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K 17

Built By: Vickers (Barrow)
Build Group: K1
Fate: Submarine K17 was lost on the night of 31st January 1918. The submarine, which had been steaming on the surface in formation during a night exercise, was hit by HMS Fearless.

K17 had altered course to avoid a collision with two trawlers that had been sighted. HMS Fearless, which was following K17, hit the submarine at 21 knots.

Many of the crew managed to abandon ship before the submarine sank but were run down whilst in the water by escorting Destroyers which were unaware that any accident had taken place. The incident in which K17 was lost came to be referred to as the 'Battle of May Island'.
K 17
K 17

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Commanders
1918: Lieutenant Commander   H J Hearn

13th Flotilla: Scapa Flow.
13th Flotilla: Rosyth.

The damaged bow of HMS Fearless after smashing into K17 just forward of the conning tower during the Battle of May Island
The damaged bow of HMS Fearless after smashing into K17 just forward of the conning tower during the Battle of May Island
The Survivors were

Roll of Honour
48
Died: 31-01-1918
Adams, Albert Victor  M 632
Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 30
Agnew, William  SS 2844
Able Seaman Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 27
Antram, Herbert Wilkins  (RNR)
Temporary Lieutenant Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 25
Berriman, Thomas Henry  213863
Able Seaman Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 33
Binnington, Charles Edward  K 18963
Stoker 1st Class Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 24
At birth Bishop, Charles Edward, Served as Binnington Charles Edward
Blackman, James  K 13078
Stoker 1st Class Born: 15-07-1894 Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 23
RN DoB 15/07/1893
Brown, Jack Glanfield  M 8692
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 29
Caress, Henry Alfred  SS 115673
Stoker 1st Class Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 22
Carter, William James Frederick  K 17477
Stoker 1st Class Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 23
Case, Charles  DSM 186086
Chief Petty Officer Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 38
Cook, William James  K 6363
Leading Stoker Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 26
Cooley, William Clark  227154
Petty Officer Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 30
Cooper, William Wilcox  239571
Leading Signalman Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 25
Cunningham, Ernest Semple 
Midshipman Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 18
De Bank, Arthur George David  K 22444
Stoker 1st Class Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 22
Drake, Arthur Rayment  238786
Able Seaman Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 29
Finch, William  J 1069
Leading Seaman Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 25
Gale, William John  K 11623
Leading Stoker Born: 13-07-1890 Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 27
RN DoB 13/07/1892
Gibbs, John  J 10934
Able Seaman Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 25
Gibson, Isaac  270632
Chief Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 38
Gill, Robert  211672
Leading Seaman Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 33
Hammond, Francis  J 9547
Able Seaman Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 23
Hearn, Henry John  MID
Lieutenant Commander Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 32
Commanding Officer
Herring, Harold Louis  M 13296
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Born: 30-10-1885 Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 32
RN DoB 30/10/1886
Hosking, Cecil James  J 16056
Leading Seaman Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 21
Jones, Edward  K 20796
Stoker 1st Class Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 23
Knight, George Alexander  J 8438
Leading Telegraphist Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 23
Knowles, James Edward  SS 115292
Stoker 1st Class Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 22
Lightbody, Henry George  J 24810
Able Seaman Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 22
Lord, Frederick Edwin  J55202
Telegraphist Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 18
McDonald, John  SS 114477
Stoker 1st Class Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 23
Meadmore, Edward James  DSM 223356
Leading Seaman Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 31
Montgomery, Joseph Robert  J 12871
Able Seaman Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 23
Morris, Ernest Frank   309458
Stoker Petty Officer Born: 26-06-1888 Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 29
RN DoB 26/12/1887.
Myott, Dominick  M 7565
Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 29
Nettleton, Harold  J20766
Able Seaman Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 22
Nolan, Patrick  284013
Stoker Petty Officer Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 41
Ricketts, Henry Leonard  K 27466
Stoker 1st Class Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 23
Samuel, Frederick  J 10440
Able Seaman Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 23
Sangster, Leo Frederick Murray  MID K 22599
Stoker 1st Class Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 23
Savage, Charles  311292
Stoker Petty Officer Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 29
At birth Savage, Charles Ketteridge Served as Savage, Charles.
Savage, Charles Henry  L 2005
Steward Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 25
Simpson, Albert Edward  J 1181
Leading Seaman Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 25
At birth Sinfield Albert Edward Served as Simpson Albert Edward.
Tilley, Edmund  K10609
Leading Stoker Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 27
Tyrrell, Hugo William Louis 
Lieutenant Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 26
Warde, Cecil 
Lieutenant Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 22
Wheble, Henry Havelock  225581
Able Seaman Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 30
White, Alfred  J 6137
Able Seaman Died: 31-01-1918 Aged: 23

Events

 28-08-1914   The fearless led the 1st Destroyer Flotilla of the Harwich force, and fought at the Heligoland Bight action on August 28,1914
 01-06-1916   Laid Down
 10-04-1917   Launched
 20-09-1917   Completed
 31-01-1918   Whilst taking part in exercises off May Island, K17 was astern of HMS Courageous when the latter changed course to avoid two trawlers, which were spotted ahead. K17 turned but K22 and K14 were involved in a collision. Meanwhile HMS Fearless was steaming at 21 knots towards the area oblivious of the accident. Suddenly the Fearless appeared over the horizon and ploughed into K17, water gushed into the boat through the pierced pressure hull. The order to abandon ship was quickly given. Within 8 minutes K17 had disappeared. The survivors were now in the water and the other submarines attempted to pick them up. Sadly the destroyers were unaware of the location of the accident and ploughed through the survivors.
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