Diary of Alec S. Tempest

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The Diary of Alec S. Tempest (1899-1978), signal boy aboard H.M.S. Lion from 20 May 1915 through 26 April, 1919 can be found at the Caird Library at the National Maritime Museum as MSS/84/187.3

It was purchased by the Museum in 1984 and contains some photographs and copies of speeches, signal traffic between the Grand Fleet and the High Sea Fleet from 15 November to 2 December 1918, and a concert programme for 4 June 1915. A cap ribbon that was also purchased was sent to the Museum's relics department.

The diary is daily from 20 May to 23 August, 1915, and then becomes more flexible in its timeline. It carries through to 26 April, 1919.

Inside Cover

If found please return to A.S. Tempest Siglm. 47 Mess H.M.S. Lion or 37 Hunslett Road Leeds. If not able to do so please destroy with great thoroughness. AST

Diary

Alec S. Tempest
Sig Boy.
45 Mess
H.M.S Lion
Battle Cruiser
c/o G.P.O.
London
May 20th 1915

Home Address
37 Hunslett Rd
Leeds,
Yorks.


May 20th 15.
Scapa Flow
Calibrating in Hoxa Sound 13.5". 34 charge & sub-calibre firing

May 21st 15
10-55 AM
Weighed & proceeded out of the FLow, picked up the escort of 3 destrouyers near the outer gate, very thick fog outside. parted company with destroyers speed 23 knots course SE.

May 22nd.
Held up by fog outside Bridge nearly took a lump out of Inch Kieth, [sic] waited below bridge till 9.30 proceeded up the harbour, went into action with collier Agnes Duncan 720 tons finished 1.30

May 23rd.
In Rosyth Harbour nothing doing. Sunday's Routine.

May 24th & 25th
In Rosyth, wearing of Jerseys discontinued. nothing else doing.

May 26th
2.30 AM Iron Duke arrived Rosyth flying flag of C in C Grand Fleet.

May 27th
Rosyth. nothing doing.

May 28th
12.10, Iron Duke shoved off to rejoin G.F.

May 29th 15
Rosyth, 11.30 PM weighed & proceeded out to sea in company with 1st 2nd & 3rd L.C.S. & Fearless & 20 destroyers.

May 30th 15
At Sea, very rough sea, heavy swells,

May 31st
1.30 AM Arrived in harbour moored by 3.15 AM, 5.0AM commenced coaling 800 tons; finished 9.30 AM.

June 1st.
Rosyth. Ordinary Routine.

June 2nd
Liverpool & Yarmouth arrived. reported Submarine sighted off Fair Is[1]

June 3rd
Court Martial of Chief Gunner Mitchel, Capt of Galatea president.[2]

June 4th 15
Rosyth. Ordinary Routine.

June 5th 15
Trawler Hawke reported sinking a German submarine off Peterhead[.] Destroyer Unity coming into harbour with crew consisting in all of 25 prisoners.

June 6th 15
German Submarine sank 3 trawlers by gunfire.

June 7th
Rosyth. Ordinary Routine.

June 8th
Ditto

June 9th
Ditto

June 10th
Ditto

June 11th
10.30 PM, proceeded to Sea

June 12th
At Sea steering North[.] Did 4" night firing at midnight.

June 13th
Carried out Battle practice No 1, Blue fleet consisting of B.C.F. 1st 2nd & 3rd L.C.S. 2nd & 7th C.S. versus Red fleet :– 1st 2nd 3rd & 4th Battle Squadrons[3] including Iron Duke, Benbow, Queen E. & Warspite, Calibrated 13.5" guns each ship firing 8 rounds

June 14th
Carried out Battle practice No 2, Blue F :– B.C.F. 2nd C.S. 1st 2nd & 3rd L.C.S. Fearless Broke & 1st flotilla destroyers versus Red F. :– 1st 2nd & 4th B.S. 7th C.S. & flotillas of Destroyers, 1 seaplane with each Fleet. 10 AM negative P.Z. 2[.] steerd South 20 Knots.

June 15th
6.30 AM, Sighted May Isle also sighted submarine which fired torpedo. torpedo passing under stern, Southampton also reported sighting a submarine off Starb Bow.
10.30 AM commenced coaling 1820 tons. Finished 7.30 PM

June 16th
Rosyth. Ordinary Routine. Duck cap covers & caps worn

June 17th
Rosyth. Harbour Routine.

Jun 18th
Ditto

Jun 19th
Do

June 20th
Harbour Routine.

June 21st
Template:Roxburgh struck by torpedo off May Isle escorted in by Botha Fearless & 1st flotilla of destroyers with slight list to starboard.

June 22nd
Usual Routine

June 23rd
Ditto

June 24th
Ditto

June 25th
Princess Royal left for Cromarty

June 26th
Roxburgh escorted by Inconstant & 2 destroyers sailed.

June 27th
Inflexible joined B.C.F.
Indomitable rejoined " " "
Collier Agnes Duncan came alongside 5 AM commenced 5.30 finishes 7.45 amount 390 tons

June 28th
Rosyth. Harbour Routine.

June 29th
Dominion sailed. Caroline arroved

June 30th
Harbour Routine.

July 1st
1.AM Princess Royal arrived, coaled 850 tons
7.45 PM Indefatigable sailed to refit & give leave. Pay down 1 £ book nipped[4]

July 1st
Action Stations.

July 2nd
Harbour Routine.

July 3rd
Sunday Routine.

July 4th
7.40 Submarine reported inside outer gate trying to force through inner gate, mann[sic] & arm picket boats & chase, boats away all night returned next morning nothing to report. got nets out 10.30 PM.

July 5th
8.30 AM Boats returned
1.40 PM Got nets in

July 6th
Harbour Routine.

July 7th
Archbishop of York came on board. book apprehended.[5]

July 8th
Archbishop of York gave an open air Service in Rosyth Dockyard[.] thousands of sailors assembled to hear him speak. Lost 2/-

July 9th
Hibernia & Hindustan sailed. Exercise Action Stations

July 10th 15
5.45 AM commenced coaling. 400 tons. 7.5 AM finished. Agnes Duncan.

July 11th
10.PM Weighed & proceeded to Sea in company with 1st 2nd & 3rd B.C.S. 1st 2nd & 3rd L.C.S. Neg Galatea.

July 12th 15
At Sea. very calm water[.] fine weather.

July 13th
Arrived Rosyth 4 AM moored[.] Australia proceeded to Cromarty
6AM commenced coaling 805 tons finished 9 AM.

July 14th 15
Harbour Routine.

July 15th
Hibernia & Zealandia arrived.

July 16th
Harbour Routine.

July 17th
Indefatigable arrived.

July 18th
Q. Mary sailed

July 19th 15
Harbour Routine.

July 20th 15
Harbour Routine.

July 21st 15
Harbour Routine.
Britannia, I, [illegible][6]

July 22nd 15
Dominion arrived.

July 23rd 15
Harbour Routine.

July 24th 15
Went sailing in cutters[.] left high & dry outside Bridge[.] waited for turn of tide. aboard 10.15.

July 25th
Sundays Routine.

26th & 27th July
Harbour Routine.

28th July
3.30AM Australia arrived
8.30PM 2nd B.C.S. sailed

29th July
Harbour Routine

30th July
6.0AM[7] coaled, 325 tons[.] Agnes Duncan

31st July
6.0AM coaled, 325 tons[.] Agnes Duncan

1st Aug 15
Dominion sailed.

2nd Aug 15
Queen Mary arrived

3rd Aug 15
Harbour Routine

4th Aug 15
Ditto

5th Aug 15
Albemarle & Russel[sic] sailed

6th Aug
Harbour Routine
8. Indomitable sailed

7th Aug
Harbour Routine

8th Aug
1st & 2nd L.C.S. sailed

9th Aug
Botha & 1st Div Destroyers sailed

10th Aug
1st & 2nd L.C.S. Botha & Destroyers arrived

TODO: I am not about 25% of the way through this transcription

Footnotes

  1. Not certain of reading of the last two words.
  2. The date of this makes it likely that the presiding officer was Commodore, Second Class Edwyn S. Alexander-Sinclair
  3. Note that the "3rd" here might be crossed out. It appears likely that the 3rd was not involved, given its absence in the coming day's practice.
  4. The two struck-through words are not certain.
  5. I am not sure I understand this entry, but it seems like it might be loss of a personal item, possibly related to July 1st's entry.
  6. This entry is wedged in, and is not clear.
  7. Time may not be correctly read.

See Also