HMS Amphion was the fifth Royal Navy ship to bare the name. She was an Active-class scout cruiser, the first Royal Navy ship to be sunk in World War One.
- 5th August 1914 The Konigin Luise was sunk by the Amphion
- 6th August 1914 HMS Amphion hit a mine off the Thames Estuary, and was sunk, 151 lives were lost plus 19 German sailors who had been rescued from the Konigin Luise.
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Oct 2009 - Please note we currently have a large backlog of submitted material, our volunteers are working through this as quickly as possible and all names, stories and photos will be added to the site.
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List of those who served on HMS Amphion during The Great War
- Chief ERA Albert Victor Austin (d.6th Aug 1914) Read his Story.
- Pte. Jerome Cann (d.6th Aug 1914)
- Pte. Jerome Cann (d.6th Aug 1914) Read his Story.
- Stoker 2nd Class. William James Douglas (d.6th Aug 1914)
- Stoker 2nd Class. William James Douglas (d.6th Aug 1914)
- Able Seaman Harry Bernard Emerson (d.4th Sep 1914) Read his Story.
- Edward Fegen Read his Story.
- Capt. Cecil H. Fox Read his Story.
- Staff Paymaster J. T. Gedge (d.6th Aug 1914)
- Staff Paymaster Joseph Theodore Gedge (d.6th Aug 1914) Read his Story.
- Stoker Thomas Gollop Read his Story.
- Pte. Irvine Kellyn (d.6th Aug 1914) Read his Story.
- 2nd Class Stoker William John Knight (d.6th August 1914) Read his Story.
- Ordinary Seaman Peter James Lambell (d.6th Aug 1914) Read his Story.
- George Lovett Read his Story.
- Seaman George Charles McConaghy (d.6th Aug 1914) Read his Story.
- Frederick William Pound (d.6th Aug 1914)
- Stoker 1st Class Frederick William Pound (d.6th Aug 1914) Read his Story.
- Stroker First Class Herbert James Street (d.6th Aug 1914) Read his Story.
- Petty Offcr. J. D. Towllis (d.6th Aug 1914)
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Stoker Thomas Gollop HMS Amphion Thomas Gollop, from Lyme Regis, served on HMS Amphion with my uncle Herbert Street. The Stokers had apparently had a break for cocoa just before Amphion struck the mine. Herbert had finished his cocoa and returned to the boiler room where he was killed. Thomas took a few minutes more to empty his mug and thus survived. |
Stroker First Class Herbert James Street HMS Amphion (d.6th Aug 1914) Herbert James Street was baptised on 1/06/1894 at Axminster, Devon. He was the son of William Street and Amelia Street (nee Cox). The following remarks were sent to me by the Ministry of Defense some years ago in response to my 1nquiry: Herbert James Street enlisted in the Royal Navy on 22/10/1912. He was placed in the Plymouth Division. His service number was SS112915.
His description on the entry form read: Height 5ft 6ins; Chest 35 ins; Colour of Eyes brown; Colour of Hair brown; Complexion fair. Stoker 2nd Class: 22/10/1912. Stoker 1st Class: 24/12/1913. Character: VG. HMS Vivid (Shore establishment) 22/10/1912 - 01/04/1913. HMS Amphion (Light Cruiser) 02/04/1913 - 06/08/1914.
Herbert was killed in action when HMS Amphion struck a mine in the North Sea 06/08/1914. HMS Lance and HMS Landrail, part of the British 2nd Destroyer Flotilla left Harwich at dawn on the first day of the war to sweep northwards towards German waters. The 1st Flotilla followed the Dutch coast and the 2nd Flotillla, led by the Light Cruiser Amphion, steamed up the middle of the North Sea. A British fishing vessel reported an unknown steamer throwing things overboard. This was the Konig Louise, a minelayer which the destroyers sank. The Amphion struck one of her mines while returning to base. Loss 1 Officer and 150 Men. Family accounts suggest that Herbert, an apprentice carpenter, joined the Navy because his younger brother, Albert William (known as Willie), had enlisted as a boy on 22/04/1912. Herbert's postcards from Devonport seem to support the idea of his extreme concern for his brother's welfare. However Herbert's age on enlistment limited his choice of trade to Stoker, and they were destined not to serve together. Again from family sources I learned that another Stoker, Thomas Gollop, from Lyme Regis, also served on Amphion. The Stokers had apparently had a break for cocoa just before AMPHION struck the mine. Herbert had finished his cocoa and returned to the boiler room where he was killed. Gollop took a few minutes more to empty his mug and thus survived. Herbert Street's name is inscribed on the Naval War Memorial on Plymouth Hoe. Herbert Street was my uncle. His brother, Albert William Street (always referred to as William), was my father. I shall send you further information about his Naval career which lasted until 1947. My youngest son, Petty Officer David William Edward Street (RANR), served as a Stoker in the Royal Australian Navy in the DDG HMAS Hobart. |
George Lovett HMS Amphion My mother's father George Lovett was a survivor from the sinking for HMS Amphion on the 6th of August 1914. She is now 96 years old and would dearly love any more information as to where the survivors were taken. She has some mementos of the ship as I think her father was the purser? I would be interested in any more info that you have. |
Capt. Cecil H. Fox HMS Amphion The official press bureau on Wednesday afternoon issued the following:-
3.30pm - at 9am on August 5th, HMS Amphion with the 3rd flotilla proceeded to carry out a certain pre-arranged plan of search and about an hour later a trawler informed them that she had seen a suspicious ship 'throwing things overboard' in an indicated position.
Shortly afterwards the mine layer Konigen Luise was sighted steering east. Four destroyers gave chase and in about an hour's time she was rounded up and sunk. After picking up survivors the search continued without incident till 3.30am when the Amphion was on the return course.
At 6.30 am Amphion struck a mine. A sheet of flame instantly enveloped the bridge which rendered the Captain insensible and he fell on the fore and aft bridge.
As soon as he recovered consciouness he ran to the engine room to stop the engines, which were still going at revolutions for 20 knots. As all the forepart was on fire, it proved impossible to reach the bridge or to flood the fore magazine. The ship's back appeared to be broken and she was already settling by the bows.
All efforts were therefore directed to placing the wounded in a place of safety in case of explosion and towards getting her a tow by the stern. By the time destroyers closed in it was clearly time to abandon ship. The men fell in with composure and 20 minutes after the mine struck, the men, officers and captain left their ship.
Three minutes later it exploded.
Debris falling from a great height struck the rescue boats, destroyers and one of the Amphion's shells burst on the deck of one of the latter killing two of the men and a German prisoner rescured from the cruiser. After 15 minutes the Amphion had disappeared.
Captain Fox speaks in the highest terms of the behaviour of the men throughout.
from the Ballymena Observer 21st August 1914
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Pte. Jerome Cann (d.6th Aug 1914) Pte Jerome Cann of the Royal Marine Light Infantry lost his life on the 6th of August 1914 when HMS Amphion was sunk. He was 17 years old and came from Trevena, Tintagel, Cornwall. |
Staff Paymaster Joseph Theodore Gedge HMS Amphion (d.6th Aug 1914) Staff Paymaster J T Gedge was the first British Officer of all the fighting services to be killed in the 1914/18 war. He lost his life on the 6th of August 1914 when HMS Amphion struck a mine off the Thames Estuary. |
Stoker 1st Class Frederick William Pound HMS Amphion (d.6th Aug 1914) Frederick Pound was only 18 years old when he lost his life on HMS Amphion. |
2nd Class Stoker William John Knight HMS Amphion (d.6th August 1914) My great uncle K/21305 William John Knight, 2nd class stoker served and died aboard HMS Amphion. He was from Forder, St. Stephen's, Saltash and was 20 years old. |
Seaman George Charles McConaghy HMS Amphion (d.6th Aug 1914) George McConaghy of HMS Amphion is listed on the War Memorial in the town of Limavady Co. Londonderry. I am an Ex Lt Cdr RN and am researching the stories of all the names mentioned, if you have any information please get in touch. |
Chief ERA Albert Victor Austin H.M.S Amphion (d.6th Aug 1914) Albert Victor Austin was my Great, Great Granddad on my Mum's side. I am searching for more details. |
Ordinary Seaman Peter James Lambell HMS Amphion (d.6th Aug 1914)
My great uncle, Ordinary Seaman Peter Lambell, went to HMS Ganges when he was 16. He served on HMS Donegal, Vivid and Magnificent and on 2nd April 1913 went to HMS Amphion. He died on his 18th birthday, the 6th of August 1914. He was the son of Peter James and Mary Lambell, of 6 Back Lane, Woolwich, London.
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Able Seaman Harry Bernard Emerson (d.4th Sep 1914) Harry Emmerson joined the Royal Navy as a boy in 1911 on Ganges 2. He spent time following this on HMS Commonwealth, Formidable, King Alfred and Talbot. Following this period he became an Ordinary Seaman and went back to the King Alfred. Afterwards he qualified as Able Seaman in 1912 and then went HMS Vivid 1. After a short spell there he was then sent to HMS Amphion until it was sunk 36 hours into WW1 on 6th August 1914. Fortunately he was one of the survivors and ended up on the Dido(Faulknor). Sadly though on September 4th 1914 he died at RN Hospital Haslar of pneumonia. His remains were then removed to his home at Loughborough in Leicestershire where he was buried in the local cemetery. |
Pte. Irvine Kellyn (d.6th Aug 1914) Irvine Kellyn is not a relation but I am interested in local WW1 deaths.
He lived at 25 Pontefract Rd Castleford, his father Alfred was a clerk at a glass works and his mother Jane was an elementary school teacher. He lost his life on HMS Amphion aged 28 and is remembered on the Plymouth Memorial.
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