Port Edgar in the First World War As Early As November 1911, The
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Port Edgar in the First World War As early as November 1911, the Admiralty had made enquiries regarding the use of Port Edgar as an oil fuel depot for Fleet destroyers and other small craft. In the spring of 1916, the Admiralty took steps to officially acquire Port Edgar and the surrounding land. Warships and fleet tenders had been using the limited facilities at the port since the outbreak of war. This followed the decision to build a self contained Torpedo Boat Destroyer Depot on the site. By early 1916, work had been progressing for some time to achieve this. The base was to be an annexe of the newly completed naval dockyard at Rosyth. The land at Port Edgar was owned by Vice Admiral Charles Dundas of Dundas, and the North British Railway. The property was acquired under the terms of the Defence of the Realm Act (DORA). Prior to the Admiralty taking this decision, an extensive survey was conducted. A detailed insight is given of how Port Edgar looked in these days, from this report written by the Superintendent Civil Engineer Rosyth in May 1916: The area claimed by the North British Railway includes the roadway on the south side of the property. The road being theirs is repaired by them. At the south west corner a piece of land is occupied by Messrs Toppham Jones and Railton, in connection with their Admiralty contract for dredging under agreement with the North British Railway company. They also have a timber jetty which is being built close to the lighthouse. At the eastern end there is a temporary picture palace, and close adjoining it some wooden buildings used as a carpenter's shop. In the vicinity of Echline Burn, there is a slaughter house used by the butchers of Queensferry. A creosote works belonging to the North British railway is also in existence. A number of damaged rail trucks are stored on the railway line. Moored to the pier are three Galloway steamers. Also, the yacht Sheela, belonging to Lady Beatty. The steam yacht Sheelah, was privately owned by Admiral Sir David Beatty and his family. Admiral Beatty was the Commander of the Grand Fleet's Battle Cruiser Force at Rosyth. Beatty's ships were shortly to partake in the foremost naval action of the first World War, the Battle of Jutland. The Sheelah had been offered to the Admiralty as a hospital ship, the cost of fitting her out was borne by Lady Beatty. The description goes on to say that the land immediately to the west of the breakwater would also be requisitioned. Two cottages are mentioned both uninhabited, being in an unfit state. It was recommended that the whole of the land belonging to the North British Railway including the road and land to the west should be acquired under the terms of the DORA, so that the Admiralty would have complete control of the area. The railway company would retain the line east of the road bridge (within Port Edgar that is), and into South Queensferry goods station. A subsequent arrangement would be made for NBR. To maintain and work the railway into Port Edgar. The extent of the area acquired was the whole of the Shore Road from its junction with Hopetoun Road (excepting the schoolhouse) in the east to its junction with Society Road, and beyond towards the Fisheries in the west. The Navy's intention being to create a self contained, destroyer depot providing berthing and shore support facilities for up to 52 destroyers. In fact by the base's completion date, up to 66 could be accommodated. Upgrading the east breakwater in May 1917 The work required to achieve this was considerable, and included the dredging of the harbour and the upgrading of the east breakwater, which had never been completed by the NBR. The seaward end was in a poor state of repair, having been washed away over the years. It is believed that the stone to construct the original east breakwater, which was probably well over a hundred years old, was hewn from the freestone quarry which was situated immediately to the east of the current entrance to Port Edgar. The quarry became the "Pond " and years later was filled in to make way for the Forth Road Bridge berthing jetties which would have to be built, including "dolphins" to berth fuelling tankers. Shore facilities would include barracks, workshops, storehouses, a power generating station, a distilling plant, and for the ship's crews recreation and sporting facilities. To provide the fleet destroyers fuelling requirements an oil fuel depot was also built. Situated on the higher ground to the south east of the base, this would take the form of four giant oil tanks which survived up until the late 1950s when they were demolished to make way for construction of the Forth Road Bridge. The destroyers of the Grand Fleet were at this time supported by their depot ships. These vessels were large purpose built units fitted out with workshops and storerooms holding spare parts. They also carried trained expertise to rectify breakdowns and carry out maintenance. As well as engineering support the depot ship had gunnery and torpedo experts aboard. Medical and dental facilities were available along with living accommodation as required by the destroyer crews. Port Edgar would replace the depot ships and, once complete, all support staff and responsibilities would transfer ashore. About this time the naval dockyard at Rosyth was being completed. The Flag Officer for Scotland had been based aboard HMS Columbine, a converted vessel from the age of sail, since July 1913. Once the Admiral and staff moved ashore at Rosyth, the Columbine was decommissioned and sold. The name Columbine was chosen as Port Edgar's new name once in commission. The newly completed destroyer depot was commissioned as HMS Columbine in December 1917. Her first commanding Officer was Captain Apsley D. M. Cherry, Royal Navy. Captain Cherry had the onerous task of organizing the base into an efficient unit. He experienced labour problems with the many civilian staff at the base. The particular bone of contention was overnight and weekend working. In order to achieve his aim Cherry arranged for the civilian workforce to be replaced with naval personnel. The total number of sailors available including destroyer crews was some 6,000 men. Apart from the Metropolitan Police, who were responsible for base security, Port Edgar was now purely service manned. Work on the base had been progressing for some considerable time prior to its official commissioning. It is likely that destroyers of the Grand Fleet were using the partially completed jetties as early as spring 1916. Certainly by the beginning of May there were at least three destroyer flotillas based on the Firth of Forth. Many of these vessels utilizing the new Port Edgar facility were "M" Class destroyers. In the early summer of that year the world witnessed that most epic of naval battles at Jutland, the result of which is still debated among naval historians to this day. It is true that the Royal Navy's ship losses and casualties were greater than that of her enemy. The Grand Fleet lost a total of 14 vessels, eight of which were destroyers. Some of the dead and the wounded were landed at Port Edgar after the battle, the wounded bound for the hospital at Butlaw. A number of the dead are laid to rest in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission section of South Queensferry cemetery. The Royal Naval Hospital Queensferry at Butlaw Those officers and men of the Royal Navy, who gave their lives at the Battle of Jutland may not have died in vain. The result of the battle may appear undecided but it did succeed in maintaining the German blockade. It has been said that "At Jutland the German's assaulted their jailer, but they remain in jail". So it was, for the remainder of the War. They only came out in any force on two further occasions. The two fleets were never to meet in such great numbers again. In 1917, the V and W class destroyer made its appearance. This class was destined to be the most successful and enduring destroyer of the 20th century. A total of 67 vessels were built. The V and W class was the epitome of a destroyer and many graced the jetties of HMS Columbine up until the late 1920s. Such was the durability of this class of destroyer, that almost half of them went on to see service through the inter-war years, and into the Second World War. The destroyer was developed from the end of the 19th century as a response to the rising threat of the torpedo boat. Vessels were designed and built specifically for the purpose of destroying torpedo boats. The actual name "destroyer" being derived from the term "Torpedo Boat Destroyer". This class of vessel not only eliminated the torpedo boat, but for a time replaced it. The main duty of the destroyer in wartime is that of the outer guarding of the battle fleet. This was achieved by forming a "screen" around the main units of the fleet, which could also be applied to a convoy of merchant ships, therefore providing protection against enemy attack. The destroyer had two main armaments - the 4.7" gun and the torpedo, usually mounted in triple or quad mountings on the upperdeck. The destroyer did have a third weapon, her greatest - speed. They were without doubt the workhorses of the fleet enduring long and regular periods at sea in appalling weather.