HMS Mosquito at Dardenelles

[jacksdad]

I was wondering how I could find out anything about Charles Humphrey de Meuron Wood. I have three diaries that he kept while on board the HMS Mosquito during the period 1914 and through into 1915.

I have never really got into the naval battle here at the Dardanelles during this period so have little reference to go from.

Can anyone advise how I would go about researching him and his ship. The last dairy finishes in late March 1915 where they are boarding troops for the invasion. I have been hard pressed to find out anything much about him or the ship.

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Cheers Roger

[michaeldr]

There are just two mentions in the Naval OH, Vol. II, by Sir Julian S. Corbett

March 1^st – 2^nd: “During the night the trawlers carried on sweeping towards Kephez Point, under protection of the 2^nd Division of destroyers (Basilisk, Grasshopper, Racoon and Mosquito), supported by the Amethyst. But shortly before 11.0, (11 pm/2300 hrs ?) being then 3,000 yards from the Point and just short of the first of the minefields between Kephez Bay and the Soghanli Dere, they came under the beam of a searchlight at the mouth of the stream. All the minefield protection guns on both sides opened up on them, and they had to slip their sweeps, while the destroyers dashed ahead of them, making all the smoke they could and firing at the gun-flashes and searchlight to cover their retirement. For forty minutes the action was kept up, till at last the Amethyst and the destroyers between them, and aided by the Jed of the 1^st Division, quenched the searchlight, and the trawlers, though shells burst thickly amongst them, got away undamaged. Though they failed to reach the minefield, their conduct had excited every one's admiration, and in the morning Admiral Carden made the following signal: 'Minesweepers are doing fine work. Their perseverance and steadiness are excellent. Much depends on them.'”

March 9^th – 10^th: “The night attack on the Kephez minefield, however, had no success. It was made under escort of the destroyer Mosquito by three trawlers and two picket boats, but they were at once found by the searchlights, and came under so heavy a fire that nothing could be done.”

The captain of the Mosquito is given as Lt-Commr. J. L. C. Clark

Good luck

Michael

[horatio2]

A couple of service records for him here (note surname WOODS):-

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D8124223

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D7606082

[Kath]

Horatio, I followed the links, & had a look around.

I found this:

Selection and destruction information:

The originals will be disposed of after completion of filming. All surviving record of service cards have been microfiched.

Kath.

[horatio2]

Horatio, I followed the links, & had a look around.

I found this:

Selection and destruction information:

The originals will be disposed of after completion of filming. All surviving record of service cards have been microfiched.

Kath.

I cannot see where you found that information but, in any case, I do not think it has anything to do with purchasing the downloads from Kew via those two links.

[Kath]

No, it has nothing to do with purchasing the downloads from Kew via those two links.

I thought it was an item of interest which I found having "had a look around" after using the links.

Here is the link to the page with the information re. Selection and destruction information.

http://discovery.nat...ails?Uri=C15459

Kath.

[horatio2]

Thanks, Kath.

This, of course, refers to RNR ratings' record cards (BT 377), not to RN officers' records (ADM 196), the subject of this topic.

Nevertheless an interesting statement: "The originals will be disposed of after completion of filming. All surviving record of service cards have been microfiched." Indeed they have been. They are now all held in climate-controlled conditions at the Fleet Air Arm Museum.

It should also be noted that, notwithstanding the statement: "The original cards contained many different coloured inks, as well as pencil written words, also the fact that these were working documents until the 1950s caused many [a very small proportion, in fact] of the cards to become badly soiled. Consequently, some of the information on the microfiche may not be legible on some of the images.", these Kew microfiche copies,which are admitted to be of poor quality, are now (in theory) the official primary source record and the original records carefully preserved at the FAAM are worthless. Luckily the FAAM thinks otherwise.

[jacksdad]

Excellent thanks Michael, Kath and Horatio2 for your time.

I have only been flicking through the diaries at present, but He writes up quite a lot each day and those days that you mention cover around 6 pages, the last day covered is the 18^th March 1915 and he records the battle and the sinking of the Bouvet “..we got a wireless signal to close the Bouvet at full speed. The river? boats & th e remainder of our division ____ on in two lines, but we shoved on alone. The remainder of the boats got fired at in the entrance. But nobody was hit. When we got up to the Battle Fleet the general open fire was hoisted as the battery on the Asiatic shore started on us. We could only see three French ships when we got in and no sign of the Bouvet, however the Lord Nelsons ____ boat came along & told us that she had sunk in Kephey? Bay & turned over to us seven survivors . We then went on to where she had sunk, where all the other boats had collected, but all that could be seen was a lot of rising bubbles & floating wreakage. Meanwhile some pretty heavy shells were falling near us & amongst us. We stopped on the spot about five minutes & then proceed? 16 kts outside the entrance, again being greeted with gun fire as we passed through, they evidently trying to make us run through the shots? But we all altered course which made there shooting rather erratic, as we were coming out we passed the three French men retiring & one was rather down by the hows? But did not seem to be in any difficulty.

When we got outside the entrance we turned the French men over to a Battleship… whilst we were turning over these men we got a signal to close the Gaulois at full speed. We found her just outside the entrance accompanied by all the destroyers, which had lowered their boats and sent them along side. Just after we arrive the Gaulois sounded the assembly & started sending men off in the various boats alongside. We after much manoeuvring managed to get our bow up to her port quarters whilst the Chelmer? Did the same on the std quarter. About 300 came on board including 3 officers, I think about 100-150 went went on board the Chelmer…we were just shoving off a signal was received to close the Inflexible at full speed..”

They then unloaded the French men onto a French ship and located the Inflexible on route “steaming along at 12-15kts towards Tenedos…low in the water” all her crew were on the GD with all manner of timber items to use as floats. They followed her some way before turning to the aid of the Irresistible. He describes the damage to her and the attempt to tow her clear. While they steamed back and forth in a zig zag pattern for some time.

The Battle seems a great sight and makes for interesting reading.