Diary of Alec S. Tempest: Difference between revisions
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<br>8 ?M<ref>AM and PM are written atop each other.</ref> arrived Rosyth[.] coaled 850 tons. | <br>8 ?M<ref>AM and PM are written atop each other.</ref> arrived Rosyth[.] coaled 850 tons. | ||
{{TODO|I am | ===November 1915=== | ||
Nov 6th 15 | |||
<br>11.45 AM Proceeded to Sea in company with 1st BCS {{UK-Fearless}} & 12 destroyers. | |||
<br>3.30 PM sub-calibre firing | |||
Nov 7th | |||
<br>11.45 AM Proceeded to Sea in company with 1st BCS {{UK-Fearless}} & 12 destroyers. | |||
Nov 8th | |||
<br>9.AM Arrived Rosyth coaled 1350 tons finished 3 PM | |||
Nov 24th | |||
<br>Sailed 9 AM arrived at Newcastle 3.30 PM proceeded into dock & on leave for 6 days. | |||
===December 1915=== | |||
Dec 1st | |||
<br>Arrived Rosyth coaled 600 tons | |||
===January 1916=== | |||
Jan 5th 16 | |||
<br>Sailed in company with 1st 2nd & 3rd BCS & 1st 2nd & 3rd L.C.S. | |||
Jan 6th | |||
<br>did 4 inch firing very rough weather, | |||
Jan 7th | |||
<br>PZ with 3nd BCS as Blue Fleet. | |||
Jan 8th | |||
<br>More PZ & range keeping exercise arrived Rosyth 10.30 PM | |||
Jan 9th | |||
<br>Coaled 1610 tons Agnes Duncan[.] average 355<ref>likely, this means 355 tons/hour</ref> | |||
Jan 29th 16 | |||
<br>Sailed in company with 1st BCS {{UK-Falmouth}} {{UK-Yarmouth}} {{UK-Southampton}} {{UK-Nottingham}} & {{UK-Birkenhead}} & 16 destroyers, did sub-calibre firing 50 rounds per gun. | |||
Jan 30th 16 | |||
<br>Arrived Cromarty 11.30 AM coaled 540 tons from collier Vittoria.<ref>Maybe "Victoria"?</ref> | |||
Jan 31st | |||
<br>9 AM 13.5" firing in Firth saw remains of {{UK-Natal}}. | |||
===February 1916=== | |||
Feb 1st | |||
<br>Left Cromarty in company with {{UK-Beaver}} & {{UK-Jackal}} arrived Scapa Flow 6.10 PM | |||
Feb 2nd 16 | |||
<br>Left Scapa 3.30 PM very rough Sea[.] steered South | |||
Feb 3rd 16 | |||
<br>At Sea, arrived Rosyth 5.10 coaled 605 tons | |||
Feb 11th 16 | |||
<br>11.30 Proceeded to Sea in company with 1st 2nd & 3rd BCS 1st 2nd & 3rds L.C.S. {{UK-Botha}} & 18 destroyers & 3rd B.S. steam for full speed at midnight. | |||
Feb 12th | |||
<br>Heard of sinking of Arabis Minesweeper by enemy Torpedo craft. Steamed southas far as Heligoland & then Zig Zagged across North Sea on a North Westerly course. | |||
Feb 13th | |||
<br>8 AM arrived Rosyth coaled 900 tons Agens Duncan. | |||
Sat Feb 26th | |||
<br>12.20 PM Proceeded to sea in company with 1st 2nd & 3rd BCS & 1st 2nd & 3rd LCS. | |||
Sun Feb 27th | |||
<br>Rendezvoused with Battle Fleet & went through PZ exercise[.] sea rough. | |||
Feb 28th | |||
<br>9.30 AM arrived Rosyth coaled 990 tons Agnes Duncan. | |||
===March 1916=== | |||
March 19th | |||
<br>Heard news of H joining RN<ref>I am unsure what "H" refers to. A relative?</ref> | |||
March 28th<ref>Perhaps this should be "20th", but seems clearly written as "28th"</ref> | |||
<br>Heard news of H's rejection.<ref>Oh well.</ref> | |||
March 24th | |||
<br>Proceeded to sea in company with BCF | |||
March 25th | |||
<br>Hands at action stations sighted Reef horns light vessel off coast of Heligoland. {{UK-Medusa}} in collision with {{UK-Laverock}} & badly damaged[.] {{UK-Lightfoot}} reported engaging enemy's aircraft steamed off Moth of Heligoland Bight[.] no signs of enemy. Steered Nother at night received news of enemy forces out so turned south again & one of our LCs rammed an enemy torpedo boat. | |||
March 26th<ref>Date is illegible, but I infer from the two neighbors</ref> | |||
<br>Enemy's forces returned to bases & we returned to harbour. | |||
March 27th | |||
<br>Arrived Rosyth[.] coaled 1760 tons. | |||
===April 1916=== | |||
April 15th | |||
<br>left Rosyth in company with 1st BCS & 4 desrs. | |||
April 16th | |||
<br>Arrived Scap Flow 5.AM coaled 770 tons collier Moyle | |||
April 17th | |||
<br>aiming rifle & sub-calibre | |||
April 18th | |||
<br>ditto | |||
April 19th | |||
<br>Ran torpedoes & Battle practice firing {Frac|3|4}} charges & night firing. | |||
April 20th | |||
<br>Coaled 620 tons. night firing | |||
April 21st | |||
<br>ran torpedoes.<br>8 PM Proceeded to Sea in company with 1st BCS & 1st LCS | |||
April 22nd | |||
<br>joined up with 2nd & 3rd BCS & 2nd & 3rd LCS with destroyers[.] steered South. | |||
<br>4 PM enveloped in dense fog decreased to 10 knots[.] {{AU-Australia}} & {{UK-NewZealand}} reported in collision[,] ordered to return to base escorted by {{UK-Acheron}} {{UK-Ariel}} {{UK-Archer}} {{UK-Attack}}. | |||
April 23rd | |||
<br>3.AM fog lifting, Admiralty message received Abandon operations & return to base. | |||
<br>4.AM altered course to N 75 W | |||
<br>9.AM reports coming in of destroyers in collision[.] {{UK-Ardent}} taken in tow to Tyne River & {{UK-Christopher}}, {{UK-Fortune}}, badly damaged. our speed 21{{Frac|1|2}} | |||
<br>7 PM arrived Rosyth coaled 1020 | |||
April 24th | |||
<br>10 PM sailed in company with BCF steam for full speed. | |||
April 25th | |||
<br>{{UK-Lightfoot}} reported sighting enemy & giving chase but were forced to retire owing to superior enemy forces, we increased to 24 knot but were unable to overtake enemy. | |||
April 26 | |||
<br>9.AM return to base[.] coaled 850 tons. {{UK-Invincible}} rammed by patrol yacht. | |||
{{TODO|I am now about 40% of the way through this transcription}} | |||
==Footnotes== | ==Footnotes== | ||
Revision as of 19:03, 3 October 2012
The Diary of Alec S. Tempest (1899-1978), signal boy aboard H.M.S. Lion from 20 May 1915 through 26 April, 1919 can be found at the Caird Library at the National Maritime Museum as MSS/84/187.3
It was purchased by the Museum in 1984 and contains some photographs and copies of speeches, signal traffic between the Grand Fleet and the High Sea Fleet from 15 November to 2 December 1918, and a concert programme for 4 June 1915. A cap ribbon that was also purchased was sent to the Museum's relics department.
The diary is daily from 20 May to 23 August, 1915, and then becomes more flexible in its timeline. It carries through to 26 April, 1919.
Inside Cover
If found please return to A.S. Tempest Siglm. 47 Mess H.M.S. Lion or 37 Hunslett Road Leeds. If not able to do so please destroy with great thoroughness. AST
Diary
Alec S. Tempest
Sig Boy.
45 Mess
H.M.S Lion
Battle Cruiser
c/o G.P.O.
London
May 20th 1915
Home Address
37 Hunslett Rd
Leeds,
Yorks.
May 1915
May 20th 15.
Scapa Flow
Calibrating in Hoxa Sound 13.5". 3⁄4 charge & sub-calibre firing
May 21st 15
10-55 AM
Weighed & proceeded out of the Flow, picked up the escort of 3 destrouyers near the outer gate, very thick fog outside. parted company with destroyers speed 23 knots course SE.
May 22nd.
Held up by fog outside Bridge nearly took a lump out of Inch Kieth, [sic] waited below bridge till 9.30 proceeded up the harbour, went into action with collier Agnes Duncan 720 tons finished 1.30
May 23rd.
In Rosyth Harbour nothing doing. Sunday's Routine.
May 24th & 25th
In Rosyth, wearing of Jerseys discontinued. nothing else doing.
May 26th
2.30 AM Iron Duke arrived Rosyth flying flag of C in C Grand Fleet.
May 27th
Rosyth. nothing doing.
May 28th
12.10, Iron Duke shoved off to rejoin G.F.
May 29th 15
Rosyth, 11.30 PM weighed & proceeded out to sea in company with 1st 2nd & 3rd L.C.S. & Fearless & 20 destroyers.
May 30th 15
At Sea, very rough sea, heavy swells,
May 31st
1.30 AM Arrived in harbour moored by 3.15 AM, 5.0AM commenced coaling 800 tons; finished 9.30 AM.
June 1915
June 1st.
Rosyth. Ordinary Routine.
June 2nd
Liverpool & Yarmouth arrived. reported Submarine sighted off Fair Is[1]
June 3rd
Court Martial of Chief Gunner Mitchel, Capt of Galatea president.[2]
June 4th 15
Rosyth. Ordinary Routine.
June 5th 15
Trawler Hawke reported sinking a German submarine off Peterhead[.] Destroyer Unity coming into harbour with crew consisting in all of 25 prisoners.
June 6th 15
German Submarine sank 3 trawlers by gunfire.
June 7th
Rosyth. Ordinary Routine.
June 8th
Ditto
June 9th
Ditto
June 10th
Ditto
June 11th
10.30 PM, proceeded to Sea
June 12th
At Sea steering North[.] Did 4" night firing at midnight.
June 13th
Carried out Battle practice No 1, Blue fleet consisting of B.C.F. 1st 2nd & 3rd L.C.S. 2nd & 7th C.S. versus Red fleet :– 1st 2nd 3rd & 4th Battle Squadrons[3] including Iron Duke, Benbow, Queen E. & Warspite, Calibrated 13.5" guns each ship firing 8 rounds
June 14th
Carried out Battle practice No 2, Blue F :– B.C.F. 2nd C.S. 1st 2nd & 3rd L.C.S. Fearless Broke & 1st flotilla destroyers versus Red F. :– 1st 2nd & 4th B.S. 7th C.S. & flotillas of Destroyers, 1 seaplane with each Fleet. 10 AM negative P.Z. 2[.] steerd South 20 Knots.
June 15th
6.30 AM, Sighted May Isle also sighted submarine which fired torpedo. torpedo passing under stern, Southampton also reported sighting a submarine off Starb Bow.
10.30 AM commenced coaling 1820 tons. Finished 7.30 PM
June 16th
Rosyth. Ordinary Routine. Duck cap covers & caps worn
June 17th
Rosyth. Harbour Routine.
Jun 18th
Ditto
Jun 19th
Do
June 20th
Harbour Routine.
June 21st
Roxburgh struck by torpedo off May Isle escorted in by Botha Fearless & 1st flotilla of destroyers with slight list to starboard.
June 22nd
Usual Routine
June 23rd
Ditto
June 24th
Ditto
June 25th
Princess Royal left for Cromarty
June 26th
Roxburgh escorted by Inconstant & 2 destroyers sailed.
June 27th
Inflexible joined B.C.F.
Indomitable rejoined " " "
Collier Agnes Duncan came alongside 5 AM commenced 5.30 finishes 7.45 amount 390 tons
June 28th
Rosyth. Harbour Routine.
June 29th
Dominion sailed. Caroline arroved
June 30th
Harbour Routine.
July 1915
July 1st
1.AM Princess Royal arrived, coaled 850 tons
7.45 PM Indefatigable sailed to refit & give leave. Pay down 1 £ book nipped[4]
July 2nd
Harbour Routine.
July 3rd
Sunday Routine.
July 4th
7.40 Submarine reported inside outer gate trying to force through inner gate, mann[sic] & arm picket boats & chase, boats away all night returned next morning nothing to report. got nets out 10.30 PM.
July 5th
8.30 AM Boats returned
1.40 PM Got nets in
July 6th
Harbour Routine.
July 7th
Archbishop of York came on board. book apprehended.[5]
July 8th
Archbishop of York gave an open air Service in Rosyth Dockyard[.] thousands of sailors assembled to hear him speak. Lost 2/-
July 9th
Hibernia & Hindustan sailed. Exercise Action Stations
July 10th 15
5.45 AM commenced coaling. 400 tons. 7.5 AM finished. Agnes Duncan.
July 11th
10.PM Weighed & proceeded to Sea in company with 1st 2nd & 3rd B.C.S. 1st 2nd & 3rd L.C.S. Neg Galatea.
July 12th 15
At Sea. very calm water[.] fine weather.
July 13th
Arrived Rosyth 4 AM moored[.] Australia proceeded to Cromarty
6AM commenced coaling 805 tons finished 9 AM.
July 14th 15
Harbour Routine.
July 15th
Hibernia & Zealandia arrived.
July 16th
Harbour Routine.
July 17th
Indefatigable arrived.
July 18th
Q. Mary sailed
July 19th 15
Harbour Routine.
July 20th 15
Harbour Routine.
July 21st 15
Harbour Routine.
Britannia, I, [illegible][6]
July 22nd 15
Dominion arrived.
July 23rd 15
Harbour Routine.
July 24th 15
Went sailing in cutters[.] left high & dry outside Bridge[.] waited for turn of tide. aboard 10.15.
July 25th
Sundays Routine.
26th & 27th July
Harbour Routine.
28th July
3.30AM Australia arrived
8.30PM 2nd B.C.S. sailed
29th July
Harbour Routine
30th July
6.0AM[7] coaled, 325 tons[.] Agnes Duncan
31st July
6.0AM coaled, 325 tons[.] Agnes Duncan
August 1915
1st Aug 15
Dominion sailed.
2nd Aug 15
Queen Mary arrived
3rd Aug 15
Harbour Routine
4th Aug 15
Ditto
5th Aug 15
Albemarle & Russel[sic] sailed
6th Aug
Harbour Routine
8. Indomitable sailed
7th Aug
Harbour Routine
8th Aug
1st & 2nd L.C.S. sailed
9th Aug
Botha & 1st Div Destroyers sailed
10th Aug
1st & 2nd L.C.S. Botha & Destroyers arrived
11th Aug.
Harbour Routine.
12th Aug
Hostile Submarine reported in Forth, mann[sic] & arm picket boars, search for Submarine, nothing reported
13th Aug
Harbour Routine.
14th Aug
ditto
15th Aug
ditto
16th Aug
3.30 ANKE & 3rd BS sailed.
1.30 PM 1st LCS negative Inconstant, sailed
5.0[8] Albemarle & Russel[sic] arrived.
17th Aug
Harbour Routine.
18th Aug
9.30 PM, Weighed & proceeded to sea incompany with 1st BCS & 3rd L.C.S. & destroyer[s?].
1.AM Forester & Archer reported in collision[.] {{Forester taken in tow seriosly[sic] damaged.
19th Aug
At Sea, Heavy seas.
9 PM night firing 4" guns
20th Aug
Sub-calibre firing & {Frac|3|4}} charge firing. sighted Whale
21st Aug
Arrived Scapa Flow 5 AM commenced coaling 1280 tons, ran two torpedoes lost one, also sub-calibre firing. 5.PM Empress of India sailed
22nd
11.45 AM sailed from Scapa Flow.
23rd Aug 15
4.15 AM arrived Rosyth[.] coaled 600 tons, A. Duncan.
23rd to 10th Harbour Routine
September 1915
Sep 9th 15
Cable parted 11.15 AM sent for tugs, let go sheet anchor & sent to PR for a sheet anchor
Sep 10th
5.45 Weighed & proceeded to Sea in company with 1st & 3rd BCS 1st & 3rd L.C.S. Fearless Botha & 1st flotilla.
Sep 11th
4.30 AM, Action stations enemy reported. report unfounded, supposed enemy ships 5th L.C.S.
Sep 12th 15
4. AM, Anchored Rosyth report from Fearless of having rammed H.M. destroyer Hydra both badly damaged.
6.AM coaled, received 1320 tons from Askside[.][9] finished 10.30 AM.
Sep 19th
Coaled 430 tons 1 hr 15 mins.
October 1915
Oct 1st 15
Coaled 370 tons. discontinued wearing duck caps
Oct 15th
Coaled 420 tons, Agnes.D.
Oct 19th
8.PM Proceeded to sea in company with 1st BCS. & 2 divisions of destroyers
Oct 21st[10]
Arrived Scapa Flow. Coaled 950 tons.
Oct 22.
Proceeded to sea at 6.AM[.] did firing (13.5") in Moray Firth.
Oct 14th[11]
8 ?M[12] arrived Rosyth[.] coaled 850 tons.
November 1915
Nov 6th 15
11.45 AM Proceeded to Sea in company with 1st BCS Fearless & 12 destroyers.
3.30 PM sub-calibre firing
Nov 7th
11.45 AM Proceeded to Sea in company with 1st BCS Fearless & 12 destroyers.
Nov 8th
9.AM Arrived Rosyth coaled 1350 tons finished 3 PM
Nov 24th
Sailed 9 AM arrived at Newcastle 3.30 PM proceeded into dock & on leave for 6 days.
December 1915
Dec 1st
Arrived Rosyth coaled 600 tons
January 1916
Jan 5th 16
Sailed in company with 1st 2nd & 3rd BCS & 1st 2nd & 3rd L.C.S.
Jan 6th
did 4 inch firing very rough weather,
Jan 7th
PZ with 3nd BCS as Blue Fleet.
Jan 8th
More PZ & range keeping exercise arrived Rosyth 10.30 PM
Jan 9th
Coaled 1610 tons Agnes Duncan[.] average 355[13]
Jan 29th 16
Sailed in company with 1st BCS Falmouth Yarmouth Southampton Nottingham & Birkenhead & 16 destroyers, did sub-calibre firing 50 rounds per gun.
Jan 30th 16
Arrived Cromarty 11.30 AM coaled 540 tons from collier Vittoria.[14]
Jan 31st
9 AM 13.5" firing in Firth saw remains of Natal.
February 1916
Feb 1st
Left Cromarty in company with Beaver & Jackal arrived Scapa Flow 6.10 PM
Feb 2nd 16
Left Scapa 3.30 PM very rough Sea[.] steered South
Feb 3rd 16
At Sea, arrived Rosyth 5.10 coaled 605 tons
Feb 11th 16
11.30 Proceeded to Sea in company with 1st 2nd & 3rd BCS 1st 2nd & 3rds L.C.S. Botha & 18 destroyers & 3rd B.S. steam for full speed at midnight.
Feb 12th
Heard of sinking of Arabis Minesweeper by enemy Torpedo craft. Steamed southas far as Heligoland & then Zig Zagged across North Sea on a North Westerly course.
Feb 13th
8 AM arrived Rosyth coaled 900 tons Agens Duncan.
Sat Feb 26th
12.20 PM Proceeded to sea in company with 1st 2nd & 3rd BCS & 1st 2nd & 3rd LCS.
Sun Feb 27th
Rendezvoused with Battle Fleet & went through PZ exercise[.] sea rough.
Feb 28th
9.30 AM arrived Rosyth coaled 990 tons Agnes Duncan.
March 1916
March 19th
Heard news of H joining RN[15]
March 28th[16]
Heard news of H's rejection.[17]
March 24th
Proceeded to sea in company with BCF
March 25th
Hands at action stations sighted Reef horns light vessel off coast of Heligoland. Medusa in collision with Laverock & badly damaged[.] Lightfoot reported engaging enemy's aircraft steamed off Moth of Heligoland Bight[.] no signs of enemy. Steered Nother at night received news of enemy forces out so turned south again & one of our LCs rammed an enemy torpedo boat.
March 26th[18]
Enemy's forces returned to bases & we returned to harbour.
March 27th
Arrived Rosyth[.] coaled 1760 tons.
April 1916
April 15th
left Rosyth in company with 1st BCS & 4 desrs.
April 16th
Arrived Scap Flow 5.AM coaled 770 tons collier Moyle
April 17th
aiming rifle & sub-calibre
April 18th
ditto
April 19th
Ran torpedoes & Battle practice firing {Frac|3|4}} charges & night firing.
April 20th
Coaled 620 tons. night firing
April 21st
ran torpedoes.
8 PM Proceeded to Sea in company with 1st BCS & 1st LCS
April 22nd
joined up with 2nd & 3rd BCS & 2nd & 3rd LCS with destroyers[.] steered South.
4 PM enveloped in dense fog decreased to 10 knots[.] Australia & New Zealand reported in collision[,] ordered to return to base escorted by Acheron Ariel Archer Attack.
April 23rd
3.AM fog lifting, Admiralty message received Abandon operations & return to base.
4.AM altered course to N 75 W
9.AM reports coming in of destroyers in collision[.] Ardent taken in tow to Tyne River & Christopher, Fortune, badly damaged. our speed 211⁄2
7 PM arrived Rosyth coaled 1020
April 24th
10 PM sailed in company with BCF steam for full speed.
April 25th
Lightfoot reported sighting enemy & giving chase but were forced to retire owing to superior enemy forces, we increased to 24 knot but were unable to overtake enemy.
April 26
9.AM return to base[.] coaled 850 tons. Invincible rammed by patrol yacht.
TODO: I am now about 40% of the way through this transcription
Footnotes
- ↑ Not certain of reading of the last two words.
- ↑ The date of this makes it likely that the presiding officer was Commodore, Second Class Edwyn S. Alexander-Sinclair
- ↑ Note that the "3rd" here might be crossed out. It appears likely that the 3rd was not involved, given its absence in the coming day's practice.
- ↑ The two struck-through words are not certain.
- ↑ I am not sure I understand this entry, but it seems like it might be loss of a personal item, possibly related to July 1st's entry.
- ↑ This entry is wedged in, and is not clear.
- ↑ Time may not be correctly read.
- ↑ Time may be 4.0
- ↑ Not entirely sure of this supposed collier's name
- ↑ This is overwritten 22nd. Apparently 21st, given next entry is clearly 22nd
- ↑ This must mean "24th", but seems to clearly read "14th".
- ↑ AM and PM are written atop each other.
- ↑ likely, this means 355 tons/hour
- ↑ Maybe "Victoria"?
- ↑ I am unsure what "H" refers to. A relative?
- ↑ Perhaps this should be "20th", but seems clearly written as "28th"
- ↑ Oh well.
- ↑ Date is illegible, but I infer from the two neighbors
