The Diary of Thomas Victor Rayson

Overview
The diary of Thomas Victor Royson a Stoker on HMS Falmouth. These images have been provided by Neil Fisher. Thomas Victor Royson was his great uncle.

August 4th 1914
Commenced Hostilities Against Germany @ Sea.

5th
Overhauled Searched & Sank a German Trawler. xxxx Crew taken prisoners & accident to Sea Boat two men drowned.

6th
Two German trawlers sunk. Crew taken prisoners xxxx & xxxx

7th
Anchored @ midnight Scapa Flow discharged prisoners & coaled ship 500 tons

8th
Left Scapa Flow to join fleet in North Sea. On the way German submarine U15 attempted to torpedo us but luckily missed & was in turn rammed & sunk by H.M.S. Birmingham

9th August
German trawler sunk crew taken prisoners xxxx.

10th
Returned to base discharged prisoners & coaled ship 300 tons

11th & 12th
Scouting North Sea for enemy

13th
Returned to Scapa Flow. Coaled ship 400 tons & received orders to commence hostilities against Austria.

14th
Left naval base for scouting duties in Baltic Sea.

15th 16th 17th
Scouting for enemy in Baltic Sea

18th
Returned to Scapa Flow coaled ship 650 tons.

19th & 20th
Remained in harbour.

21st
Left for the North Sea.

22nd
At sea

23rd
Captured two German trawlers. xxxx other unknown took crews prisoners 28 men. Sunk her taking half a day as they were made of wood. They were first charged with gun cotton & blown up fired by our 6" guns shells weighing 100 lbs each & then had to ram her. After this excitement was caused by seeing a dog clinging to a portion of the wreckage. We lowered a boat & rescued him naming him Kaiser Bill.  He proved to be a pup with 6 different breeds & is great friends with the ships company who regard him as a mascot

24th August
At sea Japan declared war

25th
Returned to harbour discharged prisoners & coaled ship 510 tons.

26th
Provisioned ship.

27th
Left for sea expecting to discover the German fleet as the Captain told us we should probably be in action the following day.

28th
Chasing enemy's fleet @ all possible speed breaking the record since the ship was built averaging 28 Knots 11.45 AM. Enemy overtaken & first shot fired @ that time we were in a dangerous spot as we never knew when we should strike a mine as we knew we were near a mine field near Heligoland. Then The Great Naval Battle commenced with terrific firing on both sides which lasted 2 hrs. The first of the enemy's ships that was put out of action was The Mainz light cruiser with speed of 25 knots 2 masts 3 funnels tonage 4.350 & crew of 400 men. The armament of her was 12-4" guns to our 8-6" guns. Victory fell to us as our Gunlayers firing was very accurate on account of the splendid control from The xxxx Sops. The Mainz was now a complete wreck 2 funnels & mainmast shot away & her hull was riddled with holes. She then lowered her flag denoting her defeat for she was rapidly sinking by the bows. It will be remembered although she was outnumbered by ships & in a sinking

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condition she put up a splendid fight to our spitting our fire till her last gun was shot away. At this time we were within few hundred yards of her & it was a pitiful sight to see her decks littered with dead & wounded & many more struggling for their lives in the water. As luck happened or by the splendid handling of the ship we had no damage done. Their range was faulty as the shells either dropped short astern & over us but not one found its mark. Their was not the lease excitement amongst us as everyman had his duty to do in fact some helped others. When the news came below that she was on fire amidships & sinking the Stokers were pleased as we don't stand much chance if anything should happen. The Stokers were all anxious to have a look @ her but we could not leave our posts before "The Cease Firing" was sounded. As soon as possible everyone who got the chance came on deck to have a look @ her & we gave three hearty cheers as it was first blood to us. We then gave the Skipper a cheer. We were getting ready to lower a boat to pick up survivors when another cruiser was sighted through the haze caused by the smoke from the guns we were soon @ our stations again but we only fired a few shots as the Battle Cruisers were now with us & soon finished her off as she had no chance against their big guns 13.5. Her name was The Koln. 4 funnels 3000 tons. We were now cruising round expecting to be engaged @ any minute. We sighted

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.