Record of Messages bearing on the Operation
APPENDIX II RECORD OF MESSAGES BEARING ON THE OPERATION
Page 398
Messages are arranged in chronological order of Time of Despatch, all times being G.M.T. Complete reliance, however, cannot be placed on the absolute accuracy of these times owing to the differences of ships' clocks and the difficulties experienced in logging signals in action, 2. The following types have been used for printing :
Messages to or from Com.-in-Chief. | Clarendon |
Messages between Senior Officers of Squadrons {other than the Commander-in-Chief) and their Squadrons and between ships of the same squadron |
Italics |
All other messages | Roman |
On 30th May 1916 the Admiralty received news which pointed to early activity on the part of the German Fleet. The Commander-in-Chief, Grand Fleet, and the Vice-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Fleet were informed accordingly by telegram. The Admiralty also informed the Commander in -Chief that eight enemy submarines, which they had reason to believe had recently sailed from German ports, were probably in the North Sea.
Admiralty telegram No. 434 of 30th May 1916, time of origin 1740, sent to the Commander-in- Chief and repeated to the Vice Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Fleet, contained the following instructions :-
" You should concentrate to Eastward of Long Forties ready for eventualities."
Date, Time of Despatch. |
From | To | Sys. tem. |
Message. | Time of Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
May 30th 11.58 a.m. |
Admiralty | V.A.Dover | L/T | Harwich Destroyers return there at once, Recall Belgian coast patrol temporally. |
1158 |
12.5 p.m. | Admiralty | R.A. East Coast. |
L/T | Recall minesweeping sloops | 1205 |
12.17 | Admiralty | S.O. 3rd B.S., S.O. 3rdC.S., C.-in-C.Nore |
L/T | 3rd B.S. and 3rd C.S. should have steam at short notice by daylight to-morrow, and 3rd C.S. should proceed to Swin to-day. |
1217 |
12.33 | S.O.M.S. | C.-in-C. | W/T | Positon 58 45' N., 2 15' W. Torpedo fired at Gentian missed. |
1230 |
12.37 | Admiralty | Captain S., Maidstone. |
L/T | Have all Submarines ready for sea at short notice. |
1237 |
2.37 recd. |
Comdr. (T) | S.O.B.C.F. | L/T | 5 Light Cruisers, 15 Destroyers, ready for service. |
1230 |
4.35 | C.-in-C. | General | Sem. | If the fleet goes to sea under present condi- tions, Royal Oak will take station in 3rd sub-division, order of which will be Iron Duke, Royal Oak, Superb, Canada. Active will go with Cruisers and take position J. The Cruisers are to leave in one group and take route A. 3rd B.C.S. Canterbury and Chester will be ordered out independently ahead of Cruisers and will follow route B. The D.T. signal not applying to this squad- ron, the 4 T.B.Ds. for this squadron meeting them off Hoxa obstruction. |
1615 |
5.35 | Owl | C.-in-C. A.C.O. &S. Captain D4. |
W/T | Urgent. Trawler Dunpedril reports Sub- marine. 3.45 p.m.,Lat. 58°35' N., Long. 2°35' W. |
1700 |
5.40 | S.O. 2nd B.S. | General | Flags | Preparatory signal for leaving Cromarty. | -- |
Page 399
Date, Time of Despatch. |
From | To | Sys. tem. |
Message. | Time of Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
30 MAY | - cont. | ||||
5.40 p.m | C.-in.C. | General | Flags | Preparatory signal for leaving Scapa, nega- tive Royal Sovereign and Menelaus. |
1735 |
5.43 | C.-in-C. | Royal Oak | Sem. | Return to Fleet Anchorage and anchor in A6. |
1735 |
5.43 | C.-in-C. | S.O. 4th B.S. | Sem. | Please send Menelaus over to North shore and delay experiments for the present. |
1740 |
5.43 | S.O.B.C.F | B.C.F.5th B.S. 1st, 9th, 13th |
Flags | Raise steam for 22 knots and report when ready to proceed. |
-- |
5.54 | C.-in-C. | Marksman | W/T | Return at once with your Destroyers | 1535 |
5.49 (recd.) |
C.-in-C. | S.O. B.C.F. | L/T | Urgent. Raise steam | 1740 |
5.55 | Admiralty | C.-in-C. | L/T | 3rd B.S., 3rd C.S., 5th L.C.S. and Harwich Destroyers will not be sent out until more is known. |
-- |
5.55 | C.-in-C. | Commodore F. and Dundee. |
Tel. | Trident will pass through patrols from East after midnight to-night. |
1700 |
6.0 | C.-in-C. | S.O. 4th L.C.S. Caro- line, Con- stance. |
Sem. | Caroline and Constance are to return to Y line by sunset. |
1800 |
6.1 | S.O. 3rd L.C.S | 3rd L.C.S. | Sem. | Steam should be raised as soon as possible and report now when you expect to be ready for 15 knots and 22 knots. Falmouth will be ready at 7.45 and 8 p.m. |
1800 |
6.4 | Commodore F. | Captain D12 | Sem. | Recall patrols | 1800 |
6.4 | Commodore F. | Onslaught | W/T | Return to harbour | 1800 |
6.5 | S.O.2nd B.S. | General | Flags | Raise steam for 18 knots and report when ready to proceed. |
-- |
6.7 | S.O. B.C.F. | General | Flags | Commanders of squadrons to report the time at which their squadrons will be ready to proceed. Reply : 5th B.S. ready to proceed at 9.40 p.m., 1st B.C.S. ready to proceed 8.45 p.m., 2nd B.C.S. will be ready to proceed at 9 p.m., 1st L.C.S. ready to proceed at 8.23 p.m., 2nd L.C.S. ready to proceed 9 p.m., 3rd L.C.S. ready to proceed 8 p.m., 9th Flotilla 8.30 p.m., 1st Flotilla 9 p.m., Engadine 9.45 p.m. |
-- |
6.7 | C.-in-C. | S.O. 2nd C.S. and Com- modore F. |
Sem. and Tel. |
My 1615, Additional four Destroyers are to be detailed for 2nd C.S. |
1754 |
6.10 | Commodore F. | C.-in-C. | Tel. | Achates defect completed | 1805 |
6.11 | C.-in-C. | S.O.M.S. | W/T | Keep Sloops out to-night, Tuesday, Fleet may come out |
1750 |
6.12 | S.O.3rd L.C.S | 3rd L.C.S. | Sem. | L.C.'s.diagram No.1. Falmouth, Yarmouth C Birkenhead,Gloucester D If Engadine joins she will leave harbour astern of Gloucester. |
1812 |
Page 400
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