HMS Indefatigable

 

HMS Indefatigable was the lead ship of her class of three battlecruisers built for the Royal Navy during the first decade of the 20th Century. When the First World War began, Indefatigable was serving with the 2nd Battlecruiser Squadron (BCS) in the Mediterranean, where she unsuccessfully pursued the battlecruiser Goeben and the light cruiser Breslau of the German Imperial Navy as they fled towards the Ottoman Empire. The ship bombarded Ottoman fortifications defending the Dardanelles on 3 November 1914, then, following a refit in Malta, returned to the United Kingdom in February where she rejoined the 2nd BCS.

Upon commissioning, Indefatigable served in the 1st Cruiser Squadron, which in January 1913 was renamed the 1st Battlecruiser Squadron (BCS). In December 1913, she transferred to the Mediterranean, where she joined the 2nd Battlecruiser Squadron. 

Indefatigable was sunk on 31 May 1916 during the Battle of Jutland, the largest naval battle of the war. Part of Vice-Admiral Sir David Beatty's Battlecruiser Fleet, she was hit several times in the first minutes of the "Run to the South", the opening phase of the battlecruiser action. Shells from the German battlecruiser Von der Tann caused an explosion ripping a hole in her hull, and a second explosion hurled large pieces of the ship 200 feet (60 m) in the air.  Of her crew of 1,019, only three survived. While still in the water, two survivors found Indefatigable's captain, C. F. Sowerby, who was badly wounded and died before they could be rescued. Two survivors, Able Seaman Frederick Arthur Gordon Elliott and Leading Signalman Charles Farmer, were rescued by the German torpedo boat S16. A third survivor, Signalman John Bowyer, was picked up by another unknown German ship. He was incorrectly reported as a crew member from HMS Nestor in The Times on 24 June 1916. 
 

HMS Indefatigable (1909) - Wikipedia - Creative Commons By SA 

Further information at https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?10778

 

Displaying 1 to 5 of 5 records - page 1 of 1

Cahill, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
William Street, Wexford
Service No.
2172.S
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action, Battle of Jutland
Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick & Mary Cahill of William St, Wexford.  Indefatigable was sunk on 31 May 1916 during the Battle of Jutland, the largest naval battle of the war. 

Doyle, Francis

Date of Birth
Alias
Frank Doyle
Service No.
PLY/16787
Rank
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed at Jutland on board HMS Indefatigable.
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Katherine Doyle nee Fortune of 3 Castle Terrace, Phibsborough, Dublin.

Furlong, James

Date of Birth
Service No.
5241S
Rank
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Direct result of enemy action
Other Biographical Details

Son of Gregory and Margaret Furlong nee Doyle of Yoletown, Ballycullane, Co.Wexford. His father was an agricultural labourer. Navy gives his date of birth as 17th January 1892, but CWGC state his age as 27. In the 1901 Census, James is shown as 11.

Hogan, Charles Walter

Date of Birth
Service No.
K.15099
Rank
Regiment
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action
Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick and Margaret Hogan nee Burke, 24 Cumberland Street, Devonport. His father, born in Limerick, was Colour-Sergeant in 3rd Royal Irish Regiment, his mother was born in India. By 1901 his father was a wharf labourer residing at 33 King Street, Devonport. Children were Mary (13), Gladys (11), Patrick (7), Charles (5), Margaret (3), and Annie (9 months).

Rogers, Bartholomew

Date of Birth
Address
6 Emmet Place, Wexford
Service No.
2449T
Rank
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Direct result of enemy action
Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick and Mary Rogers nee Manning of Emmet Place, Wexford. Husband of Kate Rogers nee Rowe of 6 Emmet Place, Wexford.