No. 139 28 August 1914

As it is all in the papers that we have been engaged off Heligoland, I am permitted to write and tell you of it from my point of view, but only one sheet can pass the censor.

We reached a position not far from Heligoland early on Friday morning and the destroyers were sent in to draw the enemy out, which as you know they did successfully. About noon our light cruisers got into action and we rushed to their support, with the enemy’s submarines attacking us as we went. Another flotilla of them had also done the same earlier in the day. When we got to the Light Cruisers their quarry had already surrendered, but we sighted other enemy ships on the port bow and went for them. The lion and Queen Mary led and were the first in action of our Squadron, but we got sight of a ship through the haze and smoke very shortly after and engaged her. She had already been a bit hammered by our two leading ships, who went on to attack another. Directly after we opened fire we were attacked by a submarine on our other bow, which was fortunately seen by our navigator. We guessed where her torpedo would be going and dodged it, though we did not actually see it, and then dashed on into the line again. Meanwhile the Cruisers’ shot were splashing around our bows and one passed between our fire control position at the top of the bridge. Fortunately none hit us. By this time we had come within torpedo range and fired one which hit the enemy just forward of amidships and exploded and stopped her. Meanwhile our guns had been doing good work and made her look a pitiable object, so we ceased firing just after I had let go another torpedo which missed. We did this to allow her to strike her flag. Whether she did so or no I can’t say, but I was standing outside the conning tower by the Captain, looking at her through our glasses when she let fly again. However, the Admiral sent some destroyers to pick up survivors, as she was in a sinking condition, when she fired at them too. Our flag ship had turned back by this, and when she saw the destroyers fired at, she sent a couple of shots which cooked her goose and she settled heavily by the head with her stern in the air and sank. My feelings are hard to analyze. We were in such great force that the enemy seemed to have no chance, but we found that she had sown the seas with floating mines (strictly against the laws of Nations) and we passed within twenty yards of one and quite close to another, contact with which would have done us terrific damage. All the same after I had got over the elation of my torpedo hitting I felt like a murderer. But now since reading of Louvain that feeling has left me and I am pleased at having accounted for a few such barbarians. I do not think there were any survivors from that ship. There is no doubt she put up a very plucky fight and one must admire a brave enemy even if he plays dirty tricks. We hope the Germans would have sent out to support their ships, as we were in great force and could have accounted for a good many more of them. But though we understand from a prisoner that the great ‘Von de Tann’ was out, she appears to have done a Goeben.

The only moment I am [was] conscious of feeling nervous was when the submarine was firing at us on the one side and the cruiser on the other. But that lasted only a few seconds and excitement seems to eliminate all other feeling. Of course it might be different if we were being badly hit.

We are delighted with our Admiral, Sir David Beatty, and he deserves enormous credit for our success. One must feel that it was by the Grace of Providence that none of all our ships was damaged by mines or torpedoes. We should have been on an enemy’s coast without chance of getting home again. The mist preventing Heligoland from firing at us was another great mercy.

We are greatly distressed at the news from the soldiers, but hope all may be well yet. It was the first torpedo of the war to take effect.

27 January 1915

Of course you want to hear about the battle, but I don’t know that I am permitted to tell you much that isn’t in the papers. We chased them from the Dogger Bank to somewhere near Heligoland, and three out of their four ships got badly on fire. Their shooting was distinctly good, but we kept them pretty well smothered so it was difficult for them to reply very effectively. Also our Admiral placed them so that their funnel smoke interfered with them badly. In fact he handled our squadron perfectly.

We were fourth in the line, and though theoretically slower than the three ahead of us were able to keep right in our station. The Indomitable behind us could not keep up so well and so was a little late in getting into action. On the Lion and Tiger got hit of our battle cruisers, though all of us first four got under a pretty decent fire. Our destroyers were very dashing and magnificent. Theirs were drive off. It is a little trying being under fire for such a long time, but not as bad as one would think, and the time passed with lightning speed.

It was a wonderful sight to see their ships on fire and blazing with yellow flames. Their Zeppelin was hanging about nearly all the time, but did no harm except at the end of the action, when she mistook the sinking Blücher for one of our rescuing destroyers. They were not hit, but of course stopped the rescue work and a lot of men were drowned who could have been saved. That is what made the Germans think they had sunk one of our ships, and their account of the sinking is an exact story of what happened to the Blucher. They must have found out their mistake by now. Some of the prisoners’ stories are interesting, but I don’t suppose I may tell them.