The Diary of Thomas Victor Rayson-1916

To 1914 - To 1915 - To 1916 - Miscellaneous

May 24th
In harbour

May 25th
In harbour 8.30 from Captain sent wire to men on leave for extension of 24 hrs & told xxxx of Seaman to leave in the morning.

May 26th
In harbour seaman left for leave until Monday 5th June.

May 27th
Went under 1/2 hrs notice @ 12.30 am in the morning & also heard the news that H.M.S. Chatham had struck a mine whilst on her way north outside Harwich.

May 28th
In harbour went under 4hrs notice @ 8.30 am Fleet Surgeon joined ship Bannister

May 29th
In harbour coaled ship @ 5.30am 104 tons.

May 30th
In harbour lit up all round @6.30 & went to sea @ 9 o/c pm

May 31st
At sea weather find expecting action @ 12 o/c noon but did not go until 2.30 pm when we were standing by as Barham & squadron were in action we saw one ship blown up

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but with all this we had 3 more torpedoes fired before the night but The Good Old Ship had all her watertight doors shut which saved us from sinking @ once we went back to the ship @ 8o/c to take off some more men & left the ship @ 8.15 & made way to Grimsby got in there 9o/c on the Sunday. Heard the news on Monday that the ship had two more torpedoes hit her Sunday while in tow & sank about 9o/c Sunday evening. The last two explosion killed the hands in No3 Stokehold 9 making the casualties up to 11 killed So it will be seen that the ship took 28 hrs or more before she sank although being hit by 6 torpedoes show how well watertight doors are to a ship when in action