kin47 Posted 8 July , 2006 Share Posted 8 July , 2006 Hello Can anyone tell me what Rear Admiral R.E. Wemyss was doing from October 1913 when he left ORION as Rear Admiral 2nd Battle Squadron until he raised his flag in EURAYLUS a year later? The NAVY LISTs I possess do not indicate an assignment in that period. Thank you in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph Posted 8 July , 2006 Share Posted 8 July , 2006 On the outbreak of war in August 1914 Wemyss hoisted his flag in the cruiser Charybdis in command of the 12th Cruiser Squadron, which was charged with ensuring the safe passage of the British Expeditionary Force to France. After that important task had been successfully accomplished his Squadron was ordered to Canada to escort the first contingent of 30,000 soldiers from that country to England. In 1915 Wemyss was selected as Governor of the Aegean island of Lemnos with responsibility for creating a new naval base at Mudros for the impending assault on the Dardanelles. In April he began to take an active part in the Gallipoli operations with his flag in the cruiser Euryalus. His services during the hazardous and costly landings were invaluable, and Wemyss showed particular tact in all his dealings with the military authorities. (Papers of Admiral of the Fleet Lord Wester Wemyss) Regards Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
historydavid Posted 8 July , 2006 Share Posted 8 July , 2006 Don, Corbett gives: Wemyss's 12th Cruiser Squadron, consisting of Charybdis (flag), Eclipse, Diana and Talbot, not ready for sea on 3rd Aug 1914, when ship movements started to cover BEF. No mention of Wemyss before that date. Best wishes David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph Posted 9 July , 2006 Share Posted 9 July , 2006 David, Does Corbett state what the 12th Cruiser Squadron was doing on the 9th to 17th August the 3rd is pre mobilisation but the day the RN was ordered to their War Stations. Regards Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
historydavid Posted 10 July , 2006 Share Posted 10 July , 2006 Charles, from Corbett: 4th Aug. Weymiss got his squafron to sea from Plymouth and on the following afternoon was joined by Admiral Rouyer (French), who had been recalled from the Strait of Dover with his squadron. (I have the ship names if you are interested) There follows a quite detailed description of the naval arrangements for transporting the BEF to France under the date 7th Aug. This concludes with: The Western end of the Channel was similarly guarded by the Anglo-French cruiser squadron, which was dealing with traffic in the same way as the Dover Patrol (defined as: had a free hand in case the enemy tried to break through). He was still there on 25th Aug, now in sole command, but the squadron was due to relocate to the St Lawrence in order to bring a Canadian convoy over. It is quite interesting to note that the Navy were seemingly happy to escort troop convoys (in spite of its supposedly "defensive" implication) but not merchant convoys. Best wishes David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph Posted 10 July , 2006 Share Posted 10 July , 2006 David, Thanks for that, sorry Don, hijacked the thread a little hopefully filled some gaps in for you. Regards Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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