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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

Q27 - HMS Warner


RDG01

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Hi Ron

I have  Boat's signal book 1907 amended to start of WWI which belonged to Commander

Thomas Wycombe Biddicombe who was in Command when Q27 torpedoed. He unfortunately died in the action. Biddicombe was for a number of years attached to the Royal Australian Navy and there is a stained glass memorial window to him at HMAS CERBERUS Naval Depot.  

Regards

Alan Maggs

Melbourne

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Alan.

Some years ago I had contact with Commander Biddicombe's daughter-in-law who lives in Brisbane.  She had quite a bit of info on Commander Biddicombe, copies of which she allowed me to have to assist in my writing the story of my grandfather.  I would be happy to see if I can contact her again and let her know that you are holding the signal book.  As you are a new member I don't think I can send you a personal message at this stage but we'll see what we can do.  If we can make contact privately I would be happy for you to read the chapters I wrote about my grandfather and his service with Commander Biddicombe.  Cheers.  Ron.

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  • 2 years later...

For those who are interested, I have found a reference to a survivor of HMS Warner (Q27). Sub-Lieutenant Penrose Owen Davis RNR joined Warner in January 1917. He was the confidential officer watch keeper, in charge of two guns.  Warner was commissioned on February 13th, 1917, and cruised the west coast of Ireland, trailing her coats in plain sight, to see if she could attract a submarine. This she succeeded in doing on March 13th. The torpedo hit, and Warner sank in 3 minutes. Davis was pulled underwater by the sinking ship, but, he says, "submerged and blown to surface by internal explosion in ship." He had to swim some distance to the lifeboat. The submarine surfaced and questioned, or asked for the Captain, who had drowned.  The lifeboat took prisoner 6 men, including one officer, before making off on the surface. Davis took charge of an overturned lifeboat, and he and some of the crew managed to right it. He organised the equal division of the crew into the two boats. He says that the Gunnery Lieutenant died from injuries received two hours later. Davis made the two lifeboats fast to each other, and then, by rowing and sailing for 57 hours, sighted the West coast of Ireland, approx 30 miles distant. The two lifeboats then separated, with no.1 lifeboat professing to make for the Irish coast. About 3 hours after separating that boats crew were picked up when the British submarine D3 surfaced and took them aboard. The submarine then setting course for no.2 lifeboat and picking them up too.

 

Best wishes, Richard

Edited by Bertie-the-bubble
found a bit more!
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46 minutes ago, Bertie-the-bubble said:

sighted the West coast of Ireland, approx 30 miles distant.

Most unlikely from a boat at sea level which would have an horizon range of about three miles.

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4 hours ago, horatio2 said:

Most unlikely from a boat at sea level which would have an horizon range of about three miles.

Probably a bit less than that according to my Norie's Tables but I would have thought that the point here is that depending on his location, much of the west coast of Ireland has peaks and ranges of hills above 1000 feet and many far more than that so with a height of eye in his boat of 5 feet or so and clear visibility the land might be visible for well over 30 miles.  I would however commend his ability to judge distances at that range but he does say approx!

 

Tony

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  • 3 weeks later...

I have got some more information about my grandfather William McNaught from Glasgow who was taken prisoner by the Germans after the sinking of HMS Warner.

I was kindly given his  pow card by a forum member which is fantastic.

He was in Dulmen pow camp and was the wireless operator on the HMS Warner torpedoed on 13/3/17.

If anyone has any information about this camp I would be very grateful. He was there I think for 2 years.

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On 18/05/2007 at 11:08, Michael Lowrey said:

Ron,

Have a copy of U 61's KTB describing the sinking of Warner --can send you a copy if you're interested.

Best wishes,

Michael

i would be interested in a copy of that if its possible.

Thanks

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The aformentioned Penrose Owen Davis was an officer member  of the Q ship HMS Warner, then the Q ship Salvia, and finally the Q ship HMS Bergamot. All three were sunk in quick order. He survived the sinking of all 3 ships. 

 

After the war, he went to work for Cunard, rising to 1st officer of the Queen Mary. Rejoining the Navy for the second conflict, he worked in depots, mostly, but did briefly command HMS Thane (A Bogue class escort carrier). 

 

He died on the 7th october, 1946, from a massive heart attack.

 

Richard

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54 minutes ago, Bertie-the-bubble said:

The aformentioned Penrose Owen Davis was an officer member  of the Q ship HMS Warner, then the Q ship Salvia, and finally the Q ship HMS Bergamot. All three were sunk in quick order. He survived the sinking of all 3 ships. 


Yes indeed, by 1917 German submariners knew exactly what to look out for and how to deal with any Q-Ship they encountered.

MB

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