Catalogue description Folios 1-2: Cover sheets. Folio 3: Notes regarding the document. Folio 3A: Table of...

Folios 1-2: Cover sheets.

Folio 3: Notes regarding the document.

Folio 3A: Table of contents.

Folio 4: Notes regarding the document.

Folios 5-7: blank. Folio 8: Schedule of docketed papers.

Folios 9-14: (Paper number M 02105/14) Dogger Bank and Broad Fourteens Patrol. Proposals as to Force, Rear Admiral Arthur Henry Christian, HMS Euryalus, dated 19 September 1914. Recommendations for three cruisers to be off Swarte Bank in support of Dogger Bank patrol and request that battle cruisers be stationed at the Nore, (folios 10-11). Admiralty telegram to Rear Admiral Christian, HMS Euryalus, to keep two cruisers on Dogger Bank and one on Broad Fourteens and approval for HMS Bacchante to make good defects, (folio 12). Minute by Vice Admiral Frederick Charles Doveton Sturdee, dated 22 July 1914, “This whole question now requires reconsideration”, (folio 13).

Folios 15-20: Employment of large ships for rescue Work. Interim Order. Coded Admiralty telegram sent 22 and 23 September 1914 to all commands “that if one ship is torpedoed or strikes mine, disabled ship must be left to her fate, and other large ships clear out of dangerous area, calling on minor vessels to render assistance”, (folio 16). Draft Admiralty interim order, (folios 17-20).

Folios 21-27: (Paper number M 02137/14) Loss of H.M. ships Aboukir, Cressy and Hogue, Rear Admiral Arthur Henry Christian, HMS Euryalus, dated 22 September 1914. Report to Admiralty from Rear Admiral Christian. Squadron under temporary command of Senior Captain John Edmund Drummond of HMS Aboukir while HMS Bacchante, Flag of Rear Admiral Henry Hervey Campbell, was in Chatham Dockyard for repairs. Weather precluded destroyer support. While Euryalus proceeded to Sheerness, orders given to Drummond for location of patrol and for boarding suspicious vessels. Precautions against submarine attack included course alterations and high speed consistent with coal expenditure. Often met Dutch vessels so composition of patrol must be known by Germany, (folios 21-26). Comments by Vice Admiral Frederick Charles Doveton Sturdee dated 25 September 1914, (folio 27).

Folios 28-42: (Paper number M021185/14) Report of loss of H.M. ships Aboukir, Cressy and Hogue, by Commodore Reginald Yorke Tyrwhitt, 1st Flotilla, HMS Lowestoft, dated 22 September 1914. After leaving Harwich, HMS Lowestoft with 3RD destroyer flotilla received a W/T signal from Cressy that Aboukir and Hogue sunk so preceded to Broad Fourteens at full speed. Sighted trawler with boats in tow and two steamers picking up survivors. Survivors on board trawler transferred to Lowestoft. Trawler L.T.639 had cut her nets to pick up survivors and treated them with extraordinary kindness. Other survivors picked up by two Dutch vessels. Aboukir was in line abreast with Aboukir in centre when Aboukir was torpedoed and sank. Both others closed and lowered boats. Both HMS Hogue and HMS Cressy were torpedoed and sank, (folios 29-32). List of Officers who have been reported to be safe from H.M. ships Aboukir, Cressy and Hogue, (folio 33). Lists of survivors received on board HMS Lowestoft on 22 September 1914, (folios 34-41).

Folios 43-47: (Paper number M 02150/14) Report of sinking of H.M. ships Aboukir, Cressy and Hogue, by Commander Reginald Arthur Norton, dated 23 September 1914. When HMS Aboukir struck by torpedo between 6.15 and 6.30 a.m., HMS Hogue (Captain Wilmot Stuart Nicholson) closed and launched sea boats and whaler. HMS Aboukir appeared to take about thirty five minutes to sink. About 6.30 a.m. HMS Hogue struck by two torpedoes on starboard side and sank in about five minutes. Details of rescue of survivors including by Dutch vessels. Folios 48-49: (Paper number M 02154/14) Cover sheets for report of on the loss of H.M. ships Cressy, Hogue and Aboukir. Commander Bertram William Lothian Nicholson, late of HMS Cressy, [see folios 321-323].

Folios 50-54: (Paper number M 02158/14) Statement by Arthur Rowe, Acting Gunner, late of HMS Hogue, dated 24 September 1914, forwarded by Commodore Reginald Yorke Tyrwhitt, 1ST Flotilla. Hand-written report of launching boats about 6.30 a.m. to rescue survivors from HMS Aboukir and torpedoing and sinking of HMS Hogue. When HMS Cressy steamed up she fired at submarines and apparently sinking one before she was torpedoed. Survivors rescued by Dutch vessels. Picked up about 10.45 am by HMS Lance.

Folios 55-63: (Paper number M 02210/14) Report from Captain Wilmot Stuart Nicholson, (folios 58-60). Letter dated 23 September 1914 from Sir Alan Johnson (HM Minister in The Hague) to Sir Edward Grey (Foreign Secretary) with report from Captain Wilmot Stuart Nicholson of HMS Hogue, (folio 57). HMS Aboukir, HMS Cressy and Hogue were in line abreast steering northwards with Hogue being right hand ship. About 6.30 am HMS Aboukir reported she had struck a mine and made a signal for other to close. HMS Aboukir took a heavy list and signalled she had been torpedoed. When closing HMS Aboukir, HMS Hogue was hit by two torpedoes and started to sink rapidly. HMS Cressy fired on submarines. HMS Cressy was also struck by two torpedoes, remained afloat for a considerable time and then struck by a third torpedo and sank. Ships’ boats were full of survivors so loss of life must have been very heavy. About an hour afterwards rescued by Dutch steamship Flora although her Captain did not know of risk of mines or torpedo. Crew of Flora treated survivors with great consideration and kindness and took them to Ymuiden. Others rescued by second Dutch steamer and HMS Lowestoft and destroyers. Had signalled HMS Lowestoft of submarines in area, (folios 57-60). Note from Vice Admiral Frederick Charles Doveton Sturdee that some recognition be shown to Captain and crew of Dutch steamer, (folio 61). Note on non-serious condition of survivors in hospital, (folio 62).

Listing continued in ADM 137/47/2.