Daily Event for November 10, 2013

Almost forgotten by history is the paddle minesweeper HMS Ascot. This unfortunate ship became the last warship to be lost to enemy action in the Great War. On November 10, 1918, one day before the Armistice was signed, HMS Ascot was operating five miles from the Farne Islands when she was torpedoed by SMS UB-67. Even though orders had been sent on Oct. 20 to all U-boats to return to Kiel, Oberleutnant zur See Hellmuth von Doemming either did not receive it or just disregarded the order. I cannot know his motivation and it would be pure speculation to guess. It is however a sad commentary that this man, who must have known that the war was over, would sink just one more ship before the end of hostilities. Because of his decision to fire the torpedo fifty-three more names were added to the Roll of Honour. What happened on board Ascot in her final minutes is unknown because the last warship sunk in the Great War took every man in her to the bottom.
© 2013 Michael W. Pocock
MaritimeQuest.com


Model of HMS Ascot.
(Photo courtesy of the Imperial War Museum)




Roll of Honour
In memory of those who lost their lives in
HMPMS Ascot
"As long as we embrace them in our memory, their spirit will always be with us"

Name
Rate
Bevan, William G.
Leading Seaman
Boulton, Harry
Leading Trimmer (RNR)
Conneely, Peter
Seaman (RNR)
Connelly, Percy J.
Ordinary Seaman
Cooper, William
Seaman (RNR)
Coultas, William
Leading Trimmer (RNR)
Cross, Cecil J. J.
Stoker 2nd Class
Dalton, Harry
Trimmer (RNR)
Davis, Patrick
Seaman (RNR)
Dobbs, George H.
Trimmer (RNR)
Duggan, David E.
3rd Engineer (MMR)
Edmunds, Samuel G.
Deck Hand (RNR)
Gardner, Charles E. M.
Stoker 2nd Class
Grubb, Wilfred C.
Ordinary Seaman
Hill, Charles
Stoker 2nd Class
Horrill, Edward L.
Petty Officer 1st Class
Irvine, James
Seaman (RNR)
Irwin, Robert F.
Steward (MMR)
Jaffa, Leslie C.
Telegraphist (RNVR)
Jones, Edward W.
Signalman (RNVR)
Jones, Matthew G.
Trimmer (RNR)
Judge, James
Trimmer (RNR)
Juhle, Alexander B.
Leading Trimmer (RNR)
Kersey, Robert
Deck Hand (RNR)
Keutenius, James W.
Leading Trimmer (RNR)
Kirkton, Harold E.
Signalman (RNVR)
Kirman, George W.
Junior Engineer (MMR)
Lamb, David B.
Trimmer (RNR)
Leabon, Archie G.
2nd Hand (RNR)
Long, Arthur J.
Deckhand (RNR)
MacDonald, Donald
Lieutenant (RNR)
MacKay, Alexander
Deck Hand (RNR)
McLean, Alexander M.
Deck Hand (RNR)
McLeod, James F.
Cook (RNR)
Munn, John W.
Telegraphist (RNVR)
Osborne, James W.
Trimmer (RNR)
Parrott, Charles F.
Deck Hand (RNR)
Paterson, James K.
Engineer Lieutenant (RNR)
Paul, Thomas S.
Trimmer (RNR)
Pender, Patrick
Trimmer (RNR)
Postlethwaite, John M.
Able Seaman
Price, James
Trimmer (RNR)
Redding, Herbert
Trimmer (RNR)
Reynolds, Arthur
Trimmer (RNR)
Richards, Francis A.
Leading Trimmer (RNR)
Robson, James
Trimmer (RNR)
Smith, Baden
Ordinary Seaman
Tocher, John
Leading Trimmer (RNR)
Wallen, John W.
Lieutenant (RNVR)
Wheatland, Arthur
Lieutenant (RNVR)
Williamson, Robert
Able Seaman
 
Woolfe, George
Trimmer, (RNR)
 
Youll, Alfred J.
Assistant Steward (MMR)


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1.
Oct. 11, 2018

I stumbled across your page whilst looking for details about HMS Ascot for my great Auntie Elsie or Beatrice Osborne as she was christened. Her father James was on HMS Ascot when it went down and she remembers her mother's hair turning white overnight from the shock. Betty is still alive today, aged 104.5 years old. I am sure Jim will have been hugely proud of his beautiful daughter - just as she was of her father and all his brave comrades. Thank you for keeping their memory alive.  

Kind regards,
Lorna  FitzPatrick



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