Harry Clay

 


Harry Clay perished on board HMS Arboukir two months before his brother Frank perished on HMS Good Hope. A Cressey-class armoured cruiser, on the 22nd September 1914. She, along with the "Cressy" and "Hague" were patrolling the North Sea but failed to spot a German submarine – the U – 9 commanded by Lt. Otto Weddigen. The U – boat surfaced and fired a torpedo Into the "Arbourik" breaking her back and sinking her within 20 minutes at a cost of 527 lives. The other vessels were thrown into turmoil and suffered the same fate, the total loss of life amounted to 62 officers and 1,397 ratings, among these was 45 year old Petty Officer Stoker, Leonard Burnand from Upwell Hill, Grimesthorpe.
The squadron were known as "The Bait Squadron" because of the age of the ships, which had been brought back to service at the beginning of the war.


 

 

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