The Diary of Thomas Victor Rayson-1915

To 1914 - To 1915 - To 1916 - Miscellaneous

Dec 28th
In harbour cleaning ship xxx xxx hoisted flag of Rear Admiral Napier

Dec 29th, 30th
In harbour cleaning ship

Dec 31st
In harbour

January 1915. Jan 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th 6th
Received Princess Mary's present & remained in harbour.

Jan 7th
Left for sea @ 4P.M.

Jan 8th
At sea for target practice weather rough 12-45 noon sighted a floating mine & sunk it

Jan 9th
Proceeding to harbour & arrived 7.45 coaled ship 220 tons. At 10 o/c night raise steam @ once as reported submarines outside harbour

Jan 10th
Remaining in harbour

Jan 11th, 12th
Remaining in harbour

Jan 13th
In harbour 3.30 raised steam for 18 knots for 1 hrs notice

Jan 14th
Provisioned & coaled ship 86 tons. RNR dropped dead @ 1130 heart disease.

Jan 15th
In harbour. Seaman buried @ Long Hope. No rope to lower him so dropped him. Motto a sailors funeral

Jan 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th
In harbour 19th coaled ship 76(?) tons

Jan 21st
In harbour target firing 4.15am proceeded to sea 20 Knots.

Jan 22nd
Arrived @ Cromarty for to have fitted an aerial gun. Laying under 10 mins notice. Give leave 2 out of each mess from 1.30 till 4 pm.

Jan 23rd
Coaled ship 140 tons proceeded to sea @ full speed 7o/c pm.

Jan 24th
Steaming full speed for Heligoland had signal 10 am. to say our Battle Cruisers were in action extent of damage no known to the ships company

Jan 25th
Proceeding to harbour

Jan 26th
Arrived @ Cromarty 9 o/c am & coaled ship 370 tons.

Jan 27th
Remained in harbour & gave leave from 1.30 till 4o/c arrested two dockyard-men of suspicion of spying but let off after making the usual enquiries & two fell in the ditch through civy boat capsizing both were rescued

Jan 28th
Remained in harbour & gave leave only 5% of ships company meaning only 24 out of total of 400 odd. Lit up for proceeding to sea 1.30 @ night

Jan 29th
Arrived @ Scapa Flow & coaled ship 97 tons.

Jan 30th
Remained in harbour cleaning the ship

Jan 31st
In harbour

Feb 1st
In harbour

Feb 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
Remaining in harbour

Feb 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th
In harbour under steam blowing a gale two Zeppelins reported of Cromarty on the morning of the 8th no result

Feb 10th, 11th
Remained in harbour

Feb 12th
A sea firing exercises

Feb 13th, 14th
Remaining in harbour

Feb 15th
Raised steam & proceeded to sea @ 6o/c pm

Feb 16th
At sea turning to rough for aerial gun practice

Feb 17th
At sea rough weather

Feb 18th
At sea stopped one merchant ship by H.M.S. Yarmouth & prize crew sent abroad & sent into harbour