Northern Soul Posted 21 May , 2005 Share Posted 21 May , 2005 Does anyone have some details of the loss of HMS Champagne in October, 1917. i.e. where sunk and who by? Does anyone have a photo of the ship? Cheers. Andy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry_Reeves Posted 21 May , 2005 Share Posted 21 May , 2005 Andy The Champagne started life as the Oropesa. She was built in 1895 by Harland and Wolfe for the Pacific Steam Navigation Company and in her wartime role was armed with two 6 inch guns and two six pounders. In November 1914, whilst under the command of Captain Percy G Brown , she was taken over by the Admiralty for service as an auxiliary cruiser. As part of the 10th Cruiser Squadron under Rear-Admiral Sir Dudley de Chair, she sunk a German submarine in March 1915 whilst patrolling between Scotland and Norway off the Skerryvore Lighthouse. In 1917 she was lent to the French navy and was renamed the Champagne, but retained her British crew. On October 15th , 1917 she was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine whilst in the Irish Sea with the loss of 5 officers and 51 men. Terry Reeves Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kin47 Posted 21 May , 2005 Share Posted 21 May , 2005 Hello My numbers are a bit less. Here is the list for HMS CHAMPAGNE. don ALCOCK WILLIAM TRIMMER, Mercantile Marine Reserve 903292 BAILEY FREDERICK M. TY/WARRANT TELEGRAPHIST, RNR BIRD GEORGE FIREMAN, Mercantile Marine Reserve 900906 BOYER GEORGE STOKER 1c (RFR B 4817) SS 117671 (Dev) BRADSHAW EDWARD ASST BAKER, Mercantile Marine Reserve 898669 BRADY JOSEPH TRIMMER, Mercantile Marine Reserve 900536 BRADY JOSEPH L/FIREMAN, Mercantile Marine Reserve 900536 BROWN JAMES TRIMMER, Mercantile Marine Reserve 896891 CLARKE ALBERT J. FIREMAN, Mercantile Marine Reserve 889327 CLAYTON JOSEPH TRIMMER, Mercantile Marine Reserve 898589 COHEN ALBERT J. FIREMAN, Mercantile Marine Reserve 889327 COMPTON THOMAS TRIMMER, Mercantile Marine Reserve 877686 COOPER JOSEPH TRIMMER, Mercantile Marine Reserve 883628 DEAKIN ALBERT TRIMMER, Mercantile Marine Reserve 926588 DENT GEORGE A.B., RNVR BRISTOL Z 4641 EDWARDS CHARLES W. FIREMAN, Mercantile Marine Reserve 864951 HARDEN WALTER M. STEWARD, Mercantile Marine Reserve 44403 HEMINGWAY WILFRED O/TELEGRAPHIST, RNVR MERSEY Z 1263 HENRY REGINALD A.B., RNVR TYNESIDE Z 8974 HYSLOP JOHN W. TY/S/LT, RNR JOHNSON ALFRED TRIMMER, Mercantile Marine Reserve 891758 JOURNEAUX WILFRED R. BOY 1c J 48373 (Po) KING STANHOPE P.O. 1c (RFR A 2518) 128561 (Dev) LAYDEN WILLIAM A.B., RNVR CLYDE Z 7108 LEONARD FRANK A.B., RNVR LONDON Z 4241 MAHOMED NADGO ASST COOK, Mercantile Marine Reserve 898678 MANGAN JOHN TRIMMER, Mercantile Marine Reserve 926592 MARSHALL WILLIAM A. O.D., RNVR MERSEY Z 3326 MAWHINNEY JAMES TRIMMER, Mercantile Marine Reserve 933111 MCGLASSON WILLIAM S. SEAMAN, RNR A 6483 MCLEOD ARTHUR TY/ENGINEER S/LT, RNR PECKHAM WILLIAM GREASER, Mercantile Marine Reserve 585516 RYAN JOHN A.B., RNVR LONDON Z 4133 SHAW JOHN SEAMAN, RNR A 7469 SIMS HORACE W. CHIEF WRITER, Mercantile Marine Reserve 877537 STANNARD CHARLES E. TY/WARRANT TELEGRAPHIST, RNR STOCK ALBERT FIREMAN, Mercantile Marine Reserve 905943 STOTT JAMES STOKER 1c (RFR B 4709) SS 106061 (Dev) SUCCASMORE WILLIAM TRIMMER, Mercantile Marine Reserve 931462 SWEETMAN PETER FIREMAN, Mercantile Marine Reserve 909968 THOMAS WILLIAM E. L/SEAMAN, RNR D 1948 THOMPSON JACOB J. TRIMMER, Mercantile Marine Reserve 914422 WAKEFORD CHARLES ASST PAYMASTER, RNR WALTER ERIC D. A.B., RNVR MERSEY Z 957 WARD OLIVER A.B, RNVR BRISTOL Z 4587 WATERSON WILLIAM B. CHIEF COOK, Mercantile Marine Reserve 847681 WATKINS JOSEPH L/SEAMAN, RNR C 1774 WEST WILLIAM E. A.B., RNVR LONDON Z 3991 WHITWAM ARTHUR E. ARMOURER'S CREW M 16731 (Dev) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Lowrey Posted 21 May , 2005 Share Posted 21 May , 2005 Champagne is credited to U 96. British Vessels Lost at Sea lists the date of the loss as October 9, 1917. Best wishes, Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
historydavid Posted 22 May , 2005 Share Posted 22 May , 2005 Is it reasonable to suppose that the French would have assigned some officers to the ship when it went under their control? If so, how many? Best wishes David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ionia Posted 22 May , 2005 Share Posted 22 May , 2005 Does anyone have some details of the loss of HMS Champagne in October, 1917. i.e. where sunk and who by? ] Whilst the DIGBY (ARTOIS) and OROPESA (CHAMPAGNE) had been lent to France temporarily, at the time of her loss the CHAMPAGNE had reverted to the RN but the name had been retained. She was on her way from Liverpool to rejoin the Patrol. The following is an extract from the report of her commanding officer, Captain Percy G. Brown, RN, to the Commmander-in-Chief, Plymouth. "I regret to report the loss of HMS CHAMPAGNE torpedoed by enemy submarine in the following circumstances. On the 9th October at 6.10 a.m., mean course N 21deg E (mag) zig-zagging, Lat 54.17' N, Long 5.10' W, speed 13 kts, the ship was struck by a torpedo in the engineroom the starboard side. The lookout at the starboard after gun saw a periscope and gave the order "Close up", we were struck by the torpedo almost instantaneously, and the periscope disappeared. Ship's company automatically went to action stations - the leading torpedo man put the depth charges to safe and reported to me., the confidential books were locked up in the steel safes by the decoding Officers and other confidential papers destroyed. All steam was cut off bty the explosion. I believe the Engineer Officer of the watch was blown to pieces and there were several other casualties in the engineroom. ......... The main engines were stopped by the explosion , and we could not go astern, but the ship lost way almost at once, the wind was WNW Magnetic, squally, force 5 to 7, sea state 6. The 1st Lieutenant asked me to give the order to abandon ship, I said "No, not yet, as the ship may float for a considerable time, and we may bag the submarine if he comes up". Almost immediately after this there was a second explosion on the port side in the forepart of the after welldeck. I at once gave the order "Abandon ship"; up to this time not a single gripe had been cast off, nor any attempt made to go to the boats. The ship remained on an even keel but began to settle rapidly.The boats, with the exception of the collapsibles, were got away smartly, although difficulty was experienced owing to the rough sea. Four men Oliver Ward, AB, RNVR, AB Ryan RNVR, LS Watkins RNR and LS W. Cox RNR volunteered to remain by foremost pair of guns. Ward saw a submarine come to the surface about 300 to 400 yards away on the port beam. The port foremost 6" gun was fired at once, projectile apparently went just over. The submarine at once dived and the gun was reloaded and a tube inserted. These men remained by their gun and I regret to say that Cox was the only one who was picked up." He then goes on to explain the difficulty in getting the collapsible boats over the side with no steam available. At 6.30 a third torpedo struck the ship which broke her in two and the boats experienced difficulty in picking up men out of the water. Two boats sailed to the Isle of Man and others were later towed there by trawlers. Captain Brown considered the casualties to have been 5 officers and 53 men missing out of a complement of 305. He finishes up: "The ship went down with a portion of her guns manned and ready to fire and traditions of the Service were upheld. At the time of the attack we were going as fast as we could keep up, lookouts were stationed all round the ship and were alert. We had no escort." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Soul Posted 22 May , 2005 Author Share Posted 22 May , 2005 My thanks to everyone for the replies. The Lat/Long figures quoted in 'ionias' post place the sinking of H.M.S. Champagne between I.o.M and Ireland. My (slim) knowledge of the prevailing currents in the Irish Sea suggest that a body released into the sea here would end up in I.o.M/Ireland/Liverpool Bay but not at Barrow-in-Furness, and yet the body of A.B. Frank Leonard did. Cheers. Andy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 6 June , 2006 Share Posted 6 June , 2006 As anyone got any details and a picture of the H.M.S. Champagne?? thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spithead Posted 7 June , 2006 Share Posted 7 June , 2006 Found this picture, not very good I know but it may be of help. Regards John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 7 June , 2006 Share Posted 7 June , 2006 spithead thank you for that picture where did you get that from?? regards J.P Ryan Found this picture, not very good I know but it may be of help. Regards John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubby Posted 29 July , 2009 Share Posted 29 July , 2009 spithead thank you for that picture where did you get that from?? regards J.P Ryan I don't know if you are still interested but I have pictures of HMS Champagne both when she was PSNC Oropesa and when she was sinking in two halves after being torpedoed. Joseph Cooper was a trimmer from the MMR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubby Posted 29 July , 2009 Share Posted 29 July , 2009 Found this picture, not very good I know but it may be of help. Regards John I'm not too sure about these pictures. I think they may be of a French ship. HMS Champagne was previously PSNC Oropesa, launched 1894, and the name was changed when lent to the French in WW!. She was single funnelled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 29 July , 2009 Share Posted 29 July , 2009 Here's her profile: http://www.ecsodus.com/PSNC/fleet/O-1895.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubby Posted 29 July , 2009 Share Posted 29 July , 2009 Here's her profile: http://www.ecsodus.com/PSNC/fleet/O-1895.html Thanks, confirms my info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Soul Posted 30 July , 2009 Author Share Posted 30 July , 2009 I don't know if you are still interested but I have pictures of HMS Champagne both when she was PSNC Oropesa and when she was sinking in two halves after being torpedoed. Joseph Cooper was a trimmer from the MMR I'd be very interested to see the. Please can you post them? Many thanks. Andy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubby Posted 30 July , 2009 Share Posted 30 July , 2009 I'd be very interested to see the. Please can you post them? Many thanks. Andy. The other one can be found at www.simplonpc.co.uk/PSNC1.html Both prove the point about the other photos being incorrect Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melliget Posted 30 July , 2009 Share Posted 30 July , 2009 Sorry, no picture, but these files held by the National Archives might be of interest: Piece details ADM 116/1613 H.M.S. CHAMPAGNE sunk by enemy S/M 9th October 1917 - Finding of Court Martial 1917 Piece details ADM 137/3696 Loss of HMS CHAMPAGNE 1917 Oct 14 regards, Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Soul Posted 30 July , 2009 Author Share Posted 30 July , 2009 Many thanks. Andy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest philsimmons Posted 5 October , 2016 Share Posted 5 October , 2016 Captain Percy Brown was my Great Grandfather. HMS Champagne was torpedoed on October 14th 1917. I have a print of a family held painting of the Champagne broken in half in heavy seas and some of the crew in a wooden lifeboat as she is going down. Hearsay is that the painting was done from a photograph but that is lost. I will post a copy of this print and further info when I sort it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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