An Album of Military activity in the Harbour, Harwich during World War One.
Barrage Boats
H.M. Barrage Vessel B.V.5. (Coates) & B.V. 17 (Coates), Harwich Harbour (1918)
H.M. Barrage Vessel B.V.5. (Coates) & B.V. 17 (Coates), Harwich Harbour (1918)
The Floating Dock, Harwich
H.M. Floating Dock, Harwich Copyright Coates, Harwich No 44
H.M. Floating Dock, Harwich Copyright Coates, Harwich No 44
The Harwich Force
Warships In Harwich Harbour
Warships In Harwich Harbour
The Peril's of War
A sailor's hand from HMS Dido, after handling aircraft explosives in Harwich 1917.
A sailor's hand from HMS Dido, after handling aircraft explosives in Harwich 1917.
The Royal Navy Sailors
Royal Navy Walking Party from H.M.S. Boadicea, at Ramsey, Harwich, Essex July 1911.
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Royal Navy Walking Party from H.M.S. Cossack & HMS Tartar, at Ramsey, Harwich, Essex 1912 (No 5)
- HMS Tartar was a Tribal class destroyer of the Royal Navy launched in 1907 and sold in 1921. During the First World War she served in the North Sea and the English Channel with the 6th Destroyer Flotilla.
- HMS Cossack was a Tribal class destroyer of the Royal Navy launched in 1907 and sold in 1919.
- Postcode for the nearest location is CO12 5EY click here for Google Earth imagery.
Royal Navy Walking Party at Dovercourt, Harwich, Essex 1911
Red Cross Flag Day aboard the HMS Canterbury (of the Harwich Force) at Parkeston Quay in 1917.
- Original photographic postcard 1st world war Red cross flag day collectors with sailor of HMS Canterbury.
- Flag Days were the idea of Agnes Morrison, who started the Our Day collections in September 1914. They were organised mainly by the Red Cross and volunteer collectors to raise funds for wounded soldiers, war widows and prisoners of war. Supporters were encouraged to buy pin-flag badges and, on days dedicated to the corresponding funds of the allies, women sold flags wearing appropriate national dress.
- HMS Canterbury was a C-class light cruiser of the British Royal Navy, part of the Cambrian sub-group and unlike the rest of the subclass she was armed with six torpedo tubes instead of the usual four.
- Laid down in October 1914, she was launched on December 21, 1915 and commissioned into the navy in April 1916 before being attached to the Grand Fleet, commanded by Captain Percy M. R. Royds. Her first major action was the Battle of Jutland on 31 May to 1 June, which she survived, she was then assigned to the 5th Light Cruiser Squadron, operating with the Harwich Force to defend the eastern approaches to the English Channel.
- On 5 June 1917, whilst serving with the Harwich force she sank the German torpedo boat S20 off the Belgian coast before being assigned to operate in the Aegean in 1918, where she saw out the rest of the war without incident.
- She was considered obsolete by 1934, and was sold on July 27, 1934 to Metal Industries of Rosyth for breaking up, However her bell survived and is at Canterbury Cathedral.
The Crew of HMS Blanche at Michaelstow Hall, near Ramsey.
- To celebrate 100 years of the Battle of Jutland, a local connection to that historic event.
- HMS Blanche was a Blonde Class Light scout cruiser and was present at Jutland (although she didn't fight). She was converted to a mine-layer in 1917. Commissioned in 1909 until she was sold for scrap in 1921.
- The crew can be seen here posing at Michaelstow Hall, near Ramsey, armed with a variety of weapons (how things have changed, as members of the Royal Navy are not even allowed to wear their uniform in public these days) and taking the chance for rest and relaxation and the odd cigarette !
The Satellite Boat
The Satellite, War Department., Harwich
The Satellite, War Department., Harwich
Sir Reginald Y Tyrwhitt
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Reginald Yorke Tyrwhitt, 1st Baronet, GCB, DSO (10 May 1870 – 30 May 1951) was a Royal Navy officer. During the First World War he served as commander of the Harwich Force. He led a supporting naval force of 31 destroyers and two cruisers at the Battle of Heligoland Bight in August 1914 in which action the 1st Battlecruiser Squadron under Sir David Beatty sunk three German cruisers and one German destroyer with minimal loss of allied warships. Tyrwhitt also led the British naval forces during the Cuxhaven Raid in December 1914 when British sea-planes destroyed German Zeppelin airships and at the Battle of Dogger Bank in January 1915 in which action Tyrwhitt again supported Beatty's powerful battlecruiser squadron.
After the War Tyrwhitt went on to be Senior Naval Officer, Gibraltar, commander of the 3rd Light Cruiser Squadron in the Mediterranean Fleet and then Commander-in-Chief, Coast of Scotland. He also served as Commander-in-Chief, China during a period of disturbances and tension with the Nationalist Government. His last appointment was as Commander-in-Chief, The Nore.
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Reginald Yorke Tyrwhitt, 1st Baronet, GCB, DSO (10 May 1870 – 30 May 1951) was a Royal Navy officer. During the First World War he served as commander of the Harwich Force. He led a supporting naval force of 31 destroyers and two cruisers at the Battle of Heligoland Bight in August 1914 in which action the 1st Battlecruiser Squadron under Sir David Beatty sunk three German cruisers and one German destroyer with minimal loss of allied warships. Tyrwhitt also led the British naval forces during the Cuxhaven Raid in December 1914 when British sea-planes destroyed German Zeppelin airships and at the Battle of Dogger Bank in January 1915 in which action Tyrwhitt again supported Beatty's powerful battlecruiser squadron.
After the War Tyrwhitt went on to be Senior Naval Officer, Gibraltar, commander of the 3rd Light Cruiser Squadron in the Mediterranean Fleet and then Commander-in-Chief, Coast of Scotland. He also served as Commander-in-Chief, China during a period of disturbances and tension with the Nationalist Government. His last appointment was as Commander-in-Chief, The Nore.
H.M. Torpedo Boats (1908)
Torpedo Boats Off Harwich.
Known as "The Devils of the Ocean" by the German's"
Torpedo Boats Off Harwich.
Known as "The Devils of the Ocean" by the German's"
United States Marine Boats
U.S. Ships and Submarine Chasers at Harwich, Dec 1918 No 1 & 2
S.S. Harvard and U.S.A.P Aphrodite.
U.S. Ships and Submarine Chasers at Harwich, Dec 1918 No 1 & 2
S.S. Harvard and U.S.A.P Aphrodite.