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For no particular reason, a thread about the Dover Patrol.
The Dover Patrol was the collective name for the heterogeneous fleet of small craft, including trawlers, drifters, motor launches, destroyers and three monitors originally designed for use on the River Amazon, which patrolled the Channel during WW1.
The Patrol also fielded what was surely one of the most remarkable ships ever to see action.
HMS Zubian was made up from the front of HMS Zulu (mined in 1916) and the back of HMS Nubian (mined in 1917).
Having used up two ships worth of bad luck, Zubian survived the war.
HMS Zubian was made up from the front of HMS Zulu (mined in 1916) and the back of HMS Nubian (mined in 1917).
Having used up two ships worth of bad luck, Zubian survived the war.
Equally heterogenous were the crews.
Almost all of them were reservists gathered, or returned, to the flag for the duration.
A particular feature of the Patrol was the advanced age of some of its personnel.
Almost all of them were reservists gathered, or returned, to the flag for the duration.
A particular feature of the Patrol was the advanced age of some of its personnel.
HM Yacht Sandra was commanded by 67 year old Henry Gartside-Tipping.
He originally retired from the Navy in 1874 and thereafter devoted himself to the RNLI.
In 1914 he offered his services to the Admiralty insistently until he was assigned to the Patrol.
He originally retired from the Navy in 1874 and thereafter devoted himself to the RNLI.
In 1914 he offered his services to the Admiralty insistently until he was assigned to the Patrol.
On 25 September 1915 HMY Sandra was hit by a German shore battery and Gartside-Tipping was killed at his post on her bridge.
Remarkably, his wife reacted to this tragedy by volunteering for service in the Women's Emergency Corps in France.
Sadly, in 1917 she was shot dead by a mentally ill French soldier, and buried with full military honours and the Croix de Guerre.
Sadly, in 1917 she was shot dead by a mentally ill French soldier, and buried with full military honours and the Croix de Guerre.
Commander William Forbes was born in 1845 and originally retired from the Navy in 1888.
Nonetheless he volunteered to serve in 1914, aged 70, becoming the oldest RN officer afloat.
He commanded elements of the Patrol until forced by illness to retire again in 1915.
Nonetheless he volunteered to serve in 1914, aged 70, becoming the oldest RN officer afloat.
He commanded elements of the Patrol until forced by illness to retire again in 1915.
Commander Hubert de Burgh wasn't particularly elderly, but must surely be the only RN officer ever to have played first class cricket for both Ireland and India.
On the lower deck, the Patrol boasted Chief Gunner Israel Harding VC.
He had retired in 1885, but volunteered for service again aged over 80.
He was subsequently wounded when his ship was mined.
He had retired in 1885, but volunteered for service again aged over 80.
He was subsequently wounded when his ship was mined.
On 20 April 1917 one of the Patrol's destroyers, HMS Broke, took part in a kind of action not seen in warfare since the days of Nelson.
Engaging German destroyers, Broke rammed one of them and the crews of both vessels then fought hand to hand on Broke's deck.
With small arms, bayonets and cutlasses the British sailors and Marines prevailed.
With small arms, bayonets and cutlasses the British sailors and Marines prevailed.
One of the vessels opposing the Patrol was U32, commanded by the superbly named Freiherr Edgar von Spiegel von und zu Peckelcheim.
I wonder if the German Navy had name badges.
I wonder if the German Navy had name badges.
The Patrol's war was long, grinding and bloody. Two thousand men were killed fighting it.
Through their sacrifice they fulfilled Admiral Jervis's famous response to the idea of a cross-Channel invasion:
'I do not say they cannot come. I only say they cannot come by sea.'
Through their sacrifice they fulfilled Admiral Jervis's famous response to the idea of a cross-Channel invasion:
'I do not say they cannot come. I only say they cannot come by sea.'
