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Remembered Today:

HMS Nugent


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Hi All,

I have just come acroos this forum while researching my grandfather. I am interested in finding out a bit more about his time with the Dover Patrol from Jan 1918 to June 1919 where he served. Like many, he didn't really speak much about his experiences after the War and all I know is that he was present at the scuttling of German ships at the end of the War at Scapa Flow and that took part in the Battle of Zeebrugge. Any further information or direction where I can find out more, would be greatly appreciated.

I have his service record from the National Archive which says HMS Nugent was attached to HMS Attentive and latterly HMS Dido, which from reading other threads on here were the depot ships.

Thanks all in anticipation and great forum!

Regards

Neil

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Neil,

There is a mention in The War at Sea (Julian Thompson) Extract from Snelling's diary HMS Tempest;

Tuesday 25th September 1917, Proceeded to Dunkerque, Falconer and Nugent mined. Hostile Planes raided Dunkerque. Harbour and town bombarded from Ostend by 15inch guns.

Regards Charles

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Doh,

Sorry, just realised the dates.

Regards Charles

Hi Charles, thanks for the reply anyway. Even though that time is a few months before my Grandfather served, it does help to build up a picture from that time.

Regards

Neil

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Nugent was an Admiralty M-class destroyer, built on the Tyne by Palmers and assigned to the 6th Flotilla (Attentive = Dover Patrol) on completion in April 1917. Not sure if she was at Zeebrugge/Ostend on 23 April 1918, but she was one of the eastern group of destroyers that escorted Vindictive on the second attempt to block Ostend (10 May 1918). Dido was the depot ship for the destroyer force based at Harwich under Commodore Tyrwhitt.

Mick

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Thanks for that Mick, very much appreciated. Having spoken to my father last night we are certain that he did take part in the battle for Zeebrugge. I guess the ships log would be available somewhere and would be my best bet in researching this further?

Regards

Neil

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I guess the ships log would be available somewhere and would be my best bet in researching this further?

Nugent's logs are here: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/search/...text=HMS+Nugent

Nugent isn't mentioned in the Zeebrugge despatches or the best known secondary sources on the raid, but that simply means that she wasn't in the front line of the operation - she may well have been at sea as part of the screening force. The two Ostend raids were integral parts of the same plan, and Ostend veterans joined the Zeebrugge Association post-war - so if family memory is of him attending their events, that may be the explanation. Alternatively, he might have taken part aboard another ship. What was his name and rank.

Mick

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Hi Mick

Thanks for that. His name was Arthur Charles King J72119, he joined the Dover Patrol 21 June 1917 (not Jan 1918 as stated in my first post). Joined as an Ord Seaman. Ab then appears as his rating on his record (assume that means able seaman - apologies am a novice at this!)

My father was certain that my Grandfather took part at Zeebrugge. Apparently there were accounts of hand to hand combat when Nugent (or perhaps another ship?) went broadside with a German vessel - we believe this was at the time of the Zeebrugge raid. However, facts do get mixed up over time.

Note to Charles - As I got my date wrong, your reply is very useful - thank you.

Thanks all for your help and interest.

Regards

Neil

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My father was certain that my Grandfather took part at Zeebrugge. Apparently there were accounts of hand to hand combat when Nugent (or perhaps another ship?) went broadside with a German vessel - we believe this was at the time of the Zeebrugge raid. However, facts do get mixed up over time.

The only instance of hand-to-hand combat at sea involving a Dover Patrol vessel that I can think of took place during the Battle of the Dover Strait on 22 April 1917 when HMS Broke rammed German destroyer G42 and, with the two ships locked together, German sailors boarded Broke and were repelled in fierce hand-to-hand fighting.

Mick

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Nugent was indeed part of the covering force of the second Ostend raid, so as such he would have been entitled to membership of the Zeebrugge Association (1918). He is not listed on the muster of those who landed in the Zeebrugge raid.

Cheers,

Dom

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