A 1
| Built By: | Vickers (Barrow) |
| Build Group: | A1 |
| Fate: | Struck on the starboard side, near the conning tower by the steam ship Berwick Castle. 18th March 1904 off Portsmouth, no survivors. Raised 18th April 1904 and eventually used as target, sunk August 1911. |
A1
The ill fated A1
Commanders
| TBA: | Lieutenant | L C O Mansergh |
1904: HMS Hazard/Fort Blockhouse.
The Admiralty had been dismissive at first of submarines but the American and French work persuaded them to follow suit. A batch of five submarines for testing tactical suitability were ordered in early 1901, built under licence from America by vickersVickers at Barrow-in-Furness, named Holland 1 to 5.
Captain Reginald Bacon, the first Inspecting Captain of Submarines, concluded that these vessels were too small, resulting in a larger Holland 6 being built. Reflecting the decision to identify the vessel type as A Class, Holland 6 was renamed A-1, becoming the first submarine for the Royal Navy
Related Pages
The First British Sub Ever To Be Lost At Sea
A1 was completed in 1902 and was destined to have a brief life. She carried aboard during that life, King Edward VII and HRH the Prince of Wales. Then, during manoeuvres on March 18, 1904, she became the first British Submarine to be lost at sea
Roll of Honour |
11
|
| Baker, George Gibson 158859 | |||
| Died: 18th Mar, 1904. | |||
| Petty Officer | Aged: 28 | ||
| Baly, Clinton Parker 270491 | |||
| Died: 18th Mar, 1904. | |||
| Engine Room Artificer | Aged: 31 | ||
| Churchill, John Preston | |||
| Died: 18th Mar, 1904. | |||
| Sub Lieutenant | Aged: 21 | ||
| Dudgeon, William 123005 | |||
| Died: 18th Mar, 1904. | |||
| Petty Officer | Aged: 37 | ||
| Ellis, Albert Benjamin 149151 | |||
| Died: 18th Mar, 1904. | |||
| Stoker | Aged: 34 | ||
| Fleming, Albert Bertram 144822 | |||
| Died: 18th Mar, 1904. | |||
| Chief Stoker | Aged: 36 | ||
| King, Charles William 184404 | |||
| Died: 18th Mar, 1904. | |||
| Able Seaman | Aged: 24 | ||
| Mansergh, Loftus Charles Ogilvy | |||
| Died: 18th Mar, 1904. | |||
| Lieutenant | Aged: 31 | ||
| Parkinson, William Joseph 268715 | |||
| Died: 18th Mar, 1904. | |||
| Chief Engine Room Artificer | Aged: 32 | ||
| Roberts, Vivian William Lake 168656 | |||
| Died: 18th Mar, 1904. | |||
| Petty Officer | Aged: 37 | ||
| Wallace, Peter Scott 186888 | |||
| Died: 18th Mar, 1904. | |||
| Able Seaman | Aged: 24 | ||
Events
| 19-02-1902 | Laid Down |
| 09-07-1902 | Launched |
| 27-07-1903 | Completed |
| 19-02-1904 | Commissioned |
| 18-03-1904 | Whist on exercise off the Isle of Wight HMS A1 was tasked with 'attacking' HMS Juno. The mock attack began in the early afternoon; HMS Juno had been sighted heading towards Portsmouth Harbour. First to attack were the Holland Boats, after which came A1's turn. As A1 closed in for the kill she was struck on the starboard side, near the conning tower, by the steam ship Berwick Castle, on route from Southampton to Hamburg. Unaware of the submarines in the area the master of the Berwick Castle reported that he believed he had been struck by a practice torpedo and continued his journey. It was not until A1 failed to return to harbour that the full scale of the disaster was known |
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