Submariners AssociationBarrow in Furness Branch
WWI Submariners
by Barrie Downer
Hugh Lamberton Donald O/N P/228142 Able Seaman (LTO)
Hugh Donald was born in Surbiton, Surrey on 27th Jul 1886. He was one of the five children of James Young Donald and Elizabeth Donald. His elder brother was John James (born in Surbiton in 1884) and his younger brother was James (born in 1890 in Surbiton). His two sisters were Elizabeth (born on 23rd Sep 1888) and Violet (born in Fulham in 1898).
On leaving school Hugh Donald was employed as a kitchen boy. Hugh Donald joined the Royal Navy at Portsmouth as an Ordinary Seaman. He was advanced to Able Seaman on 20th Jul 1906. Details of his early drafts and training courses are not known but he was drafted to the 28,000 ton Battle Ship HMS Canada in 1915.
HMS Canada (Captain William C N Nicholson, Royal Navy) was built by the Elswick Yard on Clydebank and was 'Laid Down' for the Chilean Navy as Valpariso (later Almirante Latorre) in November 1911 and, having been purchased for the Royal Navy on the outbreak of WWI was 'Completed' in September 1915. The Battle Ship joined the 3rd Division of the Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow on 15th Oct 1915. Hugh Donald qualified LTO on 25th Jun 1916 and, whilst serving in HMS Canada he was present at the Battle of Jutland on 31st May/1st Jun 1916.
Hugh Donald volunteered for Submarines on 6th Feb 1917 and was 'requisitioned' on 15th May 1917 - joining HMS Dolphin 'for Submarine Training' on 29th Apr 1917. This was followed by a draft to the Submarine Depot Ship HMS Vulcan originally 'for the Spare Crew' but then 'for Submarine E35' on 29th May 1917.
Submarine E35 (a John Brown built Boat) was transferred to the Mediterranean to be based on the Base Ship HMS Cormorant at Gibraltar on 12th Nov 1917. On 31st Dec 1917 Submarine E35 was further transferred to the Submarine Depot Ship HMS Ambrose (Ambrose Flotilla) based at Gibraltar before being further transferred to the Submarine Depot Ship HMS Bonaventure (Special Service Flotilla VI) at Gibraltar on 1st Apr 1918 (1st Mar 1918 Nominal List).
On 11th May 1918 Submarine E35 (Lieutenant Commander Guy D'Oyly Hughes, Royal Navy) torpedoed and sank the 'U' Boat U-154 west of Gibraltar. Submarine E35 was again transferred to HMS Cormorant on 20th Dec 1918.
Hugh Donald then returned home to HMS Dolphin 'additional for 'L' Class Submarine training' and was 'loaned' to the Submarine Depot Ship HMS Ambrose at Portsmouth 'for Submarine L54' on 14th Jan 1919. He stayed in Submarine L54 (built by Denny's of Dumbarton) until 24th Mar 1919 when he was drafted to the Submarine Depot Ship HMS Maidstone 'for Submarine E51 - vice Able Seaman (LTO) Murthea'.
After six months he left Submarine E51 (built by Cammell Laird) and was drafted to the Submarine Depot Ship HMS Arrogant 'for the Care & Maintenance Party for 'E' Class Submarines' on 26th Sep 1919. Returning to HMS Dolphin on 10th Nov 1919 he was drafted to the 'Care & Maintenance Party for Submarine E53' – a Beardmore Boat).
A further draft to the HMS Dolphin 'for Group H Submarines in Reserve – for Submarine E48' (a Fairfield Boat) followed on 23rd Mar 1921. Hugh Donald was drafted to HMS Dolphin 'additional' on 21st Feb 1922 and then to HMS Dolphin 'for Submarine L24' – vice Able Seaman (LTO) Beaumont' on 20th Mar 1922. Submarine L24 was transferred to the Submarine Depot Ship HMS Lucia (based at Devonport) on 23rd Sep 1922. Submarine L24 (built by Vickers and completed at Chatham) was lost with all hands in a collision with the Battle Ship HMS Resolution off Portland on 10th Jan 1924.
Hugh Donald was survived by his two sisters – Elizabeth and Violet. Of his brothers the eldest - John James Donald joined the 8th Battalion of the Kings Royal Rifle Corps as Rifleman R/37696 and was killed at the Battle of Ypres on 11th Oct 1917. His younger brother - James Donald - was also killed in 1917.
George Fagan Bradshaw
George Bradshaw was born on 6th Dec 1887 and he joined the Royal Navy as a Naval Cadet at the age of thirteen. He was promoted to Midshipman on 15th Jun 1904 and to Sub Lieutenant on 15th Aug 1907.
George Bradshaw joined Submarines when he was appointed to the Submarine depot Ship HMS Mercury at Portsmouth 'for Submarine Training' on 15th Sep 1909. On completion of training he was appointed to the Submarine Tender HMS Onyx (Submarine Section VI) at Devonport 'for Submarines' on 1st Jan 1910. At this time Submarine Section VI was operating four 'A' Class Submarines. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 1st Apr 1910 and his next appointment was to HMS Egmont at Malta on 14th Aug 1911 'for Submarines' on the formation of the Malta Flotilla of three 'B' Class Submarines.
His first Submarine Command followed on 28th Feb 1913 when he was appointed to HMS Onyx 'for Command of Submarine A9'. A further move came on 20th Feb 1914 when he was appointed to the Submarine depot Ship HMS Bonaventure 'for Submarine C7 in Command'. He was still 'in Command' of Submarine C7 in December 1914.
George Bradshaw was next appointed to 'Submarine G13 in Command' to date 28th Aug 1916 – see Nominal List of 1st Sep 1916. Whilst 'in Command' of Submarine G13 George Bradshaw sank the German U-Boat UC-43 (Leutnant sur Zee Sebelin) off Muckle Flugga on 10th Mar 1917. He was awarded the DSO - see London Gazette of 12th May 1917 - for this action.
Later in 1917 he surfaced Submarine G13 in the North Sea for a gun action against a Zeppelin. The gun crew managed to get away five rounds against the Zeppelin before the Airship got astern of the Submarine and made an unsuccessful bombing attack. George Bradshaw was forced to dive to safety and was then kept deep all day by the Zeppelin.
Promotion to Lieutenant Commander followed on 1st Apr 1918. George Bradshaw was then appointed to the Submarine Depot Ship HMS Lucia 'for Command of Submarine L11' to date 16th Apr 1918. Later in 1918, whilst Submarine L11 was refitting, he was appointed temporarily 'in Command' of Submarine G11 when the Commanding Officer went sick.
The proper Commanding Officer of Submarine G11 was Lieutenant Commander Charles Gordon Norrie Graham, Royal Navy and he was taken ill with 'Spanish Flu' and was temporarily relieved by Lieutenant Richard Sandford, VC, Royal Navy.
Lieutenant Sandford was also taken ill (and subsequently died of typhoid) and George Bradshaw ended up taking Submarine G11 to sea at short notice. Whilst he was 'in Command' of Submarine L11 it was wrecked off Howick, Northumberland on 22nd Nov 1918 – all but two of the crew were saved. After the loss of G11 George Bradshaw continued to serve in HMS Lucia 'as Spare Commanding Officer' and was still there in December 1918.
George Bradshaw was appointed to the Battle Ship HMS Resolution on 24th Mar 1919 'for his Big Ship time' and he served in that Ship until 10th Jan 1921. He was then appointed to 'Submarine K15 in Command' on 16th Feb 1921.
K15 sank alongside HMS Canterbury in Portsmouth Dockyard on the night of 25th Jun 1921 as the result of an accident caused by failing to check draught marks and 'blow round' all Main Ballast tanks. There were no casualties. Following the loss of Submarine K15 George Bradshaw was appointed to HMS Dolphin as 'Spare Commanding Officer' on 5th Aug 1921. He was then appointed to HMS Victory 'for unemployed time' from 1st Sep 1921 to 8th Nov 1921 and was next appointed to HMS Excellent 'for Courses at the Anti-Gas School' from 9th Nov 1921 to 7th Dec 1921 before reverting to 'Half Pay'. He was transferred to the Retired List 'at his own request' on 1st Jun 1922.
George Bradshaw was promoted Commander on the Retired List on 6th Dec 1927. In retirement he became an artist of some note and was a member of the 'Newlyn' School and exhibited at the RSA, RA and in Paris. He was recalled for further service during WWII and was appointed to HMS President II on 30th Aug 1939. George Bradshaw died after several years of ill health on 27th Oct 1960. His ill health resulted from an accident at Newlyn during WWII when his boat triggered a magnetic mine in Newlyn Harbour.
By all accounts George Bradshaw – I was reliably informed by the late Leading Stoker 'Fred' Lamb – a neighbour of my parents in Poole and who served in Submarine K15 with George Bradshaw – was a very popular Commanding Officer. He was known by the Crew as 'Nutty' Bradshaw – but not to his face – of course!
Lieutenant Douglas Ramsden Attwood, DSC, Royal Navy Reserve
Douglas Attwood was born in Ulverston in Lancashire (now in Cumbria) on 18th Jan 1892. He was the son of Alfred Attwood (a Mechanical Engineer with Rio Tinto - and the Vice Consul at Huelva, Mexico) and his wife Annie Ramsden Attwood – nee Marley).
They had married at the Holy Trinity Church at Darlington on 10th Sep 1879. Douglas was the second youngest of their seven children. There were six boys Alfred Lionel - born on 8th Aug 1880, Geoffrey Ramsden - born on 5th Jan 1884, Claude - born in November 1885, Myles - born 27th Aug 1887, Douglas Ramsden - born on 18th Jan 1892 and George Ethelbert Carden - born on 28th Jun 1896. There was one daughter Alice – born on 14th Aug 1889).
In 1901 Douglas’s mother and six of the children were living at 2, Poole Corner, Wimborne, Dorset.
By 1909 Mrs Attwood had moved to Morden Lodge at Wimborne and, in 1912 the family was at Wellington Road, Parkstone, Poole, Dorset. His father – Alfred Attwood died on 11th Jun 1913.
Douglas Attwood was a TS Worcester Cadet and, on leaving Worcester after two years and two terms, he joined the Merchant Marine on 16th Aug 1909 serving firstly in the SS Inveravon owned by Montgomery and Company of London. This Ship sailed between New South Wales and Oregon. He then, in 1913 became 3rd Mate with the Grace Line of San Francisco in their vessel Colusa. At this time his address was given as 260, California Street, San Francisco. Douglas
Attwood was appointed as a Probationary Midshipman, RNR (Permanent Commission) on 4th Aug 1909. He was confirmed as Midshipman, RNR on 27th Dec 1912 and was promoted Acting Sub Lieutenant, RNR on 4th Aug 1914.
He joined the Royal Navy on 24th Aug 1914 and was appointed to HMS Vulcan (the Depot Ship of the Seventh Submarine Flotilla) at Leith ‘for Submarines’ on 24th Aug 1914.
On 21st Jan 1915 he was appointed to HMS Vulcan ‘for Submarine C23 as Third Hand’. Submarine C23 was commanded by Lieutenant Harrington D Edwards.
During 1915 some German U-Boat commanders had taken to surfacing their U-Boats in the middle of British fishing fleets in the North Sea and sinking as many trawlers and drifters as possible. In an attempt to counters these attacks some Royal Navy Submarine Officers from the Seventh Submarine Flotilla at Dundee devised a variation of the 'Q' ship tactic. This tactic was approved by the Flotilla Commanding Officer - Captain Vernon H S Haggard. This required a 'C' Class Submarine to be towed (whilst dived) by a Navy manned trawler - which would mingle with a fishing fleet and wait for a German U-Boat to appear. The Navy manned trawler (skippered by a Submarine Commanding Officer) would be indistinguishable from the fishing trawlers as it would have a tow deployed. To ensure that both Submarine and trawler could work as a team there was a telephone link between the two. If, and when the German U-Boat showed up the towed Submarine would be informed of the fact by the telephone link. The towing cable would be slipped at the Submarine end and a torpedo attack would be attempted on the enemy. This decoy trawler method of attack was used on several occasions and was successful twice.
There was almost a third success for this method of operation when Submarine C23 (Lieutenant Commander Harrington D Edwards and Douglas Attwood) was working in company with the trawler Ratapiko. There was trouble with the voice link but the Commanding Officer of Submarine C23 correctly appreciated the situation. Successfully slipping the tow from the Submarine end he shaped up for an attack. Unfortunately the German U-Boat Commander also realised that something was going on and, having had his suspicions aroused, decided that discretion was the better part of valour and made a successful withdrawal.
In November 1915, Douglas Attwood was appointed to ‘Submarine C19 as First Lieutenant’. Submarine C19 was commanded by Lieutenant Hugh R Marrack, Royal Navy). Douglas Attwood had been confirmed as Sub Lieutenant, RNR and had been further promoted to Acting Lieutenant, RNR on 23rd Aug 1915.
His next appointment was to the Submarine Depot Ship HMS Titania (11th Submarine Flotilla) at Blyth ‘for Submarine J5 as Navigating Officer (standing by whilst completing)’ as reported on the Nominal List dated 1st Apr 1916. Submarine J5 ‘Commissioned’ at Devonport on 6th May 1916. It is reported that on her first War Patrol Submarine J5 had depth keeping difficulties and hit the bottom at 140 feet in the North Sea. On return to harbour the Submarine had to be docked for repairs - leaving dock on 31st Jul 1916. It is reported that Submarine J5 then was involved in a collision with the Destroyer HMS Vixen and had to be docked for further repairs to the Stem and the Bow Torpedo Shutters.
On 1st Dec 1916 Douglas Attwood was appointed to HMS Dolphin ‘for Submarine E51 - on Commissioning’. The appointment was changed to HMS Maidstone ‘for Submarine E51 as First Lieutenant’ on 21st Jan 1917. Submarine E51 was commanded by Lieutenant Hugh R Marrack – previously of Submarine C19.
On 17th Jul 1917 he was appointed to HMS Alecto ‘for Submarine duties - Spare Crew’. Douglas Attwood was awarded the DSC (London Gazette dated 22nd Feb 1918) for his part in the action resulting in the sinking of U-Boat UC65 by Submarine C15 (Lieutenant Edgar H Dolphin) on 3rd Nov 1917. This had happened when Douglas Attwood had been ‘loaned’ to Submarine C15 as the ‘Temporary First Lieutenant’.
The Nominal List of 1st October 1917 reports his first Command to be to HMS Thames ‘for Submarine F2 in Command’ to date 30th Sep 1917. He took over Command of Submarine F2 from Lieutenant Anthony Cunard.
His second Command appointment was to HMS Titania ‘for Submarine G5 in Command’ to date 18th Jun 1918. He completed what was to be his last War Patrol on 4th Nov 1918.
Douglas Attwood died of pneumonia in the 1st North General Hospital on 24th Nov 1918. Twenty six year old Douglas Attwood was buried in the Darlington West Cemetery, Durham in Grave No. C.3N.122 on 28th Nov 1918.
Frederick Robert Knight O/N 235787 (Ch)
Frederick Knight was born on 3rd Mar 1889 at Romford in Essex. His address on joining was given as 24, Shakespeare Road, Romford. On leaving school he was employed as a Warehouse Boy. He joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class at HMS Boscawen on 6th Feb 1906 and was rated up to Boy 1st Class on 6th May 1906. On 18th May
1906 he was drafted to the 12,000 ton Cruiser HMS Sutlej. He was next drafted to the 3,400 ton Light cruiser HMS Thetis on 15th Sep 1906 but this was only a short draft as he then joined the 16,350 ton Battle Ship HMS Africa on 6th Nov 1906. He was rated Ordinary Seaman on 3rd Mar 1907 and Able Seaman on 3rd Feb 1909.
Frederick Knight remained in HMS Africa until 15th Feb 1909 and was then drafted ashore to HMS Pembroke (the Royal Naval Barracks) at Chatham on 16th Feb 1909 before being drafted to HMS Ganges II - the Depot Ship of the Training Establishment at Shotley, Harwich on 26th Feb 1909.
Frederick Knight returned to HMS Pembroke for one week on 9th Sep 1910 before joining HMS Acteon (the Torpedo School) at Sheerness for HMS Charger on 16th Sep 1910. He qualified as an Able Seaman Torpedo-man and was then drafted to the Destroyer Depot Ship HMS Blenheim for the 810 ton Torpedo Boat Destroyer HMS Beagle on 10th Oct 1911. He again returned to HMS Pembroke on 18th Nov 1911 before being drafted back to HMS Acteon on 21st Feb 1912. He returned to HMS Pembroke on 18th Jun 1912 awaiting draft to the 13,550 ton Cruiser HMS Natal on 20th Aug 1912.
The draft to HMS Natal lasted until 19th Mar 1913 when Frederick Knight returned to HMS Pembroke for three weeks before joining HMS Vernon (the Torpedo School at Portsmouth) on Apr 1913 for his ‘Leading Torpedo Operators Course’. On completion of his LTO Course he was drafted back to HMS Pembroke to await draft to the 14,000 ton Battle Ship HMS Russell on 30th Sep 1913. His Commanding Officer in HMS Russell was Captain William Bowden-Smith, Royal Navy. He qualified educationally for Petty Officer on 2nd Dec 1913.
Frederick Knight served in HMS Russell until 23rd May 1915 when he was drafted to HMS Dolphin at Gosport ‘for Submarine Training’. A draft to the Submarine Depot Ship HMS Vulcan ‘for Submarines’ followed on 27th May 1915.
On 22nd Jun 1916 he was drafted to the Submarine Depot Ship HMS Arrogant (4th Submarine Flotilla) at Dover ‘for Submarines’. Frederick Knight passed his ‘Professional Examination for Torpedo Gunners Mate’ on 24th Jan 1917 and he was then drafted to HMS Maidstone (9th Submarine Flotilla) at Harwich ‘for Submarines’ on 11th Feb 1917.
Frederick Knight was drafted to HMS Lucia (10th Submarine Flotilla) at South Bank, Middlesborough ‘for Submarine C22’ on 1st Jul 1917. He was rated Leading Seaman on 1st Aug 1917. Submarine C22 transferred to the Submarine Depot Ship HMS Hebe on 14th Oct 1917. He remained in Submarine C22 until 6th Feb 1918 when he was noted as drafted to HMS Dolphin ‘Sick’. He was then ‘loaned’ to HMS Vernon on 27th Apr 1918 ‘for Torpedo Gunners Mates Course’ and then, after ‘Qualifying’ returned to HMS Dolphin ‘Additional’ on 4th Oct 1918. One month later, on 5th Nov 1918 he was drafted to HMS Lucia (7th Submarine Flotilla) ‘for Submarine E27’. His Commanding Officer in Submarine E27 was Lieutenant Alec M Carrie, Royal Navy. During his time in Submarines his address was given as 54, Cardiff Road, Watford, Hertfordshire.
Frederick Knight married a Miss Susannah Sparkes in 1917 and they later had one son and four daughters. Frederick Knight was demobilised on 8th Apr 1919.
On 27th Jun 1921 he joined the Royal Fleet Reserve and was given the RFR Official No. of 13440. He also volunteered (on 27th Jun 1921) to rejoin the Submarine Service if he was called up for Mobilisation. He was awarded the ‘trio’ of World War One medals consisting on the ‘1914-1915 Star, the ‘British War Medal’ and the ‘Victory Medal’ on 15th Sep 1921. He completed his Annual RFR Drill each year up until 1928 and, it is understood, he finally left the Royal Fleet Reserve in 1929. In 1929
Frederick Knight was diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease and he lived for the rest of his life at 10, Primrose Gardens, Bushey, Hertfordshire. Susannah Knight died in 1953 and Frederick Knight died in 1958. They were both buried in the Cemetery of the Bushey Congregational Church (now the Bushey United Reform Church).