Be British

Mysterious graves, one in particular

Bruce

Fascinating bit of dog history

It’s strange how some things snag the mind. We were walking through Abbotsbury Sub Tropical Gardens in Dorset. They were beautiful but not particularly relevant to anyone with a small garden dominated by damson trees. However, I came across this—a tiny door, which led me down an Alice in Wonderland tunnel into a fascinating incident that took place during World War I. It brought back a bygone world with its cruelties and dangers but also chivalry, honour and reckless courage. 

Captain Loxley was in charge of HMS Formidable, taking part in in gunnery practice just off Portland in the English Chanel. She was supported by Diamond and Topaz, two light cruisers under the overall control of Sir Lewis Bayley. As night fell and with the exercise done, Bayley ordered the 5th battle squadron to remain at sea, steaming in line formation at 12mph. German submarines had been reported in the area, visibility was poor and the sea increasingly rough. Formidable was the last in line, unaware that U-24 was stalking her in search of a good attack position. 

On January 1st 1915, at around 02:20 U-24 launched a torpedo at Formidable striking her starboard abreast of the forward funnel. Loxley fought to save the ship by bringing her close to shore. Unaware of what had happened, Topaz saw Formidable leave the line and speeded after her to see what was afoot. 

By the time she reached the stricken vessel twenty minutes or so later, Formidable was listing 20 degrees to starboard and Loxley had issued orders to abandon ship. Some stayed on board and through ‘counter-flooding' managed to reduce the list, though by then the whole ship was  very low in the water and facing thirty-foot waves. 

Just then (i.e., 03:05)  U:24 launched a second torpedo hitting her again on the starboard side close to her bow. Topaz and Diamond began the rescue effort in storm force waves, but it was only a matter of time. Formidable remained afloat for another hour and forty minutes. At 04:40 minutes it began to capsize and sink by the bow. She remained afloat with her stern in the air for a few minutes more and then sank. 

Captain Loxley was last seen on the bridge calmly overseeing the evacuation of the ship. Alongside him was his faithful dog, Bruce.  One of those saved recorded Loxley’s last known words: “‘Steady men, it’s all right. No panic. Keep cool. Be British. There’s life in the old ship yet!’ Captain Loxley’s old terrier ‘Bruce’ was standing on duty at his side on the fore-bridge to the last.”

Of its time

Diamond picked up 37 officers and crew from the water. A trawler from Brixham picked up a further 37, and Formidable’s pinnace rescued another 47 men ploughing through mountainous seas to Lyme Regis and safety. It took them 22 hours - not surprising; they had only one oar in a storm and were sculling water with their boots.

35 officers and 512 men were not so lucky, all of them killed in the sinking. 

Aftermath

An Admiralty enquiry laid the blame on Commander Bayley for conducting exercises without Destroyer protection. He was relieved of command for a short period, soon after cleared of negligence and continued his career in the Navy.

Bruce was washed ashore, his body taken to Abbotsbury gardens and buried with full honours. Captain Loxley was never found.

More info here

And details of less distinguished but equally important casualties here if you scroll down,