Reports from Destroyer Flotillas (Battle Cruiser Fleet)

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Enclosure No. 17 to Battle Cruiser Fleet, Letter No. B.C.F. 01 of 12/6/16. No. 60. HMS Champion 3rd June 1916. Sir, I have the honour to forward the following report of Proceedings of H.M.S. " Champion " and 13th Destroyer Flotilla during the recent action of the 31st May-lst June 1916.

2. At2.50p.m.,31stMay,H.M.S."Onslow"and"Moresby" were detached to join H.M.S. " Engadine," but attacked enemy Battle Cruiser Fleet with remainder of Flotilla, as described in paragraph 5.

3. At commencement cf action station was taken up on the starboard bow of H.M.S. " Lion," Destroyers in comj)any being :

(The last two named Destroyers being temporarily attached.)

4. At 4.30 p.m. Enemy's Battle Fleet was sighted by " Champion " and reported to you.

5. At 4.15 p.m. the whole Flotilla was ordered to attack Enemy Battle Cruiser Fleet. This attack was well carried out, and it is thought that at least two Enemy Destroyers were sunk. I regret to state that H.M.S. " Nestor " (Commander Hon. E. B. S. Bingham) and H.M.S. " Nomad " (Lieutenant Commander Paul Whitfield) did not return from this action, and must be considered to have been sunk.

6. At 7.45 p.m. H.M.S. " Onslow " was reported unable to steam, and was taken in tow by H.M.S. " Defender."

7. No further opportunity of attacking Enemy occurred during the day.

8. At night station was taken astern of Battle Fleet, course South. About 11.30 p.m. heavy jfiring was opened on our starboard beam, apparently at some of our Destroyers between Page 225

the 13th Flotilla and the enemy. I hauled out to the eastward as I was unable to attack with any of our own Flotilla, our own forcesbeingbetweenmeandtheEnemy. Ithenresumedcourse South ; firing was observed at intervals during the night on our starboard beam. Destroyers of the 13th Flotilla, with the exception of H.M.S. " Obdurate " and " Moresby," lost touch with, me during the night. H.M.S. " Narborough " as Senior Officer, reports that he took charge of the remainder, and rejoined the Fleet at 9.45 a.m. on the 1st instant. H.M.S. " Marksman " and " Maenad " joined me at about 2.30a.m. At2.50a.m.coursewasalteredtoNorthtoconform with signal received from the Commander-in-Chief.

9. At 3.25 a.m. four Destroyers, steering southward, were sighted ; owing to the mist I was uncertain at first who they were; but at 3.30 a.m. I made them out to be the enemy, and opened fire, range about 3,000 yards. Two torpedoes were fired at " Champion," the first one passing under our bows, the second just missing close astern. Enemy passed on opposite course, and when sliip had been steadied after avoiding torpedoes, the enemy had disappeared in the mist, and T resumed my same course.

10. At 4.30 a.m. H.M.S. " Obdurate " picked up two survivors, and H.M.S. " Marksman " one survivor, from H.M.S, " Ardent." At 5 a.m. two rafts were sighted, and H.M.S. " Moresby " rescued seven men, and H.M.S. " Maenad " eleven men, survivors from H.M.S. " Fortune."

11. At about 6 a.m. H.M.S. "Marksman" was detached to examine vessel to westward, which appeared to be a disabled Destroyer, and lost touch with me. Nothing further occurred, and I returned to base, by your orders, arriving at 3.30 p.m., 2nd June 1916.

12. Letter of Proceedings from H.M.S. " Narborough." the Senior Officer surviving from Destroyer attack, is attached. Reports have been called for from remainder of Kith Flotilla, and an addendum to this letter will be forw^arded when the reports have been collected.

13. In addition to loss of H.M.S. " Nestor " and " Nomad," H.M.S. " Turbulent " (Lieutenant-Commander Dudley Stuart) is reported by H.M.S. " Narborough " to have been lost sight of at 0.30 a.m. on the 1st instant, and w^as probably rammed, or sunk b}' gunfire.

Total casualties and names have not yet been ascertained.

I have the honour to be. Sir, Your obedient Servant, J. U. FARIE, 13th Flotilla. The Vice-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Fleet, HMS Lion.