HMS Raleigh

The year is 1922. I still remember a fragment of the song my mother would often sing about, "The North Field and the Raleigh were just ten miles apart...,". It appears that both ships had run upon reefs on either side of the Straight and was a total loss. I thing the freighter ran ashore in the late fall, and the reason of the grounding in both cases was probably, heavy fog.

The Raleigh was a Light Cruiser of about 10,000 tons. Her length was 565 feet, beam 58 feet, and draft 17 feet. Her propellers were driven by steam generated turbines, fuelled by oil and assisted, when needed, by coal burning boilers. Her main guns were 7.5 inches. and others of 3 inches AA, along with other various armaments. The newly commissioned, a state of the art Light Cruiser, HMS Raleigh, was selected to bring a 'showing of the flag', thanking the people for their support during the weary war. Vice Admiral, Sir William Pakenham was Commader in Chief. In July, 1921 the HMS Raleigh left Devenport, England, witb escorts, bound for America.

The Raleigh visited cities and communities in America, Canada and Colonies for about a year, being warmly received, every where. Arriving in Canada they visited Prince Edward Island, Quebec, St. John's, Halifax, and other canadians cities. In August 3rd the Raleigh called at Bay of Island, later known as Corner Brook where the ship's musicians performed for the people, two evenings; they appreciated it very much. The Admiral left with his two ships for St. John's, to prepare for the Capital's reception in a few days. The receptions would conclude the HMS Raleigh's visitations to North America, and they would sail for home.

The next morning the Raleigh left port and sailed north for Hawkes Bay. There the officers fished salmon in the river, the sailers practiced their gunary, using the seven inch guns, shooting targets two miles away, and not missing. There was music, and a speech, where they thanked the people for standing up and supporting Britan's struggle in the Great War. 'To those who came and fought, we extend outr sincere appreciation, we remember especially those who fell in battle, to you all we extend out sincere thanks. Today we walk and live in fredom; and its because you cared and did wath you could'. And the people responed.

On Tuesday morning the 8 of August 1922; the morning was fair in the comunity of Hawkes Bay. People lined the pier to see the shining ship depart. The officers and sailors were busy preparing for the departure of the Raleigh. Presently, the anchor was hoisted and the graceful ship was under way, gathering speed. She hastened toward the entrance, navigated through the narrows, and passed by Keppel Island into the open sea. Probably in that area, maybe a distance off Point Ritch they shaped course to 025. The ship's chart would generly bring the ship to her distintation, which in this case was Forteau Bay, Labrador.

The Raleigh was settled on her course ande moving easily at her regular cruising speed, about twelve knots. The wind had been light but now was blowing brisk from the south-east, and the sky had become overcast with ocasional rain squalls. They could see the headlands of Newfoundland on the starboard side, such as, Twin Islands and Ferolle Point but no definite sight of Labrador land on the port side, which indicated fog banks. They pased by a large iceberg, which brought out many of the crew to view the giant, and also the navigater to obtain and record a bearing.

Up to this point the Raleigh was running on a stright line, and if no change had been made she would probably have easily made it to her anchorage that night. The young navagater decided that there should be a changes of course and finally chose one. He gave the new course to the 'man at the wheel'. He wrote 'the change of course' and handed it to the Midshipman who hurries to the Captain's quartes, which was a distance away. When the Captain saw it he hastened to the wheelhouse. The Raleigh had already entered into the new course and was in dense fog, and strong wind blowing of the sea. It was about five PM. The Captain ordered half speed. He ordered the wheel full to starboard. He ordered full speed asstern. But it was too late, the ship run upon a reef and and struct solid, amisd the storm and raging seas.

They reversed the engines but the waves were high and relentless. The Captain and officers then turned their efforts to getting the 700 men to safely. Several of the men were lost.

Updated 7 2007