The Harwich Force was a squadron of the Royal Navy, formed during the First World War and based in Harwich. It played a significant role in the war.
History
After the outbreak of the First World War, a priority for the Royal Navy was to secure the approaches to the English Channel, to prevent elements of the German High Seas Fleet from breaking out into the Atlantic, or from interfering with British maritime trade and convoys to the continent. Most of the major fleet units of the Grand Fleet had dispersed to the navy's anchorage at Scapa Flow or to other North Eastern ports to monitor the northern route from the North Sea into the Atlantic. Consequently, a number of patrol flotillas were organised along the south and east coasts of England, with commands established at several of the major ports in the region. The Dover Patrol was based at Dover, consisting mostly of destroyers, while a number of pre-dreadnoughts and cruisers were based at Portland Harbour. A large number of destroyers, flotilla leaders and light cruisers were centred at Harwich, under the command of Commodore Reginald Tyrwhitt.
Composition
The Harwich Force consisted of between four and eight light cruisers, several flotilla leaders and usually between 30 and 40 destroyers, with numbers fluctuating throughout the war, and organised into flotillas. Also stationed at Harwich was a submarine force under Commodore Roger Keyes.
In early 1917, the Harwich Force consisted of eight light cruisers, two flotilla leaders and 45 destroyers. By the end of the year, there were nine light cruisers, four flotilla leaders and 24 destroyers. The combination of light, fast ships was intended to provide effective scouting and reconnaissance, whilst still being able to engage German light forces, and to frustrate attempts at mine laying in the Channel.
Commanders
Included:
Rear-Admiral Reginald Tyrwhitt, 27 April, 1914 – 1 May, 1919
Rear-Admiral George Holmes Borrett, 1 March, 1919
Service
It was intended that the Harwich Force would operate when possible in conjunction with the Dover Patrol, and the Admiralty intended that the Harwich force would also be able to support the Grand Fleet if it moved into the area. Tyrwhitt was also expected to carry out reconnaissance of German naval activities in the southern parts of the North Sea, and to escort ships sailing between the Thames and the Netherlands. Tyrwhitt's objectives were often complicated by the need to provide reinforcements for the Dover Patrol. The force fired the first shots of the war when a flotilla led by HMS Amphion sank the minelayer Königin Luise on 5 August 1914. During the war, the Force captured or sank 24 enemy merchants, and it escorted 520 eastbound and 511 westbound ships between Dutch and British ports.Their ships also took part in the Cuxhaven Raid on Christmas Day, 1914.
The force was also active in a number of clashes with the Kaiserliche Marine (German Navy). Their ships were present at the Battles of Heligoland Bight, Texel, and Dogger Bank, and were mobilised after the German raids on Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby in 1914, and on Yarmouth and Lowestoft in 1916. They were called out during the lead up to the Battle of Jutland, but did not take part in the battle. After the end of the war, Harwich was designated the port at which the remaining German U-boats would be surrendered, and Tyrwhitt's Harwich Force oversaw the operation.
Battle of Jutland
At the end of May 1916, at the time of the Battle of Jutland, the Harwich force consisted of:
5th Light Cruiser Squadron: Carysfort (Commodore Tyrwhitt)
Cleopatra (Captain F. P. Loder-Symonds)
Conquest (Captain Roger Backhouse)
Canterbury (Captain Percy Royds, detached to Grand Fleet)
Penelope (Captain Hubert Lynes; undergoing repairs)
Vindex, a seaplane carrier (detached to Rosyth, Scotland)
9th Destroyer Flotilla light cruiser Undaunted (Capt. Francis G. St.John)
destroyer leader Nimrod
17 (L-class) destroyers (Laforey, Lance, Lark, Lassoo, Laverock, Lawford, Leonidas, Lookout, Loyal, Lysander; detached to the Battlecruiser Fleet: Landrail, Laurel, Liberty, Lydiard; in repairs or refitting: Laertes, Lennox, Lucifer)
10th Destroyer Flotilla light cruiser Aurora (Capt. W. S. Nicholson)
destroyer leader Lightfoot
15 M-class and 3 Talisman-class destroyers. Manly, Mentor, Miranda, Murray, Milne, Myngs; attached to the 3rd Battle Squadron at The Nore: Mastiff, Matchless; detached to the Battlecruiser fleet: Moorsom, Morris, Termagant, Turbulent; in repairs or refit: Melpomene, Medea, Meteor, Trident, Mansfield, Minos.
During the battle, the Harwich Force sortied to join the Grand Fleet on the initiative of Commodore Trywhitt early on 1 June 1916 (although the force was recalled by the Admiralty a few hours later). The following ships were involved:
light cruisers: Carysfort, Cleopatra, Conquest, Aurora, Undauntedflotilla leaders Nimrod, Lightfootdestroyers: 1st Division: Laforey, Lookout, Lawford, Laverock2nd Division: Lance, Lassoo, Lysander, Lark3rd Division: Loyal, Leonidas, Mentor, Miranda4th Division: Manly, Murray, Milne, Myngs .
History
After the outbreak of the First World War, a priority for the Royal Navy was to secure the approaches to the English Channel, to prevent elements of the German High Seas Fleet from breaking out into the Atlantic, or from interfering with British maritime trade and convoys to the continent. Most of the major fleet units of the Grand Fleet had dispersed to the navy's anchorage at Scapa Flow or to other North Eastern ports to monitor the northern route from the North Sea into the Atlantic. Consequently, a number of patrol flotillas were organised along the south and east coasts of England, with commands established at several of the major ports in the region. The Dover Patrol was based at Dover, consisting mostly of destroyers, while a number of pre-dreadnoughts and cruisers were based at Portland Harbour. A large number of destroyers, flotilla leaders and light cruisers were centred at Harwich, under the command of Commodore Reginald Tyrwhitt.
Composition
The Harwich Force consisted of between four and eight light cruisers, several flotilla leaders and usually between 30 and 40 destroyers, with numbers fluctuating throughout the war, and organised into flotillas. Also stationed at Harwich was a submarine force under Commodore Roger Keyes.
In early 1917, the Harwich Force consisted of eight light cruisers, two flotilla leaders and 45 destroyers. By the end of the year, there were nine light cruisers, four flotilla leaders and 24 destroyers. The combination of light, fast ships was intended to provide effective scouting and reconnaissance, whilst still being able to engage German light forces, and to frustrate attempts at mine laying in the Channel.
Commanders
Included:
Rear-Admiral Reginald Tyrwhitt, 27 April, 1914 – 1 May, 1919
Rear-Admiral George Holmes Borrett, 1 March, 1919
Service
It was intended that the Harwich Force would operate when possible in conjunction with the Dover Patrol, and the Admiralty intended that the Harwich force would also be able to support the Grand Fleet if it moved into the area. Tyrwhitt was also expected to carry out reconnaissance of German naval activities in the southern parts of the North Sea, and to escort ships sailing between the Thames and the Netherlands. Tyrwhitt's objectives were often complicated by the need to provide reinforcements for the Dover Patrol. The force fired the first shots of the war when a flotilla led by HMS Amphion sank the minelayer Königin Luise on 5 August 1914. During the war, the Force captured or sank 24 enemy merchants, and it escorted 520 eastbound and 511 westbound ships between Dutch and British ports.Their ships also took part in the Cuxhaven Raid on Christmas Day, 1914.
The force was also active in a number of clashes with the Kaiserliche Marine (German Navy). Their ships were present at the Battles of Heligoland Bight, Texel, and Dogger Bank, and were mobilised after the German raids on Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby in 1914, and on Yarmouth and Lowestoft in 1916. They were called out during the lead up to the Battle of Jutland, but did not take part in the battle. After the end of the war, Harwich was designated the port at which the remaining German U-boats would be surrendered, and Tyrwhitt's Harwich Force oversaw the operation.
Battle of Jutland
At the end of May 1916, at the time of the Battle of Jutland, the Harwich force consisted of:
5th Light Cruiser Squadron: Carysfort (Commodore Tyrwhitt)
Cleopatra (Captain F. P. Loder-Symonds)
Conquest (Captain Roger Backhouse)
Canterbury (Captain Percy Royds, detached to Grand Fleet)
Penelope (Captain Hubert Lynes; undergoing repairs)
Vindex, a seaplane carrier (detached to Rosyth, Scotland)
9th Destroyer Flotilla light cruiser Undaunted (Capt. Francis G. St.John)
destroyer leader Nimrod
17 (L-class) destroyers (Laforey, Lance, Lark, Lassoo, Laverock, Lawford, Leonidas, Lookout, Loyal, Lysander; detached to the Battlecruiser Fleet: Landrail, Laurel, Liberty, Lydiard; in repairs or refitting: Laertes, Lennox, Lucifer)
10th Destroyer Flotilla light cruiser Aurora (Capt. W. S. Nicholson)
destroyer leader Lightfoot
15 M-class and 3 Talisman-class destroyers. Manly, Mentor, Miranda, Murray, Milne, Myngs; attached to the 3rd Battle Squadron at The Nore: Mastiff, Matchless; detached to the Battlecruiser fleet: Moorsom, Morris, Termagant, Turbulent; in repairs or refit: Melpomene, Medea, Meteor, Trident, Mansfield, Minos.
During the battle, the Harwich Force sortied to join the Grand Fleet on the initiative of Commodore Trywhitt early on 1 June 1916 (although the force was recalled by the Admiralty a few hours later). The following ships were involved:
light cruisers: Carysfort, Cleopatra, Conquest, Aurora, Undauntedflotilla leaders Nimrod, Lightfootdestroyers: 1st Division: Laforey, Lookout, Lawford, Laverock2nd Division: Lance, Lassoo, Lysander, Lark3rd Division: Loyal, Leonidas, Mentor, Miranda4th Division: Manly, Murray, Milne, Myngs .
Rear-Admiral Reginald Tyrwhitt
The Harwich Naval Forces 1914–1918.
By Commander C. D. A. Wollard, R.N.
A phase of the 1914-1918 "War At Sea" in pictures.
Depicting some of the activities of the "Harwich Naval Force" from the deck of the HMS Undaunted, compiled and illustrated by Commander C.L.A.Woolard Royal Navy.
Commander Claude L. A Woollard
Born in Richmond, Surrey, on May 21, 1882, he was an English national, but nevertheless French by his Mother, Mrs. Henriette Marie Joséphine Woolard, younger daughter of Colonel François Aubry, and great granddaughter of General Brahaut, Napoleon's Staff 1st.
At the age of 18, he embarked on the “PENRHYN CASTLE” in London, as an officer cadet. He had to make three successive voyages on this ship, the last one as first lieutenant and crossed the Cape Horn five times. Difficult journeys, sometimes even dramatic, of which he later recounted with great talent the painful episodes, in a work entitled. “Three times around the World on a sailing ship” (The novel of 125,000 miles aboard a large clipper).
He then had to sail for seven years as an officer on the large liners of the Cunard Line and among others on the unfortunate “LUSITANIA”, holder of the Blue Ribbon, which was known to be torpedoed and sunk in 1917 by a German submarine.
In 1913, Claude Woollard entered as an officer in the British Royal Navy.
During the war of 1914-18, he was attached as 1st lieutenant on the “HMS UNDAUNTED”, belonging to the famous fleet of Harwich, which illustrated brilliantly during the First World War. On this heroic period, he was to write again a very beautiful work entitled: Under the broad flame of the Commodore, in which he describes in a striking manner the audacious and impressive exploits of the naval units of Harwich under the command of Commodore Sir Reginald Tyrwhitt, later Admiral, and especially of the cruiser. “HMS UNDAUNTED”, on which he had himself served.
Claude Woollard was appointed Commander of the ACACIA ocean torpedo boat and was assigned to the monitoring of the waters of the Mediterranean. He was honored to receive the Cross of the Legion of Honor in recognition of his outstanding services to France in time of war.
After that, he was successively in command of the patrol squadrons of the Bosphorus, during the occupation of Constantinople by the Allies, then patented interpreter to the Secret Service and the figure of the Royal Navy.
Claude Woollard had been released from the Active Cadres, and placed in a position of retirement in 1925, but a sailor such as he could not resign himself to inactivity. For this reason, having had the painful nostalgia for the sea, he had in 1956 the idea of arming and ordering a large yacht, “ENGLISH ROSE”, which was to be the first and only cadet school ship in the world . Exempt from any lucrative idea, the intention of our comrade in this very particular field was only to develop in young girls the love of the sea and of travel.
But as the age came and weighed a little more on his shoulders each year, Claude Woollard had to resign himself to observing as much as possible the rest and calm in his pretty cottage of Parkstone, which he had dubbed "Even Keel".
In the final months of his life, he had succeeded in writing and finishing a final book on the sailing ship entitled "The Last of the Cape Horniers", prefaced by Admiral Sir John Henry Moore, President of the British Section.
Our faithful British friend, Commander Claude L A Woollard of the Royal Navy died on December 25, 1966, at the age of 84, in the small English town of Parkstone Pool, where he retired after a quarter of a century.
Born in Richmond, Surrey, on May 21, 1882, he was an English national, but nevertheless French by his Mother, Mrs. Henriette Marie Joséphine Woolard, younger daughter of Colonel François Aubry, and great granddaughter of General Brahaut, Napoleon's Staff 1st.
At the age of 18, he embarked on the “PENRHYN CASTLE” in London, as an officer cadet. He had to make three successive voyages on this ship, the last one as first lieutenant and crossed the Cape Horn five times. Difficult journeys, sometimes even dramatic, of which he later recounted with great talent the painful episodes, in a work entitled. “Three times around the World on a sailing ship” (The novel of 125,000 miles aboard a large clipper).
He then had to sail for seven years as an officer on the large liners of the Cunard Line and among others on the unfortunate “LUSITANIA”, holder of the Blue Ribbon, which was known to be torpedoed and sunk in 1917 by a German submarine.
In 1913, Claude Woollard entered as an officer in the British Royal Navy.
During the war of 1914-18, he was attached as 1st lieutenant on the “HMS UNDAUNTED”, belonging to the famous fleet of Harwich, which illustrated brilliantly during the First World War. On this heroic period, he was to write again a very beautiful work entitled: Under the broad flame of the Commodore, in which he describes in a striking manner the audacious and impressive exploits of the naval units of Harwich under the command of Commodore Sir Reginald Tyrwhitt, later Admiral, and especially of the cruiser. “HMS UNDAUNTED”, on which he had himself served.
Claude Woollard was appointed Commander of the ACACIA ocean torpedo boat and was assigned to the monitoring of the waters of the Mediterranean. He was honored to receive the Cross of the Legion of Honor in recognition of his outstanding services to France in time of war.
After that, he was successively in command of the patrol squadrons of the Bosphorus, during the occupation of Constantinople by the Allies, then patented interpreter to the Secret Service and the figure of the Royal Navy.
Claude Woollard had been released from the Active Cadres, and placed in a position of retirement in 1925, but a sailor such as he could not resign himself to inactivity. For this reason, having had the painful nostalgia for the sea, he had in 1956 the idea of arming and ordering a large yacht, “ENGLISH ROSE”, which was to be the first and only cadet school ship in the world . Exempt from any lucrative idea, the intention of our comrade in this very particular field was only to develop in young girls the love of the sea and of travel.
But as the age came and weighed a little more on his shoulders each year, Claude Woollard had to resign himself to observing as much as possible the rest and calm in his pretty cottage of Parkstone, which he had dubbed "Even Keel".
In the final months of his life, he had succeeded in writing and finishing a final book on the sailing ship entitled "The Last of the Cape Horniers", prefaced by Admiral Sir John Henry Moore, President of the British Section.
Our faithful British friend, Commander Claude L A Woollard of the Royal Navy died on December 25, 1966, at the age of 84, in the small English town of Parkstone Pool, where he retired after a quarter of a century.