A ‘splendid’ victory worthy
of naval tradition took place
The previous day - a
stirring fight in sight of Heligoland.
Three days earlier on the 26th
a destroyer flotilla left harbour,
Stocked with provisions for
4 days to carry out their task.
It later transpired they
sailed to where the German fleet
Were quietly harboured,
sheltering by the forts of Heligoland.
In the early hour the
British submarines and destroyers closed in,
Creating a sweeping,
stealthy charge to the harboured enemy,
Coming in close to the ships
until discovered and opened fire.
The defending Heligoland
forts woke, joining in the sudden fight.
In stealthy tactics the
ships drew the Kaiser’s fleet into open sea.
A witness to this outbreak
of hell on water later described,
The terrific noise generated
at sea, under the pounding shells.
Amid this fight it was a
wonder that more ships were not hit –
This sailor noted how the
German’s do not shoot very well.
Tending to fire their shells
too high – while other accounts said
The Heligoland forts took
little part, in the bullish exchange.
The joining in of the German
cruisers had for a time
Created their advantageous
position across the water.
Britannia’s own fleet of
light cruisers were yet to steam
Onto the scene - the
destroyers bearing the brunt till then.
The little ships spat
incessantly, relieved only by the sight
Of warships coming – the
magnificent pluck of seaman made
Tactics swift - within the
hottest fighting, a British destroyer
Ran between two German cruisers
- who becoming hesitant
To fire afraid of hitting
their own ship. On the sea battle
raged,
And a battered enemy cruiser
reached a dire state of sinking.
A British battle ship came
in and promptly finished them off.
Upon return to port came a
peppered fleet – one cruiser shot
19 times, each hole being
plugged by oaken wood. A shell had hit
Matching the ‘half action
alarm’ at 4.15 a.m., to pierce at aft
The armour plating - cutting
within yards of a sailor and steward,
Who, tumbling out of their
berths, shocked and bruised but unhurt.
An account stated the battle
lasted 7 to 8 hours, others say 5.
Start of the end for the
enemy was the sinking of the SMS Mainz,
Seen bursting into flames
before steadily sinking by the stern.
Thus Britannia’s fleet
returned - the crew calm as if on a normal day.
Sailing in under bright
sunshine - as they pass an anchored warship
Up goes a cry of 'Bravo'
from the sailors, echoed by other on the quay.
Damage to the vessel became
apparent. A mast being shot away,
Leaving a jagged stump -
while the wireless was also destroyed.
A sailor’s comment on
another boat hit 4 times, with a damaged gun,
States the boat as being
‘done for life’ – turns out to be quite untrue.
The vessel is further
described as being ‘out of the fun’ for some time.
Among the initial 7 killed
includes an officer - meanwhile a destroyer
Brings in the enemy
survivors conveyed to Shotley Naval Hospital.
Twelve having died on board
had been buried at sea while 19
Germans are carried ashore
on stretchers, for the main part lay silent
And motionless - only one
man raised a hand, waving at onlookers.
by
Jamie Mann
Anon.,
1914. Sailors' Story of the Naval Victory. The Daily Telegraph - Special War Edition, [online] 30 Aug. p.5. Col.4-5. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11064300/Daily-Telegraph-August-30-1914.html
[Accessed: 30th August
2014].
Mann, J., 2014. 100
years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 30
August 2014).
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