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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
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

Upload An Image Of This Boat

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
 
Adams, Leonard  DSM M 324
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Chief Engine Room Artificer Aged: 32
Adams, Percy Walter  DSM 306739
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Stoker Petty Officer Aged: 34
Apps, John Frederick  (RNVR) DSM Clyde 3/18
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Engine Room Artificer 1st Class Aged: 26
Armstrong, James  J 32585
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Able Seaman Aged: 23
Baldwin, George Harold  J 10360
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Petty Officer Telegraphist Aged: 23
Beer, Frank John  298980
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Chief Stoker Aged: 35
Blake, Stanley Harold  211925 Born: 25th Jun, 1886. 
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Able Seaman Aged: 31
RN DoB 25/06/1885
Bounds, Horace  DSM K 14491
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 24
Brown, Charles Edward  K 22591
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 22
Burgess, Albert Charles  K 9375 Born: 19th Nov, 1892. 
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 25
RN DoB 19/11/1891
Burt, Ernest Samuel  J 9569
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Able Seaman Aged: 23
Carter, Charles  DSM 236423
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Leading Signalman Aged: 28
Church, William  DSM K 9438 Born: 20th Sep, 1888. 
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Leading Stoker Aged: 29
RN DoB 20/09/1889
Cockerill, Percival  K 21001
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 25
Corfield, Alfred Abe Benjamin  232865
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Petty Officer Aged: 30
Crawforth, Harry Wakelin  SS 115298
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 22
Dangerfield, William George  J 17629
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Able Seaman Aged: 20
Duggan, Alan Montgomerie  J 16974
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Able Seaman Aged: 22
Fenner, Athelstan Alfred Lennox 
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Lieutenant Commander Aged: 31
Goddard, Charles William Henry  J 2150
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Able Seaman Aged: 25
Goddard, Henry Thorpe  M 11218
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Aged: 25
Goodsall, John Henry  MID K 12209
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Leading Stoker Aged: 24
Grant, Patrick  K 20768 Born: 29th May, 1892. 
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 25
RN DoB 29/05/1891
Hammond, John William 
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Gunner Aged: 32
Hanks, Frederick Francis  K 16885
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 23
Hayes, Joseph Charles  K 19004
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 24
Hayman, William Henry  305390
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Leading Stoker Aged: 33
Hill, Ralph Reuben  270525
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Chief Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class Aged: 41
Hogg, Albert Edward  J 9082
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Leading Seaman Aged: 23
Iron, James Thomas  (RNVR) DSM K 11011
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Leading Stoker Aged: 33
Jackson, Thomas William  DSM 215195
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Able Seaman Aged: 31
Leeder, Edward Barber  SS 5311 Born: 28th Feb, 1897. 
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Able Seaman Aged: 20
RN DoB 28/02/1896
Martin, Herbert Ernest  K 10876
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Stoker Aged: 23
Mockford, Fred  J 9223
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Able Seaman Aged: 23
Pearson, Alfred Edward  DSM 206490
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Leading Seaman Aged: 34
Puddefoot, Ernest James  J 46875
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Able Seaman Aged: 23
Rivett, Leonard William  J 18186
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Able Seaman Aged: 21
Rowley, William  DSM 215872 Born: 15th Sep, 1880. 
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Petty Officer 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
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 26
Sheath, Harry  DSM 355913 Born: 13th Mar, 1881. 
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Stoker Petty Officer Aged: 36
RN DoB 13/03/1880
Spice, Albert  239765 Born: 6th Feb, 1891. 
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Able Seaman Aged: 26
RN DoB 06/02/1890
Spice, John  219424
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Able Seaman Aged: 33
Stocks, David De Beauvoir  DSO
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Commander Aged: 34
Commanding Officer
Tredgett, James Henry  K 22822 Born: 18th Feb, 1897. 
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 20
RN DoB 18/02/1896
Varey, Alan  M 21630
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Aged: 23
CWGC has Alan M. Varey
Walker, Frederick  J25725
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Leading Telegraphist Aged: 20
Watkins, Malcolm Poynter  J19411
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Signalman Aged: 22
Watterson, Thomas Arthur  (RNR) DSC
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Lieutenant Aged: 27
Wellesley, Claud Michael Ashmore 
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Lieutenant Aged: 27
Windibank, Albert Charles  J 18037
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Able Seaman Aged: 21
Wood, Thomas Stewart  K 12229
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Leading Stoker Aged: 25
Woods, George Oliver Charles  M 2250 Born: 3rd Dec, 1886. 
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Leading Stoker Aged: 31
RN DoB 03/12/1887
Wyatt, William Thomas  DSM 308247
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Petty Officer Aged: 31
Youdale, Harold William  L 3820
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Steward Aged: 24
Young, Thomas Sidney  J 16770
Died: 31st Jan, 1918.
Able Seaman 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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