On 1st March 1917 M-Class destroyer HMS Pheasant struck a mine off Rora Head, Hoy, Orkney. The explosion was enormous blowing apart the vessel with the loss of all the 89 men on board.
Only one body was ever recovered – Midshipman Reginald Cotter who is buried in Lyness Naval Cemetery, Hoy.
A book is to be published this year about HMS Pheasant and the men who lost their lives on that fateful day 1st March 1917. Written by Fiona Grahame who has been researching the lives of the men for 7 years. Fiona is grateful to the research provided by Brian Budge and by descendants of the men who have contributed photographs and memories of them.
A maritime survey conducted by Orkney Research Centre for Archaeology (ORCA), the University of the Highlands and Islands Archaeology Institute, and SULA Diving located the remains of HMS Pheasant.
HMS Pheasant was an M class destroyer built by Fairfield Shipyard on the Clyde and launched on 23rd October 1916. At 0.15 on the morning of 1st March 1917 the ship left Stromness to patrol the waters to the west of Orkney. Steaming down the west side of Hoy at full speed she most likely struck a mine off Rora Head close to the Old Man of Hoy that had been laid on the 21st January 1917 by German submarine U 80.
Despite the ensuing explosion being reported by the watch of the Trawler HMT Grouse this message was not relayed to her skipper until 08.00. And at 08.15 the trawler HMT Oropesa reported finding “large quantities of oil and some wreckage one mile west of Old Man of Hoy.” The crew also picked up a life buoy marked HMS ‘Pheasant’.
The explosion and ensuing confusion of the rescue operation resulted in all 89 on board losing their lives. Only one body was ever recovered. Midshipman Reginald Cotter is buried in Lyness Naval Cemetery, Hoy
The research to find the location of the wreck of HMS Pheasant was a collaborative effort involving many organisations: Sandra Henry of UHI Archaeology Institute, ORCA (Orkney Research Centre for Archaeology), the University of the Highlands and Islands Archaeology Institute, Kevin Heath of SULA Diving, Historic Environment Scotland, Marine Scotland, Ulster University, Heriot-Watt University, University of Dundee, and Seatronics – an Acteon company.
The wreck is protected as a designated vessel under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986. The archaeological maritime survey was conducted from the decks of the Marine Scotland vessel MV Scotia. The Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 means it can be dived but not entered or disturbed without permission from the Ministry of Defence.
The project was conducted under licence from the Ministry of Defence.
M-Class Destroyers
At the outbreak of World War 1 the British Admiralty commenced an emergency building programme.
M-Class Destroyers were built to an identical design which meant they could be built quickly and efficiently. 85 M-Class Destroyers were Built They had:
- 3 identical narrow circular funnels
- A raised forecastle
- 3QF 4in (102mm) Mark IV guns, on mounting P Mk.1X, two aft , with the ‘Y’ gun raised on a superstructure
- 2 twin banks of 21in (533mm) torpedo tubes
- 2 anti aircraft QF 2-pounder Bofors ‘pom-pom’MkII
They were propelled by 3 shafts in direct drive with steam turbines and had a top speed of 34knots. They were sturdy ships fit for the North Atlantic and North Sea, with a sufficient range due to their 237-298 tons of fuel oil carried.
It is hoped to have a memorial and/or book of remembrance in Hoy as a mark of respect to the men who lost their lives.
List of the Men of HMS Pheasant 1917
| ATCHESON, James, Petty Officer 1c, 185519 (Dev) |
| BATES, Harry, Stoker 2c, K 32428 (Dev) |
| BOURNE, George, Act/Engine Room Artificer 4c, M 21465 (Dev) |
| BOWEN, William, Chief Stoker, 291526 (Dev) |
| BOXER, William T, Engine Room Artificer 3c, M 6011 (Dev) |
| BRADLEY, Austin, Ordinary Seaman, J 61179 (Po) |
| BRENNAN, Alexander, Able Seaman, SS 4773 (Dev) |
| BROMING, Edmund S, Stoker 1c, 302199 (Dev) |
| CANTRILL, James H, Wireman 2c, M 11612 (Dev) |
| CARR, William, Stoker Petty Officer, 213118 (Dev) |
| CLAPCOTT, Frederick, Officer’s Steward 3c, L 9320 (Dev) |
| CONNOLLY, Patrick, Stoker, RNR, U 1394 |
| CONVIN, Sidney, Officer’s Steward 3c, L 5098 (Dev) |
| COTTER, Reginald A, Ty/Midshipman, RNR |
| CRUNDALL, Frederick W M, Stoker 1c, K 18053 (Dev) |
| CUNNINGTON, John R, Leading Telegraphist, J 16494 (Dev) |
| DAVIES, David, Signalman, RNVR, Wales Z 3105 |
| DOLLIGAN, Bernard, Stoker, RNR, S 5132 |
| EDWORTHY, Frederick W S, Ordinary Seaman, J 47908 (Dev) |
| ELDER, George, Able Seaman, J 25754 (Dev) |
| EVENS, Joseph R, Stoker Petty Officer, 309864 (Dev) |
| FISHER, Arthur M, Ordinary Seaman, J 49742 (Dev) |
| FLETCHER, Nelson S, Able Seaman, J 13938 (Dev) |
| GIDLEY, Ernest, Stoker Petty Officer, 307503 (Dev) |
| GLYNN, William, Ordinary Seaman, J 35679 (Dev) |
| GRANTHAM, James N, Able Seaman, J 7765 (Dev) |
| GREBBELL, Cyril W, Leading Seaman, 236776 (Dev) |
| GRIFFITH, Hubert W D, Lieutenant |
| GRIMSHAW, George A, Stoker 1c, K 6642 (Dev) |
| GROOM, Horace E, Leading Cook’s Mate, 347811 (Dev) |
| GYLLENSHIP, Gustavus A, Leading Seaman, 194276 (Dev) |
| HAMILTON, James H, Able Seaman, 239262 (Dev) |
| HAMILTON, John, Able Seaman, J 29355 (Dev) |
| HANDS, Henry L, Stoker 1c, 309300 (Dev) |
| HAWORTH, Samuel B, Able Seaman, J 12119 (Dev) |
| HEARN, Henry W E, Act/Lieutenant |
| HERLIHY, Sidney H, Gunner |
| HOLLOWOOD, Harry, Able Seaman, J 5461 (Dev) |
| HOLMES, Charley, Petty Officer, 229380 (Dev) |
| HOWARTH, Tom, Able Seaman, J 31132 (Dev) |
| HUNT, Henry, Ordinary Seaman, J 60695 (Po) |
| JOHNSON, Oswald M, Sub Lieutenant |
| JOHNSON, William H, Ordinary Seaman, J 61172 (Po) |
| JOHNSTONE, George, Stoker 1c, SS 115144 (Dev) |
| KAY, William L, Able Seaman, SS 3520 (Dev) |
| KAYES, Joseph, Leading Seaman, 220440 (Dev) |
| KELLY, Walter, Able Seaman, J 8761 (Dev) |
| KITCHEN, Reed B, Ordinary Seaman, J 60687 (Po) |
| LACEY, Peter, Able Seaman, J 46017 (Dev) |
| LILLIS, Fred, Petty Officer, 182523 (Dev) |
| LLOYD, Alfred, Act/Leading Stoker, K 8947 (Dev) |
| LOMAS, Henry H, Stoker Petty Officer, K 13883 (Dev) |
| MARKS, Ernest G, Leading Stoker, K 5640 (Dev) |
| MARTIN, Henry T, Ordinary Seaman, J 43132 (Dev) |
| MASKELL, Frederick, Stoker 2c, K 37261 (Dev) |
| MCCARTHY, Daniel, Stoker Petty Officer, 176750 (Dev) |
| MCDONALD, Angus, Able Seaman, 218050 (Dev) |
| MCLOUGHLIN, Michael, Ordinary Seaman, J 42975 (Dev) |
| MOONEY, John, Able Seaman, J 20534 (Dev) |
| NEAL, Edward J S, Able Seaman, RNVR, Clyde Z 1528 |
| NEALE, Charles H, Stoker 2c, K 32434 (Dev) |
| PACEY, Harry, Stoker 2c, K 32430 (Dev) |
| PIRRY, William, Able Seaman, J 25237 (Dev) |
| PORTER, William, Able Seaman, J 24623 (Dev) |
| PRESTON, Matthew (real name, but served as Matthew Mckenzie), Able Seaman, J 45368 (Dev) |
| RANDALL, Joseph, Able Seaman, SS 4355 (Dev) |
| RICHARDSON, Frederick W, Signalman, 233380 (Dev) |
| ROBERTSON, James, Able Seaman, SS 6522 (Dev) |
| ROGERS, Cyril S, Signalman, J 25441 (Dev) |
| RYAN, Thomas, Able Seaman, J 27836 (Dev) |
| SCRIVEN, Frederick J, Able Seaman, J 29501 (Dev) |
| SEARLE, Percy W, Able Seaman, J 29551 (Dev) |
| SHERWELL, Rowland Z H, Engine Room Artificer 4c, M 7810 (Dev) |
| SIMES, Henry C N, Engineer Lieutenant Commander |
| STEWART, William, Able Seaman, SS 4863 (Dev) |
| SULTAN, Harry, Leading Seaman, J 9290 (Dev) |
| TAYLOR, Edward P, Able Seaman, J 12751 (Dev) |
| TERRY, William J, Stoker Petty Officer, K 5121 (Dev) |
| TRAYHERN, Benjamin E, Stoker 1c (RFR B 5010), SS 107187 (Dev) |
| TWYMAN, Frederick L, Boy Telegraphist, J 48585 |
| WALKER, Gordon P, Ty/Surgeon Probationer, RNVR |
| WATSON, Arthur, Able Seaman, SS 3754 (Dev) |
| WEAVER, Ivor T, Ordinary Seaman, J 43133 (Dev) |
| WHEALE, Joseph, Stoker, RNR, S 8168 |
| WHITHAM, Albert, Ordinary Seaman, J 49933 (Dev) |
| WIGHT, James, Able Seaman, RNVR, Tyneside Z 324 |
| WOODLAND, Walter J, Chief Engine Room Artificer 2c, 270702 (Dev) |
| WOOLCOCK, Hubert E, Officer’s Steward 2c, L 4974 (Dev) |
| WRIGHT, Richard, Stoker 1c (RFR B 4698), SS 106052 (Dev) |
| 89 |
Fiona Grahame
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