Hello all -
Happy Sunday!
This week marks a key historical memory of World War I, one in which I have a particular interest — the Scuttling of the German Fleet at Scapa Flow on June 21, 1919.
My grandfather, Cecil Edward Bottle, was a telegraphist in the Royal Navy during the war. He had run away from home at the age of 14 and enlisted in the Navy. He fought in the infamous Battle of Jutland in 1916 and by the end of the war was serving on the HMS Revenge, the flagship of the 1st Battle Squadron.
On 21 November 1918, as part of the terms of the Armistice, the German fleet surrendered at the Firth of Forth in Scotland. Over the next few days, they were escorted to Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands to be detained during the peace negotiations at the Treaty of Versailles. One of those escorts was the HMS Revenge.
HMS Revenge: Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd, Public domain,
via Wikimedia Commons
The Germans remained in control of their vessels during that period but were closely guarded by HMS Revenge and other ships from the 1st Battle Squadron.
On 21 June 1919, German Admiral Ludwig von Reuter ordered the scuttling of the German Fleet, i.e. the sinking of his own fleet, while many of the British ships were temporarily away on exercise. His motive was to prevent the British from having any chance to use their ships against them in future conflicts.
Imagine the spectacle as 52 of the 74 interned German ships sank in unison.
Cecil Bottle was sent on trips to many of these semi-submerged ships to see if any radio equipment could be salvaged. He kept an empty valve box, a container that protected the crystals used in wireless sets to receive signals, as a souvenir from one of those ships.
I still have it today.
As a footnote, the HMS Revenge was eventually broken up for scrap in 1948. But, one part of her survived. If you go today to the famous Jodrell Bank Observatory just outside Manchester, you will see the Lovell Telescope still in action. As it rotates, bear in mind that the gear racks which allow it to turn were taken from the gun turrets of the HMS Revenge.
via Wikimedia Commons
Podcast episode... a look back
Episode 43 - Twenty-two Black Arrows
A couple of weeks ago, I was delighted to revisit Paddy Hine, former Air Chief Marshal of the RAF during the Gulf War (1990-91), among many other accolades.
In our original conversation, rather than talk about war, we got immersed in the world of aerobatic flying, and none as qualified as Sir Patrick, who flew in the RAF Black Arrows' world record-breaking 22-plane loop in formation back in 1958 at Farnborough. The episode was only recently published on 31 January of this year but is well worth revisiting — 22 Black Arrows.
If you visit the show notes, you’ll see some original footage of that extraordinary feat - mesmerising.
Paddy went into some detail about how pilots were trained leading up to that extraordinary day. They started in pairs, then threes, fours, and all the way up to the 22. Remember that those Hawker Hunters were just three feet apart during the loop.
If you want to see the full film “The Story of the Black Arrows” by Ian Stark at Classic Machine Films and VIT Media, you can find his details on the show notes page. Ian kindly allowed me to use some of the footage from the film for the podcast - I was transfixed from start to finish. Thanks again Ian.
As you can see from the photo, Paddy is in top form and still sharp as a knife. In fact he dropped me a note after The Breezer edition “Putting the Rolls into Rolls Royce” to point out that I had said it was 124 years since Charles Rolls had completed a non-stop double crossing of the English Channel by plane. Of course I should have said ’114 years’.
124 years ago, the Wright Brothers hadn’t even taken off yet!
Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music or just about any other podcast player of your choice. Check out the show notes for the links and transcript to learn more.
My favourite quotes from Paddy in the episode...
When talking about the hazards of flying just three feet apart….
It doesn't matter whether you're flying at 150 knots or 450 knots. Speed is relative. You and the aircraft you're flying on are moving at precisely the same speed. So, as speed changes, your formation flying doesn't change at all. In many ways, the faster the speed, the better it is."
And, of course, once the 22-plane loop world record is broken……
And then back on the ground, debrief, go off to the bar, have a pint and enjoy the day.
And finally, bearing in mind all of Sir Patrick’s many other achievements in life…..
I will always look back on those three years with great affection and with most fond memories, which will stay with me to my dying day.
By the way...
I should have mentioned that in that note from Paddy, he also mentioned my commemoration of the Queen’s Coronation in June 1953. I was delighted to hear that he was on duty that day!
Your mention of the late Queen’s Coronation on 2 June 1953 brings back my memory of the Flypast over Buckingham Palace that day when 7 RAF wings of 24 Meteors and 1 of RCAF Sabres took part.
I was a 20-year-old participant, taking off from RAF Biggin Hill with 11 other pilots from No 1 Squadron and 12 from No 41. The weather was poor, so we had to fly past at 30 second intervals rather than in one big formation as planned and rehearsed.
Big party in the West End that evening that continued back in the Mess at BH until near dawn. Those were the days!
Thank you Paddy.
Dates with History...
Tuesday...
On 18 June 1815, the Duke of Wellington defeated Napoleon in the Battle of Waterloo, Napoleon’s last hurrah as Emperor of France. In the UK, we are taught this was a very British affair. However, the British were part of a wide coalition of Belgian, Dutch, German and Prussian troops, without which victory would not have been possible.
The Duke of Wellington, real name Arthur Wellesley, later became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice between 1828 and 1834.
On 18 June 1940, Winston Churchill delivered one of his most notable war time speeches, “Finest Hour”. Churchill had not long become prime minister and British morale was particularly low following the recent evacuation of troops from Dunkirk.
Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duty, and so bear ourselves that if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, 'This was their finest hour.'
Question of the week...
This Wednesday, the 19th of June, marks the anniversary of the death of Joseph Banks in 1820. Banks was Captain Cook’s famous botanist on his world voyage of discovery, culminating in becoming the first Europeans to land on the East Coast of Australia at Botany Bay in 1770. What was the name of his ship?(answer at bottom of newsletter)
And finally...
A note on punctuality
Steve was always late for work. No matter what time he set the clock, he slept through it. Eventually, Steve's manager threatened to sack him if he turned up late again.
On his manager's advice, he went to see the pharmacist, who gave him a pill and said to take one each night before going to bed. Steve slept soundly. He felt great as he drove to work.
Seeing his manager as he bowled into the office promptly at 08:30, he said,
That pill worked a treat.
His manager replied,
That's great to hear, but where were you yesterday?
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Thank you for joining me. Have a great week!
Steve
HOST & CHIEF STORY HUNTER
P:S: Incidentally, I am always keen to receive your feedback to help me continuously improve this newsletter and the podcast. Just hit reply to this email and...... let it rip! I respond to every email that I receive.
Answer to Question of the week: The HMS Endeavour.
via Wikimedia Commons
NEXT WEEK'S BREEZER
Where the Focke-Wulf am I?
LAST WEEK'S BREEZER
Ink blots and typewriter plots
ATTRIBUTION: Cover Image - HMS Revenge: William Lionel Wyllie, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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