Loss of HMS Hampshire - Lord Kitchener 437 including 85 Royal Marines drowned

On 5 June 1916, HMS Hampshire left the Royal Navy’s anchorage at Scapa Flow, Orkney, bound for Russia. 

HMS Hampshire

The Secretary of State for War Lord Kitchener and his staff was on board as part of a diplomatic and military mission to confer with Tsar Nicholas II on the Eastern Front. 

Aimed at boosting Russia’s efforts on the Eastern Front.

At about quarter to nine in the evening, in stormy conditions and within two miles of Orkney’s northwest shore, she struck a mine laid by German submarine U-75.

Lord Kitchener on board HMS Iron Duke at Scapa Flow, about one hour before he embarked on HMS Hampshire, 5 June 1916

The hull was catastrophically breached between the bows and the bridge, and the ship sank by the bow in less than 15 minutes.

Only twelve survived rescued from a raft. 

Artist’s impression showing survivors watching Hampshire sinking

The Royal Marines in the batteries at Hoy (Orkneys) found themselves helpless spectators and could only watch her sinking, and search the shore for any survivors who might have been washed ashore in the rough seas. 

'Make way for Lord Kitchener!'

On transit to Archangel with Lord Kitchener and his aides aboard, at 7.40pm the armoured cruiser hits one of the mines laid by U-75 seven days earlier. She quickly goes down by the head in 25 minutes amid a ferocious storm and in frigid seas.

The crashing waves and loss of electrical power prevents lifeboats from being lowered. Only three Carley floats can be pushed into the sea. Amid these desperate efforts, as the ship goes down - the 66 year-old Lord Kitchener is seen on the quarter deck calmly talking to a member of his staff.

From 749 souls aboard, there are only 12 survivors - the famous Lord Horatio Kitchener of Khartoum, Secretary of State for War, is not among them.

Captain C. S. Hazeon, R.M.L.I. (who had narrowly escaped being blown up in H.M.S. Natal), and all N.C.O.s and men from the R.M.L.I. were drowned with him.

Related Royal Marines 'Dits'

• HMS NATAL Sunk by Internal Explosion - 63 Royal Marines Lost

References/ Read More:

• Search the names of those lost - Royal Marines Roll of Honour Databse

• HMS Hampshire.org - (85 Royal Marines listed)