admiral Commanding, Second Cruiser Squadron, reported no sign of " Warrior " in area 17 miles south of and 40 miles north, west and east of her last position given
Good visibility. Wind, N.W., 6 to 7. Somewhat heavy sea. Second Cruiser Squadron's jDosition at 3.0 a.m., 57° N., 2° 45' E.
At 8.0 p.m., 2nd June, Third Light-Cruiser Squadron and three destroyers sailed from Rosyth to join in the search for " Warrior."
At 11.30 p.m. Commander-in-Chief informed the Vice-Admiral Commanding, Battle Cruiser Fleet, that the Second Cruiser Squadron had searched area North of 57° 10' N. and west of longitude 4° 10' E., and was now searching N.W. of this area for "Broke." Hesuggestedthathght-cruisersfromRosythshould search area south of this latitude and east of longitude 3° 50' E.
At 9.30 a.m., 4th June, Rear-Admiral Commanding, Third Light-Cruiser Squadron, reported his position in 56° 15' N., longitude 3° 0' E., and proposed abandoning search at 8.0 p.m. andreturntoharbour. Thiswasapprovedandsquadronarrived at Rosyth 6.0 a.m., 5th June.
Captain of " Warrior " reported by telegraph that cypher and signal books in use were thrown overboard when ship was abandoned.
14:iff 4:^4:
When abandoned, the stern of the ship was two or three feet above water. Stem about normal draught, every sea washingoverupperdeck. Atleasttwofeetofwateronmain deck. Decks and bulkheads terribly shattered by shell fire and no longer watertight ; ship settling down and stability gone. No chance of ship remaining afloat in increasingly heavy weather prevailing.
" CHESTER."
Ordered by Rear-Admiral Commanding, Second Cruiser Squadron, at dayhght, 1st to proceed to Humber.
She arrived at the Humber at 5.0 p.m., 1st, and reported her damage.
Three guns out of action, much damage to upper works and holed four places above water line. Engines, boilers and all machinery almost intact. No serious damage below water- line.
" sparrowhawk:'
"At 7.30 a.m., " Marksman " reported to the Commander- in-Chief that he was endeavouring to tow " Sparrowhawk " stern first.
At 8.5 a.m. " Marksman " reported that hawser had parted, and on receipt of approval from Vice-Admiral Commanding,
First Battle Squadron, " Sparrowhawk " was sunk in 56° 8' N. 6° 10' E.
"NONSUCH" AND " ACASTA."
(•' Acasta " was with " Shark," " Opheha " and " Christopher " screening Third Battle-Cruiser Squadron.)
At 9.45 a.m., " Nonsuch " reported to Commodore (F) that he was escorting " Acasta " to Aberdeen at 10 knots, the latter being badly damaged.
" Nonsuch " reported later that she had taken " Acasta " in tow about noon in position 57° 16' N., longitude 4° 8' E., course W, ^ N., speed about 6 knots.
" Nonsuch " reported her 7.0 p.m. position on 1st, in 57° 8' N., 2° 33' E., speed about 7 • 5 knots, all well.
At 8.40 p.m., 1st, Rear-Admiral, Peterhead, was requested to send a trawler unit to screen " Nonsuch " and " Acasta " to Aberdeen, and at C.30 a.m. 2nd, he was requested to direct " Albion " and tugs which were searching for " Warrior," to
proceed to assist " Acasta " in tow of " Nonsuch."
" Nonsuch's " position at 5.0. p.m., 20 miles East of Aberdeen,
gpeed 8 knots, all well.
" Nonsuch " arrived Aberdeen at 8.0 p.m., and " Acasta "
at 9.15 p.m.
"ONSLOW" AND "DEFENDER."
" Defender " took " Onslow " in tow between 7.15 and 8.0 p.m., 31st May, " Defender's " maximum speed being 10 knots.
They arrived at Aberdeen at 1.0 p.m. on 2nd June.
Flotillas.
At 7.33 a.m., 1st June, Commodore (F) reported that all destroyers of Eleventh and Twelfth Flotillas and " Sparrowhawk " were in company.
The wreckage of " Ardent " was passed at 8.20 a.m., 1st, in latitude 55° 58' N., 6° 8' E.
At 9.45 a.m.. Commodore (F) reported having passed some bodies and lifebuoy marked " Turbulent " at 8.0 a.m., 1st.
At 8.58 a.m., lat. 56° 3' N., long. 6° 4' E., " Orion " reported she had passed considerable wreckage and floating bodies, apparently foreigners.
" DubUn," which was with the Battlefleet until 10.0 a.m., reported that at 6.0 a.m., in Lat. 55° 51' N., long. 5° 53' E., she picked up a stoker from " Tipperary."
J. R. JELLICOE, Admiral,
19 June 1916.