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K 4

Built By: Vickers (Barrow)
Build Group: K1
Fate: Sunk after colliding with HMS Inflexible during a night exercise off May Island on 31st January 1918. The same day as her sister K17.

There were no survivors from Submarine K4

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K 4
K 4
Although embarrassing for the shipbuilder, this rare photograph of K4 gives a good impression of the size, and a seldom seen view of a K Class Submarine
Although embarrassing for the shipbuilder, this rare photograph of K4 gives a good impression of the size, and a seldom seen view of a K Class Submarine
K 4
K 4
Commanders
1917: Lieutenant Commander  D Stocks  

12th Flotilla: Scapa Flow.
12th Flotilla: Rosyth.

The Light-cruiser HMS Blonde was leading K1, K3, K4 and K7 in line ahead when she was forced to turn sharply to port to avoid three cruisers, that crossed her bows from starboard to port. The abrupt change of course took the submarines by surprise and K1 and K4 collided. K1 had lost way due to salt-water, instead of fuel, coming through the sprayers and extinguishing the boilers. K3 passed close on the port side. K4, following K3, suddenly observed the red light of K1, and, although taking avoiding action, struck K1 a glancing blow abreast the conning tower. Water poured into the control room. Within minutes, chlorine gas was being released from the batteries. Blonde was signalled that K1 was sinking, and the cruiser closed, lowering two cutters. The rescue boats made five trips and transferred all 56 members of the crew to Blonde. A discussion was then held as to whether K1 could be saved, and it was decided to sink her.

Roll of Honour
55
Died: 31-01-1918
Adams, Leonard  DSM M 324
Chief Engine Room Artificer Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 32
Adams, Percy Walter  DSM 306739
Stoker Petty Officer Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 34
Apps, John Frederick  (RNVR) DSM Clyde 3/18
Engine Room Artificer 1st Class Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 26
Armstrong, James  J 32585
Able Seaman Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 23
Baldwin, George Harold  J 10360
Petty Officer Telegraphist Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 23
Beer, Frank John  298980
Chief Stoker Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 35
Blake, Stanley Harold  211925
Able Seaman Born: 25-06-1886 Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 31
RN DoB 25/06/1885
Bounds, Horace  DSM K 14491
Stoker 1st Class Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 24
Brown, Charles Edward  K 22591
Stoker 1st Class Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 22
Burgess, Albert Charles  K 9375
Stoker 1st Class Born: 19-11-1892 Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 25
RN DoB 19/11/1891
Burt, Ernest Samuel  J 9569
Able Seaman Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 23
Carter, Charles  DSM 236423
Leading Signalman Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 28
Church, William  DSM K 9438
Leading Stoker Born: 20-09-1888 Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 29
RN DoB 20/09/1889
Cockerill, Percival  K 21001
Stoker 1st Class Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 25
Corfield, Alfred Abe Benjamin  232865
Petty Officer Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 30
Crawforth, Harry Wakelin  SS 115298
Stoker 1st Class Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 22
Dangerfield, William George  J 17629
Able Seaman Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 20
Duggan, Alan Montgomerie  J 16974
Able Seaman Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 22
Fenner, Athelstan Alfred Lennox 
Lieutenant Commander Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 31
Goddard, Charles William Henry  J 2150
Able Seaman Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 25
Goddard, Henry Thorpe  M 11218
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 25
Goodsall, John Henry  MID K 12209
Leading Stoker Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 24
Grant, Patrick  K 20768
Stoker 1st Class Born: 29-05-1892 Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 25
RN DoB 29/05/1891
Hammond, John William 
Gunner Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 32
Hanks, Frederick Francis  K 16885
Stoker 1st Class Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 23
Hayes, Joseph Charles  K 19004
Stoker 1st Class Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 24
Hayman, William Henry  305390
Leading Stoker Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 33
Hill, Ralph Reuben  270525
Chief Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 41
Hogg, Albert Edward  J 9082
Leading Seaman Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 23
Iron, James Thomas  (RNVR) DSM K 11011
Leading Stoker Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 33
Jackson, Thomas William  DSM 215195
Able Seaman Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 31
Leeder, Edward Barber  SS 5311
Able Seaman Born: 28-02-1897 Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 20
RN DoB 28/02/1896
Martin, Herbert Ernest  K 10876
Stoker Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 23
Mockford, Fred  J 9223
Able Seaman Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 23
Pearson, Alfred Edward  DSM 206490
Leading Seaman Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 34
Puddefoot, Ernest James  J 46875
Able Seaman Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 23
Rivett, Leonard William  J 18186
Able Seaman Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 21
Rowley, William  DSM 215872
Petty Officer Born: 15-09-1880 Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 37
At birth Rowley, William Thomas Served as Rowley, William. RN DoB 15/09/1883. Actual 15/09/1880
Sellick, Sydney John  K 12966
Stoker 1st Class Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 26
Sheath, Harry  DSM 355913
Stoker Petty Officer Born: 13-03-1881 Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 36
RN DoB 13/03/1880
Spice, Albert  239765
Able Seaman Born: 06-02-1891 Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 26
RN DoB 06/02/1890
Spice, John  219424
Able Seaman Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 33
Stocks, David De Beauvoir  DSO
Commander Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 34
Commanding Officer
Tredgett, James Henry  K 22822
Stoker 1st Class Born: 18-02-1897 Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 20
RN DoB 18/02/1896
Varey, Alan  M 21630
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 23
CWGC has Alan M. Varey
Walker, Frederick  J25725
Leading Telegraphist Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 20
Watkins, Malcolm Poynter  J19411
Signalman Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 22
Watterson, Thomas Arthur  (RNR) DSC
Lieutenant Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 27
Wellesley, Claud Michael Ashmore 
Lieutenant Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 27
Windibank, Albert Charles  J 18037
Able Seaman Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 21
Wood, Thomas Stewart  K 12229
Leading Stoker Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 25
Woods, George Oliver Charles  M 2250
Leading Stoker Born: 03-12-1886 Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 31
RN DoB 03/12/1887
Wyatt, William Thomas  DSM 308247
Petty Officer Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 31
Youdale, Harold William  L 3820
Steward Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 24
Young, Thomas Sidney  J 16770
Able Seaman Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 21

Events

28-06-1915 Laid Down
15-07-1916 Launched
01-01-1917 Completed
31-01-1918 HMS K4 left harbour bound for a North Sea exercise. In what became known as the Battle of May Island a number of submarines were lost. Several collisions occurred, including K6 colliding with K4. So great was the collision that K4 was cut almost in two and sank immediately with the loss of all onboard.
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