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HMS Amphion (1883)
Encyclopedia
HMS Amphion was a second class cruiser of the Leander Class
which served with the Royal Navy
. She was built at Pembroke Dock
yard, being laid down in 1881, launched in 1883 and completed in financial year 1885-86, and then lay in ordinary at Devonport
. She was commissioned for the 1887 and 1888 annual manoeuvres. She was recommissioned in December 1888 served in the Pacific until 1890, in the Mediterranean from 1890 to 1895, in ordinary in Devonport from 1895 to 1897 and in the Pacific once more from 1897 to 1904, having a refit in 1900.
yard, and completed in financial year 1885-86.
The December 1885 Navy List, listed the Amphion as at Devonport, with her commissioned and warrant officers borne in the Nanking as follows:
In the manoeuvres, Vice Admiral John K.E. Baird's
force represented the British fleet, and England, Scotland and Wales were considered friendly to the British fleet and hostile to the enemy. Opposing Baird was the 'Achill' fleet, led by Rear Admiral George Tryon
, and based in Berehaven
on the south-west coast of Ireland and Lough Swilly
on the north coast. All Irish territory was considered hostile to the British fleet and friendly to the enemy. At the outset Baird's fleet was concentrated on keeping Tryon's fleet shut up in their base ports. They failed. Both Tryon and his second in command broke the blockade on 4 August, and swooping round the extremities of Ireland, made a descent on British commerce and British ports.
The Amphion was part of Rear Admiral George Tryon's 'Achill' fleet. "The Amphion left Lough Swilly with the [new battleship] Rodney
, and broke the blockade with her on the night of 4th-5th August. During her cruize in the Channel and up the East Coast of Great Britain she claims the destruction of much shipping; and the capture of the coastguard stations at Scarborough and Wick
, also, after leaving Lough Swilly the second time, to have visited Bude with a hostile purpose.
As Scarborough had already been attacked by Severn five days earlier, her visit there could not have been of much effect, neither does it seem that nay useful purpose was served on the occasion of her visit to Wick, as she was taken there in order that her captain might telegraph to the Achill Admiral through the enemy's wires, an impossible condition in wartime. In no case, according to her log, does it appear that the Rules as to Capture of shipping were adhered to."
For reasons that are not obvious, on 9 March 1894, Arthur Forwood
, the MP for Ormskirk
asked the Secretary to the Admiralty to "state the total number of days H.M.S. Amphion, Camperdown
, Dreadnought
, Edinburgh
, Royal Sovereign
, and Rodney
were each out of harbour and at sea during the 12 months ending the 30th September last, and the total number of knots they traversed, with their aggregate complement of men and officers". The Secretary To The Admiralty Sir Ughtred Kay-Shuttleworth
(MP for Clitheroe)
agreed to provide the information.
.
The January 1898 Navy List listed her commissioned and warrant officers as follows:
, entitled: HMS Amphion, Pacific Station, 1901-1904.
The March 1901 Navy List listed her commissioned and warrant officers as follows:
Leander class cruiser (1882)
The Leander Class were a four ship cruiser programme ordered by the Admiralty in 1880. The class comprised HMS Leander, HMS Phaëton, HMS Amphion and HMS Arethusa.-Genesis:...
which served with the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. She was built at Pembroke Dock
Pembroke Dock
Pembroke Dock is a town in Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales, lying north of Pembroke on the River Cleddau. Originally a small fishing village known as Paterchurch, the town was greatly expanded from 1814 onwards following the construction of a Royal Naval Dockyard...
yard, being laid down in 1881, launched in 1883 and completed in financial year 1885-86, and then lay in ordinary at Devonport
HMNB Devonport
Her Majesty's Naval Base Devonport , is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy . HMNB Devonport is located in Devonport, in the west of the city of Plymouth in Devon, England...
. She was commissioned for the 1887 and 1888 annual manoeuvres. She was recommissioned in December 1888 served in the Pacific until 1890, in the Mediterranean from 1890 to 1895, in ordinary in Devonport from 1895 to 1897 and in the Pacific once more from 1897 to 1904, having a refit in 1900.
Construction
The Amphion was built at Pembroke DockPembroke Dock
Pembroke Dock is a town in Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales, lying north of Pembroke on the River Cleddau. Originally a small fishing village known as Paterchurch, the town was greatly expanded from 1814 onwards following the construction of a Royal Naval Dockyard...
yard, and completed in financial year 1885-86.
The December 1885 Navy List, listed the Amphion as at Devonport, with her commissioned and warrant officers borne in the Nanking as follows:
| Post | Name | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|
| Staff Commander | Bertram E.W. Gwyne | 5 September 1883 |
| Chief Engineer | Thomas W.H. Ramsay | 29 April 1885 |
| Engineer | James J. Frost | 14 August 1885 |
| Gunner | George Morrison | 5 September 1883 |
| Boatswain | Josiah Boulton | 5 September 1883 |
| Carpenter | Thomas Slaney | 20 November 1884 |
Annual manoeuvres 1887
The Amphion was commissioned for the annual manoeuvres on 5 July 1887, and paid off on 31 August 1887.Annual manoeuvres 1888
The Amphion was commissioned for the annual manoeuvres on 4 July 1888, and paid off on 31 August 1888. In the manoeuvres, hostilities broke out at noon on 24 July 1888, and ended at noon on 20 August.In the manoeuvres, Vice Admiral John K.E. Baird's
John Kennedy Erskine Baird
Admiral Sir John Kennedy Erskine Baird KCB was an officer in the Royal Navy, who is chiefly remembered for commanding the losing side in the 1888 annual naval manoeuvres.-Early life:...
force represented the British fleet, and England, Scotland and Wales were considered friendly to the British fleet and hostile to the enemy. Opposing Baird was the 'Achill' fleet, led by Rear Admiral George Tryon
George Tryon
Vice-Admiral Sir George Tryon, KCB was a British admiral who died when his flagship HMS Victoria collided with HMS Camperdown during manoeuvres off Tripoli, Lebanon.-Early life:...
, and based in Berehaven
Castletownbere
Castletownbere is a small town in County Cork in Ireland. It is located on the southwest coast of Ireland, in West Cork, on Berehaven harbour near the entrance to Bantry Bay. It is also known as Castletown Berehaven. The name of the town comes from the no longer extant MacCarty Castle, and not...
on the south-west coast of Ireland and Lough Swilly
Lough Swilly
Lough Swilly in Ireland is a glacial fjord or sea inlet lying between the western side of the Inishowen Peninsula and the Fanad Peninsula, in County Donegal. Along with Carlingford Lough and Killary Harbour it is one of three known glacial fjords in Ireland....
on the north coast. All Irish territory was considered hostile to the British fleet and friendly to the enemy. At the outset Baird's fleet was concentrated on keeping Tryon's fleet shut up in their base ports. They failed. Both Tryon and his second in command broke the blockade on 4 August, and swooping round the extremities of Ireland, made a descent on British commerce and British ports.
The Amphion was part of Rear Admiral George Tryon's 'Achill' fleet. "The Amphion left Lough Swilly with the [new battleship] Rodney
HMS Rodney (1884)
HMS Rodney was a battleship of the Victorian Royal Navy, a member of the Admiral class of warships designed by Nathaniel Barnaby.She was a development of the design of Collingwood, but carried 13.5 inch calibre main armament as against 12 inch in the earlier ship...
, and broke the blockade with her on the night of 4th-5th August. During her cruize in the Channel and up the East Coast of Great Britain she claims the destruction of much shipping; and the capture of the coastguard stations at Scarborough and Wick
Wick, Highland
Wick is an estuary town and a royal burgh in the north of the Highland council area of Scotland. Historically, it is one of two burghs within the county of Caithness, of which Wick was the county town. The town straddles the River Wick and extends along both sides of Wick Bay...
, also, after leaving Lough Swilly the second time, to have visited Bude with a hostile purpose.
As Scarborough had already been attacked by Severn five days earlier, her visit there could not have been of much effect, neither does it seem that nay useful purpose was served on the occasion of her visit to Wick, as she was taken there in order that her captain might telegraph to the Achill Admiral through the enemy's wires, an impossible condition in wartime. In no case, according to her log, does it appear that the Rules as to Capture of shipping were adhered to."
1888-1892
The Amphion was commissioned at Devonport by Captain Edward G. Hulton on 11 December 1888. The January 1889 Navy List, listed the Amphion as at Devonport, fitting out for service on the Pacific Station, and listed her commissioned and warrant officers as follows:| Post | Name | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|
| Captain | Edward G. Hulton | 11 December 1888 |
| Lieutenant | (N) Francis W. Barrett | 4 November 1887 |
| (G) George S.J. Warrender Sir George Warrender, 7th Baronet Vice-Admiral Sir George John Scott Warrender of Lochend, 7th Baronet KCB KCVO was a senior officer in the Royal Navy during World War I.-Early career:... |
11 December 1888 | |
| Willliam H.du.C. Chads | 11 December 1888 | |
| Ivan G. Humphreys | 11 December 1888 | |
| Richard H. Story | 11 December 1888 | |
| Frank Hammond | 11 December 1888 | |
| Staff Paymaster | William S. Watson | 11 December 1888 |
| Staff Engineer | Thomas W.H. Ramsay | 29 April 1885 |
| Surgeon | James A. Vassey (In lieu of a Staff Surgeon) |
11 December 1888 |
| Alfred T. Rimell | 11 December 1888 | |
| Engineer | William Whittingham | 13 November 1888 |
| Assistant Engineer | Henry J. Turner | 16 March 1888 |
| Thomas C. Morris (act) | 31 October 1888 | |
| William A.J. Davies | 11 December 1888 | |
| Gunner | John McCarthy | 14 September 1886 |
| (T) Theodore Bye | 11 December 1888 | |
| Boatswain | Edward Davis | 4 August 1886 |
| William Burns | 11 December 1888 | |
| Michael Brady (act) | 11 December 1888 | |
| Carpenter | Thomas Slaney | 20 November 1884 |
| Clerk | Henry Horniman | 11 December 1888 |
1892-1895
The Amphion was re-commissioned at Malta, by Captain John R.E. Pattisson, on 26 January 1892. The January 1892 Navy List listed her commissioned and warrant officers as follows:| Post | Name | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|
| Captain | John R.E. Pattisson | 18 December 1891 |
| Lieutenant | Herbert W. Meredith | 18 December 1891 |
| (N) Thomas F.C. Dundas | 18 December 1891 | |
| (G) Cuthbert E. Hunter | 18 December 1891 | |
| Charles E. Fenwick | 18 December 1891 | |
| Allan F. Everett | 18 December 1891 | |
| Frederick J. Davis (act) | 29 May 1891 | |
| David C. Gregor (act) | 18 December 1891 | |
| Staff Surgeon | Gilbert Kirker M.D. | 18 December 1891 |
| Paymaster | Innes W. Taylor | 18 December 1891 |
| Staff Engineer | James C. Larg | 5 January 1891 |
| Surgeon | William J. Colborne | 18 December 1891 |
| Engineer | William W. Hardwick | 18 December 1891 |
| Assistant Engineer | Oliver R. Paul | 18 December 1891 |
| Thomas H. Turner | 18 December 1891 | |
| Gunner | William H. Donovan | 22 December 1891 |
| Boatswain | John C. Cowdrey | 21 December 1891 |
| (T) Daniel R. Phair | 22 December 1891 | |
| John Peain | 23 December 1891 | |
| William Winds | 23 December 1891 | |
| Carpenter | Charles R. Vincent | 21 December 1891 |
| Clerk | Richard B. Brooks | 24 December 1891 |
For reasons that are not obvious, on 9 March 1894, Arthur Forwood
Sir Arthur Forwood, 1st Baronet
Sir Arthur Bower Forwood, 1st Baronet PC MP was an English merchant, shipowner, and politician. He was a Conservative Member of Parliament from 1885 until his death, and in 1895 he was created a baronet....
, the MP for Ormskirk
Ormskirk (UK Parliament constituency)
Ormskirk was a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election. It was created by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 as a division of the parliamentary county of...
asked the Secretary to the Admiralty to "state the total number of days H.M.S. Amphion, Camperdown
HMS Camperdown (1885)
HMS Camperdown was an Admiral-class battleship of the Royal Navy, named after Adam Duncan, 1st Viscount Duncan of Camperdown.She was a full sister to , and was an improved version of the earlier and . In comparison to these earlier ships, she had an increased thickness of barbette armour, and a...
, Dreadnought
HMS Dreadnought (1875)
The fifth HMS Dreadnought of the British Royal Navy was a turret ironclad battleship built at Pembroke Dockyard, Wales.-Construction:Begun as Fury in 1870, the original design was recast for heavier armour and higher speed. The renamed ship was laid down in 1872 at Pembroke Dockyard and was...
, Edinburgh
HMS Edinburgh (1882)
HMS Edinburgh was an ironclad battleship of the Colossus class which served in the Royal Navy of the Victorian era. She was the sister ship of HMS Colossus, being started before her but being completed after....
, Royal Sovereign
HMS Royal Sovereign (1891)
HMS Royal Sovereign was a Royal Sovereign class battleship of the Royal Navy, the lead ship of the class, and the largest warship in the world at the time of her construction. The ships were designed by Sir William White and were the most potent battleships in the world until HMS Dreadnought...
, and Rodney
HMS Rodney (1884)
HMS Rodney was a battleship of the Victorian Royal Navy, a member of the Admiral class of warships designed by Nathaniel Barnaby.She was a development of the design of Collingwood, but carried 13.5 inch calibre main armament as against 12 inch in the earlier ship...
were each out of harbour and at sea during the 12 months ending the 30th September last, and the total number of knots they traversed, with their aggregate complement of men and officers". The Secretary To The Admiralty Sir Ughtred Kay-Shuttleworth
Ughtred Kay-Shuttleworth, 1st Baron Shuttleworth
Ughtred James Kay-Shuttleworth, 1st Baron Shuttleworth PC , known as Sir Ughtred Kay-Shuttleworth, Bt, between 1872 and 1902, was a British landowner and Liberal politician...
(MP for Clitheroe)
Clitheroe (UK Parliament constituency)
Clitheroe was a parliamentary constituency in Lancashire.The town of Clitheroe was first enfranchised as a parliamentary borough in 1559, returning two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of England until 1707, then to the House of Commons of Great Britain until 1800, and finally to the...
agreed to provide the information.
1897-1900
The Amphion was commissioned at Devonport by Captain Frank Finnis, on 7 January 1897 She served on the Pacific Station. She paid off at Devonport on 13 February 1900, Captain Finnis was appointed to the CollingwoodHMS Collingwood (1882)
HMS Collingwood was an ironclad battleship of the Royal Navy. She was the first example of the Admiral-class and was named after Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood, Horatio Nelson's second-in-command in the British victory at the Battle of Trafalgar....
.
The January 1898 Navy List listed her commissioned and warrant officers as follows:
| Post | Name | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|
| Captain | Frank Finnis | 7 January 1897 |
| Lieutenant | Hon Stanhope Hawke | 7 January 1897 |
| (G*) Francis M. Leake | 7 January 1897 | |
| (N) Alexander K. Jones | 18 December 1896 | |
| Langton W. Browell | 7 January 1897 | |
| William Hamilton | 7 January 1897 | |
| Barnard R.S. Winter | 7 January 1897 | |
| Quentin C.A. Craufurd (In lieu of a Sub-Lieutenant) |
7 January 1897 | |
| Lieutenant Marine | Henry M. Howard | 29 April 1897 |
| Chaplain | Rev, Thomas Roberts M.A. | 7 January 1897 |
| Paymaster | Henry W. Braddon | 7 January 1897 |
| Fleet Engineer | William H.C. Gale | 3 July 1897 |
| Surgeon | Frederick W. Stericker B.A. M.B. | 7 January 1897 |
| Assistant Paymaster | Charles E. Lynes | 7 January 1897 |
| Engineer | Harry G. Andrews | 7 January 1897 |
| Assistant Engineer | William J. Ford (tempy) | 7 January 1897 |
| Gunner | (T) John Edwards | 7 January 1897 |
| Boatswain | William Sweeney | 7 January 1897 |
| Carpenter | Albert A.B. Tozer | 7 January 1897 |
| Clerk | Arthur C. Roe | 15 April 1897 |
1900 refit
The Amphion was refitted at Devonport immediately after she paid off. On 25 February 1900 it was reported that: "The refit of the Amphion at Devonport is to be completed at the earliest possible date. Although the cruiser only paid off last week she has been dismantled and the work is well advanced. She only recently returned from the Pacific station, and it is understood she is to be sent back to that station to relieve the Phaëton or the Leander, which will complete their three years/ commission in June. The Amphions engines and boilers are in capital condition, although she has served over nine years on foreign stations, and it is believed that her refit can be carried out for £3,000 less than the sum provided for it."1900-1904
The Amphion was commissioned at Devonport by Captain John Casement, on 20 September 1900. She served on the Pacific Station. This commission was the subject of a book in the 'Log' seriesLog series (Westminster Press)
The log' series of books were a series of at least 40 books written by members of the crew of various Royal Navy ships about their service between 1900 and 1909. They were published by Westminster Press and 4 shillings each...
, entitled: HMS Amphion, Pacific Station, 1901-1904.
The March 1901 Navy List listed her commissioned and warrant officers as follows:
| Post | Name | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|
| Captain | John Casement | 20 September 1900 |
| Lieutenant | Montague L. Hulton | 21 January 1901 |
| (G) Walter H.C. Caltrop | 20 September 1900 | |
| Basil E.M. Waters | 20 September 1900 | |
| (N) James D.D. Stewart | 20 September 1900 | |
| Lieutenant R.N.R. | Arthur Greenstock (act) | 20 September 1900 |
| Lieutenant R.M. | Charles L Hall | 20 September 1900 |
| Chaplain | Rev. John B. Bourne M.A. | 20 September 1900 |
| Staff Surgeon | John W. Slaughter B.A. M.B. | 20 September 1900 |
| Paymaster | James Murray | 20 September 1900 |
| Chief Engineer | John B. Butcher | 20 September 1900 |
| Sub-Lieutenant | Aubrey E.D. Moore | 20 September 1900 |
| Assistant Paymaster | Joseph T. Gedge | 20 September 1900 |
| Assistant Engineer | Walter W. Newton (tempy) | 20 September 1900 |
| Edwin Cole | 20 September 1900 | |
| Gunner | (T) John Chisholm | 20 September 1900 |
| Boatswain | James J. Webber | 20 September 1900 |
| Robert W. Brown (act) | 20 September 1900 | |
| Carpenter | Henry J. Soper | 20 September 1900 |
Amphion Logbooks in the UK National Archives
| Catalogue Number | Start | End |
|---|---|---|
| ADM 53/12451 | 5 July 1887 | 31 August 1887 |
| ADM 53/12452 | 4 July 1888 | 31 August 1888 |
| ADM 53/12453 | 11 December 1888 | 30 June 1890 |
| ADM 53/12454 | 1 July 1890 | 25 January 1892 |
| ADM 53/12455 | 26 January 1892 | 4 June 1893 |
| ADM 53/12456 | 5 June 1893 | 9 July 1894 |
| ADM 53/12457 | 10 July 1894 | 28 February 1895 |
| ADM 53/12458 | 7 January 1897 | 6 January 1898 |
| ADM 53/12459 | 7 January 1898 | 6 January 1899 |
| ADM 53/12460 | 7 January 1899 | 6 January 1900 |
| ADM 53/12461 | 7 January 1900 | 13 February 1900 |
| ADM 53/12462 | 20 September 1900 | 20 September 1901 |
| ADM 53/12463 | 21 September 1901 | 20 September 1902 |
| ADM 53/17021 | 21 September 1902 | 31 July 1903 |
| ADM 53/17022 | 1 August 1903 | 25 May 1904 |