Diary of Alec S. Tempest

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The Diary of Alec S. Tempest (1899-1978), signal boy aboard H.M.S. Lion from 20 May 1915 through 26 April, 1919 can be found at the Caird Library at the National Maritime Museum as MSS/84/187.3

It was purchased by the Museum in 1984 and contains some photographs and copies of speeches, signal traffic between the Grand Fleet and the High Sea Fleet from 15 November to 2 December 1918, and a concert programme for 4 June 1915. A cap ribbon that was also purchased was sent to the Museum's relics department.

The diary is daily from 20 May to 23 August, 1915, and then becomes more flexible in its timeline. It carries through to 26 April, 1919.

Inside Cover

If found please return to A.S. Tempest Siglm. 47 Mess H.M.S. Lion or 37 Hunslett Road Leeds. If not able to do so please destroy with great thoroughness. AST

Diary

Alec S. Tempest
Sig Boy.
45 Mess
H.M.S Lion
Battle Cruiser
c/o G.P.O.
London
May 20th 1915

Home Address
37 Hunslett Rd
Leeds,
Yorks.


May 1915

May 20th 15.
Scapa Flow
Calibrating in Hoxa Sound 13.5". 34 charge & sub-calibre firing

May 21st 15
10-55 AM
Weighed & proceeded out of the Flow, picked up the escort of 3 destroyers near the outer gate, very thick fog outside. parted company with destroyers speed 23 knots course SE.

May 22nd.
Held up by fog outside Bridge nearly took a lump out of Inch Kieth, [sic] waited below bridge till 9.30 proceeded up the harbour, went into action with collier Agnes Duncan 720 tons finished 1.30

May 23rd.
In Rosyth Harbour nothing doing. Sunday's Routine.

May 24th & 25th
In Rosyth, wearing of Jerseys discontinued. nothing else doing.

May 26th
2.30 AM Iron Duke arrived Rosyth flying flag of C in C Grand Fleet.

May 27th
Rosyth. nothing doing.

May 28th
12.10, Iron Duke shoved off to rejoin G.F.

May 29th 15
Rosyth, 11.30 PM weighed & proceeded out to sea in company with 1st 2nd & 3rd L.C.S. & Fearless & 20 destroyers.

May 30th 15
At Sea, very rough sea, heavy swells,

May 31st
1.30 AM Arrived in harbour moored by 3.15 AM, 5.0AM commenced coaling 800 tons; finished 9.30 AM.

June 1915

June 1st.
Rosyth. Ordinary Routine.

June 2nd
Liverpool & Yarmouth arrived. reported Submarine sighted off Fair Is[1]

June 3rd
Court Martial of Chief Gunner Mitchel, Capt of Galatea president.[2]

June 4th 15
Rosyth. Ordinary Routine.

June 5th 15
Trawler Hawke reported sinking a German submarine off Peterhead[.] Destroyer Unity coming into harbour with crew consisting in all of 25 prisoners.

June 6th 15
German Submarine sank 3 trawlers by gunfire.

June 7th
Rosyth. Ordinary Routine.

June 8th
Ditto

June 9th
Ditto

June 10th
Ditto

June 11th
10.30 PM, proceeded to Sea

June 12th
At Sea steering North[.] Did 4" night firing at midnight.

June 13th
Carried out Battle practice No 1, Blue fleet consisting of B.C.F. 1st 2nd & 3rd L.C.S. 2nd & 7th C.S. versus Red fleet :– 1st 2nd 3rd & 4th Battle Squadrons[3] including Iron Duke, Benbow, Queen E. & Warspite, Calibrated 13.5" guns each ship firing 8 rounds

June 14th
Carried out Battle practice No 2, Blue F :– B.C.F. 2nd C.S. 1st 2nd & 3rd L.C.S. Fearless Broke & 1st flotilla destroyers versus Red F. :– 1st 2nd & 4th B.S. 7th C.S. & flotillas of Destroyers, 1 seaplane with each Fleet. 10 AM negative P.Z. 2[.] steerd South 20 Knots.

June 15th
6.30 AM, Sighted May Isle also sighted submarine which fired torpedo. torpedo passing under stern, Southampton also reported sighting a submarine off Starb Bow.
10.30 AM commenced coaling 1820 tons. Finished 7.30 PM

June 16th
Rosyth. Ordinary Routine. Duck cap covers & caps worn

June 17th
Rosyth. Harbour Routine.

Jun 18th
Ditto

Jun 19th
Do

June 20th
Harbour Routine.

June 21st
Roxburgh struck by torpedo off May Isle escorted in by Botha Fearless & 1st flotilla of destroyers with slight list to starboard.

June 22nd
Usual Routine

June 23rd
Ditto

June 24th
Ditto

June 25th
Princess Royal left for Cromarty

June 26th
Roxburgh escorted by Inconstant & 2 destroyers sailed.

June 27th
Inflexible joined B.C.F.
Indomitable rejoined " " "
Collier Agnes Duncan came alongside 5 AM commenced 5.30 finishes 7.45 amount 390 tons

June 28th
Rosyth. Harbour Routine.

June 29th
Dominion sailed. Caroline arrived

June 30th
Harbour Routine.

July 1915

July 1st
1.AM Princess Royal arrived, coaled 850 tons
7.45 PM Indefatigable sailed to refit & give leave. Pay down 1 £ book nipped[4]

July 2nd
Harbour Routine.

July 3rd
Sunday Routine.

July 4th
7.40 Submarine reported inside outer gate trying to force through inner gate, mann[sic] & arm picket boats & chase, boats away all night returned next morning nothing to report. got nets out 10.30 PM.

July 5th
8.30 AM Boats returned
1.40 PM Got nets in

July 6th
Harbour Routine.

July 7th
Archbishop of York came on board. book apprehended.[5]

July 8th
Archbishop of York gave an open air Service in Rosyth Dockyard[.] thousands of sailors assembled to hear him speak. Lost 2/-

July 9th
Hibernia & Hindustan sailed. Exercise Action Stations

July 10th 15
5.45 AM commenced coaling. 400 tons. 7.5 AM finished. Agnes Duncan.

July 11th
10.PM Weighed & proceeded to Sea in company with 1st 2nd & 3rd B.C.S. 1st 2nd & 3rd L.C.S. Neg Galatea.

July 12th 15
At Sea. very calm water[.] fine weather.

July 13th
Arrived Rosyth 4 AM moored[.] Australia proceeded to Cromarty
6AM commenced coaling 805 tons finished 9 AM.

July 14th 15
Harbour Routine.

July 15th
Hibernia & Zealandia arrived.

July 16th
Harbour Routine.

July 17th
Indefatigable arrived.

July 18th
Q. Mary sailed

July 19th 15
Harbour Routine.

July 20th 15
Harbour Routine.

July 21st 15
Harbour Routine.
Britannia, I, [illegible][6]

July 22nd 15
Dominion arrived.

July 23rd 15
Harbour Routine.

July 24th 15
Went sailing in cutters[.] left high & dry outside Bridge[.] waited for turn of tide. aboard 10.15.

July 25th
Sundays Routine.

26th & 27th July
Harbour Routine.

28th July
3.30AM Australia arrived
8.30PM 2nd B.C.S. sailed

29th July
Harbour Routine

30th July
6.0AM[7] coaled, 325 tons[.] Agnes Duncan

31st July
3.30 AM, 2nd BCS arrived

August 1915

1st Aug 15
Dominion sailed.

2nd Aug 15
Queen Mary arrived

3rd Aug 15
Harbour Routine

4th Aug 15
Ditto

5th Aug 15
Albemarle & Russel[sic] sailed

6th Aug
Harbour Routine
8. Indomitable sailed

7th Aug
Harbour Routine

8th Aug
1st & 2nd L.C.S. sailed

9th Aug
Botha & 1st Div Destroyers sailed

10th Aug
1st & 2nd L.C.S. Botha & Destroyers arrived

11th Aug.
Harbour Routine.

12th Aug
Hostile Submarine reported in Forth, mann[sic] & arm picket boars, search for Submarine, nothing reported

13th Aug
Harbour Routine.

14th Aug
ditto

15th Aug
ditto

16th Aug
3.30 AM KE[8] & 3rd BS sailed.
1.30 PM 1st LCS negative Inconstant, sailed
5.0[9] Albemarle & Russel[sic] arrived.

17th Aug
Harbour Routine.

18th Aug
9.30 PM, Weighed & proceeded to sea incompany with 1st BCS & 3rd L.C.S. & destroyer[s?].
1.AM Forester & Archer reported in collision[.] Forester taken in tow seriosly[sic] damaged.

19th Aug
At Sea, Heavy seas.
9 PM night firing 4" guns

20th Aug
Sub-calibre firing & 34 charge firing. sighted Whale

21st Aug
Arrived Scapa Flow 5 AM commenced coaling 1280 tons, ran two torpedoes lost one, also sub-calibre firing. 5.PM Empress of India sailed

22nd
11.45 AM sailed from Scapa Flow.

23rd Aug 15
4.15 AM arrived Rosyth[.] coaled 600 tons, A. Duncan. 23rd to 10th Harbour Routine

September 1915

Sep 9th 15
Cable parted 11.15 AM sent for tugs, let go sheet anchor & sent to PR for a sheet anchor

Sep 10th
5.45 Weighed & proceeded to Sea in company with 1st & 3rd BCS 1st & 3rd L.C.S. Fearless Botha & 1st flotilla.

Sep 11th
4.30 AM, Action stations enemy reported. report unfounded, supposed enemy ships 5th L.C.S.

Sep 12th 15
4. AM, Anchored Rosyth report from Fearless of having rammed H.M. destroyer Hydra both badly damaged.
6.AM coaled, received 1320 tons from Askside[.][10] finished 10.30 AM.

Sep 19th
Coaled 430 tons 1 hr 15 mins.

October 1915

Oct 1st 15
Coaled 370 tons. discontinued wearing duck caps

Oct 15th
Coaled 420 tons, Agnes.D.

Oct 19th
8.PM Proceeded to sea in company with 1st BCS. & 2 divisions of destroyers

Oct 21st[11]
Arrived Scapa Flow. Coaled 950 tons.

Oct 22.
Proceeded to sea at 6.AM[.] did firing (13.5") in Moray Firth.

Oct 14th[12]
8 ?M[13] arrived Rosyth[.] coaled 850 tons.

November 1915

Nov 6th 15
11.45 AM Proceeded to Sea in company with 1st BCS Fearless & 12 destroyers.
3.30 PM sub-calibre firing

Nov 7th
At Sea.

Nov 8th
9.AM Arrived Rosyth coaled 1350 tons finished 3 PM

Nov 24th
Sailed 9 AM arrived at Newcastle 3.30 PM proceeded into dock & on leave for 6 days.

December 1915

Dec 1st
Arrived Rosyth coaled 600 tons

January 1916

Jan 5th 16
Sailed in company with 1st 2nd & 3rd BCS & 1st 2nd & 3rd L.C.S.

Jan 6th
did 4 inch firing very rough weather,

Jan 7th
PZ with 3nd BCS as Blue Fleet.

Jan 8th
More PZ & range keeping exercise arrived Rosyth 10.30 PM

Jan 9th
Coaled 1610 tons Agnes Duncan[.] average 355[14]

Jan 29th 16
Sailed in company with 1st BCS Falmouth Yarmouth Southampton Nottingham & Birkenhead & 16 destroyers, did sub-calibre firing 50 rounds per gun.

Jan 30th 16
Arrived Cromarty 11.30 AM coaled 540 tons from collier Vittoria.[15]

Jan 31st
9 AM 13.5" firing in Firth saw remains of Natal.

February 1916

Feb 1st
Left Cromarty in company with Beaver & Jackal arrived Scapa Flow 6.10 PM

Feb 2nd 16
Left Scapa 3.30 PM very rough Sea[.] steered South

Feb 3rd 16
At Sea, arrived Rosyth 5.10 coaled 605 tons

Feb 11th 16
11.30 Proceeded to Sea in company with 1st 2nd & 3rd BCS 1st 2nd & 3rds L.C.S. Botha & 18 destroyers & 3rd B.S. steam for full speed at midnight.

Feb 12th
Heard of sinking of Arabis Minesweeper by enemy Torpedo craft. Steamed south as far as Heligoland & then Zig Zagged across North Sea on a North Westerly course.

Feb 13th
8 AM arrived Rosyth coaled 900 tons Agnes Duncan.

Sat Feb 26th
12.20 PM Proceeded to sea in company with 1st 2nd & 3rd BCS & 1st 2nd & 3rd LCS.

Sun Feb 27th
Rendezvoused with Battle Fleet & went through PZ exercise[.] sea rough.

Feb 28th
9.30 AM arrived Rosyth coaled 990 tons Agnes Duncan.

March 1916

March 19th
Heard news of H joining RN[16]

March 28th[17]
Heard news of H's rejection.[18]

March 24th
Proceeded to sea in company with BCF

March 25th
Hands at action stations sighted Reef horns light vessel off coast of Heligoland. Medusa in collision with Laverock & badly damaged[.] Lightfoot reported engaging enemy's aircraft steamed off Mouth of Heligoland Bight[.] no signs of enemy. Steered North at night[,] received news of enemy forces out so turned south again & one of our LCs rammed an enemy torpedo boat.

March 26th[19]
Enemy's forces returned to bases & we returned to harbour.

March 27th
Arrived Rosyth[.] coaled 1760 tons.

April 1916

April 15th
left Rosyth in company with 1st BCS & 4 desrs.

April 16th
Arrived Scap Flow 5.AM coaled 770 tons collier Moyle

April 17th
aiming rifle & sub-calibre

April 18th
ditto

April 19th
Ran torpedoes & Battle practice firing 34 charges & night firing.

April 20th
Coaled 620 tons. night firing

April 21st
ran torpedoes.
8 PM Proceeded to Sea in company with 1st BCS & 1st LCS

April 22nd
joined up with 2nd & 3rd BCS & 2nd & 3rd LCS with destroyers[.] steered South.
4 PM enveloped in dense fog decreased to 10 knots[.] Australia & New Zealand reported in collision[,] ordered to return to base escorted by Acheron Ariel Archer Attack.

April 23rd
3.AM fog lifting, Admiralty message received Abandon operations & return to base.
4.AM altered course to N 75 W
9.AM reports coming in of destroyers in collision[.] Ardent taken in tow to Tyne River & Christopher, Fortune, badly damaged. our speed 2112
7 PM arrived Rosyth coaled 1020

April 24th
10 PM sailed in company with BCF steam for full speed.

April 25th
Lightfoot reported sighting enemy & giving chase but were forced to retire owing to superior enemy forces, we increased to 24 knot but were unable to overtake enemy.

April 26
9.AM return to base[.] coaled 850 tons. Invincible rammed by patrol yacht.

May 1916 & Battle of Jutland

3rd May
2.30 AM Proceeded to sea with BCF. 10.30 AM ordered 2 LCS to proceed to a certain position & search for Zeppelin reported in difficulties. searched area[.] report blank.

4th May
10AM Zeppelin reported by Falmouth steering South.
1020 ordered 1st LCS to chase her, Galatea reported Zeppelin brought down by gunfire from Galatea & Phaeton. Submarine E 29 took 7 of her crew placed a bomb on board her & blew her up.

5th May
Returned to Rosyth & coaled 1250 tons

30th May 1916
Proceeded to sea in company with 1st & 2nd BCS negative Australia[.] 1st 2nd & 3rd LCS 5th BS neg Q.E. Engadine & 1st 9th & 13th flotillas Champion & Fearless

31st
3.30 PM Engadine report sighting strange Battle Cruisers sent Seaplane up to investigate[.]
3.40 Galatea reported engaging enemy.
3.45 New Zealand reports enemy bearing SW
Altered course to S.W. 25 knots[.] enemy sighted, 6 Battle cruisers[20]
3.50 PM opened fire
5.10. Q. Mary blew up[.] magazine exploding[,] 14 hands saved by destroyer, enemy suffering very severely from our fire. 4 leadmost ships firing at Lion who was leading ship. 1 of enemies[sic] Battle cruisers sinking[.]
6.30 ordered destroyers to attack with torpedoeswhich was done successfully, Lion fired 7 torpedoes resulting in two hits on different ships.
Indefatigable blew up sank in five minutes[.] 5th Battle Squadron appeared & opened fire with there[sic] 15 inch guns inflicting very heavy damage on enemy's Battle Fleet, just joined at this time the remaining Battle Cruisers were engaging the whole German High Sea Fleet & began to suffer from their fire about this time Lion got an unlucky shot in one of her turrets which blew off the roof of the turret & killed 71 marines, the whole of the turrets crew including the Major, Chaplain, Gunner & Mids.
6.20 PM enemy made a destroyer attack with torpedoes[.] about 9 destroyers, the attack was repulsed by Galatea & 1st LCS resulting in the sinking of 6 enemy torpedo boats.
6.30 one of enemies large cruisers (Helgoland class) dropped astern & destroyer Onslow attacked & sunk her with torpedo[.]
6.50 Invincible blew up & broke completely in half[,] both ends showing above water[.] 5 survivors picked up by destroyer Badger.
7.PM 1st C.S. Defence class. appeared & opened terrific fire on enemy, later the Grand Fleet appeared & the 2nd BS Flagship Orion detached themselves from remainder & attacked enemy,[21] we altered course to NE & chased, reported two Battle cruisers in sinking condition 1 of which, Lutzow 15" guns was torpedoed by Dublin? remainder probably gone down, just before dark sighted enemy battle ship & fired salvo at her which completely smashed her in half. seen by several persons in Lion.[22] during night our destroyers made night attack on enemy resulting in loss of one of enemies largest cruisers & one of our destroyers[,] Turbulent.
next day engaged in digging out bodies from wreckd turrets, buried them at 5.30 PM that night[,] 105 bodies.
2nd June arrived at Rosyth. Tiger & P. Royal && Southampton went into dock[.] we coaled, Engadine arrived reported having left Warrior with the most part of her upper deck awash had to abandon her after taking off her crew. During night of 31st a submarine was rammed & sunk by Lion.[23]

June 1916

June 3rd
Following general signal made by VABCF, following telegram received from C in C GF. ["]Please accept my sincere congratulations on the action of the forces under your command under the difficult & disadvantageous conditions of light which existed for you. Your ships inflicted very severe damage to the enemy. Words cannot express my deep sympathy with relatives & friends of the gallant officers & friendsMEN who have done under." VA Beatty adds. "I wish to add my own congratulations to those of our Commander-in-chief & my great sympathy with relatives & friends of those who died so gloriously. I am even prouder than ever of my command[.] No Admiral could wish to be better served. I thank you.

TODO: I am now about 45% of the way through this transcription

Footnotes

  1. Not certain of reading of the last two words.
  2. The date of this makes it likely that the presiding officer was Commodore, Second Class Edwyn S. Alexander-Sinclair
  3. Note that the "3rd" here might be crossed out. It appears likely that the 3rd was not involved, given its absence in the coming day's practice.
  4. The two struck-through words are not certain.
  5. I am not sure I understand this entry, but it seems like it might be loss of a personal item, possibly related to July 1st's entry.
  6. This entry is wedged in, and is not clear.
  7. Time may not be correctly read.
  8. "KE" surely refers to the battleship H.M.S. King Edward VII, flagship of the Third Battle Squadron
  9. Time may be 4.0
  10. Not entirely sure of this supposed collier's name
  11. This is overwritten "22nd" (or vice-versa). Apparently "21st" is correct, given next entry is clearly for the 22nd.
  12. This must mean "24th", but seems to clearly read "14th".
  13. AM and PM are written atop each other.
  14. likely, this means 355 tons/hour
  15. Maybe "Victoria"?
  16. I am unsure what "H" refers to. A relative?
  17. Perhaps this should be "20th", but seems clearly written as "28th"
  18. Oh well.
  19. Date is illegible, but I infer from the two neighbors
  20. In actuality, the enemy had five battlecruisers
  21. While there are many odd mistakes in this account, this false impression is somehow unusual in its detail.
  22. These bold and definite statements are more unusual in that I am not sure they were echoed into any official reports.
  23. This is surely inspired by Lion encountering submerged wreckage as reported by so many British ships that night.

See Also