ACTION IN OUTLINE

Monday 31 August 1914

 

 

German auxiliary cruiser Cap Trafalgar, 18,710grt commissioned in South Atlantic with 2-4.1in guns from gunboat Eber sailing from German South West Africa, no British or allied ships sunk

 

 

Monday 14 September 1914

 

Central Atlantic

 

SS Carmania (Photo Ships)

 

Carmania, Admiralty armed merchant cruiser, ex-passenger ship, 19,524/1905, Cunard SS Co, Liverpool, hired 8/8/14, 8-4.7in, Capt N Grant, South American Station, taking part in southerly sweep for German raiders, coming down from NE at 16kts to examine Trinidada Island. Discovered Cap Trafalgar (2-4in/6 pom-poms) coaling from two colliers. German made off southwards while colliers dispersed, but then turned west and began to close at 18kts, range down to 8,500yds by 1210, Carmania fired a shot across the bows, Cap Trafalgar replied, and when only 7,500yds apart both ships opened rapid accurate fire. Range continued to shorten until Cap Trafalgar could use short-range pom-poms, Carmania turned away full circle until she was chasing by which time her bridge was on fire, but the German was also on fire forward with a slight list. As a stern chase developed Cap Trafalgar slowly pulled away and by 1330 was out of range, but the fire was gaining and list increasing. Fifteen minutes later she capsized and sank in 20.10S, 29.51W.

 

Carmania was badly damaged with five holes on the water line and fore-bridges destroyed, fires came under control, made for Abrolhos Rocks, met next afternoon in response to her SOS by light cruiser Bristol which stood by until arrival of armoured cruiser Cornwall; 6 men killed, 4 DOW, 26 wounded (Rn/Cn/D/dk/kp).

 

 

(click for source abbreviations)

ROYAL NAVY CASUALTIES - Killed and Died

With thanks to Don Kindell

Monday, 14 September 1914

 

Carmania, armed merchant cruiser, damaged in action with German auxiliary cruiser in Central Atlantic, three also died of wounds on the 16th, and one on the 21st

 BURFITT, James C, Chief Petty Officer, 145283 (Po)

 GRANT, Norman, Seaman, RNR, B 4237

 MCLEOD, Kenneth J, Seaman, RNR, A 5348

 RUSSELL, Robert W, Seaman, RNR, B 5159

 SNELL, George J W, Corporal, RMLI, 11773 (Po)

 SNOWLING, George, Seaman, RNR, A 3970

 

 

Wednesday, 16 September 1914

 

Carmania, armed merchant cruiser, damaged on 14th

 DIAPER, Cecil R, Seaman, RNR, B 4999, DOW

 DUGAN, Peter, Seaman, RNR, A 4613, DOW

 PIERCE, Richard, Seaman, RNR, D 1684, DOW

 

 

Monday, 21 September 1914

 

Carmania, armed merchant cruiser, damaged on 14th

 LAWRENSON, James, Trimmer, 393494 (MMR), DOW

ROYAL NAVY HONOURS and GALLANTRY AWARDS

With thanks to the London Gazette

Gazette No. 29024 - 29 DECEMBER 1914

 

The KING (is) pleased to give orders for the following appointments to the Most Honourable Order of the Bath:

 

To be Ordinary Members of the Military Division of the Third Class, or Companions, of the said Most Honourable Order:

 Captain Noel Grant, R.N., (H.M.S. "Carmania").

 Commander James Barr, R.N.R., (H.M.S. "Carmania").

_____

 

To be Companions of the Distinguished Service Order.

Lieutenant-Commander Edmund Laurence Braithwaite Lockyer, His Majesty's Ship "Carmania."

 

 

29123 - 9 APRIL 1915

 

To receive the Distinguished Service Cross:

 

For services in the action between H.M.S. "Carmania" and the German Armed Merchant Cruiser "Cap Trafalgar," on 14th September, 1914, when the latter vessel was sunk:

 Chief Gunner Henry Middleton

 Acting Sub Lieutenant George Frederick Dickens, R.N.R.

 Midshipman (now Acting Sub Lieutenant) Douglas Nowell Colson, R.N.R.

 

To receive the Distinguished Service Medal

  

For services in the action between the "Carmania" and the "Cap Trafalgar," 14th September, 1914:

 John Walker Jones, Chief Petty Officer, ON 116929 (RFR Po A 979)

 Robert Walter Andrews, Chief Petty Officer, O N 143783 (RFR Po A 3472)

 Charles Ware, Petty Officer, R.N., O.N. 173515.

 William Frederick Clark, 2nd Yeoman of Signals, O.N. 220953 (R.F.R. Po. B.3406).

 Albert Edward Mitchell, Armourer, R.N., O.N. 342296.

 William Samuel Dyer, Serjeant, R.M.A., R.F.R., R.M.A./4607.

 Richard Robert Branake, Gunner, R.M.A., R.F.R., R.M.A./10783.

 William Ernest Wadsworth, Private, R.M.L.I., R.F.R., O.N. Po./9430.

 Arthur Stanley Fletcher, Seaman, R.N.R., 3746 B.

 John Hanlon, Seaman, R.N.R., 3177 C.

 Matthew Green, Chief Steward.

 Thomas Adams, Officers' Steward (3rd Class).