With the Battle Cruisers

Excerpt:

6. The Raid on Hartlepool and Scarborough

In the small hours of Tuesday, December 15, I was aroused by the sound of our torpedo nets coming in; and when, at 4 A.M., I went on duty, I found that we had suddenly been ordered to sea and were to sail at five. A German force was reported to be leaving the Ems this morning, and our orders from the Commander-in-Chief were to rendezvous with the Second Battle Squadron and the First Light Cruiser Squadron from Scapa and the Third Cruiser Squadron from Rosyth, in latitude 57.20 N., longitude 0.10 W., at 2.30 p.m. on December 15. There had been a succession of heavy gales, and the destroyers at Scapa could not accompany the Second Battle Squadron owing to the tremendous seas fanning in the Pentland Firth. Boadicea and Blanche, the light cruisers attached to the squadron, were so damaged by the heavy seas encountered in the Firth (Boadicea losing several men overboard) that they had to return to their base for repair. To take their place afl the available destroyers from Cromarty were ordered out, also two flotillas from Harwich; but this latter force, owing to complications due to its being directly under the command of the Admiralty, never got far enough to the northward to take any part in the subsequent operations. Only seven destroyers were available at Cromarty: Luax, Ambuscade, Unity, Hardy, Slunk, Acasta and Spitfire; and the shortage oil destroyers was to prove a very important factor in the occurrences of the following day.

As things were very quiet in the Intelligence office I went up on deck as we passed in the dark through the boom defence at Cromarty, and stayed there until we had passed out beyond the Souters, when we encountered a very heavy sea which caused even the Lion (usually but little affected by heavy weather) to roll and screw in a somewhat disquieting manner. Daylight found us out of sight of land on a south-easterly course and in weather which promised to add considerably to whatever excitements might be in store for the small craft accompanying us. At noon we received the following signal from the late Vice-Admiral Sir George Warrender, who was commanding the Second Battle Squadron and was therefore the senior officer at sea; his squadron consisted of the battleships King George V. (Flag), Orion (Rear-Admiral Sir Robert Arbuthnot), Ajax, Centurion, Conqueror and Monarch.

"V.A. Second Battle Squadron to V.A. Lion:

" German squadron of four battle cruisers, five light cruisers and three flotillas leave Jade River daylight to-day, returns Wednesday night. Am proceeding to rendezvous 54.10 N., 3.0 E., 7.30 a.m. 16th. Hope to get news from Commodore (T) and join him. If nothing heard at 7.30 shall steer 90° till 10.30 and 270° till 1.30, speed 14 knots, then turn north. Considering your strength do not get more than five miles from me. Steering 90° I want you astern, otherwise ahead, with 3rd C.S. and 1st L.C.S. under your command. I think raid probably Harwich or Humber. If you get engaged draw enemy towards Battle Squadron. If Commodore (T) does not join up I fear enemy's destroyers only. On joining 3rd C.S. to take station one mile from our port beam. 1st L.C.S. one mile on starboard beam opening to five miles to-night, closing daylight. They are then under your command to engage enemy's light cruisers and head off destroyers as you may direct. Battle Stations by 7 a.m. and steam for full speed at midnight. Warn cruisers to beware of mines floating or dropping astern. Have you any suggestions? As soon as you understand take station live miles ahead. If this weather continues if possible engage enemy to windward and steer to binder destroyers. 11.41."

This signal did not add greatly to the Admiral's knowledge of the situation he was likely to encounter next morning. Fortunately—or unfortunately—he did not know then that the Harwich destroyers, although at sea, would be 60 miles to the south of us at the critical time, and that for scouting purposes we should be dependent, in what promised to be very heavy weather, on lour light cruisers and seven destroyers. However, the junction with the Rosyth and Scapa forces was duly made that afternoon; and we proceeded in the formation directed, with slight modification as to the positions in which the scouting craft were spread. The order taken for the night was that the battle cruisers took station live miles ahead of the Battle Squadron, with the First Light Cruiser Squadron disposed five miles to starboard and the Third Cruiser Squadron five miles to port, the destroyers being astern of the Battle Squadron.