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HMS Aboukir, HMS Cressy & HMS Hogue: The Live Bait Squadron 1914 World Naval Ships Forums Archive


HMS Aboukir, HMS Cressy & HMS Hogue: The Live Bait Squadron 1914


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Three large old warships from another age suddenly found themselves in a new kind of war. This single action is arguably the most tragic that ever befell the Royal Navy. The U boat had ushered in a completely new kind of war. A war where a tiny unseen ship could now make armoured cruisers flee for their lives. Shortly after the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, HMS Aboukir and her sister ships Hogue and Cressy were assigned to patrol the North Sea, in support of a force of destroyers, which blocked the Eastern end of the English Channel from German warships attempting to attack the supply route between England and France. As the cruisers were obsolescent, this was referred to as the "Live Bait Squadron". At around 6 am on 22 September the three cruisers were steaming at 10 knots in line ahead and they were spotted by the U-9, commanded by Lt. Otto Weddigen. Weddigen ordered his submarine to submerge and closed the range to the unsuspecting British ships. At close range, he fired a single torpedo at the Aboukir. The torpedo broke the back of the Aboukir and she sank within 20 minutes with the loss of 527 men. The captains of the Cressy and Hogue thought the Aboukir had struck a floating mine and came forward to assist her. They stood by and began to pick up survivors. At this point, Weddigen fired two torpedoes into the Hogue, mortally wounding that ship. As the Hogue sank, the captain of the Cressy realised that the squadron was being attacked by a submarine, and tried to flee. However, Weddigen fired two more torpedoes into the Cressy, and sank her as well. The bulk of the blame at the subsequent court of enquirey, was directed at the Admiralty for persisting with a patrol that was dangerous and of limited value against the advice of senior sea going officers. Below are photos of the three old cruisers. Also a rare photo of the U-9. Anyone would have to be amazed at just how primative a 1914 U boat was.
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Three more pictures of the fated three. 1. Aboukir. 2, Cressy. 3. Hogue. The picture of the Hogue lets you have a good close up.
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Good one Bob. Very simular aren't they? Four stackers. The configeration for power and speed necessary for a big ship of the day.

Six months after the triple sinking, Otto Weddigen died with all the crew of U29 when it was rammed and sunk by H.M.S."Dreadnought".

Thanks Stan. It prompted me to do a short article on Dreadnought. Removing Weddigen from the scene early in the war must have saved a lot of ships and lives. Graeme

Hello all, a newby here! I have been researching this naval action for some time as my grandfather was a casualty on Aboukir. He was killed 2 months befor my father was born. My question to you experts is this " does anyone have a list of survivors of this action" or even crew lists of the 3 ships? Aboukir

Hello Aboukir mate. Dunno about the lists of survivors. Couple of buffs on here who should furnish that for you soon. But welcome to the forum. Try hard and do post number 2 and join the 2%.

I just posted a list of all the survivors from Aboukir, Hogue and Cressy over at another forum - unfortunately only extracts from The Times; [url]http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=89888[/url] Down at the bottom. It's a pain to read I know. Someone else posted the casualty list as well I think. Regards, Harley

Thanks chaps, good to see quick replies. Unfortunatly I can't open your link Harley here at wThanks chaps, good to see quick replies. Unfortunately I can't open your link Harley here at work (security and all that) but I will when I get home. I'm interested in the survivors who were taken to Holland and interned albeit for a short period but the question remains, with the level of freedom to roam they were afforded, "how many came back"? Aboukir 2% eh?

You pose an interesting question Aboukir. I'll look into it, and I'm sure someone else here might have a gander too. I hate to tempt you, but if you just can't wait to check the link above, go to [url]http://icanhide.com[/url] then put the link in - it may bypass the security setting! (I hope interpreted security and work the right way). Harley

Welcome to the 2% Aboukir

Hi All, I accessed the link to the lists, very impressive indeed. I am at present digesting the book by Alan Coles entitled "Three Before Breakfast" an account of this engagement. A friend who also lost his grandfather (on Cressy) and myself, recently commissioned a plaque dedicated to the local men who died from King's Lynn, it was placed in the Fishing Museum True's Yard. [IMG][IMG]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/cfysh/PlaquePhoto.jpg[/IMG][/IMG] Aboukir hope this works!

I say damn fine job old chap. Looks like a great project that you have undertaken. Plaque sure looks great. So much history to attend to. I remember driving up Kings Lynn way with my wife to see Ely Cathedral north of The Wash. That cathedral sure stands out for a long way.

[FONT="Arial"][SIZE="4"][/SIZE][/FONT] Hi to all. I am the grandson of John Nathaniel Rose 1973d RNR lost on HMS Cressy that fateful morning 22 Sept 1914. with my colleage I helped to commission the magnificent memorial plaque displayed in our local Fishermans Museum in Kings Lynn. We are booth passionate about our research into this tragety and would appreciate any information be it fact or anecdotal before it is forgotten for ever, what we would like is anything that is not readily available on the Internet (must be some). We like many of you out there are decendents of these brave men, and the sacrifices they made that day must never be forgotten. Cressy2.

Sailor, Thank you for your fine words, interestingly though, did you know that the grand edifice at Ely is known as "the ship of the Fens" I wonder what we should call her? Aboukir

Sounds like the place to have a memorial to those three old cruisers old mate. Great cathedral and not that well known. I worry about changing times in Britain and just how safe our history will be in the future.

You got a case of the stutters Sailor? I can't agree with you re Ely cathedral. It is very well known and a magnificent place. And almost next door is Oliver Cromwell's house. Whose men did so much damage to places of worship such as at Ely.

yes indeed AE2, old "warts an all" Cromwell the Fens Farmer laid seige to King's Lynn and acually succeeded in taking the town in March 1643...what a bounder? Aboukir

I came across this earlier in the evening and thought it was a good idea to share it on this thread. Bob.
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I'm glad you added this Bob. Most interesting. Fancy being rammed by Dreadnought! What a way to go.

[QUOTE=herakles;3023]I'm glad you added this Bob. Most interesting. Fancy being rammed by Dreadnought! What a way to go.[/QUOTE] Well, In the words of Corporal jones "They don`t like it up `em":eek:

It's amazing what one can dig up. Here's another postcard.
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I was born in London but now live in Australia and recently started my family's genealogy. I found that my Grandfather, a Mariner, signed up in the Naval Reserves and was assigned to [U]HMS Cressy[/U]. He was lost at sea in an action that saw the above three ships torpedoed by the German U boat U 9 in under an hour in September 1914 with the loss of nearly 1500 lives. I have since obtained a book by Alan Coles... Three Before Breakfast.. and it has caused me great sadness as I realise I knew none of this while my mother was alive (his daughter) It was a fiasco and I would love to know if there is a proper memorial to these men and boys. I know I saw a picture of one on this site created for the men in Kings Lynn who lost their lives in this action and kindly mentioning all the others, but I feel sure there should be a memorial for all of these unfortunate seamen. It looks like the Navy wanted to forget this action but these men and boys were doing what the Admiralty asked of them and it should be acknowledged. Loss of life on this scale is too great to ignore. Are there any descendents out there who, like me, would like this information and perhaps someone could advise me where to start to get it.

There is an earlier thread on this subject: [URL="http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/showthread.php?t=604&highlight=Cressy"]http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/showthread.php?t=604&highlight=Cressy[/URL]

[QUOTE=Aboukir;2369]Hi All, I accessed the link to the lists, very impressive indeed. I am at present digesting the book by Alan Coles entitled "Three Before Breakfast" an account of this engagement. A friend who also lost his grandfather (on Cressy) and myself, recently commissioned a plaque dedicated to the local men who died from King's Lynn, it was placed in the Fishing Museum True's Yard. [IMG][IMG]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/cfysh/PlaquePhoto.jpg[/IMG][/IMG] Aboukir hope this works![/QUOTE] Have also read Alan Coles book "Three Before Breakfast" and found it very sad having never known my Grandfather who lost his life in this action as a Cressy crew member. I am quite angry that people like yourself have to do a memorial to those from your area of England and I was grateful to see you mentioned the remainder of the 1847 men and boys who lost their lives in this fiasco. We commemorate Gallipoli every year over here in Australia and that, too, was a fiasco. I cannot understand why these from Aboukir, Cressy and Hogue don't have a memorial and I am trying to find the 'Admiralty' address so I can write on behalf of all my family to find out whether anything can be done about it. Being from Oz, it's difficult but if anyone knows the appropriate way to do this, I would appreciate it. Also there may be others who would like to take the same action. Our family has at least 34 of Grandfather's descendents who would like to see some action on this. Good to chat.... Vi from Oz

Anyone know how someone in Australia can contact the British Admiralty. Who to contact and where. Love the forum Vi from Oz Would be good to have a 'hopeful' icon.

I confess to being newish on this site and am getting very confused about what bit I am in. I have been asking questions about a memorial to the men and boys who lost their lives on the above ships and found a post that took me to a roll of honour which I think is of the Chatham Memorial, Kent. Having now lost the post I can't ask that person the question but do I assume that there is actually a memorial to all the crews of the above ships or is is just a 'posted' textual Roll of Honour in a Military Forum. I visited Kent and saw my Grandfathers name on a War Memorial in Whitstable but I realise now that Chatham might be where they all appear. Would be wonderful if that is the case. Has anyone got any information of this memorial and if it is specifically for these crew members. Thanks heaps. Still new and still learning Vi from Oz:confused:

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website says that the Chatham Memorial is for those with no known grave whose ships were Chatham-based. It is not just for the three vessels you name. There are memorials of the same kind at Portsmouth and Plymouth. EDIT There is another thread running on this topic - see 'Three before Breakfast' A

This is just to point out another thread on the same subject, live today. A

A better picture of the U-9...
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Vi, I don't believe that there is a specific memorial to the loss of these three ships, because no other ship loss is officially commemorated. As above, all the RN men who lost their lives one these ships and were not found, as well as all the other RN sailors that died and were not found, are commemmorated on the Chatham. Plymouth or Portsmouth Memorial. The same applies for WW II. Yiou highlight the lack of a memorial for three before breakfast, but what about the losses at Jutland, or Singapore when the Repulse and Prince of Wales went down? The list is almost endless. There are a number of websites which are virtual memorials, which cover men from the three vessels plus others, where the casualties came from a particular area.

At Jutland, the dead on the ships that returned to Rosyth were buried at sea. Some of the dead on the ships that returned to Scapa were buried in the graveyard there. I presume most of the dead were on the ships that did not return to port, accounting for the fairly few graves there.

There is a small church and grave yard in South Queensferry where a lot of R.N dead are buried spanning the whole of the WW1. Regards Dave

Dave, carried out a Rememberance Day Parade in full No 1's to said church in 1984. People of SQ were very impressed with the RN turning out, as it hadn't happened for quite a few years.

Vi, who was your Grandfather and where from? I'm in contact with other "grandchildren" of casualties from this action who may have more information. Aboukir

I would suggest that your best access to the Admiralty would be through the British Embassy Defence Attache (who might well be RN anyway) but I think you will find that the Admiralty has nothing to do with memorials, medals or other forms of historic recognition. Traditionally almost all memorials are placed, or owe their genesis, to passionate individuals or associations who agitate for them and raise the funds. I did the memorial in Greenwich to the US volunteers, the Malta Siege memorial of Tower Hill and participated in some others and altho they had excellent official support the idea and motivation came from people such as yourself. If it was left the Govt to establish memorials we would have one on every corner but to all the wrong things! Take a look at the post Siege of Malta... Good luck in your quest tim

It's an interesting place as grave yards go as there are graves readly identifiable with naval actions of the day ie Jutland etc but also from the battle of May Island when i think FEARLESS over ran a couple of K Class Subs. Regards Dave

Hi, The HMS Aboukir was my earliest link to the RN, when a cousin of mine, as viewed in the photo's inset, went down with her. The photo is taken from a mounted and framed photo of the time. Oddly enough, I haven't had that many chances to follow up on either the RN or family connections, perhaps until now. My late uncle was the most recent RN connection, and is the source of some of the photos I post (or will post, as is the case). Regards, Hugh Williams
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Hugh, this is your cousin's Admiralty death record: MEEHAN, WILLIAM, C.E.R.A., 124820 (Ch), H.M. Armoured cruiser ABOUKIR, 22-Sep-14, SHIP LOSS. He had obviously done well in his career.

[QUOTE=historydavid;13844]Hugh, this is your cousin's Admiralty death record: MEEHAN, WILLIAM, C.E.R.A., 124820 (Ch), H.M. Armoured cruiser ABOUKIR, 22-Sep-14, SHIP LOSS. He had obviously done well in his career.[/QUOTE] Hi David, Thank you for that info. I must admit I had to look at a couple of times. I appreciate that you had the source to obtain the info, but I didn't think for a minute that it would be delivered so quickly and so readily. I really do appreciate this, as does my wife, who is doing a genealogical study of her family. She had a go at my family, but hit a brick wall somewhere around Gloucestershire in the last 19th century. Kind regards, Hugh

Fearless only ran over the one K boat (the K-17). the K-22 (former K13) rammed K-14, Inflexible then rammed the stationary K-22. K6 collided with K4, which, as it was sinking was then thumped by K7. Apart from that, it was an ordinary patrol.

I thought i would add to this thread to say that my Great Grandfather (A stoker and a Chatham rat) was one of the few survivors of the sinking of HMS Aboukir. His son,my Grandfather (also a Chatham rat) was less lucky. Also a stoker he didnt survive the loss of HMS Wakeful at Dunkirk. My son is currently RN and may be advised to watch out for torpedoes!

Hi there. Anyone know of the name of the sailor who survived the sinking of Aboukir, to be picked up by the Hogue, which was then torpedoed, again he ended up in the water, to be picked up by Cressey, to be again torpedoed and ending up in the water for the third time, before he was finally rescued, being the only sailor to be rescued from three sinkings in an hour. Wonder what his fate was? Regards Vern.

To Vern 53 The talk in my family is that my Great Grandfather was picked up at least twice during this action. His name was Henry James Chapman. I have his Navy records but these of course dont go into detail of this particular action.I do know that his next posting was to a very old river guardboat on the Thames and he was pensioned off soon after. The strange thing was that this next posting was actually the very first ship he had been posted to as a boy sailor of 14. Two battered relics together.

Here is the pic of HMS Aboukir with searchlights fitted (temoraryly) on forward turret. It was so unusual it intriqued me. Could anyone explain the reason of such arrangement? Maybe somebody has got the pic of other RN Armoured Cruiser with such fitting.
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Are they on the turret or directly behind it?

I don't know how could the searchlights be placed behind turret?

I "read" it as mounted ON the A turret. Miro stumped me with this old tub yesterday....my small pics simply do NOT show detail like that! I ID'd the class, but not ship's name as I honestly didn't have a CLUE despite seeing the searchlight. Going up against Miro's VAST pic library is like taking on an M1A2 Abrams MBT with my trusty ol M-14 that I carried for 4 years in the USMC...I LOSE! oopzzz... OTOH I do notice a LACK of guesses about the current mystery ship DESPITE being nice enough to post a second pic that shows her DISTINCTIVE midships, HINT HINT!!! .DFO :eek:;):D

Thanks for posting this photo Miro. Not seen this arrangement before on RN armoured cruisers, I have photos of rangefinders and guns on turrets, but not searchlights Wonder if it was for experiments in anti-torpedo boat tactics? Dave

Only other pic that I can find with a searchlight mounted on top of a gun turret is this one of HMS Warspite of 1884, which was broken up in 1905. Other pics, particularly of turret ships, show that they had two searchlights mounted forward and two aft, but not on top of turrets. Presumably, they were to aid gunfiring after dark?
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