Specifications

Displacement : 2,940 tons Length : 385 feet (117.3m) overall Beam : 38.4 feet (11.7m) Draught: average 13.8 feet (4.2m) Complement : 270 (268 at time of loss) Armament : 9 4-inch guns, 2 18 inch tubes Propulsion : Two 4 cylinder triple expansion oil fired steam engines driving twin screws Speed : max 25 knots Armour : 2 inch belt, 0.6-1.5 inch deck

The Destruction of HMS Pathfinder

There is no known surviving official report on the destruction of Pathfinder, one of the most historically significant of European wrecks . The only file at Kew refers to the casualty list. Maritime historians Bob Baird and Clio assembled a cohesive account from a mosaic of personal accounts and official fragments.

Hersing spotted Pathfinder at periscope depth at 1530. He had observed the ship earlier on the day in her outward journey but the distance had been too great to make an attack. At 1543 Otto Hersing fired a single 19.69” Type G torpedo. September 5 was a sunny afternoon. At 1545 lookouts spotted a torpedo wake heading towards the starboard bow at a range of 2,000 yards. The officer of the watch Lt Cdr Favell gave orders for the starboard engine to be put astern and the port engine to be set at full ahead while the wheel was fully turned in an attempt to take avoiding action. At 1550 the torpedo detonated beneath the bridge.

What happened next remains a matter of conjecture but there is reason to believe that cordite charges may have ignited leading to a flash causing a second, massive explosion within the fore section of the ship as the magazine blew up. The fore mast and No 1 funnel collapsed then toppled over the side. The forensic evidence of the wreck is that everything before the first funnel disintegrated. The majority of the crew below decks in the forward section had neither the time nor the opportunity to escape. Although the explosion was well within sight of land, Captain Martin-Peake knew it was essential to attract attention. He ordered the stern gun to be fired (see painting). The king-pin must have been fatally damaged by the explosion because after firing a single round, the gun toppled off its mounting, rolled around the quarter deck, struck the after screen then careered over the stern, taking the unfortunate gun crew with it. There was no list but there was insufficient time to lower boats. Indeed the remains of a lifeboat davit and rope can still be seen on the wreck. The propeller belonging to the ship’s boat lies forlornly on the deck nearby.

Lt (E) Stallybrass recalled that the bulkheads held firm until five minutes after the big explosion: “The ship gave a heavy lurch forward and took an angle of about forty degrees down by the bow. Water came swirling up to the searchlight platform. The Captain said, ‘jump you devils jump !’. The Captain and his secretary remained with the ship until the very end but somehow both survived”

The bow section sheared off under the strain as the stern heaved up to a sixty degree angle. Then it quietly slipped below the surface.

The explosion was seen by Aldous Huxley (while staying at Northfield House, St. Abbs) who recorded the following in a letter to his father sent on 14 September 1914: ‘I dare say Julian told you that we actually saw the Pathfinder explosion — a great white cloud with its foot in sea. The St. Abbs' lifeboat came in with the most appalling accounts of the scene. There was not a piece of wood, they said, big enough to float a man—and over acres the sea was covered with fragments—human and otherwise. They brought back a sailor's cap with half a man's head inside it. The explosion must have been frightful..’ The Stag and Express headed for the pall of smoke. One of the destroyers had an engine problem when a water inlet was blocked by a leg in a seaboot.

HMS Pathfinder Roll of Honour (Don Kindell)

FAVELL, Ernest T, Lieutenant Commander CARTER, Eccles J, Lieutenant LEATHER, Gerald, Lieutenant VENNING, Thomas A, Engineer Lieutenant Commander

MURPHY, John C, Canteen Manager, Admiralty civilian ROGERS, Louis S, Canteen Assistant, Admiralty civilian

ADDLEY, Edward, Officer's Steward ALDOUS, Cecil, Able Seaman ALEXANDER, Ernest, Officer's Steward AMIES, Stephen J, Boy ARMSTRONG, James, Stoker Petty Officer AUSTEN, William F, Ordinary Seaman AVIS, William, Sergeant, RMLI AXUP, Victor E, Leading Signalman BAILEY, George H, Leading Seaman BAKER, Edward J, Petty Officer BAKER, George B, Electrical Artificer BALDOCK, William R, Stoker BALMAIN, John, Officer's Steward BANKS, George E, Stoker Petty Officer BARNETT, William (real name, but served as William Swann), Stoker BARTLETT, Henry A, Stoker BAYFIELD, Alfred, Stoker Petty Officer BELL, George S, Stoker BERTRAM, Philip, Stoker BIRCH, Arthur E, Stoker BISHOP, James, Able Seaman, BLOOMFIELD, Sidney H, Able Seaman BOCK, Robert H, Stoker BOLTON, George, Stoker BRASH, Prentis S, Petty Officer body recovered buried Warriston, Edinburgh BRAY, George, Able Seaman BRIGHT, Eli, Gunner BROWN, Frederick G, Stoker BROWN, George F, Stoker BUCK, Frederick, Petty Officer BUTLER, Walter, Stoker CALVERLEY, Lawrence B, Ordinary Seaman, CARDY, George J, Stoker CAREY, Edward, Ordinary Seaman CARNEGIE, Alexander, Shipwright CHAMBERS, William, Private, RMLI CHAMPION, Edward T, Stoker CHANCE, Joseph, Leading Stoker CHAPPLE, John H, Corporal, RMLI CHARITY, John E, Stoker CHARLTON, John R, Telegraphist, aged 19 body recovered buried Bridlington CLARK, Albert, Private, RMLI CLARKE, Frederick W, Stoker CLAYTON, Robert W, Private, RMLI CLOUGH, Alexander J, Chief Stoker COBB, Arthur V J, Signal Boy COE, Herbert C, Leading Cook's Mate COLEMAN, George H, Stoker COLEMAN, William, Act/Leading Stoker COLLINS, Thomas, Stoker COOPER, Thomas, Stoker COPELAND, Tom, Officer's Steward COPPINS, Hugh J, Stoker CORBETT, Michael P, Leading Stoker COSTELLOW, William J, Stoker COX, Swithin J, 2nd Writer DALEY, Herbert, Ordinary Seaman DASH, Frederick J, Officer's Cook DAVISON, Charles H G (real name, but served as Charles Henry Pettman), Petty Officer DAVY, George H, Stoker DENNIS, Clarence F V, Stoker DUCK, Edward, Ordinary Seaman DURRANT, Cyril G P, Act/Engine Room Artificer EVANS, William J, Able Seaman, FELTHAM, Arthur, Signalman FINCH, Sydney W, Paymaster body recovered buried at Ford Park, Plymouth FISHER, Robert, Leading Carpenter's Crew FLUCKER, Thomas, Able Seaman FORD, Philip H, Signal Boatswain FORSYTH, Peter, Able Seaman FREEMAN, Charles W C, Stoker FRENCH, Harry, Private, RMLI FRENCH, Henry J, Able Seaman, GALLOWAY, Archibald W, Signalman GIBBONS, John, Signalman, GIBBS, Ernest, Stoker GILBEY, William E, Able Seaman GOBLE, Albert E, Stoker GOODWIN, Sidney A, Stoker GORMAN, Charles J, Stoker GOSLING, Ernest A, Stoker GRAHAM, James, Ordinary Seaman GREENAWAY, Sidney, Private, RMLI GREGORY, Thomas, Officer's Cook GUILL, Raymond J, Petty Officer Telegraphist GURR, Stephen, 2nd Cooper GUY, William, Stoker HALL, Ernest A, Stoker HALL, George W, Stoker Petty Officer HALL, John F, Stoker HARDISTY, Wilfred, Boy HARLEY, George A, Stoker HARLOW, Thomas H, Act/Leading Stoker HARPER, William P J, Stoker HENRY, Charles B, Leading Seaman HENSELEIT, Frederick, Ordinary Seaman, HENSHER, Joseph, Stoker HIGH, George H, Boy HILL, Albert, Stoker HILLIS, James H, Leading Stoker HILTON, William E, Stoker HITCHCOCK, Edward W, Stoker Petty Officer HOLBROOK, Henry G, Stoker HOLDBROOK, Joseph, Boy HOLMES, Frederick H, Stoker HOSIE, William J, Leading Stoker HOWARD, Ernest G, Leading Stoker HOWARD, Thomas J, Leading Cook's Mate, body recovered buried Dalmeny HOWLING, John M, Yeoman of Signals HUGHES, Charles, Stoker JARVIS, Edward W, Stoker JOLIFFE, John, Stoker JONES, Arthur W, Stoker KEENE, Fred, Officer's Steward KELLEHER, Christopher, Ordinary Seaman KING, Alfred C L, Stoker KING, Sydney H, Stoker KINGSTON, Sydney, Sick Berth Steward KNIGHT, Albert A, Stoker LADD, Ernest W, Able Seaman LANDER, William E, Chief Shipwright LANE, Frank E, Ordinary Seaman LARDNER, Roderick D, Yeoman of Signals LAW, James T, Private, RMLI LEVERINGTON, William E, Stoker LEWIS, Alfred E, Leading Stoker LEWIS, Henry E, Able Seaman LILLEY, Albert E G, Stoker LONG, Stuart S, Leading Seaman LUNON, Arthur J, Stoker MACKENZIE, Kenneth, Blacksmith MAGEE, Richard E, Master at Arms MANSFIELD, William, Stoker Petty Officer MARSH, Arthur, Act/Engine Room Artificer MASON, Albert E, Ordinary Seaman MAY, John, Ordinary Seaman MCCORMICK, Frank, Stoker MCDONALD, Alexander T C, Stoker MCKAY, James, Artificer Engineer MEAD, George H, Officer's Steward MEDHURST, George, Able Seaman MEEKER, Charles E, Ordinary Seaman MESSAM, John W, Private, RMLI MILLS, Archibald H, Ship's Steward's Assistant MOORE, Henry J, Engine Room Artificer MORGAN, Francis M, Stoker MORPHEW, Arthur, Stoker MORRIS, William, Leading Seaman MORRISON, Henry E, Gunner MOSS, Horace G, Signalman, MULADY, Alfred, Stoker MUNN, Duncan, Painter MUNN, George A, Shipwright NEVE, Basil H, Act/Chief Engine Room Artificer NEWMAN, Richard H, Chief Petty Officer Telegraphist, NIXON, Francis E A, Ship's Steward NUNN, Frank A, Act/Engine Room Artificer OLDBURY, Frederick, Chief Armourer OWEN, Edward R, Stoker PALMER, George, Stoker PATTON, William, Leading Seaman PAUL, George T, Stoker PEARCE, Harry C, Able Seaman PERYER, Albert E, Stoker Petty Officer PHILPOTT, Horace H, Stoker PHILPOTT, Walter, Stoker PLUMB, William, Private, RMLI PONTEFRACT, Robert, Private, RMLI POULTON, William M, Able Seaman POWELL, Charles V, Stoker PROWSE, Arthur R, Able Seaman PUTTICK, James F, Able Seaman QUIGLEY, Hugh D, Sick Berth Attendant QUIN, Sidney J, 2nd Writer RAMBERG, Karl A, Able Seaman RANGECROFT, William E, Act/Chief Stoker RAY, James H, Stoker REVELEY, Edward, Stoker RICHARDS, John, Stoker RICHARDSON, Arthur, Stoker RICHARDSON, Henry C, Private, RMLI RIXON, Frederick E, Able Seaman, ROBINSON, Lawrence L, Able Seaman ROBSON, Thomas W, Private, RMLI ROCKLEY, Ernest, Ordinary Seaman ROGERS, Joseph, Stoker ROLT, John, Stoker ROW, James E, Act/Leading Stoker RUMBLES, Alfred, Stoker body recovered buried Dalmeny RUTTER, Emanuel, Stoker SALES, Henry, Stoker Petty Officer SAMPSON, Frederick J, Stoker SAMSON, William H, Leading Stoker SARGENT, Henry B, Stoker SCOTT, Charles E A, Leading Seamn SEARLES, Edward G, Able Seaman SELLEN, Albert F, Stoker SELLICK, Walter, Stoker SHELDON, William G, Act/Engine Room Artificer SMITH, Alfred E, Private, RMLI, SMITH, Bertie W, Ordinary Seaman SMITH, Gilbert J, Stoker SMITH, Percy L, Ordinary Seaman SMITH, Robert J, Stoker SMITH, William H, Mechanician, SMITH, William O, Stoker SONES, Herbert J, Signal Boy SOUTH, Frederick, Leading Seaman SPAIN, Edward S S, Leading Seaman SPICE, Robert W, Stoker SPILLANE, Cornelius W, Stoker SPOONER, Alexander, Leading Stoker STANDING, George W, Stoker STANLEY, Robert G, Chief Ship's Cook STERN, William, Stoker STEWART, William H, Stoker STONE, Cecil D, Ordinary Seaman STOWE, Charles W, Able Seaman STUART, Percy C, Private, RMLI STYLES, Frederick G, Private, RMLI SWEETING, William, Stoker SYRETT, John, Leading Seaman, TAYLOR, Frank, Engine Room Artificer TAYLOR, Leo L, Mechanician, TERRY, Charles H, Stoker Petty Officer THOMPSON, Bernard H L, Chief Engine Room Artificer TIDNAM, Thomas J S, Petty Officer, TITTERINGTON, Leslie, Engine Room Artificer TOOLEY, John J, Private, RMLI, TROTT, Frederick J, Stoker TURPIN, Thomas C, Chief Engine Room Artificer TYLER, Elias G, Stoker UNDERWOOD, Joseph, Ordinary Signalman WALKER-WALTERS, Vivian A, Leading Signalman WALSH, Patrick, Carpenter's Crew WALTERS, George, Stoker WAREING, Harry, Stoker WATERMAN, Leonard G, Ordinary Seaman WATSON, George J, Leading Stoker WEBSTER, Harry, Electrical Artificer WELCH, William G, Armourer's Crew WENHAM, Charles, Stoker WEST, Andrew, Stoker WESTERN, William C, Stoker Petty Officer WHITE, Benjamin W, Stoker WHITE, Ernest, Signal Boy WHITEWAY, Thomas, Petty Officer WHITING, Charles, Ship's Corporal WILLIAMS, Sydney E, Ordinary Seaman WINGFIELD, Joseph, Stoker WOOD, Archibald A, Plumber's Mate WOOD, John, Chief Stoker WOODS, Edward W, Signal Boy WRIGHT, William H, Private RMLI WYLLIE, William, Stoker

Stoker Lunon was the first Jewish serviceman to die in the war. In the days following the sinking newspapers including the Times 6 September 1914 reported that fifty eight men had been picked up (but four had died of injuries). The Times named the eighteen men listed below as having been wounded. In fact they were the only survivors. Two hundred and fifty-nine men had died, including two civilian canteen workers. The crew was drawn from the Chatham recruiting division and most are appropriately commemorated on the Royal Navy Memorial at Chatham . Survivors

Captain Francis Martin-Leake Ernest Stallybrass, Lt (E) Bath Alan G Lt. Paymaster

Bannister A Stoker Brett Wm OS Bruce, Stanley ERA Fothergill Reg, AB Jones, P, Mechanician Kevan, S, L./Sig Lewis E Stoker Marland J Pte RMLI Noy, J Stoker Pring, wm, Stoker Rogers, Wm Boy Smyth, Thomas, Staff Surgeon Trimming, Alfred Boy Mcdermott A L/Stoker Marriot, Charles, AB

The destruction of Pathfinder was obviously highly disturbing for Admiralty. An informal agreement was reached between the Press Bureau and the Admiralty to censor reporting but The Scotsman broke this gentleman’s agreement by featuring an interview with an Eyemouth fisherman reporting that the ship had been torpedoed off St Abbs Head by a U-boat disguised as a fishing boat. In atonement it added the rider that there had been two U-boats present and that Pathfinder had accounted for one of them at the time of her loss. The Implications

Despite the events of 5 September having been easily visible from shore, authority was perhaps understandably in denial. It was claimed that the warship had been mined. Admiralty came to an agreement with the Press Bureau which allowed for the censoring of all reports. Unfortunately The Scotsman broke ranks to publish an eye-witness account by an Eyemouth fisherman who had assisted in the rescue. The account confirmed rumours that a had been responsible, rather than a mine. However The Scotsman also reported that Pathfinder had been attacked by two U-boats and had accounted for the second one in her death throes. Admiralty intelligence later spun a yarn that cruisers had cornered the U-boat responsible and shelled it to oblivion.

There were lessons for both sides. The KDM began to realise the potential of the submarine. Hersing had penetrated one of Britain’s premier anchorages, practically unseen. Next day in the heart of enemy sea space, without interference, he had managed to torpedo a British warship. The KDM was no longer dismissive of the U-boat, instead it was viewed by hawks as a means of redressing the naval balance.

In material terms the loss of Pathfinder was insignificant to Admiralty. It was far more difficult to dismiss what the attack represented. Admiralty had now woken up to the dire scenario painted years previously by Admiral Fisher. Britain had banked on using its overwhelming naval supremacy to strangle Germany into submission. However here was proof that big expensive warships were vulnerable to cheap . Worse still was the nightmare of Germany turning the tables by attacking British and neutral merchant shipping. Britain's burgeoning urban populations having been dependent upon important foodstuffs since 1897. It was inevitable that Germany would turn to unrestricted submarine warfare with all its implications.

So in a very real sense 20th century warfare began in the grey waters of the North Sea off St Abbs Head

ADM 137/3106 Reported presence of enemy submarine in Firth of Forth ADM 116/1356 List of casualties The Times 6-30 September 1914 The Scotsman 6-8 September 1914 Bob Baird 'Shipwrecks of the Forth'

The Wreck The wreck is upright and in reasonable condition but it is wreathed in nets, particularly the shattered fore section (see diagram). The entire fore section ahead of the first funnel was pulverised by the explosion. Parts of the teak deck remain with metal grilles embedded above the engine space at the stern. In places the deck safety railings have survived. A 6 pdr gun can be found on deck and further aft, a 4” gun remains on its mounting. The superstructure has disappeared but here and there the outlines of a battery casemate, gaping hatchways, gun indicator telegraphs and portholes can be discerned. The sediment filled recesses marking the positions of the funnels are evident. Port side aft, a row of ship’s heads can be seen – minus the cubicle partitions. The starboard torpedo tube has been wrenched off by nets but the port tube remains on its mounting. The decks are littered with ammunition and remains of the funnels. Rope can still be seen on the intact lifeboat davit – there was no time to lower boats. The stern is most impressive, the encrusted screw is still in position but the rudder is slowly collapsing to the seabed.

The stern gun fitting can still be seen but the turret itself (see above) is buried under the debris field which surrounds the wreck. Among the debris is at least one live Whitehead torpedo. There are lamp fittings, pressure gauge dials and reported human remains. The occasional rubber soled shoe or sea boot turns up.

If you visit, visit with respect. British sailors manned this historic ship and British sailors man her still.

Clio fecit.