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E 15 (I 95)

Built By: Vickers (Barrow)
Build Group: E2
Fate: 17 April 1915 - Ran aground at Kephez Point in the Dardanelles and subsequently torpedoed by HMS Majestic & Triumph to avoid capture by the Turks.
Wreck of E15 being inspected by Turkish and German soldiers
Wreck of E15 being inspected by Turkish and German soldiers

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Commanders
1914: Lieutenant   T S Brodie

1914 - 8th Flotilla. HMS Maidstone, Harwich.
1915 - Dardanelles Flotilla. Hindu Kush' at Mudros, Lemnos.

Submarine E15 ran aground at Kephez whilst attempting to make a passage through the Dardanelles into the Sea of Marmora on 17th April 1915.

After running aground the submarine was shelled by the Turkish Forts in the area. In the shelling the Commanding Officer and five of the crew were killed and a further six were wounded. Of those that survived the shelling (and who were taken Prisoner) another eight died as Prisoners of War.

The Turks attempted to salvage her but she was destroyed by topedoes fired by British Picket boats.

Roll of Honour
14
Died: 17-04-1915
Brodie, Theodore Stuart 
Lieutenant Commander Died: 17-04-1915 Aged: 31
Commanding Officer
Cornish, Frederick John  J8305
Able Seaman Died: 17-04-1915 Aged: 22
Gingell, Frederick John  239994
Able Seaman Died: 17-04-1915 Aged: 23
Hindman, Ernest Valletta  272067
Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class Died: 17-04-1915 Aged: 31
Housman, Arthur  J6914
Able Seaman Died: 17-04-1915 Aged: 23
Tapper, James Henry Nash  K 8918
Stoker Born: 28-02-1894 Died: 17-04-1915 Aged: 21
RN DoB 28/07/1892
Died: 16-10-1915
Price, Edward John 
Lieutenant Died: 16-10-1915 Aged: 28
Died died from influenza while held captive as POW
Died: 11-05-1916
Barter, Henry John  230790
Able Seaman Died: 11-05-1916 Aged: 27
Died when held captive as POW
Died: 26-11-1916
Mitchell, Ernest Henry  288459
Stoker Petty Officer Died: 26-11-1916 Aged: 39
Died whilst a Prisoner of War in Turkey
Died: 04-12-1916
Williams, George  184383
Petty Officer Born: 17-02-1879 Died: 04-12-1916 Aged: 37
RN DoB 17/02/1880
Died while held captive as POW at Angora (Ankara), Turkey.
Died: 02-02-1917
Bond, James John  306132
Leading Stoker Died: 02-02-1917 Aged: 32
Died while a PoW at Afion Karahissar ‘from Paludism’ (malaria).
Died: 04-02-1917
Shepard, John  169388
Petty Officer Died: 04-02-1917 Aged: 40
Died when held captive as POW
Williams, William Thomas George  233214
Stoker 1st Class Born: 06-08-1889 Died: 04-02-1917 Aged: 27
RN DoB 06/08/1887
Died from illness in the POW camp at Afion Kara Hissar
Died: 02-05-1917
Brennan, Patrick  226804
Able Seaman Died: 02-05-1917 Aged: 30
Died whilst a Prisoner of War in Turkey

Events

 14-10-1912   Laid Down
 23-04-1914   Launched
 15-10-1914   Completed
 17-04-1915   Ran aground after trying to enter the Sea of Marmara

On 17th April 1915 whilst attempting to run beneath the minefields guarding the Dardanelle Straits, HMS E15 was swept ashore by the strong currents. The submarine ran aground directly under the guns of Fort Dardanus. E15 came under heavy fire from the fort, one shell killing the Captain, another hitting the vessels battery compartment forcing the crew to surrender.

Many attempts were made to prevent the submarine falling into enemy hands and finally a torpedo launched from HMS Majestic put paid to Turkish attempts to re-float the submarine.
Comments

Comment by: Tim Cornish on November 27, 2018

Able Seaman Frederick John Cornish was my Great Uncle. He joined the Navy in 1910 when he was 17 years old. He was on the E8 before joining the E15 on 1 April 1915. He was first reported as being captured after the E15 ran aground, but it seems the Secretary of State worked with the US Ambassador to get information on the fate of the crew from the US Ambassador in Constantinople and it was confirmed on May 11 that Fred was among those who had died (National Archives ADM 1/8418/90).

He is buried at the Chanak Consular Cemetery, Gallipoli (Turkey). His brother Percy perished in submarine K5 in 1921 and his cousin, also Frederick, at age 17, perished with all hands on the HMS Defence during the Battle of Jutland in 1916.

Comment by: Jenny Mitchell on November 10, 2018

Ernest Mitchell was my husband's great Uncle. Ernest and his younger brother Albert were orphaned as small boys. Ernest was taken from his home in Salisbury to live with an Aunt in Taunton. His brother was placed in an orphanage in London.

Albert always said that he was an only child. Tracing the family history, we found the brothers on the census together in Wookey Somerset. Then one day my Father-in-law passed us two First War medals. He thought our son would like them.

Several years passed and one day conversing about the war my husband took out the medals and on cleaning we realised they belonged to the boy on the census. We searched further tracing his early life until Ernest joined the Navy aged about 18.

My father-in-law died believing his father was an only child, but my husband and I have kept Ernest's place in the family. We feel he should not be forgotten. He served his country well. All our Grandchildren know of Ernest and E15 submarine.

Comment by: Thomas Wood on August 1, 2018

My maternal grandfather, Thomas O'Neill, was a stoker aboard the E15 when it ran aground. He was taken prisoner and eventually returned to England, presumably after the war. Unfortunately I never met my grandfather since he died in 1951, one year before I was born. I was told this story by my grandmother and have no other evidence to support it.

Comment by: Paul McNeil on May 18, 2016

My Nan's brother was Leading seaman Henry Trimmer on E15. If you're interested in his story, you can find it here: http://wp.me/phI6P-hb

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