Steve @ Keene Posted 26 April , 2006 Share Posted 26 April , 2006 Hi my grandad served on HMS Vivid 2 HMS Dartmouth and HMAS Australia during the 1st world war. I have tried to find as much info as I can on him including visiting the British and Austrailian (Melbourne) war records departments. He was a stoker and I know that he was on Dartmouth when it was torpedoed and they got the ship back. I have foto copies of his records but they dont show much but dates, it would be nice to find some crew pictures from Dartmouth era 22 Nov 1916 to 27 May 1917. I thank you all in anticipation of any help you can give me Steve Keene. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GavinH Posted 26 April , 2006 Share Posted 26 April , 2006 'HMS Vivid II' was the name of the Royal Naval Barracks at Devonport. The Navy call shore establishments 'Ships' for some reason! Regards Gavin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kin47 Posted 27 April , 2006 Share Posted 27 April , 2006 'HMS Vivid II' was the name of the Royal Naval Barracks at Devonport. The Navy call shore establishments 'Ships' for some reason! Hello All Royal Naval shore establishments had a boat or old ship attached which techniquely bore the name of the shore establishment. One command's "ship" was a ship's cutter. Other commands had hulks. HMS PRESIDENT today is a '30s sloop in the Thames. A matter of protocol. All best don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Posted 30 April , 2006 Share Posted 30 April , 2006 Steve, What's you grandad's name and service number? What kind of info are you after? Do you want info on the two ships he served on etc? From the Volume IX – The Royal Australian Navy, 1914–1918 (9th edition, 1941) by Arthur W Jose - The Australia and The German Squadron HMAS Australia is currently lying on the bottom of the ocean floor, some 20 miles off the Sydney Heads, after being scuttled. A victim of the Washington Treaty. Cheers, Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve @ Keene Posted 1 May , 2006 Author Share Posted 1 May , 2006 'HMS Vivid II' was the name of the Royal Naval Barracks at Devonport. The Navy call shore establishments 'Ships' for some reason! Hello All Royal Naval shore establishments had a boat or old ship attached which techniquely bore the name of the shore establishment. One command's "ship" was a ship's cutter. Other commands had hulks. HMS PRESIDENT today is a '30s sloop in the Thames. A matter of protocol. All best don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve @ Keene Posted 1 May , 2006 Author Share Posted 1 May , 2006 Steve, What's you grandad's name and service number? What kind of info are you after? Do you want info on the two ships he served on etc? From the Volume IX – The Royal Australian Navy, 1914–1918 (9th edition, 1941) by Arthur W Jose - The Australia and The German Squadron HMAS Australia is currently lying on the bottom of the ocean floor, some 20 miles off the Sydney Heads, after being scuttled. A victim of the Washington Treaty. Cheers, Tim Hi Tim many thanks for taking the time to reply, My grandads name was John Francis Joseph Keene and his Royal Navy service number was K36212 he was a stoker and served on the said named ships and shore bases after that it is difficult to trace anything about him. I know he was torpedoed on HMS Dartmouth but that is about it. I would be grateful for any info really about the torpedoing although I do know it was UC25 (U Boat). I have copies of his war records but they dont tell me much. I also know he was based in Scotland on HMAS Australia Many Regards Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve @ Keene Posted 1 May , 2006 Author Share Posted 1 May , 2006 'HMS Vivid II' was the name of the Royal Naval Barracks at Devonport. The Navy call shore establishments 'Ships' for some reason! Hello All Royal Naval shore establishments had a boat or old ship attached which techniquely bore the name of the shore establishment. One command's "ship" was a ship's cutter. Other commands had hulks. HMS PRESIDENT today is a '30s sloop in the Thames. A matter of protocol. All best don Hi Don thank you for replying, I didnt know why they called shore bases ships and now I do so once again thanks for the info. Many Regards Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Galatea Posted 1 May , 2006 Share Posted 1 May , 2006 I have copies of his war records Can you scan and post these? It would make it much easier for the Andrew lads to look and let you know. Davie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve @ Keene Posted 1 May , 2006 Author Share Posted 1 May , 2006 Can you scan and post these? It would make it much easier for the Andrew lads to look and let you know. Davie. Thanks I will do that this week I dont have a scanner but I know a way around it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Posted 3 May , 2006 Share Posted 3 May , 2006 Steve, Some specs on HMS Dartmouth for you. Builder: Vickers Laid Down: Feb 1910 Completed: Oct 1911 Best speed: 23kts Displacement, 5250 tons. Complement, 433. Length (p.p.), 430 feet. Beam, 48.5 feet. Mean draught, 15 feet Max Draught 17.5 feet. Length over all 453 feet. Guns: Eight 6 inch (M. XI) ; one 3 inch anti-aircraft ; four 3 pdr. ; four machine guns (1 landing). Torpedo tubes (21 inch): 2 submerged Armour : (Nickel) 2" Deck Amidships ; 1" - .75" Deck (ends). Machinery: Parsons turbine (compound re-action), 4 screws. Boilers: 12 Yarrow. Designed H.P. 22,000= 25 kts. Coal: normal 750 tons; maximum 1290 tons + 260 tons oil = 5600 miles at 10 kts. Cheers, Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve @ Keene Posted 3 May , 2006 Author Share Posted 3 May , 2006 Steve, Some specs on HMS Dartmouth for you. Builder: Vickers Laid Down: Feb 1910 Completed: Oct 1911 Best speed: 23kts Displacement, 5250 tons. Complement, 433. Length (p.p.), 430 feet. Beam, 48.5 feet. Mean draught, 15 feet Max Draught 17.5 feet. Length over all 453 feet. Guns: Eight 6 inch (M. XI) ; one 3 inch anti-aircraft ; four 3 pdr. ; four machine guns (1 landing). Torpedo tubes (21 inch): 2 submerged Armour : (Nickel) 2" Deck Amidships ; 1" - .75" Deck (ends). Machinery: Parsons turbine (compound re-action), 4 screws. Boilers: 12 Yarrow. Designed H.P. 22,000= 25 kts. Coal: normal 750 tons; maximum 1290 tons + 260 tons oil = 5600 miles at 10 kts. Cheers Tim [/quote Hi Tim thanks for the reply I would like any info on the torpedoing she took if you got it as info on that seems sparse. Regards Steve K. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Posted 4 May , 2006 Share Posted 4 May , 2006 No worries, Steve. I'm a looking for ya! Sparse doesn't seem to be the word for it! Stuff all, might be a better term. Cheers, Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frev Posted 4 May , 2006 Share Posted 4 May , 2006 Hi Steve Below is a link to a site with a description of the battle in which the Dartmouth was involved in - just before she was torpedoed on the 15/5/1917: http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/otrantostraits.htm Cheers, Frev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Posted 4 May , 2006 Share Posted 4 May , 2006 Steve, To add to Frev's effort. From the "enemy's" prospective http://www.gwpda.org/naval/j0300001.htm Cheers, Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaffeya Posted 5 May , 2006 Share Posted 5 May , 2006 The details below are from the Australian Archive data base fro RAN service record cards. They are online. You will need to request a digital copy takes about four weeks. The 8688 is his Australian number. All RN sailors on loan were issued one. KEENE JOHN FRANCIS JOSEPH : Service Number - 8688 : Date of birth - 27 May 1898 : Place of birth - BARRY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zutch Posted 20 July , 2007 Share Posted 20 July , 2007 My Grandad, William Eades, was an Artificer shipwright on board on 15th May 1917. He went up top for a cigarette and the torpedo hit the POs mess, where he had been, so he was lucky, but as you know, some of his friends were not. They threw a canvas over the side to slow the water up and got the pumps running and Grandad helped inside to sure up to hole with timber and matresses and anything else to stop the worst of the water coming in. After limping back into Brindisi, the Italians send down divers who made a "mould" of the hull shape and then they built a wooden coffer dam, which they used to patch the hole. Dartmouth then sailed back to Portsmouth at 15 knots with the coffer dam in place. When they got back home and took the bolts out of the coffer dam, they had to crow bar it off, because the tallow (or whatever they used around the edge to help seal it) had completely stuck it to the ship. I have pictures of the coffer dam, HMS Dartmouth, the grave at Brindisi and a piece of the twisted hull of Dartmouth mounted on a mahogany plinth, which Grandad cut off at some point! I'll email the pictures to Steve. If anyone else is interested, I can post them here. Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott 64 Posted 21 July , 2007 Share Posted 21 July , 2007 Richard would very much like to see your pictures. Could you please post them? Regards Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zutch Posted 22 July , 2007 Share Posted 22 July , 2007 Richard would very much like to see your pictures. Could you please post them? Regards Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zutch Posted 22 July , 2007 Share Posted 22 July , 2007 Here's the coffer dam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zutch Posted 22 July , 2007 Share Posted 22 July , 2007 ...the coffer dam being lifted into place ...and HMS Dartmouth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott 64 Posted 23 July , 2007 Share Posted 23 July , 2007 Richard thanks for the photos i have not heard of a coffer dam before. Like they say you learn something every day regards Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kath Posted 23 July , 2007 Share Posted 23 July , 2007 Richard, very interesting. Thanks very much. Kath. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yeovil Posted 5 December , 2008 Share Posted 5 December , 2008 Hi my grandad served on HMS Vivid 2 HMS Dartmouth and HMAS Australia during the 1st world war. I have tried to find as much info as I can on him including visiting the British and Austrailian (Melbourne) war records departments. He was a stoker and I know that he was on Dartmouth when it was torpedoed and they got the ship back. I have foto copies of his records but they dont show much but dates, it would be nice to find some crew pictures from Dartmouth era 22 Nov 1916 to 27 May 1917. I thank you all in anticipation of any help you can give me Steve Keene. Hi Steve, my grandfather was also a stoker on the HMS Dartmouth when it was torpedoed, I have the postcard that is on this site, his name was Thomas Murphy from Monkstown, Cork, Ireland, nice to know that your grandfather and mine obviously knew each other,he was on many ships and also at HMS Vivid, he was also on HMS Leander ( TB12) in Jan 08 which I have a postcard of, I will try and attach it, any more information would be greatly appreciated, thanks Clive Richards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melliget Posted 5 December , 2008 Share Posted 5 December , 2008 Hi. The report in The Times: The Times, Saturday, May 19, 1917 NAVAL FIGHT IN THE ADRIATIC 14 BRITISH DRIFTERS SUNK H.M.S. DARTMOUTH STRUCK BY TORPEDO The Secretary of the Admiralty last night made the following announcements:- From reports received from the Rear-Admiral Commanding British Adriatic Squadron, supple- mented by an Italian communique issued to the Press, it appears that early on the morning of the 15 inst. an Austrian force consisting of light cruisers, which were subsequently rein- forced by destroyers, raided the Allied drifter lines in the Adriatic and succeeded in sinking 14 British drifters:- 2284 ADMIRABLE 2114 AVONDALE 2112 CORAL HAVEN 2271 CRAIGNOON 1399 FELICITAS 1869 GIRL GRACIE 2714 GIRL ROSE 2274 HELENORA 2414 QUARRY KNOWE 2711 SELBY 2186 SERENE 2155 TAITS 2434 TRANSIT 1916 YOUNG LINNET from which (according to an Austrian com- munique) 72 prisoners were taken. H.M.S. Dartmouth (Captain A. P. Addison, R.N.), with the Italian Rear-Admiral on board, and H.M.S. Bristol immediately chased the enemy off, assisted by French and Italian torpedo-boat destroyers. The chase was continued, with the enemy under heavy and continuous fire, till near Cat- taro, when, some enemy battleships coming out in support of their cruisers, our vessels drew off. Italian airmen, after a battle in the air, attacked the Austrian warships outside Cattaro, and they confidently assert that one of the enemy cruisers was heavily on fire, and was being taken in tow off Cattaro in a sinking condition. One other enemy cruiser is reported by the British Admiral as being "badly damaged." During her passage back, H.M.S. Dartmouth was struck by a torpedo from an enemy sub- marine, but returned into port with three men killed and one officer and four men missing - believed dead - and seven wounded. There were no other casualties to our ships. The Dartmouth, which was launched at Barrow in 1911, has a displacement of 5,250 tons, and her princi- pal measurements are:- Length 430ft., beam 48½ft., and draught 15½ft. Her speed is 25.9 knots; and her armament eight 6 in., four 3-pounder, and four machine-guns. From Geoff's search engine, the 8 casualties (all Royal Navy) were: BENNETT, ERNEST, Leading Seaman, age 36. Son of Samuel and Mary Bennett, of Ivydene, St. Merryn, Padstow, Cornwall. http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_detail...casualty=641768 FANE, ROBERT GERALD, Commander, age 35. Silver Medal for Military valour (Italy). Son of Capt. H. G. Fane and Blanche Louisa Fane, of Bicester House, Bicester, Oxon. http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_detail...casualty=641782 HELM, ROBERT, Engine Room Artificer 4th Class, age 26. Son of Edward and Mary Helm, of Leckonby Bank, Gt. Eccleston, Garstang, Lancs. http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_detail...asualty=3041071 HORRIDGE, SAMUEL, Able Seaman. http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_detail...casualty=641798 JAMES, S., Shipwright 2nd Class, age 23. Son of Richard and the late Ann James, of 43, Admiralty St., Stonehouse, Plymouth. http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_detail...casualty=641804 KINSELLA, CHRISTOPHER, Able Seaman. http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_detail...casualty=641806 MILLS, CHARLES SAMUEL, Leading Stoker, age 23. Son of William and Elizabeth Kimmell Mills, of The Red House, Dunley, Stourport, Worcs. http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_detail...asualty=3044004 WORDEN, ARTHUR WILLIAM, Engine Room Artificer 4th Class, age 29. Son of William and Rachel Worden, of Luton House, Church St., Preston, Lancs. http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_detail...asualty=3044550 As well as RN casualties, there was also at least 13 casualties from the crews of the drifters (there could be more). Using Geoff's search engine, a search by date and the word drifters in unit text returns 13 names (from some of the drifters listed above). One drifter not listed above that may have also been lost in the same action was FLOANDI. regards, Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaffeya Posted 2 January , 2009 Share Posted 2 January , 2009 There is a record of Keene in the Australian Archive.Digital file that is available on line. You may have it already. Title KEENE JOHN FRANCIS JOSEPH : Service Number - 8688 : Date of birth - 27 May 1898 : Place of birth - BARRY : Place of enlistment - Unknown : Next of Kin - ROSE Series number A6770 Control symbol KEENE J F J Contents date range 1939 - 1948 Access status Open Location Canberra Barcode 5399708 View digital copy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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