The diary of Lt AP Bush of HMS Spitfire

The Background
Ok! To set the scene - the 4th Destroyer Flotilla has been transferred to Scapa 01/03/15. The diary is my grandfather’s Lt AP Bush, his ship HMS Spitfire

28th February 1915
28th February 1915 We got under way at 3.30 pm with the Hecla, Swift & the 3rd division & ourselves for Scapa Flow, lovely weather again but a bit cold.

1st March 1915
Arrived Scapa Flow at 8.30 am & oiled & then anchored it doesn't seem such a bad place, but it appears there will be a lot of patrolling. In the evening took all the men away ashore to play soccer, on a snipe marsh! Whaler was rigged up for sailing, quite amusing. The Sub got promoted.

2nd March 1915
Went out at 8.30 am for the Hota Sound patrol - this seems to be rather hard work, in the Pentland Firth most of the time, where there is always wind and sea. At night the Acasta joined up with us, & patrolled all night in the W. end of Pentlands

3rd March 1915
Still at Pentland Firth patrol - quite rough & a lot of wind. Joined up as one division at night because it came on to blow & very dark -

4th March 1915
1 Hours Notice Returned to harbour at about 10.0 am & oiled & then anchored - then went alongside Hecla for provisions & finished up the day by anchoring again in our billet at 5.0 pm

5th March 1915
4 hours notice At four hours notice, so in the afternoon, in spite of rain, the Capt, Chief, Sub, Dr. & Self took the dingy & went exploring. Took a golf club & knocked about with the Captain while the others pistol shot - Saw two seals, unluckily we had no guns with us - onboard at 4.30 pm for a huge tea & three eggs each!!

6th March 1915
at Sea Got underway at 8.30 am for the Hoxa Sound patrol - it wasnt so bad this time, as our billet was more or less under the lee of Swona Island - at night went as a division & patrolled well out to sea to the Eastward of the Skerries. Some excitement in the middle by losing the division, eventually found them after an hours wander to & fro!!

7th March 1915
at Sea We came in at 9.0am & oiled, & stayed alongside oiler. 3.30pm the whole flotilla went to sea. Very heavy sea running & were knocked about a good bit.

8th March 1915
at Sea As it was impossible to do tactics with the fleets at high speeds, we went in & anchored at Lerwick (Shetland Is) at noon - after lunch Dr, Chief & self went ashore for half hours walk. Got under way at 4.30pm to shift billet. 8.30pm all the flotilla got under way again to meet the fleet.

9th March 1915
at Sea Still a filthy big sea running, but managed to have quite an exciting battle at full speed. In the forenoon it was screening the battle fleet to the last possible moment & then deploying at full speed to get clear, without making any smoke. In the afternoon the Swift & her half flotilla, attacked us & the battle fleet, & we had to keep them off. Finally proceeded for Scapa at 5.0pm. All very wet, as 30 knots through a big sea, moves some!!

10th March 1915


1 hours notice Got in at 6.45am after a series of mess-ups & mishaps oiled & anchored by noon. Dr & self went over to Borodino, the J.A&N floating shop, & bought any amount of gear. Capt of Garland dined & wined! In fact we all did!! Quite a decent sized mail. Molly sent me the painted black cat.

11th March 1915


At Sea We went out at 5.30am to fire a torpedo & then do aiming rifle practice. Went quite close to the dummy ships they are really jolly good - you can't tell the difference until you are quite close. Then went on patrolling afterwards - as usual Hoxa Sound patrol.

12th March 1915


at sea (?): Came in at the usual time and after we had anchored at 11.30am after oiling Capt.D. popped onboard & told us we had to go out on patrol till the Lynx had got steam to relieve which ought to be by 1.0pm!! This should read. at 6.30am got a signal for all of us to return to harbour with the utmost dispatch - getting in at 7.30am. We expected to be off for a stunt but it was cancelled & the Faulkner & six destroyers left at 9.0am to hunt submarines in the Irish Sea. We were not relieved by Lynx till 5.30pm & then had to anchor.

13th March 1915


4 hours notice: Got under way at 6.0am to oil (daylight) then anchored. It blew most fearfully hard all day & so all idea of the shore was all over. No communication with Hecla & so no mail.

14th March 1915


at Sea: Went out on patrol at the usual time. No mail has arrived for us. As usual Hoxa Sound patrol.

15th March 1915
at Sea (half day): Returned to harbour & oiled & anchored by 11.0am. Got orders that we were to go to sea from 3.0pm - 7.0pm & sweep roll Eastward of Pentlands. I presume the fleet are going out. Blowing very hard & periodical snow showers. Returned to harbour & anchored by 7.30pm.

16th March 1915
at Sea (half day): Got under way at 5.30am & oiled. Then anchored again & got orders that we were to do the same as yesterday evening. All getting rather fed up with this. Frewen's relief appointed - Reed from a T.B. Went out at 3.00pm & returned as usual at 7.0pm.

17th March 1915


at Sea: Got under way again at 5.30am & oiled & then went out at 7.00am to relieve Acasta early. As usual every early work the Spitfire to the fore!! Hoxa Sound patrol. Then at noon we went & closed Royal Arthur & they gave us a wire & small target to tow for the shore batteries. After that (5.00pm) returned to our patrol line & then joined up with division for the night patrol to E. of Pentland Firth.

18th March 1915
18th March - at sea: Returned to our patrol area & when the relieving boats came out our mail arrived at last. Got quite a few letters, also my tights from Gamages for our acrobat stunt. Went on to Kirkwall patrol at noon & relieved Acasta. Our job escorting merchant ships in & out of Kirkwall. Kept first dog & doctor came & shot at birds from the fxle. Anchored at 7.0pm, but being in open anchorage keeping watch as usual -

19th March 1915
Friday, 19th March 1915 - at sea (half day) Returned to harbour, oiled & we anchored by 1.0pm - but had to shift billet as we were foul. Sub Lieut Reed joined the ship in place of Frewen. We were all asked to dine in the Hecla, but it blew too hard to have any boats down - Doc & I gave a stunt in our new tights!! On our way in off patrol this morning, while we were quite close to the boom & had got permission to enter, one of the 30 knotters fires two guns at us - Fearful Sickness - the Captain is writing a service letter about it.

20th March 1915


[ ] Frewen left to join the Topaz at Portland at 7.0am. A lovely day & for a wonder the wind had dropped by lunch time. Went over to Hecla in the morning. In the afternoon the Sub took all the men ashore & we (Capt, Doc, Chief & self) went for a walk - having a huge tea in the Shooting Lodge & then helped the Hecla officers build their stone pier. Back onboard by 5.0pm, very tired. Came on to blow at night as usual.

21st March 1915


Sunday 21st March 1915 - at sea Went out on patrol at 8.30am Hoxa Sound & blowing very hard. We were more or less under the Lee of Ronaldsay during the night. We were [south of southwest of weather skerries].

22nd March 1915
Monday 22nd March 1915 - at sea We were relieved very punctually & then got our mails from our relief. Went on up to Kirkwall for the Kirkwall Patrol. A simply glorious day. Chilly, but little wind. During my afternoon watch amused myself by shooting cormorants & duck with the Dr. I killed three of the former & a duck - but it’s a pity we can’t pick them up. Went in as usual (Ingarsole Bay) and anchored, keeping watch all night.

23rd March 1915
Monday 23rd March 1915 - at sea (half day) We weighed at 5.0am & went on patrol - a very heavy sea running. In by Holm Sound - oiled - alongside collier & coaled & anchored finally at 3.0pm - a very tiring day.

24th March 1915
24th March - 4 hours notice Our day in harbour, but as per usual when we are in harbour it blows all day & not worth going ashore. The Gunner went on leave in the early morning, as his wife has been very ill.

25th March 1915
At Sea: [went] weighed & carried out Battle Practice at 7.0am - it was rotten bad shooting as everything was so upside down having no gunner etc!! I had to control both guns. Carried on, on patrol afterwards. The sub and self are in watch & watch now the gunner is away. Forenoon, first dog, & first rather [shoke] me!! Remained in the Pentlands all night, as it was moonlight. The St Vincent came out - we could have got in a lovely shot with our mouldies, about 8000 yds - she never saw us till we challenged her -

26th March 1915
26th March - 1 hours notice: We came in in the forenoon; during my morning watch we had [ ] blizzards - which made things rather rotten. Our relief didn’t arrive till 10.0am, late as usual. Oiled, rather an exciting time, as the port telegraph [gainched] just as we were going alongside & we almost bumped. In the evening after we had anchored a trawler (the [brief] boat) took it into her head to ram us astern, but only a dent made. The monkey arrived in the Borodino - & the Doc fetched her, a mandrail (?mandrill). Tremendous argument where she should sleep - Capt’s cabin eventually.

27th March 1915
27th March - 4 hours notice A lovely day - I stayed onboard & hectographed & made myself in a beastly mess!! Then when the sub came off with the men, I took the dinghy & went ashore for half hours quiet walk. Doctor & self dined with the Hecla’s cheery brigade - a most amusing evening. And had great fun.

28th March 1915
28th March - 4 hours notice A lovely forenoon & so we all went ashore & took about 40 of the men for a walk. Wrote letters & slacked the remainder of the day.

29th March 1915
March 29th - at sea: We went out on patrol, and at noon we all got an ‘urgent’ signal to return to harbour & fill up with oil. Some stunt on apparently. A gunner from the Hecla was lent to us for the trip. We anchored after oiling. At 5.0pm we all went out, all the cruisers & light cruisers. I couldn’t see if the Battle Fleet came out too - they may have come later, in the dark. The course was SE, which is a good course if it’s going to be a real stunt, as it’s more or less in the Heligoland direction...

30th March 1915


March 30th At Sea (half day) ...but I’m sorry to say that we apparently turned round at midnight & started for home again. I believe the stunt was ‘they’ came out, but some of our ships spoilt the show, but making high power wireless & so frightened them in again. Returned harbour & anchored by noon. In the evening a very sad affair happened. The Coxn being drunk onboard, the Capt had him put under [open] arrest. The Hecla’s gunner went back to the Hecla worse luck!

31st March 1915
March 31st - At Sea We went out on patrol. Blowing very hard all day, & the wind against the tide caused the very devil of a sea. In watch & watch as the Gunner is still on leave.

1st April 1915
1st April - At Sea: The gunner rejoined us in the morning - the Garland bringing him out when she came to relieve us. Went on to Kirkwall - there was the devil of a race by the Pentland Skerries & we had to give orders that nobody was to be on deck at all. Usual Kirkwall patrol, seems quite a relief to be in these watches again - but the Capt has been very good as regards looking out. Went right into Kirkwall bay & anchored; a lovely evening.

2nd April 1915
At Sea (half day): Got in in the forenoon & oiled and anchored after dinner. The 1st Lieut of Porpoise asked me to dine, but it came on to blow & we had to hoist all boats, so couldn’t get away.

3rd April 1915
4 hrs notice: Went over to the Hecla in the afternoon, re the Coxn case. And asked most of the cheery ones over to dine. Then back to ship. Capt of Hardy lunched, and did nothing all evening. After tea went over to the Borodino & bought a few things. Then to the Acasta & Shark with Capt, Fulford, Kershaw, Peplar & Vickery to dine - Capt dining out. After a very noisy dinner we all went over to the Hecla, all dressed up & gave them a stunt. Usually cricket & rugger matches. Back to ship by midnight.

4th April 1915
4 hours notice In harbour all day. We were to have gone out for the big P.Z. stunt with the fleet, but it blew too hard.

5th April 1915
4 hours notice: It seems quite funny to be in harbour for so long. In harbour all day; and on account of a very heavy wind blowing we had the P.Z. stunt put off again. In the evening [Ratherer] & the Doc of the Porpoise came over to see me & then stayed to dinner. Played Ascot race game. We got a target for towing tomorrow.

6th April 1915
At Sea: Got under way at 5.45am with the Gunnery Lieutenant to tow target for Owl’s firing. Except for the wiring parting once, was quite a successful morning. Returned and anchored off Hecla at 7.45am. Got under weigh again at 8.30am for patrolling. In the afternoon it came on to blow like hell!! I logged it as 7 to 8. Wind dropped in the evening. So we were able to patrol E. of Pentlands after dark.

7th April 1915
no entry...

8th April 1915


In harbour - 4 hours notice: Went ashore with the men to play soccer & then walked to the place with Mann & had tea. Then onboard as a hurried dinner & then Doc & self went to Hecla’s concert - a very cheery evening - especially as there were four destroyers alongside her - it meant a bit of ship visiting - we didn’t eventually get back til 2.00am.

9th April 1915
in harbour 4 hours notice During the day nothing much happened. In the evening there was some stunt on, as we were put to short notice - order of going out etc etc - but it never came to anything - & to make matters worse the patrol was reorganised & we having escaped in the last signal, were told off for tomorrow!!

10th April 1915
(on patrol) Went out at the usual time, and on our way out passed the Sparrowhawk coming in. All very glad to see her. A lovely day’s patrolling, hardly any wind.

11th April 1915
at 1 hours notice(?) Got in from patrol a bit late, having escorted dummy ships. Got orders to raise steam at short notice - there is evidently something doing now. Did not go out during the night. Went over to the Acasta after dinner, and met all the Sparrowhawks.

12th April 1915
At Sea: Had a tremendous rag about my keeping standing watches, of course I got my own way. We got under way at 12.30am & it seemed as if we were in for a stunt. Went out, quite fine weather, any wind being behind us. I’m keeping standing both dogs, & morning, which is quite a relief.

13th April 1915
at Sea: Rendez-vous’ed with the fleet at 4.0am, a lovely morning, I having the morning watch. All the fleet there, including the Orient liner, Orvieto, as a huge mine layer. At about 7.0am saw our nine battle cruisers & the L’s & M’s coming down from the Northard. Did the usual screening. Then we & Sp’hawk we’re detached to screen Orvieto. At 7.15pm we & 2nd Flotilla all rushed back to Scapa (100 miles) to fill up with oil & come back at once. We got off there at 11.30pm - pitch dark & so it was a very slow & dangerous process getting in (40 destroyers and innumerable light cruisers).

14th April 1915
We eventually anchored at 2.30am. I was doing all as I sent the Gunner & Sub to bed. Weighed again at 4.0am, oiled & were anchored again by 6.30pm. Rather tired. We all got under way again at 10.30am, but it was only to screen the battlefleet in - we got back at 6.0pm oiled & then were anchored by 7.30pm. The Warspite has joined up with the fleet. Heard a buzz that three German cruisers sunk & also three of our destroyers. Also, the papers are full of a naval battle off the Norwegian coast.

15th April 1915
(In Harbour at various degrees of Short Notice etc!:) In harbour all day, but couldn’t settle down to do anything. We commenced painting a bow wave but Capt. D made a signal to say it all was to be washed out. Some of the Porpoises came over after tea - not a bit glad to see them. Allen came and dined with me, & the Doc of the S’hawk with our doctor.

16th April 1915
In Harbour: This ought to be on the page before. Nothing happened all day, although we were at short notice during the day. Went over to see Shelley in the Acasta in the evening & then dined with Knight in the Shark. Quite a cheery dinner - onboard via Acasta - and finally back by 1.0am!!

17th April 1915
in harbour: Nothing much doing in the morning. In the afternoon the Capt, Doc, & all went ashore. I stayed onboard. The Gunner took the men ashore. At 5.30pm we all got the order to raise steam by 7.0pm. I suppose there is some more stunts on. We eventually went out at 7.30pm - quite calm outside, any sea there is, is behind us. I find these new watches I keep (standing dogs & morning) quite a good show although they are a bit boring at times.

18th April 1915


At Sea: A very busy morning watch - getting into position to submarine screen the fleet etc. Evidently something is in the wind, as we are steaming with the fleet at 21 knots. During the afternoon we altered course from SE to NW’W. So apparently it’s all over. Met the 3rd B.S. & the 1st Flotilla at 6.0pm. Wind & sea getting up a bit.

19th April 1915


At Sea: We did not get in till 10.0am & then oiled & then our division went out on patrol again - arriving there at about 4.0pm. Very boring having to go out again!!

20th April 1915


At Sea: We were relieved by some of the Second Flotilla at 9.0am & when we got into harbour, instead of oiling (had a slight bump with the Borodino. Not much damage) we anchored & got under way again at 10.30am, apparently to screen the fleet in. We remained out till dusk & met the fleet off Colonsay at 7.0pm. We finally anchored at midnight - all very tired, as there was a biting cold wind blowing all day at sea & very heavy snow squalls.

21st April 1915


In harbour: We got under way at 3.45am having had 2 1/2 hours sleep. Finished oiling at 5.0am & then closed Hecla to ask if we could go alongside. Finally anchored by 6.30am & put in another 1 hours sleep. Had a bad morning altogether - fought with all hands!! All of a sudden we got orders to raise steam for full speed by 9.0pm. I was with Knight paying a call on the Second Flotilla. So we came back. All the flotillas & the fleet went to sea at 9.0pm.

22nd April 1915


at sea: A glorious day, but the usually busy morning watch with plenty of submarine screening etc. Met the battle fleet at 4.0am. We are steaming S50oE 15 knots - which is straight for the Skagerrak. Nothing much happened all day. We all thought we might see something this time; so one can imagine how sick we were when at 6.0pm we all turned round. The 3rd B.S. returning to their Base.

23rd April 1915


At Sea (half day): A bit of a wind & sea sprung up on my morning watch. Usual stunt wondering when we will get in, & as usual 1st Division were the last to oil. Finally got in about 12.40pm & anchored. Weighed at 2.30 & went alongside an awful oiler, who spent all her time spouting oil all over us. Made me quite wild. Anchored at 6.0pm & had to shift billet again. Doc & self sculled over in the dinghy & dined with the Sparrowhawks. Back by 11.30pm.

24th April 1915


In harbour 1 hours notice Nothing much happened all day. Doc & captain went ashore on Risa - but being at one hours notice I stayed onboard & did some work. Sculled over in the dinghy with Allen to the Hecla - a hell of a pull. Back by the Shark & Acasta. All the capts of the 1st div had been celebrating & all dined in Sp’hawk. Myself and Allen dined with Shelley in the Acasta. After dinner & at 11.30pm we sculled back to Sp’hawk. A huge race self & Allen - V - Coombes & Dr. We won. Eventually Doc & self pulled Barron back to Acasta at 1.0am.

25th April 1915


A Spitfire Diary - Scapa 1915 25th April - 4 hours notice: Allen & self went ashore on Risa Is. at 7.0am for an hours exercise. Sunday routine. He & I went for a walk and got back to tea at the house at 5.pm. A lovely day. Calderon lunched with me. Allen had supper with me. Also Capt of Sp’hawk and an A.P. of Active with Captain.

26th April 1915


26th April - 4 hours notice: This long spell in is a splendid show. A good deal of ship visiting in the dog watches. Kershaw dined with me, Pegler with Captain also Capt of Shark & Johnson dined with Doc, a very amusing evening. All the Sp’hawks & Sharks & Joe Barron came over after dinner & carried on to all early hours of the morning. Had lunch with Allen in the Sparrowhawk.