H.M.S. Matchless (1914)

H.M.S. Matchless (1914)
Pendant Number:	H.4A (1914) H.73 (Jan 1918) D.47 (Sep 1918)
Builder:	Swan Hunter
Ordered:	1913 Programme
Launched:	5 Oct, 1914
Completed:	Dec, 1914
Sold:	Oct, 1921

H.M.S. Matchless was one of one hundred and three destroyers of the "M" class built for the Royal Navy during the Great War.

Service

Matchless collided with Manly on 13 March, 1915. Blame was attributed to Captain Godfrey Francis William Grayson for failing to notify his next astern that he had stopped his engines.

The two ships collided a second time, on 26 July, 1916, this accident resulting in Manly's captain Ernest Walter Kirkby being cautioned to be more careful in future.

Reduced to C. & M. Party at the Nore on 9 February, 1920.

Captains

Dates of appointment are provided when known.

• Commander Godfrey F. W. Grayson, 12 October, 1914 – 27 April, 1915
• Commander George L. D. Gibbs, 27 April, 1915 – 26 November, 1915
• Commander Arthur W. Benson, 28 March, 1916 – 25 August, 1916
• Commander George L. D. Gibbs, 25 August, 1916 – March, 1917
• Commander Astley D. C. Cooper-Key, March, 1917 – 25 February, 1919
• Lieutenant-Commander Godfrey R. Chambers, 25 February, 1919 – 5 March, 1919

See Also

• Wikipedia