| Ray Knowles |
| 07977 219164 |
Frithsden Copse, Berkhamsted, Herts HP4 2RG
One of Hertfordshire's most magnificent
houses set in 5 acres of totally secluded
gardens in natural trust woodland
in an area of outstanding natural beauty
and archaeological significance, 5
minutes from Berkhamsted
station
houses set in 5 acres of totally secluded
gardens in natural trust woodland
in an area of outstanding natural beauty
and archaeological significance, 5
minutes from Berkhamsted
station
On the outbreak of World War I Inflexible was flagship of the Mediterranean Fleet. Between 4 and
10 August 1914 she was engaged in the pursuit of Goeben and Breslau, before being ordered
back to Britain on 19 August 1914. Between 1 and 10 October, she was on the Shetland patrol,
covering a troop convoy. She was ordered to the South Atlantic on 4 November 1914 following the
British defeat at the Battle of Coronel, and she arrived at the Falkland Islands on 7 December.
The next day, she took part in the First Battle of the Falkland Islands, where she assisted in the
destruction of the German East Asian squadron under the command of Admiral Graf Maximilian
von Spee, without incurring any damage to herself.
On 19 December, no longer needed in the South Atlantic, she was ordered back to the
Mediterranean, where she underwent a refit at Gibraltar before becoming flagship of the
Dardanelles operation on 24 January 1915. On 18 March, while she was part of the fleet that was
attempting to force the Dardanelles Narrows, she was hit twice by gunfire from Turkish forts and
nine crew members were killed; later the same day, she struck a mine and was forced to withdraw
after taking in 2,000 tons of water. After repairs at Malta and Gibraltar, she returned to Britain,
and joined the 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron of the Grand Fleet on 19 June 1915.
On 31 May 1916, she participated in the Battle of Jutland where she sustained no damage, unlike
her sister-ship HMS Invincible which blew up after taking hits from a German ship, revealing the
weakness of the battlecruiser design and implementation - its lack of adequate armour to stand up
against battleships in the line of battle. In August 1916, she sailed for operations against the
German fleet, but no contact was made. On 1 February 1918 she collided with the submarine K22
off the Isle of May with minor damage. On 21 November she was present at Scapa Flow for the
surrender of the German High Seas Fleet.
10 August 1914 she was engaged in the pursuit of Goeben and Breslau, before being ordered
back to Britain on 19 August 1914. Between 1 and 10 October, she was on the Shetland patrol,
covering a troop convoy. She was ordered to the South Atlantic on 4 November 1914 following the
British defeat at the Battle of Coronel, and she arrived at the Falkland Islands on 7 December.
The next day, she took part in the First Battle of the Falkland Islands, where she assisted in the
destruction of the German East Asian squadron under the command of Admiral Graf Maximilian
von Spee, without incurring any damage to herself.
On 19 December, no longer needed in the South Atlantic, she was ordered back to the
Mediterranean, where she underwent a refit at Gibraltar before becoming flagship of the
Dardanelles operation on 24 January 1915. On 18 March, while she was part of the fleet that was
attempting to force the Dardanelles Narrows, she was hit twice by gunfire from Turkish forts and
nine crew members were killed; later the same day, she struck a mine and was forced to withdraw
after taking in 2,000 tons of water. After repairs at Malta and Gibraltar, she returned to Britain,
and joined the 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron of the Grand Fleet on 19 June 1915.
On 31 May 1916, she participated in the Battle of Jutland where she sustained no damage, unlike
her sister-ship HMS Invincible which blew up after taking hits from a German ship, revealing the
weakness of the battlecruiser design and implementation - its lack of adequate armour to stand up
against battleships in the line of battle. In August 1916, she sailed for operations against the
German fleet, but no contact was made. On 1 February 1918 she collided with the submarine K22
off the Isle of May with minor damage. On 21 November she was present at Scapa Flow for the
surrender of the German High Seas Fleet.
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Ship's dog
"Alice"
"Alice"